Franklin Matters

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Franklin Downtown Partnership: 2012 Strawberry Stroll

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

2012 Strawberry Stroll Press Release

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Franklin Downtown Partnership) on 5/22/12

Franklin's Strawberry Stroll to be Thursday, June 7

The Franklin Downtown Partnership expects to dish up more than 700 sweet, juicy strawberry shortcakes at this year's Strawberry Stroll on Thursday, June 7. The event will be held downtown from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., rain or shine.

The FDP's famous strawberry shortcakes will be served up by Dean Bank's branch staff in front of the bank on Main Street. Dean College volunteers expect to cut more than 160 quarts of red, ripe strawberries for the stroll. Garelick Farms will provide 4 cases of whipped cream to top off the mouth-watering dessert.

"We sold out of our shortcakes last year thanks to all the families who came downtown to enjoy the afternoon and explore our shops and restaurants," says Nicole Fortier, event chairperson. "The whole idea of the Stroll is to enhance cohesiveness. We want to bring people and merchants together and get them engaged in the downtown."

Sponsorship Row in the Berry Insurance parking lot will feature the event's backers. Platinum sponsor for this event is Dean Bank and silver sponsors are Dean College and Garelick Farms. Bronze sponsors are Chestnut Dental Associates, CVS Pharmacy, Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) and Keefe Insurance. Music will be provided by Music Odyssey Productions, and the Franklin Art Center will showcase self portraits by budding artists from the Franklin Children's School.

Participating businesses throughout downtown plan sweet and spring-themed specials for the afternoon. Singer and guitarist Kevin Wolfe will be performing outside Pisini Shoes on Main Street. On East Central Street the band Yookeroo will perform at The Cake Bar. At Jane's Frames owner Jane Curran will show visitors how to create lively and fun home displays with children's framed art while local musician and music teacher Jamie Barrett entertains young and old and all those in between.

The Historical Museum invites the public to its wedding gown display and refreshments on the porch, and A Cut Above will offer visitors lemonade and cookies along with giveaways. Vallee's Jewelers plans to buy back gold items at their shop on Main Street. Many other downtown businesses also are offering store specials and discounts.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for this popular event. For more information contact Event Chair Nicole Fortier at nfortier@deanbank.com. More information is also available on the Partnership's website at www.franklindowntownpartnership.com. As a non-profit organization, the Downtown Partnership depends on sponsors to run events like this, the Harvest Festival and the Holiday Stroll.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Partnership's mission is to stimulate economic development downtown in order to create a positive impact throughout the area, and to be a pro-active organization that brings residents, business owners and community leaders together, encourages cooperation and builds leadership for the purpose of revitalizing downtown Franklin. For more information please contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.

Things you can do from here:

Subscribe to Franklin Downtown Partnership using Google Reader
Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

In the News: tick season, film directors, scam warnings

State warns of tick season

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Hockomock Film Sprint invites budding directors

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

BBB issues Memorial Day scam warnings

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Summer Camp, Summer Programs & Community Campaign

Online Registration | Our Facebook Page | Our Website

JOIN US FOR SUMMER CAMP!
Enhanced Formula for a Super Summer at your Y!
Click here to view our camps and download registration forms.

* NEW Flexible Scheduling Options
* Enhanced Age-Appropriate Curriculum
* Increased Communication to Parents photo201005_0304_04_preview

* Healthy Lunch Options
* NEW Adventure Teen Camps click here for more info
* NEW Horizons Integration Camp click here for more info
* And many more exciting opportunities!

Click on your branch for more info on camp:

North Attleboro Foxboro Franklin

Camp Directors, for questions:
Lexi Allen (Franklin Branch), lexia@hockymca.org | 774.235.2752 / Ashli Phllips (Foxboro Branch), ashlip@hockymca.org | 508.772.1353 / Neal Beaupre (North Attleboro Branch), nealb@hockymca.org | 508.643.5219 / Emily Harrop (Mansfield Arts & Education Center), emilyh@hockymca.org | 508.699.8846

VIEW SUMMER PROGRAMS NOW
Registration begins Tuesday, 5/29

Click here to view classes and plan your summer activities. We look forward to seeing you in classes this summer!

