Hello and welcome to a Thursday edition of Cultural District News!

This is a busy week as Franklin Cultural District Committee recognizes Ben Franklin Book Week. “A Community Rediscovery of Ideas, Literature, and the Shared Gift of Language,” is a new annual event that celebrates the birthday of Benjamin Franklin and his gift of books to the town of Franklin that led to creation of the First Free Public Lending Library in North America AND it recognizes the town’s ongoing book- and word-friendly culture with a growing slate of events and activities! Activities focused on Ben Franklin and Books continue throughout the week.

The FCDC gratefully acknowledges the Cultural District Investment Grant Funds received from the Mass Cultural Council and the ongoing support of the Town of Franklin.

The Franklin Cultural District Committee is honored to share the Events and Activities offered by Dean College in honor and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are many programs and activities to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Some of these opportunities include.

• Coffee and Conversation with Dean College President Kenneth Elmore, January 26, 2024, 3-5 p.m. Franklin Public Library, 118 Main Street, Franklin, MA
• Film and Discussion: Selma January 26, 7:00pm Dean College Atrium, Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center 109 West Central Street
• Where Do We Go from Here: Music and Spoken Word. January 31, 6:00pm to 7:00pm Dean College Marvin Chapel, Music by Anthony Trecek-King Resident Conductor, Chorus - Handel + Haydn Society, Words by Martin Luther King, Jr, Global Icon

Convocation Speakers and Readers

• Amy Adams, Vice Chair Franklin Cultural, District Adjunct Faculty Member, Dean College
• Alisha Caldeira, Vice President of Communications, Dean College Student Government
• Kenneth Elmore, President Dean College
• Jo-Ann Reid, Associate Professor of English, Dean College
• Felicia Oti, Director, Franklin Public Library



Convocation Music

Performed by the Dean College Vocal Ensemble

Timothy Ayres-Kerr, Director

Lauren Chamberlain. Daniel Mayer, Angiolina Chessa, Patrick McKinney, Cordelia D’Orsi Avery Sullivan, Aiden Day, Holly Marie Sullivan, Dylana Deignan, Ava Turner, Trisha Dobson, Jason Warner, Paige Evora, Lindsey Waters, Lucas Farlow, Lia Zajas, Paige Langston

Source: Franklin Observer and Dean College press release

This Week in the Cultural District and Beyond

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Thursday, January 18, 1:00pm, Let's Get Social: Pros and Cons of Social Media. Select Senior for information about Senior Center activities. Located at 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Thursday, January 18, 6:30pm, “The Boatbuilders” Pre-release Screening & Discussion at Franklin Public Library. No Registration Required!

Join Director Gregg Seibert and Producer & Historian R. A. Lawson for a Pre-release screening of the first episode and Discussion of their new Documentary Series, “The Boatbuilders”! The docuseries uncovers the historical legacy and present-day impact of the boat building community, showcasing boatbuilders, sailors, and owners who speak to the realities of boat building today, along with the challenges and rewards of maintaining the legacy and beauty of historic sailing vessels. The first episode focuses on Rhode Island. Select Library for more information. The Library is located at 118 Main St.

This event is part of the Ben Franklin Book Week. Thank you to Mass Cultural Council CDI funds, the Franklin Cultural District and the Town of Franklin.

Friday, January 19, 2024

Friday, January 19, 1:00pm to 5:00pm Book Sale at Franklin Public Library. All books just $1.00! Select Library for more information. The Library is located at 118 Main Street.

Friday, January 19, 2:00pm, Get to know ‘Ben’s Books’ at Franklin Public Library. Meet Reference Librarian Vicki Earls on the second floor of the Franklin Public Library, at the display case, for the story of the books Franklin donated to our town — what are they and how did they end up in Franklin! Attendees will receive a newly published, illustrated mini-book all about THE books! FREE. Vicki Earls  5085204941  [email protected] The Library is located at 118 Main Street.

This event is part of the Ben Franklin Book Week. Thank you to Mass Cultural Council CDI funds, the Franklin Cultural District and the Town of Franklin.

Friday, January 19, 6:00pm to 8:00pm Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament and Sale at First Universalist Society (FUSF) in Franklin.

Team Tournament: Enter your team to puzzle against other teams in a friendly and fun competition on either Friday night or Saturday morning. Each team receives the same 500 piece puzzle and races to finish first. Prizes given for 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd place. It’s only $10/person for teams of up to

four people and your team goes home with the completed puzzle. Team registration and puzzle tournament rules can be found at FUSF.org.

