Showing posts with label beer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beer. Show all posts

Friday, March 22, 2019

Taste Of Artweek Festival: Announces Beer & Wine Garden Line Up for Apr 27

Taste of ArtWeek, a kick-off celebration to Franklin ArtWeek, announced today that La Cantina Winery, Jack's Abby Craft Lagers, Exhibit 'A' Brewing Company, Crue Brew Brewery, and Zelus Beer Company will all be featured in their beer and wine garden. 

The festival is on Saturday, April 27 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM, and will also include food trucks, a craft fair, and free live performances on the Franklin Town Common. The beer and wine garden and a fine art exhibition will be held across the street at Hayward Manor. 

Taste of ArtWeek is intended to give attendees a "taste" of what ArtWeek is all about. Beer and wine garden tickets are $20, and will provide guests with either a flight of six tastes of different beverages, or two full pours. Tickets can be purchased in advance, starting April 1, at www.randomsmile.org/festival.

Taste Of Artweek Festival: Announces Beer & Wine Garden Line Up for Apr 27
Taste Of Artweek Festival: - Apr 27
"As a local resident of Franklin and owner of the winery in Franklin, I am thrilled to take part in this community event. The town has been very supportive of our winery and it’s great to see them allowing food trucks and a beer/wine tent. Our award winning wines are produced and bottled in Franklin with grapes sourced from California and Chile. It is our mission to work with all organizations in town with efforts in supporting the community. We are honored to take part in ArtWeek, especially in the town we call home." says Bob Vozzella, owner of La Cantina Winery and one of this year's festival sponsors.

Taste of ArtWeek is being organized by the Franklin Cultural Council, in partnership with Random Smile Project charity. Proceeds from the event will benefit both organizations. More details on this and other ArtWeek events can be found online at www.artweekma.org.

About the Franklin Cultural Council — The mission of the Franklin Cultural Council (FCC) is to encourage participation and enhance opportunities for enrichment in the cultural arts and sciences throughout our community. Comprised of committed residents, the FCC meets monthly with the purpose of supporting events and programs through grants from the Town of Franklin, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.


Friday, October 5, 2018

US Census: "Microbrewery Business is Hopping"


"According to the County Business Patterns program, between 2012 and 2016 (the most recent available data), the total number of breweries skyrocketed from 880 to 2,802. Of that total, 2,605 had 49 or less employees. 
These small businesses employed over 55,000 workers with a total annual payroll of $2.6 billion. 
Keep in mind that these data only include businesses classified as “breweries.” Businesses that brew their own beer (restaurants and brew pubs) but are classified in other industries which are excluded from these statistics. If these other businesses had been included, the number and growth over the last five years would be even greater."
Continue reading about America's love affair with Craft Breweries
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2018/10/americas-love-affair-with-craft-beer.html?eml=gd&utm_campaign=20181004msacos2ccstors&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

An interactive map shows the growth in breweries state by state since 2012. MA data shows:

the growth in breweries in MA since 2012
the growth in breweries in MA since 2012
To use the interactive map yourself:
http://visual.it.census.gov/views/BeerV10_5_10-3-2018/StateDashboard?iframeSizedToWindow=true&:embed=y&:display_spinner=no&:showAppBanner=false&:embed_code_version=3&:loadOrderID=0&:tabs=no&:display_count=no&:showVizHome=no

Sunday, September 9, 2018

In the News: brewing growth in Marlborough; MA election security improvements after November

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The brewing industry’s rapid growth in MetroWest over the past few years has reflected the overall growth of the industry. 
But for awhile, one of the larger MetroWest communities – Marlborough – went without a brewery as they continued to open in smaller surrounding communities such as Hudson and Westborough. 
But now that’s changing. By the end of this year, it’s expected there will be three breweries operating taprooms in the city, with a fourth planning to open in the spring of 2019. Marlborough is about to become a destination for craft beer fans throughout the state.
That is intentional, said Meredith Harris, executive director of the Marlborough Economic Development Corp. Last year, the corporation took out advertisements in beer magazines, offering incentives in the form of small business loans and help with permitting, to try to attract a brewery or two to downtown."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180908/beer-entrepreneurs-take-liking-to-marlborough


