Thursday, August 28, 2014

We Love Our Sponsors!

Thank you all for your continued support!

As you know the FDP is able to continue our many events and festivals because of local support from our business community.

Below are links to the sponsorship information for the October 5th Harvest Festival.  We hope you will consider being a sponsor of this wonderful event.

Your business will be listed on all related press releases, our website, all promotional materials and signage.  You will also have your booth location on "Sponsorship Row."

Please contact the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or (774) 571-3109 if you are interested in being a sponsor this year.

Thank you again for all of your support!






Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Important Reminders

Discussion on Downtown Emmons Street property
Economic Development Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 3, 5:30 pm
Town Hall meeting room, 3rd floor
Committee will decide on specific recommendations to be included in the RFP.
Public encouraged to attend.

FDP General Meeting
Thursday, September 4, 8:30 am
Dean College
New members welcome!

Harvest Festival Booth Registrations
Due:  September 5
Late charge of $35.00 after September 5

Sponsorships Needed
Please contact the FDP office so we can include your business in the press materials.
(774) 571-3109



Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Franklin Ford Looking for Teens with Computer Skills

Do you know a tech-savvy teen who wants to learn about online marketing and make some money?

Franklin Ford is looking to fill a part-time position in the Parts Department afternoons and possibly Saturdays. The successful candidate would work with Parts personnel to market products via Ebay by posting, monitoring customer responses and facilitating online transactions.

Interested candidates can contact Barry Madden, btm33b@comcast.net


Monday, August 25, 2014

Deadline Today to Secure Store-Front Space

Attention all downtown business members:

If you wish to locate your Harvest Festival booth in front of your store downtown, please fill out, sign and mail in your registration form no later than today!

After today we will open those spaces to our other registrants.

All other registrations must be received by September 5 or they will be subject to a $35 late charge. 

We will not accept any registrations after September 9.

Click here for a 2014 Registration Form.





Friday, August 22, 2014

Franklin's Emmons Street Development in the News

The Milford Daily News covered Wednesday night's discussion about the future commercial and green space development of the property at 150 Emmons Street. 

FRANKLIN — The question of how much green space to allow at 150 Emmons St. has again mired progress toward developing the town-owned property.
Town officials intend to issue a request for proposals sometime this year, but not until they decide exactly what they want to see the property become. The only consensus has been to reserve a portion for green space whereupon the town could commission a statue for Horace Mann, the American education reformer.

To read Matt Tota's story in its entirety, please click on the link below (subscription may be required). 

Green space question entangles progress on Franklin's Emmons Street


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Harvest Festival Planning Press Release, Forms



The Franklin Downtown Partnership is currently planning the 12th annual Harvest Festival and is looking for crafters, entertainers, vendors, volunteers and sponsors. The festival is scheduled for Sunday, October 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will take place rain or shine.


Organizers expect more than 6,000 visitors to attend this year’s event in downtown Franklin, where they’ll be treated to delicious food options, a live DJ and local entertainers on several stages, games and activities for the kids, and more than 100 crafter, artist and organization booths to browse through. Local businesses will hold sales and special promotions, and the Fire Station and the Historical Museum plan displays and activities.


“The Harvest Festival is one of the best opportunities we have to bring the community together and show off all that downtown Franklin has to offer. Year after year our visitors discover great shopping, new restaurants, helpful resources and talented local artists,” says Executive Director Lisa Piana.


There is still time for crafters, organizations, performers and interested groups to participate. Booth space is limited and registrations must be received by September 5. Registration forms and more information can be found at www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/ or by contacting Booth Chairperson Terri Frank at terrifrank1@gmail.com.


Sponsors are needed to support this festival. The FDP relies on sponsors to run this and other events, including the Strawberry Stroll, Holiday Stroll and its beautification days. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsorship can contact the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or (774)-571-3109.  Sponsorship forms and a full list of opportunities can be found on the website under the Sponsors tab.


The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a 501(c)3 organization made up of more than 200 business owners, community leaders and residents working to revitalize downtown Franklin through events, education and communication. For more information about the Partnership or any of its efforts please contact the office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or (774)571-3109.


