Monday, December 14, 2009

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Holiday Stroll A Success

By Ashley Studley/Daily News staff
Milford Daily News
Posted Dec 04, 2009 @ 12:54 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRANKLIN — .Unseasonably warm weather brought together students, residents and business owners last night to kick off Franklin's first Holiday Stroll.

Organized by the Downtown Partnership, more than 100 people gathered in front of Dean Hall for a tree lighting ceremony before taking off to explore offerings at over 35 participating businesses
"This is a great community event, and it gets people thinking about shopping downtown," Piana said.
From free holiday goodies to discounted services, shops on Summer, Main, Cottage, East and West Central streets each offered strollers something different. Simon's Furniture on Summer Street even arranged a special visit from Santa Claus himself.

To read more go to Milford Daily News


Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Holiday Stroll - 2009 - business list

The listing of participating businesses for the Franklin Downtown Partnership Holiday Stroll held in December 2009.

HolidayFlyer_2009_Mapback


Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Holiday Stroll - 2009

The map for the Holiday Stroll, December 2009

From Holiday Stroll


Thursday, October 15, 2009

Downtown Partnership Brochure

This is our current FDP Brochure.

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Monday, October 12, 2009

3rd Thursday - October 15th

Franklin Downtown Patnership

3rd Thursday in Downtown Franklin
Theme:  It's All About Style
Thursday, October 15th
5:00PM-8:00PM

Host for October: Pretty is Pink, 9 Summer St,
 
A night of fashion and fun at "Pretty Is Pink", an upscale boutique for woman and teens with style.
Featuring new styles for fall/winter 2009 including name brand jeans and designers mostly found in Nordstroms and Urban Outfitters.
Enter drawing for a $100 Pretty Is Pink gift certificate.
Take an additional 40% off any one markdown item for this night only.
Our new fall and winter styles including designer clothing will be modeled live.  Come join the fun!

Artbeat, the Creativity Store, 9 Summer St. Kids are invited to ARTBEAT Your Creativity Store for a free adventure with spooky sand art. You'll also find face paints, costume helpers and fun, unusual Halloween crafts.
 
Berry Insurance, 9 Main Street, will collect new Halloween costumes and accessories for kids of all age groups as part of the 3rd Annual Halloween Costume Drive benefitting Children's Hospital Boston.  Anyone who wants to donate costumes (nothing scary or violent) can drop off items at the downtown office before October 19, or call Kaitlyn Pintarich at (508) 440-2290 to schedule a pickup.
 
Café Dolce, 17 E. Central St will host an artist opening for pastel artist Catherine Haynes.  Everyone is invited to view her work and meet the artist.
 
Facial Rejuvenation, 11 Main St, all Jane Iredale mineral makeup is15% off for 3rd Thursday!
(Jane Iredale is "THE" mineral make up.  Recommended by Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists and skincare professionals around the world)


Hair at Nail It, 20 Main St. Free wash; blow dry; new customer coupon 

Jane's Frames, 11 E. Central Street, a special night to help you  create and define your personal style through artwork and framing and more.
"Whether it's traditional, contemporary, shabby chic, provincial, eclectic or undefined, we are all on different paths regarding our style," says owner Jane Curran.  "We invite customers to come look at some expressions of different styles and how colors work in creating their style. We can help them define and refine their look, all while listening to some wonderful guitar music and enjoying the company of friends old and new."
The Franklin School for Performing Arts' Spotlight Shop, 34 Main Street,  Box office is open for Third Thursday patrons to purchase tickets for its October 16 and 17 dinner theater presentation of the Kander & Ebbs musical Cabaret,  performed at the Franklin Country Club. Anyone buying tickets that night will receive a free FPAC sweatshirt while supplies last. Tickets for dinner and the show are $55 each and reservations are required. 

H & R Block, at 9 East Central Street,  a Tax Talk: Making Work Pay Credit. Other specials include free "Forward Looks" tax checkup and "Second Looks" for prior years, a $29 value.  Third Thursday customers can enter to win a free tax return, and the winner will be drawn at the Holiday Stroll event in December. 

