Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Franklin Downtown Partnership wishes 
you and yours a happy holiday!




Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Member Announcements

Join The Cake Bar in making the Franklin Food Pantry's holiday dinners a bit sweeter this season:


The Cake Bar is located at 17 East Central Street, Franklin. 508-553-8700.


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Sunday, November 23, 2014

2014 Holiday Stroll Flyer


Click here to download and print a copy of this flyer.

2014 Holiday Stroll Press Release

Mrs. Claus will appear at the Franklin Historical Museum during the Holiday Stroll.
Downtown Franklin’s Holiday Stroll to be December 4

The entire family is invited to the Franklin Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 4. The Franklin Downtown Partnership will transform the downtown center into a festive holiday party from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., complete with visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, arts and crafts, holiday shopping, refreshments and plenty of entertainment.
The fun begins with carolers and hot chocolate at the annual tree lighting at 4 p.m. on Dean Hall Common on the Dean College campus.
From there, holiday revelers can stroll through downtown Franklin and stop into more than 30 participating businesses for tempting treats, special offers and holiday-themed entertainment. A complete list of each business’s activity or offering will be available at the tree lighting ceremony and at participating locations.
“The Holiday Stroll is a unique event that we feel really showcases our businesses. Our merchants stay open late and invite everyone inside. It’s a great opportunity to discover new businesses and have one-on-one conversations with business owners,” says event co-chair Gregg Chalk of the Franklin Downtown Partnership.
Santa Claus will hear children’s wish lists at Simon’s Furniture from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Mrs. Claus will treat kids to an ornament craft, candy canes and hot chocolate at the Historical Museum.
Children can decorate gingerbread men under the lighted trees at Dean Bank, and find arts and craft activities hosted by the Girl Scouts on Main Street. Many other participating businesses also will have crafts for kids.  
Visitors can check items off their holiday gift lists by shopping sales and specials at downtown shops.  Several vendors will set up shop inside Depot Plaza and offer demonstrations, gift certifications and holiday items.  
Refreshment of all kinds can be enjoyed at many participating downtown businesses, some of whom are partnering with stores located outside of central Franklin. Making Whoopie’s desserts can be found at The Black Box, while Pour Richard’s will offer cider at Jane’s Frames. Families making a night of it can stop into any participating downtown restaurant to enjoy discounts and dinner specials.
Music and entertainment will fill downtown that evening. Milford radio station WMRC 1490-AM will broadcast holiday music live from Emma’s Quilt Cupboard. Franklin School for the Performing Arts students will perform at The Black Box, and Alexa Katsaros will entertain crowds at Rockland Trust. Jamie Barrett is set to appear at Jane’s Frames, and Franklin High School music students will perform at the Cake Bar.
For younger visitors who have excess energy to burn, the Bernon Family Branch YMCA is providing a physical fitness and sports area in the Rockland Trust parking lot. The Franklin Fire Station is hosting a Touch-A-Truck event where kids can climb on the fire engines.
Amidst all the fun, there also will be opportunities for residents to give back to the community and donate goods to the Franklin Food Pantry. The Holiday Stroll falls in the middle of the Franklin Food Elves’ “12 Days of Donating” campaign. The Food Elves will place a red drop-off bin at the tree lighting ceremony and at 14 business locations throughout town.  
This year’s Holiday Stroll is made possible by generous support from the local business community. This year’s Platinum Sponsor is Big Y World Class Market, and Gold Sponsors are DCU, Dean Bank, and Dean College.
Silver Sponsors are D.G. Ranieri Real Estate, Franklin Ford, Franklin Local Town Pages and Middlesex Savings Bank.
Bronze Sponsors are Doherty, Ciechanowski, Dugan & Cannon, P.C., Drama Kids of Metro West, Franklin Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, H & R Block, the Law Office of Timothy J. Teehan, Leaf Filter, NEWPRO, Simon’s Furniture and Vet Med Pet Supplies.
“Downtown Franklin shines brightly during the Holiday Stroll. It’s fun, it’s affordable, it’s close to home and it’s the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit,” says co-chair Roberta Trahan.
For more information about the Holiday Stroll contact co-chairs Gregg Chalk, gchalk@dean.edu, or Roberta Trahan, Roberta_icu@verizon.net.
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501©3 organization made up of business owners, community leaders and residents working to revitalize downtown Franklin. For more information about the FDP, please visit www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/, or contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774) 571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.

