Franklin's Cultural District Notes
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Welcome from The Chair...Nancy Schoen
On behalf of the Franklin Cultural District Committee I would like to welcome you to the inaugural edition of our FCD Newsletter. The COVID-19 outbreak has affected our lives in ways that we could not have imagined. During this time the FCDC has been amazed by the many creative events and performances the Cultural District Partners have offered for the community. While quarantining, the arts have provided comfort, inspiration, and opportunities for self-expression. As we are adjusting to the “new normal” the FCDC would like to help strengthen the cultural connections within the Franklin community. In order to keep all informed of what is happening in the Franklin Cultural District we will be publishing a newsletter each month with the exception of July and December.
In each issue we would like to share with all what events are happening in the district as well as anything new that will be happening during the next month. In each edition we will also highlight one of the Cultural District Partners.
We hope that by sharing the Cultural District news and information about the District Partners, the community will become more aware of all the wonderful cultural opportunities we have right here in Franklin.
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What's Happening in the District ...
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Franklin Cultural District Partners have been active in new and different ways throughout the Pandemic. They used social media to connect and promote activities involving culture and the arts. As summer approaches they are able to share some of their plans with us.
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The Franklin Farmers’ Market opened on Friday afternoon, June 5. The market is going to be very different this year, as it has historically been a great gathering space on the Town Common. This year, the message will be to come in, buy local, support your farmers, and continue on with your day. All rules are in accordance with the order released by the Mass Department of Public Health at the end of April.
Some of these rules include:
- face coverings for all customers at all times in the market space,
- cordoning off the market area so there is a set entrance and exit,
- limiting the number of customers in the market area at one time, and
- designating a 6ft spacing for waiting in line at all vendors.
Payment by credit card is the encouraged payment method this year. Not all of the vendors are set up to take credit cards so, when needed, cash or small bills will be accepted. There will be hand sanitizer at the entrance for all customers to utilize,
Customers are not allowed to touch any of the products until they have made their purchase. Finally, vendors cannot handle reusable bags.
We appreciate your help. Thank you.
Cynthia Garboski, Franklin Farmer's Market Manager
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The Franklin Food Pantry is in the midst of their annual appeal and is grateful for all the support it has received from the community. If you'd like to make a donation please visit our
donation page
.
The Pantry is currently open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 12:30 and 1:30 to 4:00 to best serve our neighbors through a drive-up service. Neighbors receive a choice of proteins, a pre-packed bag of shelf-stable items, and fresh produce.
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Lifelong Learning: Lifelong Music Academy
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Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Learning Institute's Music Academy will be offering virtual instruction this summer. Their schedule and instruments are included below. There are lessons for children and adults.
Register online: FranklinLifelongLearning.com
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S
ummer Music Lessons
are offered to students in grades 2-12 plus adults ~
Dates: July 7 to August 12 ~
Days & Times: Tuesdays between 1:30-6:00 PM or Wednesdays between 3:30-8:00 PM depending on the instrument.
Lesson length: Students may choose either 30-minute lessons ($35) or 60-minute lessons ($65) for a minimum of 4 weeks.
Schedule by Instrument:
(Since lessons will be virtual, there may be some flexibility with day and time)
Cello:
Tuesdays, 1:30-6:00 PM; Wednesdays, 3:30-8:00 PM
Clarinet/Sax:
Wednesdays, 3:30-8:00 PM
Flute:
Schedule to be determined directly between Ms. Halt and students.
French Horn:
Wednesdays, 3:30-8:00 PM
Low Brass:
Wednesdays, 3:30-8:00 PM
Trumpet:
Tuesdays, 1:30-6:00 PM
Violin/Viola:
Tuesdays, 1:30-6:00 PM; Wednesdays, 3:30-8:00 PM
Voice:
· Ms. Noddin, Tuesdays, 4:00-6:00 PM; Wednesdays, 5:00-8:00 PM
· Ms. Riess, Tuesdays, 1:30-6:00 PM; Wednesdays, 3:30-8:00 PM
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The next installation of engraved bricks on the Veterans Memorial Walkway on the Town Common is scheduled for June. Brick sales are ongoing and will continue until all bricks on the Walkway have been engraved. Brick order forms can be found on the Veterans Services page on the Town web site, or by calling (508) 613-1315.