Rick's Restaurant , 28 W. Central St. SHAKE IT UP at Rick's by wearing something to Spook Rick!   If you are successful, Rick will treat you to a piece of  Mudd Pie: Coffee ice cream in a chocolate cookie crumb crust, with hot fudge and real whipped cream. It's scary how spectacular this is!  (One per table, but big enough for all.) 

Sarapaan Beads &Jewelry 19 East Central Street offers "Buy one pair of earrings get the second pair of equal or lesser value 50 % off" deal for Third Thursday patrons. 

Salon Sorella, 9 Summer Street, hosting Tarot card readings (three cards for $5, six cards for $10), as well as $10 Halloween nails with complimentary nail art, and all children will receive complimentary Halloween hair.   

Get more details at each participating business So much is happening Downtown/Uptown Franklin 

Come join the Fun!


Sunday, October 11, 2009

Third Thursday - October 15th

So much is happening in downtown Franklin, come join the Third Thursday fun!
You can also mark your calendar for November 19th for Third Thursday!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Harvest Festival 2009 - video

The 2009 Harvest Festival video



Enjoy!

Video edited by Michael Puttre with photo contribution from Lisa Piana and Terri Frank


Tuesday, September 22, 2009

America on the Move - Wed 12:00 PM

Dear Members

As part of the YMCA America on the Move the FDP will be walking downtown
for 30 minutes on Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:00 noon. 

We will be meeting in front of Cafe Dolce.

Please come and join us for a walk downtown.

For more information you can go to www.hockymca.org

Harvest Festival

Warren Reyonld's posted a video recap of the Harvest Festival:



Steve Sherlock posted his pictures and comments on Franklin Matters here

Thanks to all for taking part, it was a great day!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Harvest Festival 2009 Flyer

2009 Harvest Festival Press Release

September 14, 2009-For Immediate Release Contact: Lisa Piana (774)571-3109

Final Downtown.franklin@yahoo.com



Franklin Harvest Festival Expands This Year



The Franklin Downtown Partnership expects this year’s sixth annual Harvest Festival to be even larger than in years past. With more food vendors, more music and entertainment, an antique car show and over 100 crafters, the Partnership expects close to 3,000 visitors to attend this year’s festivities.



The festival will be Sunday, September 20th, from 11:00 am-4:00 pm. The rain date is Sunday, September 27th. The event will be held in downtown Franklin on Main Street, East Central Street and the Summer Street Patio. According to Festival Chairperson Mary Graff, the Harvest Festival is the Partnership’s largest fundraising event and the largest event of its kind in the area. “We are excited that for the first time we will be closing down Main Street to traffic,” says Graff “This will really add a new dimension to the festival...”



Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include; an antique car show, martial arts demonstration, Children ID, painting demonstrations and a farmers’ market. In the children section there will be a moon walk, slide, face painting and many fun children’s games. There will also be plenty of music at the Café Dolce patio and in front of Rockland Trust Bank. The bands include Random Play, Nothing to No One and Knuf Said.



In addition to the Partnership’s food stand at Dean Bank, there will be food vendors

set up at the Berry Insurance parking lot that will include fun food like sausage sandwiches, fried dough and clam chowder. “We listened to visitors last year who asked for more food, so visitors should come hungry!” commented one festival organizer.



Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation is this year’s Gold Sponsor and Middlesex Savings Bank is the Bronze Sponsor. Additional Festival Sponsors include CVS, Dean Bank, D.G. Ranieri Supply Company, Digital Federal Credit Union and Vallee Jewelers. According to Executive Director, Lisa Piana, “We are able to have this festival each year due to the generosity of our sponsors and the support from town hall, especially the police department.” As a non-profit organization the Downtown Partnership depends on sponsors in order to fund the downtown events.



Visitors to the festival can find parking at the old municipal building on Emmons Street, Davis Thayer School the town common, the library parking lots, and the historical museum. Traffic will be detoured from East Central Street to Cottage Street. Visitors should plan accordingly since Main Street will be closed during the event.



Any one who would like to volunteer or sponsor future events should contact the Franklin Downtown Partnership office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com. Any business or resident who would like to become a member of the Partnership should call Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or visit the downtown office at 9 East Central Street. The Partnership’s mission is to stimulate economic development in the downtown in order to create a positive impact throughout the area. New members are always welcome!



