Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting scheduled for Nov 2 at 8:30 AM

The next Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 2 at 8:30 AM at the Dean College Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center.

the scene of a prior meeting at Dean

Shared from the Downtown Partnership page ->   https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2023/10/november-general-meeting.html

April Rock and I talk about local business and her lessons to share from Escape Into Fiction (audio)

FM #1056 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1056 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with April Rock, owner operator of Escape Into Fiction. We met in person at Escape on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.  (Yes, this may seem to have gotten ‘aged’ in the archives. However, the discussion was relatively green so it did age well. Fortunately, April is healthy now and approved of sharing this.)

April shares her insights into operating a bookstore downtown Franklin, collaborating with Franklin Art Association, the Cultural District, Cultural Council, and other local groups. How research and listening are her two big pieces of advice for local businesses.

Their inventory is small but they can order other books you want, as long as they are still in print. So if you don’t find something in particular, don’t be afraid to ask.

This conversation runs about 16 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with April at Escape Into Fiction. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1056-escape-into-fiction-with-april-rock-02-14-23

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Escape Into Fiction webpage  -> https://escapeintofiction.com/ 

Located at 12 Min St, Franklin contact and hours -> https://escapeintofiction.com/contact-hours 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

April Rock and I talk about local business and her lessons to share from Escape Into Fiction (audio)

Shop Local at the PRETTY IS PINK Boutique and "Look Good – Feel Good"

Written by: Lyn MacLean 

PRETTY IS PINK Boutique is being highlighted for our second in the series of “Shop Local” for the holidays. 

New York City fashion lives right here at 480 King Street, Franklin. This women’s clothing boutique has been located in Franklin for over TWENTY years!  

Pretty is Pink’s motto is "Look Good – Feel Good". Any woman will do just that by shopping a wide selection of crew and funnel neck sweaters, slip, mini, and smocked dresses, knit wraps, and straight, flare, and wide-leg pants and jeans.  Complimenting these clothing choices, you will also find crossbody, clutch, tote, and shoulder handbags. Accessories such as jewelry, and fun-colored winter hats with coordinating mittens would make a perfect gift for teens or teachers at a perfect gift giving price point. Lastly, tucked among the amazing clothing selections lies a beautiful woven plush paw blanket that would be the perfect gift for any animal lover on your list.    

Do you have a holiday party you need something special for? Look no further as an abundance of sparkle was seen to make your ensemble stand out from the crowd. Dusters, dresses, and blouses with shine and sparkle were plentiful. 

Personal, individualized service is the hallmark of this store. The employees get to know their customers directly. They learn the preferences of their clients and if desired will provide feedback about the fit and overall look of each item tried on. 

A customer profile can be kept on file with the client's purchased sizes and items so if and when new items arrive that they may like, the client can be updated and suggestions can be made for these new items as soon as they hit the selling floor. 

Do you have little ones that deter you from trying to shop in-store?  Pretty is Pink has you covered. To allow you time to focus on shopping, the store offers a sip-and-shop beverage bar that allows little ones to sit in a comfortable chair with hot chocolate and a selection of pink starbursts and Hershey’s chocolate kisses.  They can unwrap these treats to allow you time to find that special item you’ve been looking for.  To top off your shopping experience everything is gift-wrapped for free! 

To keep on top of all events and sale promotions you can add your contact information to their list. You will receive an email or text every Thursday with the current promotion that they offer each week. For example, last week they sent a text to notify subscribers of a customer appreciation flash sale on the "day of" for 30% off Haute Shore handbags. Customers flocked to the store that day to take advantage of the fabulous savings. 

The upcoming "PINK FRIDAY" will be on Friday, November 26. Serving Bubbly and treats while you shop with special promotions announced that day. 

And don’t forget that Pretty is Pink is participating in the Franklin First Gift Cards which can be purchased in person at Dean Bank or www.franklingiftcard.com. 

These are a perfect “PINK” idea for hostesses, husbands, fathers, and anyone who wants their special person to make their own selection.  Make your gift-giving local, quick and easy. 

The hours of operation from now until the end of the year will be Monday-Wednesday and Friday 10-5, Thursday extended hours 10-7, and Sunday 12-4.  The store is open 7 days a week.  Online purchases can also be made at www.prettyispink.com

Shop Local at the PRETTY IS PINK Boutique and "Look Good – Feel Good" (image courtesy of Pretty Is Pink Facebook page)

The Shop Local for Holidays Series features Pour Richard’s Wine & Spirits

Written by:  Lyn MacLean

Here at Franklin Matters, we would like to encourage shopping locally during the upcoming holiday season.  Over the next few weeks, we plan to feature a variety of local establishments to highlight some of the wonderful gift options they can offer just a short distance away.  Avoid the crowds, avoid the parking scramble, and support your local shop owners.   