For questions call Vicki @ 508-654-6740. Cash, check or electronic payment accepted.

Puzzle Sale: Hundreds of jigsaw puzzles of all sizes will be for sale both Friday and Saturday. Choose from children’s puzzles, 100-, 300-, 500-, 1000- and even a few 2000-piece puzzles! You do not need to enter a tournament to shop. Most puzzles are priced between $3 and $5 - Some are brand new! Be sure to stock up for all those puzzlers in your life (or yourself). Cash, check or electronic payment accepted.

FUSF is located at 262 Chestnut Street.

Friday, January 19, 7:00pm Franklin High School Theatre Company presents The Rehearsal, 1 ACT performance. Ticketed event. Tickets are $10.00. Performance in the Franklin High School Auditorium, 118 Oak Street. Select Theatre or more information about the FHSTC.

Friday, January 19, 7:00pm to 10:00pm Jamie Barrett, Live Music at Raillery Public House."Come Rock with Me." Select Raillery for more information about this restaurant. Located at 280 Franklin Village Drive.

Friday, January 19, 9:00pm Live Music by the Gilmarten Bros in the bar/lounge at 3 Restaurant. The Gilmartin Bros play acoustic rock from the 50’s through today with harmonies that only brothers can make. Select 3 for more information. Located at 461 West Central Street.

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Saturday, January 20, Book Sale at Franklin Public Library

• 9:00am to 12:00pm All Books just $1.00
• 1:00pm to 4:00pm Bag Sale - $5 A Bag. Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!

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

Saturday, January 20, Winter Farmers' Market at Fairmount Fruit Farm

• 10:00am to 2:00pm, Winter Farmers' Market
• 10:30am, Saturday Animal Tales, Tickets from $12.00
• 11:00am, Coffee, Cocoa and Cuddles (with goats), Tickets from $7.00

Select Farm for more information. Fairmount Fruit Farm located 885 Lincoln St.

Saturday, January 20, 10:00am to 1:00pm, Franklin Historical Museum. Select Museum for more information. FREE. Museum is located at 80 West Central Street.

Saturday, January 20, 10:00am to 12:00pm, Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament and Sale at First Universalist Society (FUSF) in Franklin. See Friday (above) for description. For questions call Vicki @ 508-654-6740. Cash, check or electronic payment accepted. FUSF is located at 262 Chestnut Street.

Saturday, January 20. 10:30am, Children's Ben Franklin Story Time at Escape Into Fiction Bookstore. Select Bookstore for more information. Escape into Fiction is located at 12 Main Street. FREE.

This event is part of the Ben Franklin Book Week. Thank you to Mass Cultural Council CDI funds, the Franklin Cultural District and the Town of Franklin.

Saturday, January 20, 12:00 noon to 1:00pm, Tu B'Shevat Celebration! at Franklin Public Library. Join us for a special celebration of the Jewish Holiday also known as "New Year of the Trees!" Celebrate with games, crafts, snacks, activities and more! Presented in partnership with Temple Etz Chaim! CONTACT: Margot Rivelis  5085204941  [email protected]. The Library is located at 118 Main Street.

Saturday, January 20, 4:00pm to 6:00p, Open Studio Paint Night ... Just for College Students! Paint pottery or on canvas. Ticketed event ... $30.00 per person. Select Creative for more information about this art studio. Located in Depot Plaza at 13 Main Street.

Saturday, January 20, 6:30pm to 8:00pm Vera Meyer and Ben Franklin’s Glass Armonica at Franklin Public Library.

Among Ben Franklin’s most amazing inventions is the glass armonica, a series of concentric, rotating crystal glass bowls that can be played (think of the sound of wine glass rims being rubbed). Mozart and others composed music for it. And Boston area musician and expert Vera Meyer will return to Franklin for a performance featuring many styles of music. Don’t miss the haunting, ethereal, and beautiful sounds of the armonica. FREE. CONTACT: Alan Earls  5085603786  [email protected]. The Library is located at 118 Main Street. Please use the School Street entrance.

This event is part of the Ben Franklin Book Week. Thank you to Mass Cultural Council CDI funds, the Franklin Cultural District and the Town of Franklin.

