Friday, September 1, 2023

Franklin's Event Outlook: September 1, 2023 to September 7, 2023


Friday, September 1

2:00pm - Franklin Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

2:00pm - Thrift Threads thrift shop (Franklin Federated Church)

6:00pm - Laura May Duo (live Music) (La Cantina Winery)


Saturday, September 2

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

4:00pm - Emily & Nick (live music) (La Cantina Winery)


Sunday, September 3

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)


Monday, September 4 = Labor Day


Tuesday, September 5

6:00pm - Franklin Garden Club - meeting (Franklin Senior Center)


Wednesday, September 6

1:00pm - Senior Scribblers (writing group) (Franklin Senior Center)


Thursday, September 7

6:30pm - Franklin LGBTQ Alliance - monthly meeting (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm - Community Conversations (Franklin Public Library)


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The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 


Franklin's Event Outlook: August 25, 2023 to August 31, 2023
Franklin's Event Outlook: August 25, 2023 to August 31, 2023

Yankee Quilters begins their program year Sep 12 at Emma's Quilt Cupboard

Yankee Quilters, a local guild of dedicated quilters, will begin its program year on Tuesday, September 12th at 7:00 PM at Emma’s Quilt Cupboard in the Horace Mann Plaza. Quilters from new to experienced are welcome to join. 

Yankee volunteers work each year to create quilts which are donated to area shelters, church programs or others facing personal challenges. Anyone with basic sewing skills can help with these charity quilts throughout the year.

In addition to monthly meetings on the second Tuesday, guild members offer speaker programs, opportunities to sew together throughout the year and a four-day “getaway” sewing vacation in the spring.

This year for the first time, Yankee will have a booth at the Franklin Farmer’s Market on October 6th with a hands-on lesson in patchwork as well as hand-made items for sale to support its charitable work. Other activities include a quilting “stay-cation” at which members and non-members can sew on their own projects at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Holliston.

For more information about any of these events, please contact yankeequilters11@gmail.com or visit the Guild’s Facebook page.

Yankee Quilters Guild is a 501-c-3 charitable organization based in Franklin with members throughout the region. The Guild meets on the second Tuesday each month at Emma’s Quilt Cupboard in Franklin, Horace Mann Plaza, East Central Street, Franklin in space generously donated by the store. Donations to the Guild are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by current law.
Yankee Quilters begins their program year 2023-2024
Yankee Quilters begins their program year 2023-2024

FHS games to watch this Fall for boys soccer, volleyball & girls cross country

Reminder that HockomockSports.com changed to a subscription model in July. I have a subscription to view and share the FHS results that they provide. If you want to view all the worth Hockomock League reporting they do, subscribing is a good thing. It is quite reasonable. The subscription link is provided below.

There is a series of "games to watch" for each of the sports this coming Fall season. I have selected the Franklin games that were highlighted thus far.

FHS Boys Soccer

SEPTEMBER 30TH – FRANKLIN @ ST. JOHN’S SHREWSBURY – 4:00
Boys soccer in the Hock hasn’t historically been known for its big non-league games but the increase in talent and competition across the league has changed that. The Panthers are coming off their first Kelley-Rex title since 2014 (when they had won four in a row) and have a ton of talent back from that team looking to go back-to-back. Franklin made a good run in the state tournament last year but it ended in the D1 Round of 8 against the Pioneers. Franklin will return to Shrewsbury a couple of weeks into the season to have another go.

OCTOBER 23RD – ATTLEBORO @ FRANKLIN – 6:00
Take your pick between the first and second meeting between these two title contenders, but it feels like there could be something of value on the line when they have their rematch near the end of the season. The Panthers visit Attleboro on October 2nd, and the result of that game will surely factor into the title race but when the Bombardiers make the trip a couple of weeks later, it’s likely both of these teams will be near the top of the table with very few games left. A lot of talent is back for both teams, this should be a good one.

For the full listing of boys soccer games to watch

FHS Volleyball

SEPTEMBER 7TH – FRANKLIN @ OLIVER AMES – 4:45
Any time the reigning division champs face off, it’s a game to look forward to. We won’t have to wait very long for this one though as the five-time defending Kelley-Rex championships will hit the road to visit Easton to take on the two-time defending Davenport champions Oliver Ames. Both teams are in contention for their respective division titles again this season so this will be a great way to start off the season. The Panthers and Tigers both feature some of the top hitters from last year such as Taylor Lacerda and Sarah Hilliard, so expect some big swings in this one.

OCTOBER 2ND – ATTLEBORO @ FRANKLIN – 5:15
The great thing about having two legit state contenders in the same division is that they play each other twice (at least) during the regular season. When these two squads meet at the very end of the regular season, it’s highly likely that the match will have heavy title implications but we simply can’t wait that long. Both the Bombardiers and the Panthers will have a good amount of games played under their belt by this point, setting up a highly anticipated battle between two squads that shared the Kelley-Rex title last year. This is another one that will feature some big swings from both sides.

