Franklin, MA: Library Book Sale

Where can you get a book for less than $2.50? or one for $1.00? or one for $.50?
The Franklin Public Library Book Sale of course. Run by the Friends of the Library, it is a major fund raiser that generally occurs twice a year (spring and fall).

There are books for all ages, from the youngest

To the most sophisticated readers in the house (yes, the presentation of the books can make for strange bedfellows!)

In addition to books, you can find multiple forms of media

including a good selection of Disney and other kids movies

Thanks to the dozens of Friends of the Library volunteers and to the all important sponsors for making this event happen. I know one kindergarten teacher found about $15 worth of books for the classroom there.

And the money goes for a good cause: to help the Franklin Public Library provide good service under the limited Town budget.

What are the hours?

• Saturday, Oct 16th, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  
• Sunday, Oct. 17th, from 9AM to Noon - 'bag sale' 

Where is it held?
At the DPW Garage at the end of Hayward St.



The Book Sale is coordinated by the Friends of the Franklin Public Library.



Franklin, MA

Municipal Calendar - 4Q 2010

What does happen in the Franklin Municipal Building?
You may have visited the Town Clerk to apply for a passport. Or checked on your tax bill with the Assessors office.

What else happens within the walls?
The quarterly publication of the Municipal Calendar has arrived in time to possibly answer some of your questions. Published by the State, this Municipal Calendar effectively outlines the schedule of studies, filings, etc in order for the local community to operate in a timely and effective manner.



October 1: Collector Mail Semi-Annual Tax Bills For communities using the regular semi-annual payment system, actual tax bills or optional preliminary bills should be mailed by this date.

October 1: Taxpayer Semi-Annual Preliminary Tax Bill — Deadline for Paying Without Interest According to M.G.L. Ch. 59, Sec. 57C, this is the deadline for receipt of the preliminary tax payment without interest in communities using the annual preliminary tax billing system, unless the bills were mailed after August 1. If mailed after August 1, the payment is due November 1, or 30 days after the bills were mailed, whichever is later.

October 1: Taxpayer Deadline for Applying to Have Land Classified as Agricultural/Horticultural Land or Recreational Land, M.G.L. Ch. 61A and Ch. 61B. According to M.G.L. Ch. 61A, Sections 6 and 8, and Ch. 61B, Sections 3 and 5, this is the deadline to apply to assessors to have land valued, taxed and classified as agricultural/horticultural or recreational land in the next fiscal year, unless a revaluation program is being conducted for that fiscal year. Under M.G.L. Ch. 59, Section 38 and DOR guidelines, assessor must review all property valuations and make adjustments to ensure current fair cash valuations every year. Because a revaluation program is being conducted every year, taxpayers who do not submit their applications by October 1 have until 30 days after the actual tax bills for the fiscal year are mailed to apply.

October 15: Superintendent Submit School Foundation Enrollment Report to DESE

October 31: Accountant Submit Schedule A for Prior Fiscal Year This report is a statement of the revenues received, expenditures made and all other transactions related to the town’s finances during the previous fiscal year. The Schedule A classifies revenues and expenditures into detailed categories that will provide information essential for an analysis of revenues and expenditures generated by various departments. This data, like other financial information reported to DOR, is entered into DOR’s Municipal Data Bank; as such, the Department may provide time series, comparative and other types of analyses at the request of a city or town. This information is also sent to the US Census Bureau and eliminates a prior federal reporting requirement. Failure to file by October 31 may result in withholding major distributions of state aid until the Schedule A is accepted by BOA.

October 31: Selectmen Begin Establishing Next Fiscal Year Budget Guidelines and Request Department Budgets

October 31: Assessors Begin Work on Tax Rate Recapitulation Sheet (to set tax rate for annual preliminary tax bill communities) A community that uses the annual preliminary tax bill system (on a quarterly or semiannual basis) should begin gathering tax recap information in order to have enough time for the tax rate to be set and tax bills mailed by December 31. See August’s Complete Tax Rate Recapitulation Sheet.
November 1: Taxpayer Semi-Annual Tax Bill — Deadline for First Payment According to M.G.L. Ch. 59, Sec. 57, this is the deadline for receipt of the first half semi-annual tax bills or the optional preliminary tax bills without interest, unless bills were mailed after October 1, in which case they are due 30 days after mailing.

