Affordable housing for sale

As posted on the Franklin webpage, there is affordable housing for sale. There are strict income requirements for this condominium in Benjamin's Landing. You also need to be a first time buyer.




Where is Benjamin's Landing Lane?

A Christmas Carol, Times Two!

"A Christmas Carol Times Two!", a dramatic reading performance of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" combined with traditional 19th century English Christmas carols will happen on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7PM at the Franklin United Methodist Church, 82 West Central Street in Franklin, Massachusetts.

"Englishman Thomas Hutchinson, Traveling Thespian" portrayed by actor Al LePage, complete with English accent and Victorian-era clothing, will give his dramatic reading performance based on Dickens' very own historic script as a one-man show using only his voice, facial expressions and gestures to create some 18 characters.

Organist and local minister Rev. Dr. Dianne Carpenter will weave organ music between various scenes to set the tone for what's to come and entertain. This is a special benefit performance hosted by the Franklin United Methodist Church with all proceeds to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Admission is $10 per person and the performance is best appreciated by both adults and children 7 years of age and older.






Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in advance through BrownPaperTickets.com/, either on-line or by calling their 24/7 toll-free number 1-800-838-3006, and if still available, at the door the day of event. 

Doors for the performance open at 6:30PM, the fun begins at 6:45PM, and seating is general admission.

Festive Fun at the Holiday Stroll December 5

Come celebrate the sights, sounds and sweet tastes of the holiday season at the Franklin Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 5, from 4 p.m to 7 p.m. The evening promises fun for the whole family, including a visit from Santa, holiday crafts, live entertainment, tempting treats and seasonal shopping deals at local businesses.

Franklin Downtown Partnership

The Stroll will begin with a traditional tree lighting, complete with carolers, gingerbread men and hot cocoa, at 4 p.m. in front of Dean Hall on the Dean College Campus. From there revelers can stroll through downtown Franklin and explore the festivities at more than 30 participating businesses. A complete listing of each location’s special offerings will be available at the tree lighting and at participating locations.

“Downtown Franklin really shines during the Holiday Stroll,” says Roberta Trahan of the Franklin Downtown Partnership and co-chair of the event. “Families can make an evening of it. They can visit Santa, do a little shopping, listen to a handbell choir, have dinner together, and explore new shops, all while staying close to home.”

Fresh from the tree lighting, visitors can stop by Dean Bank to decorate gingerbread men and hear enchanting performances by the students of the Mount St. Charles Hand Bell Choir at 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

At Santa’s Workshop next to Rockland Trust Bank, the Franklin Girl Scouts will help little ones write letters to Santa and create holiday crafts from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Santa himself will greet children at Simon’s Furniture from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Around the corner from Simon’s, new business Terry Louison Photography invites everyone to stop in for a portrait at the holiday-themed photo booth.

There will be plenty of opportunities to do some holiday shopping at participating businesses. Browse for locally made gifts, plan a holiday party, pick up a gift certificate and catch some martial arts demonstrations while staying warm at the “Holiday Bazaar” located inside the Depot Plaza building next to Acapulco’s on Main Street.

Music and entertainment will fill the downtown. Milford radio station WMRC 1490-AM will broadcast holiday music live at the event. Dean College’s costumed carolers and its a cappella group, Vocal Conviction, will sing at the tree lighting. Franklin High School groups Take 5 and The Salzillo Jazz Trio will appear at downtown locations, and the Franklin Dance Company will entertain the crowds outside Simon’s.

Other venues around town not to be missed include Jane’s Frames, where musician Jamie Barrett will perform, and the Fire Station, which will have a fire engine for the kids to climb upon.

With all of these activities, visitors will work up an appetite. Many businesses will lure shoppers through their doors with holiday treats and warm beverages, and several downtown restaurants will offer meal deals that night.

While strolling, visitors will notice red collection bins at many locations. The Franklin Food Elves, a charitable community service group, will be collecting non-perishable goods for the Franklin Food Pantry as part of the “12 Days of Donating” campaign. The food drive will run through the first two weeks of December.

“It’s important to remember that the holidays are also a time to give back, and in that vein the Franklin Downtown Partnership is working with the Food Elves to help make the ‘12 Days of Donating’ drive another big success,” says Gregg Chalk, Holiday Stroll co-chair. “Last year, due to the generosity of our community, the Food Pantry had resources that lasted into March. We are proud to work with these students and make such a difference.”

The Food Elves will have a drop-off bin placed at the tree lighting ceremony and at Partnership member businesses including Dean College, Dean Bank, DCU, Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, the Franklin Downtown Partnership office, Jane’s Frames, Murphy Business and Pour Richard’s Wine & Spirits.

