URCC/Dean College Business After Hours This Thursday

Dean College Business After Hours  Thursday, October 22 Mentors & Millennials Join us for an exceptional Business After Hours at Dean College on Oct. 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.! Prior to our networking event, Ed McDonough will present his Elevator Pitch Bootcamp to Dean College seniors. Those seniors will then join us at the Business After Hours to try out their newly developed elevator pitches. We'll help perfect their speeches so they can use them once they enter the working world! REGISTER TODAY Admission is free to Chamber members; $25 for non-members

Fall Fun at the October Stroll

We had a clear and beautiful afternoon for Thursday's downtown Franklin October Stroll! The crowds came out to celebrate Fall in Franklin with music, impromptu dance parties, crafts, face painting, games, pumpkins and decorating kits, gift shopping, costumed characters and delicious foods. Thank you to all the wonderful Franklinites and area residents who came out to celebrate the season with us!

Our wonderful sponsors helped make our first October Stroll a resounding success - Thank You! 

Thanks to the Bernon Family Branch YMCA for operating the Children's Area for the event. Thanks, also, to the Franklin DPW and the Franklin Police for helping us with logistics and safety. 

Many thanks, too, to all the volunteers who helped organize and run this fun event.

Here are a few photos from the evening. See many more on the FDP slideshow (upper right corner of the website) and in the October Stroll album on our Facebook page.

Gold Sponsors Middlesex Savings Bank and Rockland Trust

Silver Sponsors Dean Bank, DCU, Franklin Ford and The Estate at Franklin

Bronze Sponsors Chestnut Dental Associates and Keefe Insurance

Friends of the Stroll Sponsors Alumni Restaurant, Beaux Regards Photographic Art by Marjorie Sardella, Crossway Church, D. G. Ranieri Real Estate, Jane's Frames, Nexamp, Next Step Living, The Franklin Historical Museum and WMRC 1490-AM.

October Stroll is Today!

Please join us downtown for our October Stroll! 

The fun happens from 4 to 8 p.m. 

We will have music and entertainment, a kids activity area, pumpkins and decorating kits, face painting, warm cider and treats, and much more! 

Please come down and support your local businesses!

Click here to see the list of participating businesses and groups

Click here to see the Entertainment Schedule

October Stroll Entertainment Schedule

Jamie Barrett will appear at Jane's Frames 4 to 5:30 p.m.

We have entertainers lined up at locations around downtown for Thursday's October Stroll! Times are subject to change.

Entertainment Schedule – October Stroll

Main Street Parking Lot

4 to 8 p.m. -- Music Odyssey Productions with DJ Domenic Cotoia

Rockland Trust

5 to 7 p.m. -- Kevin Wolfe

Jane’s Frames

4 to 5:30 p.m. -- Jamie Barrett

The Cake Bar
4 p.m. and 5 p.m. -- FHS student musicians
4 to 8 p.m. - WMRC 1490-AM Live Broadcast, giveaways

Simon’s Parking Lot

4 to 5 p.m. – Fred Astaire Franklin

5 to 6 p.m. – Don Newton & Ken Barney

6 to 6:15 p.m. – Inspire Dance Academy

6:15 to 7 p.m. – Don Newton & Ken Barney

7 to 7:15 p.m. – Inspire Dance Academy

THE BLACK BOX

4 to 6 p.m. – Pose for photos with “The Addams Family” characters

6 to 7 p.m. – “The Addams Family” preview 

Kevin Wolfe (on left) and band members performed at the Strawberry Stroll. 

Downtown Streetscape Project Update #12

The latest from the Town Administrator's office:

Sidewalk work on E. Central St. last week.

Please note that there is now 2 hour parking on East Central Street where the meters have been removed.  More signs will be going up shortly. Parking will be monitored and tickets will be issued. 

October 13, 2015 

Downtown Project Update # 12 

The paving of Emmons Street, West Central Street and Summer Street are now scheduled for the week of October 26th. 

The crosswalk on West Central Street for Dean College near the Davis Thayer School will move closer to the intersection where the new traffic signal will be installed, and temporary stop signs will be erected at the end of Emmons Street until the lights are installed. 

They will continue to construct sidewalks on West Central Street. The plan is to put in new curbs and sidewalks on East Central Street from Cottage Street to Summer Street this fall.

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.