Summer 1 Session Dates:
June 25-July 29

Summer 2 Session Dates:
Juliy 30-August 26

OUR CAUSE IS OUR COMMUNITY
Reach Out for Youth & Families Phonathon

Next week, dedicated volunteers and staff will be calling, asking for your support of our Y's annual campaign, the Reach Out for Youth & Families Campaign.

The phonathon will take place at Dean College. When you see Dean College on caller ID, it is your Hockomock Area YMCA calling. We look forward to talking with you!

To-date, we are 70% to our goal of $650,000. Your gift is appreciated and will make the difference!

We are able to work together to invest in our kids, our health, and our neighbors, just like Michael:

Forward this message to a friend Click to view this email in a browser

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe

Hockomock Area YMCA
300 Elmwood St.
N. Attleboro, 02760
US

Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

Non-Profits Email Free with VerticalResponse!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Franklin, MA: FY 2013 Budget hearings

The Town Council has two special meetings this week for the annual budget hearing on the FY 2013 budget.

Franklin operates on a fiscal calendar from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. The FY 2012 budget approved last year funded operations through June 30, 2012. The budget hearings on Weds/Thu will look at funding operations for the period from July 1 through June 30, 2013.

The budget cycle generally begins in Sep/Oct as each department puts together their capital budget. The capital budget is funded by 'free cash'. Free cash is the amount of money left over from the prior budget year that the State has certified is really available. It is a one time fund and not used for operational expenses (personnel, salaries and benefits). It is used to fulfill the capital requirements (new equipment, school books, vehicles, etc.).

As the capital needs are reviewed, each department also puts together their operational requirements. These are reviewed by the Town Administrator and then brought before the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee holds a set of budget hearings where each department manager presents their case for the next year budget, explains their operations, their funding priorities and answers any questions.

The Finance Committee (FinCom) budget hearings were held in April and ended with the FinCom voting on the budget to forward it to the Town Council. This is the budget the Council will be reviewing.

The voting document shows multiple columns. The last two years total for each line item. The original total for this year as put forward by the department. The recommendation by the Town Administrator (TA). This year, the TA only changed one line item (510 - Health) reducing the amount by $1,500. On the one hand, you can attribute only one change to close coordination between the TA and the department head. In this case, the Board of Health apparently submitted a request to create a salary or stipend for what has been a volunteer or unpaid position.

The expense side of the budget generally gets the most focus but the revenue side of the budget is equally important. Franklin is required to present a balanced budget. Where the money comes from is as interesting as how it is spent. For example, this year $350,000 that was taken away from the School budget in Oct 2011 is being put back into the budget for next year. The vote to approve that transfer is part of the overall budget process decisions coming up Weds and Thu nights.

The budget documents

Expense budget FY 2013
Revenue budget FY 2013

FinCom hearings
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/finance-committee-budget-hearing-fy.html

Hearing schedule for FinCom
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/fincom-fy-2013-budget-hearings.html

Big Y: construction progress

The BIG Y continues to make good progress. The parking lot is more level, more curbs are in place.

Another view of the main entrance

This Week on the Radio: "Take the Money and Run for Office"

I was behind on my audio listening having changed my routine to finish the Hunger Games trilogy of books on tape and caught up to this one on Monday's drive to work. How timely that it deals with the US Supreme Court decision on Citizens United that lead to the People's Rights Amendment.

Ira Glass and This American Life deal with this topic in their usual fashion including an interview with both Senators McCain and Feingold who were the architects of the campaign law modifications that were overturned by the Supreme Court decision. Interesting listening! And scary to think of the consequences of the last minute SuperPAC attack impacts!

What was the Citizens United decision? You can find the Wikipedia version here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._Federal_Election_Commission

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

This Week on the Radio: "Take the Money and Run for Office"

via This American Life Updates by adrianne on 4/1/12

For anyone who has ever heard the term "Washington insider" and felt outside — we are with you. So this week, we go inside the rooms where the deals get made, to the actual moment that the checks change hands — and we ask the people writing and receiving the checks what, exactly, is the money buying?

Broadcast March 31 to April 2