Pour Richard’s Wine & Spirits

Gift giving, home cooked meals and the special pairing of a fine wine or spirit epitomize the traditions for many this time of year.   This is why today we would like to highlight POUR RICHARD’S WINE & SPIRITS at their new location at 835 West Central Street #2 Franklin. They are currently celebrating their 10 year Anniversary serving the Franklin community. 

“Never Drink Ordinary” is their motto and I can see why.  As I entered the store, I immediately was greeted with the warm presence of the owner Ann Williams.  I quickly recognized the unique well-edited selection of wines, craft beers, ciders, and spirits that were available. 

With a long-standing experience in the beverage industry, Ann worked with Blackbutton Distilling to create a Pour Richards private label bespoke Gin.  This Gin was formulated with nothing added or subtracted, no sugar or cornstarch were added which lends to a rich spirit.   

A second Pour Richards blend included the Mad River Double Barrel Rum created in bourbon barrels, a third called the Hill Rock Bourbon Whiskey and a fourth, Ladies Choice Bourbon Whiskey. 

Pour Richards provides a highly personalized service.  The owner makes an effort to know all customers names and loves to provide suggestions to meet personal tastes. 

With advance notice the store is more than happy to create custom gift baskets where they can curate suggestions or fulfill any specific spirit requests you may have for your recipient.

Along with gift baskets, curated 3 or 6 pack of craft beers, cases of wine and tasting kits of various spirits can be packaged. To top off this personalized service, keep in mind that curbside pickup is available to expedite your purchases quickly during this hurried season.  

Several upcoming events to kick off the holiday season are listed below.  You can sign up in person or online at www.pourrichardswine.com 

Local Beer & Wine Vendor Event 

“Small business” Saturday, November 26, 2022 1-4 PM 

Local Beer and Wine Vendors will provide sample testing and special discounts.

Bubbles & Bark Event Saturday, December 3, 2022   2-5 PM

- Focused on Holiday pairing gift ideas, Hostess Gift Ideas - $20.00 at door 

100% proceeds are donated directly to the Forever Home Rescue New England of Medfield, MA. They are devoted to saving the lives of dogs. 

Artisan Chocolate and spirits pairing

Thursday, December 8th 7:00pm start

- Wrights Old School Chocolate of Walpole, MA will present an Expert Chocolatier that will explain the sourcing of cocoa beans and the process of making the chocolate.  $20.00 includes a tasting kit of various full size single origin chocolate bars along with spirit samples to taste that complement the chocolate pairing.  Tickets may be purchased the night of or online at www.pourrichardswine.com

Reminder: Other ways to support your local community 

THINK FRANKLIN FIRST GIFT CARDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE! 

Another great way to support our local economy.  This gift card provides use to a variety of local businesses and makes the perfect gift!  The cards are available for purchase in any denomination at Dean Bank or franklingiftcard.com.  This website provides the most up-to-date list of participating businesses.   

If you are a local business owner who would like more information contact Lily Rivera at  508-553-4888 or riveral@franklinps.net 

 

THINK FRANKLIN FIRST GIFT CARDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE

More Perfect Union: 057 - The Local News Crisis (audio)

In this episode, the group is joined by Stephen Sherlock of Franklin Matters, Alan Earls of the Franklin Observer, and Martin Luttrell, former long-time reporter for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, to dive into the issue of "The Local News Desert" - the dissolution of smaller local news outlets, discussing the decline of readership seen by newspapers, the economics of small businesses, the importance journalism plays in your community and the online future for regional reporting.

If you'd like to learn more about Steve Sherlock and the news Franklin Matters brings to the Franklin community, you can visit their here:   https://www.franklinmatters.org/

If you'd like to learn more about Alan Earls and the reporting done from Franklin Observer, you can visit them here:   https://franklinobserver.town.news/

Audio file -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episode/057-the-local-news-crisis

Franklin.TV: A More Perfect Union (audio)

#ThinkFranklinFirst gift cards a great way to shop locally

"Trying to find the perfect gift can be tough, but it doesn't have to be! With over 35+ participating businesses in town, you can give the gift of Franklin this holiday season.

#ThinkFranklinFirst gift cards a great way to shop locally

 

Get your card in hand today with no processing fees in person at Dean Bank or online at https://franklingiftcard.com/"

 

Shared from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/109645590402552/posts/649671066399999/

gift cards a great way to shop locally

"there are alternatives to the decline of local news"

"Local journalism is in crisis. “America’s local news has reached its death spiral phase” proclaimed the Columbia Journalism Review in 2018. Two years later, an oft-cited study out of the University of North Carolina found that some 2,100 community newspapers had ceased publishing since 2004, leaving the country with large swaths of “news deserts” — areas that are unserved by any local news source.

