Home Care In Franklin, MA

With all eyes on the tropics and particularly Hurricane Idalia barreling toward Florida, it’s easy to lose sight of the weather here at home – but our First Alert Team has issued a First Alert for Wednesday, and we’re ready for dangerous rip currents at some New England beaches in the days ahead.

Hurricane Franklin churns in the Atlantic

The first impactful weather player is Hurricane Franklin: not as glamorous as Idalia, given the lack of direct strike on any land, but this Category 4 beast is tracking between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast and will miss New England by hundreds of miles to the southeast Wednesday; instead it will continue throwing swell across the western Atlantic.

Waves increase to four feet by Tuesday’s end at the South Coast, with a period of 13 to 14 seconds, and the waves will continue to increase to six to 10 feet by Wednesday, with these powerful waves creating both high surf and dangerous rip currents.

Although eastern beaches will see lesser magnitude, the rip current danger exists there, as well. That said, the beach weather isn’t the type that will draw many folks out in the next couple of days anyway.

Strong storms possible in New England on Wednesday

As moisture feeds northward toward New England, more clouds than sun dominate the sky Tuesday, with occasional showers on the Cape and Islands and at least isolated showers will expand north into southern New England late Tuesday afternoon into the evening.

Overnight Tuesday night, showers will increase in coverage and humidity will continue to steadily rise, leading to a peak in both humidity and showers on Wednesday. In fact, the latest indications are that we may have just enough energy in the atmosphere – and just enough wind – to create a few locally strong to damaging storms Wednesday around midday to early afternoon, so our weather team has hoisted a First Alert to keep one and all aware of the risk of lightning, locally heavy rain and isolated damaging wind.

National Radar

10:50 AM PST

By Wednesday evening, storms will not only have waned in intensity, but mostly will be few and far between as drier air begins an arrival on a northwest wind and by Thursday, dew point temperatures – the measure of the amount of moisture in the air – will have made a 24 hour drop of about 20 degrees, from the upper 60s to the upper 40s! This is exceptionally dry, fresh and comfortable air to end the week and will come complete with sunshine, though it will lead to cool overnights Thursday night, in particular, with a few North Country deep valleys possibly dipping into the upper 30s!

Great Labor Day on deck

Temperatures will steadily rebound over the holiday weekend, returning to daytime highs in the 80s by Sunday and Labor Day, all of it under sunshine and all of it with comfortable humidity levels.

Even the chance of an isolated storm on Labor Day has dwindled to the point we’ve removed it from the 10-day forecast, leaving a dry stretch all the way until the end of next week, great for so many outdoor projects that have been delayed due to the rainy weather this summer – from painting to haying to outdoor recreation.

Hurricane Idalia targets southeastern U.S.

Of course, Idalia continues to be a major story for Florida and the southeast U.S., with landfall Wednesday morning as a major, Category 3 hurricane expected in the Big Bend area of the northwest Florida coast, posing a significant hazard from wind and storm surge, while six to ten inches of rain is forecast to fall across a large swath of the southeastern U.S.

FRANKLIN, Mass. — There was a large emergency response Wednesday afternoon when a crane truck toppled over onto a house in Franklin after sinking in an old septic tank, according to the Franklin Fire Department.

Firefighters responded to the area of Michelle’s Way at Bent Street around 1 p.m. and found the crane resting on the roof of a home.

“I just saw the crane tipping over and you could hear the crashing obviously so yeah it was scary very traumatic,” said the homeowner Joan McCarthy.

McCarthy and her son were sitting on their front porch watching workers remove trees from their yard when the crane came tumbling down, damaging the chimney and roof.

“My daughter was still in the house so I had to run in the house and yell for her to get out of the house cause at that time you don’t know the extent or if it is going to come crashing through the house because I hadn’t seen it yet,” McCarthy told Boston 25 News.

McCarthy’s husband, Jim says what should have been a routine tree removal job ended in an unexpected way.

“As they were putting the pads down to secure the crane, they discovered an abandoned septic system that I was unaware of. 04:00:18 “The pad from the crane fell into the hole of the abandoned septic system and the entire crane flipped over,” said Jim.

The Boston 25 drone flew over the scene and it gives you a bird’s eye view of the busy scene Wednesday.

The family credits the crane hitting the chimney for preventing a worst-case scenario. “We thought the whole thing was going to crash on top of us. By the grace of God that chimney literally saved us and we’re okay and nobody was injured.”