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Friday, November 21, 2014

Food Elves press release

2014 Food Elves (L-R): Project 351 Ambassador Rebekah Redwine, YCIC's Dan Robert, Food Pantry Executive Director Erin Lynch, Head Elf Cameron Piana, Lead Elf Haley Frank
Food Elves ‘12 Days of Donating’ Kicks off December 1
The Franklin Food Elves are making it easy for you to help your neighbors in need during the “12 Days of Donating” campaign benefitting the Franklin Food Pantry. From December 1 to December 12, volunteer Food Elves will be coming to your neighborhood, or you can donate goods at a local participating business.
The Franklin Food Elves is a charitable community service group made up of more than 75 hard-working middle school and high school students. For the past three years they have partnered with the Franklin Downtown Partnership and local businesses to create one of the Franklin Food Pantry’s most successful collection drives. Last year the “12 Days of Donating” campaign brought in more than $6,700 and 7,300 pounds of goods.
“People have been incredibly generous year after year donating to the Food Elves campaign. What we bring in helps 600 Franklin families that rely on the Food Pantry’s services. We are grateful that our community keeps exceeding our expectations,” says Cameron Piana, Food Elves co-founder.
In December the Food Elves will notify residents about the collection drive in their neighborhood, including information about what items are needed and the collection dates. Residents simply place bags of goods at their mailboxes on designated pickup dates and the Food Elves will do the rest.
In case there’s no elf in your neighborhood, it is still easy and convenient to donate. The group has placed bright red collection bins at participating Franklin Downtown Partnership member businesses. If the Food Elves meet their goal of collecting more than 1,200 pounds of goods, each business listed below has pledged to donate $200.
Bins can be found at these participating locations:
  • Auerr, Zajac & Associates, LLC, 29 Dean Ave.
  • British Beer Company, 280 Franklin Village Dr.
  • DCU, 500 West Central St.
  • Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
  • Dean College, Campus Center
  • Drama Kids of Metro West, 19 Dean Ave. (call for drop off schedule)
  • Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
  • Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
  • Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
  • Keefe Insurance Agency, 51 West Central St.
  • Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
  • Pour Richard’s Wine & Spirits, 14 Grove St.
  • RE/MAX Executive Realty, 308 West Central St., Suite E
  • Yellin & Hyman, P.C., 693 East Central St., Suite 201

Also donating to the Food Elves campaign are Berry Insurance and Printsmart Office Solutions.
Look for a donation bin at the Holiday Stroll tree lighting ceremony at Dean College on Thursday, December 4, or drop off donations at the Franklin Food Pantry, 43 West Central St., and designate them for the “12 Days of Donating” drive.
This year the Food Elves also are collaborating with the Youth Community Involvement Club at Franklin High School and Project 351 at Horace Mann Middle School. Project 351 is a state-wide community service project and Food Elf volunteer Rebekah Redwine is this year’s Franklin ambassador.
“With a cold winter on the way, family budgets are stretched and more people need the Food Pantry’s services,” says Haley Frank, a lead Food Elf.  “We are proud that this great group of students working with local businesses can make a huge, positive impact for Franklin.”
Erin Lynch, Franklin Food Pantry Executive Director, concurs; she cites a recent Lowell Sun story that states National Grid rates on November 1 increased 37 percent over last winter.
“Families who are already struggling will be hit once again when electric rates skyrocket,” says Lynch. “What these students accomplish is vital. The spirit of the Food Elves has captured the hearts of this community. We are so grateful for the amazing support that keeps multiplying through the hard work of these young leaders.”
This year the Food Pantry’s needs include health and hygiene products and non-perishable food items. For more information check the Food Pantry’s website, www.franklinfoodpantry.org/, or call 508-528-3115.
For more information about the Franklin Food Elves and the “12 Days of Donating” campaign, please contact the Food Elves at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com or visit their Facebook page.

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2014 Food Elves Sidebar Press Release

Franklin Food Elves History By The Numbers
Co-founded by Melissa and Cameron Piana 9 years ago, the Franklin Food Elves have worked hard to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry while learning important lessons about community service and working with local businesses. As charitable community service group, the Food Elves have grown in both size and impact.
2006 to 2010:  Melissa and Cameron Piana collect donations in their neighborhood for the Franklin Food Pantry.
Goal:  To collect food donations to help those in need and raise awareness for the Franklin Food Pantry.
Actual: 400 pounds of donations and $800.
2011:  The Food Elves partner with the Franklin Downtown Partnership and create the “12 Days of Donating” Campaign. They partner with local businesses to set up collection bins at locations around Franklin and kick off the campaign at the FDP Holiday Stroll.
Melissa and Cameron recruit 15 volunteer elves to help with their cause. They partner with 8 local businesses.
Goal:  1,200 pounds of goods and $1,200.
Actual:  1 ton (2,000 pounds) of donations and $4,000.  
2012:  The organization recruits 50 volunteer elves to collect donations from 10 neighborhoods. They partner with 9 local businesses.
Goal:  To beat 2011 totals.
Actual:  2 tons (4,223 pounds) of donations and $5,700.
2013:  The organization grows to 75 volunteers. Volunteers collect donations from 30 neighborhoods. They partner with 9 local businesses.
Goal:  To beat 2012 totals.
Actual:  3 tons (7, 357) pounds and $6,700.
2014:  The Food Elves continues to grow and encourages others to donate          
to the Food Pantry to help those in need.
Goal:  They hope to increase the number of volunteer elves this year.  They have already
increased the number of businesses participating to 14 this year.
The Food Elves hope you will join them in the “12 Days of Donating” Campaign.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Winter Beautification Volunteers Needed



Volunteers are needed for this year's Winter Beautification Day -- Sunday, November 23rd at 9:00 a.m. and on Saturday at Hillside Nursery at 9:00 a.m.

