In Other News

Declaration of Independence Facsimile Arrives as Part of Revolution 250

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 7:30 pm, State Rep. Jeff Roy will be delivering a hand printed copy of the Declaration of Independence to Franklin officials on the Town Common at the beginning of the 4th of July festivities. It is part of Revolution 250's "Declaration Delivery Day" initiative. All 351 cities and towns across Massachusetts will receive one of these special reproductions, echoing the exact journey the document took nearly 250 years ago. Roy reportedly made a similar delivery recently in Medway.  "What makes this so special is that historian and printer Gary Gregory meticulously handcrafted these copies at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill," Roy explained. He used period-accurate ink, handmade paper from Twinrocker Paper, and hand-set over 10,000 individual pieces of type to replicate the labor-intensive process of 1776. In July 1776, after the Declaration was signed, over 300 copies were rushed to Massachusetts towns. Local ministers read the words aloud to their congregations, marking the exact moment the Revolution transformed from a political debate into a shared public commitment. Several people affiliated with the Franklin 250 Celebration are planning to read the Declaration on Saturday, July 4 at 10 am on the Common, followed (hopefully) by a militia musket volley.

Water Main Break in Franklin on Monday

The Franklin Department of Public Works responded to a water main break on Brook Street near 61 Brook St., between Shady Lane and Lisa Lane  on Monday, leading to a temporary shutoff of water and traffic detours.

More Beaches Closed

Patch is reporting a Haverhill sewer rupture — causing about 8 million gallons of untreated wastewater to flow into the Merrimack River per day as of Monday — ha contributed to a spike in Massachusetts beach closures ahead of a scorching heat wave and July 4 holiday weekend on Tuesday. Some 41 beaches are now closed.

Granite State Parses School Budgets

According to the New Hampshire Bulletin, New Hampshire school administrative units will soon be required to craft their own budgets and voters will be empowered to vote down those budgets, under a law signed by Gov. Kelly Ayotte that Republicans hope will help drive down school administrative costs.  And if the proposed budget is voted down, the SAU must adopt an “adjusted budget” that would fund the SAU at the same level as the past year, with no pay increases, benefit increases, new positions, or new programs.