###


Click on these links to download and print these important forms:






Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Franklin Mentioned in Downtown Parking Story

The future of parking in downtown Franklin is mentioned in this Milford Daily News story posted this week: 

Officials: Downtown parking key to economic growth
In Franklin, the Town Council is considering removing downtown parking meters and changing parking restrictions in an attempt to bring more customers to area restaurants and shops, said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting.
Earlier this month, Nutting requested the council eliminate the meters in favor of a new two-hour parking policy during the week, which he hopes will bring more traffic downtown.
"Thursday, Friday and Saturday night the place is jammed," he said. "Part of the plan is to better utilize existing spaces."
Nutting also proposed limiting the hours for commuter rail parking and creating permits to sell to area business owners.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Shop Local this Weekend



This weekend is the Commonwealth's sales tax holiday. 
When you're thinking about a purchase,
please consider buying right here in Franklin.
It's good for our retailers and benefits us all!




Friday, August 15, 2014

Harvest Festival Registration Press Release, Forms

Harvest Festival Registration Press Release:



The Franklin Downtown Partnership’s 12th annual Harvest Festival will be Sunday, October 5, and is expected to draw more than 6,000 visitors to Franklin. The registration deadline for crafters, vendors, artists and community groups who want to participate is September 5. Downtown business owners who want to secure storefront space should register before August 25.


The Harvest Festival will be held rain or shine, and booth space is limited. Booths are free to 2014 Partnership members, $125 for non members, and $185 for food vendors. A late charge of $35 will be added to registration forms received after September 5 if booth space is still available. Interested vendors should sign up early since booth space usually sells out. No registrations will be accepted after September 9.


Event details and registration forms can be found at www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/.


Sponsors are needed to help support the FDP’s largest and most popular festival. As a non-profit organization, the Downtown Partnership depends on sponsors to fund this and other efforts including Beautification, the Strawberry Stroll and the Holiday Stroll. Sponsorship forms can be found on the FDP website under the Sponsors tab.


For more information about the Franklin Downtown Partnership please contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.  


###




Click on these links to download and print these important forms:









Friday, August 8, 2014

2014 Harvest Festival Registration Form

It's that time of year again! Time to plan ahead and secure a booth space for the 2014 Harvest Festival in downtown Franklin. The event will be Sunday, October 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine!

Click here to download and print the 2014 Registration Form.

Please pay close attention to the deadlines - booth space sells out quickly! 






Thursday, August 7, 2014

Ladybugs to be Displayed on Town Common Aug. 9 & 10


A note from the Franklin Cultural Council:


Hello,

The Franklin Cultural Council is truly grateful to you for joining the Ladybug Spots Project. We want to remind you that the decorated ladybugs will be on display this coming weekend, August 9th and 10th, from 12p.m. to 4p.m. on Franklin Common.  We would love to see you and catch up among the beautiful, bright and creative two foot fiberglass ladybugs, each one a unique piece of public art.  Stop by before or after a trip to St. Rocco’s Italian Festival on St. Mary’s former School Grounds.  Maybe bring a cannoli or two to share. 

If you can’t make it this weekend or still want sponsor a ladybug, don’t worry.  We have just five left and they are looking for homes.  Contact franklinculture@hotmail.com for more details.

Attached is a flier for you to share with friends and neighbors. We look forward to celebrating the 40th Birthday of our state bug, born right here in Franklin.  Remember that with your help, we are raising funds toward a permanent sculpture honoring the 1974 2nd grade class from Kennedy Elementary School and their teacher, Palma Johnson, who inspired them to petition and follow the bill through to witness it signed into law.

Again, thank you for being a part of this exciting event,

The Franklin Cultural Council
Ladybug Spots Project



Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Greater Boston Video: Creating A Thriving Downtown In Small-Town Massach...

WGBH Channel 2 Boston highlighted Franklin in a Greater Boston news segment about smart growth in suburban towns. The story aired yesterday and shows the growth and redevelopment of the downtown over the past few years. Developer John Marini, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting and RE/MAX Executive Realty's Eileen Mason are all interviewed in the story, along with a couple in the process of moving into one of the downtown condos. 





Monday, August 4, 2014

Emmons Street to be on 8/6 Town Council Meeting Agendas


The downtown Emmons Street property discussion is on the agenda for both the 5:30 p.m. Economic Development meeting and the 7:00 p.m. Town Council meeting this Wednesday, August 6.


A citizen's group called the "Gateway Committee" will present its letter regarding suggestions for the RFP for this town property.


Both meetings will be held at Town Hall.  The ED meeting will be in the conference room or lecture room.