How much damage the crane caused to their home is still be examined.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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BOSTON - Franklin's football team stood on the top step of the Boston Red Sox dugout.

A highlight video from the Panthers season played on the center field video board. They clapped and said "Let's go!" as it flashed the program's mantra "Row the boat" at the end.

The lights pulsated like when the Red Sox hit a home run as the Fenway Park public address announcer boomed, "And announcing your Franklin Panthers!"

The light show continued, as Franklin burst onto the infield, crossing onto the gridiron. The Panthers made their way over to their bench in center field.

"It's something surreal, looking around, like I'm never going to be out here on this side of a stadium looking at Fenway Park, a place you watch growing up," Franklin senior Jackson Nutter said.

Instead the Panthers were the show Tuesday in their 64th Thanksgiving rivalry game against King Philip.

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"Walking on the field that first moment was like 'We're really here,'" Franklin senior Derek Dubriske said. "It was one of those things you can't recreate anywhere else. You've got to live in the moment."

The Warriors won the toss and wanted the opening kickoff. They took the game over not too much later.

After Franklin forced the Warriors into a three and out on their first possession, King Philip regained the ball after a fumble. Running back Andrew LaPlante took the next carry 31 yards to the end zone and swung an imaginary bat in celebration with 9 minutes, 57 seconds left in the first quarter.

LaPlante carried the ball 10 times for 67 yards and two touchdowns, as the Division 2 Super Bowl-bound Warriors rolled to a 35-0 shutout victory, snapping a two-game losing streak in the series against Franklin. That narrowed the all-time series to 34-29-1 Franklin and gave Warriors coach Brian Lee the 150th win of his career.

"They're a great team, well coached. They're a wagon. They do everything the right way," Franklin coach Eian Bain said. "We're still digging, we're still clawing and have a lot of growing and learning to do."

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King Philip quarterback Thomas McLeish threw for two touchdowns, and lineman/kicker Andrew Bowen returned a fumbled kickoff return 40 yards for a touchdown with 1:10 to halftime after LaPlante's second touchdown run.

The Warriors controlled the clock for most of the second half, salting away most of it with a 14-play drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and the first eight mintues of the fourth.

"The special thing to me was how we bonded through this and got everyone to rally up with each other," Franklin senior Mike Davide said. "I don't think we gave up, and that's really special to me."

Most Franklin players went through the postgame handshake line with tears in their eyes. It was their last game of the season, and for Franklin's seniors the last of their careers. They began their time as Panthers during the 2020 Fall II season the made three playoff appearances, including reaching the 2021 state semifinals.

"It's crazy being here as a senior, last game I'm ever going to play I my life. Everything feels so surreal, but I feel like right now it's hitting me that it's real," Davide said. "I'm never going to forget this moment, never going to forget this with all my boys."

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The score, displayed a story high on the video board, will likely fade from their memories. Photos with their teammates on the field and the experience of being there won't.

"We'll forget the score in six months, and it'll just be about the moment," Bain said.

Contact Kyle Grabowski at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.

FRANKLIN — Nomination papers are now available for those seeking to run for town office in this fall's biennial election.

Every spot on the nine-member Town Council and seven-member School Committee, as well as all three constable seats, will be on the Nov. 7 ballot. Seats are also available on the Planning Board, Board of Health and Board of Assessors.

Through Friday, 16 prospective candidates had pulled papers. Candidates must submit papers with the required number of signatures to the Board of Registrars for certification by 5 p.m. on Sept. 6.

Nomination papers are available by appointment only in the Town Clerk's Office.

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So far, three newcomers have pulled papers. Cheryl Hanly has pulled papers for the Board of Assessors; Jason Mello has pulled papers for a four-year seat on the Planning Board; and Summer Street resident Charles Bailey has pulled papers for Town Council.

Eight of nine incumbent councilors have pulled papers for reelection — Brian Chandler, Robert Dellorco, Cobi Frongillo, Melanie Hamblen, Glenn Jones, Thomas Mercer, Deborah Pellegri and Patrick Sheridan. Only Theodore Cormier-Leger had not yet done so by Friday.

All Town Council seats have two-year terms.