This year’s Holiday Stroll is made possible by Platinum Sponsor Big Y World Class Market, and by Gold Sponsors Dean Bank, Dean College, DCU and Middlesex Savings Bank. Silver Sponsors are D. G. Ranieri Real Estate, Local Town Pages Franklin and Franklin Ford, and Bronze Sponsors are the Franklin Girl Scouts of Southeastern Massachusetts and Simon’s Furniture.

For more information about the Holiday Stroll contact co-chairs Gregg Chalk, gchalk@dean.edu, or Roberta Trahan, roberta_icu1@verizon.net.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization made up of business owners, community leaders and residents working to revitalize downtown Franklin. For more information about the Partnership please go to our website, www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/, or contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.

In the News: beavers, Christmas trees

Beavers remain a pest

The flat-tailed, long-toothed rodents making dams across MetroWest are causing headaches for homeowners, even as environmentalists say beavers are a precious part of the local ecosystem.

More people buying local Christmas trees

On a cold, crisp Friday morning this past week, Eleanor Zelnick was all smiles as she took pictures of family members at Ellsworth Tree Farm.

Santa Claus comes to the Franklin Town Common

Thanksgiving leftovers are plentiful and still delicious, sometimes tasting even better than the first time around! With Thanksgiving behind us, Santa Claus must be coming to Franklin soon. He is scheduled to make his appearance on the Franklin Town Common at 4:00 PM Sunday, Dec 1.

Santa Claus arrives Sunday

Santa ready for pictures

Additional photos from 2011 can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157628187894073/with/6417755069/

"print newspapers no longer provide the reach"

The Milford Daily News reports that:

State Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, has drafted legislation that would authorize municipalities to post public notices online rather than having to pay the local newspaper to publish them. 

Roy last week testified before the House Joint Committee on the Judiciary, arguing that his bill would increase transparency and help "cash-strapped" cities and towns save money. 

Also testifying at the hearing were newspaper publisher executives who oppose the legislation. Newspapers, they say, "play a unique and time-tested role in publishing public notice advertising, and "to remove these ads from newspapers would be to undermine accountability, reduce transparency and weaken the economy."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x915448749/Franklin-Rep-Roy-pushes-for-online-public-notices#ixzz2m882w7SY

Respectfully, I disagree with the position of the newspapers.They are in a dying market and lack a sustaining funding model. It is a matter of time before they go away. Something (like citizen journalism) will arise to fulfill the news gap to keep transparency and accountability around. I think their cynical approach is one of the contributing factors to their own decline but that is just my two cents.

In the News: virtual school, Santa arrives

Virtual school proposal gains support

A proposed virtual school in the region is getting plenty of support from MetroWest lawmakers and school officials, who have told the state they have confidence in the education collaborative behind the plan.

Santa Claus coming to Franklin on Sunday

With leftovers all that remain of Thanksgiving, the annual Christmas on the Common on Sunday evening will celebrate with a familiar flourish the beginning of the holiday season.

Exercise in Giving!

About 400 runners and walkers were up bright and early Thanksgiving morning to take part in the Turkey Trot 5K. Held at the LDS Church on Jordan Rd and put on by Feed The Need, the event was quite successful! Raising money and food for the Franklin Food Pantry, the donations filled the truck.

Erin Lynch, Director of Development for the Franklin Food Pantry posed by the full truckload of donations

More photos of the event can be found here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157638175273655/with/11116316576/

The official race results will be posted to http://feedtheneed.org/


When the final tally on runners/walkers and donations is ready, it will be shared. In the meantime, thank you! thank you! thank you! This is wonderful support for our community!


This was also posted to the Franklin Food Pantry web page here
http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/2013/11/an-exercise-in-giving.html

"None of those books will ever be read again"

Were they banned or burned? No, this comes from a loyal reader who finds that the NY Times mentions the Franklin Public Library and its book preservation efforts by writing:

In 1785, Benjamin Franklin shipped to the town of Franklin, Mass. — the first town of many named in his honor — 116 books for a public library. His sister Jane, who never went to school and never learned to spell, asked him to send her a list of those books. “My Reason for this Request is I have a grat deal of time on my hands,” she explained. “I Love Reading ...and I dont doubt I can Borrow of won and another of my Acquaintance.” Then she set about trying to read every book on that list, from Locke to Montesquieu, from Blackstone to Newton. 

In Franklin, Mass., those books — the gift from Benjamin Franklin — are still there, in the town library. They are locked in a cabinet. A few years back, the library’s board, citing a lack of funds for the care of rare books, decided that the door to that cabinet must never be opened. None of those books will ever be read again.