"Massachusetts has received millions of dollars in federal funding to bolster election security, but most of it will not be spent until after the November election. 
The Bay State has received $7.9 million from the federal government, which election officials plan to spend on voting equipment, voter registration systems and cybersecurity, according to documents shared with Wicked Local. About 81 percent of the money, however, will be spent after the upcoming midterm election. 
State officials, nonetheless, say the federal dollars -- while helpful -- are not vital to running a safe and accurate election. 
“We were already spending money and resources from our existing budget on cybersecurity, so we were not dependent on the federal funding for 2018,” wrote Debra O’Malley, spokeswoman for Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin’s office. “This additional funding will be used to add to our existing preparations and for future elections.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180908/state-to-spend-millions-on-election-security---after-november

MA election security improvements after November
MA election security improvements scheduled for after November

Friday, July 20, 2018

“There is no one making bottles in New England"

Via the Franklin network, we get the link to this story on the domino effect of companies closing up operations:

"Inside a huge industrial building in Franklin, there are 120 conveyor belts designed to carry broken glass to three stories of giant machines that crush the glass and sort it, to be sent away and be made into new bottles. 
But those machines aren't running now. 
"I think the plant operated at approximately 80 decibels — glass is banging, machines are running. Yeah it was it was pretty loud here,” said Andrew Crowley of Strategic Materials, which owns the plant. Today the plant almost silent inside. “It's kind of sad, it being so quiet," he said. 
The plant closed last month because it lost its only big customer — a company called Ardagh, which ran a plant just nine miles away in Milford that turned all that glass back into bottles. That closed down in March. 250 people worked there."

Continue reading the article online. You can also listen to the audio segment at the same link
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2018/07/19/massachusetts-only-glass-recycling-plant-closes

The machines inside the Strategic Materials plant have remained quiet since the facility closed down in June.
"The machines inside the Strategic Materials plant have remained quiet since the facility closed down in June."

For more about Strategic Materials  https://www.strategicmaterials.com/glass-recycling/

Friday, January 19, 2018

In the News: students sent kindness letters; Hopkinton opens outdoor ice rink ; Marlboro business opens brewing coffee and beer

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

"A simple reading assignment turned into a one-hundred-fold act of kindness for a local group of young students. 
Fifth-grade students at Oak Street Elementary School decided last fall to send words of encouragement to lawmakers who work at the Statehouse. 
Each of the 100 “kindness letters” contains an inspiring quote hand-written by a student. 
“In this political climate, so many adults could benefit from these messages about listening, understanding, and accepting,” said teacher Heather Adams. “The impact it had on our state representatives is much bigger than what I imagined it would be.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180118/franklin-students-send-kindness-letters-to-statehouse

"Just before sunset Thursday, Mark Rhodes helped his 10-year-old son, Neil, lace up his skates at the town’s outdoor skating rink at Carrigan Park. 
“As soon as I get home from work he says, “Dad let’s go,’” Rhodes said. Word of the rink opening is spreading around town. 
Neil brought a hockey stick that he got about a year ago. 
“It’s really good ice and the rink is nice and big,” the fourth-grader at Hopkins school said. “You can play hockey on it.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180118/hopkintons-outdoor-skating-rink-now-open


"J.P. and Melynda Gallagher are brewing up something special for downtown.
Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company is expected to open this summer in the former Speakers nightclub at 19 Weed St., J.P. Gallagher said on Thursday. 
“We always wanted to be in Marlborough, both my wife and I were born and raised in Marlborough,” said Gallagher. 
Lost Shoe will be more than a brewery. It will also be a coffee roaster and coffee shop. J.P. Gallagher has been a long time homebrewer and recently graduated from the American Brewers Guild in Vermont. His wife Melynda recently completed a coffee roasting course at the Coffee Lab International School of Coffee, also in Vermont. 
The idea is to be an all-day business – Lost Shoe will open at 8 a.m. to serve coffee and the brewery will begin serving beer later in the day."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180118/lost-shoe-to-brew-beer-roast-coffee-in-marlborough

Marlboro business opens brewing coffee and beer
Marlboro business opens brewing coffee and beer

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Pour Richard's Beer Extravaganza - Sep 16 4-7 PM

What is a "Beer Extravaganza"?

