Saturday, December 21, 2013

Carol's Christmas - Today and Tomorrow at Horace Mann

From contributor Lisa Buccella:
I haven't seen the rehearsals for this show but it sure to be funny, witty and entertaining.  Nick Paone wrote it and he is brilliant!  Take a break from the bustle today, tonight or tomorrow.  Student "rush" tickets are available for single seats for teens/young adults age 16-22.  

Carol's Christmas

Celebrate the Holidays with a Show!

Enjoy a brand new, original FPAC holiday musical Carol's Christmas on December 21 & 22!
  • FPAC premieres Carol's Christmas this season, a new contemporary musical comedy written by Nick Paone, who penned FPAC's popular Humbug!
  • Ring in the holidays with a large ensemble cast of 160 talented area performers as they sing and dance their way through this joyous, uplifting and hilarious story!
  • Carol's Christmas features an entertaining score with music of many genres and live musical accompaniment by members of the Kenny Hadley Big Band.
Click below to Buy your Nutcracker and Carol's Christmas tickets online


http://www.fpaconline.com/box-office.php


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And, if you head to The Cake Bar.....you may see have a cupcake with frosting that was made by Jack.  Over his break, he has been working there!  In fact, if you come to Carol's Christmas, you may actually see Jack as he is working there this weekend!  

Last Chance to Order a Holiday Platter!
The last day to order a holiday platter is Sunday, December 21st by 7:00!  Our holiday platters include:
12" Platter - 30 pieces - $33.75
21 assorted mini cupcakes
3 mini pumpkin bars
3 assorted truffles
3 frosting shots
14" Platter - 41 pieces - $45.50
30 assorted mini cupcakes
4 mini pumpkin bars
4 assorted truffles
3 frosting shots
16" Platter - 55 pieces - $61.00
40 assorted mini cupcakes
6 mini pumpkin bars
6 assorted truffles
3 frosting shots 
PLEASE NOTE, THE BAKERY CLOSES AT 12:00pm  ON DECEMBER 24TH AND RE-OPENS AT 9:00am ON FRI, JANUARY 3RD.

You can visit The Cake Bar downtown or online here  http://thecakebaronline.com/

Pay your Franklin water/sewer/trash bills online

Did you know you could pay your Franklin bills online?
You can also get notification of the bill via email. This saves paper and can be more efficient for Franklin and you.

This one page handout was on the table in the entrance area at the Municipal Building.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczM09Kd2NuRTlBakE/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-ip_bGQiAFQEBqKAjmeD_-A



You can pay your Franklin bills online here
https://unipaygold.unibank.com/customerinfo.aspx

Note the link is available from the official Franklin home page. You can find the link in the lower left corner of the menu.  http://town.franklin.ma.us/


Franklin, MA: Committee openings


The following Committee have openings:


Franklin Disabilities Commission

Franklin Housing Trust Fund - Maxine Kinhart 508-553-4886


If you are interested in serving on the committee, please complete the form (link below) and return to the Town Administrator's Office.

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01B2AF2D-000F8513.0/TOWN%20OF%20FRANKLIN%20VOLUNTEER%20FORM.pdf

Six One Seven Studios: Use Facebook to Easily Grow Your Business




Six One Seven Studios December Newsletter Is this email not displaying correctly?
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December 2013

• How To Use Facebook Advertisements
• Facebook Advertisement Best Practices


Check out our new website.

Click here!

Friend on Facebook Facebook
Follow on Twitter Twitter

Let's start with why you spend money on Facebook and how it can help you reach customers.

Facebook has more than 1 billion registered users and 618 million daily active users, with those totals continuing to grow. If you sponsor a page or posts and target your ads to a specific audience, you can actually:
  • Grow your Facebook audience.
  • Increase traffic.
  • Boost visibility in the market.
  • Generate leads.
Leveraging this capability by creating highly targeted campaigns will result in more successful ads. Think about who you are targeting and why. Who are the main users of your product / service?

