New Restaurant going into building at 28 W. Central St.

What's going into the former Rick's location?

Santa Fe Burrito Grill is moving into 28 W. Central St., formerly the site of Rick's Restaurant. The new eatery will serve Mexican food, but we don't yet know when it will open. Stay tuned!

New scam targets business owners

A new marketing scam that targets local businesses is circulating and may be headed to Franklin. If you receive one of these phone calls please let the Franklin Police know about it. Thanks to Matt Lechter and Ken Corkran for the following information:

Late last week Dean College received a phone call from the Woonsocket Police Department informing us of a potential marketing “scam” going on in Rhode Island.  An individual, claiming to be “Richard”, is stating he works for Beacon Media News and is soliciting advertising space in a “Campus Life” publication.  He further states that this publication is sponsored by other colleges such as Dean College, Bryant College etc.  Local business owners are then asked to purchase advertising space in this publication, which does not exist.

Should anyone be approached with this solicitation, please contact Franklin Police and do not purchase “advertising” space.  Dean College has no affiliation with this.  

Ken Corkran

Director of Law Enforcement Services

 & Risk Management

99 Main Street

Franklin, MA 02038

508 541 1700 | kcorkran@dean.edu

   

Business After Hours is December 8

Join the Franklin Downtown Partnership for a 

Business After Hours event! 

*** Networking, connections, music and appetizers ***

Date:    Tuesday, December 8
Time:    5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Place:   Sally's Alley at Franklin Village Mall

Come in and take a look at our fabulous window treatments, enjoy some music, and share some hors d'oeuvres from The Alumni Restaurant and Wine from Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits. Networking from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. -- Sally Alexander, owner Sally's Alley.

Please RSVP so we know how many people to accommodate:  

Gary Donelan, gary.donelan@middlesexbank.com, 

or Matt Lechter, mlechter@dean.edu,

or Sally Alexander, salexander.sallysalley@gmail.com.

   

10 Businesses Participate in '12 Days of Donating'

Ten Businesses Participate in ’12 Days of Donating’ Campaign

The Franklin Food Elves kick off the “12 Days of Donating” campaign on Tuesday, December 1, to benefit the Food Pantry, and Franklin Downtown Partnership member businesses are doing their part to help collect goods and monetary donations.  

The Food Elves is a charitable community service group made up of more than 90 students from Franklin schools. This year 10 local businesses are participating in the 12 Days drive. Each business has a red collection bin on site and will donate $200 if the Food Elves meet their goal of collecting more than 1,200 pounds of goods.

Bins can be found at these participating locations:

• Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
• DCU, 500 West Central St.
• Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
• Dean College, Campus Center
• 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.
• The Adirondack Club, 800 Chestnut St.

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.

Click here to download this press release.

Meet Governor Baker at URCC Annual Meeting

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce 99th Annual Meeting with Governor Charlie Baker - December 4, 2015 Friday, December 4, 2015 at 12 PM Plainridge Park Casino 301 Washington Street, Plainville Business of the Year 2015 and Person of the Year 2015 will be presented. Sponsorship Opportunities 1. Platinum Level  $1,000 Program's front cover. One seat at table with featured guest. 2. Gold Level  $750 Program's back cover. 3. Silver Level  $500 ½ Page ad within the program book. 4. Bronze Level  $150 Business card size ad within the program book. Call the chamber for more information or click here for the sponsorship form.  Be a Table Top Sponsor Table Top Sponsors will provide unique gift baskets or floral centerpieces to be raffled off at the Annual Meeting.  You choose the design as well as what you would like to add to the centerpiece; gift certificates, assorted goodies...you decide! We ask that the minimum value be $50. As a Table Top Sponsor, you will receive: 1. Signage at the table where the centerpiece is displayed. 2. Recognition announcements during the event. 3. A thank you in eNews, the chamber's weekly newsletter. If you have any questions or are looking for ideas, please contact the chamber at 508-222-0801 or click here for more details. Please deliver your centerpiece to Plainridge Park Casino between 10 AM and noon on December 4th. Please - no alcohol. Tickets and Tables are on sale now! Individual Tickets: $50 Tables of 8 are available for $400 plus a business card ad within the program. Purchase tickets by November 23, 2015. Chamber Challenge: Bring a Friend. Tickets The United Regional Chamber of Commerce | TEL 508-222-0801  | FAX 508-222-1498 | jack@unitedregionalchamber.org  | unitedregionalchamber.org

Networking Luncheon Friday, November 20

Join the Franklin Downtown Partnership at our Networking Luncheon 

1 p.m. Friday, November 20

Dean College's Smith Dining Center. 

Make contacts, share information, form collaborations. 

Connect with the Networking Committee to reserve your seat at the table.

Gary Donelan, gary.donelan@middlesexbank.com
Matt Lechter, mlechter@dean.edu

Calling All Food Elves and Business Participants

GET READY for the "12 Days of Donating" campaign!

The Franklin Food Elves and the Downtown Partnership will once again launch the “12 Days of Donating” food drive to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry at the annual Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 3, at the 4 p.m. tree-lighting ceremony.

