Join the Draft Master Plan Conversation

Have you been following the conversation about the 2013 Franklin Master Plan? A public hearing was held last Saturday to garner feedback from residents and businesses about the DRAFT Master Plan created by the volunteers of the Franklin Master Plan Committee.

Details of the Draft Master Plan can be found on the town website: http://town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Planning/masterplandoc/doc.  

In case you missed the public hearing you still have the opportunity to comment on the draft plan. Comments will be accepted until Friday, August 16, at 1 p.m. and can be made one of three ways --

By mail:  Planning and Community Development Department

335 E. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038

By email:  bdahlstrom@franklin.ma.us, Attn: Beth Dahlstrom

By the town's Master Plan input webpage: http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/masterinput

Steve Sherlock has been following the issue closely on Franklin Matters and on Saturday posted this Live Reporting:  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/live-reporting-public-hearing-master_10.html

Antique Appraisal Day Coming to Historical Museum

The Franklin Historical Museum will host an Antique Appraisal Day on Sunday, September 15, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Nancy Wyman, a certified appraiser with Coyle's Auction Gallery in Bellingham, will appraise two to three items per person at $5 per item. 

Among the items that can be appraised are decorative stoneware and pottery; vintage clothing and costume jewelry; fine china, glass and art glass; oriental rugs; paintings and prints; objects d’art; lamps, clocks, decorative accessories; Hummels and music boxes; sterling silver, pewter and brass; american, victorian and country furniture and accessories. Items that cannot be appraised include fine jewelry, coins, stamps and weapons. 

All procedes from the appraisals will benefit the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. The Museum is located at 80 West Central Street and is open Thursdays 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about the Franklin Historical Museum please go to their website:  http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com.

More information about Coyle's Auction Gallery can be found here:  http://www.coylesauction.com.

Harvest Festival Important Details

Happy Summer!  

We are preparing for the upcoming October 6th Harvest Festival.

Click here to download and print 2013 Harvest Festival Registration Form.  

Spaces are assigned on a first-come basis so send in your forms early. 

A Few Important Reminders:

You must fill out a registration form in order to participate, even if you are a downtown business and an FDP member.

Booth spaces are Free for those FDP members who have paid their 2013 membership. If you are unsure if you paid please contact our FDP treasurer Mary Graff at mgraff@berryinsurance.com. Send in your renewal soon so you can get your free booth space.

Click here to download and print a Membership Application.

Non-member booth fee-$125

After September 1st add a $35 late fee

No registrations will be accepted after September 5th.

Please Read the Registration Form carefully. It outlines the set-up details and answers all of your questions.

We will e-mail all participants in September with your booth placement.

Note: We will not be sending the final festival booth map until September 15th.

Note to Downtown Businesses:

You must fill out your registration by August 10th in order to secure store-front space.  This is a popular festival and we sell out each year so please send in your registration form if you plan to

participate.

Sponsors Needed:  Please let us know if you would like to sponsor this year's festival.  All sponsors will have their booth location on Main Street on Sponsorship Row. Click here to download and print a Sponsorship Form.

We look forward to another exciting

downtown Harvest Festival!

Enjoy the Summer!

Ice Cream for Kids "Caught" Wearing Helmets

Since July 1 the Franklin Police Department and Rick's Restaurant have joined forces to reward area kids who wear helmets while biking in downtown Franklin. During regular patrols, police officers are handing out tickets for a free small ice cream cone at Rick's to helmet wearers.

The program is a way to reinforce helmet use, which is required by state law for anyone under 16 years old but is often ignored. According to a recent Milford Daily News article, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a helmet can reduce the risk of death by 37 percent and the risk of head injury by 69 percent for children and adults.

Thank you Rick Moore and the Franklin Police Department for helping keep our downtown safe!

To read the recent Milford Daily News article by Matt Tota click here: Franklin kids wearing helmets to get sweet reward.

Harvest Festival Registration: Important Resources

Registration Press Release:

Register Now for Franklin Harvest Festival

Franklin’s Harvest Festival will be Sunday, October 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Franklin Downtown Partnership is hard at work planning for this exciting annual event, which it expects will draw about 6,000 visitors to town. Organizers have set a registration deadline of September 1 for crafters, vendors, artists and community groups who want to participate in this year’s festival; however, downtown business owners should register by August 10 to secure store-front space. 

The Harvest Festival will be held rain or shine, and booth space is limited. The booth fee for non-Partnership members is $125, and the food vendor fee is $185. A late charge of $35 will be added for all registrations received after September 1 if booth space is still available. Interested vendors are encouraged to sign up early since booth spaces usually sell out.

Event details and registration forms can be downloaded from the Partnership’s website, www.franklindowntownpartnership.org

Sponsors are needed to fund this popular fall festival. As a non-profit organization, the Downtown Partnership depends on sponsors to fund this and other efforts, including Beautification, the Strawberry Stroll and the Holiday Stroll. For more information please contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.  

###

Important Links -- click on these links to download and print these necessary forms: 

Membership Application

Harvest Festival Registration Form

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship Registration Form

Harvest Festival Registration Form

Click here to download and print this form.