Only two School Committee members pull papers early on

Through Friday, just two of the seven incumbent School Committee members — David Callaghan and David McNeill — had pulled papers. The other incumbents are Camille Bernstein, Al Charles, Denise Spencer, Elise Stokes and Meghan Whitmore.

School Committee members also serve two-year terms.

All three town constables, who serve four-year terms, see their terms expire this year. Philip Brunelli Sr. has pulled papers for reelection but his two colleagues — Daniel McCahill and John Power — had not done so by Friday.

Constables assist various law enforcement agencies in serving various notices.

Three of Franklin's five Planning Board members are up for reelection this year. One incumbent — Gregory Rondeau — has pulled papers for another four-year term. His two colleagues who are also up for reelection are William David and Richard Power.

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Two of the Board of Health's three seats expire this year; they are held by Jeffrey Harris, who has pulled papers for reelection, and Timothy Cochrane Jr., who had not by Friday. Those seats carry four-year terms.

Two of the Board of Assessors' three four-year seats also expire this year. They are presently held by Daniel Ballinger and William Norman, neither of whom had pulled papers as of Friday.

The deadline for qualified candidates to withdraw from the ballot is 1 p.m. on Sept. 22.

For residents, the last day to register to vote is Oct. 28. Residents can register to vote at the Town Clerk's Office or online at the Secretary of State's website.

For the Nov. 7 election, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Franklin High School.

FRANKLIN — Kelly Feeherry said she was excited when the town approved her design as part of the town's Fire Hydrant Painting Event, spending several hours last Saturday working on her assigned hydrant.

A day later, her excitement turned to sadness and anger.

"I was about three-quarters of the way done," Feeherry said. "I woke up on Sunday after I spent a considerable amount of time on it on Saturday, and found someone had gone over all of it in red spray paint. I was devastated. It was horrible to see that."

Feeherry's design, called "Hippy Hydrant," was rainbow tie-dye artwork on a hydrant on Milliken Avenue. Her hydrant is one of 32 throughout town being painted as part of the town's project.

"It's a really a good way for us to interact with the community," said Doug Martin, the town's water and sewer superintendent. "Last year was our first year and I thought we'd get maybe half a dozen people, and we had 34. The feedback has been really good."

The vandal or vandals painted over the fire hydrant and the work Feeherry did with red spray paint, she said. She's not sure whether it was done randomly or if the hydrant was targeted due to its colors.

"Some people said it may be because it was a rainbow, and it was because they (vandals) were homophobic," Feeherry said.

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Martin said he has not heard of any other of the fire hydrant projects being vandalized.

"This was the first, (and) hopefully the last," said Martin. "It's awful someone did that."

Feeherry said things worked out in the end. The town gave her a new hydrant to paint — one in the center of Main Street right in front of the Franklin Fire Station.

"Something bad happened, but it turned out really good for me because many more people will be able to see it when it's done," she said.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or [email protected]. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

February at the Franklin Historical Museum puts some love in the air and takes up the proposition that Silents are golden...

The Second Sunday Speaker Series at the museum continues on Feb. 12, 2024 with Postal Poetry: The Art and Commerce of Valentine’s Cards. Historical Commission chair Alan Earls will explore the remarkably long story of Valentine’s greetings and how entrepreneurs and new technologies turned sentiment into big business in the 19 th century. The story includes key Massachusetts innovators like Louis Prang and pioneering woman business leader, Esther Howland – plus images of many beautiful old cards. A limited number of free, vintage reprint sample cards will be available at the event. Doors open at 1 and the presentation begins at 1:15 at Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street, Franklin, MA. FREE

Later in the month, the Museum will welcome the public to Cinema 80 – a new program of films of the 20th century, curated by Chris Leverone in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center. Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV and is extremely passionate about film. Silent Saturdays start at 6 pm on Feb. 17 and Feb. 24.

On Feb, 17 Cinema 80 will screen the first of two treasures by comic genius Harold Lloyd, Safety Last, an over-the-top version of a young man trying to make good in the big city story (in this case, bustling, Jazz-Age Los Angeles). Then, on Feb. 24 it’s The Freshman, a hilarious look at college culture 100 years ago, (we are a college town after all!). Both films are about 75 minutes in length and feature a lively musical soundtrack and subtitles...

“We are excited to provide this free, innovative programming in a time slot that should leave people free to squeeze even more into their Saturday night,” said Commission Chair Alan Earls. “The best of the silent films are amazing and just as entertaining as anything Hollywood is doing today, we are sure our Franklin audience will agree,” he added.

