Thursday, May 31, 2012

Strawberry Stroll Map

Please join us on Thursday, June 7, for our Strawberry Stroll! 
You can download and print this map to help you navigate the event. 
Map courtesy of the Franklin Local Town Pages.
2012 Strawberry Stroll Map

Networking Event Tonight

You are invited to attend a special
After Hours Party

Franklin Downtown Partnership
Networking Evening
Tonight -- May 31, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

At Sally's Alley New Showroom
470 Franklin Village Drive, Franklin

Refreshments and Drinks will be served.
Come browse ad see the newest window treatment fashions, 
Enjoy meeting new FDP members!

RSVP Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Beautification Thank You

Many Thanks to all the volunteers who came out Saturday (May 19) to help the Partnership and the Garden Club plant 1,000 flowers and plants around the downtown! 


The following photos are posted here courtesy of Franklin Local Town Pages.






2012 Strawberry Stroll Press Release


Franklin’s Strawberry Stroll to be Thursday, June 7
The Franklin Downtown Partnership expects to dish up more than 700 sweet, juicy strawberry shortcakes at this year’s Strawberry Stroll on Thursday, June 7. The event will be held downtown from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., rain or shine. 
The FDP’s famous strawberry shortcakes will be served up by Dean Bank’s branch staff in front of the bank on Main Street. Dean College volunteers expect to cut more than 160 quarts of red, ripe strawberries for the stroll. Garelick Farms will provide 4 cases of whipped cream to top off the mouth-watering dessert. 
“We sold out of our shortcakes last year thanks to all the families who came downtown to enjoy the afternoon and explore our shops and restaurants,” says Nicole Fortier, event chairperson. “The whole idea of the Stroll is to enhance cohesiveness. We want to bring people and merchants together and get them engaged in the downtown.” 
Sponsorship Row in the Berry Insurance parking lot will feature the event’s backers. Platinum sponsor for this event is Dean Bank and silver sponsors are Dean College and Garelick Farms. Bronze sponsors are Chestnut Dental Associates, CVS Pharmacy, Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) and Keefe Insurance. Music will be provided by Music Odyssey Productions, and the Franklin Art Center will showcase self portraits by budding artists from the Franklin Children’s School. 
Participating businesses throughout downtown plan sweet and spring-themed specials for the afternoon. Singer and guitarist Kevin Wolfe will be performing outside Pisini Shoes on Main Street. On East Central Street the band Yookeroo will perform at The Cake Bar. At Jane’s Frames owner Jane Curran will show visitors how to create lively and fun home displays with children’s framed art while local musician and music teacher Jamie Barrett entertains young and old and all those in between. 
The Historical Museum invites the public to its wedding gown display and refreshments on the porch, and A Cut Above will offer visitors lemonade and cookies along with giveaways. Vallee’s Jewelers plans to buy back gold items at their shop on Main Street. Many other downtown businesses also are offering store specials and discounts. 
Sponsorship opportunities are still available for this popular event. For more information contact Event Chair Nicole Fortier at nfortier@deanbank.com.  More information is also available on the Partnership’s website at www.franklindowntownpartnership.com.  As a non-profit organization, the Downtown Partnership depends on sponsors to run events like this, the Harvest Festival and the Holiday Stroll. 
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Partnership’s mission is to stimulate economic development downtown in order to create a positive impact throughout the area, and to be a pro-active organization that brings residents, business owners and community leaders together, encourages cooperation and builds leadership for the purpose of revitalizing downtown Franklin. For more information please contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.  

Monday, May 21, 2012

Networking Event

Members are invited to attend a special networking evening


Franklin Downtown Partnership
Networking Evening
Thursday, May 31, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.


An evening of networking and design tips
at Sally's Alley's New Showroom
470 Franklin Village Drive, Franklin

Refreshments and drinks will be served.
Come browse and see the newest in Window Treatment Fashions! 
Enjoy meeting new FDP members!

RSVP to Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com

Friday, May 18, 2012

Beautification, Harvest Festival Reminders

Beautification Day
Saturday, May 19
8:00 a.m. to Noon
Volunteers needed
Please consider coming out to help! If you have a truck available please contact Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net.



Harvest Festival -- Important Update
Space is limited.  This year we will be offering FDP members their free booth space prior to non-members. Registrations will be mailed out in mid June to 2012 FDP members.


If you have not paid your 2012 membership fee please make sure you send it in soon so you don't miss out on your FREE Harvest Festival boothRegistrations only will be sent to 2012 members. Click here for the 2012 membership registration form.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

2012 Strawberry Stroll Handout

This is the listing of businesses participating in this year's Strawberry Stroll on Thursday, June 7. Please join us downtown!2012 Strawberry Stroll Handout

Master Plan Hearing this Saturday

FRANKLIN - Franklin’s Master Plan Committee will hold its second of two public hearings on Saturday morning to hear from residents about what they want for the future of Franklin. The hearing is scheduled for Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 in the conference room at Franklin Public Library.

“This hearing will afford Franklin residents another opportunity to provide input on the planning process, and get involved early in developing the Franklin’s Master Plan,” noted Committee Chairman and Town Councilor Jeffrey Roy. “We have been meeting for several months formulating a structure for our work, and we want to hear from the Franklin community about priorities and concerns. We have scheduled the two hearings to afford citizens a good opportunity to participate in the process.”

