Community Relations Subcommittee - Agenda - Jun 2 - 5 PM - virtual only

Franklin Public Schools - Franklin School Committee

Community Relations Subcommittee

Thursday, June 2, 2022 - 5:00 PM

Virtual Only

Agenda

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be
discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not
listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

● Discuss social on June 4th at Birchwood
● Discuss Strawberry Stroll on June 10th
● Future ideas/items for consideration

The agenda doc and virtual connection info ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/community_relations_sub_comm_agenda_6-2-22.pdf

Community Relations Subcommittee - Agenda - Jun 2 - 5 PM - virtual only

Strawberry Stroll, Ladybug Trail, ARTWALK and Second Sunday Speaker Series all in one weekend at the Historical Museum!

The Franklin Historical Museum plans a busy June weekend beginning with a special Friday night opening June 10. In conjunction with the Franklin Downtown Partnership the museum will be open from 4 PM - 8 PM during the annual Strawberry Stroll celebration. The much anticipate Ladybug Cultural & Historical Trail will be dedicated that evening, on Main Street, as well.  

Stop by the museum to visit two points of interest on the trail, the Delegates Ladybug, which tells the story of the Ladybug becoming our ‘state insect’. And the Straw Hat Sculpture, sitting happily on the museum’s front lawn, which is a nod to the once thriving straw industry in our town. Learn a bit about the 2nd grade Kennedy School class that went to the State House and learned about the legislative process of making a new state law.

Saturday morning, June 11 the LiveARTS string quartet performs at 10:30 AM as part of the Franklin ArtWALK Celebration sponsored by the Franklin Cultural District. Events around town during this 3-day celebration include live performances, art exhibits, family activities, a kick off reception and more. The Franklin Historical Museum is proud to once again host one of the many live performances for this event. For more information on the ArtWALK schedule visit www.franklinculture.org. 

Rounding off this busy weekend is our Second Sunday Speaker Series with a presentation on the 150 year history of the Franklin Fire Department as they commemorate their founding in 1872. Fire photographs from the Stanley Chilson collection will be on display, and a presentation of interesting facts and figures recounting the early years from hand drawn pumper wagons, to horse drawn pumper wagons to today’s finest and fastest rescue apparatus. Do you know when our first fire station was built? Do you know which prominent Franklin citizen of his day funded the building that served our town for so many years? Do you remember the fire whistle signals? Join us and take a look back at the changes the years have brought to the Franklin Fire Department.  Doors open at 1:00pm and the presentation will start at 1:15. 

Admission is always free and we are ADA accessible. 

Be sure to visit our gift shop which is run by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. 

Strawberry Stroll, Ladybug Trail, ARTWALK and Second Sunday Speaker Series

You can help raise funds to support the National Black Doll Museum at the Strawberry Stroll

Franklin Federated Church's Social Justice Team is helping raise funds to support the National Black Doll Museum (formerly in Mansfield) which is looking for a new home. (https://nbdmhc.org).The museum's collection of black dolls is amazing enough, but the facility will be so much more, including services and  workshops.

The SJT will be selling pencil dolls , made by the Museum's director, at the Strawberry Stroll on June 10.  All proceeds will go towards the Museum's building fund. 

More information will be available at the Strawberry Stroll.  FFC's table will be located in front of Envoy Mortgage (between Greco Designs and Escape Into Fiction.)

You can help raise funds to support the National Black Doll Museum at the Strawberry Stroll

Strawberry Stroll is scheduled for downtown Franklin Friday, June 10 - from 4 - 8 PM

Download a copy of the flyer here as a reminder:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1joHCZMG76rxDeNTxJy83IPA2yYSTWYPY/view?usp=sharing

Strawberry Stroll is scheduled for downtown Franklin Friday, June 10 - from 4 - 8 PM

Save the Date for June 10 - the Strawberry Stroll returns!

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is currently organizing its annual Strawberry Stroll, set for Friday, June 10, from 4 PM to 8 PM in downtown Franklin. The rain date will be Saturday, June 11 from 4 PM to 8 PM. 

