Thursday, April 28, 2016

Downtown Streetscape Project Update #27


Make time to attend our General Meeting next Thursday, May 5, at 8:30 a.m. at the Dean College Campus Center's Golder Room. Jeff Nutting will update us on all things Streetscape Project and give us a timeline for work and completion. 


From the Town Administrator's office:

April 28, 2016
Downtown Project Update #27

The curb and sidewalk installations will continue for the next two weeks on Main Street and in the center of town. Please be aware or any detours. We thank all residents and visitors for their patience. 

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Progressive Dinner/Restaurant Stroll Happens May 15

Here's our press release about the Progressive Dinner:


The Downtown Partnership has planned a progressive dinner for Sunday, May 15, and invites everyone to come enjoy a night out in downtown Franklin.

Building on the success and popularity of the first dinner last fall, organizers are offering delicious options at several downtown restaurants. Dinner goers can also take chances to win raffle items donated by FDP member businesses.

“Our Progressive Dinner is one way we are reminding our community to visit Franklin’s downtown eateries during the road construction process. What better way than to have people walking through downtown, enjoying local restaurants and entertainment with friends?” says event organizer Jane Curran, owner of Jane’s Frames and FDP board member.

Diners will choose from two different flights, with each flight including soup at one restaurant, an appetizer at a second, then dinner and dessert at a third. Flights will be staggered to begin every half hour beginning at 5:00 p.m. 

“Flight A” includes soup at Maguro House and appetizers at Bamboo House. “Flight B” includes soup at Hang Tai and appetizers at Acapulco’s. Both flights feature two options for dinner plus a delicious dessert at The Rome Restaurant, where local musicians will provide a musical backdrop to the festivities.

Tickets are $50 per person, including tips and taxes. Beverages are not included. Buy tickets and see menus on the Partnership’s Progressive Dinner page, https://downtownfranklindinner2016.eventbrite.com.  Links to the page are also posted on the FDP website, www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/ and on the FDP Facebook page. Diners will choose the start time and either “Flight A” or “Flight B” when they purchase tickets online.

“We are excited to bring the community together with this second Progressive Dinner,” says event co-chair Joel Carrara.

Sponsorships are available for this event. Contact Jane Curran at janeframe@verizon.net for more information or with questions about the dinner.



Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Four New Members Have Joined the FDP

We are very pleased to welcome the following businesses and a resident to the Franklin Downtown Partnership!


Bissanti Realty
Town Council member Andrew Bissanti's business, Bissanti Realty, has joined the Partnership! Bissanti Realty offers properties in and around the Franklin area. Learn more by connecting with Andrew on his Facebook page, Andrew Bissanti-Realty or on his company website, www.bissantirealty.com

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Dickinson Chiropractic Clinic
Welcome Dickinson Chiropractic Clinic! From an office located in the heart of downtown Franklin at 45 West Central Street, Dr. Dickinson treats patients of all ages and offers chiropractic services, nutritional and lifestyle counseling, and customized stretches and exercises. Learn more about this local business at www.dickinsonchiropracticfranklin.com.

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Visiting Practitioners

The Visiting Practitioners has set up shop at 9 East Central Street, Suite #2, next door to the Downtown Partnership office. Visiting Practitioners is a home-based primary care medical practice that delivers comprehensive medical care to elderly and disabled patients confined to home or an assisted living facility. Visiting Practitioners accepts most major insurance plans. Learn more about services and covered towns at www.visitingpractitioners.com.

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Welcome Resident

Franklin resident Diane O'Connell has joined the Partnership! 

If you're a resident and support our efforts to improve and grow Franklin's downtown, please consider joining us! Membership for residents is only $25 and goes a long way toward helping us organize our events. Click here for our membership application




Friday, April 15, 2016

Downtown Streetscape Project Update #26

From the Town Administrator's office:

April 15, 2016
Downtown Project Update #26

There will be no work on site Monday the 18th. Tuesday traffic will be detoured off West Central St down West St as curbing will be installed in front of 711 plaza.

Thank You,
Anthony Tavalone CE III MA DOT 

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Networking Luncheon This Friday


Please join us for the 
Franklin Downtown Partnership Networking Luncheon 
Friday, April 15, 1 p.m.
Dean College Campus Center

Make connections and introduce your business over a delicious lunch at the Smith Dining Center. 

Reserve your seat at the table! Email Matt Lechter, mlechter@dean.edu, or Gary Donelan, gary.donelan@middlesexbank.com.


Downtown Streetscape Project Update #25

From the Town Administrator's office:

Main Street sidewalks and curbs are next on the construction schedule.


April 12, 2016

Downtown Project Update #25

This week, expect the curbing construction to continue. Please be aware of any detours the construction crew may have up as you approach downtown. 

The week of April 18th, expect new sidewalk construction to begin. 

The following week, please expect Main Street sidewalk and curb construction to get started. There will not be any constriction crews on Monday, April 18th in observance of Patriots Day. 

The project remains on schedule to be fully completed by Labor Day at the end of the summer. Follow the Town on Facebook and Twitter for the most recent updates. 

Friday, April 8, 2016

Please Welcome a New Member!


We would like to welcome Anglican Church of the Redeemer to the Franklin Downtown Partnership! The church is located in the Moseley Mills complex, 31 Hayward St. If you have questions about this church's style of worship, location or hours, go to www.redeemerfranklin.com, or find it on Facebook.



Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Thinking of Joining Us? Now's the Time!

