Spilka Announces Restored Funding for Downtown, MA Projects

A message from Senator Karen Spilka - Great news for the Town of Franklin and the downtown!

  

Dear Franklin Town Officials,

I am pleased to announce that the Massachusetts legislature restored funding to critical local and statewide programs by overriding the Governor’s budget vetoes to the fiscal year 2016 budget.    

Funding was restored for the following initiatives:

·         $50,000 for a NEW initiative for substance abuse coalition in Franklin.

·         $60,000 for school zone safety improvements.

·         $50,000 for a NEW initiative to construct a statue of Horace Mann.

·         Fully funds the Regional Transit Authorities at $82 Million ($2 Million increase from FY 2015).

·         $9 Million in local state aid for libraries ($55,000 increase over FY 2015) to directly provide aid and support to local library initiatives. These funds will allow local libraries to increase technology resources, educational resources, as well as retain crucial staff levels.

·         $9.9 Million for Regional Library aid ($29,000 increase over FY 2015) to help to fund the interlibrary loan system in the Commonwealth for increased sharing of resources.

·         Includes $18 Million for Kindergarten Expansion Grants which help to support and maintain full-day kindergarten programs.

·         $14.2 Million for Massachusetts Cultural Council ($2.4 Million over the FY 2015 post-9c amount). This is the highest it has been funded since FY 2002.

·         $14.6 Million for Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism which is $300,000 over FY 2015 post-9C amount.

·         Maintains existing funding for DCR State Park Operations, ensuring the same high level of service in FY 2016 as in FY 2015 and keep the same 143 parks open this year as were open last year.

·         $100,000 to establish the 495/MetroWest Suburban Edge Community Commission to study development challenges being experienced by suburban communities.   

As always, if you have any questions or would like additional information, please call Puja Mehta in my office at (617) 722-1640. I look forward to continuing to work with you to make Franklin stronger.

Best,

Karen

Puja Mehta, J.D.

District Director

Office of Senator Karen E. Spilka

Senate Ways and Means

617-722-1640

www.KarenSpilka.com

New Member: Marietta Z Courtney, CPA, MST

Welcome new Franklin Downtown Partnership member Marietta Z. Courtney, CPA, MST!

This tax and accounting services firm is located at 2 Master Drive, Suite 4, in Franklin off of Beaver Street. Marietta Z. Courtney, CPA provides a wide range of services to individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations in a variety of industries. 

You can learn more about Marietta Z. Courtney, CPA at their website, http://www.courtneycpa.com/services, or find them on Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Downtown Road Milling Operations Set for Tuesday, Wednesday

A message from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation 

UPDATE on Downtown Road Project:

We will be milling sections of Main St tomorrow (Tuesday, August 4). The sections include from Lincoln St just past Church St, Main St from School to Emmons St, and if time permits, a section of Emmons St (up to the roadway widening area just short of the intersection). 

Wednesday night (August 5) we will be milling the intersection of Beaver/Pleasant and Main St so as not to adversely effect traffic during the day (starting after 7 pm). If we do not get to Emmons St Tuesday, we will finish that Wednesday night.

Thank You,

Anthony Tavalone

CE III MA DOT

(617) 233-0795

New Member: Rail Good Coffee, LLC

Welcome new Downtown Partnership member Rail Good Coffee, LLC!

Rail Good Coffee, located in the Dean College/Franklin train station, 75 Depot Street. It is open Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Owner Randall Wilhite sells train tickets, grab-and-go food items such as muffins, fresh fruit, snacks, tea, and, of course, coffee. A big seller lately has been the freshly made iced coffee.

 

Besides coffee and food items, Rail Good Coffee stocks the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald and the Wall Street Journal. Wilhite also keeps a bookshelf filled with a selection of titles train riders can swap or borrow.

As an extra touch of convenience, Wilhite plans to offer fresh flower bouquets on holidays so commuters never miss a holiday such as Executive Assistants Day or Valentine’s Day.

Wilhite is currently hiring. Interested? Contact him at (508) 643-1000, or stop into the depot during regular business hours.

Rail Good Coffee, LLC is on Facebook! Wilhite is currently developing a website.

Traffic Alert: Utility Work Causes Delays on Rt. 140

From the Franklin Police Department:

TRAFFIC ALERT. Due to emergency utility work, expect heavy delays on Rt 140 from Union to Fire HQ. Seek alternate routes for next 24-36 hours.

Franklin Cultural Festival Kicks Off Wednesday!

Get out and enjoy summertime in Franklin! 

The first annual Franklin Cultural Festival begins Wednesday with The Pumpernickel Puppets at the library at 1 p.m., and Opening Ceremonies on the Town Common at 6 p.m. followed by a performance by Electric Youth. You can also take a Zentangle class at Jane's Frames and catch some one-act plays at The Black Box. 

That's just the beginning! There are too many events planned over the 5-day festival to name each one here. Instead, the Franklin Cultural Festival volunteers have their schedules posted in multiple places so you don't miss a minute of the fun:

The Franklin Cultural Festival website

Screen shot of Festival's website.

The Cultural Festival's Facebook page

Screen shot of Festival's Facebook page. Like it and follow! 

The Cultural Festival's Twitter, @artshappenhere 

Screen shot of Festival's Twitter page

Festival organizers have also produced a brochure

Mark Your Calendar For These Upcoming Events

Franklin Downtown Partnership 

Networking Luncheon
t 1 1:00 p.m.

Dean College Dining Center

*** ***   ***   ***   ***   ***

General Meeting
ber8:30 a.m.

Dean College Campus Center, Golder Room

***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***

Franklin Downtown Partnership

Fundraiser Dinner

Tuesday, November 10

More details to come!

Davis Thayer Modules

Did you see this story in Franklin Matters? 

Removal of the modular classrooms at Davis Thayer School is a good thing for Downtown Franklin.

Davis Thayer modular units to be removed

The Davis Thayer modular units are supposed to be removed this summer. 

Walking by on Wednesday I saw equipment was being positioned to start 

the work. As this is posted, they may already be gone.

equipment positioned to remove the modular units

I went to the recent archive of photos from walking around to capture the 

'old' look. Once they are removed and the ground re-seeded, I'll share some 

photos so we can see the before and after comparison,

Davis Thayer modular units - 1

Davis Thayer modular units - 2

Davis Thayer modular units - 3

Davis Thayer modular units - 4

There were 2 classrooms within the modular units as I recall from a tour 

of the school in 2012. I'll go further into the archive to find and share 

photos of the inside.

Franklin Cultural Festival Brochure

The Franklin Cultural Festival organizing committee has created this handy brochure that puts all of the performances, venues and times in one place. Pick one up at the festival July 29 to August 2, or download and print one here. 

You can also check the master Schedule of Events on the Franklin Cultural Festival's website, and find more information on the group's Facebook page and on Twitter.