During the Stroll, the Partnership will unveil the Ladybug Cultural and Historical Trail. The Trail uses ladybug sculptures to tie approximately 25 historical and cultural sites together in downtown Franklin.

Also during the Strawberry Stroll, Dean Bank will host “Dancing on Dean” which will feature two local bands on a bandstand at the intersection of Main Street and Dean Avenue. Delicious strawberry shortcakes provided by Dean Bank and Dean College will be sold in front of Dean Bank.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Strawberry Stroll back after a two-year absence because of the pandemic,” said Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana. “We are looking forward to kicking off the summer season with this fun event.”

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For information about sponsorships, contact the Partnership office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.

 

Franklin Downtown Partnership Announces 2022 Events and Meeting Dates

The dates for Franklin Downtown Partnership events and meetings during 2022 have been set.

• The Strawberry Stroll is back for the first time in two years since the pandemic. It is scheduled for Fri., June 10, with a rain date of Sat., June 11. 
• During this year’s Strawberry Stroll, the Franklin Downtown Partnership will also be unveiling the Ladybug Cultural & Historical Trail.
• The Harvest Festival is set for Sat., Oct. 1, with a rain date of Sun., Oct. 2.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring back both our signature events this year,” said Franklin Downtown Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana. “It takes many volunteers and business sponsors to pull these events together and we’re grateful for their assistance.”

General meetings of the Partnership are scheduled  on April 7, June 2, Sept. 8 and Nov. 3. Meetings begin at 8:30 a.m., last one hour, and are held on Zoom.

Downtown Partnership

The Partnership works with the Franklin Garden Club to deck out the downtown with seasonal decorations. The 2022 Spring/Summer Beautification Day is scheduled for  Sat., May 21. The Autumn/Winter Beautification Day is Sat., Nov. 19. Groups are encouraged to volunteer and high school community service hours are available.

Sponsors are needed for the Partnership’s 2022 events. Please contact the Partnership office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com if you’re interested in sponsorship.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership invites all Franklin businesses and residents to join the Partnership even if they are not located in the downtown area. Visit www.franklindowntownpartnership.org for more information.

The Partnership reminds residents to shop local to support our Franklin businesses. The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a nonprofit, 501©3 organization made up of more than 350 business owners, community leaders and residents working to stimulate economic development downtown and create a positive impact throughout the area.  

Strawberry Stroll - Canceled for 2020

Strawberry Stroll Canceled for 2020

"After thoughtful consideration, the board of the Franklin Downtown Partnership has regretfully decided to cancel this year’s Strawberry Stroll. Normally held in June, the Strawberry Stroll is a tremendous community event attracting thousands of people to downtown Franklin. Given the current pandemic, however, it is impossible to know if such a community gathering will be possible or safe in June. So the FDP Board has decided to plan for an even larger Harvest Festival on Oct. 3, 2020.

In place of the Strawberry Stroll, the FDP is developing several smaller events in late summer and early fall.

“We’re considering events such as restaurant walks, small business Tuesdays, and other promotional events geared towards rebuilding local business,” said Lisa Piana, executive director of the FDP. “We are planning to hold those events once social distancing guidelines have been relaxed or removed.”

If you have some creative ideas about smaller events the FDP could organize to support local business, please email Executive Director Lisa Piana."

For more about the Franklin Downtown Partnership visit their page
https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/

Looking Forward to 2020 Strawberry Stroll

"Enjoy strawberry shortcake, great vendors, activities and lots of family fun at the Strawberry Stroll on June 12 (rain date June 13) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Vendor registration will open in April. Thank you to this year's events coordinator - Chris Peterson!"

Shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership page
https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/



Consider joining as a business or resident (only $25/yr)
https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/p/membership-info.html

Looking Forward to 2020 Strawberry Stroll

Franklin Downtown Partnership 2020 Calendar of events

Time to set some events on the calendar as we get closer to 2020. Here is the Franklin Downtown Partnership listing of the major events (Strawberry Stroll, Harvest Festival) and minor events (general meetings, networking breakfasts, etc.) to put on your planning calendar.

