12 Days of Donating: Day 4

On Day 4 of the "12 Days of Donating", let's continue to look back through the events of the year and see how much we can be thankful for in Franklin.

In April, there was a whole lot going on. Construction on the Big Y, Earth Day,and candidates began lining up to  fulfill Rep Jim Vallee's seat. You can find all that happened during the month in the archives here. The major news item I'll take away from the events during April will be the annual Franklin budget discussion.

The process starts in the fall with each department putting together their capital requirements.  As they do this, the department also starts working on their operational budget. The department managers work with Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator, and Susan Gagner, Comptroller, to put together the overall budget. The budget document then is reviewed in a series of budget hearings with the Finance Committee followed by usually a two night budget hearing with the Town Council.

I find it disturbing that other than the department managers and a few key Franklin officials, generally the Franklin residents and voters do not participate in these budget hearings. This is where the priorities are set. This is how the decisions are made on what Franklin will do with the money it does have.

So what does the budget process have to do with "12 Days of Donating"? The money and food collected during this period help the Franklin Food Pantry serve our neighbors. When Franklin comes together and takes action, we can accomplish a great deal. This is one example of what makes Franklin a place that matters! When we give of ourselves, with whatever contribution we can make, to the 12 Days of Donating, we will be helping our neighbors.

The snow has already melted, but it will return!

The Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership for the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Donation bins are available at these participating businesses:

• Berry Insurance, 9 Main St.
• Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
• Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
• Dean College, Campus Center
• DCU, 500 West Central St.
• East Coast Driving School, 25 East Central St.
• Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
• Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
• Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
• Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
• RE/MAX Executive Realty, 445 Franklin Village Dr.

You can also make a donation securely through the Franklin Food Pantry web page

http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Day 3 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-3.html
Day 2 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-2.html
Day 1 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/12-days-of-donating-day-1.html

12 Days of Donating: Day 3

On Day 3 of the "12 Days of Donating", let's continue to look back through the events of the year and see how much we can be thankful for in Franklin.

In March, the big talk around Franklin was the vote on the new high school. Many voices of Franklin were heard and generally in a civil discourse around the pros and cons of a new high school. The vote was held on March 27 and with 9971 voters turning out, it rang up with 7988 for and 1982 against.

An architectural rendering view of the new science labs

The full set of posts around the high school building project can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html

This collection will continue to be updated as construction on the building makes progress towards the opening in the fall of 2014.

So what does the new high school have to do with 12 Days of Donating? 
I think it shows that Franklin can come together, have a good discussion and take action. These qualities are what makes Franklin a place that matters! When we applies these qualities to the 12 Days of Donating, we will be helping our neighbors.

The Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership for the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Donation bins are available at these participating businesses:

• Berry Insurance, 9 Main St.
• Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
• Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
• Dean College, Campus Center
• DCU, 500 West Central St.
• East Coast Driving School, 25 East Central St.
• Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
• Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
• Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
• Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
• RE/MAX Executive Realty, 445 Franklin Village Dr.

You can also make a donation securely through the Franklin Food Pantry web page

http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Day 2 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-2.html
Day 1 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/12-days-of-donating-day-1.html

12 Days of Donating: Day 2

On Day 2 of the "12 Days of Donating", let's continue to look back through the events of the year and see how much we can be thankful for in Franklin.

In February, while the big news was that the Town Council set the date for the debt exclusion vote for the new Franklin High School, that seemed to overshadow the Library being decertified by the MA Board of Library Governors.  We will spend more time on the new high school in March but for now recall the issue of the Library decertification.




First word came from outside
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/franklin-public-library-decertified.html

The "Municipal Appropriate Requirement" became a new term to understand
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/municipal-appropriation-requirement-mar.html

The MDN gets into the issue
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/urge-restoration-of-funding-to-franklin.html

Digging back into the Budget cycle for FY 2012 didn't reveal much discussion about the cuts that were made
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/in-news-library.html

The Library was recertified early in April. 
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/in-news-library.html

During the decertification period, the Library was open to all but the lending of books were only available to Franklin residents. Franklin residents were also prevented from obtaining materials from the interlibrary loan program. Franklin has applied for a new waiver from the MAR requirements for FY 2013 and we won;t find out until later if that will be approved.

So how does this related to the 12 Days of Donating? Money, it all takes money. From the Franklin budget to our personal budget to feed and fund our family life, money is a key resource. The Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership for the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Donation bins are available at these participating businesses:

• Berry Insurance, 9 Main St.
• Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
• Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
• Dean College, Campus Center
• DCU, 500 West Central St.
• East Coast Driving School, 25 East Central St.
• Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
• Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
• Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
• Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
• RE/MAX Executive Realty, 445 Franklin Village Dr.

You can also make a donation securely through the Franklin Food Pantry web page

http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

"a cause to rally around"

The Franklin Food Elves are back for another round of "12 Days of Donating". The Milford Daily News reports on their efforts for the Franklin Food Pantry:

"It’s not the stereotypical family coming in here," Sottile said. "It’s the neighbors; it’s the people who are working. You could have both parents working and still not make enough money to provide." 

Erin Lynch, the food pantry’s developmental director, said Friday the drive brings in the whole town. 

"We love to see the community come together on this," Lynch said. "You can always accomplish more together. This event shows that when you work as a team, you can maximize your resources for the greatest results." 

She added, "When you look at the ways something like this benefits the community, it’s not just the recipients here at the food pantry: It’s any organization that needs help. When you have kids learn they can make a difference, it benefits everybody."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x719500551/Franklin-food-elves-back-for-another-year-of-giving#ixzz2DnulQDdm

More about the Food Elves and the Franklin Downtown Partnership
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2012/11/food-drive-kicks-off-thursday.html

Disclosure: I am honored to lead the Board of the Directors for the Franklin Food Pantry and thoroughly approve of the efforts of the Franklin Food Elves. Franklin does matter!

12 Days of Donating: Day 1

On Day 1 of the "12 Days of Donating", let's look back through the events of the year and see how much we can be thankful for in Franklin.

In January, the Historical Museum celebrated the birthday of Benjamin Franklin. Vera Meyer returned to glass the glass harmonica which had been one of Ben's inventions.



You can view additional photos from the birthday party here:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/01/historical-museum-photo-essay-jan-29.html


The Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership for the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Donation bins are available at these participating businesses:

• Berry Insurance, 9 Main St.
• Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
• Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
• Dean College, Campus Center
• DCU, 500 West Central St.
• East Coast Driving School, 25 East Central St.
• Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
• Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
• Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
• Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
• RE/MAX Executive Realty, 445 Franklin Village Dr.

You can also make a donation securely through the Franklin Food Pantry web page

http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/