Annual Christmas on the Common - Sunday, Nov 28 - 4:00 PM

The Committee For Concerts on the Common

PRESENTS

The Annual Christmas on the Common

Sunday, November 28, 2017 - 4:00 PM
on the Franklin Town Common


Lighting up the town common holiday lights and displays!
Refreshments and goodies!
Visit with Santa and "Jingles the Elf"


In case of inclement weather, holiday festivities will
take place across the street in the Ben Franklin Charter School


***HELP OS DECORATE THE TOWN COMMON

Please Send Donations To:

"Concerts on the Common"
P.O. Box 92
Franklin, MA 02038

Or contact 528-2206 for more information

Annual Christmas on the Common - Sunday, Nov 28 - 4:00 PM

Meet Santa at this very special Autism Eats-Dell True Ability holiday lunch event - Dec 3

Calling all Local Autism friends

Meet Santa at this very special Autism Eats-Dell True Ability holiday lunch event!

Meet Santa at this very special Autism Eats-
Dell True Ability holiday lunch event - Dec 3

Join us at Restaurant 45 in Medway on December 3 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Meet, eat and take pictures with Santa in our private room. Treats for the kids!

Autism Eats now in its fourth year was started to give autism families an opportunity to enjoy restaurant meals without the stress that often accompanies these outings. Since everyone in our private room "gets it" there is no need to explain any behaviors or feel like all eyes are on us.

MyFM's Stuff-a-Bus - Dec 2-3

On Saturday, December 2nd at 6 AM right through Sunday, December 3rd at 12 PM, MyFM Media will be setting up camp outside of Target on Fortune Boulevard in Milford for their first annual Stuff-a-Bus event collecting toys for Toys For Tots. 

"Folks are invited to visit us on location, right outside of Target with an unwrapped toy donation for Toys For Tots", explains MyFM's "Mr. Everything" Ray Auger. "The idea is to fill a Vendetti Bus in that 30-hour period. It's a aggressive goal but I know the kind of people we are working with in this community and I know it can be done."

The idea came to Auger from past Stuff-a-Bus events he was involved with working on radio station on Cape Cod and Portsmouth, NH. Target was quick to agree to help with the location and Vendetti Bus, a good friend of MyFM, was happy to lend them the bus. In case of exceeding their goal, the MyFM and Asphalt Engineering Station Wagon will also be on hand for additional storage of toys.

"We are very excited to add this event to our myriad of community outreach programs at MyFM Media," says MyFM Media President Tom McAuliffe. "Our local community supports us in so many wonderful ways, so giving back like this is never a question."

Can't make it to the event or want to give a little more? "We are offering a fun incentive for anyone who would like to donate $200 to the Stuff-a-Bus efforts", Auger adds. "We will broadcast a Facebook Live Shopping Spree in your honor to thank you for your generous donation. Anyone interested should contact me at your convenience."

If you would like more information about MyFM's Stuff-a-Bus, please contact Ray Auger at 617-851-7542 or www.myfm1013.com.

MyFM's Stuff-a-Bus - Dec 2-3

Artists, educators, performers & venues wanted for ArtWeek Franklin 2018

We want YOU for ArtWeek Franklin! The Franklin Cultural Council is bringing ArtWeek, a statewide arts festival, to Franklin April 27 - May 6, 2018...and we want YOU involved! ArtWeek is a 10-day festival featuring unique and unexpected arts and cultural experiences that are participatory, interactive, or offer behind-the-scenes access to artists or the creative process. Anyone can host an ArtWeek event…organizations, businesses, schools and individual artists. And while the VENUE has to be in Franklin to be part of ArtWeek Franklin, the HOST or participating organization does not! Successful events are often partnerships between artists and venues, such as a theater or dance performance in a restaurant, or an art workshop in a retail space.   What makes an event an ArtWeek event? ArtWeek events should be unique, memorable and inspired experiences that offer a taste of the arts, culture, and/or creativity unlike others that you can traditionally experience throughout the rest of the year. Plenty of events are outside-the-box, but you can also easily transform an existing event or performance that would normally be available to the general public by adding a simple "ArtWeek twist" like: Inviting the public to what is typically a closed rehearsal or offering a free pre- or post-show talk or discussion  Hosting a hands-on workshop or demonstration (and it's extra cool to host them in an unexpected place) Adding a twist to open studios by including a 30-minute mini-workshop or how-to session with an artist Creating a partnership event between artists and businesses Offering a tour, hosting a lecture or creating a panel to discuss a relevant topic in arts, culture or creativity If you're a restaurant, consider participating in the Art of Food. Learn More Why participate? ArtWeek brings tourists to town, customers to your business, and  attendees to your events. It can drive revenue, raise awareness, create a sense of community, promote good will, and get more people interested in your goods, services, programs, and more. Plus, ArtWeek will promote you for free! Need inspiration? The great people at ArtWeek have created handy inspiration sheets for every type of business, organization and venue. Follow the link below to start generating ideas for how YOU can create a unique ArtWeek event. ArtWeek Inspiration Sheets So let's talk money... ArtWeek events must be open to the public (though you can limit the number of attendees through ticket sales or other means), but they don't have to be free. All events must be under $50, and you keep all revenue. Want to host a free event? Well, that's certainly encouraged too! In fact, the Franklin Cultural Council believes so strongly in ArtWeek that we are providing special grants just to those programs offered free of charge! To apply, click here: FCC ArtWeek grants Let's talk promo... The beauty of ArtWeek is that it's a partnership! ArtWeek helps coordinate and promote the events through their unique, searchable database (they'll create a web page for your event free of charge!), as well as ads, press releases, and on social media. State and regional partners such as the Mass Office of Travel and Tourism, the Mass Cultural Council, and the MetroWest Visitors Bureau will promote ArtWeek through their channels. The Franklin Cultural Council, the Town of Franklin, and our local partners will also help raise awareness through all of our efforts. That's a whole lot of extra visibility to amplify your own efforts! Location, location, location... Have an idea, but don't know where to host the event? Have a venue, but looking for a program? We can help! We are putting together a list of events and venues to help match up partners. If you're interested, simply fill out this Google form: ArtWeek Partnership Form So where do you sign?? Ready to participate? If so, follow the link below to apply directly to ArtWeek for your event to be part of the fun! It's a short form and easy to fill out – we promise! The early bird deadline is Jan. 8; final deadline is Feb. 28. And if you don't mind, drop us a line at the Franklin Cultural Council at franklinculturalcouncil02038@gmail.com so that we know you want to be involved. We can't wait! Still have questions? Visit ArtWeek's FAQ's for more info. Apply Now Copyright © 2018 Franklin Cultural Council, All rights reserved.