30+ Beers and Ciders to sample, snacks, and hot music from local band Shift to Low

Saturday, September 16 4-7 PM. 

Free, but we are accepting donations to aid pets stranded in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

If you haven't been to Pour Richard's you can find it at 14 Grove Street in Franklin

Pour Richard's Beer Extravaganza - Sep 16 4-7 PM
Pour Richard's Beer Extravaganza - Sep 16 4-7 PM

Visit Pour Richard's on the web at
https://pourrichardswine.com/content/beer-extravaganza-fall-edition-0

Sunday, August 20, 2017

"Several factors led to the growth in the industry locally"

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

"When the Hendler brothers opened Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham six years ago, they started small, selling growlers to go and quickly added bottled beer .
Two years later, however, the business exploded when the state legalized taprooms, allowing Jack’s Abby to pour beers for their customers. 
That spurred a huge increase to Jack’s Abby’s customer base and bottom line. The Hendlers have since moved from Morton Street and opened a large beer hall and restaurant, as well as the Springdale Barrel Room, on Clinton Street. With the expansion, the company went from less than 10 employees to more than 100. 
Local breweries are a growing industry in MetroWest and the Milford region, which is now home to 10 breweries and brewpubs with two more on the way. And many local brewers say beer fans can expect more breweries in the coming years."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170820/metrowest-beer-explosion


Sunday, July 2, 2017

#shopFranklin features Franklin Agway - Your Urban Farm Store

#shopFranklin spends time with Mel Hamblen, recent new owner of Franklin Agway - Your Urban Farm Store. Mel explains how she went from working in a lab to working on finding the best products for the Franklin community. We also learn how to make homemade root beer with a definitive fizz!





If you have pets, check out their line up of pet foods!

If you make your own beer, check out their beer supplies!

Franklin Agway - Your Urban Farm Store
Franklin Agway - Your Urban Farm Store

Visit Agway on Cottage St or visit them on the Internet at

Thursday, June 1, 2017

In the News: microbrewery tasting room moves forward; ABCC rule creates confusion

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"A bylaw change that would allow local microbreweries or wineries to have tasting rooms is a step closer to reality. 
The Town Council is set to take up the measure in June after it received approval from the Planning Board at its May 22 meeting. 
Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said the board passed the change, but altered one aspect of the proposal - the square footage of a microbrewery’s facility that could be devoted to a tasting room. 
“What we had done originally is allow (a tasting room of) 33 percent of the square footage,” Hellen said. “The Planning Board scaled that back to a quarter.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170531/franklin-council-to-consider-microbreweries-bylaw


"It is a problem many craft beer drinkers run into – the buildup of a large collection of growlers they have purchased at the breweries they have visited. 
But, last week, the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission issued a new advisory, informing breweries they could fill any glass growler (typically a 64-ounce or 32-ounce jug) full of beer as long as the growler is completely blank with no labeling at all from another brewery. 
Although, generally in favor of the move, many MetroWest brewers say the new advisory is confusing and may wait before they start filling growlers other than their own. 
On Wednesday, members of the Mass. Brewer’s Guild – a trade organization for Massachusetts breweries – held a board of director’s meeting to discuss the new guidelines, said board member Keith Sullivan, co-owner of Medusa Brewing Company in Hudson."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170531/new-growler-laws-offer-confusion-to-local-brewers


Sunday, May 28, 2017

Total Wine & More Launches New Statewide Campaign To Modernize Mass. Laws Governing Sale Of Beer, Wine And Spirits

Consumers First initiative to promote sensible changes to update and improve Commonwealth laws regulating beverage alcohol sales

Total Wine & More today announced the start of a new statewide information and awareness campaign to support sensible changes to update and modernize the laws governing the sale of beer, wine and spirits in Massachusetts.