Thank you for your support of this project!
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Franklin Performing Arts Center
THE BLACK BOX
Franklin School for the Performing Arts
Intermission Cafe
Many in Franklin have followed the Live Facebook Performances hosted by FPAC/TBB and Intermission Cafe throughout the weeks of the Pandemic. The performers, showcased on our computers, smart phones, and tablets, provided a virtual break from the quarantine atmosphere of home. While hosting performances in the evening, they have been preparing for the summer. Here's an update.
Intermission Café
Intermission Café is open in accordance with the Mass.gov/Reopening Massachusetts guidelines for restaurants. Intermission will offer outdoor seating. The café has been prepared for social distancing to enter, order, and pick up, with one-way foot traffic exiting to the deck. Phone ahead ordering and payment are encouraged at 508-213-0239. June reopening hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
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Franklin Performing Arts Company
LET’S GO ON WITH THE SHOW: A Virtual Benefit for the Franklin Performing Arts Company is being planned and will be available on YouTube! Entertainment includes performances by FPAC favorites and a roster of Broadway stars. Tax-deductible donations are requested to support THE BLACK BOX reopening. Watch our Facebook page for more information.
FPAC has provided “Great Performances….From Home” nearly every night since THE BLACK BOX closed in March. FPAC is awaiting direction and guidelines for Phase III performance venue re-openings. When it is possible, the first production the company will present is
Legally Blonde – The Musical
which was ready and slated to open in March.
THE BLACK BOX
THE BLACK BOX is preparing for reopening under the Phase 3 guidelines of Mass.gov/Reopening Massachusetts. The venue is planning an outdoor series “Concerts in the Parking Lot” for the month of July. Details will be released as definitive information becomes available.
The Franklin Performing Arts Company is hopeful that THE BLACK BOX can reopen and recover after the closure. To make that happen, the support of the community at-large will be required through donations, Circle memberships, sponsorships, advertising, and patronage.
Franklin School for the Performing Arts
VirtualFSPA has provided classes in all departments. FSPA’s 35
th
Anniversary Spring Concert and Music Department Recitals are being presented virtually as well.
FSPA is preparing for “Summer 2020 With a Virtual Option.” Plans are to reopen at 38 Main Street on June 23 following the guidelines of Mass.gov/Reopening Massachusetts, applied specifically to the activities of the school’s programs. The school’s reopening plan includes social distancing and masks, limited class sizes, stable groupings of students, restricted access to the building for non-students and staff with one-way foot traffic, enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols and strict guidance for socially distant student interactions.
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THE FRANKLIN DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP
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Downtown Franklin sprung to life last month with colorful plants added to barrels, planters and window boxes. The Franklin Downtown Partnership (FDP) and the Franklin Garden Club organized the planting of pink, blue and white flowers to beautify the community. Special thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors who make this beautification effort happen every year.
All businesses and residents are welcome to receive the FDP’s newsletter which always contains important and interesting information about businesses and the town of Franklin. To be included on the distribution list, please email
downtown.franklin@yahoo.com
with your name, email address and company name (if applicable).
The FDP is a non-profit 501©3 organization made up of more than 280 residents, business owners and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. The Partnership manages events like the Strawberry Stroll and the Harvest Festival, and initiatives such as beautification, streetscape design, green space, alley murals, and sculpture projects.
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Franklin Cultural Council
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Kaye Kelly, FCC Board, reported that the FCC is currently collecting data from their FCC and ArtWeek grantees to fulfill as many programs as possible within 2020. The FCC continues to reach out and work with its grantees.
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What's New??
Curbside Pick-Up!
