Holiday Stroll Map

Join us Downtown on Thursday, December 1, at the 

Holiday Stroll!

The tree lighting will be at 4 p.m. at Dean College. Santa will be at Simon's Furniture from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Specials and treats will be available throughout downtown all evening!


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2011 Holiday Stroll Map

Holiday Stroll flyer

If you don't have Facebook you can download and print this flyer here.
2011 Holiday Stroll flyer

Beautification and Networking

Thank You Volunteers 
The Downtown is decorated for the Holidays! 
Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who came out Saturday and Sunday to help. 
A special thank you to Eileen Mason and the Garden Club who make it all happen! 


Donations Appreciated 
If you would like to donate, please let us know. 
$25 or $50 adds up and helps pay for the decorations! 
Thank you to our sponsors -- we couldn't do it without you. 


Networking Luncheon 
Friday, December 9th at 1:00 p.m. 
$5.50 at Dean College Dining Hall 
(Campus Center) 
Contact Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com

Holiday Stroll Happenings

Here is a listing of all the special treats and offers in store for you at the Third Annual Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 1, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.


If you don't have Facebook you can download and print this flyer here.

Third Annual Holiday Stroll Happenings

Beautification Update

Beautification Day
Sunday, November 20, 9:00 a.m. 
Come help decorate the Downtown Center!
(Businesses:  Please make sure you pull out your flowers from the barrels)


Volunteers Needed!
Saturday, November 19 (this has been changed from Friday, 11/18)
Volunteers are needed to help separate out the greens.
Please let Eileen Mason know if you can help.
10:00 a.m. at Hillside Nursery


Contact Eileen at 508-330-4234 or emason11@verizon.net.

Holiday Stroll Press Release

Celebrate the Season at the FDP Holiday Stroll

Downtown Franklin will usher in the season of giving with the third annual Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 1, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Franklin Downtown Partnership plans a visit from Santa, a tree-lighting ceremony, carolers, refreshments, entertainment and more for visitors this year.

The lighting of the tree will begin at 4 p.m. in front of Dean Hall on the Dean College campus. Costumed carolers will lead the crowd in singing holiday songs and refreshments will be served.

“In the spirit of giving, this year the Partnership is pleased to help the Franklin Food Elves kick off the ’12 Days of Donating’ campaign,” says Cindy Kozil, Holiday Stroll co-chair. “We invite everyone coming to the tree lighting to bring a Food Pantry donation and remember those less fortunate this holiday season.”

The Franklin Food Elves, a charitable community service group, will launch its food drive with a donation bin at the tree-lighting ceremony. The group’s goal is to collect 1,200 pounds of food and $1,200 in 12 days for the Franklin Food Pantry (see sidebar).

From the tree lighting, visitors can then stroll throughout the downtown and visit more than 25 participating businesses for special offerings, discounts and more treats and entertainment. A complete listing of the businesses’ special offers will be available at each participating location.

Children can meet Santa at Simon’s Furniture from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Boston radio station 103.3 WODS-FM will broadcast holiday favorites and hand out prizes from the Berry Insurance parking lot. The Fire Department will give tours and holiday fire safety tips, and the Historical Museum will be open.

“For the past two years we’ve enjoyed tremendous community support for the Holiday Stroll, and we expect about 1,000 residents and visitors will help us celebrate this year,” says Roberta Trahan, event co-chair. “We’ve put together a fun family event that we hope will remind people to think locally when doing their holiday shopping.”

The Holiday Stroll is sponsored this year by Silver Sponsors Dean Bank, D.G. Ranieri Real Estate, DCU, Ferguson Enterprises, Middlesex Savings Bank and nhs print. Bronze Sponsors are Judith V. Butler, MA, LLC., the Franklin Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, Attorney John J. Roche, and Laura Lowe, Realtor, Coldwell Banker, Franklin.

For more information about the Holiday Stroll contact co-chairs Cindy Kozil, ckozil@dean.edu, or Roberta Trahan, roberta_icu1@verizon.net.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization made up of business owners, community leaders and residents working toward revitalizing Downtown Franklin. For more information about the Partnership contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.

Food Elves Press Release

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 local food pantry at the third annual Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 1, at the 4 p.m. tree-lighting ceremony.

The charitable community service group’s goal 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 bins at six downtown locations where people can drop off non-perishable food items.

According to the Franklin Food Pantry, more than 1,000 residents use its services. Recent Census data shows the need is greater; more than 3,000 Franklin residents, or 9% of the town’s population, are struggling. That need increases in winter due to the cost of heat.

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. What will 1,200 pounds and $1,200 do for Franklin?  1,200 pounds of food can provide 923 meals to those in need. The $1,200 can provide an additional 6,000 meals.

Look for food donation bins at these locations:  

• Franklin Downtown Partnership office, 9 East Central Street
• Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central Street
• Printsmart Office Supplies, 20 East Central Street
• Berry Insurance, 9 Main Street
• Dean Bank, 21 Main Street
• Dean College, Campus Center

For more information about the Franklin Food Elves and the “12 Days of Donating” campaign, please contact the Franklin Downtown Partnership at downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com or at (774)571-3109.  For more information about the Franklin Food Pantry and what items are needed, please go to their website, www.franklinfoodpantry.org/.

Meeting Agenda

Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting Agenda

Thursday, November 17, 2011, at 8:30 a.m.

Dean College Campus Center, Golder Room

I.         Open Meeting


II.        Adoption of Agenda


III.       Introductions
            a.  Welcome New Members -- Lisa Piana
                 John Fenton, Certified Financial Planner
                 Donna Rajcula, Mary Kay
                 Barry Madden, Franklin Ford
                 Dr. Don Cohen, Allied Chiropractic
                 Linda Waters, Back to Business


IV.        Town Updates -- Bryan Taberner


V.         Report from Executive Director
             a.  Sponsorship and Membership update
             b.  Website Link, WMRC Buy Local
             c.  January meeting for downtown businesses


VI.        Franklin Local Town Pages -- Publisher Chuck Tashjian


VII.       Beautification -- Eileen Mason
             a.  Holiday Decorating -- Sunday, November 20
             b.  Volunteers also needed Friday, November 18


VIII.      Holiday Stroll -- Cindy Kozil and Roberta Trahan


IX.        Networking Schedule -- Joel Carrara


X.         New Business


XI.        Other Business


XII.       Adjourn

Winter Beautification Day

Can you believe it's time to decorate the downtown for the holidays?

Volunteers Needed!

Winter Beautification Day
Come decorate the Downtown Center!
Sunday, November 20, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sorting the Greens (we need you!)
Friday, November 18, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Funds are needed to help pay for the Holiday Decorations!
Please send checks to: 9 East Central Street, Franklin, MA

Please contact Beautification Chair, Eileen Mason
at emason11@verizon.net or contact the FDP office
at Downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com for more information.

Hope to see you there!