November 6, 2005:  Grand Opening of the New Hall.  Ribbon Cutting hosted by Chamber of Commerce at 2 pm.  Dedication Service at 2:30 pm. Followed by refreshments and Open House.  Please join us to see the beautiful new community center.

Volunteers:  There are still many projects to complete and all are welcome to become a part of the rebuilding and future of Franklin. Please try to spare a little time each month to help. If you are unable to attend the meetings contact any board member to let us know how you would like to help. Even if you can only spare an hour or can provide food for workers please let someone know you are willing to help.  Volunteers have provided many meals this month to volunteer workers.  Watch the message board at the park for community work days, meetings and other projects.  Don’t wait to be called. Just show up on the date and time announced. If you see something needing done please feel free to do it (pull weeds, pick up trash, this is your community).

A Polka Party will be held November 20th at the new hall.  Watch the message board for times.  Freewill donations will be accepted at the door.  Johnnie Zibert, George Barberich and Jarboe Watson have graciously offered to volunteer their time and talent to initiate the hall with a polka party.  Refreshments will be available.

Plan to attend the annual meeting January.  Elections will be held.  Watch the newsletter for date and time.  Come and be an active participant in your community’s future.

Hopefully everyone has driven by the park and noticed the shelter and the new sign. Volunteers worked for 3 weekends as well as many weekdays to build the shelter. It’s a very nice addition to the park that everyone can be proud of.  The sign at the front of the park is a “masterpiece”.  Using the donated artifacts from St. Philip Church a sign was designed that is absolutely beautiful.  Many, many volunteer hours were put into designing and building this sign.

We should all be very grateful for the tireless dedication of the volunteers who are so instrumental in helping rebuild Franklin.  It’s always easy to come up with ideas to do something but it’s quite another to have the talent and skills to see it finished. It has come to our attention many times about people being recognized for what they are doing.  We have studied the issue and even asked professional advice and based upon that we are saying thank you to all those who have worked so very hard. If we name one person we must name everyone.   The person who helped carry a piece of lumber, the fellow who mixed concrete, the ladies who prepared dishes to feed the workers and the list goes on.  We would need a 4 page list for each project if we started naming people and there is always the chance of leaving someone out.  The following paragraph was the professional recommendation we received.

“Your organization is involved in rebuilding a community -- and it can best pursue that objective by honoring and fostering collaborative initiatives rather than celebrating the efforts or talents of individuals.  Those who took part will know who they were and will find more satisfaction in that knowledge than in the lettering on any plaque. In fact, if anyone participated solely or primarily for the sake of having his/her name recognized, I’d say that their effort was selfish rather than community-spirited, and that it doesn’t deserve public recognition. If individuals are to be recognized, then I’d say that the mortar-mixers, the brick-carriers and the sandwich makers deserve as much credit as the master mason, since they each contributed to the communal effort according to their individual abilities, and the project would not have been accomplished (at least not as well) without the efforts of all those involved.”

SEWER:  The sewer project is underway. We have started receiving the easements.  They will need to be signed by all landowners. Please be watching for further information on how you can help complete this process.

STORM SIREN:  Correction:  Addition to list of donors for storm siren:  We also are receiving a grant from USDA-Rural Development. Final paperwork should be completed in the next two weeks and storm siren will be ordered.

COMMUNITY HALL:   (Ted Wynn, Chairman, 347-4040)  Hall committee has completed paperwork for the hall rental process.  Dianna Morrison has been chosen as “Community Center Manager”.  She will be in charge of rentals for the hall. Information about the hall is available on the Franklin website. If you would like information about renting the hall please contact Dianna at 347-8807.

COMMUNITY HALL BUILDING COMMITTEE:   (Joe Cukjati, Chairman, 347-4311) 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE:  (Dianna Morrision, Chairman, 347-8807)   The advisory  committee has planned the grand opening and dedication service for new center for November 6. Please plan to attend. 

CENTENNIAL:  (Phyllis Bitner, 249-9333)  The centennial is scheduled for the weekend of June 23-24, 2007.  Make plans now to plan your family reunion at the same time.    Any local residents are welcome to submit a design for a logo for the centennial. We will need people to help with making plans and organizing. Ideas are welcome and we would love to see new people on the committee. 

PLANNING AND LAND USE COMMITTEE  (Ray Hamblin, Chairman, 347-4228)   Ray would like to thank all the workers who have helped with the many projects at the FCCI properties.   It is greatly appreciated.  

PARK:   (Ray Hamblin, Chairman, 347-4228)    Don’t forget to order your pavers for the park.  This will be an on-going project.  They are a nice way to leave a permanent marker for your family, school class, business, organization, memorial or whatever you choose.   Due to delays in the laying of the walking path we are still able to take orders to be included with the first shipment.   The first shipment will be laid as soon as the walking path is in place.  Costs will be going up after the first of the year.  This is due to an increase from the manufacturer.   Get your orders in before the end of the year.  These would make a nice gift for the holidays.

Park benches are still available for $100.   Bocce Court Construction is near completion.   Two new pieces of playground equipment were also recently installed at the park. 

HERITAGE COMMITTEE: (Phyllis Bitner, Chairman, 347-8387)    We have been contacted by the state regarding the sidewalk.   There is a lot of interest on their part and they are working with us to obtain the historical listing before the centennial in 2007.   We are still  looking for more information on the sidewalk.  We also welcome anyone who has an interest in the history of the community to join this committee.    Many exciting projects coming up so please join the group if you have an interest. 

NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY:  If you have internet access please visit the website and click on “needs”. Perhaps there are items listed there that you would consider donating to the community.  

Its back... at long last the 6th Annual Franklin Community Christmas Party!!!!!
To be held at the new beautiful Franklin Community Center - December 11, 2005
From 2 to 4 pm. All children under 12 years of age will receive a gift from Santa! Refreshments will be served and there will be Door Prizes!
Please complete the following RSVP form below and return it with your October water bill payment.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - It is time to plan for the 6th Annual Franklin Community Christmas Party. As in the past Santa Claus will have a gift for the children age 12 and under and there will be Door Prizes.  Please fill out this form and return it so we'll know how many gifts to purchase. Thank you for your assistance.
Please list the age and gender of each child attending:_______________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Number of adults that will be attending: ________________________

Signature:  _____________________________________________________________________________