For the full listing of volleyball games to watch


FHS Girls Cross County

SEPTEMBER 26TH – FRANKLIN @ KING PHILIP – 3:45
Franklin has been leading the pack in the Kelley-Rex division for the past two seasons and finished second overall at the Hock championship meet. While the Panthers look to win the division again this year, one team that is in a position to challenge them is rival King Philip. The Warriors only lost one dual meet last year, a very close 27-31 decision at Dacey Field against Franklin. The Panthers had eight runners finish in the top 30 at Hocks last year and only one was a senior so expectations remain high.

For the full listing of cross country matches to watch


MBTA Commuter Rail notice - Trains on Monday will operate on a weekend schedule

All Commuter Rail lines will operate on a weekend schedule on Labor Day, Monday September 4.
Affected lines:
  • Newburyport/Rockport Line
  • Haverhill Line
  • Lowell Line
  • Fitchburg Line
  • Framingham/Worcester Line
  • Needham Line
  • Franklin/Foxboro Line
  • Fairmount Line
  • Providence/Stoughton Line
  • Middleborough/Lakeville Line
  • Kingston Line
  • Greenbush Line
Last Updated: Aug 30 2023 07:35 AM


The Franklin line schedule -> https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Franklin/timetable
The Franklin line schedule -> https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Franklin/timetable

Franklin Health Dept: Flu Clinic scheduled for the Senior Center Sep 28, 2023 at 12 PM

August is National Immunization Awareness Month! 

The Franklin Health Department is hosting a flu clinic at the Franklin Senior Center on September 28th, 2023 from 12 PM - 3 PM. 

Sign up for your flu shot today: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/franklin?site=2023-franklin-senior-centerflu-clinic

Franklin Health Dept: Flu Clinic scheduled for the Senior Center Sep 28, 2023 at 12 PM
Franklin Health Dept: Flu Clinic scheduled for the Senior Center Sep 28, 2023 at 12 PM

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Sep 1, 2023

  • wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

7:30 am     ArtWeek: John Christoforo
9:00 am     Frank Presents: Jacob Juncker
11:00 am Senior Connection: Joe Landry
12:00 pm Brooke'n'Cookin: Mac'n'Cheese
12:30 pm Drink Responsibly: Flat Breads
1:00 pm     Physician Focus: Too Much Medicine?
1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Black Bean, Roasted Pepper & Garlic Pizzetta
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 8
3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Shaun Hart Pt 2
3:30 pm     Riffing on Main Street: Ep 1
4:30 pm     Franklin Art Association: Joyce McJilton Dwyer
8:30 pm 4th of July 2022: School of Rock
9:53 pm     4th of July 2022: Matt Zajac

  • Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am     Public School Concert: FHS Spring Jazz '22
8:30 am     It Takes A Village: Danny Lagarce
10:00 am FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v King Philip 09-12-22
12:30 pm ArtWeek: Theater in the Open
1:30 pm     Public School Concert: Lifelong Music Pt. 2 05-14-19
3:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Soccer: v Leominster 11-10-22
8:30 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19

  • Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) =  FRIDAY

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals: 08-17-23
2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: 08-17-23

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Franklin Food Pantry - podcast series "Nourishing Neighbors, Building Community"

A continuing series of podcasts on the Franklin Food Pantry, their new building and operations supporting our community. "Nourishing Neighbors, Building Community"


Thursday, August 31, 2023

Franklin Garden Club - September 5th Program Open to New Members

The Franklin Garden Club will begin its 2023-2024 season on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, with a meeting at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.   

An informal social get-together will take place from 6:00 – 6:30 PM followed by a presentation on the coming year’s programs and preparation of items to be sold at the Franklin Harvest Festival.  The meeting is open to the public, including those interested in becoming a member.  All items that are made will be retained by the garden club for sale at the festival.

Club Co-Presidents Patricia Donnelly and Mary Anne Dean stated, “The Garden Club, founded in 1987, offers many educational programs, and one does not have to be a Master Gardener to join. Meetings provide a wonderful opportunity to learn about various aspects of gardening from experts and to exchange information with fellow members. We welcome anyone who is interested to attend the first meeting to learn more about the Club and planned activities.”
 
Franklin Garden Club - September 5th Program Open to New Members
Franklin Garden Club - September 5th Program Open to New Members


In addition to the September 5 meeting, this year’s programming schedule includes: 
  • October 3: Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, MA
  • November 7: Flower Paint Night
  • December 5: Using Medicinal Herbs
  • February 6: To be determined
  • March 5:  Fantastical Folktales of Flowers
  • April 2: Ergonomic Tips for Healthier Gardening
  • May 7: No Flower Thriller, Spiller and Filler Pot Arrangements
  • June 4: Year End Social
Club community service activities include planting and maintenance of the Franklin Town Common gardens and the planters at the Franklin Library, sponsorship of an annual scholarship awarded to a high school graduate, distribution of pine tree seedlings in the elementary schools, and special projects with other community organizations. 

The Franklin Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts. 


This Chalkboard Chat recaps the Aug 22, 2023 School Committee meeting (audio)

FM #1052 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1052 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with Franklin School Committee member Dave Callaghan. We had our conversation via Zoom on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. 