Is a majority male, female or both?
Are your customers typically older or younger?
Where are most of your clients coming from?
Use Facebook Insights, Insights provide measurements on your Page's performance and are available after at least 30 people like your Page. Find anonymized demographic data about your audience, and see how people are discovering and responding to your posts. This will help you get an idea of the gender, age and location of individuals who like your page and use this data when creating your ads. Learn more how to access Insights click here.
The individuals who like your page indicate the type of people who would respond positively to your ads. Focus your ads around these statistics and choose options that make sense.
Customize Ads to Your Target Market
Once you've focused your target market, the next step is creating ads that cater to that particular group. If the majority of your client base is female, create ads that speak to women. If your brand relates to adventure and family fun, add a photo of a family and create an exciting statement with a call to action.
Create Ads That Stand Out
Since businesses are only allotted one thumbnail photo and a maximum of 135 characters, you've got to make it count. Use clear, up-close images to really make an impact. Avoid images that are ambiguous or zoomed out. People are more apt to click on ads that interest them and draw in their attention; vibrant and clear images are attention grabbers. It is also important to have interesting text along with your image to encourage a click. An enticing photo may cause individuals to look, but the text is what ultimately makes someone click.

Here is an example of an ad that stands out. American Express created an ad that said "Small business owner? Earn points faster for your business. Click here to learn more!" American Express ads are consistently great. The headline and the first line of body copy are questions. There is a "Click here" for the benefit call to action.


The later is clearly more catchy, invokes the readers' interest, and includes a call to action. Using text that makes an impact is very important to the success of your ad. Specials and discounts are also catchy and can be successful in advertisements.
Continuously Test Your Ads
Continue to test your ads to find out what works and what doesn't. It's beneficial to run several ads for a certain period of time and see how they perform. Switch up the pictures or text in ads that aren't performing well and look for any measurable improvements. Run the successful ads in a campaign, but remember, people are continuously changing their tastes and new trends surface, so it's important to always re-evaluate your target market and create ads accordingly.
Facebook is the most affordable way to reach a huge number of customers and make them aware of your company's product or service.

1. Strong Call To Action: Always include a clear, simple call to action in your Ad's copy like "Click now"

2. Offers & Discounts: Clearly highlight the benefits (features, discount, special promo) of your product

3. Fun Images: Use a catchy image relevant with the text. The image is the most important element of the Ad.

4. Get To The Point: Text in your ad needs to be right on target and straight to the point. If you want them to Like your page, simply ask. If you want to sell a point, get right to it.   
Six One Seven Studios provides complete video, media and graphic services to help get your project from start to finish. Although, if you asked us what we really do, we help people tell their story. We help them tell it well. We help them tell it powerfully. We help them be noticed. We capture the highest quality images and concepts to make your story stand out. We ensure that every project captures and communicates the right message and gets the right results.

Copyright © 2013 Six One Seven Studios, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have contacted Six One Seven Studios in the past.

Our mailing address is:
Six One Seven Studios
430 Franklin Village Drive
Box 120
Franklin, MA 02038

Add us to your address book
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In the News: false collections, EPA compliance

Franklin man charged with falsely collecting unemployment benefits

Four people, including a Franklin man, have been charged in connection with collecting a combined total of more than $132,000 in unemployment benefits while still working, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.

Kennedy: EPA compliance costs high for local communities

U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III has co-written a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy, requesting the agency detail its plan to help cities and towns throughout the country shoulder the cost to comply with environmental regulations.


Friday, December 20, 2013

Franklin's portion of the Norfolk County Retirement System

Unfunded liability is an item of discussion for the Franklin budget. There are two areas of unfunded liability. The Norfolk County Retirement System and the towns own post-retirement benefit liabilities. Town administrator Jeff Nutting reviewed this worksheet with the Finance Committee at the December meeting. It was the first time that Franklin had received such detail from Norfolk County.

As you read the table in the attachment below, FRA is the Franklin line. We have an outstanding liability of $36.4M.