Request from
find.minlib.net
“Franklin Owned Items” and wait until you’re contacted. Pick-up at School Street entrance M-Sat 10-1.
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What’s Happening this summer? Check out the opportunities ...
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Get a Library Card
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Try out Kanopy, hoopla, Creativebug, Universal Class and PressReader
on the Featured Databases page.
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Summer Reading
at the Franklin Public Library
○ Visit the Summer Reading Portal and sign-up on the Franklin Public Library Website.
Offering Summer Reading Bags for curbside pickup!
● Weekly
Virtual Storytime
Schedule
○ Monday thru Saturday: Tummy Time to Bookworm Bounce and Dungeons and Dragons to Wake up Wiggles!
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Virtual Events for Families
in June
○ Digital D&D and Cartooning Workshop for Kids. Check out these great family events.
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Virtual Programs for Adults
Negotiating Salary and Benefits and Conquering Clutter. Modern Literary Salon and Making and Flying Miniature Kites
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The Franklin Senior Center offers the Curbside Café, which provides freshly prepared meals, distributed daily at the Senior Center for elders 60 and over. Meals are subsidized through generous donations from the
MetroWest Health Foundation
and the
Franklin Council on
Aging but customers will have the option to pay the full price of the means to help support the program.
(508) 613-1313 or
http://www.franklinma.gov/curb
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If you want to access the Curbside
Café but transportation is an issue,
Dial-A-Ride transportation is available to drive customers to the Center for meal pick-up.
Call 1-800-698-7676 for Dial-A-Ride.
The Center also offers a wide array of activities through Zoom technology including the following:
- Cardio, Strength & Balance Class
- Be Well Coffee Hour
- Health & Wellness Consultations
- TOPS Weight Loss Support Group
- Caregivers Support Group
- Audio Book Club
- Discussion Group
- 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group
- Low Vision Support Group (Conference Calls)
- Quarantini Time
Visit the Franklin Senior Center
website for more information.
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A Conversation with Mary Olsson, Chair, Franklin Historical Commission
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Franklin's Historical Museum is a cultural gem. Located on West Central Street, it houses artifacts and memorabilia that speak to Franklin's history ... its traditions, its culture, and importantly, its people. The building that is home to the Museum was built as the Town Hall in the mid-1800s. Over the years, in addition to serving as the Town Hall, the building has housed a school room, served as a field hospital during the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, and was home to the Senior Center and Food Pantry.
The Museum came to life as the Town prepared for its bicentennial celebration. Franklin officials asked residents to share or donate historic town items. Many of these items plus other documents and materials transitioned into the first holdings of the Museum. Originally located in the South Franklin Congregational Meetinghouse on Washington Street, the current building was dedicated as the Franklin Historical Museum in 2010.
During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic, the Museum and the Historical Commission have been active on Instagram, Facebook, and its website. The Museum is currently closed but is working to facilitate the Franklin Historical Museum COVID-19 Archive Project. Visit the Museum’s Facebook page to learn about this exciting initiative and the opportunity to share your stories and document the Town’s response to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The future work of the Museum includes a highly anticipated and significant donation from Franklin Historian, James Johnston that will contain a full room of furnishings circa 1800. Additionally, the Historical Commission is looking forward to participating in the preparations for Franklin’s 250
th
birthday. The Museum is always busy! We look forward to the safe reopening of the Museum, when it occurs.
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Franklin and the Pandemic of 1918
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Life in Franklin, MA changed dramatically in mid-March 2020, as government leaders took steps to protect residents from the highly contagious Novel Coronavirus. Schools were closed and education was delivered remotely, town government welcomed citizen participation through video conferences, houses of worship, restaurants and non-essential businesses and services closed, and many people began to shelter in their houses and work from home.
Franklin was, and continues to be, in the midst of an unknown experience. Unknown to its current residents but not unknown to the Town of Franklin. Using the online resources of Franklin Public Library, specifically past issues of
The Sentinel
, some of the Town’s early responses to the 1918 Pandemic (H1N1) were revealed. In the September 10, 1918 edition, there is a small story about
a new disease
, a Spanish type influenza, that had affected 350 sailors at Commonwealth Pier. A few days later, the newspaper included an article about the numerous cases in Town and the closing of schools, movie theaters and poolrooms.
