Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Thanks for Beautification Day

Thank you for a wonderful day of planting on Saturday. Special thanks to Eileen Mason our Beautification Chair and to the Garden Club. Please remember that the flowers on the bridge and the downtown islands are paid for by donations. We ask that businesses consider sponsoring the flowers this year. We really need your help to continue funding the Beautification projects. Bronze Sponsor is $150 and Silver Sponsor is $250. Attached are the details of the sponsorship levels. Thanks for your continued support on making our downtown Beautiful! Please call or e-mail the FDP office if you would like to contribute. (774)571-3109 or e-mail Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net

Monday, May 24, 2010

Water the flowers!


Remember to water your flowers that were just planted. They will die quickly in this type of hot weather without water!


Anyone who is interested in volunteering to water the flowers on the bridge or islands please contact Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net

Friday, May 21, 2010

Strawberry Festival - Third Thursday - 6/17/10

The Strawberry Festival and Third Thursday is June 17th. Deadline for sponsors and participant information is Monday, May 24th. Don't miss out!

Please read important information below:

- If you would like to participate please contact one of our Strawberry Festival Chairs: Nicole Fortier or Ann Marie Van De Giesen by Monday, May 24th.

- We are looking for businesses that would like to offer family activities such as face painting, sport demonstrations, balloons or other types of entertainment.

- Please contact Joel Carrara if you would like to help with set-up or clean up the day of the event.

- If you would like to participate in the Third Thursday event the same day please contact Jane Curran.

- If you would like to sponsor either of these events, please contact Lisa Piana. Remember for $300 you will be listed on all flyers, posters, on the website, and in two newspapers.

This is a great opportunity for local businesses to advertise and support the Franklin Downtown Partnership!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

May 20, 2010, meeting minutes

Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting
May 20, 2010
Minutes

Attendance: 24 people were in attendance.

The meeting was opened at 8:39 am by President Nicole Fortier.

Adoption of Agenda
Motion: Roberta Trahan moved and Del Arnold seconded: To adopt the agenda.
Vote: Unanimously approved.

Introductions: All those in attendance introduced themselves.

Beautification:
Eileen Mason reported that we have 1200 plants to plant this Saturday, from 8-12noon. Volunteers are still needed. She is also looking for people/businesses to take a week of watering/weeding for the summer so we can keep the flowers looking great all summer long.

Executive Director’s Report:
Executive Director Lisa Piana reported the following:
  1. Membership is up.  We have 124 members to date.
  2. Sponsorship is down a bit. Sponsorship levels for Strawberry Festival, Third Thursday, Harvest Festival and Beautification were discussed.
  3. A special thank you to Steve Sherlock for all his work on the website. Hope to launch in June and all members will have links on the site.
  4. Thank you to Diane & Michael Glass for the office space and new lights. Thank you to Dean College for the space and refreshments.
Strawberry Festival/Third Thursday:
Nicole Fortier announced the Strawberry Festival will be held June 17th from 4-8 pm. There will be a planning meeting on May 25th at 8:30am.

Town Update:
Bryan Taberner reported:
  1. A special election for the town override will be held on June 8th.
  2. Still reviewing underground utilities for small piece of East Central Street.
  3. Water main construction will be occurring in June or early July.
  4. Town Web-site will continue to have updates on the Downtown Improvement project. Public input is desired on the project and it is easy to do on the web.
  5. The town is doing some marketing about doing business in Franklin. They have put together a series of PDF brochures that are on the website.
Museum:
Del Arnold, Historical Commission reported:
The museum is now open. The Ribbon Cutting was held on May 22.  Hours will be Thursday evenings from 5-8pm, Saturday 10am -1pm and Sunday afternoons 1-5pm.

Business/Organization Updates:
Those in attendance shared what was happening in their businesses/organizations.

Meeting adjourned at 9:25 am.


Respectfully submitted,



Cindy T. Kozil
Secretary

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Franklin Downtown Partnership - General Meeting - Agenda

Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting Agenda
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Dean College Golder Room - 8:30 am


I.    Open Meeting

II.   Adoption of Agenda                          

III.  Beautification: Eileen Mason, Chair                          

IV.   Report from Executive Director
a.    Membership
b.    Sponsorship
c.    Website

V.    Strawberry Festival/Third Thursday: Nicole Fortier and Jane Curran

VI.   Town Update: Bryan Taberner                          

VII.  Museum: Del Arnold, Historical Commission

VIII. New Business

IX.   Other Business

X.    Adjourn

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Beautification Day - May 22


All residents are welcome to pull on their gardening gloves and bring their tools to help plant more than 1,200 plants during Franklin’s seventh annual Beautification Day on Saturday, May 22, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The event will take place rain or shine.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership, together with the Franklin Garden Club and Wadsworth Farm, is again organizing the plantings for the bridge and the islands downtown. Volunteers are asked to meet at 9:00 a.m. on the center island in downtown. High school students who need community service hours are welcome to participate.

“This is our seventh year beautifying the downtown and it’s become a passion for all involved,” says Eileen Mason, Beautification Day chairperson.  “We want to make a strong, positive impression on all those who visit Franklin in hopes that they may someday come back to shop, eat and relax in our wonderfully revitalized downtown community.

