Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Franklin Downtown Partnership - General Meeting - Agenda

Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting Agenda
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Dean College Golder Room - 8:30 am


I.    Open Meeting

II.   Adoption of Agenda                          

III.  Beautification: Eileen Mason, Chair                          

IV.   Report from Executive Director
a.    Membership
b.    Sponsorship
c.    Website

V.    Strawberry Festival/Third Thursday: Nicole Fortier and Jane Curran

VI.   Town Update: Bryan Taberner                          

VII.  Museum: Del Arnold, Historical Commission

VIII. New Business

IX.   Other Business

X.    Adjourn

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Beautification Day - May 22


All residents are welcome to pull on their gardening gloves and bring their tools to help plant more than 1,200 plants during Franklin’s seventh annual Beautification Day on Saturday, May 22, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The event will take place rain or shine.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership, together with the Franklin Garden Club and Wadsworth Farm, is again organizing the plantings for the bridge and the islands downtown. Volunteers are asked to meet at 9:00 a.m. on the center island in downtown. High school students who need community service hours are welcome to participate.

“This is our seventh year beautifying the downtown and it’s become a passion for all involved,” says Eileen Mason, Beautification Day chairperson.  “We want to make a strong, positive impression on all those who visit Franklin in hopes that they may someday come back to shop, eat and relax in our wonderfully revitalized downtown community.

We also do this to soften and minimize the ‘concrete look’ in the center of town,” adds Mason.  “All this is accomplished solely through sponsorships, donations and 100 percent volunteer hours. We need everyone’s participation.”

The color scheme for this year’s plantings is pinks and blues, including Rose and Purple Wave Petunias, Blue Annabelle Lobelia, Persian Shield, Diamond Frost, and blue, white and pink Salvia.

According to Mason, the downtown beautification effort follows a year-long cycle. This spring’s plants were chosen last November, and then planted in the Wadsworth Farm greenhouses in March in order to be ready for planting this May. In October, beautification volunteers remove the plants and prepare for winter, placing evergreen decorations in containers the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

“Although we plant in May, this is a year-round project. Sponsorships and donations are what keep this effort going,” says Mason.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Gold and platinum-level sponsors will have their names prominently displayed on a sign in the center island for the 2010 season. Silver sponsors will have their name displayed on a group sign in the center island for the remainder of the year.

Interested sponsors and volunteers should contact Eileen Mason at 508-330-4234 for more details. 

All contributions to the Franklin Downtown Partnership, a non-profit organization, are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to:  Franklin Downtown Partnership, P.O. Box 413FranklinMA02038.  For more information about the Partnership and becoming a member, contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774) 571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com

Monday, May 17, 2010

Wow ... such a deal!

Now that we have your attention!

Did you know ...for $250 your name can be listed on the downtown Beautification signs for 8 months?!

Did you know...for $300 your business name can be listed on over 1000 posters
that are distributed throughout Franklin, listed on the Website, and mentioned in the paper numerous times!?

But most important...did you know that without sponsorship support from businesses like yours
the Partnership would not be able to have the Harvest Festival, Strawberry Festival, Third Thursday Event, Holiday Stroll or plant hundreds of flowers downtown?

As a non-profit organization, we need your support more than ever...Please consider sponsoring one of our many events.

The list of sponsor opportunities can be found here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ai_Lbt-ScYdLdHZBb0hMMEdCYlVBTGNfWkp6VTRlUXc&hl=en#gid=0

The sponsor form can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AS_Lbt-ScYdLZHJkdDN6N18zaHRienNoZ2M&hl=en


Thank you for your support,

The Sponsorship Committee

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Downtown Is Ready for Spring


...once we plant 1,200 flowers!

We need YOU to come out and join the Beautification volunteers on Saturday, May 22nd 9:00-12:00

Busy that day?

How about Friday May 21st from 9:00-11:00?
We need help at Wadsworth Farms to separate plants.

Working that day?

How about sponsoring the flowers by sending in a donation?

There are so many ways to help out!
WE NEED YOU this year !

