Please Join Us!

Franklin Downtown Partnership 

General Meeting

Thursday, February 5

8:30 a.m.

Dean College Campus Center

Golder Room

Bring your ideas for 2015!

Coffee and Refreshments Served

Hope to see you all there!

December's '12 Days of Donating' Totals Top 2013

Food Elves Bring in Record Donations

The Franklin Food Elves are pleased to announce that the final donation numbers are in and the “12 Days of Donating” Campaign has collected more than three tons (or 6,400 pounds) of goods and $8,500 for the Franklin Food Pantry.

(L-R) Food Elf Ellie Teixeira, Co-founder Cameron Piana, Food Pantry Executive Director Erin Lynch at the Franklin Food Pantry in December 2014.

More than 90 Food Elves collected from over 30 Franklin neighborhoods, the most volunteers in the history of the Franklin Food Elves. They worked in conjunction with local businesses that set up collection bins at their locations around town.

“We’d like to thank all of residents of Franklin who donated to our campaign this year. We also would like to thank the elves who worked hard to bring the donations in, and the businesses that helped fill the donation bins at their locations,” says Cameron Piana, Food Elves co-founder.

The Franklin Food Elves was co-founded by Melissa and Cameron Piana 9 years ago and

has grown each year.  Since the beginning the organization has brought in a total of 10 tons (20,380 pounds) of food donations and over $25,700 for the Franklin Food Pantry.

Local businesses were deeply involved in this year’s campaign. DCU gave a check for $5,000, and 15 other businesses pledged a $200 cash donation and donated time and bin space to the cause.

Those businesses included Auerr, Zajac & Associates, LLC, Berry Insurance, British Beer Company, Dean Bank, Dean College, Drama Kids of Metro West, Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, the Franklin Downtown Partnership, Jane’s Frames, Keefe Insurance Agency, Murphy Business, Printsmart Office Products, Pour Richard’s Wine & Spirits, RE/MAX Executive Realty, and Yellin & Hyman, P.C. 

For more information about the Food Elves and the “12 Days of Donating” campaign, please contact the Food Elves at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com or visit their Facebook page.

After Hours Thank You

Thank you to everyone who braved the cold, wet weather last night to join us for our After-Hours Fundraiser at Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits. 

Fun raffle items were donated by Emma's Quilt Cupboard, Franklin Honey, Jane's Frames, Simon's Furniture and the Bernon Family Branch YMCA. 

Ann and John of Pour Richard's sponsored the event and donated a portion of the night's sales to the Partnership. 

Many thanks also to The Cake Bar, Big Y World Market and Making Whoopie... for the delicious refreshments.

Cultural District Committee Planning Celebration of the Arts

Come Join Us  January 15 at 7PM at THE BLACK BOX

 

Hi All

 

The Franklin Cultural District Steering Committee is in the process of planning a week-long celebration of the arts in downtown Franklin in July. 

 

We envision a celebration that would include participation by all things Cultural that are Franklin-based

 

We’ll celebrate Franklin’s

 

Musicians

Dancers 

           Actors

           Artists 

           Writers

           Poets

           History through Museum and Library tours and events

           Culinary Arts – Restaurants etc

           OTHER SUGGESTIONS

                

The week could include performances at venues throughout the downtown such as Franklin Common, THE BLACK BOX and others. Museum and Library tours.  Events at our Downtown Restaurants.  Let’s think out of the box.            

 

BRING YOUR IDEAS.  Plans are not finalized yet.  The purpose our meeting is to develop some enthusiasm and get your feedback to drive this event to a  wonderful week celebrating the arts and perhaps to build an annual celebration. 

 

Hope to see you there.

 

Best,

 

Alan

 

Alan Mercer

Director of Advancement

Franklin Performing Arts Company

Office: 508-528-8668  Cell: 508-922-7290

Franklin Matters: FM #108 - Emmons St RFP Discussion (audio)

If you missed the Town Council discussion Wednesday night, Steve Sherlock recorded the meeting: 



Franklin Matters: FM #108 - Emmons St RFP Discussion (audio): The audio recording (podcast) for the Emmons St RFP discussion from Wednesday (Jan 7, 2015) night's Town Council meeting is available. ...

After-Hours Fundraiser at Pour Richard's

You are invited to the Franklin Downtown Partnership's

After Hours Fundraiser...

At Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits

14 Grove Street, Franklin

Wednesday, January 14th

6:30 to 8:30 pm

$10.00

Wine and Beer Sampling

Fun Food

Raffle Items from local business

Come celebrate 2015 

Community welcome...!

Check out these scenes from May 2013

Raffle item - a cupcake bouquet!

'It has Made a Huge Difference' in Emmons Street Discussion

Thank you to all of you who participated in the many meetings and discussions regarding the downtown Emmons Street property. It has made a huge difference.

We were encouraged at last night's Town Council meeting to learn that the community was able to convince the developer to come up with a new plan that did Not include a food drive-through.

Below is a summary of the meeting. Please visit Franklin Matters if you would like to read through the live reporting of this meeting.  

Attached are the new proposed drawings.  The Town Council will have an official vote at the next town council meeting on Wednesday, January 21.