Registration Form

Franklin Downtown Partnership

HARVEST FESTIVAL

Sunday, October 6th, 2013  (rain or shine)     

Downtown Franklin  11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Due Date: September 1st 

Contact Person ______________    Business Name____________________ for map

Address: _________________________________________

Phone: _______________E-mail Address: ______________   print clearly

Partnership Business Members – No Cost  prior to Sept 1^st

Important:  Booth spaces will be available on a first-come basis.

     Downtown Businesses need to send in registration by August 10^th to secure store-front space

After September 1^st a late charge of $35.00 needs to be added 

No registrations will be accepted after September 5^th

           Non-FDP Members   -$125.00

           Food vendors (no competing items) -$185.00 (must be approved)

 Late Charge   -$35.00-(after September 1^st)

Please provide specific description of product and/or planned activity: 

Terms and Conditions: Please Read-Most of your questions are answered below.

-The Committee reserves the right to accept or reject certain content.  

-Additional information and a set-up map will be e-mailed to you in September. 

-If your check is not cashed or you do not receive an e-mail in September please contact us.

-There is no rain date for this festival so please plan accordingly with tents.  No refunds.

-Please check the FDP website at franklindowntownpartnership.org for important updates.

-Booth size is 10 ft x 10 ft. Set up will begin at 9:00 am. No earlier set up per police dept.

-Food vendors need to obtain a town health permit or have license.  

-Electricity, tables, tents and chairs are NOT Provided.

-No animals are allowed to be on display at booths per town policy. 

-No mobile political signs.  Signs must be part of the booth. 

-Please understand that this is a fund raiser and is organized by volunteers.  Please no face painting activity.

-Booths/tents on East Central Street sidewalk must be set up for visitors to walk through.

Booth Locations: If you would like a particular space you can indicate this on your form. 

We will try to accommodate your request if your application is received by August 10th. 

Due to heavy traffic areas we may need to locate your booth to a specific area.  

Please indicate if you would like to be located in the children’s area  behind Rockland Bank.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make check payable to:  Franklin Downtown Partnership  (after September 1^st  must include $35 late fee)

Mail to: Franklin Downtown Partnership, P O Box 413, Franklin, MA 02038

Festival Contact: Downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com

Your completed application indicates that you agree with the information listed.  (please mail/no e-mails)

Signature: ____________________ Date: ______________(7/2) FINAL

Important Reminders

FDP Membership Renewal

If you have Not sent in your 2013 membership renewal but are planning to do so please e-mail us this week at Downtown.franklin@yahoo.com so we don't take your name off the list. 

 

The Harvest Festival registration forms will only be sent out to current 2013 members this year. Non-members will need to pay $125.

Strawberry Stroll Was a Hit In Spite of Rain

The Franklin Downtown Partnership Strawberry Stroll was a big success in spite of the rain that had us move the event indoors Thursday afternoon! Hundreds of people strolled through the Depot Plaza to enjoy our Famous Strawberry Shortcakes, which were provided by Dean College, dished up by Dean Bank employees and topped off with whipped cream provided by Garelick Farms. Entertainment provided by Music Odyssey Productions kept the mood lively and fun. 

On their way through the building Strollers stopped by tables loaded with offerings by our generous sponsors and new businesses.

The Stroll continued down Main Street to the Franklin Art Association where Kevin Wolfe performed while kids painted "lollipops" to be used in a sculpture planned for the new Sculpture Park. 

The next stop was Jane's Frames. While kids helped paint a mural, parents signed up to win raffle prizes. Farther down East Central Street a Franklin High School jazz quartet provided a musical backdrop for cupcake lovers at The Cake Bar.

Special Thanks to Nicole Fortier and Bryan Taberner, co-chairs of this event. 

And many thanks to our generous sponsors who helped us pull off the Stroll:

Platinum Sponsors:  Dean Bank and Big Y World Class Market

Silver Sponsors: Dean College, DCU, Garelick Farms and Middlesex Savings Bank.

Bronze Sponsors:  Chestnut Dental and Franklin Ford

Friends Sponsors: CVS Pharmacy, Keefe Insurance and Insanity All Stars

Thank you to the Franklin Police Department and the Franklin DPW for keeping Strawberry Strollers safe and dry! 

The Milford Daily News covered the event. To read the story by Matt Tota click here:  Rain, cold don't dampen spirits at Franklin's Strawberry Stroll. 

Strawberry Stroll Moves Indoors!

Due to the rain that's expected Thursday the 

Strawberry Stroll 

will happen inside

the Depot Plaza at 13 Main Street 

(the Acapulco's Restaurant building)

4 to 7 pm

Please join us for 

Our Famous Strawberry Shortcakes!

Music provided by Music Odyssey Productions and Kevin Wolfe!

Giveaways and Crafts!

Thanks to our Platinum Sponsors Dean Bank and Big Y World Class Market

our Silver Sponsors Dean College, DCU, Garelick Farms and Middlesex Savings Bank

our Bronze Sponsors Chestnut Dental and Franklin Ford

and our Friends Sponsors CVS Pharmacy, Insanity All-Stars and Keefe Insurance