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August 2023 Edition

Biennial Town Election

The Biennial Town Election is set for Nov. 7, 2023 at Franklin High School from 6am - 8pm. Nomination papers are available now, they must be returned to the Office of the Town Clerk by Sept. 6 no later than 5PM. Questions? Contact the Office of the Town Clerk at 508-520-4900 or email ndanello@franklinma.gov.


Please note that Oct. 28 is the last day to register to vote. You may check or update your information via the State's Online Voter Registration tool. For additional Election information, please visit the Town Clerk's webpage.

Changes to Downtown Parking

Check Signage

The public is reminded to check all parking signs and street signs throughout the summer as downtown parking changes are implemented.


To ensure quick and easy payment processing within our municipal lots, parkers are encouraged to download Flowbird, our mobile park and pay application. Learn more about Flowbird via our online parking portal.

Depot St. & Ferrara's Municipal Parking Lot Rate Structure

Sunday - Thursday

  • 5AM to 12PM - $3.00 flat rate all day 
  • 12PM to 6PM - $2.00 flat rate all day 
  • 6PM to 12AM is Free!

Friday & Saturday

  • 5AM to 2AM - Free

Please note there is no overnight parking allowed. Police take notice and violators will be susceptible to a $50.00 fine, per violation.

As announced in the July 1st Downtown Parking Changes Memo, changes to the parking bylaw were pending Town Council approval. Town Administration and Town Council have since refined the parking bylaw as of July 19, 2023. The following changes are in effect as of Aug. 1, 2023.

  • Parking lots are operational 7 days a week at 5AM for the first commuter train.
  • Curfew is 5AM to 12AM Sunday - Thursday (Existing flat rate structure)
  • Curfew is 5AM to 2AM Friday - Saturday (Free)

Visit the Town of Franklin's Online Parking Portal for more information.

Department of Public Works

Hydrant Painting Applications Due

Flex your creative skills during the 2nd Fire Hydrant Painting Event hosted by the Town of Franklin Department of Public Works! Registration is open until Aug. 11, 2023. Proposed designs must be submitted for approval along with a completed application. Applicants will be notified by Aug. 25, 2023. All approved and completed painted hydrants will be reviewed.



Judging will take place between Oct. 2 - Oct. 12, 2023. Winners will be announced at the DPW Touch a Truck event on Oct. 14, 2023. Highest vote winner in the following categories: Under the age of 12; 12 to 17; 18 & over; judges' choice.

Learn more and access the application here.

Road Work Updates

The Town has a variety of road work projects in progress. Below is a status update from our Engineering Department.

Union Street: Union St. road work is underway. The DPW’s contractor has milled the asphalt surface from School St. to Washington St. and will be preparing the surface for paving a new top coat of asphalt in the next couple of weeks.



Arlington Street Neighborhood: The Arlington St. neighborhood road work project is also moving right along as the contractor has reclaimed the old pavement, paved the first course of asphalt and has been installing new curb with sidewalks to follow. The final top course of pavement is expected to be complete sometime in Sept.


Grove Street: The second phase of the Grove St. improvements is also expected to start up this month. The work will include extending the multi-use path from where we left off in Phase 1 at Tobacco Road to the trailhead of the SNETT. Road work will include improvements and paving from Tobacco Road to Kenwood Circle. The work will continue through this fall and into next summer.

Franklin Public Schools

Transportation

Bus Registration for the 23-24 school year has closed. Bus pass pick up will be Aug. 21 - Aug. 25 at your student's school building. For more information, visit our transportation page.


23-24 Academic Calendar

The Academic Calendar for the 23-24 school year is now available. The first day for students will be Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Be sure to register your Pre K -12 student(s) via Aspen, our online registration portal.

Senior Center

Programs

DeLuna Vinyasa Yoga – Every Monday at 4:30pm ($3/person per class)

Eat Around the World: Philppines – Learn about the Philippines and try out it's delicious cuisine prepared by our fantastic Chef Anne! Aug. 11 at 11am. $6/person- Please sign up!

Restless Abandoned – Aug. 16 at 11am - take a peak at this photography collection of abandoned places throughout the northeast!

Country Western Party – Don your Cowboy hat and boots, and come to our Country Western Party, complete with Johnny Cash Entertainment and a mouthwatering lunch! $6/ person, Aug. 18 at 11am.

Five Wishes with Nurse Trish – Chat on Aug. 23 at 11am about the Five Wishes, an advanced directive everyone should have to talk about your personal, emotional, and spiritual needs as you age, specifically your medical wishes.

Rainbow Pizza Party – Join us Aug. 23 at 12:30pm in friendship and conversation for a pizza and game party. Those in the LGBTQ+ community, allies, and friends are welcome!

Focus on Fuel Assistance – Chat on Aug. 29 at 10am with our Social Services Coordinator Raeleen Gallivan to learn about Fuel Assistance eligibility and application process.

Stroke Awareness – Aug. 30 at 11am - Join Nurse Trish to discuss Stroke Awareness signs and symptoms, and life after having a stroke.

