The eighth annual Beautification Day brought out more than 40 volunteers and the sun Saturday morning. More than 1,200 plants were installed by the Franklin Garden Club and Partnership volunteers throughout downtown. Read the Milford Daily News story by Brian Benson here: Franklin volunteers turn out to make town beautiful.

Strawberry Stroll Handout (Updated May 20)

Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting Agenda

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Dean College Campus Center @ 8:30 am

Campanella Board Room

I.      Open Meeting


II.     Adoption of Agenda


III.    Introductions


IV.    Report: Town Updates, Jeff Nutting


V.     Report: Streetscape and Zoning District Update
        Bryan Taberner and Maxine Kinhart


VI.    Report from Executive Director
        a. 2011 Event Updates
        b. Sponsorship Reminder
        c. Membership Update
        d. New Board Members and New Members


VII.   Report: Beautification, Eileen Mason


VIII.  Report: Strawberry Stroll, Diane Glass


IX.    Report: Harvest Festival, Angie Grant/Lisa Piana


X.     New Business: Updates from our members


XI.    Other Business


XII.   Adjourn

Strawberry Stroll - June 16, 2011

FDP Strawberry Stroll 2011

Upcoming meeting and events

Partnership General Meeting

Thursday, May 19, 8:30 a.m.

New Location this month only!

Dean College Campus Center, Campanella Board Room

(1st room on left directly across from the Dining Room)

Agenda will be posted here next week.

All businesses and the general public are invited!

Beautification Day

Saturday, May 21st, 9 a.m. - Noon

Volunteers are needed Friday and Saturday

Beautification invoices have been sent out to downtown businesses. Please note: payment must be received by May 20th in order for flowers to be planted at your location this year.

For more information please contact Beautification Chair Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net.

Did you forget to pay your membership?

There are a few of you who still owe your 2011 membership. Please try to get payment in this week so you can participate in our wonderful events.

Strawberry Stroll

Thursday, June 16th, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

We are in the final planning stages for the upcoming Stroll. Flyers will be distributed next week. Please help the FDP advertise this exciting event. Event co-chairs are Nicole Fortier, nicolefortier@deanbank.com, and Diane Glass, dianeglasslaw@gmail.com.

Harvest Festival Update

Registration information will be sent out this week.

If you are a new member and would like to participate please contact Angie Grant, our new Harvest Festival Event Chair, at agrant@middlesexbank.com so you can be added to the distribution list.

Website

Make sure you have your link here on the Partnership website!

It is free with your business membership. Check back here for all current information and street closing updates.

Sponsorships Needed

Sponsors are still needed for Beautification, Harvest Festival and Holiday Stroll. Please email the Partnership at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com if you are interested in becoming a sponsor. Sponsorship Opportunities and a Sponsorship Registration Form can be found under the Sponsorship tab.

Thank you to those of you who have supported past events!

Strawberry Stroll Sponsors are due TODAY!
We need your support!


Please email the FDP office at franklin.downtown@yahoo.com if you would like to sponsor this event.


Sponsorship Opportunities can be found here, and a Sponsorship Registration Form can be found here.


For more information contact the event co-chairs Nicole Fortier, nicolefortier@deanbank.com, or Diane Glass, dianeglasslaw@gmail.com.

Street Closures this Saturday

The Dean College Class of 2011 Commencement Ceremony will be this Saturday, May 7. To allow for the procession of graduates before and after the ceremony, some roads downtown will be closed for parts of the day:

• Main Street between School Street and Emmons Street will be closed from 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. and from 1:30 - 1:15 p.m.

• Part of School Street will be closed from 10:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Congratulations and Good Luck graduates!

Franklin Beautification Day to be May 21

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is recruiting volunteers to help spruce up the downtown during the eighth annual Beautification Day on Saturday, May 21. The event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to Noon, rain or shine.


Together with the Franklin Garden Club and Wadsworth Farm, the non-profit Partnership will install more than 1,400 flowers and greens on the bridge and islands downtown and in planter boxes in front of some businesses. All residents, especially students in need of community service hours, are encouraged to spend some time digging in the dirt to help decorate downtown Franklin. Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. on the center island in front of the Rome Restaurant.


“We have planned some beautiful, eye-catching displays this year,” says Beautification Day Chairperson Eileen Mason. The color scheme for this year’s plantings is white, blue and burgundy, and includes Compact Sun Patience, Burgundy Star and Blue Moon Petunias, Victoria Blue Salvia, Lobelia, Lantana and Red Proven Winner’s Grass. “These are hardy plants that will stay blooming and beautiful from spring through the fall.”


The Partnership and Garden Club work year-round on this beautification effort. This spring’s plants were chosen last November and then grown in the Wadsworth Farm greenhouses over the winter. After the initial planting, the Partnership coordinates with the Garden Club members to water and maintain the gardens and flower boxes throughout the warm months. Next fall the boxes will be cleaned up and prepared for volunteers to decorate for the winter holidays.


“Every year our volunteers do an amazing job. If it weren’t for them and the donations we receive from residents and businesses we wouldn’t be able to create these beautiful displays and brighten up downtown Franklin,” says Mason. “We welcome anyone who wants to get their hands dirty with us or make a donation to offset the cost of the new boxes and the flowers.”


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 2011 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 emason11@verizon.net. Details about sponsorship can also be found on the Partnership’s website, franklindowntownpartnership.org/, under the Sponsorship tab.


All contributions to the Franklin Downtown Partnership, a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to: Franklin Downtown Partnership, P.O. Box 413, Franklin, MA, 02038. For more information about the Partnership and becoming a member contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com. 

Important Dates

FDP Networking Luncheon
Friday, April 29th, 1:00 p.m.
Dean College Campus Dining Hall
$5.00 all you can eat
RSVP Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com

Strawberry Stroll participant information due by May 1st
If you are interested in participating in the Strawberry Stroll on June 16 please contact the event co-chairs: Diane Glass at dianeglasslaw@gmail.com or Nicole Fortier at nfortier@deanbank.com.

Strawberry Stroll Sponsors are due by May 11th
We need your support!
Please email the FDP office at franklin.downtown@yahoo.com if you would like to sponsor this event.
Sponsorship Opportunities can be found here, and a Sponsorship Registration Form can be found here.

Beautification Day
Saturday, May 21st
Sponsors and volunteers are needed.
Beautification invoices have been sent out to downtown businesses. Please note: payment must be received by May 20th in order for flowers to be planted at your location this year.
For more information please contact Beautification Chair Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net

2011 Membership Renewals
Past Due
Please e-mail the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com if you have NOT sent in your renewal

FDP General Meeting
Thursday, May 19th, 8:30 a.m.
Dean College Campus Center
Agenda will be posted on the website

Harvest Festival
Sunday, October 2nd
Information will be sent out shortly.
Please contact Harvest Festival Chair Angie Grant at agrant@middlesexbank.com if you have questions. Please contact the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or 774-571-3109 if you would like to sponsor this event.