The Food Elves are looking for businesses to place red donation bins at their location. If you would like to pledge $200 to the pantry and collect food donations please let the Partnership and Food Elves know by Thursday, November 19.  

The Food Elves will drop off bins and pick up all donations for the pantry. You just need to write a check for $200 made out to the Franklin Food Pantry. The Elves will do the rest.

 

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 Food Pantry. The campaign will run from December 1 through December 12.  If the Food Elves r

each their goal and collect 1,200 pounds of food, participating businesses will each pledge $200.

 

Last year 90 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 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/.

Networking Luncheon Friday, November 20

Please join us for our upcoming Networking Luncheon

Friday, November 20, at 1 p.m. 

Dean College Smith Dining Center 

This luncheon is a great opportunity to talk about your business and grow relationships with other professionals in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying a delicious lunch. It is an ideal way for new businesses to get the word out about their ventures and make new connections. 

The FDP holds these networking luncheons every 3rd Friday of the month. Networking Committee Co-Chairs Gary Donelan and Matt Lechter are looking in to after-hours events at local businesses, and are actively looking for speaker ideas. Please contact them with topics that you feel are instrumental to your business success.

Gary Donelan, gary.donelan@middlesexbank.com

Matt Lechter, mlechter@dean.edu

Downtown Streetscape Project Update #16

Please remember to visit your downtown businesses, banks and restaurants during construction. While construction is inconvenient, it is also hard on the bottom lines of our town's businesses.

The latest from the Town Administrator's office:

November 6, 2015

Downtown Project Update # 16

MASS DOT was unable to pave Thursday night. Their plan is to finish West Central Street and Summer Street on Monday during the day. They will keep one lane of traffic open on West Central Street so they will not need to detour traffic.

If anyone has a question, please feel free to reach out to the DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi or Town Engineer, Michael Maglio at 508-553-5500 or Jeffrey Nutting, Town Administrator at 508-520-4949. 

Dean College Winter Intercession Classes Offered to Public

The Dean Leadership Institute and the School of Continuing Studies have set their Winter Intersession classes. Choose from non-credit, 1-week, 2-week or 4-week credit courses in business, general studies, and other interesting subjects. Choose from in-classroom or online instruction. 

More information can be found on the School of Continuing Studies website, dean.edu/scs, or call 508-541-1941. 

Click here to download a registration form.

The Sugar Shoppe - Franklin's Non-Profit Candy Shop

Did you catch this on Franklin Matters today? New FDP member The Sugar Shoppe is a lot more than just candy. 

Introducing The Sugar Shoppe - a non-profit candy store!

Welcome to the Sugar Shoppe (www.sugarshoppe.org) Your neighborhood Non-Profit Candy Shop...  Life is Short, Make it Sweet! WE ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN! Tues/Wed/Thurs 10-5pm, Fri 10-4pm, Sat 12-4pm *We will add additional hours once the volunteers are in place and trained.   First off, thank you to everyone who came out for our "soft" opening this past Saturday! It was a huge success! If you couldn't make it out, please come by anytime... WE ARE OPEN! (see above hours) Second, we hope you enjoyed your goodies! Whether it was gummies, sours, old school candy, jelly bellies, delicious chocolate TRUFFLES or samples of the FUDGE (coming this week!!) we hope you were happy!! Last, we would like to answer a common question that we hear people ask..."Why are you a non-profit? how does that work?"  Well here is the WHY...Once upon a time lived over 500,000 people in MA who are homeless on a given night.  Most (70%) were staying in residential programs but the rest (30%) were found in unsheltered locations. Nearly 25% of all homeless people were children under the age of 18, 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24, and 65% were 25 years or older. *Stats from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 2014.  We chose the non-profit route as a mission to help cure homelessness in MA. The Sugar Shoppe is the HOPE portion of helping (gift baskets for moms and kids) and the long term mission is the HOUSING  (www.makechangeforchange.org).  YES! all net proceeds go towards this fund. Our mission is to help and have fun while doing so, meeting a lot of new people along the way and bringing the community together for a great cause.  PLEASE SHARE US WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

Forward this email Make Change for Change | 334 Union Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

Dean Discount Program: Businesses Invited to Join

Dean College has been working with the Franklin Downtown Partnership to develop a great opportunity for FDP businesses and the Dean College community.

It is called the Dean College Discount Program and it gives businesses an opportunity to advertise their business directly to Dean College's 1,100 students along with its faculty and staff.   

If you are interested in increasing your business and taking advantage of this opportunity please follow these easy steps:

1 - Fill out the Dean College form (click here for form) and send to  Donna Tetrault at dtetrault@dean.edu or Matthew Lechter at mlechter@dean.edu.

2 - They will add your business to the Dean College discount program (see attached flyer). The list will appear on Today@ Dean where all students and staff get their information.

3 - Dean College students and staff will show you their college ID to receive your special offer or discount. Dean College is working on a Dean Paw Sticker for businesses interested in putting one in their window for students to see.

We hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity to encourage students to visit your business during the school year and the Dean college staff year-round.

This discount program will run from September to May.  In June, each business will have a chance to continue their discount with Dean College for the new year or make a change.