Proposed plan with NO drive-through option

Proposed plan, with bank drive-through option

Artist rendering of proposed building (includes bank drive-through)

Matt Tota of the Milford Daily News published a story about the discussion, and Franklin Matters posted an excerpt of it today: 

"We're happy to that the food drive-through is now no longer on the table" Posted: 08 Jan 2015 02:50 AM PST  Franklin Matters The local developer seeking to purchase a downtown property has changed his proposal to only include retail space after concerns were raised about the possibility for a drive-through restaurant at the site.  Roger Calarese, developer of the Franklin Village Mall, submitted a proposal to raze the current building at 150 Emmons St. and replace it with a 5,300-square-foot commercial property. He had considered building a drive-through on the property, but cut it from the proposal in response to complaints from downtown business owners and residents.  Calarese, who bid $500,000 for the property, has since taken the prospect of a restaurant drive-through off the table. However, he could still have a drive-through business there, such as a bank. His negotiations with a possible bank tenant, though, had fallen through. And it is unclear what type of retail business he now has in mind. Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150108/NEWS/150107578/1994/NEWS#sthash.lSTkeHrx.dpuf Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the Franklin Matters webpage to view the embedded content (video,audio and documents) This post originally appeared on Franklin Matters

2015 General Meeting & Event Schedule

General Meetings
The Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meetings are scheduled for the 1st Thursday of the month, beginning in February. Meetings are open to the public, and take place at 8:30 a.m. in the Golder Room of the Dean College Campus Center.  Check the website, Facebook page and Twitter for agendas. 

February 5
April 2 -- Important Streetscape Updates
June 4           
No August meeting
September 3 -- Harvest Festival Planning
November 5  


Events

Strawberry Stroll -- Thursday, June 11

Harvest Festival -- Sunday, October 4

Holiday Stroll -- Thursday, December 3

A Few 2015 Updates & Announcements

Happy New Year!

The following are a few 2015 updates...

Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting

Thursday, February 5 

8:30 am

Dean College

FDP Facebook and Website

Visit our website and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/franklindowntownpartnership.org) for updates and information about ongoing changes in Downtown Franklin, and a list of 2015 meeting and event dates.

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Emmons Street property discussion

For those who are not able to attend meeting we encourage you to go to Franklin Matters to fill out the survey (http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/survey-says-which-option-on-150-emmons.html). 

Artistry Kitchen/AK Bistro

Sadly, the news is true. Artistry Kitchen/AK Bistro in downtown Franklin has closed as of last weekend. While the future of the space is still unclear, we wish the staff the very best. For patrons who have unused gift cards, refunds are available. Call Spencer Waite at 508-530-7440 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and he will refund your gift card. If he does not answer the phone, leave a message and he will return your call.

The following email appeared on Franklin Matters, written by Martha Collins, one of the business partners:

It is with sadness, but much pride that Elissa and I announce that we have left Artistry Kitchen. We have been out of the Bistro since October and fulfilled our last catering responsibilities as of December 31st. 

The CEO of the company has decided to take the company in a different direction than the one we originally signed on for and therefore we have decided to pursue other opportunities. 

We are immensely proud of the work we, along with the rest of the Franklin team have done to create what we believed was a wonderful place to experience great food, in a great atmosphere with top notch culinary and hospitality talent. 

We will always be so grateful to our friends, family and the community for embracing our ideas with open arms and for supporting us every step of the way. This journey would not have been the same without your constant words of encouragement and the many visits you paid to us over the last few months. It has been a very difficult decision to walk away from Artistry after putting so much love, sweat and tears into the project. However, when faced with the prospect of changes that WE believe would compromise the integrity of what was built, we knew it was the right choice. We are looking forward to our next adventure and hope to share the next chapter with you very soon!  

Rick's Restaurant

Rick decided not to sign a new 10-year lease. He felt that 10 years was too long of a period  for him to commit to. We wish him and his staff all the best ... they will be missed by so many.

FDP to Partner with Dean College School of Business

Any FDP Business Member who may need assistance with writing a business or marketing plan -- this is a unique opportunity to work with the business students at Dean College to help write or update your plan. 

Note:  It is a first-come, first-serve opportunity as they only have room for 3 or 4 businesses. If you think you may be interested, email the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com this week. 

Franklin Matters' Survey Concerns Emmons Street RFP

For residents who are unable to make the meeting on Wednesday, you can take Franklin Matters' survey below:

What do you think should happen with regards to the Emmons Street RFP at Wednesday night’s Town Council meeting? The Councilors have four options from which to choose. Franklin Matters posted the following survey this week and we encourage you to take it. 

"Survey Says" - Which option on the 150 Emmons St property would you like to see?

If the above link does not work please copy this into your browser —  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/survey-says-which-option-on-150-emmons.html

FDP General Meeting Feb. 5

The first General Meeting of 2015 will be

Thursday, February 5, 8:30 a.m.

Dean College Campus Center

Golder Room

Details and Agenda will be available February 2.

Make Your Voice Heard Wednesday

Please attend the Town Council meeting this Wednesday.

We encourage the public to come to the Town Council meeting  on Wednesday, January 7th, at Town Hall at 7:00 pm if you have concerns about a food drive-through at the 150 Emmons Street downtown location. 

Our hope is to convince the Council to change the wording in the RFP so a food drive-through is not an option at this busy intersection.

This will be the final discussion before the Council votes on the RFP. Come make a difference and have your voice heard.

150 Emmons Street, Franklin