Late in the month, the museum will also feature a display about calendars for our leap year...details still being worked...

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10AM-1PM and Sunday afternoons from 1:00PM-4:00PM. When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.

Above, the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the Historical Museum’s Exhibit, “On Track, 1932 Franklin in Miniature,” was held Saturday morning and attracted dozens of museum goers. Mary Olsson, chair of the Franklin Historical Commission cut the ribbon, flanked by State Rep. Jeff Roy and several attendees in locomotive engineer regalia. The exhibit is open through mid-January on Saturday from 10 to 1 and Sunday 1-4. (photo by Anne Parker)

Last week, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) was joined by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) as well as Representatives Richard E. Neal (MA-01), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09) in writing to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) raising concerns about a lack of federal funding for non-border states like Massachusetts experiencing a significant influx of migrants and requesting additional federal support for the Commonwealth’s shelter and service programs.

The Franklin VFW and Legion organizations joined together for a festive holiday dinner Sunday evening at the VFW hall on Pond Street.

The century-old Boston Post Cane belonging to the Town of Franklin was bestowed ceremonially, as per long-standing tradition, on the town’s current oldest resident, Harriet DiMartino on Thursday, December 7. 2023 by Town Clerk Nancy Danello. State Rep Jeff Roy deliver a citation if recognition from the state House of Representatives.

The Proclamation from the Town of Franklin summarizes here remarkable life so far:

Harriet was born on April 18, 1922, in Lancaster NH to Cora Congdon (Nurse) and Frederick Congdon (Clerk of Probate Coos County). She attended Lancaster schools and graduated from Lancaster High School where she was an excellent student and a basketball star.

Harriet attended the University of New Hampshire where she met the love of her life, Dominic DiMartino. They both loved ballroom dancing. After their first dance together, there was only one name that filled Harriet’s dance cards.

Dom, a civil engineering graduate of UNH, was drafted into the Army and was assigned to the China Burma India Theater assisting with the building of airport runways with the Army Corps of Engineers. She received a degree in accounting from UNH. During the war, Harriet taught school in Berlin NH and The Catskills NY.

Dom & Harriet were married on June 1, 1946, shortly after Dom returned home from India. They moved to Franklin in 1950 where they built their home on Lincoln Street. Along with being a mother to five children, Harriet was co-owner, Vice President and bookkeeper for the D DiMartino Construction Company which was established in 1962.

Harriet was a devout Episcopalian and converted to Catholicism to attend church with her husband and family. She was an active member of the Franklin Catholic Women Club for many years.

Every summer, the day after school ended, she loaded up the children and family dog in the beach wagon and headed to West Falmouth where the family spent most summers at the cottage built by Dom in 1954.

She was a fabulous baker of pies and cookies, until aging affected her ability to mix the dough. Her cookie jars were always filled with homemade treats for those who visit and there was usually an apple or rhubarb pie on the kitchen counter. Upon retiring she and Dom spent 6 months of the year in their condo in Hollywood, Florida, where Harriet served as the association treasurer of the condo association. Summers were spent at their “new” home in West Falmouth, built in 1986 adjacent to the cottage. Annually, there were two brief returns to 2 Meetinghouse Lane in Franklin for the transition from Florida Snowbird to Cape Codder and back. They were married for 64 years until Dom’s passing in 2011. Harriet continued the annual north to south migration until 2018.

Harriet continues to be a die-hard Patriots and Red Sox fan. She and Dom were 25-year Patriots season tickets holders (before the Pat’s became a historic team.) Admittedly, Harriet was the bigger sports fan than Dom.

Since 2018, Harriet has resided in her home in Franklin full time. She enjoys crossword puzzles on the TV via an app, watching the Red Sox, MASH DVDs, and weekly Sunday Mass broadcast from Notre Dame University. She is a devoted and loving mother to five children, grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of eight great- grandchildren.

MassHealth announced a new benefit allowing coverage of doula services for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum members. As part of the Healey-Driscoll administration’s efforts to address health disparities and advance health equity in Massachusetts, this coverage aims to expand access to doula care, which has been shown to improve several maternal and infant health outcomes. MassHealth covers about 40 percent of all births in Massachusetts.Doulas provide non-medical emotional, informational, and physical support to individuals and families during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.

