"the change will be good for Franklin"

"The site work is starting - obviously, you see some of that," Big Y spokeswoman Claire D'Amour-Daley said. "We've been really wanting to expand our eastern stores for quite some time." 

Contractors knocked down the empty building two weeks ago, where the Franklin Buffet restaurant last stood, but D'Amour-Daley said it could take nine months to a year before the project is finished. 

"It's good for property values around here," said Town Councilor Andrew Bissanti, whose realty business is also near the land leased by Big Y. "It's going to be fantastic. It's just a matter of time before Rte. 140 gets built up nice and clean. Now is as good a time as any." 

But other local business owners and residents have mixed feelings on the grocery chain coming to Franklin, with some happy to see development but many worried about traffic.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/business/x1178219312/Resolution-far-off-as-work-begins-at-Big-Y-in-Franklin#ixzz1fTFqfWUr


What once was:




What now is:

You're Invited - Healthy Kids Summit - Tues 12/6 @ Patriots Place

An email from the YMCA:

We hope you can be part of the Healthy Kids Summit on Tuesday December 6^th 4 – 5:30 PM at Patriots Place featuring a panel of experts and family activities. This is free event for families. As leaders in our communities Healthy Futures work, we want to make sure you are aware of great resource sharing events in our area, such as this one by Stop and Shop. We know that you will gain a lot of beneficial information and resources you can put into practice as well as have the opportunity to speak with experts in the field. Please consider joining us. We hope to see you there. Supporting Healthy Living,Lauren

 Lauren A. Marciszyn, RD, LDNDirector of Youth & Community WellnessHockomock Area YMCA774.235.2737

Downtown Partnership says "Thank You!"

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Holiday Stroll -- Thank You!

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Franklin Downtown Partnership) on 12/2/11

Hundreds of people turned out in chilly but seasonal weather yesterday afternoon for the Partnership's Third Annual Holiday Stroll! 

The holiday tree lighting at Dean College kicked off the event. Carolers led the crowds in song, dancers entertained and an a cappella choir performed in front of Dean Hall. More than 250 Gingerbread Men and 250 Whoopie Pies were quickly devoured, along with gallons of hot chocolate. 

From there the Stroll wound throughout the downtown. Businesses kept their doors open late and offered shoppers incentives as well as refreshments. Kids decorated cookies at Dean Bank, created ornaments at the Franklin Art Association and met Scoobie Doo on East Central Street. Santa heard wish lists at Simon's Furniture and Mrs. Claus read stories to the younger crowd at the Historical Museum.

The Franklin Food Elves's donation bins were filling up quickly with the start of the 12 Days of Donating Campaign benefiting the Franklin Food Pantry. Just a reminder -- the bins will be set up at participating businesses through December 12 (click here for more information).

For more images from the Stroll please see the slideshow above right. 


Thank you to our sponsors for making this year's Holiday Stroll our best yet! 


Silver Sponsors:  Dean Bank, DCU, D.G. Ranieri Real Estate, Ferguson Enterprises, Middlesex Savings Bank and nhs print. 


Bronze Sponsors:  Judith V. Butler, M.A., LLC, Franklin Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, John J. Roche, Attorney, and Laura Lowe, Realtor, Coldwell Banker, Franklin.

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

Giving the Gift of Less

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Giving the Gift of Less

via Catalog Choice - MailStop Blog by Jill on 12/1/11

Looking for a meaningful gift that everyone can use? Our new MailStop Envelopes save trees and reduce clutter by stopping unwanted mail. Prepaid MailStop Envelopes make perfect, practical gifts for your friends, family and co-workers. Everyone will appreciate this easy way to eliminate the waste of unwanted mail.


MailStop Envelopes are great for people who are too busy to use our online service, not Internet-savvy, or just have not gotten around to stopping unwanted mail. With the postage-paid MailStop Envelope, you simply collect and send in mailing labels, saving trees and time with minimal effort. Give envelopes to anyone who wants to make a difference this holiday season and beyond.

At $6.75 each, a MailStop Envelope is the perfect stocking stuffer or gift. Give the gift of less – less paper waste, less clutter, less time managing unwanted mail – and celebrate a meaningful holiday season.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Catalog Choice - MailStop Blog using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Thanks to Abbe for pointing this tip out for us!

In the News - Youth baseball, music boosters

Franklin Youth Baseball registration

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Help the Franklin Music Boosters: Have some pizza pie

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

DOR warns of Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit scam

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

DOR warns of Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit scam

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 12/2/11

The Department of Revenue today released a statement from Taxpayer Advocate Dennis Buckley warning the public, tax preparers, and those who assist seniors in preparing tax returns of a scam that surfaced last year involving the popular Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit.

"The Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit last year helped nearly 80,000 state residents receive a refundable tax credit. Unfortunately, several unscrupulous tax preparers coaxed elderly public housing residents to fraudulently apply for the credit (residents of public housing are ineligible for the credit).

"The preparers who participated in this scam asked for a payment to submit the fraudulent application, and some seniors received the credit without actually qualifying for it. The Department of Revenue has notified those senior residents that the refund was obtained fraudulently and must be paid back.

"We ask you to share knowledge of this scam with your colleagues. Seniors are not eligible for the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit if they live in public or subsidized housing," Buckley wrote.

The Senior Circuit Breaker will deliver a maximum tax credit of $980 in tax year 2011.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Santa's arrival (photo slideshow)

I missed the tree lighting ceremony at Dean College but did manage to make it around to most of the Holiday Stroll on Thursday evening. As I made the rounds however, it was too dark to take good photos. I do have additional photos from Santa's arrival on the Town Common on Sunday to share:




Enjoy!