Here's the text of the Gateway Committee's letter:


     July 23, 2014 page 1 of 3
     Mr. Robert Vallee, Chair
     Franklin Town Council
Office of the Town Administrator
355 East Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038

From: The Franklin Gateway Committee  -(citizens group)                                                                   
Re:     Proposed Emmons Street Property Redevelopment

Dear Mr. Vallee:

The future redevelopment of 150 Emmons Street, the site of the former Municipal Building in downtown Franklin, is located at one of the key gateways to Franklin Center. The property has a rich, longstanding history. For these reasons, we as interested citizens would like to see the redevelopment of the site remain a key gateway into downtown Franklin, which will maximize short-term and long-term benefits to the Town and its residents.

We would like to go on record, however, that this committee strongly urges the Town Council to wait on any development of this property until we can assess the true and real impact of the upcoming Streetscape project that will include a new two-way traffic pattern both on West Central Street and Emmons Street.

As a committee and a community, our overarching priority is to preserve the quintessential New England character and charm that downtown Franklin provides by including conditions in the future request for proposal that will define how the gateway to downtown will be developed. The following conditions help marry the principles that the Town has defined for the commercial district by creating a neighborhood identity that promotes pedestrian activity, human interactions, safety and livability.

This parcel is in the heart of the proposed Franklin Cultural District.  A community green space would offer economic benefits to the town by encouraging foot traffic and bringing people downtown to shop or dine.  Additionally, this space could provide a venue for a multitude of cultural activities, for example outdoor art exhibits, an artisan marketplace, or music and theatre performances.

  • We request that approximately 20% of the property, roughly 8,000 square feet, be retained by the town of Franklin, specifically the southwest parcel of land, in perpetuity, to be used as community green space.  Maintaining the corner of this parcel would allow the Town of Franklin to control the initial welcoming impression of visitors to the downtown area.
  • We fully concur that a statue or monument in honor of Horace Mann is appropriate and needed, and we support this measure that has been broadly talked about in discussion of the future use of this space. We recommend that the statue and green space project be designed and managed by a community committee in conjunction with the Town, rather than an outside developer, so the statue is done to the community's specifications. We suggest securing state funding for this important project.

  • We suggest that the building frontage to Route 140 have limited setback, after landscaping provisions, to continue and enhance the New England style main street appeal that exists in the downtown area.  

  • We request that parking be sufficient and adequate for the building use but not a primary focus of the development, with consideration given to the streetscape project and traffic pattern changes that have yet to occur.

  • We explicitly request that no drive-through of any sort be permitted in this development.

We feel strongly that these conditions above,incorporated in the request for proposal, together with the long-term planning recommendations above, will lead to a welcoming private/public investment to the gateway of downtown Franklin.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Signed, the Supporters of the Franklin Gateway Committee


Del Arnold Michael Lucier Karen M Young
Sue Bencuya Christopher Lucier Pamela Williams
Hannah Close Amanda Lucier Bruce Wood
Vicki Coates Stephanie Miksis              Deborah Ryan
Jane Curran Lisa Maxwell-Rounds Raye Lynn Mercer
Alec Danz Maxwell Morrongiello Hallie Wetzell
Stacey David Lisa Piana Connie Jones
Gary Donelan Nancy Rappa Roberta Trahan
Gail Eckberg Guy Rezendes Lisa Carlucci
Barbara Evans Joanne Roche Karilyn Hammer
Tom Fahey Rev. Carol Rosine Selena Cousin
Alan Mercer Marjorie Sardella Maura O’Brien
Richard Fotland Carl Scheinman Claire Griffin
Denise Schultz Theresa McDougall Thomas G. Curran
Paul Guarino John Sheridan Wayne McDougall
Tina Guarino Sue Sheridan Robert Piana
Daydre Hamilton Jean Sirois Richard Guardabascio
Jim Kupfer Chris Sternadore Suzanne Sayward
Maria Lucier Lynn Wetzell                   Lisa Buccella
Kathleen M. Kirchmyer Bill Buccella Virginia Gillis
Claire Malette.                Kathleen Nosek Rebecca Skinner
Jim Hill Erica Luttazi Bob Hamilton
Brenda Hutchinson Kelly Luttazi Rita Fahey
Joshua Close Julie Dolan Paul Peterson
Judy Luttazi Katie Buccella Sam Pasquantonio
Patricia Prewitt Steve Luttazi Terri Frank
Kevin Dolan Kim Rezendes Carolyn Marr
Tina Powderly Bob Hamiilton Claire Griffin
John Griffin