The Senior Center is hosting Winter Wonderland on Thursday, December 14th from 4:30 - 7:00pm. It's an evening of beautifully decorated holiday trees, decor, live entertainment, hot cocoa and cookies, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. It's perfect for all ages and the whole family.

Check out the wide-ranging offerings through this branch of the Franklin Public Schools by clicking here.

Carolyn M. Granlund, age 94, of East Orleans, passed away on October 19th, 2023. Born in Providence, RI to Mark B. and Hilda Spink on August 22nd, 1929. Carolyn was a graduate of Pawtucket RI schools and Emerson College in Boston. Cal served as a Speech Therapist in Franklin, MA schools and in private practice, later opening "Threads and Fibers", a knitting and yarn shop in the old Peacock Alley store in Orleans.

Click here.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

First Universalist Society, Christmas Eve Morning Service, 10:00 am, Rev. Beverly Waring, ‘Join us Sunday morning for a no-rehearsal telling of two stories. One story is the traditional story told from scripture on Christmas Eve (but in more modern language) and intertwined will be a story from the perspective of Little One, a donkey and beloved,’ 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA 02038, www.fusf.org

Franklin United Methodist Church, candlelight Christmas Eve service, Sunday, at 7pm. You are invited to join this service in-person in the vestry, in-person virtually using Google Meet, or stream the service on YouTube. To participate in-person virtually using Google Meet, click this link (http://meet.google.com/ens-kcoq-bgg) or call 1-262-885-7027, the PIN is 172 874 072# ,82 West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038, https://franklinumc.org/

New England Chapel will host services at 10 a.m. and then two candlelight services at 3 & 4:30. 300 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038, www.nechapel.org

St. John’s Episcopal, ‘No service Sunday AM, but come celebrate the birth of the Christ child at 7pm. Candlelight service,’ 237 Pleasant St, Franklin, MA, stjohnsfranklinma.org

St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Christmas Eve 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 7:30pm, Church Square, Franklin, MA, www.stmarysfranklin.org

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES

St. John’s Episcopal, ‘No service’ 237 Pleasant St, Franklin, MA, stjohnsfranklinma.org

St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Christmas Day, 9:00am, 10:30am,Church Square, Franklin, MA, www.stmarysfranklin.org

FPAC Holiday Productions will close its December season with the return of Humbug! December 16 and 17. A family favorite since debuting as part of FPAC’s 2008 season, Humbug! is an original musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, starring the script’s writer, Nick Paone, as Ebenezer Scrooge.

With musical hits of every genre and live accompaniment by a 10-piece band of professional musicians, Humbug! transports audiences from Dickensian England to contemporary America as the novel’s iconic characters and storyline are cleverly reimagined with modern setting and dialogue. Humbug! delivers a holiday gift of hilarity with a timely – and timeless – message.

The FPAC original features sets of parents and their children, siblings, and friends that are like family as part of a large ensemble cast of over 100 professional artists, community performers and students of the arts. “Live theater creates a space where we can come together and have a collective experience,” says Mireille Eastman, mother of two “Humbug!” student cast members Ameline and Emmett Eastman. She has previously also performed in the production along with her husband, Charley Eastman, and all three of their children. “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be involved in 'Humbug!' as a family. Sharing our passion for live theater with our children has brought us all closer together.”

The show also features mother/daughter pairs Kylie and Edna Bodiya, Kim and Baree Frigon, Lindsay and Lila Hartman, Kristin and Polly Palson, and Robin and Zoey Tucker. Siblings Christopher and Owen Charles, Katie and Helena Cornwell, Jenna and Anna Cusano, Julia and DJ Ormond, Brodie and Devin DeAngelis, Aida and Julian DiChiara, Kayla and Macie Hoben, Liam and Grayson Kerrigan, Matthew and Shane Packard, and Charlotte and Katherine Weldon all perform together as well as married couples Tim and Liz Ayres-Kerr and Greg Leach and Michele Webster.

Youth development in the arts is a special focus of FPAC, founded in 1991 by Artistic Director Raye Lynn Mercer. Productions provide ongoing opportunities for families to connect through the arts, with multiple generations sharing rehearsals and time on stage together.

Humbug! is presented at the Franklin High School Auditorium. For tickets and more information, visit www.FPAConline.com or call the box office at 508-528-3370.