But though the collapse of community journalism is real enough, we believe that its causes are only partly understood. Researchers generally focus on the changes wrought by technology over the past quarter-century — changes that tell an important story, but not the whole story.

It’s true that classified ads offered by Craigslist, a mostly free service, wiped out what had accounted for about 40% of newspaper revenues overnight. And yes, Google and Facebook dominate digital advertising, leaving news organizations to fight over scraps."

Continue reading the article online

https://www.niemanlab.org/2021/05/the-local-news-crisis-will-be-solved-one-community-at-a-time/

Picked up by the radar on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1813701/posts/10106342307337069/

Though the collapse of community journalism is real enough, we believe that its causes are only partly understood.

By Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy

FM #490 - Finance Committee Meeting - 03/10/21 - P3 of 3 - FY22 revenue estimates (audio)

FM #490 = Welcome. This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 490 in the series. 

This session shares part 3 of the Franklin, MA Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, Mar 10, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: the Finance Committee members, Town Administrator and key personnel, were in the Council Chambers; the remainder, along with the public, were remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the just almost three hour meeting into three logical segments:

• First - covers the capital budget discussion and vote to approve (approx. 75 minutes)
• Second - covers the public safety presentations and discussion; the MECC, Fire Dept. and Police Dept. (approx. 67 mins)
• *** Third *** and last but not least a look at the estimate for revenues for the FY 2022 budget. More to come on this as the budget cycle begins in earnest now meeting (approx. 30 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes. 

Let’s listen to this segment of the Finance Committee meeting of Mar 10, 2021

Audio file =  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7ade95d3-e023-4a12-b4fb-72640e702aec

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Agenda doc   
https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/revised_fin_com_agenda_complete_1.pdf

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/03/finance-committee-meeting-recap-topics.html 
 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
 
How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
 
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen explaining the revenue estimates as we start the budget cycle for FY 22

Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda - Mar 3, 2021

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

March 3, 2021 - 5:45 PM 

Agenda:
1. Tasting Room bylaw proposal
2. Franklin Business Guide (Draft Attached)
3. Food Trucks materials update

Agenda doc and meeting materials, including connection info for this virtual meeting

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/edc_agenda_3-3-2021.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda - Mar 3, 2021

FM #425 Fresh Start Market - 12/16/20 (audio)

FM #425 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 425 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with Fresh Start Market co-owner Bonnie Corso. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the social distancing requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about how Bonnie and her husband Mark have spent many years developing the market which will open in the near future here in Franklin. They will be located in the Liquor World Plaza, in the space where the Shiva Market had been.

We talk about the timeline how they came to bring this to reality. How they used the Market Study developed by MAPC for Franklin to confirm three was an opportunity here. 

By way of disclosure: I did purchase a brick on their wall to help share the Franklin Matters Name. I did also contribute as an investor in their venture. We talk about this and how they will be part of the community in bringing a ‘farm to table’ approach to grab and go meals.

While I do believe in what they are doing, this radio program is part of my overall effort to share newsworthy goodness in Franklin. This happens to be a very good example of the stories I think are newsworthy.

Our conversation runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H13TRRHS

 
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Follow Fresh Start Market on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartMkt/ 
On Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/fresh_start.market/ 
Their investment opportunity page on MainVest  https://mainvest.com/b/fresh-start-market-franklin 
`
EDC Meeting with the MAPC Market Study presented and discussed
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/fm-322-edc-mapc-market-study-73030-audio.html

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Finian, their pet parrot, provided some background commentary during our remote recording session. Here is a cropped photo of Finian shared on the Fresh Start Market Instagram page  https://www.instagram.com/p/CJIEFN7gQ29/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Finian, their pet parrot, provided some background commentary during our remote recording session

Keep It Local - Support Franklin Businesses

Keep an eye open for the new Keep It Local signs in the windows and on the doors of many Franklin businesses. The Franklin Downtown Partnership (FDP) has been distributing the signs to remind people of the importance of continuing to support our local establishments who have been hit so hard by the pandemic. Residents and businesses are invited to take photos with the signs and post them on Facebook and Instagram. Tag the FDP on those posts and the FDP will share them on its social media.

"We need to keep the focus on our local businesses, not only during the holiday season, but throughout the winter,” said FDP Executive Director Lisa Piana. “The Partnership reminds members of the community to spend locally whenever possible.“

If you would like to support local Franklin businesses, join the FDP as a resident member for only $25 a year. Visit the FDP website or email downtown.franklin@yahoo.com for more information.

The FDP is a non-profit 501©3 organization made up of nearly 300 residents, business owners and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. 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

 

Keep It Local - Support Franklin Businesses