Friday, April 29, 2011

Franklin Beautification Day to be May 21


The Franklin Downtown Partnership is recruiting volunteers to help spruce up the downtown during the eighth annual Beautification Day on Saturday, May 21. The event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to Noon, rain or shine.


Together with the Franklin Garden Club and Wadsworth Farm, the non-profit Partnership will install more than 1,400 flowers and greens on the bridge and islands downtown and in planter boxes in front of some businesses. All residents, especially students in need of community service hours, are encouraged to spend some time digging in the dirt to help decorate downtown Franklin. Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. on the center island in front of the Rome Restaurant.


“We have planned some beautiful, eye-catching displays this year,” says Beautification Day Chairperson Eileen Mason. The color scheme for this year’s plantings is white, blue and burgundy, and includes Compact Sun Patience, Burgundy Star and Blue Moon Petunias, Victoria Blue Salvia, Lobelia, Lantana and Red Proven Winner’s Grass. “These are hardy plants that will stay blooming and beautiful from spring through the fall.”


The Partnership and Garden Club work year-round on this beautification effort. This spring’s plants were chosen last November and then grown in the Wadsworth Farm greenhouses over the winter. After the initial planting, the Partnership coordinates with the Garden Club members to water and maintain the gardens and flower boxes throughout the warm months. Next fall the boxes will be cleaned up and prepared for volunteers to decorate for the winter holidays.


“Every year our volunteers do an amazing job. If it weren’t for them and the donations we receive from residents and businesses we wouldn’t be able to create these beautiful displays and brighten up downtown Franklin,” says Mason. “We welcome anyone who wants to get their hands dirty with us or make a donation to offset the cost of the new boxes and the flowers.”


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 2011 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 emason11@verizon.net. Details about sponsorship can also be found on the Partnership’s website, franklindowntownpartnership.org/, under the Sponsorship tab.


All contributions to the Franklin Downtown Partnership, a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to: Franklin Downtown Partnership, P.O. Box 413, Franklin, MA, 02038. For more information about the Partnership and becoming a member contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Important Dates

FDP Networking Luncheon
Friday, April 29th, 1:00 p.m.

Dean College Campus Dining Hall
$5.00 all you can eat
RSVP Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com

Strawberry Stroll participant information due by May 1st
If you are interested in participating in the Strawberry Stroll on June 16 please contact the event co-chairs: Diane Glass at dianeglasslaw@gmail.com or Nicole Fortier at nfortier@deanbank.com.

Strawberry Stroll Sponsors are due by May 11th
We need your support!
Please email the FDP office at franklin.downtown@yahoo.com if you would like to sponsor this event.
Sponsorship Opportunities can be found
here, and a Sponsorship Registration Form can be found here.

Beautification Day
Saturday, May 21st

Sponsors and volunteers are needed.
Beautification invoices have been sent out to downtown businesses. Please note: payment must be received by May 20th in order for flowers to be planted at your location this year.
For more information please contact Beautification Chair Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net

2011 Membership Renewals
Past Due

Please e-mail the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com if you have NOT sent in your renewal

FDP General Meeting
Thursday, May 19th, 8:30 a.m.

Dean College Campus Center
Agenda will be posted on the website

Harvest Festival
Sunday, October 2nd

Information will be sent out shortly.
Please contact Harvest Festival Chair Angie Grant at agrant@middlesexbank.com if you have questions. Please contact the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or 774-571-3109 if you would like to sponsor this event.




Friday, April 15, 2011

Fire Destroys Abandoned Building

A fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. today in the vacant Masonic temple and dance studio at 25 Dean Street, directly behind the Post Office and the Bank of America branch. As of this writing there were no injuries reported and the cause of the blaze is under investigation, according to the Milford Daily News and WCVB-TV Channel 5.

Firefighters from nine surrounding towns aided the Franklin Fire Department with the 5-alarm blaze, which was largely under control by 4:30. The fire, near the intersection of Main Street and Dean Avenue, closed most of the roads downtown and forced the fire department to evacuate nearby houses. Students at Dean College were put on lockdown.



Monday, April 11, 2011

Networking

Join us for our next Partnership Networking Luncheon!
Friday, April 29th at 1:00 p.m.
Dean College Campus Center Dining Hall
Cost:  $5.50


Please RSVP to Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com


Enjoy great food while introducing yourself to other Partnership members!


Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Please Consider Sponsorship

We at the Partnership hope that you will consider sponsoring one of our many community events this year!


Beautification Day -- May 21st
Strawberry Stroll -- June 16th


In order to be listed in the newspaper and on posters please send in your sponsorship by April 30th.


Click here for a 2011 Sponsorship Registration Form, and here for a listing of 2011 Sponsorship Opportunities. More information can also be found by opening the Sponsorship tab above.


Thanks to all of those businesses and residents who have supported these events in the past!


Remember, if you want to participate in the Strawberry Stroll you need to contact our event chairs: Nicole Fortier at nfortier@deanbank.com or Diane Glass at dianeglasslaw@gmail.com so they can include you on the flyer.


Don't miss out -- Spring is here!