The committee held its first public hearing on Tuesday, May 9, 2012. You can read the Milford Daily News report on that meeting at http://tinyurl.com/7q5pxbc

In December 2011, following the election of a new Town Council, the Master Plan Committee was formed to develop documents, review research and data, and obtain public input to outline and compose a Master Plan for the community. In addition, the Committee will incorporate a strategic plan into this effort that will invite residents to visit the questions of who we are and what we want for our community.

“Attending a public hearing will provide Franklin’s residents and organizations a great opportunity to provide the Town’s Master Plan Committee with input as the Committee works toward development of a vision for the Town’s future,” said Bryan Taberner, the Director of Franklin’s Planning & Community Development Department. “The public process is an extremely important component of any comprehensive planning process, as the resulting goals and objectives will help to focus the decision making of Town officials well into the future.” 

By law, a Master Plan is a statement through text, maps, illustrations or other forms of communication that is designed to provide a basis for decision making regarding the long-term physical development of the municipality. In that context, the committee is looking at the following elements: Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Circulation, Open Space and Recreation, Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources, Community Services, and Facilities. The Committee will establish recommendations for goals and policies in these areas and develop an implementation plan. The report is expected to be delivered to the Town Council by June 2013.

Beth Dahlstrom, Franklin’s Town Planner is hoping to learn how the residents of Franklin view the community in which they live. She is interested in learning about what the residents see as the most important aspects of the community and what can the Town can do to enhance areas within the community to make it a better place to live. “I then hope the Master Plan Committee will be able to then use the information obtained at the Public Hearing to help formulate goals and objectives for use in the Master Plan,” noted Dahlstrom..

The Master Plan Committee members are Jeffrey Roy, Chairman, Matt Kelly, Vice Chairman, Andy Bissanti, Secretary, Christi Apicella, Nathan Carlucci, John Carroll, David F. Dobrzynski, Jay Duncan, James Esterbrook , Gene Grella, Jeff Livingstone, Greg Rondeau, Timothy C. Twardowski, and Chris Vericker. 

The Committee has a website on the Franklin Town page athttp://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/Masterplan. It also has a presence on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FranklinMasterPlan. In addition to the public hearings, residents can offer input online at either site.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Trucks Needed for Beautification Day

Dear FDP members:


Eileen Mason, our Beautification chair, is in need of 5 pick-up trucks this Saturday, May 19, in order to transport the flowers to the downtown for Beautification Day.


The trucks are needed at 7:30 a.m. at Fairmount Fruit Farm on Lincoln Street, Franklin.


Please e-mail Eileen at emason11@verizon.net if you have a truck and can help out.


Thank you!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Public Hearing Notice

Click here to read the entire press release from the Master Plan Committee.
Public Hearing Flyer

Monday, May 7, 2012

Strawberry Stroll & Reminders

Last call if you would like to be a sponsor or participant of the Strawberry Stroll on Thursday, June 7. Please email us with your sponsorship information and we will get you listed.


Strawberry Stroll Sponsorship
We have extended the deadline to Wednesday, May 9, for Strawberry Stroll Sponsorships. Please email the FDP office at Downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com if you would like to be a sponsor and be included in Sponsorship Row and listed in the press release, flyers and posters. 


Attention Downtown Merchants
If you are planning on participating please email our event chair Nicole Fortier at nfortier@deanbank.com so she can include your business on the flyer. Final deadline is Wednesday, May 9. 




Spring Reminders...


Beautification Day
Saturday, May 19, 9:00 a.m.
Sponsors Needed
Please consider being a sponsor so we can continue with our beautiful flowers. 
Flower invoices due this week!


Membership
Did you forget to send in your 2012 renewal?


Thank you to all of you who continue to support the FDP with your membership and sponsorships.


Please check our website and make sure your business link is in the column to the right of this page.


Harvest Festival 
Sunday, September 30
Information coming soon!
Mary Graff is the booth event chair and can be reached at mgraff@berryinsurance.com




Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Car Crashes into Emma's Quilt Cupboard

Franklin shop to reopen after car crashed into it
By Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Posted May 01, 2012 @ 02:27 AM
Last update May 01, 2012 @ 10:02 AM

FRANKLIN -- A downtown quilt store which was heavily damaged by a car early Sunday morning is expected to reopen today, the shop’s owner says.

“(The police) called me at 2:30 in the morning to let me know somebody had driven into the building,” said Cyndi Rich, owner of Emma’s Quilt Cupboard.

Police did not return phone calls yesterday.

According to the arrest log, a Waltham man was arrested Sunday after driving into 12 Main St. — the address of Emma’s Quilt Cupboard — at 2:27 a.m.


Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x515662772/Franklin-shop-recovering-after-car-crashed-into-it#ixzz1tdedw2eY


Food Pantry Director Moves On

Franklin Food Pantry Executive Director Anne Marie Bellavance has resigned from the organization and will return to a career in Human Resources. According to its Board of Directors, Bellavance ran the Food Pantry for 30 months, during which time the organization became financially stable. As a result of her leadership, the Pantry, an FDP member, now provides more food and non-food items to 25% more clients than in the prior fiscal year, and clients are now able to pick up fresh produce throughout the year.


The Pantry will remain operating under Pantry Manager Linda Sottile. The Pantry, located at 43 West Central Street, is open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.