By October 1 the Board of Health was notifying residents that they should visit other people “as little as possible.” The October 4 edition noted that schools continued to be closed and the Board of Health was examining the closing of churches, poolrooms, and more. By October 8, the Red Cross chapter had helped to transition the Town Hall to a field hospital. Directed by Miss Belyes, the district nurse, much of the treatment and care of patients with the Influence happened at the town hospital. Churches were closed. However, the October 15 newspaper edition reported that St. Mary’s Church had open-air low Masses on the plaza in front of the rectory.
It should be noted that as Franklin struggled with the Pandemic of 1918, it was also struggling with the challenges to daily life during WWI.
The Sentinel
published stories updating residents on the course of various battles and happenings in Europe, published obituaries of men who lost their lives in battle, and shared the need for the support of Liberty Bonds. Despite being responsible for numerous health cases and deaths, the Influenza Pandemic represented a small fraction of the news of the day in 1918.
Note: Visit the Franklin Historical Museum's Facebook page to participate in their Covid-19 archive program, capturing memories of the Pandemic of 2020:
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Photography Scavenger Hunt ...
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During the last few weeks, The Franklin Cultural District sponsored a Photography Scavenger Hunt for Franklin residents of all ages. The contest provided an opportunity for residents to learn more about the Cultural District while using their artistic talents and skills.
In the Photography Scavenger Hunt Contest there were four different categories. We were pleased to see so many wonderful entries. We appreciate every entry. Within each category a first-place winner was selected. Each winner will receive a $25.00 gift card to a Franklin Cultural District restaurant or business of their choice.
The FCDC is pleased to announce the following winners. Congratulations!!
Tell a Story - Jill Klingenstein
Famous Franklin Buildings - Kerry Fraser
Franklin’s Historical Figures - Melanie Parkman
Door to Door - Harikalal Birali
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Recently a few members of the Franklin Cultural District Committee attended an online workshop presented by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. At this presentation several different art associations from around the state shared their stories of how they are working to support the arts within their communities and beyond. Below you will see some of the highlights from this session. Also included are links to the organizations so that if you would like, you can reach out to them for more information.
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Arts Advocacy
Arts Advocacy has never been more important. We encourage all to share your stories.
Email your Members of Congress:
http://www.mass-creative.org/covid19advocacyafta
Call your Members of Congress:
http://www.mass-creative.org/covid19callcongress
Tips for Telling your story
http://www.mass-creative.org/covid19storytelling
Barrington Stage Company
They are hoping to do an in-person performance during the summer. They have made
Bow Market Somerville
Safe Supply is a weekly outdoor grocery store in Bow Market’s Courtyard.
The Safe Supply Guide is PDF guide to help people think through their delivery of service. Review the website and the field guide. You may find information that could be helpful for farmers' markets and other outdoor markets.
Engaging Communities by Creating
Artists Association of Nantucket, Drive Through Art Fair
Even Tide Theatre Company
Virtual drop in Shakespeare Performances
https://www.eventidearts.org/coming-soon/
Participants use sign-up genius to enroll for the character they would like to perform.
These are just a few of the programs shared on the video conference. Take a moment to visit the Massachusetts Cultural Council's webpage. There are resources, opportunities, and a vast sharing of knowledge. Log on and learn about culture and the arts!
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We hope you enjoyed the first issue of the Cultural District newsletter. If you have any questions for us or want more information, please visit our website: franklinculture.org. The next Franklin Cultural District Partners meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2020. It will take place via video conference. Watch our website for more information.
Culture and the arts benefit the entire community. Thank you!
Nancy Schoen, Chair; John LoPresti, Vice Chair; Pandora Carlucci, Clerk; Jamie Barrett, Evan Chelman and Roberta Trahan.
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