Thank You MCC Cultural District Investment

Funding Recipients!

This week's featured Mass Cultural Council Funding recipients presented programming focused on Benjamin Franklin in January 2024. The Franklin Cultural District Committee awarded the Franklin Public Library, Franklin Historical Commission, and Escape into Fiction Bookstore funding to cover a portion of the cost of planning and implementing Franklin Book Week, “A Community Rediscovery of Ideas, Literature, and the Shared Gift of Language". Led by Alan Earls, Historical Commission Chair, these three organizations created and implemented several events associated with Ben Franklin. Some of the events were:

• January 14, Museum Second Sunday Speaker Series: Historian James Johnston on History of Thompson Press 
• January 17, Ben Franklin Autobiography* LIVE Readathon at the Franklin Historical Museum
• January 18, World PREMIERE, “The Boatbuilders” Pre-release Film Screening and Discussion Thursday, January 18th. 6.30 p.m. Franklin Public Librar
• January 19, Get to know ‘Ben’s Books’ — Meet Reference Librarian Vicki Earls on the second floor of the Franklin Public Library
• January 20, Ben Franklin, America’s First Scientist — a talk and demonstration by engineer-entrepreneur John Berg
• January 20, Vera Meyer and Ben Franklin’s Glass Harmonica. Among Ben Franklin’s most amazing inventions is the glass Harmonica (or armonica), a series of concentric, rotating crystal glass bowls that can be played
• January 21, Ben Franklin Considered and Reconsidered — an authorized showing of PBS interviews with modern leaders discussing the many facets of Ben Franklin. Sunday
• Escape into Fiction Bookstore had a reading of a children’s book related to Ben
• Trivial Pursuit Host at Teddy Gallagher’s bar had people participate in trivia related to Ben and books.

The Franklin Cultural District Committee thanks Alan Earls and the Historical Commission, Franklin Public Library, Franklin Historical Museum, and Escape into Fiction Bookstore. Additionally, the FCDC thanks Mass Cultural Council, Franklin Cultural District, and the Town of Franklin for their continued support.

Representative Jeff Roy

at the Readathon.

Vera Meyer and Benjamin Franklin's Glass Harmonica.

John Berg's presentation on Benjamin Franklin, America's first scientist.

Greetings!

Welcome to another week of live music, art, special presentations, and a fundraiser for the Food Pantry at La Cantina Winery. Details are in the newsletter.

Congratulations to the Cultural District Committee's officers for FY2025: Chair, John Lo Presti, Vice Chair, Amy Adams and Clerk, Katherine Botelho.

Arts Happen in the Cultural District!

This Week in the Cultural District and Beyond

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Wednesday, July 17, at Franklin Public Library.

10:30am Timeless Tales Puppet Show! Join us for an awesome puppet show featuring wildly creative puppets, original, and multi-cultural productions, beautiful staging, original dance-able music, and loads of interaction! No registration required!

3:00pm to 6:00pm Animal Affair! Make some new furry or feathered friends when the Animal Affair Traveling Petting Zoo visits the Franklin Public Library! Everyone is welcome to pet, brush, feed, hold, and play with the animals! Participants are taught the proper way to hold and handle the animals. Animal Affair will be bringing ducks, chickens, goats, pigs and rabbits! No registration required!

Select Library for information. The Library is located at 118 Main Street.

Wednesday, July 17, 12:00pm to 2:00pm, Bluey at Raillery Public House. Come and meet Bluey! Kids eat free will be excluded from this event. Reservations are strongly encouraged for this event. Check with Raillery for more information pertaining to this event. Located at 280 Franklin Village Drive.

Wednesday, July 17, 1:00pm, Memory Cafe at Franklin Senior Center. Live music featuring Steve Rudolph. Sign up required. Select Senior for information. Sponsored in part by a grant from Franklin Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council Located at 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Wednesday, July 17, 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Vinyasa Yoga, Lifelong Community Learning. Spend some time relaxing this summer in this popular Vinyasa Yoga class from Lifelong Community Learning, Wednesdays July 17 to August 21. Choose Vinyasa Yoga to register. Location: Annie Sullivan Middle School, 500 Lincoln Street.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Thursday, July 18, 8:30am, Coffee Hour with State and Local Officials at Franklin Senior Center. Select Senior for information. Located at 10 Daniel McCahill Street.