Please contact Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net if you can volunteer.

See more details below:





Winter Beautification Day is November 23
 
Volunteers are welcome to join the Franklin Downtown Partnership and the Franklin Garden Club as they decorate the downtown with greenery, wreaths and bows for the holidays on Sunday, November 23.
 
All volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. on Sunday on the center island downtown. Additional help is needed on Saturday, November 22, to sort greens at Hillside Nursery on Washington Street. Interested helpers should contact Eileen Mason, event chairperson, at emason11@verizon.net. Community service hours are available and teams are encouraged to participate.
 
“Every year we have great volunteers who come out in all kinds of weather to help us spruce Franklin up for the holidays. The Franklin High boys and girls hockey teams always make the effort,” says Mason.
 
Sponsorships are available and donations are also welcome to help offset the costs.  Please consider helping out with the cost of the holiday decorations this year. 
 
“Decorating, planting, watering, cleanup and planning happen year round, and it requires manpower and funds,” explains Mason, who recently ordered plantings for next spring. “Monetary support helps us cover costs like plants, fertilizer, and maintenance.”
 
Additionally, the Partnership’s “Downtown Clean Sweep Committee” is recruiting business owners to adopt a block and looking for volunteers to get involved in keeping the downtown free of trash, weeds and debris.

For more information or if you would like to donate toward the holiday decorations please contact the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or Eileen Mason.


 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all who served



Monday, November 10, 2014

Member Announcements

Don't miss the upcoming Franklin Art Association exhibit 



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The Estate at Franklin Grand Opening






Thursday, November 6, 2014

Reminder: Friday Deadline for Holiday Stroll Participation


Don't miss out on the Holiday Stroll! If you would like to participate (no cost to FDP members) contact event co-chairs-Gregg Chalk, gchalk@dean.edu, or Roberta Trahan, Roberta_icu1@verizon.net.

If you would like to be a Sponsor of the Holiday Stroll please e-mail the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com by Friday so we can include you in the promo materials. 

If you would like to participate in the Franklin Food Elves' "12 Days of Donating" by pledging $200 to the Food Pantry, please e-mail by Friday.

DEADLINE is the Friday, November 7th


Three Ways to Keep Up with the FDP

There are three easy ways to stay up to date on all the latest news from the FDP.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is now on Facebook and Twitter!

Find us on Facebook
Like and Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/franklindowntownpartnership.org

Follow us on Twitter @FranklinDowntwn


Subscribe Via Email 
On the website (see box to the right of this post) enter your email address into the box and click "Subscribe." You will receive an email prompting you to confirm. Once you confirm, you will receive an email after 3 p.m. each day that something new has been added to the website. 



Wednesday, November 5, 2014

General Meeting Agenda

Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting Agenda
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Dean College Campus Center, 8:30 a.m.
Golder Room


I.      Open Meeting

II.     Adoption of Agenda

III.    Introductions

IV.    Town Updates -- Town Administrator Jeff Nutting

V.     Report from Executive Director 
        a.  New Brochure -- available at FDP office
        b.  Harvest Festival Recap -- Huge success
        c.  FDP Partnering with Dean College School of Business

VI.    FDP Facebook and Twitter Launch -- Lisa Piana/Terri Frank

VII.   Holiday Stroll Committee -- Gregg Chalk/Roberta Trahan
        a.  Friday, November 7 -- Deadline to be included on flyers
        b.  Thursday, December 4 -- 4:00 p.m. tree lighting 

VIII.  Franklin Food Elves "12 Days of Donating"
        a.  December 1st - 12th
        b.  Businesses welcome to participate

IX.    New Business

X.     Adjourn



Monday, November 3, 2014

Food Elves Press Release

2013 Food Elves captains Haley Frank and Cameron Piana
with Erin Lynch, Food Pantry Executive Director (center) 

Franklin Food Elves Launch ’12 Days of Donating’ Campaign

The Franklin Food Elves and the Downtown Partnership will launch the “12 Days of Donating” food drive to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry at the annual Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 4, at the 4 p.m. tree-lighting ceremony.

The charitable community service group’s goal each year is to collect 1,200 pounds of food and $1,200 in 12 days to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. The campaign will run from December 1 through December 12. Along with a food bin set up at the tree ceremony on the Dean College campus, the Elves are placing red bins at local business locations where people can drop off non-perishable food items.

If the Food Elves reach their goal and collect 1,200 pounds of food, participating businesses pledge an additional $1,200 in matching funds. Franklin Food Elves co-founders Melissa and Cameron Piana and the FDP hope that the community will support the Food Pantry by helping them reach this goal.

Over the past 4 years the organization has surpassed their original 1,200-pound goal, and last year 75 elves, together with Partnership businesses, collected more than three tons of food donations to support the Franklin Food Pantry. The organization hopes to increase business participation this year again.

If you are interested in participating in the Food Elves’ campaign as a business or as a volunteer, please contact the Partnership at downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com. Volunteers can contact the Food Elves directly at Franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com.  For more information about the Franklin Food Pantry and what items are needed, please go to their website, www.franklinfoodpantry.org/.