This episode combines the Franklin Public Radio news briefing spots for the week of February 22, 2026.

1. The outlook for the week ahead Feb 22 through Feb 28, 2026
2. The look back at the week that was Feb 15 through Feb 21, 2026

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The text and links referenced can be found at Franklin Matters Weekly

https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/2026/02/from-quiet-week-to-full-week-of-meetings.html

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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?

1. If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
2. If you don't like something here, please let me know
3. And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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 session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ann McGillis, Operations Director of the Franklin Food Pantry, and Stephanie Carlile, working part-time helping The Pantry as part of a grant. We had our conversation in person in the community room at The Franklin Food Pantry on Friday, February 13, 2026.

Discussion items:

1. Welcoming Stephanie Carlile, MS, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, LDN, to The Pantry
2. Empowering clients with dietary options and dignity in choice
3. Introducing Poppy the Puzzle Piece, a new mascot to help identify nutrient dense foods
4. Pantry named Healthy Pantry Leader by Greater Boston Food Bank

The conversation runs about 31 minutes. Let’s listen in

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Franklin Food Pantry web page -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Follow The Pantry on

Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/FranklinFoodPantry

Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/franklinfoodpan/

Amazon wishlist -> https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SIL7UR08ZZUC?ref_=wl_share

Grateful for the years of support from Rockland Trust for use of the prior building which is no longer standing on West Central St in the Rockland Trust parking lot.

--------------

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?

1. If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
2. If you don't like something here, please let me know
3. And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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...

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Councilor Max Morrongiello. We had our conversation in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studios on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

We focus on two questions:

1. ok, what just happened?
2. What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

1. After tabling the prior meeting minutes for a future meeting to add some questions that were asked but not reflected in the minutes, they approved a technical change for the Shaw's alcohol license
2. Council comments followed Citizen Comments in this new order of agenda items
3. The 5 year budget model and forecast
4. The Capital budget
5. Then as the clock turned past 10 PM during their deliberations on the amendments, the Council voted to allow extension of the meeting past their 4 hour curfew. The meeting did close approx. 20 minutes later.

The conversation runs about 58 minutes. Let’s listen in

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Franklin TV video is available for replay

https://www.youtube.com/live/PGKBpPjZZTM?&t=210

The agenda and docs released for this session

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02112026-2130

My notes captured in one PDF file - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OUdG4Uju_rM2ro2mJCBeEIXOfSx9T8M0/view?usp=drive_link

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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?

1. If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
2. If you don't like something here, please let me know
3. And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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

This episode combines the Franklin Public Radio news briefing spots for the week of February 15, 2026.

1. The outlook for the week ahead Feb 15 through Feb 21, 2026
2. The look back at the week that was Feb 8 through Feb 14, 2026

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The text and links referenced can be found at Franklin Matters Weekly

https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/2026/02/school-vacation-brings-light-meeting.html

--------------

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?

1. If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
2. If you don't like something here, please let me know
3. And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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!

------------------

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

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. All 7 members of the committee were present.

Quick recap:

1. The committee conducted the budget hearing for the FY 2027 school budget. Excluding the health care costs ($8.8M), they presented a 'level service' budget that stays within a 2.5% increase. Multiple questions to clarify amounts, rational, and sometimes accounting moves were raised and discussed. Many compliments on the layout and clarity of the budget were provided to Supt Lucas Giguere and to Business Administrator Jana Melotti
2. The next step on the budget will be the School Committee vote on Feb 24. The complete timeline is provided in the budget folder

The recording runs about 2 hours and 45 minutes

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Additional links to the meeting recap, Franklin TV video, and key documents for this session

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/school-committee-hear-details-on-level.html

All the docs associated with the budget for FY 2027

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/about-us/school-district-budget(2)/fy2027-budget/860340

Budget timeline https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/Fpsd/37787646-f072-494b-b560-903c09ba25be/UPDATED_-_Budget_Calendar_FY27.pdf?disposition=inline

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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?

1. If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
2. If you don't like something here, please let me know
3. And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin...

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee meeting held on Monday, February 9, 2026. The meeting was conducted via remote only.

Al Charles (Chair), and members Stephen Karunakaran and Nadia Mausolf participated. Operations Director Colin Boisvert also participated, representing the Central Office.

The agenda topics:

• Finalize Mission Statement

• JGPR Overview

• Website Usage Metrics

• Quarterly Community Engagement Update

• Newsletter Planning

The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to the Community Relations Subcommittee meeting of February 9, 2026.

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School Committee Subcommittee assignments

https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/subcommittees-and-liaisons

Subcommittee agenda

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02092026-2123

--------------

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?

1. If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
2. If you don't like something here, please let me know
3. And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

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!

------------------

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

This episode shares my conversation with Town of Franklin’s public health nurse Alisha Sullivan. We talked virtually on Monday, February 9, 2026 about the blood pressure kits available at the Library.

Did you know high blood pressure is the #2 killer of MA residents?

Did you know you can check your own blood pressure at the Library?

A station is set up to take your blood pressure. You can even check out a device like you would a book or a video, or anything else in their Library of things.

Did you realize this also happens to be another “First of Many” for the Town of Franklin?

Yup, the Health, Dept, Library and American Heart Assoc have collaborated on this program. The first library in MA to have the test kit station and kits for check out

Listen to my conversation with Alisha. Approx. 17 minutes

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Health Dept page - https://www.franklinma.gov/444/Board-of-Health

Metacomet Public Health Alliance health resources - https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7a79d8f9979f4709ad5b7311c91c8258

--------------

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?

1. If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
2. If you don't like something here, please let me know
3. And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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!

------------------

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

This episode combines the Franklin Public Radio news briefing spots for the week of February 8, 2026.

1. The outlook for the week ahead Feb 8 through Feb 14, 2026
2. The look back at the week that was Feb 1 through Feb 7, 2026

--------------

The text and links referenced can be found at Franklin Matters Weekly

https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/2026/02/more-snow-more-cold-more-budget-winter.html

--------------

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?

1. If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
2. If you don't like something here, please let me know
3. And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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!

------------------

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