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Harvest Festival Registration Closing - Friday, Sept 15 at 10 PM |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Friday, September 15, 2023
Harvest Festival Registration Closing - Friday, Sept 15 at 10 PM
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Downtown Partnership - General Meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sep 7 at 8:30 AM
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Franklin Downtown Partnership: New Murals, General Meeting, and Harvest Festival Registration
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Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Franklin Downtown Partnership announces new murals downtown
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is proud to present our latest outdoor mural install, featuring @franklin_art_association artists @paintingvenus_ @tesno.studio and @sueprattsheridan These interactive murals add color, vibrancy, and artistic vision to our downtown Main Street area.
The new murals are located across @birchwoodbakeryandkitchen. We encourage all our Franklin residents to stop by and take a selfie with the murals and tag us! Use hashtag #franklinart
Special thanks to @signs_by_cam for his intricate work in installing these works of art, The Franklin Cultural District Committee for providing funding, and The Ferrara Family for funding the install and to these talented artists for their craft and time.
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Franklin Downtown Partnership announces new murals downtown |
Friday, August 4, 2023
Franklin Downtown Partnership shares date night suggestions for August - #ThinkFranklinFirst (photo essay)
Via the Franklin Downtown partnership:
"Looking for some fun date night ideas for the month of August? We’ve got you covered!!
Check out these great local spots and events coming to you this month!
Summer is a great time to explore all that Franklin has to offer!"
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Franklin Downtown Partnership shares date night suggestions for August |
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FDP shares date night suggestions for August - Birchwood Bakery |
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FDP shares date night suggestions for August - La Cantina Winery |
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FDP shares date night suggestions for August - The Rome Restaurant |
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FDP shares date night suggestions for August - Franklin Nutrition |
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FDP shares date night suggestions for August - THE BLACK BOX |
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FDP shares date night suggestions for August - Teddie Gallagher's Pub |
Monday, July 31, 2023
20th Annual Harvest Festival - planning underway for September 30, 2023
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20th Annual Harvest Festival - planning underway for September 30, 2023 |
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Franklin Downtown Partnership: 2 updates
The next Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting will be held on Thursday, Sept. 7. There are no general meetings in July or August. Have a great summer!
The Harvest Festival is early this year. It is scheduled for Saturday, September 30, with a rain date of Sunday, October 1.
Vendor registration for the Harvest Festival will open in mid-August. Paid 2023 FDP members will get a free booth at the event, but everyone will need to register.
FDP members are invited to join the Harvest Festival Committee. Email Harvest Festival Event Chair Scott Martin to join the fun. Also, volunteers are needed the day of the Harvest Festival. Contact the FDP office (downtown.franklin@yahoo.com) if you can help.
Saturday, June 10, 2023
Strawberry Stroll - scheduled for June 10, 2023 -> 4 PM to 8 PM in Downtown Franklin
The Franklin Downtown Partnership will be hosting the Strawberry Stroll THIS SATURDAY, June 10, 2023 from 4 PM - 8 PM Downtown. Live music will be provided by Heath Nisbett from 4 PM - 6 PM and Dom DeBaggis from 6 PM - 8 PM. There will be over 95 booths full of fun, freebies and strawberry shortcake of course!
Be sure to swing by the Franklin Fire Department Headquarters to get a glimpse of the fire trucks, including the antique ladder truck up close! Sparky will be out and about greeting guests and handing out plastic red helmets to the children.
At the Historical Museum, fresh popcorn will be served, and vintage wedding dresses will be displayed.
Rain date has been activated for Saturday, June 10, 2023 4 PM - 8 PM. Learn more here: https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2023/06/many-activities-and-booths-set-for-june.html
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/weekend-fun-franklin-strawberry-stroll-june-9-2023
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Weekend Fun in Franklin - Strawberry Stroll - June 10, 2023 -> 4 PM to 8 PM |
Friday, June 9, 2023
Strawberry Stroll - rescheduled to rain date of June 10, 2023 -> 4 PM to 8 PM
The Franklin Downtown Partnership will be hosting the Strawberry Stroll THIS SATURDAY, June 10, 2023 from 4 PM - 8 PM Downtown. Live music will be provided by Heath Nisbett from 4 PM - 6 PM and Dom DeBaggis from 6 PM - 8 PM. There will be over 95 booths full of fun, freebies and strawberry shortcake of course!
Be sure to swing by the Franklin Fire Department Headquarters to get a glimpse of the fire trucks, including the antique ladder truck up close! Sparky will be out and about greeting guests and handing out plastic red helmets to the children.
At the Historical Museum, fresh popcorn will be served, and vintage wedding dresses will be displayed.
Rain date has been activated for Saturday, June 10, 2023 4 PM - 8 PM. Learn more here: https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2023/06/many-activities-and-booths-set-for-june.html
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/weekend-fun-franklin-strawberry-stroll-june-9-2023
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Weekend Fun in Franklin - Strawberry Stroll - June 10, 2023 -> 4 PM to 8 PM |
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Franklin (MA) News Summary as of June 2, 2023
The Franklin Town Council approved the FY 2024 budget with a unanimous 9-0 vote on May 25, 2023. The Town has a balanced budget with minor increases to Police, Fire, and Senior Center funding. However, the Franklin school budget remains short $2.3M from what they requested.
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen has a plan to add about $700K to the school budget and that is up for Town Council vote on June 7, 2023. Assuming it passes, the schools still need to adjust their budget down by about $1.6M. The schools and Franklin are faced with hard choices.