Please e-mail Eileen Mason our Beautification Event Chair.... I know she would love to have your help...maybe you can help water during the summer...? 508-330-4234

Give her a call......or just come...!

It is fun ....and will make you feel good about helping out....!!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Downtown Improvement Project - live broadcast and presentation

The workshop on May 12th to review and discuss the Downtown Improvement Project plans was recorded and available for viewing here: The presentation used for the workshop is available here: Franklin, MA

Monday, May 10, 2010

Downtown Franklin Project in Need of Input

The Town of Franklin is holding a public meeting in order to obtain comments and suggestions on the Downtown Franklin Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project. The meeting will be held on Wednesday May 12, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Third Floor Training Room of Franklin’s Municipal Building at 355 East Central Street.

The meeting will consist of two parts: The first half of the meeting will consist mainly of a presentation by Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc., the Town’s design and engineering consultant for the project. The presentation will include a general update on the planning and engineering portion of the project, as well as a presentation of specific project details through utilization of maps, diagrams and schematics.

The second half of the night will be a hands on workshop, where meeting attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, exchange ideas, and provide suggestions on various general topics as well as the project’s specific design components. The Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project is a multi-year roadway and streetscape improvement project expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

The project includes elimination of the one way traffic pattern of Route 140 in Downtown Franklin, installation of interconnected traffic signals with emergency preemption system, period streetlights, traffic calming devices, resetting curbs were needed, ADA compliant sidewalks, resurfacing of streets, and streetscape/landscape improvements and furniture.~ The goals of this important project are to improve vehicular circulation and safety, improve emergency response time, improve the deteriorated conditions of certain secondary roadways, create a safer pedestrian friendly environment, improve the overall appearance of Downtown Franklin, and stimulate private sector investment.

At this time input is being sought from the general public, government officials, Downtown business owners, property owners, and other individuals and organizations. To make it easy for individuals to submit comments and suggestions during the next few months, DPCD will hold at least two public meetings and workshops, including the May 12th meeting, and a required Public Hearing during the summer to review the 25 percent draft design.

Franklin’s department of Planning and Community Development has created the Downtown Improvement Project webpage on the Town’s website: http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/dtimprovement

 Please utilize the web site to provide input and look for other ways to participate in this important project.

 In addition, feel free to contact Franklin’s Director of Planning and Community Development, Bryan W. Taberner, at 508-520-4907 or btaberner@franklin.ma.us if you have questions or require additional information. 

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Franklin Downtown Partnership Board of Directors 2010-2011

Lisa Piana, Executive Director
Downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Nicole Fortier, Dean Bank -- President
Executive Board, Strawberry Stroll Co-Chair
nicolefortier@deanbank.com
508-528-0088 ext. 1103

Joel Carrara, Printsmart Office Products -- Vice President
Executive Board, Networking Committee Chair
jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com
(508) 488-8988


Mary Graff, Berry Insurance -- Treasurer
Executive Board
mgraff@berryinsurance.com
508-440-2286

Cindy Kozil, Dean College -- Secretary
Executive Board, Holiday Stroll Co-Chair
ckozil@dean.edu
508-541-1551


Roberta Trahan, Resident/School Committee Member
Holiday Stroll Co-Chair
Roberta_icu1@verizon.net

Del Arnold, Resident/Historical Commission
delarn@comcast.net

Jane Curran, Jane's Frames
Merchants Committee Chairperson
janeframe@verizon.net
508-528-3256

Angeline Grant, Middlesex Savings Bank
Harvest Festival Crafter Chair, Harvest Festival Co-Chair agrant@middlesexbank.com
508-599-5938

Diane Glass, Cataldo Building Owner
Strawberry Stroll Co-Chair 
dianeglasslaw@gmail.com
508-269-9147

Bryan Taberner, Town of Franklin Planning Department
btaberner@franklin.ma.us
508-520-4907

Elaine Renzi; Pavento, Ratcliffe, Renzi & Co., LLC
Partnership Accountant
erenzi@e-cpa-mas.net
508-553-3091


updated February 2011