A gift that gives all winter long #GivingTuesday

There are a number of very worthy causes based in Franklin to contribute to for #GivingTuesday.

In addition to HMEA, the Santa Foundation, the Franklin Food Pantry, and the Neighbor Brigade are just a few of the non-profits that come to mind. If you can contribute on #GivingTuesday, please consider helping one or more of them!

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Join the movement & give back Give the gift of expressive arts this winter by supporting #artforhmea this #GivingTuesday ~ December 1st, 2015 HMEA has joined forces with #GivingTuesday to capture the generous giving spirit during the holiday season. #GivingTuesday, which takes place the first Tuesday of December, is an international movement that inspires people to take collaborative action to improve their communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support. And, this year, HMEA is asking you to help raise money to fund its art therapy programs throughout the cold winter months ahead.  Arts and Crafts are a significant part of the activities we do in our Day Programs here at HMEA. Beyond the obvious enjoyment, art therapy helps facilitate personal expression, improves social skills (building "social confidence"), enhances self-esteem, and fosters cognitive development.  We are asking for your help to fund  #artforhmea  for people to enjoy the benefits of art therapy all winter long - donate $10, $25, $50, or more today  to support HMEA's art therapy program this holiday season.  Just $25 would give one person the enjoyment of doing arts and crafts until Spring. This holiday season, whether you chose to Give Joy, Give Hope, Give Love, Give Time, Give Food, Give Thanks, or give to #artforhmea, we ask that you simply GIVE this holiday season. Thanks, Heather Cutler Day Program Supervisor Millbury Center [DONATE NOW] *WMRC First Class Radio has partnered with HMEA as media sponsor for this initiative and has offered to match funds raised for #artforhmea with an in-kind advertising donation of up to $2,000 to be used for future events benefiting individuals supported by HMEA. HMEA, INC. | 8 FORGE PARK, FRANKLIN MA 02038 | 508-298-1100

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Franklin Businesses Participate in '12 Days of Donating'

Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Franklin Downtown Partnership. Don't forget to add downtown.franklin@yahoo.com to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!

Franklin Downtown Partnership  9 E. Central Street, Franklin, MA  02038 (774) 571-3109   downtown.franklin@yahoo.com Press Release:  10 Businesses Participate in '12 Days of Donating' Campaign The Franklin Food Elves kick off the "12 Days of Donating" campaign on Tuesday, December 1, to benefit the Food Pantry, and Franklin Downtown Partnership member businesses are doing their part to help collect goods and monetary donations.   The Food Elves is a charitable community service group made up of more than 90 students from Franklin schools. This year 10 local businesses are participating in the 12 Days drive. Each business has a red collection bin on site and will donate $200 if the Food Elves meet their goal of collecting more than 1,200 pounds of goods. Bins can be found at these participating locations: Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St. DCU, 500 West Central St. Dean Bank, 21 Main St. Dean College, Campus Center Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St. Jane's Frames, 11 East Central St. Keefe Insurance Agency, 51 West Central St. Murphy Business, 15 East Central St. Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits, 14 Grove St. The Adirondack Club, 800 Chestnut St. For more information about the Franklin Food Elves and the "12 Days of Donating" campaign, please contact the Food Elves at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com or visit their Facebook page. Franklin Downtown Partnership | downtown.franklin@yahoo.com | 774-571-3109 | franklindowntownpartnership.org Connect with us:

Forward this email Franklin Downtown Partnership | 9 E. Central St. | Franklin | MA | 02038

In the News: ground breaking, Holiday Stroll, Christmas Fair - Sat Dec 5th

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

State and local officials gathered on a Plain Street property Monday morning to break ground on a project intended to provide housing for those with intellectual disabilities. 

Those who spoke in the brief ceremony said the eight-unit facility - intended to accommodate clients of the state's Department of Developmental Services - would be providing a vital service. 

Lisa Audette, the town's Housing Authority agent, spoke of the project's origins. She said the initial effort started in 2004, after the authority learned about the need for such housing. 

"We met people who were born and raised in Franklin," she said. "As adults, they had no opportunity to live the community."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151130/NEWS/151139696/1994/NEWS

Local businesses and organizations will celebrate the season this Thursday during the Franklin Downtown Partnership's Holiday Stroll. 