November 1: Taxpayer Semi-Annual Tax Bills — Application Deadline for Property Tax Abatement According to M.G.L. Ch. 59, Sec. 59, applications for abatements are due on the same date as the first actual tax installment for the year.

November 1: Taxpayer Quarterly Tax Bills — Deadline for Paying 2nd Quarterly Tax Bill Without Interest

November 1: Treasurer Deadline for Payment of First Half of County Tax

November 15: Treasurer First Quarter Reconciliation of Cash

November 15: DESE Notify Communities/Districts of Any Prior Year School Spending Deficiencies By this date, or within 30 days of a complete End of Year Report (see September 30), ESE notifies communities/districts in writing of any additional school spending requirements.

November 30: Selectmen Review Budgets Submitted by Department Heads This date will vary depending on dates of town meeting.

December 15: Taxpayer Deadline for Applying for Property Tax Exemptions for Persons If tax bills are mailed after September 15, taxpayers have 3 months from the mailing date to file applications for exemptions.

Decenber 15: Accountant/Superintendent/School Committee Submit Amendments to End of School Year Report to DESE Last filing date to impact next year’s Chapter 70 State Aid.

December 31: State Treasurer Notification of Quarterly Local Aid Payments on or Before December 31

December 31: Water/Sewer Commissioners Deadline for Betterments to be Included on Next Year’s Tax Bill (M.G.L. Ch. 80, Sec. 13; Ch. 40, Sec. 42I and Ch. 83, Sec. 27)

December 31: Selectmen Begin to Finalize Budget Recommendation for Review by Finance Committee

December 31: Assessors Mail 3-ABC Forms to All Eligible Non-Profit Organizations

December 31: Collector Deadline for Mailing Actual Tax Bills For communities using the annual preliminary billing system on a quarterly or semi-annual basis, the actual tax bills should be mailed by this date.


Franklin, MA

Taste of the Region Features 23 Food Establishments

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce's Taste of the Region is back! This fun and tasty event is scheduled for Tues., Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tri-County Regional Vocational High School, 147 Pond St., Franklin. In addition to a great variety of foods, from main course samples to desserts, a silent auction and raffle will be featured. 


Admission tickets are $10 if purchased by Oct. 26 or $15 at the door. Call 508-528-2800 or 508-222-0801 to purchase tickets. 


So far, 23 restaurants and food establishments are participating and providing samples of their specialties to those attending the event, including: 3 Restaurant - Franklin, Pamfilio's – Cumberland, B & M Clambakes – Pawtucket, Cozy Catering – Providence, Pan City Grill – Plainville, Young's Caterers Inc. – Seekonk, Washburn Farms LLC – Medway, Edible Arrangements – Attleboro, Panera Bread – Franklin, Sweet Gifts – Attleboro, Tri County Culinary Club  - Franklin, Hawthorn Suites – Franklin, Glen Ellen Country Club – Millis, Highland Country Club – Attleboro, Colonel Blackinton Inn – Attleboro, Proctor Mansion Inn  - Wrentham, Willow Tree Poultry Farm Inc -  Attleboro, Harry & David – Wrentham, Forge Hill Senior Living Community – Franklin, Trinity Bar & Restaurant – Norton, Longhorn Steakhouse – Franklin, Uno Chicago Grill – Bellingham, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store – Wrentham.

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit, business support organization with offices in Attleboro, North Attleborough and Franklin, serving the communities of Attleboro, Bellingham, Blackstone, Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Norton, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk and Wrentham.

Looking for something to do this weekend?