Children's Hospital Blood mobile - today from 1 to 6 PM

Did you know that each pint of blood donated saves as many as 3 lives? This Thanksgiving season show your thanks by giving the gift of life through blood donation. 

Sophia Sabini-Leite, a senior at Franklin High School, is carrying on the work of her sisters and sponoring regular blood drives in the Franklin community for Boston Children's Hospital.

This Wednesday, November 22, the Children's Hospital Blood mobile will be stationed at the Hockomock YMCA in Franklin from 1 PM to 6 PM. 

Sign up online at: halfpints.childrenshospital.org for an appointment, 
or contact Sophia at (857) 236-1910, 
or sophiaeleanor@hotmail.com for more information and to sign up.

Hope to see you on Wednesday, November 22nd, at the Boston Children's Blood Mobile!

Children's Hospital Blood mobile - today from 1 to 6 PM

Franklin Food Pantry: A Season of Thanks

November 2017   A Season of Thanks    Dear Community, Every Thanksgiving my mother says the same thing, "Please invite anyone to join us for dinner, we don't want anyone to be alone today!"   I try to carry her wise words with me always. In so many ways this is what the  Franklin Food Pantry is all about. Making sure that everyone has a place at the table. Throughout the year each one of you has helped us share food and comfort with those who need it, and we are truly grateful. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving from all of us! THANK YOU for your support,   -Erin   Donate to Food Pantry      Additional leadership gift and corporate sponsor opportunities available, for details please email Erin Lynch erin@franklinfoodpantry.org Franklin Food Pantry       www.franklinfoodpantry.org  Our facility is generously donated by Rockland Trust. We are located at 43 West Central Street, Franklin MA, on Route 140 in the Rockland Trust parking lot,  across the street from the fire station.

Franklin Food Pantry, 43 West Central Street, PO Box 116, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by erin@franklinfoodpantry.org in collaboration with Try it free today

In the News: Bellingham to set split tax rates

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"This year’s tax rate is expected to hew closely to last year’s, town officials announced this week. 

Selectmen held a tax classification hearing on Monday, with the board opting to retain its current split between residential and commercial tax rates. The hearing was continued to Nov. 29, as issues related to power-plant payments in lieu of taxes must be settled. 

Town Chief Financial Officer Chris Laviolette said the proposed tax rate for a residential property would be $14.34 per thousand dollars of assessed value - the same amount as last year’s actual tax rate. He noted, though, that the number could be affected by a number of things, including abatements and exemptions for taxpayers who meet certain criteria (those who are veterans, blind or elderly, for example)."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171121/bellingham-retains-tax-shift

At the tax rate hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Nov 29, the Town Council will make a couple of decisions. The two significant decisions would be (1) single rate vs. split tax rate and (2) agreeing with the Board of Assessors math to set the Franklin FY 2018 tax rate.

Franklin has historically had a single tax rate. To move to a split rate would mean that lowering the residential rate by $1 would raise the business/commercial rate by $4. The amount of commercial industrial property in Franklin is not sufficient to justify a split tax rate.

In advance of the actual calculations for this year, you can find the prior year numbers in the archives:

FY 2017
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/12/2-police-officers-sworn-in-tax-rate-set.html

FY 2015
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/the-town-council-reorganizes-sort-of.html

What does the Board of Assessors do?
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/08/election-prep-what-does-board-of.html


MA DLS has a nice Prop 2 1/2 explanation that can be found here
http://www.mass.gov/dor/docs/dls/publ/misc/levylimits.pdf