How Franklin will save to pay for this unfunded liability will continue to be a discussion item each budget cycle.

MassBudget: The State of Working Massachusetts - Poverty Still Elevated




MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.

The State of Working Massachusetts 
2013 is coming to a close, and while our state economy has continued to grow, the poverty rate remains stubbornly high and wages are still lower than they were before the "Great Recession." MassBudget's new online version of "The State of Working Massachusetts" presents a snapshot of economic conditions currently facing workers in Massachusetts and across the nation, along with some longer-term trends.

We find, in particular, that: 

  • Even now, four years after the end of the recession, the poverty rate has not begun to decline

  • Since 2007, the statewide poverty rate has increased from 9.9% to 11.9%

  • Over 1 in every 7 children across the state is currently living in poverty

In addition to covering issues of poverty, the various sections of "The State of Working Massachusetts" discuss the jobs situation in our state along with the declining value of the minimum wage, changes in household income, and the important role education plays in all of these. We invite you to read more about any of these areas, and to check back periodically as materials get updated.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108
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Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Open Registration for Boys' Vocal Ensemble


Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios is currently offering open registration for their Boys' Vocal Ensemble, with the first class starting on January 6th.  
Classes will be weekly on Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 and are for boys, ages 8 to 18.   
Encore Music Academy
Students will learn music of all genres, work with harmonies and perform locally.  
To register for the class, please call Encore at 508-533-7700.  
Class fee is $260 for the trimester.

Additional information on this class and other offerings from Encore Music Academy can be found on their webpage here:  http://www.encoremusicacademy.net/instruction/classes/


In the News: Brown leaves, Casino spending


Scott Brown settles into N.H. home

The wife of former Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Scott Brown says the couple is settling into its new permanent home in Rye, N.H.,  a move likely to fuel further speculation about his possible future political plans.


Casino outspent Milford citizen group 40 to 1 and still lost

Campaign finance reports filed Thursday, 30 days after the referendum vote where Milford defeated a casino proposal, show that Foxwoods outspent the citizen opposition group 40 to 1.


Thursday, December 19, 2013

Franklin Food Elves Campaign Update


Franklin Downtown Partnership
The Franklin Food Elves "12 Days of Donating" will be ending this week.

Thank you to everyone who participated.  The Food Elves collected a Record 6,750 pounds of donations this year so far.  This is 2,550 pounds more than last year!

The Food Elves are hoping to add another 100 pounds to the total by the end of this week....so please stop by one of the participating businesses by Thursday if you still have donations.  


Red Bins can be found at: 
Dean Bank, Dean College, DCU, Downtown Partnership, Emma's Quilts, Jane's Frames, Murphy Business and Pour Richards.  

You can also mail or drop off check donations to the Food Pantry directly.

Have a very Merry Holiday Season!

The Franklin Downtown Partnership
The Franklin Food Elves

January Meetings of note


Franklin Downtown Partnership - General Meeting
Thursday, January 9th-8:30 AM
Dean College Campus Center-Golder Room
Coffee will be served


Hearing on 150 Emmons Street Property/Old Municipal Building
Discussions on what the community would like to see developed on this site
Tuesday, January 21st-7:00 PM
Town Hall-Training Room


Zoning Workshop
Wednesday, January 29th-7:00 PM
Town Hall-Training Room



This was initially posted on the Franklin Downtown Partnership webpage here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2013/12/a-few-important-upcoming-meeting-dates.html


