"A willingness to accept change"

Franklin has some of the ingredients that helped Hudson: 

• The SNETT rail trail is located just outside of downtown
• Local zoning was changed in 2017 to allow distiller, winery or brewery tasting rooms
• The downtown renovation project was just completed in 2016
• Local businesses and town officials are talking about what needs to be done

What remains to be done now?

"Downtown Hudson was quiet when Michael Kasseris stepped out into the late night air in 2012. 

Behind him was a Main Street space that had once housed a printing shop, a bagel shop and a gifting shop. 

His uncle owned the building. Kasseris and his two business partners had just opened Rail Trail Flatbread Co. -- a trendy new restaurant featuring wood-fired pizza and craft beer. 

He looked around. The downtown stores, tucked inside historic brick buildings, were empty. The parking spaces were empty. There was no foot traffic."

Continue reading the MassLive article about Hudson
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/08/hudson_how_this_small_massachu.html

"It was the historic buildings and their curb appeal, the rail trail, the economy in an upswing,
the streetscaping and a dozen little things that became big things."

Hat tip to Melanie for sharing the article!

"so many people don’t understand the way government works"

As Franklin gets to prepare for the town election this November, Franklin Matters will be sharing some of the basic information to help you cast informed votes. Interviews with the candidates are being scheduled. The results of those will be published here. Information on each of the committee and boards will be shared: what is their scope of operation? what do they do?

And coincidentally, in this article from the Milford Daily News (MDN), there is a movement afoot to have more education on civics. How does our government work? What does the Federal government do that the State doesn't? How does the State affect directly or indirectly Franklin?

"Recent studies show many Americans would struggle to pass a U.S. citizenship test, an exam that many states are adopting as a high school graduation requirement. 

Civics in the classroom 

High school students in 23 states need to pass a civics test before graduating, and there’s a proposal to bring the same requirement to Massachusetts. 

The Civics Education Initiative, a project of the Arizona-based nonprofit Joe Foss Institute, calls for high schools to require that students pass a test on 100 basic facts of U.S. history and civics taken directly from the United States Citizenship Civics Test, the exam that immigrants must pass when applying for American citizenship."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170818/could-you-pass-us-citizenship-test

There is also a sample US Citizenship test linked to in the MDN article 

The Downtown Improvement Project was the result of Federal fund administered by the State
and designed in collaboration with Franklin government and community participation

Franklin Almanac Episode 9 (YouTube)

Franklin Almanac Episode 9 with Host Polikseni Manxhari was published on Jul 24, 2017. It is available for replay on YouTube after being broadcast on the local Verizon and Comcast cable channels.

• Introduction- 0:00-0:35
• Franklin Legion 5k- 0:36-3:51
• Housing Threshold- 3:52-11:25
• Algonquin Pipeline- 11:26-18:54
• Franklin Farmers Market- 18:56-23:51
• Final thoughts and closing-23:52-25:20

two rows of vendors at the Franklin Farmers Market

Boys and Girls Youth Soccer Clinic - October 15

Presented by the Franklin High School Soccer Program

Instruction Provided by: FHS Soccer Team Members and Coaches

All skill levels welcome

Grades 1-6 boys 9-10:30 am Grades 1-6 girls 11-12:30 PM- Cost $25

The clinic will run rain or shine

Location: Franklin High School New Turf Field.

Content: The clinic will focus on skills and techniques for any level player.

Equipment: sneaker or cleats, shin guards and a soccer ball. 

Payment: Send the form with a check payable to Franklin Soccer Boosters by October 8, 2017: Kathleen O’Neil at 560 Coronation Dr., Franklin MA 02038. Email: franklinsoccerboosters@gmail.com

Boys and Girls Youth Soccer Clinic - October 15

Train Excursion through the Blackstone Valley

Tickets available now! Don't miss this fun fall train trip!

For tickets, call 401-495-1213 or Visit our website Join us for a scenic trip through the Blackstone Valley, and a day filled with fun autumn activities! Enjoy a relaxing train ride, Putnam's Annual Pumpkin Festival, many antique and gift shops, a farmers' market, local restaurants, and more! Last year's trip sold out! Get your tickets today!

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council | 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860 Sent by info@tourblackstone.com in collaboration with Try it free today

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 8/18/17 - THU 8/24/17

FRIDAY 8/18/17
9:30am   Family Yoga @ Franklin Public Library
12-6pm   Franklin Farmers Market @ Town Common
3:30pm   Lemonade and Giant Legos @ Franklin Public Library

SATURDAY 8/19/17
9am-5pm   Random Smile Project: 5th Annual Wiffle Ball Tournament  @ Fletcher Field
9-10am   Rep Roy Office Hours @ Galante Restaurant in Medway
10-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
6pm   Vet Ruck Walk coming through Franklin @ Franklin Town Common

SUNDAY 8/20/17
1-4pm   Farm Bureau Harvest Festival @ Pour Richard’s
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open

MONDAY 8/21/17
7pm   Learn to Cope Franklin Chapter Meeting @ FUSF

WEDNESDAY 8/23/17
6-9pm   Local Author Kim Rezendes @ La Cantina Winery
6:30-8pm   Concerts on the Common: The Leeds/Elaine Kessler - Children's Program (rescheduled from 7/12) @ Franklin Town Common

THURSDAY 8/24/17
1-6pm   American Red Cross Blood Drive @ Elks Lodge
5-8pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7-8pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA

For the Town of Franklin Public Calendar click HERE.

For all other events and Franklin happenings click HERE.

*To submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this FORM

"it’s no surprise to see exceptional results like these”

FHS Class of 2015 graduate Kyle Pandiscio is making waves!

"In a field of 1150 teams, Isenberg undergraduate Kyle Pandiscio ’19 (Marketing) and Julia Keefe ’17 (BDIC) won first-place honors in the billboard display category in Project Yellow Light, a national advertising competition that promotes safe driving practices. The competition’s high-profile sponsors include AdCouncil, Clear Channel, I Heart Radio, Mazda, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U-Haul, and the National Organizations for Youth Safety. Unveiled on a Times Square billboard on June 7, the winning design by the UMass Amherst duo currently graces more than 1,000 Clear Channel digital billboards across the nation. 

Kyle and Julia’s concept, captured in the photo, marshals “auto-correct”-inspired messaging to convey a dire consequence of driving while texting. With no-nonsense clarity, the billboard’s message reminds drivers to self-correct (i.e., eliminate) the potentially fatal habit of texting while driving—auto-correction for auto drivers, if you will."

Continue reading about Kyle
https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/news/student-team-wins-national-advertising-competition

Student Team Wins National Advertising Competition (UMass immge)

Thanks to the helpful reader for tipping this our way!