Join us at the 10th Mass Poetry Festival

View this email in your browser It's Time to Plan Your Festival Weekend! Make a schedule. Buy buttons. Join our Headline Poets Sonia Sanchez · Kaveh Akbar · Duy Doan  Jeffrey Harrison · Dorianne Laux · Erika Meitner Carl Phillips · Nicole Sealey Sean Thomas Dougherty · Rhina P. Espaillat A Letter from the Festival Director Has it been 10 years, already? Yes, it has -- and the Massachusetts Poetry Festival is back again with 10 nationally recognized, and award-winning poets headlining three days and nearly 100 different programs, including poetry readings, workshops, music, and more. Meet with poets, writers, and publishers at our small press and literary fair, or engage them in conversation at one of many sessions held throughout the weekend. Surround yourself with what's good—you may be surprised, and you may surprise yourself. Please join us for this special 10th year. Are you a first timer? Never been to Salem? Watch this video to see why Salem loves the Mass Poetry Festival! Raining Poetry for the 2017 Mass Poetry Festival Salamander 25th Anniversary Reading Saturday May 5, 2:00pm-3:00pm, The Bridge at 211 Join Ben Berman, Danielle Legros Georges, and Kelle Groom as they commemorate SALAMANDER's 25th anniversary. Poets on Autism: Hope in the Helicopter Rain Saturday May 5, 12:15pm-1:15pm, PEM Connect BLDG Sean Thomas Dougherty · Kamilah Aisha Moon · Oliver de la Paz As poets, we face the double danger of the sentimental and the exoticization of their disability. This panel will address how do poets negotiate the topic and portraiture of autism. Each panelist will read a small selection of poems that they have written about their own autistic children or siblings, and speak to the difficulties of writing these poems. How do we speak our joys, fears, love in language whose intent is to nurture, to elevate, to challenge, and to sing. Workshops are still available! Be inspired. Try something new. Surprise yourself. We have space available in a variety of workshops. You can generate new work, talk about craft with poets and poetry lovers, or ask that question about poetry you've always wanted to ask.  If you love the work we do to support poets and spread the power of poetry to students, T riders, and more, please consider supporting us with a recurring monthly donation. Donate Now Copyright © *2017* *Mass Poetry*, All rights reserved.

Harvest Festival - 2017 - photo essay

I combined my walk with the Franklin Downtown Partnership's Harvest Festival on Saturday. The rain did hold off for this event, only sprinkles here and there. I stopped here and there along the way, multiple conversations with folks I know and met quite a few new ones too.

there is only one Jamie Barrett and Jane did have two locations for Jane's Frames

part of the Main St crowd at about 1:00 PM Saturday

did you get your free book from the Friends of the Franklin Library?

BTW - bricks are still for sale. That would make a nice holiday gift for someone!
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/05/friends-of-franklin-library-memorial.html

Jesse Liam band rocked it on the crosswalk attracting dancers and sing along

not everything was on Main St, the Fire Station had an open house

the Historical Museum refurbished one of their old displays to showcase these
vintage postcards. Stop by to visit to get a better view

Jord Albert took over from Jamie Barrett outside Jane's

In the News: Harvest Festival Saturday; DPW looking for snow plow contractors

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Weather is expected to be sunny with temperatures in the low 70s for the 15th annual Franklin Harvest Festival on Saturday. 

The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and occupies the entirety of Main Street and much of the surrounding downtown area. The event, sponsored by the Franklin Downtown Partnership (FDP), will be a day of local entertainment, carnival-style games, food, and giveaways. 

“Our ability to stage the event throughout Main Street, East Central and West Central streets for this festival will provide an incredible setup for entertainment, shopping and dining downtown,” said FDP vice president and event chairperson Scott Martin. 

After 12 p.m., the Dean Bank parking lot will be open for handicapped parking and serve as the drop-off and pickup location for senior living center residents. Other festival parking information will be posted on the FDP website the day of the event. 

Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic for the expected 6,000 people and 150 vendors, crafters, exhibitors, and local groups."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171011/15th-franklin-harvest-festival-to-be-largest-yet

downtown decorated for the Franklin Harvest Festival on Saturday

"After putting out ads and spreading the word on social media, the DPW is still having trouble finding contractors to plow the roads for the upcoming snow season. 

Highway and grounds superintendent Carlos Rebelo said that the town will hire about 68 plow contractors this year, but has only received a handful of applicants. 

“It’s hard because this time of the year the weather is still good,” said Rebelo.
As a result, the town is still seeking many more plows for the upcoming winter. Equipment must to be in good running condition for the town to consider hiring, and is subject to inspection by town mechanics prior to the start of the season."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171011/franklin-dpw-seeks-plow-drivers

Friendly reminder: the Franklin Downtown Partnership's Harvest Festival is Saturday, Oct 14

4 Days and Counting!!

Franklin Downtown Partnership  9 E. Central Street, Franklin, MA  02038 (774) 571-3109   downtown.franklin@yahoo.com Four days and counting!  Please share our 2017 Harvest Festival poster Please share this email with your customers, contacts, friends and family!  Are you participating in the event? Talk it up! Here's a PDF or a PNG file for you to post in your social media account or to share in your own email.  We look forward to seeing you all! Franklin Downtown Partnership | downtown.franklin@yahoo.com | 774-571-3109 | franklindowntownpartnership.org

Franklin Downtown Partnership, 9 E. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by downtown.franklin@yahoo.com in collaboration with Try it free today

Franklin Downtown Partnership: Harvest Festival - October 14

Franklin Downtown Partnership  9 E. Central Street, Franklin, MA  02038 (774) 571-3109   downtown.franklin@yahoo.com Press Release Franklin Harvest Festival to be Largest Yet Celebrate the best of fall and Franklin with friends and neighbors at the 15th annual Franklin Downtown Partnership Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year's Harvest Festival features a day of great local entertainment, carnival-style games for kids young and old, more artists and crafters, face painting, fall-themed giveaways, and new food and drink options to entertain nearly 6,000 expected visitors. In case of rain the Festival will run on Sunday, October 15. 2016 Harvest Stroll In downtown Franklin. With the completion of the Downtown Improvement Project, the Partnership is able to use all of Main Street and the surrounding downtown area for this year's festival, which promises to be the largest one-day event the FDP has ever produced.  "The Harvest Festival is our annual opportunity to invite people to come together downtown and have fun experiencing the local businesses throughout the community that are unique to this area," says Scott Martin, FDP vice president and event chairperson. "Our ability to stage the event throughout Main Street, East Central and West Central streets for this festival will provide an incredible setup for entertainment, shopping and dining downtown." Read the full press release for more information. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!! We thank our generous sponsors  for helping us make this event the biggest yet!  Franklin Downtown Partnership | downtown.franklin@yahoo.com | 774-571-3109 | franklindowntownpartnership.org

Franklin Downtown Partnership, 9 E. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by downtown.franklin@yahoo.com in collaboration with Try it free today