We also do this to soften and minimize the ‘concrete look’ in the center of town,” adds Mason.  “All this is accomplished solely through sponsorships, donations and 100 percent volunteer hours. We need everyone’s participation.”

The color scheme for this year’s plantings is pinks and blues, including Rose and Purple Wave Petunias, Blue Annabelle Lobelia, Persian Shield, Diamond Frost, and blue, white and pink Salvia.

According to Mason, the downtown beautification effort follows a year-long cycle. This spring’s plants were chosen last November, and then planted in the Wadsworth Farm greenhouses in March in order to be ready for planting this May. In October, beautification volunteers remove the plants and prepare for winter, placing evergreen decorations in containers the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

“Although we plant in May, this is a year-round project. Sponsorships and donations are what keep this effort going,” says Mason.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Gold and platinum-level sponsors will have their names prominently displayed on a sign in the center island for the 2010 season. Silver sponsors will have their name displayed on a group sign in the center island for the remainder of the year.

Interested sponsors and volunteers should contact Eileen Mason at 508-330-4234 for more details. 

All contributions to the Franklin Downtown Partnership, a non-profit organization, are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to:  Franklin Downtown Partnership, P.O. Box 413FranklinMA02038.  For more information about the Partnership and becoming a member, contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774) 571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com

Monday, May 17, 2010

Wow ... such a deal!

Now that we have your attention!

Did you know ...for $250 your name can be listed on the downtown Beautification signs for 8 months?!

Did you know...for $300 your business name can be listed on over 1000 posters
that are distributed throughout Franklin, listed on the Website, and mentioned in the paper numerous times!?

But most important...did you know that without sponsorship support from businesses like yours
the Partnership would not be able to have the Harvest Festival, Strawberry Festival, Third Thursday Event, Holiday Stroll or plant hundreds of flowers downtown?

As a non-profit organization, we need your support more than ever...Please consider sponsoring one of our many events.

The list of sponsor opportunities can be found here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ai_Lbt-ScYdLdHZBb0hMMEdCYlVBTGNfWkp6VTRlUXc&hl=en#gid=0

The sponsor form can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AS_Lbt-ScYdLZHJkdDN6N18zaHRienNoZ2M&hl=en


Thank you for your support,

The Sponsorship Committee

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Downtown Is Ready for Spring


...once we plant 1,200 flowers!

We need YOU to come out and join the Beautification volunteers on Saturday, May 22nd 9:00-12:00

Busy that day?

How about Friday May 21st from 9:00-11:00?
We need help at Wadsworth Farms to separate plants.

Working that day?

How about sponsoring the flowers by sending in a donation?

There are so many ways to help out!
WE NEED YOU this year !

Please e-mail Eileen Mason our Beautification Event Chair.... I know she would love to have your help...maybe you can help water during the summer...? 508-330-4234

Give her a call......or just come...!

It is fun ....and will make you feel good about helping out....!!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Downtown Improvement Project - live broadcast and presentation

The workshop on May 12th to review and discuss the Downtown Improvement Project plans was recorded and available for viewing here: The presentation used for the workshop is available here: Franklin, MA

Monday, May 10, 2010

Downtown Franklin Project in Need of Input

The Town of Franklin is holding a public meeting in order to obtain comments and suggestions on the Downtown Franklin Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project. The meeting will be held on Wednesday May 12, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Third Floor Training Room of Franklin’s Municipal Building at 355 East Central Street.

The meeting will consist of two parts: The first half of the meeting will consist mainly of a presentation by Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc., the Town’s design and engineering consultant for the project. The presentation will include a general update on the planning and engineering portion of the project, as well as a presentation of specific project details through utilization of maps, diagrams and schematics.

The second half of the night will be a hands on workshop, where meeting attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, exchange ideas, and provide suggestions on various general topics as well as the project’s specific design components. The Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project is a multi-year roadway and streetscape improvement project expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

The project includes elimination of the one way traffic pattern of Route 140 in Downtown Franklin, installation of interconnected traffic signals with emergency preemption system, period streetlights, traffic calming devices, resetting curbs were needed, ADA compliant sidewalks, resurfacing of streets, and streetscape/landscape improvements and furniture.~ The goals of this important project are to improve vehicular circulation and safety, improve emergency response time, improve the deteriorated conditions of certain secondary roadways, create a safer pedestrian friendly environment, improve the overall appearance of Downtown Franklin, and stimulate private sector investment.

At this time input is being sought from the general public, government officials, Downtown business owners, property owners, and other individuals and organizations. To make it easy for individuals to submit comments and suggestions during the next few months, DPCD will hold at least two public meetings and workshops, including the May 12th meeting, and a required Public Hearing during the summer to review the 25 percent draft design.

Franklin’s department of Planning and Community Development has created the Downtown Improvement Project webpage on the Town’s website: http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/dtimprovement

 Please utilize the web site to provide input and look for other ways to participate in this important project.

 In addition, feel free to contact Franklin’s Director of Planning and Community Development, Bryan W. Taberner, at 508-520-4907 or btaberner@franklin.ma.us if you have questions or require additional information.