Amongst the many things possible, there is (1) a performance of Little Women at Dean College and (2) wool spinning at the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday

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(1) Franklin, MA – The Dean College Theatre program will present Louisa Mae Alcott’s classic tale of growing up in 19th-century New England, Little Women: The Musical starting Thursday, October 14, with evening and matinee performances throughout the weekend. The production features 12 students from the College’s School of the Arts who are majoring in theatre, musical theatre or arts and entertainment management. The production is directed by Dean College faculty member Craig Handel; and the musical elements will be under the direction of Rob Goldman. The musical recently ran on Broadway.

"We wouldn’t be able to approach the quality of work that our students have been doing lately without Rob,” said Prof. Handel. “He’s not only a great conductor and vocal coach, but he’s a teacher who understands and communicates the difference between professional quality work and the type of work usually done by amateurs. Under Rob, our students are constantly being pushed toward the higher standard and the results have been apparent in the high quality of our shows.”

The much-beloved story of Little Women: The Musical centers around the four March sisters and focuses primarily on Jo, the second oldest of the girls. The plot traces Joe’s evolution from an uncertain but headstrong young girl into a mature and successful writer. According to Handel, the character of Jo has been an inspirational role model for young girls ever since Alcott published the novel in 1868.

“The songs in this musical version tap into the struggle and eventual triumph of Jo’s spirit in a way that truly captures the inspirational elements of her journey,” said Prof. Handel.

The play will run Thursday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m.; 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, October 15 and 16; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 17. All performances will take place in the Dean College Performing Arts Studio on School Street. Tickets are $15. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 508-541-1606 or visit the website at http://www.dean.edu/events/index.cfm.

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(2) SPECIAL EVENT - this Sunday, October 17th

Wool Spinners (probably 6-8 women) from Bellingham will demonstrate how wool is spun into yarn with their antique spinning wheel. They will then explain how this yarn can turn into sweaters, scarves, etc. Come and watch this historical event and learn their special techniques.

The museum will be open from 1:00 - 4:00 PM.



Franklin, MA

Young Professionals Organization Hosts North Bowl Event

United Regional Young Professionals Organization invites you to a night of fun and Cosmic Bowling at North Bowl, 71 E. Washington St., North Attleborough, on Nov. 9, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. $20 per bowler includes two hours of bowling, shoes, pizza and soda. Please bring a non-perishable food item for donation to a local food pantry. Reservations required. Contact Vicky Faunce at 508-223-5218 or vicky.faunce@bcsbmail.com.

The YPO is a branch of The United Regional Chamber of Commerce and is comprised of 20- and 30-something business professionals who have an interest in social and business networking, community involvement, and professional development. YPO participants must be at least 21 years old. For more information, visit the YPO's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/unitedregionalypo.

Dean Fall II accelerated undergraduate program offered in October

Franklin, MA  – Dean College is once again offering its innovative "Dean Fall II" program giving students who were unable to start college in September, or who were unhappy with their college choice the opportunity to take classes at an accelerated rate without falling behind a semester.

"Based on the needs of many young adults and the success of last year's program, we are again offering this program," said John Marcus, Vice President of Enrollment Services and Marketing.  "Dean Fall II is affordable and accessible and allows students to earn 9 credit hours before the start of the spring semester either as a commuter or as a resident student."

Students enroll in three courses taught in an accelerated format and classes begin October 26, 2010 and run through December 16, 2010.  The courses include core academic classes in humanities and social sciences designed to keep them on track towards a degree.

Federal Financial Assistance is available to qualified students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.)

For more information about the Dean Fall II program, please call 508-541-1508 or go to admissions.dean.edu/fall2 to download an application.

Franklin, MA is looking to do business

In its continued efforts to attract and retain businesses the Town of Franklin is holding an economic development related event at 8:30 a.m. on October 27, 2010 at 431 Washington Street in Franklin. The primary purpose of the event is to inform property owners and commercial real estate companies with available property within the Town’s Economic Opportunity Areas that there are resources available to assist them. The secondary purpose is to assist with marketing of these properties and our business friendly community in general. We want the commercial/industrial site selection world to look to the Town of Franklin first when looking to site a facility.