Thursday, July 18, Franklin Public Library

10:30am to 11:30am Family Yoga at Franklin Public Library. Come join Katie from Sprouting Tree Yoga for a fun, interactive toddler & kids yoga class. Together we will explore yoga and mindfulness concepts through movement, songs, storybooks, games and more. This class is designed to help your child improve their balance, coordination, and flexibility while learning self-regulation skills and relaxation techniques. No previous yoga experience is necessary. Please bring a yoga mat or towel. Parents are welcome to participate as well! Also offered on July 15, August 1 and August 5.

6:00pm Jaws ... an Interactive Movie. Enjoy an interactive screening of the beloved classic movie, Jaws! Popcorn and props are provided!

Select Library for information about Library programs. Located at 118 Main Street.

Thursday, July 18, 6:00pm to 9:00pm Live Music with Michael Rivals and his guitar at Birchwood Bakery + Kitchen. Michael Rivals will be performing on the Birchwood Bakery patio. Located at 17 E. Central Street.

Thursday, July 18, 9:00pm Live Music by Steven Fritzsche (Two for the Rode) in the bar/lounge at 3 Restaurant. Steven and Loren, from classic rock band Two for the Rode, bring an eclectic and extensive mix of jukebox favorites from the 50’s to present! Select 3 for more information. 3 Restaurant is located at 461 West Central Street.

Friday, July 19, 2024

Friday, July 19, Franklin Public Library ... Fiber Arts!

10:00am to 12:00pm Knitting Group. Sit for a Stitch!

1:00pm Crochet FUNdamentals. Come explore the fundamentals of crochet as we work together on a simple project to foster the learning process. In our two hour class we will explore the following; pairing of yarn and hook, gauge, the chain stitch, single crochet, and double crochet, and treble crochet. All class materials will be provided. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Franklin Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Select Library for program information. The Public Library, 118 Main Street.

Friday, July 19, 1:00pm to 5:00pm, Franklin Library Book Sale at the Franklin Public Library. All books are just one dollar! Select Library for information. The library is located at 118 Main Street.

Friday, 19, 2:00pm to 6:00pm Franklin Farmers Market on the Town Common. @ 30 Artists, Creatives and Farmers. SNAP and HIP Benefits are accepted.

• 3:00pm to 5:00pm, Live Music with Marc Berger
• 6:00pm to 8:00pm Live Music with Strumdawgs
• Food Trucks: Joey D's Wings N'Things

Enjoy the afternoon on the Town Common in the Cultural District. Select Farmer for more information about the Farmers Market. Thank you Vendors, Performers, Food Trucks, Franklin Farmers Market and Franklin Recreation!!

Friday, July 19, 6:00pm to 8:00pm fRUNdraiser ... racing to end food insecurity. Falmouth Road Race Team Fundraiser to benefit Franklin Food Pantry at La Cantina Winery. Ticketed event. $30 includes one drink and one door prize ticket. Select ticket to purchase tickets to the event. La Cantina Winery, 230 Cottage Street.

Friday, July 19, 9:00pm Live Music by David Weber in the bar/lounge at 3 Restaurant. David Weber plays at venues in Eastern MA with a broad catalogue that touches on 80s/90s/2000s rock, pop and country hits. Select 3 for more information. 3 Restaurant is located at 461 West Central Street.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Saturday, July 20, Franklin Library Book Sale,

Franklin Public Library

9:00am to 12:00pm All Books just $1!

1:00pm to 4:00pm, $5 A Bag. Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can! Select Library for information. Library is located at 118 Main Street.

Saturday, July 20, 10:00am to 11:00am, Rise Up Monthly Meeting at Franklin United Methodist Church. A one-hour social to meet, connect, and learn from individuals navigating life with disability. Guest visit from Lisa Brennan of Merge Consulting, talking about recreational and community inclusion. Select Rise for information. Franklin UMC is located at 82 West Central Street.

Saturday, July 20, 10:00am to 1:00pm, Franklin Historical Museum. The Franklin Historical Museum continues the Bridal Gown Exhibit, Something Old and Something New! FREE. Select Museum for additional information about this event. The Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street.

Saturday, July 20, 8:00pm to 11:00pm, Karaoke, Every Saturday Night, at Raillery Public House. Select Raillery for information. Raillery Public House is located at 280 Franklin Village Drive.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Sunday, July 21, 10:00am Lay-led service, UU Value of Interdependence: The Web of all Existence. Lay Leader: Steve Derdiarian at First Universalist Society in Franklin.

Join us as FUSF lay leader and landscape architect Steve Derdiarian explores one of the new Unitarian Universalist values, Interdependence. He will start with examining the Interdependent Web against the perspective of the scale of time, then how we share relationships with plants and living creatures in our own backyard and finally, how we, as humankind, fit into this amazing tapestry of life. Steve will also touch upon some of the things we each can do to promote biodiversity in our lives, and share the first exciting steps FUSF has taken this spring to promote biodiversity on our property. After service please feel free to walk the grounds which include new native plant gardens, a peace pole and garden and a labyrinth.