You are officially invited to join the Franklin Downtown Partnership!

We are celebrating our 15th year and we hope you will join our 200 members in continuing to build a strong business community.

Top 7 Reasons to Join:
  1. Free booth for business members at Strawberry, October and Holiday strolls – a $200 value! (non-food booth)
  2. Networking socials – meet people and introduce your business
  3. Participation in group promotional projects and opportunities to partner with other local business owners
  4. Business informational presentations with guest speakers
  5. Free link on http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org
  6. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter
  7. Discount on Chamber membership and free ad in local paper (a $68 value for new members)


Questions? Email us at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or call (774) 571-3109.





Byrne Financial Freedom Hosts Social Security Info Event



Monday, April 4, 2016

Chick Magnets, Ben Gardner's Boat Play Friday Night

What are you doing Friday night? Hear great music at THE BLACK BOX! 

Our FDP star performers include Barry Madden, Chick Magnets keyboardist and Franklin Ford owner, and Jeff Roy, guitarist in Ben Gardner's Boat and state representative!

Buy tickets: www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com





Empty Bowls Fundraiser Tickets On Sale

The following is a press release produced by the Franklin Food Pantry:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-faeXXjkh5To/UQug1arPJYI/AAAAAAAAT_M/lDcmRKoxBgY/s320/FFP-3color.jpg


Empty Bowls Dinner Promotes Hunger Awareness
Tickets on Sale Now at Franklin Food Pantry


FRANKLIN, Ma. – The Franklin Food Pantry and the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club have joined forces to co-host the 1st Annual Empty Bowls Dinner on Wednesday, April 27 from 6 – 8 p.m. in the Franklin High School cafeteria. The event, which includes a simple meal of soup and bread, is meant to remind guests of the many “empty bowls” that exist in the lives of those who experience hunger.
Attendees will choose a hand-painted, ceramic bowl to take home as a reminder that “somewhere, someone’s bowl is empty.” A silent auction will feature select pieces that have been created and painted by members of the FHS Empty Bowls Club, and local youth, adult and corporate groups. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Franklin Food Pantry and will be used to fight hunger locally.
Local teenagers paint bowls to be used in the 1st Annual Empty Bowls Dinner at Franklin High School on April 27. Pictured, left to right, are Katie Aiken and Julia Buccella of Franklin; and Sophia Oliveras of Woonsocket, RI.

“The Empty Bowls Dinner will bring together members of our community who are working together to fight hunger,” says Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “We hope it will be a powerful reminder of the many people who struggle to put enough food on the table. We are thrilled to partner with the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club to address the vital issue of hunger. We look forward to attracting all ages at this family-friendly event.”
Students in the Empty Bowls Club have been making ceramic bowls throughout the year to be used at the dinner. “Our students are excited to be part of such a meaningful effort,” said Brenna Johnson, FHS art teacher and instructor for the Empty Bowls Club. “It is rewarding for them to use their creativity to contribute to such a worthy cause. The true impact of their hard work will be felt on the night of our big event.”
These ceramic bowls, made by students in the Empty Bowls Club at Franklin High School, will be given to guests at the 1st Annual Empty Bowls Dinner on April 27 at Franklin High School. The fundraiser and hunger awareness event is co-sponsored by the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club and the Franklin Food Pantry. Tickets must be bought in advance and can be purchased at the Franklin Food Pantry.

This bowl will be included in the Silent Auction at the 1st Annual Empty Bowls Dinner at Franklin High School on April 25.

Tickets must be bought in advance and can be purchased at the Franklin Food Pantry. Seating is limited so tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children and students. Payment must be made in cash or checks payable to the Franklin Food Pantry. The Pantry will hold “Box Office Hours” to sell tickets at its 43 W. Central Street location (on Route 140 across from the Franklin Fire Station) during the following times:  
March 31, 5-7 pm
April 4, 11 am – 1 pm
April 5, 4 – 6 pm
April 7, 5 – 7 pm
April 11, 11 am – 1 pm
April 12, 4 – 6 pm
April 14, 5 – 7 pm
April 19, 4 – 6 pm
April 21, 5 – 7 pm


Empty Bowls is an international grass roots effort to fight hunger and raise funds to support local pantries. The Franklin Food Pantry and the FHS Empty Bowls Club work together to support the cause locally. The ceramic bowls are created throughout the year by the Empty Bowls Club and various corporate and community groups organized by the Pantry through its Empty Bowls Project. For more information on the dinner, or to arrange for your group to hold an Empty Bowls Project, visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org or call 508-528-3115.
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About the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club
Franklin High School is participating in an international charity project called Empty Bowls, which supports hungry people in our local communities. The first part of this project is to make ceramic bowls with students, faculty, district K-12 art teachers, and the Franklin community. Then, the Empty Bowls Club and The Franklin Food Pantry will co-host a community meal of soup and bread. All funds raised at this event will be donated directly to the Franklin Food Pantry. The Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) has made the Empty Bowls Club and community meal possible through their 2015-2016 grant program.


About the Franklin Food Pantry

The Franklin Food Pantry offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities once a month to eligible households. Bread and fresh produce is available daily for clients. As a nonprofit organization, the Pantry depends entirely on donations, and receives no town or state funding. Other programs include a Mobile Pantry, Cooking Matters classes, a Healthy Futures Market, emergency food bags and holiday meal packages. The Pantry is located at 43 W. Central St. in Franklin on Route 140 across from the Franklin Fire Station.