Saturday, January 20, 7:00pm to 10:00pm, 2ND Chance Band, Live Music at Raillery Public House. Select Raillery for more information about this restaurant. Located at 280 Franklin Village Drive.

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Sunday, January 21, 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Franklin Historical Museum, Ben Franklin Considered and Reconsidered -- an authorized showing of PBS interviews with modern leaders discussing the many facets of Ben Franklin. Sunday Jan 21, 2023 from 1-4 at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St. Audience members will be encouraged to continue the discussion! FREE

Select Museum for more information. FREE. Museum is located at 80 West Central Street.

This event is part of the Ben Franklin Book Week. Thank you to Mass Cultural Council CDI funds, the Franklin Cultural District and the Town of Franklin.

Sunday, January 21, 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Children's Museum of Franklin Pop Up at Elks Lodge. Our Indoor Mobile Museum is rolling! These larger pop-up events, featuring a variety of rotating exhibits, will bring a few hours of play to you and your kiddos. Select Museum for more information. The Elks Lodge is located at 1077 Pond Street.

Monday, January 22, 2024

Monday, January 22, 11:00am, Sign Up For Our Drum Circle! at Franklin Senior Center. Join us for an hour of drumming. Feel the beat, learn some new rhythms and make friends. Drums and percussion supplied or your can bring your own. Select Senior for information about Senior Center activities. Located at 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Tuesday, January 23, 2:30pm to 4:00pm, Rainbow Cafe at Franklin Senior Center. Are you a member or ally of the LGBTQ+ community?! Please join us for conversation and friendship with like minded people. Select Senior for information about Senior Center activities. Located at 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Tuesday, January 23, 6:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation: Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? at Dean College Marvin Chapel on the Dean College campus. This event is in-person and open to the public. This information is shared from Franklin Observer.

Tuesday, January 23, 7:00pm to 9:00pm, Trivia Night at Raillery Public House. Come join us every Tuesday night, beginning January 23, for trivia! Great food, great drinks, fun with your friends and prizes, what else could you ask for? Select Raillery for more information about this restaurant. Located at 280 Franklin Village Drive.

Sunday, January 28, 10:00am, What We Say Matters: A Timely Conversation Exploring the Power of Words to Shape Others and a Person’s Own Behavior. This is a Special Lay Led Service at First Universalist Society in Franklin. All Are Welcome! FUSF is located at 262 Chestnut Street.

Register Now. Sound Bath Meditation Workshop, January 29.

Do you crave an evening of zen? A sound bath is a full-body meditative experience where people lie down and listen to resonant sounds to relax and relieve stress. Lifelong Community Learning is hosting a one-night Sound Bath Meditation Workshop on January 29th at Franklin High School, 219 Oak Street. Choose Sound Bath for more information.

Register now. Men's Basketball (Tuesdays), Beginning January 30. Looking for a way to have fun, stay in shape, and compete playing a sport you love? Join Lifelong Community Learning's 15-week Winter/Spring session of Men's Basketball (Tuesdays) starting January 30th at Remington Middle School 628 Washington Street. Choose Basketball for more information.

Wednesday, January 31, 6:00pm to 7:00pm, Where Do We Go from Here: Music and Spoken Word. Presented in Dean College Marvin Chapel, Music by Anthony Trecek-King Resident Conductor, Chorus - Handel +Haydn Society. Words by Martin Luther King, Jr., Global Icon. Information shared from Franklin Observer.

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance

Thursday, February 1 at 6:00pm. Monthly Meeting at Franklin Public Library 

Tuesday, February 13 6:00pm LGBTQ+ Book Club at the Franklin Library (upstairs meeting room). Reading Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde. Book available at Escape into Fiction bookstore. Select LGBTQ for the Franklin LGBTQ Alliance Facebook page.

Register Now for Thursday, February 15, 7:00pm to 9:00pm, Magical Winter Solstice Night at Creative Corner Art Studio. Select Creative for more information.

Register Now for Summer 2024, Art Summer Camp at Creative Corner Art Studio. Register now. Select Summer for more information.

Partnering with Franklin Matters @https://www.franklinmatters.org sharing information about arts and culture. Visit Franklin Matters for Franklin information.

Franklin Cultural District Committee

Amy Adams, Katherine Botelho,

Pandora Carlucci, Sue Cass, Patrick Conlan,

John LoPresti, Roberta Trahan

Next meeting 7:00pm. January 25.