Afterwards, please plan to stay for cookies and conversation. Select Unitarian for more information. The First Universalist Society is located at 262 Chestnut Street.

Sunday, July 21, 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Franklin Historical Museum. Final days of the Bridal Gown Exhibit.. Doors open at 1:00pm. FREE admission. Select Museum for information. The Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street.

Sunday, July 21, 1:00pm to 3:00pm Musical Bingo at Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub. Select Teddy for information. Located at 30 Main Street.

Monday, July 22, 2024

Monday, July 22, at the Franklin Senior Center

9:30am, Italian Novel Reading

11:00am, American Mah Jong

Select Senior for information about this and other activities. The Senior Center is located at 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Monday, July 22, 4:00pm to 5:00pm, Interactive Puppet Storytime! at the Franklin Public Library. Join Leigh Baltzer of Through Me to You Puppetry for a special Puppet Storytime! Enjoy 30 minutes of interactive stories & songs performed by the puppets, allowing the kids to engage both their minds and bodies in a creative way! After the show, enjoy a hands-on Puppet Free Play session, where kids are invited to try out some of the hand puppets & finger puppets! No registration required! Select Library for information. The Library is located at 118 Main Street.

Monday, July 22, 4:00pm to 7:00pm Cruise Night at Sierra's Brick Oven Pizza. Join us at Sierra's Brick Oven Pizza, Franklin every Monday from May 6 to October 28, for a FREE and fun Cruise Night right here in the town of Franklin! Sponsored by Tri-County Regional Chamber, Franklin Observer and Communities Matter!

Monday, July 22, 6:00pm to 7:30pm, Women's Self-Defense Class through Livelong Community Learning. Women of all ages, take one of these important Self-Defense Classes to feel confident year-round! Ticketed event. College (17+) class is July 15, Women’s class is July 22. Choose Self-Defense to register. Location: Annie Sullivan Middle School, 500 Lincoln Street.

Tuesday, July 23 , 2024

Tuesday, July 23 - Thursday, July 25, 9:00am to 12:00pm, Kids' Summer Cooking Camp, Lifelong Learning. Sign up your student (entering grades 4-7 in Fall 2024) for 3 mornings of cooking fun in July! There are all-new menus this summer. Lifelong Community Learning’s Kid’s Corner is offering this Kids’ Summer Cooking Camp Tuesday - Thursday July 23-25. Go to Kids’ Cooking to register. Location: Franklin High School, 218 Oak Street.

Tuesday, July 23, 1:00pm, Audio Book Club at Franklin Senior Center. Sign up is required. Select Senior to learn more about activities at the Senior Center. Located 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Tuesday, July 23, 7:00pm, Musical Bingo at Raillery Public House. Have fun playing musical bingo! Select Raillery for more information about this restaurant. Located 280 Franklin Village Drive.

Saturday, July 27, 5:30pm to 6:30pm FREE Cookout at Franklin United Methodist Church. Enjoy Burgers, Hotdogs, Chips and Drink! Vegetarian Burgers will be available. The entire community is invited. Select UMC for more information. Franklin UMC is located at 82 W. Central Street.

Saturday, August 3, at 7:00pm THE BLACK BOX Sings… FROZEN ... outside under the stars!

THE BLACK BOX will present a concert celebrating the music of the highest-grossing animated film of all time: Disney’s Frozen. The concert will feature a narrated telling of Elsa and Anna’s story with live performances of the film’s songs as well as new music written for the Broadway production. Enjoy the memorable songs of Kristen and Robert Lopez in concert!

Table seating and general seating are available. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside. Modeled after the popular cabaret series “54 Sings” at Feinstein’s/54 Below in NYC, THE BLACK BOX continues THE BLACK BOX Sings… Series this summer. The series celebrates the music of musicals, composers, and artists sung by Franklin Performing Arts Company favorites. 

*Tickets will be available at the end of July!

Partnering with Franklin Matters @https://www.franklinmatters.org sharing information about what matters in Franklin. Visit Franklin Matters for Franklin information.

Franklin Cultural District Committee

Amy Adams, Katherine Botelho,

Pandora Carlucci, Sue Cass, Patrick Conlan,

John LoPresti, Roberta Trahan



Congratulations to John LoPresti, Chair; Amy Adams, Vice Chair; and Katherine Botelho, Clerk for FY2025!