Our primary topic was a recap of the School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Aug 22, 2023. 


We touched on hiring status, competitive salaries negotiated with the teachers union, handbook approvals, use of artificial intelligence (AI), communication guidelines, please drive safely with schools in session, buses, bikes and walkers will be on the way to school.


The recording runs about 35 minutes so let’s listen to my “chalkboard chat” with Dave Callaghan. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1052-chalkboard-chat-02-with-dave-callaghan-08-29-23



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School Committee page => https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 


School budget ->  https://www.franklinps.net/fy24budget 


The agenda doc 

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_8-22-23.pdf 


The packet folder can be found -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/august-22-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet   


YouTube link -> https://www.youtube.com/live/OKz4ioRKmxM 


My notes can be found in one PDF file ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VFNh0WlWJbVT4gRJwod5ULotPRs-nhbV/view?usp=drive_link 


The “Chalkboard Chat” image was the result of a joint collaboration with Mickayla Callaghan. Thank you!


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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


This Chalkboard Chat recaps the Aug 22, 2023 School Committee meeting (audio)
This Chalkboard Chat recaps the Aug 22, 2023 School Committee meeting (audio)

FHS games to watch for Fall girls soccer, golf, and field hockey

Reminder that HockomockSports.com changed to a subscription model in July. I have a subscription to view and share the FHS results that they provide. If you want to view all the worth Hockomock League reporting they do, subscribing is a good thing. It is quite reasonable. The subscription link is provided below.

There is a series of "games to watch" for each of the sports this coming Fall season. I have selected the Franklin games that were highlighted thus far.


FHS girls soccer

OCTOBER 21ST – BISHOP FEEHAN @ FRANKLIN – 10:00AM
With the playoffs just around the corner, Franklin will take on Bishop Feehan in a battle of two teams with perennial title aspirations. Two of the most consistent programs in the state, each fall it’s expected that they will be among the top seeds in Div. 1. They met in the 2013 D1 South final, with Franklin winning 2-1, and last year were the No. 3 and No. 8 seeds. In late October, the Panthers will be aiming to clinch a fourth straight league title, but this will be a good non-league diversion to see how they match up with another state power. It’s scheduled for an early morning kick-off but it will be worth getting out of bed to see these teams square off in a playoff preview.

For the full listing of girls soccer games to watch

FHS golf

OCTOBER 11TH – FRANKLIN @ KING PHILIP – 3:00
Speaking of heavyweight battles, here’s the Kelley-Rex’s version of that. Just days after the reigning Davenport champs clash, Franklin and King Philip will hit the links at Wentworth Hills for their second meeting of the season. It’s very possible this one will have severe title implications as both teams only have one division match left after this meeting. Both the Panthers and Warriors return most of their starting lineups so expectations are high for this season. The winner of this one will pick up some momentum heading into the championship at Thorny Lea.

For the full listing of golf matches to watch

FHS field hockey

SEPTEMBER 13TH – FOXBORO @ FRANKLIN – TBA
This should be an early-season treat for the second straight year. The two defending division champs will go head-to-head on the Beaver Street Turf in the second week of the regular season. The Panthers rolled through the majority of its league schedule last year, except for one team: Foxboro. The Warriors were the lone Hock team to take a point away as the two teams battled to a scoreless draw early on in the season. Foxboro is always very strong defensively and this was a testament to that based on Franklin’s offensive success the rest of the season. This will be another great battle.

OCTOBER 16TH – KING PHILIP @ FRANKLIN – 3:45
Franklin has won four straight Kelley-Rex championships in a row and their biggest challenger during that span has been King Philip. The Panthers will travel to Wrentham in the opening week of games so that will be a good early-season test but we’ve circled the second meeting between the two. It will mark the start of the final stretch of five games against division opponents so that will inflate its importance. KP graduated a large senior class but has a lot of their weapons back in the fold this year as they try to dethrone Franklin.

For the full listing of field hockey games to watch


To subscribe to HockomockSports.com ->

FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Thursday is International Overdose Awareness Day, will you join us?


Downtown Partnership - General Meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sep 7 at 8:30 AM

The next Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023

Specific topics of interest are: Town Administrator Jamie Hellen with a downtown parking update and guest speaker Brad Chaffee from Camford Property Group regarding the company's new downtown project.

Downtown Partnership - General Meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sep 7 at 8:30 AM
Downtown Partnership - General Meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sep 7 at 8:30 AM

Shared from the Downtown Partnership page -> 

Franklin Public Schools, MA: No School on Friday, Sep 1 - Schools Reopen on Tuesday, Sep 5

"All Franklin Public Schools will be CLOSED Friday, September 1st, 2023  as well as Monday, September 4th, 2023 (Labor Day). 
We will reopen on Tuesday, September 5th, 2023."

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1696961436541505678

Franklin Public Schools, MA: No School on Friday, Schools Reopen on Tuesday, Sep 5
Franklin Public Schools, MA: No School on Friday, Schools Reopen on Tuesday, Sep 5