In Other News

Beaver Street Interceptor Updates

Starting Tuesday (5/26) between 7 AM. and 4 PM, the contractor will install helical piles along West Central Street. During this time there will be an evening lane closure on West Central Street between the 99 Restaurant and BJ's. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

Upcoming Road Closure: Saturday, June 13 – Monday, June 15Starting at 12:00 AM on Saturday, June 13, Beaver Street will close at the MBTA train tracks. This area will remain closed 24 hours a day until Monday, June 15, at 4:00 PM. A detour will be in place during this time.

Access Details:- Via Rt. 140 only: Access to 242 through 290 Beaver Street, including Franklin Glass, and Franklin Recreation.- Via Grove St. only: Access to all other locations on Beaver Street, including the Town of Franklin Recycling Center, Beaver Street Recreation Area, and businesses on Master Drive

Train Interruption  Coming

.MBTA Service Notice:MBTA Commuter Rail service to Forge Parkway and Dean College (Downtown) Stations will be suspended on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14.

Job Gains but No Movement on Unemployment Number

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for April 2026, with preliminary data indicating that payroll jobs increased by 8,500 for the month, following a revised increase of 7,200 jobs in March. Massachusetts has added more than 21,600 payroll jobs, including 19,600 private sector jobs, since September and has outpaced the country over the past 6 months. Preliminary data also shows the April unemployment rate remained at 4.7% and labor force participation rate decreased slightly to 65.6%.

Life is a Clean Beach

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $254,000 in grant funding that Massachusetts will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.  “New England’s beaches are central to the region’s coastal way of life, sustaining communities and driving local economies,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. “This funding helps protect human health by ensuring beaches are regularly monitored so Americans can enjoy clean, safe water for swimming and recreation.”

This funding is authorized by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and advances EPA’s goals of enhancing cooperative federalism and ensuring that every American has access to clean and safe water, two key pillars of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative.

Learn more about BEACH Act grants.