#

Friday, September 18, 2009

Third Thursday

The September air was fresh. The clouds were collecting the sunset. ArtBeat's craft room was busy. The folks at H&R Block were quietly organizing some files awaiting visitors. The downtown streets were relatively quiet for this Third Thursday.



Plan for the next Third Thursday, Oct 15th




Thursday, September 17, 2009

Third Thursday - 9/17/09

Yes, Third Thursday has rolled around for September already. Here are the details for the events scheduled to occur this Thursday evening in downtown Franklin:

Thursday, September 17 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM hosted by Artbeat, The Creativity Store


Turning Sibling Rivalry into Harmony
Meet identical twin sisters (and Bellingham residents) Heather Kempskie and Lisa Hanson this Thursday, September 17th at ARTBEAT from 4:30 to 6:00 PM when we feature their award-winning "The Siblings' Busy Book: 200 Fun Activities for Kids of Different Ages."   Heather and Lisa will share tips with parents, and kids will have the chance to try some fun activities that help turn sibling rivalry into harmony.  

Theme:  It's All About Time

Emma's Quilt Cupboard, It's Time to get started on your Holiday Gifts.  Come see our beautiful fall/holiday samples and take advantage of our new class offerings

Jane's Frames, 11 E. Central St. It's Time for Celebrating 15 years in business. Daily specials with lots of 15% off savings!

H & R Block, 9 E. Central St. It's Time for Tax Planning! Tax talks every 15 minutes. Topics: education, making work pay credit, first time home buyers credit, home energy credits

Hair at Nail It, 20 Main St. Free wash & blow dry & new customer coupon

Franklin Pizza,  18 Cottage Street, Free 2 liter soda with large pizza purchase

Pretty is Pink, 9 Summer Street, It's Time for You. Shop for yourself, enter free drawing for Gift Certificate

Rick's Restaurant  28 W. Central St., It's Time for Taste, 3rd Thursday participants: Diners enjoy free homemade onion rings.

Sarapaan,  17 E. Central St , It's Time for a new look! Design your earrings and let us finish it for you.

Salon Sorella, 9 Summer St. It's Time to relax! Receive a free 10 minute back massage.

Get full details at each participating business

So much is happening Downtown/Uptown Franklin Come join the Fun!

 
You can also mark your calendar for October 15th and November 19th for the next Third Thursdays!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Event Reminders

FDP General Meeting

Thursday, September 17th - 8:30 am
Campus Center, Golder Room 2nd Floor
Agenda will be sent out shortly
Coffee will be served

Third Thursday in Downtown Franklin

Thursday, September 17th
Evening
More details to come

Harvest Festival

Sunday, September 20th
Need volunteers for set up and clean up
Please contact Nicole Fortier at nfortier@deanbank.com if you can help out.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

General Meeting Agenda

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Dean College Golder Room @ 8:30 am


  1. Open Meeting 8:30 am
  1. Adoption of Agenda
  1. Report from Executive Director:
    1. Membership
    2. Harvest Festival
  1. Partnership Website Presentation: Lisa Piana, Terri Frank
  1. Streetscape Update: Bryan Taberner
    1. Two-way traffic on Main Street
    2. Underground utilities on East Central Street
  1. New Business
  1. Other Business
  1. Adjourn

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Friday, Sep 11 - Jack Murray Performs at Cafe Dolce


Friday, September 11th
Jack Murray, a Downtown Partnership member, will be performing at Cafe' Dolce,. 
6:00-9:00pm.
All donations will be given to the Dana Farber Cancer Center at Milford Regional Medical Center.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Harvest Festival - Sunday, Sep 20th

11:00 am-4:00 pm.


The event will be downtown on Main Street, East Central Street and Summer Street. Over 100 crafters and vendors, free music and entertainment, children’s games, fun food, farmers’ market, and an antique car show.

Rain date is Sunday, September 27th

For more info contact Mary Graff at mgraff@berryinsurance.com or the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com (774)571-3109

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Dead Trees Removed


Just a quick update.  I met with the DPW this morning.
 