This gathering of property owners, business owners and managers, State officials, commercial property realtors, and others in the site selection field, will discuss ways in which available incentives can be used to stimulate economic activity within the Town of Franklin’s six Economic Opportunity Areas and Town’s other industrial and commercial areas. Property owners and realtors attempting to lease or sell a commercial or industrial property within the Town of Franklin are being asked to bring marketing materials to display and distribute at the event.

As part of the event (Resources for Massachusetts Business Development) representatives from state agencies and other economic development related organizations will introduce themselves and discuss potential resources that they may have available. These organizations include Massachusetts Office of Business Development, MassDevelopment, Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development, and Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.

With the sluggish economy the Town of Franklin needs to utilize all economic development incentives available to it in order to assist companies looking to settle or expand in the region. One of the most attractive incentives that a Massachusetts city or town can offer businesses looking to locate or expand in their community is a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) agreement. To qualify for tax increment financing a business must propose an expansion project within an Economic Opportunity Area.

As a member of the I-495/95 South Regional Economic Target Area, the Town of Franklin can designate specific parcels as economic opportunity areas. During 2009 the Town of Franklin created three large economic opportunity areas, which were approved by the State’s Economic Assistance Coordinating Council in April 2009. Earlier this year Franklin Town Council approved creation of three additional economic opportunity areas; the Town expects approval from the Economic Assistance Coordinating Council during November 2010. The six economic opportunity areas consist of 100 parcels totaling over 945 acres.

Currently there are at least 1,000,000 square feet of vacant or underutilized buildings in Franklin’s commercially and industrially zoned areas, most of which are within the Town’s six economic opportunity areas. This vacant property includes the majority of the 242,000+ square feet of floor space at 431 Washington Street, which is the former home of the Investor Services Division of Putnam Investments. The property’s management company, Marsh and McLennan Companies, has graciously agreed to host the Town’s 2010 Economic Development Summit at their 431 Washington Street facility.

The community’s industrially zoned areas are home to dozens of research and development and manufacturing companies, and Franklin has attracted innovative technology companies in a wide range of industries, including nanotechnology, robotics, logistics, data storage, medical devices, biotechnology, and specialty materials. Franklin hopes to use the economic opportunity area designation as an incentive to encourage these existing businesses to expand, as well as to attract new businesses, promote a higher level of investment in the Town’s commercial and industrial areas, increase employment options for the Town of Franklin’s residents, and increase the Town’s commercial and industrial tax base.

The potential benefits resulting from the formation of these economic opportunity areas are substantial not only for property owners and businesses within the economic opportunity areas, but also for the Town of Franklin and the region in general. A tax increment finance agreement is a 5 to 20 year property tax exemption based on the increased value of the property due to new construction or significant improvements.

The municipality supports the use of Tax Increment Financing agreements, especially for development projects that create livable wage jobs, support innovative technologies, and result in redevelopment of empty or underutilized industrially zoned properties or development of new facilities. In addition to the possibility of negotiating a tax increment finance agreement with the Town of Franklin, potential economic benefits for companies within economic opportunity areas can be significant, including an investment tax credit for qualifying tangible depreciable assets, as well as a ten-percent abandoned building tax deduction for costs associated with the renovation of a building that has been at least seventy-five percent vacant for two or more years.

Franklin is continually looking for ways to create conditions favorable for business expansion, and assist property owners fill the Town’s currently empty or underutilized industrially zoned manufacturing, warehouse and office space. The Town is hopeful expanding businesses will take advantage of these opportunities.

Please contact Planning and Community Development Director, Bryan Taberner, if you have questions or require additional information regarding the Town of Franklin’s economic opportunity area initiative, or the Economic Development Summit being held on October 27th.




Franklin MA PR 20101027 Economic Summit


Franklin, MA