You can read the full article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/opinion/sunday/a-most-expensive-book.html?_r=1&

Hockomock League All Stars: Soys, Soccer, Field Hockey and Cross Country

Hockomock Sports.com is continuing to publish their listing of season awards.

• Jesse d'Entremont, Joe Kalil, and Tim LaRowe represent Franklin on the Boys Soccer All Stars.  Alex Garrity was given Honorable Mention. See the full listing of Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars here

http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2013/11/hockomock-league-2013-boys-soccer-all-stars.html

• Marta Vesprille, Kelly Dubowski, Tara Doherty, and Maddie Bressler represent Franklin on the Field Hockey All Stars.  See the full listing of Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars here

http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2013/11/hockomock-league-2013-field-hockey-all-stars.html

• Devon Strok, Caroline Knous, Nicole Mucciarone, and Brittany Robinson made the Cross Country All Stars. See the full listing of Hockomock League Cross Country All Stars here 

http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2013/11/hockomock-league-2013-cross-country-all-stars.html 

"enhancing these public spaces for everyone to enjoy"

The Southern New England Trunk Line Trail (SNETT) is the beneficiary of two recent grants.

Last year, the Friends reached out to the six communities through which the trail passes, getting them to agree to help fulfill the groups’ goal of fixing up the entire trail. 

The groups say the grant funds will go toward two specific projects, including cutting back overgrowth and re-grading the surface of a roughly 2-mile section of the trail between South Street and Monroe Street in Douglas. 

And with help from the National Parks Service — made possible thanks to another grant — the groups aim to create a long-term development plan for the trail. The plan will include a protocol to inventory and assess trail conditions and structures.

Read the full article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x915448755/Trunkline-Trail-groups-pick-up-state-grant#ixzz2m2Q9xVK3

part of the SNETT in Franklin, the old utilities pole remains

For additional information on the development efforts of the SNETT trail visit the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee web page here  http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

or on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Franklin-Bellingham-Rail-Trail-Committee/185258844899495

Black Friday deal

Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits

Stop by Pour Richard's on Black Friday! Bring in a non-perishable food item for the Franklin Food Pantry or a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, and we'll take 10% off your purchase. Thank you for supporting these important programs! 

Pour Richard's is located at 14 Grove Street, Franklin. Phone 508-520-9163. Friday hours are 10 AM-9PM.

In the News: 'angel' trees, local events

Friends of Franklin 'Angel' trees are up, awaiting holiday helpers for local families in need

The Friends of Franklin, a charitable organization that assists local families in need, has put up its "Angel" trees, brimming full of holiday wishes and needs from about 400 local children whose families need some extra help this year.

Holiday season gets underway, local events planned

The holiday season is going into full swing, and there is no lack of festive activity in the area. Here is a town-by-town listing of some of the things we know about that are going on this weekend and next. More listings for events later in the month will come next week.

Thank You

This website, newsletter, and Facebook page have seen six years of learning and sharing.

There were times of frustration

and times of joy!

There were times I thought I would quit.
More often than not, there were (and still are) times that keep me going!


Thank you for reading,

for subscribing,
for commenting,
for sending an encouraging email,
for sending along news and events to post,
for sharing this site with your friends and neighbors.

Franklin has over 30,000 people of which about 20,000 are registered to vote and fewer actually show up to do so.

For those who care, you are the reason this site exists.

Thank you!

Thank you

As an alternative to watching a football game this evening,

consider the special from Story Corps on PBS

As an alternative to Black Friday, and cyber Monday there is #givingTuesday.

Consider making a donation either one-time or recurring to the Franklin Food Pantry or your most important charity!

Note: this will be the only post today.
Spend time with your family and friends.
Share a story or two.
Listen to a story or two.


Thank you!
Steve Sherlock

Turkey Trot Reminders

Race reminders for the Franklin Turkey Trot

Feed the Need - Turkey Trot 5K

Registration

• Wednesday Night from 7-9 pm 

Avoid the lines on Thanksgiving morning and either register for the race OR finalize your registration and pick up your bib, free shirt, etc. at the LDS Church, 91 Jordan Rd, Franklin

• Thanksgiving Morning from 7-8 am

Free T-shirts

150 shirts on a first come first serve basis. If you really want a shirt, you should come to the Wed. night registration.

Free Sunglasses

The Ironman sunglasses from last year have been kindly donated again.

Free Raffle Items

We will be having a free raffle at the end of the race following the awards ceremony. Some raffle items include Boston Harbor Dinner Cruise for two, iTunes gift cards, etc.

Race Start

8 am - Thursday morning
at the LDS Church, 91 Jordan Rd, Franklin

Race Map

To view the race map, see the PDF here




or view it online at www.feedtheneed.org

Dress Warm

It looks like it will be a cold morning!