The stroll - the seventh such event put on by the partnership - will run from 4 to 8 p.m. in Franklin's downtown. 

The evening, said partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana, will begin with a tree-lighting ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Dean College Common.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151130/NEWS/151139648/1994/NEWS

St. John's Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant St., Franklin will hold its Christmas fair on Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 

The event will feature a cookie walk, raffles, a bake table, hand-crafted items made by ladies from St. John's, fudge and candy, gift baskets, children's activities and free photos with Santa and his elves from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151130/NEWS/151139784/1994/NEWS

Walking in the rain on Saturday (photo essay)

The light rain did not stop me from walking around Franklin on Saturday

new traffic calming island on Oak St

sidewalk at the Oak St/Horace Mann schools

new batting cage among the new athletic fields ar FHS

maybe a new piece has been added to the Sculpture Park. possibly titled "2 mismatched gloves by the rock"

fish swimming along

looks like preparation for a new sign for the Mosley Mills

big old tree now cut down by the Agway on Cottage St showing its rings

Looking back to February 2015

The proposed memorial commemorating Kristen Graci was back before the School Committee and after much discussion around the matter the policy was changed to allow for the panther memorial.

You can find the summary here:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/what-was-left-out-was-community.html

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There was a whole lot more snow. School missed days, the commuter rail and the rest of the MBTA suffered with schedule and equipment issues.

Dean College sign being buried in the snow

More snow photos can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/franklin-in-snow.html

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PARCC Update to the School Committee
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/parcc-update-to-school-committee-feb-24.html

(Updated: The MA Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has recently chosen to go with MCAS 2.0 which is reported to be a combination of MCAS with PARCC rather than go with PARCC alone.)

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The Economic Development Committee met to discuss the Pond St property
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/economic-development-committee-meeting.html


The Town Council held two meetings

• Town Council - 02/11/15
• Town Council - 02/04/15

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You can cruise through all the February archives here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015_02_01_archive.html

In the News: Holiday Stroll, family tradition for Nutcracker, intersession studies at Dean, double poles in MetroWest

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Downtown Franklin’s favorite holiday party, the annual Holiday Stroll, happens Thursday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 8 p.m., and organizers promise fun and festivities for the whole family with visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus, Post Mark the North Pole postman, refreshments, entertainment, crafts and gift shopping. 

Carolers and hot chocolate will set a holiday mood at the annual tree lighting ceremony on Dean College’s Dean Hall Common at 4 p.m. From there event goers will stroll through downtown Franklin to sample treats, enjoy entertainment and score shopping specials offered by more than 30 local businesses.

carollers on the Dean campus at the 2014 Holiday Stroll

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151128/NEWS/151129831/1994/NEWS

When the curtain rises on Franklin Performing Arts Company’s “The Nutcracker” this holiday season, Franklin’s Steve Crowley and Hannah Rezendes will share the stage as Grandfather and Clara Silberhaus. It’s a relationship the two know well. 

“I really like that he’s my grandfather in the show and in real life,” said Hannah, 13.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151128/NEWS/151127078/1994/NEWS

The School of Continuing Studies at Dean College will offer winter intercession courses beginning Dec. 28. 

Courses are open to all ages and experience levels and will be taught in areas such as business, English, history, sociology and psychology. 

The Dean Leadership Institute and the School of Continuing Studies have partnered with industry leaders to offer two one-week course options, including “Negotiating Skills for a Complex World” and “Building Value Through Sales and Branding.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151129/NEWS/151126589/1994/NEWS

In his travels around Framingham, Town Meeting member Joel Winett often notices two utility poles placed to serve the same purpose. 

He takes pictures of these so-called double poles and submits the photos to officials, hoping to get wires moved and the old poles removed. But, the double poles often remain. 

“When there’s damage (to a pole), they’re pretty good at putting in a new telephone pole and fastening the old telephone pole to a new telephone pole,” Winett said of utility companies’ responses. 

But, local officials say it is often a challenge to get all the companies to move their wires, a process that delays road work and leaves unsightly and unsafe double poles.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151128/NEWS/151126314/1994/NEWS