First Annual Chef Showdown – Aug. 30 at 12pm - Local restaurants will prepare a delicious treat and compete against each other in various categories including: Best Presentation, Best Taste, and Most Creative! All dishes will be using the "secret" ingredient of Watermelon. There are 40 slots available for members to try out these delicious treats and cast their votes! $5/person.


Questions? Visit the Senior Center website or call 508-520-4945 to learn more.

Spread The Word!

Feedback for Franklin Police

The Franklin Police Department invites the community to complete the Community Survey on Public Safety and Law Enforcement. Your feedback will assist the department in improving its services, processes, and reputation. Deadline for survey completion is Aug. 31, 2023. Access the survey here.

Vendor Call: Senior Expo

The Senior Expo is back! Join us Oct. 6, 2023 from 10am - 1pm at the Senior Center for live entertainment, raffle prizes, a flu shot clinic, hearing tests and more.

This event is geared towards providing resources to our Seniors in a fun way! Does your business offer information, services or other resources to Seniors? If so, consider tabling as a vendor. Access the Senior Expo Vendor Registration Form and learn more about the Senior Expo here.

Exhibitor Call: Restaurant Expo

Get ready for the Franklin Restaurant Expo on Sept. 27, 2023 from 2pm - 5pm at the Franklin Library! 

The Restaurant Expo allows for food service/ restaurant/ hospitality industry professionals to connect with a variety of vendors in the region. Exhibitors: have the opportunity to showcase their products. service, connect with potential customers, and expand their business reach all under one roof! Restaurant owners, chefs, managers and other change makers in the culinary and hospitality industry within the region are encouraged to attend. Learn more and reserve your FREE table via the Restaurant Expo event page.

Franklin Public Library

Event Highlights!

Aug. 5 – Rainbow Dance Party Concert!

Join Elijah T. Grasshopper, Emma "Go-Go Green" Bean, their puppet pals for some super-duper interactive music and a hopping good time! Ideal for kids Ages 2-8, starts at 10:30am.


Aug. 5 – The Highwaymen Concert

Longtime New England musician/author Matt York will perform the songs of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings and tell stories of their careers. The four songwriting legends joined forces in the 1980's to form the country supergroup The Highwaymen. In 2022, York was nominated for the Boston Music Award for Best Country Artist and his album Gently Used was just named one of Worcester Magazine's best albums of 2022. Performance starts at 2pm.


Aug. 8 – Storytime at Patriot Place!

Join Miss Caleigh at 10am for a special storytime at Patriot Place! If you love the energy and movement of Move Along, you'll have a blast at this special off-site storytime!


Aug. 11 – Farmer’s Market Fun!

Join the Franklin Public Library from 2pm-4pm for a special monthly visit at the Franklin Farmer's Market!


Aug. 14 – Seaside Escapes: The Art & Architecture of the New England Coast

Dive into the works of beloved American artists such as Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper! Then explore the elegance of Newport, RI summer homes alongside Gloucester's eccentric summer retreat Beauport. Begins at 7pm, RSVP for this virtual program here.


Aug. 25 – Mobile Mini Golf

Join us at 1pm, when we transform the library into a Mini Golf course that's fun for all ages*! (Children under 14 MUST be accompanied by an adult.) No registration required.


Library Hours

The Library’s summer hours are Monday - Thursday, 9am - 8pm. Friday & Saturday, 9am - 5pm. Sunday hours will resume after Labor Day.

Library Calendar of Events - August 2023

Veterans' Services

Quilts of Valor

At the July Veterans Coffee Social, the Massachusetts State Coordinator from the Quilts of Valor Foundation awarded 14 quilts to Franklin Korean War Veterans in honor of National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. Family members of the honorees attended as well as local Veterans who attend the monthly Coffee Socials at the Senior Center. Congratulations to all the recipients!

Korean War Veteran Tony Luzzo proudly displays his Quilt of Valor.

Korean War Veteran Gerry Bradie was awarded a quilt from Theresa Perreault, the Massachusetts State Coordinator from the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Franklin Veteran Dick Hynes is in the background.

Dates to Know

Aug. 4 – Coast Guard’s 233rd Birthday

Aug. 7 – National Purple Heart Day - Please let our office know if you or a family member (residing in Franklin) is a Purple Heart recipient and we’ll add them to our database.

Aug. 17 – Veterans’ Council Meeting - 7pm at the Senior Center. All Franklin residents interested in Veterans’ events and activities are welcome.

Aug. 29 – Marine Corps Reserve 107th Birthday


Veterans Memorial Walkway

The next engraved brick installation will be in Nov.to coincide with Veterans’ Day. Veterans need not be from Franklin to be honored with a brick. All members of the U.S. military are eligible. Brick order forms are available in the Town Hall and Senior Center lobbies as well as the Veterans’ Services page on the Town website.



Tune It Out!

The Tune It Out guitar lessons program for Veterans will not meet in July and Aug. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Call the Veterans’ Services Office for details.

Contact Veterans' Services at 508-613-1315 or access their webpage to learn more.

Keep up with meetings, departments & committees. The schedule and links can be found on our website calendar.
Arts, theater, dining, live music & more! Find out what's happening in town! Visit our website!

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Town of Franklin
355 East Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038 (508) 520-4949
 
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