October Stroll Participants

We have more than 35 businesses, groups and entertainers lined up for Thursday's event! Come check out downtown Franklin on Thursday, October 15, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Middlesex Savings Bank – Gold Sponsor

Rockland Trust – Gold Sponsor

Dean Bank – Silver Sponsor

DCU – Silver Sponsor           

Franklin Ford – Silver Sponsor

The Estate at Franklin – Silver Sponsor

Chestnut Dental – Bronze Sponsor

Keefe Insurance – Bronze Sponsor

Alumni Restaurant – Friends Sponsor

Beaux Regards Photographic Art – Friends Sponsor

Crossway Church – Friends Sponsor

D. G. Ranieri Real Estate – Friends Sponsor

Jane’s Frames – Friends Sponsor

Nexamp – Friends Sponsor

Next Step Living – Friends Sponsor

The Franklin Historical Museum – Friends Sponsor

WMRC Radio – Friends Sponsor 

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America’s Best Defense

Artistry Kitchen

Bernon Family Branch YMCA

Century 21 Commonwealth

CTE Diane Padula-O’Neill

DJ Domenic Cotoia Music Odyssey Productions

Don Newton

Drama Kids of Metro West

Eco-Embrace

Enchanted Memories Travel

Franklin Art Center

Franklin Health and Rehabilitation Center

Fred Astaire Franklin

FHS Student Musicians

Friends of the Franklin Library

Happy Tails DDC/Destination Dog

H & R Block

Inspire Dance Academy

Jamie Barrett

Kevin Wolfe

Kindercare Learning Center

Landscape Depot Supply

Magnolia Heights Gracious Retirement Living

Offices of Senator Spilka and Representative Roy

Optimize Fitness

Pisini Shoes
Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits

Rail Good Coffee

Rockland Trust

Sally’s Alley

Simon’s Furniture

Sugar Shoppe

Team Fitness/CrossFit-Franklin

Temple Etz-Chaim

Tom Reardon HVAC

The Black Box

The Cake Bar

Zinc Day Spa

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0837106,-71.398188,17z

Happy Columbus Day

The Franklin Downtown Partnership wishes you a relaxing Columbus Day!

The FDP office will reopen Tuesday morning.

10/15 October Stroll: Pumpkin Decorating, YMCA Kid's Area, Entertainment, Food, Fun!

Silver Sponsor Dean Bank will give out pumpkins and decorating kits at the October Stroll Thursday.

Don't miss the October Stroll on Thursday, October 15, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in downtown Franklin! 

“Our shops are open, groups and businesses want to connect with residents in Franklin and surrounding communities, and we are excited to offer some fun activities in many locations around our downtown,” says Nicole Fortier, Franklin Downtown Partnership president.

Many activities are planned for the kids. Dean Bank will be giving out pumpkins along with decorating kits to children at its 21 Main Street location.

The Hockomock Area YMCA Bernon Family Branch will create a kids’ sports center in the parking area behind Rockland Trust. It will be the ideal place for children to burn off extra energy while trying out games and learning new sports skills.

Music and entertainment are planned for seven different venues, including Dean Bank, Rockland Trust, the Main Street parking lot, Jane’s Frames, The Cake Bar, Simon’s Furniture and The Black Box.

Jamie Barrett is scheduled to perform at Jane’s Frames, and Kevin Wolfe will entertain visitors on Main Street. Franklin High School student musicians will perform at The Cake Bar and Dean Bank. Go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org for details about performance times.

2015 FHS graduate Trea Lavery performed at The Cake Bar earlier this year.

The Franklin Performing Arts Company will present a preview of “The Addams Family” at 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street. Stop in between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and take a photo with a costumed cast member from this production, based loosely on the 1960s TV show.

DJ Domenic Cotoia of Music Odyssey Productions will entertain crowds browsing booths in the parking lot on Main Street, and WMRC 1490-AM will broadcast live from the event.

Downtown stores and restaurants will offer specials and fall-themed treats at their locations. Make time for cider and cookies at the Franklin Historical Museum and take a tour of the latest displays.

Local businesses, crafters and groups will have booths at Simon’s Furniture on Summer Street and the patio on East Central Street. More vendor booths will be found along Sponsorship Row in the Main Street parking lot.  

Friends Sponsor The Franklin Historical Museum will have cider, cookies and displays

Upcoming Networking Luncheon, New Members Sugar Shoppe, Landscape Depot

Networking Luncheon

Our next Franklin Downtown Partnership Networking Luncheon will be Friday, October 16, 1:00 p.m. at the Dean College Smith Dining Center.

Enjoy good conversation, meet other professionals, and share ideas while sampling the delicious and affordable lunch offerings in the Dean College Student Center. 

Please RSVP to event coordinators Matt Lechter, mlechter@dean.edu, or Gary Donelan, gary.donelan@middlesexbank.com.

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New Members

Welcome new member The Sugar Shoppe - a Non-Profit Guilty Pleasure! Located at 334 Union Street, the shop will sell candy and specialty chocolates. The Sugar Shoppe is the registered DBA of Make Change for Change, a non-profit with the mission to help provide permanent housing to homeless women and children in Massachusetts. Owner Courtney Nappa is looking for volunteers to help at the store and is interested in partnering with businesses for fundraisers. Go to www.sugarshoppe.org or www.makechangeforchange.org for more information. They will be on Facebook soon.

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Landscape Depot Supply has joined the Partnership! With a location in Milford -- 57 1/2 Dilla Street, and in 4 other Massachusetts towns, Landscape Depot is a wholesale and retail landscaping supply company. They deal in mulch, pavers, outdoor living space, driveways and much more. Go to www.landscapedepotsupply.com to check out all their offerings.