Small Shop Co-Op Meeting - Mar 11

Are you a small business in Franklin that is interested in sharing marketing ideas with other local businesses to promote increased sales? 

Small Shop Co-op

If so, come join the Small Shop Co-Op's next meeting! Our last meeting yielded a ton of great brainstorming ideas so we're hoping to expand on how to turn some of those ideas into reality in our next meeting. 

One of the most exciting items we discussed was coordinating a scavenger/passport type 30 day event to promote Franklin businesses. We've been in touch with a vendor that can allow us to execute this idea, and a rep will be attending the meeting to give us an overview of the phone app capabilities that we can utilize to run our own town wide, small business scavenger hunt! It's VERY COOL and something I think many people will be excited about! We hope you can join us. 

For questions, feel free to email tracievolunteer@gmail.com.

From Pantherbook: Drama Club success, Melodic Minors

Franklin’s Drama Club won a spot at the Dramafest semifinals for the first time in 10 years for its production of Rebel Without a Cause last Sunday.  

Dramafest is an annual threatre competition hosted by the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild featuring one-act plays from various local high schools. 

- See more at: http://pantherbook.org/uncategorized/2015/03/02/drama-club-reaches-dramafest-semifinals/#sthash.ZVQDOkaO.dpuf

pantherbook.org

Meet the Melodic Minors, FHS’s very own boys a cappella group! 

The group was started this year by senior Nate Wild and sophomore Gabe DeBenedict because they wanted to do a cappella for their outside-of-school chorus honors requirement. Alongside Gabe and Nate are members Zach Tassinari (senior), Andrew Rizoli (junior), Kevin Buckley, Ben Cohn, and Dan Schratz (freshman). 

- See more at: http://pantherbook.org/student-life/2015/03/04/meet-the-melodic-minors/#sthash.hrKq48OP.dpuf

MBTA: Starting Monday: Franklin Line schedule changes - additional trains

Franklin Line Schedule changes, including restored trips, begin Monday, March 9. See mbta.com/winter for full schedule information. Three trips will be restored to the Franklin Line schedule beginning March 9: Departing Forge Park Train 706 (7:36 AM to Boston) Departing Norwood Central Train 734 (8:45 AM to Boston) Departing South Station Train 793 (7:55 AM to Norwood Central) Train 719 (5:10 PM to Forge Park/495) Hyde Park stop added Train 723 (6:15 PM to Forge Park/495) Hyde Park stop added Last updated: Mar 05 2015 10:11 PM Click here for more information: http://www.mbta.com/winter/severe_weather/ Sent by the MBTA.

Franklin/Dean Station from the Main St bridge

Senator Spilka: Snow Storm Recovery Loans for Local Businesses

This year's historic winter storms have posed significant challenges for individuals, families and communities across the Commonwealth. Many of us have struggled to cope with transportation delays, home maintenance concerns, snow day boredom and general winter fatigue. Our local businesses have been particularly impacted by these blizzards. A Retailers Association of Massachusetts survey of local businesses shows a severe drop in sales due to the recent weather, especially among retail and restaurant employers. Businesses were also forced to absorb higher operating costs related to snow removal, roof clearing and heating. I am pleased to report that the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) has announced a Snow Storm Loan Fund for small businesses impacted by winter weather. Local businesses, shops and restaurants are the backbone of the economy in MetroWest communities. These loans, which could range from $5,000 to $10,000, are intended to help small businesses as they continue to recover from lost storm revenue. In 2010, I was proud to help establish the MGCC, which offers financial resources and technical assistance to small businesses across the Commonwealth. The Snow Storm Loan Fund is another effort to support local businesses and promote economic development. I applaud the MGCC for taking the initiative on this important issue, and I encourage all eligible businesses to take advantage of this resource. For more information about the application and terms and conditions of the loan, please visit www.massgcc.com. As always, if you would like additional information or have any concerns or comments, please call my office at (617) 722-1640 or email me at Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov. Warm Regards, Senator Karen E. Spilka 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk http://www.karenspilka.com Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka Room 212, State House Boston, Massachusetts  02133 Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077 http://www.karenspilka.com/

: Senator Karen Spilka | Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov | Office of Karen Spilka | Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka, Room 511-C, State House | Boston, MA 02133