WMRC Finalizes Negotiations With Entercom to Broadcast the Red Sox Through 2016


WMRC-First Class Radio has just completed negotiations with Entercom of Boston, and has finalized an agreement that will insure that Boston Red Sox Baseball will be broadcast throughout this market through the 2016 season. 
Since signing with WMRC back in 1990 the Sox have won 4 American league East Titles, played in 7 American League Championship Series, and won 3 World Series Titles. 
WMRC 1490 - AM
Returning voices of Dave O'Brien and Joe Castiglione 
Sox greats since 1990 include Mo Vaughn, Trot Nixon, Roger Clemmens, Jason Varitek, Johnny Damon, Pedro, Schilling, Mike Lowell, Papi, Mike Napoli, Jonny Gomes 
Future Stars include Jackie Bradley Jr., Zander Boggarts, Will Middlebrooks
Tom McAuliffe Says "This is a fantastic partnership for WMRC, our listeners and our loyal Red Sox sponsors, and I'm thrilled to have the negotiations behind us, and know that the Sox will be on WMRC-First Class Radio for the next 3 seasons."

In the News: Carol's Christmas, donations to non-profits


TO DO THIS WEEKEND: FPAC debuts ‘Carol’s Christmas’

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) premieres a new holiday musical, Carol’s Christmas, on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m. at the Thomas D. Mercer Auditorium, 224 Oak St., Franklin.


Milford National donates $28,000 to non-profit organizations

The Milford National Charitable Foundation has donated more than $28,000 to various non-profit organizations throughout the Greater Milford area during 2013. 
The mission of the Charitable Foundation is to provide financial assistance for the benefit of the community, charitable, educational and other benevolent purposes as they relate to non-profit organizations.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

"A river runs through"

The community mural project that was worked on at Jane's Frames during recent Franklin festivals is now on display in the lobby of the Municipal Building.


community mural - "A river runs through"
community mural - "A river runs through"

The mural will be displayed in additional locations throughout Franklin before being auctioned off to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry.

More about the mural can be found on the Franklin Downtown Partnership website
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2013/12/community-mural-project-at-janes-frames.html


Franklin Debt Service

One of the fiscal policies Franklin operates with is using up to 3.5% of the general funds for debt service. This is an easy way to fund medium term capital projects without getting a debt exclusion approved. This has allowed the new fire stations, the Senior Center and other building or renovation projects to occur. The worksheet use to calculate the FY 2014 debt as a percent of the general funds can be see below. This was reviewed with the Finance Committee during their December meeting.




This worksheet also handed out and reviewed with the Finance Committee at their December meeting, is more of an eye challenge. The current available capacity is gradually growing and will be almost $1M by 2016.


"Eradicating the entire infestation is all but impossible at this point"

The Milford Daily News reports on invasive plants found at the DelCarte Property.
Three invasive plant species have taken a foothold in the newly christened DelCarte recreation park, prompting the town’s tree warden and Conservation Commission to try to attenuate the infestation. 
The species are: kudzu, which, according to The Nature Conservancy, a charitable environmental organization, "is quite a killer, overtaking and growing over anything in its path"; oriental bittersweet, an invasive vine; and polygonum perfoliatum, known, among other names, as the mile-a-minute vine because of how fast it can spread. 
The state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has called invasive non-native plant species one of the two biggest threats to biodiversity in Massachusetts.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x915454113/Invasive-plants-threat-to-Franklins-DelCarte-park#ixzz2np2D7g9B


DelCarte_Swan_3
one bright day in October


These three plants are in addition to the one reported growing in the water.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/the-phantom-ecologist-can-do-better.html

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

On the web from Franklin: homemade thin mint cookies, shedding light on the new FHS


Berry Insurance is running a series on 12 Cookies of Christmas
Don’t let the short recipe fool you – Staci Mone’s Homemade Thin Mints will have you wondering if it’s Girl Scout Cookie season! These Homemade Thin Mints are sure to spark some holiday cheer among your family and friends.
One of the ingredients is Ritz crackers....