They will be removing the dead trees throughout the downtown area and replacing the grates with cement in areas where the trees were.   This will be most noticeable on Main Street where it will open up some of the sidewalks.
 
Lisa Piana

Monday, August 31, 2009

Harvest Festival - Sunday, September 20th


(Rain date Sunday, September 27th)
We are busy finalizing the details for the FDP Harvest Festival.
Please read the important information below:

Business Members interested in participating
Harvest Festival Registrations are due no later than Tuesday, September 1st
Important:  If you are a downtown merchant and would like to have space reserved in front of your business you need to contact Mary Graff by next week or she will be putting crafters in front of your business. All restaurants who plan to participate will need to contact Mary by Tuesday, September 1st and will need to fill out permit paperwork with the town.


Volunteers
We need volunteers for this event.  We expect over 2,500 visitors..  If you can help out before, during or after the event please contact Mary Graff as soon as possible and let her know when you are available.  Please consider helping out this year.

Any questions please contact Mary Graff, Festival Chair, at (508)733-5504 or at

Friday, August 21, 2009

Scenes from Third Thursday - Aug 20

It was a hot day here in Franklin. The thunderstorm that blew through quickly during the afternoon did not do much to cool off the area. As the sun set, the evening's activities were beginning for Third Thursday. Maybe you couldn't make it downtown as you had some yard work to catch up on. Eileen Mason watered and weeded the plants in the island and along the railroad bridge covering for some one who had volunteered but had not yet come out this week to do so. Meanwhile, on the "breezeway" next to Cafe Dolce, the brothers mccann were playing to a growing crowd of admirers. Pat McCann worked the keyboards and waited for brother Mike's cue Mike McCann appreciated Pat waiting for him. Together they had the crowd full of smiles and applause. Cafe Dolce was pleased with the size of the crowd. Other businesses have seen an increase in traffic due to the Third Thursday events. In September, mark the date (Sep 17th) and come on downtown to the happenings in Franklin. Third Thursday is a production of the Franklin Downtown Partnership Merchants Committee. This was originally posted at Franklin Matters

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Harvest Festival preparations

The Downtown Partnership is preparing for the fall Harvest Festival, with organizers looking for sponsors to keep the momentum going as the event has become increasingly popular in recent years.

"This is much, much bigger than the Strawberry Festival - double the size, at least." said Lisa Piana, partnership executive director. "It's an event that people now put on their calendar, and vendors start calling in March and April," to reserve booths, as the partnership tries to avoid having competing vendors, said Piana.

The Harvest Festival, which began seven years ago, was pretty small even four years ago, Piana said. The celebration has grown to be the largest fall event in the area. The festival now features multiple bands, more than 100 vendors, crafters, and nonprofit groups, and usually draws a few thousand people.

The group is seeking sponsors to fund the event, which becomes costlier as it grows, particularly with the extra bands and police details, Piana said.

Benjamin Franklin Charitable Trust, which still exists, despite Rockland Trust buying the bank, is the festival's main sponsor, and Middlesex Savings Bank is another sponsor, Piana said.

"It's because of them coming forward early that we're moving ahead with this event. It's due to the generosity of these two sponsors that we know we'll have an event this year," Piana said.

For the first time, the partnership is inviting local restaurants to sell food at the festival in front of Dean Bank, Berry Insurance and possibly on Summer Street, Festival Chairwoman Mary Graff said.

Also this year, the Franklin Art Association will have "a big presence" with art displays, likely on the grass next to Hang Tai Chinese Cuisine, and organizers hope to set up a dunk tank and bring four bands to perform at the festival.

Festival-goers will also be able to pick up fresh produce at the Farmers Market.

Graff said people should plan on a fun family day.

"There's something for everyone, hopefully. It gives a little art and culture and entertainment on a Sunday afternoon," said Graff.

Said Piana: "It's amazing. It's a lot of hard work, but at the end of the day, it's so rewarding to see so many people come out."

Vendors wishing to have a booth at the Harvest Festival should contact Graff by Aug. 20 to reserve a spot ($50). The fee increases to $75 after that.

Booths are free for partnership members.

The Harvest Festival will be held Sunday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the rain date is Sunday, Sept. 27.