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The latest from Mass Poetry

View this email in your browser Starting next week, watch for Poetry on the T! These three poems, by 2015 Mass Poetry Festival headliner Edward Hirsch, 2015 Common Threads poet Rhina P. Espaillat, and U35 poet Hannah Larrabee, will be up on the red line beginning Tuesday, March 9! Plan your visit to the Mass Poetry Festival In case you missed it this week, the schedule for the 7th Massachusetts Poetry Festival is now live! Join us May 1-3 in Salem with headliners Rita Dove • Richard Blanco • Stephen Burt • Denise Duhamel • Nick Flynn • Regie Gibson • Jorie Graham • Edward Hirsch • Richard Hoffman • Adrian Matejka • Marge Piercy • Rachel Wiley • and with the hundreds of fabulous poets participating in sessions. Buy your button today! Check out Tuesday's release email for information on creating your custom schedule, joining the attendee directory, participating in the Small Press Fair, listing an off-site event, volunteering, and more.  Common Threads at Grub Street with Ben Berman • April 2, 6-9 p.m. Join Mass Poetry and Grub Street Writers for a Common Threads discussion and writing workshop. We will both discuss the wonderful selections in this year's Common Threads Poems and use these poems as inspiration to write our own original pieces. There will be an opportunity to write and receive feedback during the workshop, and everyone will leave with a richer appreciation of the Common Threads Poems and a new draft of an original poem. This session is free and is limited to fifteen attendees. To reserve your spot, click here and sign up to add the event to your Common Threads calendar. Common Threads events have been taking place all over the state! Don't forget to be checking out our Common Threads event calendar regularly.  On Festival Poet Denise Duhamel by Dawn Paul Poetry is Duhamel's affirmative answer to all that life throws at her, from the dissolution of love to the certain knowledge that our time here is limited. Though she will welcome you with the familiar or even the frivolous, she will drop you off at the big questions of transcendence and mystery. Read more. Poem of the Moment Linda McCarriston: Mr. No Class, USA Thinking of how he will live             just shy of retirement                         if all goes well if all goes the way the ads             on t.v. suggest it must                         urge him to think it will, gardening with the little lady             say, golfing maybe, just                         tossing the ball with the dog in Continue reading. Why I Love Poetry by julie ann otis "The dusty manacles of what we think poetry and theatre are still weigh on us. But though the outdated or overwrought may give our art a bad name, they also provide the springboard for our minds to be blown by the true, clear voice of those gifted few who pierce thru and captivate us." Continue reading. Coming up March 24 7 p.m., The Marliave, Boston Featuring: David DiSarro Richard Shideler Denise Warren RSVP & share the Facebook event, and visit our website for more info! Coming up on our statewide calendar: Tonight (Thursday, March 5) • The Ones We Carry: A Literary Evening with Lesléa Newman Friday, March 6 • Fundraiser: An Evening with Harbor Mountain Press & Alice B. Fogel, Diana Whitney, Peter Money, and Partridge Boswell  Sunday, March 8 • Calliope Poetry Series featuring Danielle Legros Georges, John Holgerson & Sandra Storey To submit an event, click here. To submit a Common Threads event, click here. Statewide Poetry Calendar • Participate • New Books by Massachusetts Poets • Massachusetts Poet Database • Poetry Partners • Sponsorship Opportunities Share Tweet Forward Facebook Twitter MassPoetry.org Copyright © 2015 Mass Poetry, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up on our website. Our mailing address is: Mass Poetry 15 Channel Center Street, Suite 103 Boston, MA 02210

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 3/6/15 - 3/12/15

FRI 3/6   3:30pm   Science Friday: Meteorology at Franklin Public Library
FRI 3/6   6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked at Franklin Art Center
FRI 3/6   7pm   Culinary Cabaret at The Black Box
FRI 3/6   8-9:50pm   Frozen Friday DJ Public Skate at Pirelli Arena

SAT 3/7   10:30am   Family Storytime at Franklin Public Library
SAT 3/7   1pm   Toy Story Movie at Franklin Public Library

SUN 3/8   10am-12pm   Religious Education Open House at FUSF
SUN 3/8   1pm   FSPA presents “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” at The Black Box
SUN 3/8   5 pm   FSPA presents “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” at The Black Box

TUE 3/10   7:30pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Meeting at the Franklin YMCA - new members and public welcome!

WED 3/11   12-2pm   Adult Painting at Franklin Art Center
WED 3/11   6:30pm   Getting Paid to Talk Seminar - register at Franklin Adult Education
WED 3/11   7pm   Small Business Co-Op Meeting at The Cake Bar - public welcome!
WED 3/11   7pm   Speakers Forum: Franklin Fire Department at Franklin Public Library

For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.

For event details click HERE.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

"small businesses have suffered devastating sales losses due to the unprecedented winter weather"

In case anyone needed some statistics to prove the point, the survey says:

After a strong holiday sales season and amid growing consumer confidence, Massachusetts small businesses experienced an average drop in sales of 24 percent during the recent wave of snowstorms, according to new survey. 

Sales losses for retail and restaurant employers were higher, at 49 percent, as customers hunkered down at home and stayed off dangerous roads and away from a public transit system marred by service woes. 

The survey, released Thursday by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and other groups, looked at sales between Jan. 26 and Feb. 22. More than 1,600 small businesses responded to the survey, most of them companies with less than $5 million in annual sales. Many larger employers and employers not hurt by the weather did not respond, officials said.

Continue reading: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150305/NEWS/150307779/1994/NEWS#sthash.3ewq8cuB.dpuf

#shopFranklin

We can do something to help. We can #shopFranklin!!!