Check out and try the recipe here  
http://www.mainsurancejuice.com/2013/12/12-cookies-of-christmas-day-4-homemade-thin-mints/

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The Franklin High School student run blog, Pantherbook is starting to get busy.
In a recent interview, Principal Light described the improvements that students, teachers, and administrators will enjoy when the new school opens in September. 
According to Mr. Light, the first floor of the new school will be dedicated to electives. The other classrooms will be separated by grade level rather than by subject. “The second floor will be juniors and seniors, because they’re going to be the ones that go up and down stairs the most, because they take more electives, and then the third floor will be freshmen and sophomores,” Light said. 
The read the full posting here: http://pantherbook.org/top-stories/2013/12/16/mr-light-sheds-light-on-new-school/#sthash.Dp0MioFt.dpuf


MassBudget: Job Posting and Announcement of New Board President



MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.

Job Announcement: Policy Analyst
MassBudget is seeking a Policy Analyst to work largely, although not exclusively, on education policy research. We're seeking candidates who have strong policy analysis skills, work well in teams, and can communicate information effectively to diverse audiences.

A full job description and information on how to apply can be found here

MassBudget Board has elected Joel Barrera as its new Board President
Additionally, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has elected Joel Barrera as its new President of the Board. He replaces Peter Enrich, professor of law at Northeastern University, who served in that role for 10 years. Joel is the Deputy Director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council where he has expertise in municipal government, municipal finance and health insurance. In addition to his work at MAPC, Joel runs the Commonwealth Seminar which he co-founded over 10 years ago. The Seminar provides training and networking opportunities to help diverse leaders in Massachusetts learn about the state government.  

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108
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Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

CPR and First Aid Training



Good Morning,

My name is Nick Spencer and I am a local CPR and First Aid Training company located in Franklin.

http://www.actfirstcpr.com
Act 1st CPR
Frank from Padula Insurance asked for me to write to you and see if we can add some events to your website and calendar. I am located right across from the hall from him at 247 East Central Street in Franklin.

Our website is http://www.actfirstcpr.com and our number is 1-800-255-5660.

We will be holding CPR and First Aid training sessions at our Franklin office on


  • Sat Dec 22 - 2:30 pm
  • Sat Dec 28 - 2:00 pm
  • Sat Jan 4 - 2:00 pm
  • Sat Jan 11 - 2:00 pm
  • Sat Jan 25 - 2:00 pm


The normal cost for CPR and First Aid training is $95 per person. All of the above classes are discounted to $35 per person with the Discount Code: JAN2014. That's a savings of $60 per person!

People can register at www.actfirstcpr.com/open for any of our trainings.

--

Best Regards,

Customer Care - Act First CPR

P: 800-255-5660
W: www.ActFirstCPR.com



"Your Training is Only a Heartbeat Away!"

Learn about our Referral Rewards program - Click Here

Monday, December 16, 2013

Franklin, MA: Planning Board - Agenda - Dec 16. 2013

The agenda document for the Planning Board meeting Monday, Dec 16 at 7:00 PM can be found here






You can also find this document on the Planning Board page of the official Franklin website
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Bcomm/planning

If you really want the updates, please subscribe


Companies using Facebook pages have found it increasingly difficult to reach their audience through unpaid, organic promotion. Even those with thousands of fans see only a tiny fraction of their posts actually being viewed in newsfeeds. Many have suspected for some time that Facebook is pushing businesses to use Sponsored Posts, just to get them seen by people who already Like the brand. 
Facebook now admits that businesses will need to pay in order to get their companies posts and information in user newsfeeds.
Franklin Matters
You can read the full story here

Facebook treats the Franklin Matters page as a 'business' and I can't blame them, they are attempting to creating a business that makes money from advertising. I don't spend on advertising as this is purely a volunteer operation and my charity dollars are better served going elsewhere. 

In order to receive timely updates you are better off to subscribe via email. Once daily you'll get an email with whatever has been published the prior day. Most of what is published that day is generated that morning before the email will hit your Inbox about 9:00 AM. This is the freshest local news you can get.

The subscription process is two steps (1) you provide your email (2) you acknowledge the email confirmation that is sent to you. once completed, you'll receive the daily email. This email listing is not sold to anyone. Only on very special occasions will the email listing generate an email other than just after 9:00 AM.

You can subscribe here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html