For more information or to reserve a booth, contact Graff at 508-733-5504 or mgraff@berryinsurance.com.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Scenes from Third Thursday - July 16

How DO you go from stained glass to bluegrass? Well, if you happened to be in Franklin on Thursday July 16th, it was pretty easy to do. The United Regional Chamber of Commerce helped Roger Magalhaes open his new showroom for Shades IN Place at 76 Grove St, Franklin at 11:00 AM. Roger has operated his business from his home in Hopkinton for three years and found the opportunity to showcase the work that he can do for windows here in Franklin. He also collaborates with Carol Collord and Deby Carlson to provide complete window treatments with matching furniture coverings or accessories. Roger focuses on the hardgoods and performs the installation. Carol and Deby will provide the softgoods to complete the whole treatment. A sample of a stained glass effect window at Shades IN Place. The effect is created with a layered plastic decal carefully covering the glass. Roger explained to me that to obtain the same effect from real stained glass would cost four times as much. Additional photos of Roger's new showroom are available online at the Shades IN Place web site here The contingent of United Regional Chamber of Commerce members gathered around Roger (in the center with the cap) to prepare for the official ribbon ceremony. Franklin Planning Director, Brian Taberner talks with Roger proudly holding a couple of welcome plaques from Congressman Jim McGovern's office and from Senator Karen Spilka's office. What is the crowd gathering for at Rick's? Could it be the free single scoop ice cream cone provided compliments of Middlesex Savings Bank? or could it be the bluegrass music? It probably was a combination of the two as folks gathered around enjoying the ice cream on a summer evening listening to the bluegrass band; Obi's Boys, get into real foot tapping music in the parking lot at Rick's. So mark your calendar for August 20th. Look for the Third Thursday signs outside the participating businesses and enjoy the evening in downtown Franklin! Third Thursday is a collaborative effort of the local businesses coordinated by the Franklin Downtown Partnership. This was originally posted at Franklin Matters

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Strawberry Festival Sampler - 2009

The forecasted rain may have forced many of the tables indoors but did not dampen the spirits of those attending the Strawberry Festival in downtown Franklin on Friday, June 19th.

The CVS crew were handing out balloons and gift bags. Enzio DiMartino and Lucy LaFreniere were bringing smiles to the kids.

StrawberryFest_90619 017

Megan Ellis and Julie Eppus provided gift bags with smiles!

StrawberryFest_90619 019

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce has a good contingent of their staff looking up! From left to right: Jack Lank, Jen Osojnicki, Deb Cote, Claire Latino and Irene Pelley.

StrawberryFest_UnitedRegCC

Jane Curran at her table outside Jane's Frames.

StrawberryFest_JaneCurran

John Kinney provided some music outside Cafe Dolce.

StrawberryFest_JKenny

Lisa Jessick of Dream Dinners put some smiles on kids faces by helping them prepare a bag of their personal trail mix.

StrawberryFest_90619 053

The Franklin Area Bus also provided a free shuttle ride. Had the rain allowed for the original set up on the Common, this would have been a much utilized feature to bring folks from the Common downtown and return.

This was originally posted on Franklin Matters.

Monday, June 1, 2009

About Franklin Downtown Partnership

Franklin Downtown Partnership, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization operated “exclusively” for charitable and education purposes. The Partnership sees Franklin’s downtown as the heart of the community: a center of civic and cultural activities, government services, commercial businesses, and diversified housing.

The purpose of Franklin Downtown Partnership, Inc. is to lessen the burden of local government through public improvement activities, to combat community deterioration, to preserve the historic character of the downtown commercial area and to educate the public about the architecture and history of the area.

The Partnership’s events are planned to increase the awareness of the downtown revitalization efforts, educate the community about the historic downtown, and raise funds for the program. All of the Partnership’s activities are designed to foster greater vitality in the downtown commercial district and to serve as a vehicle for public policy discourse.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Downtown Partnership please contact Executive Director, Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109.

Remember, you don't have to live downtown or have a business downtown to get involved. A healthy downtown helps the entire town. We are looking for residents and businesses that are interested in seeing our downtown Franklin thrive.