It may seem like tough budget choices this year but according to the fiscal outlook it will get even tougher next year. Hence, now would be a good time to get involved and be part of the discussion to understand the cost drivers, and what can be done with what we have.
The one good item coming out of the Council and Finance Committee budget hearings seems to be a consensus on truly taking some action to resolve this systemic budget problem. The Joint Budget subcommittee will be tasked with that. The Subcommittee is composed of 4 Town Councilors, 3 from the School Committee and 3 from the Finance Committee. This group has its work cut out for themselves.
They don’t need to do it alone.
An informed resident can provide input to help this subcommittee make the best decision when it comes to advising the Town Council with our budget priorities for FY 2025 and beyond.
Also on the bright side, the 9th Annual Strawberry Stroll is scheduled for downtown Franklin Friday, June 9 from 4 to 9 PM (rain date June 10). Additional info on the event can be found on the Downtown Partnership page -> https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2023/06/many-activities-and-booths-set-for-june.html
Subscribe to Franklin.news to get the info on all these discussions and links to the budget documents, the video, and audio replays of the meetings as they progress.
Find us at www.franklin.news/ and subscribe for one email per day.
Franklin News Summary as of June 2, 2023 |
Monday, June 5, 2023
Many Activities and Booths set for the June 9 Strawberry Stroll in downtown Franklin
The 19th Annual Strawberry Stroll is ready to go. This town favorite is set for Friday, June 9 from 4 PM to 8 PM. The rain date is Saturday, June 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 pm. It will be held in downtown Franklin.
Start the summer at this popular event. Take pleasure in delicious strawberry shortcakes, listen to lively music, and have fun with the activities for your kids. The Fire Department and Historical Museum will welcome visitors to see some interesting items. There will be 95 booths displaying the many treats downtown Franklin has to offer. Main Street will be closed for visitors to easily and safely walk.
Dean Bank’s staff will be serving the signature strawberry shortcakes under tents in front of the bank. Fresh strawberries donated and cut by Dean College will top hundreds of shortcakes and be completed with whipped cream. Proceeds from strawberry shortcake sales are allocated to the Downtown Partnership to help fund the event.
Live music will be provided by Heath Nisbett from 4 PM to 6 PM and Dom DeBaggis from 6 PM to 8 PM.
The Franklin Fire Department will showcase its trucks and equipment on the front ramp, including an antique ladder truck. Sparky will be giving out plastic red helmets to children.
At the Historical Museum, Greenwich Bay Brass will play music on the front porch, fresh popcorn will be served, and vintage wedding dresses will be displayed.
“The Strawberry Stroll always has a ‘special vibe’ to it because it is one of the first events in town to kick off the summer season,” said Kevin Johnson, this year’s Stroll Chairman. “We ask everyone to come downtown and enjoy strawberry shortcake, live music, great food and drink choices from local restaurants and the many interesting vendors offering goods and services.”
Franklin Downtown Partnership, the organizer of this annual tradition, is grateful for the financial support from community businesses. This year’s stroll is made possible by the support of the following sponsors:
- Platinum Sponsor: Middlesex Savings Bank
- Gold Sponsors: Dean Bank, Dean College, Elizabeth’s Bagels, PhysicianOne Urgent Care
- Silver Sponsors: DCU, Elizabeth Grady-Franklin, Fenton Financial Group
- Bronze Sponsors: Beaux Regards Photographic Art, Camford Property Group, Inc., Encore Music Academy & Recording Studios, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, The Enclave of Franklin
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Many Activities and Booths set for June 9 Strawberry Stroll |
Friday, June 2, 2023
Strawberry Stroll scheduled for June 9 in downtown Franklin



Saturday, May 20, 2023
YES - RAIN or SHINE - Planting Day - Saturday 5/20/2023
Friday, May 19, 2023
Many Activities and Booths set for June 9 Strawberry Stroll
- Platinum Sponsor: Middlesex Savings Bank.
- Gold Sponsors: Dean Bank, Dean College, Elizabeth’s Bagels, PhysicianOne Urgent Care.
- Silver Sponsors: DCU, Elizabeth Grady-Franklin, Fenton Financial Group
- Bronze Sponsors: Beaux Regards Photographic Art, Camford Property Group, Inc., Encore Music Academy & Recording Studios, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, The Enclave of Franklin.
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501©3 organization made up of more than 350 business owners, residents, and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. Residents are welcome to join the Downtown Partnership for only $25. The Partnership manages events like the Strawberry Stroll and the Harvest Festival, and initiatives such as beautification, streetscape design, greenspace, alley murals, and sculpture projects. For more information go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.
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Save the Date for June 9 Strawberry Stroll |
Friday, April 28, 2023
Franklin's Beautification Day Set for May 20
- Platinum sponsors: Camford Property Group, Inc., Elizabeth’s Bagels, Eileen Mason-REMAX, Maven Hair Company, Middlesex Savings Bank, R.I. Motorsports. Gold sponsors: Dean Bank, Notturno Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., PhysicianOne Urgent Care, D.G. Ranieri Real Estate.
- Silver sponsors: Fenton Financial Group, Charles F. Oteri Funeral Home, Safford AXIA Insurance.
- Bronze sponsors: Keefe Insurance Agency, Vet Med Pet Supplies.
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501©3 organization made up of more than 350 business owners, residents, and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. Residents can join the Downtown Partnership for only $25. The Partnership manages events like the Strawberry Stroll and the Harvest Festival, and initiatives such as beautification, streetscape design, greenspace, alley murals, and sculpture projects.For more information go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.
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Volunteers Wanted for May 20 Downtown Beautification Day (photo from 2018) |