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

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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 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

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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

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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 Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion virtually on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

We talk about

1. Reviewed the regular open hours, book sale and holiday scheduling for the month
2. Closed on Sundays due to budget reduction
3. Closed all day on Monday, Feb 16 for President’s Day
4. Library events for February 2026
5. In calendar order rather than by category this time around

Registration for those events required should be done through the Town website, Library page. There are nefarious folks trying to convince folks otherwise via Facebook. Be safe, use the official Town and Library pages.

The show notes include links to the Library page and to the calendar of events where registration for some of the events is required/recommended.

The recording runs about 17 minutes, so let’s listen in.

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Mitzi Gousie’s email -> mgousie@minlib.net

Franklin Public Library page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/233/Franklin-Public-Library

Library event calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

February 2026 newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/92

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

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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