Residents can join the Partnership for only $25/year, students and senior citizens for only $15/year. For more about the Downtown Partnership, visit their web page  https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/

Franklin Downtown Partnership 2020 Calendar of events

Disclosure: I am proud to be a member of the Downtown Partnership since 2010

Clothesline Art Cash and Carry Fundraiser and "A Berry Fine Art Show"

Among the many activities today at the Strawberry Festival is a Clothesline Art Cash and Carry Fundraiser. This is a fund raising effort for the Franklin Art Association.

The Franklin Art Association will also open its Annual Spring/Summer Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, "A Berry Fine Art Show," at the Rockland Trust Annex, 44 Main Street, Franklin, Massachusetts (between Rockland Trust at 58 Main Street and FSPA at 38 Main Street).

The show, which is free and open to the public, will kick off on Friday from 4-8 PM, coinciding with Franklin Downtown Partnership's Strawberry Stroll.

The Fine Art Exhibition and Sale includes works in oil, acrylic, water media, photography, pastel, charcoal, and mixed media. In addition to the exhibited works, small works and unframed art will be available for purchase.

Saturday hours are 11 AM – 7 PM with a wine reception from 4- 6 PM capped off with an awards presentation for the juried exhibit. In addition to first, second, third and honorable mention ribbons awarded, there will be a Best of Show award and attendees may vote for a "People's Choice" award.

Sunday hours are 12 Noon - 4 PM with a Raffle and People's Choice award presentation at 3 PM.

The small building between FSPA and Rockland Trust is where "A Berry Fine Art Show" will he held

Get your copy of "Our Family Farms"

The Franklin Agricultural Commission has created a nice one page listing of the farms along with a map of their location in Franklin. 

You can stop by the Agricultural Commission booth at the Strawberry Stroll to pick up a copy.

You can view and download a copy here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b6dnRFJmDRiy55ZC2rIuoXNsiLIcpkra/view?usp=sharing

Get your copy of "Our Family Farms" at the Strawberry Stroll

Strawberry Stroll Performance Schedule - June 14

Dean Bank Stage:
4 PM to 5 PM - Matt Zajac
5 PM to 8 PM - The Northeast Groove

Intermission Patio:
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM - FSPA
5 PM - 6 PM - Jamie Barrett
6 PM - 6:30 PM - FSPA
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - The Padula Brothers

In Front of MyFM Remote Station
5:15 PM - Feet in Motion (for 15 minutes)
6 PM - Feet in Motion (for 15 minutes)

Strawberry Stroll Performance Schedule - June 14

Get your copy of the Strawberry Stroll map
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QkHdbn6umlz1fkMTndtSlBVt3K5INpfy/view?usp=sharing

Franklin Downtown Partnership: Strawberry Stroll - June 14, 2019

The Franklin Downtown Partnership’s annual Strawberry Stroll is scheduled in downtown Franklin on Friday, June 14 and is expected to be the largest Stroll in its 17-year history. Come to the family-fun event and enjoy live bands, sidewalk sales and activities from 4 PM to 8 PM Main Street and Dean Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic during the Strawberry Stroll. The rain date is Saturday, June 15.

Franklin Downtown Partnership:
Strawberry Stroll - June 14, 2019

“The Strawberry Stroll is our opportunity to invite people to come together downtown and have fun experiencing the local businesses throughout our community that are unique to this area,” said Scott Martin, president of the Franklin Downtown Partnership and event chairperson. “The mix of activities, crafters and entertainment we have for this year’s festival will make this community event special for all ages, while showcasing what shopping and dining downtown offers.”

For the first time, the FDP is inviting residents to wear straw hats to the Stroll to honor Franklin’s straw hat manufacturing history!

For the second year in a row, Dean Bank has organized Dancing on Dean, a fun dance party featuring two local bands: Matt Zajac and The Northeast Groove.

Read all the details of the Strawberry Stroll here 
https://files.constantcontact.com/ceff47be401/1ca5267a-4ba9-42a6-a728-39b90f317aef.pdf

and view the performance schedule here
https://files.constantcontact.com/ceff47be401/214b2b97-14b6-4358-8f35-1395c2d71e85.pdf