The Consumers First initiative is a source of information and advocacy to enhance and improve the regulatory environment and structure around the beer, wine and spirits industry in a way that promotes savings and better serves consumers across Massachusetts.

“Total Wine & More has a long track record as a proven consumer ally, and this new Consumers First campaign will promote sensible and much needed updates to Massachusetts’ alcohol sale laws – some of which date back to Prohibition,” said Ed Cooper, Vice President, Public Affairs & Community Relations at Total Wine & More. “Our entire business is built on creating a first class customer experience while providing the best value and selection in beverage alcohol. We take great pride in all the ways we serve our customers, and advocating on their behalf and being an ally is another way of serving them.”

Massachusetts alcoholic beverage laws and regulations need reform. The laws regulating and governing beverage alcohol sales should better protect consumers’ best interests.

The Consumers First initiative will use information and advocacy to demonstrate that protecting and serving consumers should be the first priority. Examples of savings and conveniences that consumers in Massachusetts are being denied include access to the best possible retailer coupon and customer loyalty programs, as well as regulatory obstacles that prevent the lowest prices from being passed on to customers from bulk wholesale discounts.

“We believe all alcohol retailers in Massachusetts should be advocates for consumers. They should favor allowing new ways for consumers to save on beer, wine and spirits,” Cooper said. “The Consumers First initiative will help give people a voice in advocating for sensible reforms.”

For more information about the Consumers First initiative, visit massconsumersfirst.com. You can also like the campaign on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

Total Wine & More Launches New Statewide Campaign To Modernize Mass. Laws Governing Sale Of Beer, Wine And Spirits
Total Wine & More Launches New Statewide Campaign To 
Modernize Mass. Laws Governing Sale Of Beer, Wine And Spirits

About Total Wine & More
Total Wine & More is America’s largest independent retailer of fine wine, beer and spirits with 158 stores in 20 states. A four-time national retailer of the year award winner, the company’s vast selection of products, combined with low everyday prices and expertly trained wine associates, provides a unique shopping experience for the customer. Since opening its first store in 1991, Total Wine & More has been committed to being the premier wine, beer and spirits retailer in every community that it serves. For more information about Total Wine & More please visit http://www.totalwine.com.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Horace Mann Middle School - Pour Richard's Fundraiser – Thursday, May 18

Wine/Beer Tasting social event to benefit Horace Mann Middle School PCC. $10 admission for a tasting of several different beers and wines. 

Pour Richard's will also donate a percentage of purchases made that night, and we will have some raffle items - tickets are $1 each.

If you can’t make it to the event, consider doing some shopping for any upcoming Memorial Day parties! 

All purchases made on Thursday, when you show the flyer (see below), will be counted in the purchases for our event. Pour Richard's is located at 14 Grove St. in Franklin.

Any questions? Please contact Terri Attinello at tattinello@msn.com.




Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Live reporting: Economic Development Committee Meeting - Mar 22, 2017

Present: Bissanti, Padula, Pfeffer, Vallee, Padula, Halligan
Kelly, Jones, Pellegri, Vozella, Gleason and 2 others


overview of proposal on brewery, distillery, or winery production with a tasting room

the innovation is in the manufacturing of the alcohol for sale; couldn't open something and serve Sam Adams

Bob Vozella, speaks to his operation along Union St
about 6,000 bottles produced by La Cantina thus far
quality grapes and care in the process, monitoring
sharing and seeing how it is made helps

Federal permit required for brewery, State effectively acknowledges the Fed license receipt

production license by ABCC
pouring license by Town Council

Tips training, manager of record would all be the same as other liquor license applications

Would this be standard hours or advertised for specific periods?

Would be required by Special Permit to address all the other zoning type issues, parking etc.

The tasting rooms start out 1-2 days four to five hours operation
the targeted audience for this doesn't stay late

the license would be site specific, it would be an overlay for several of the commercial districts
not for any of the residential districts

the special permit requirement is key for a number of reasons
you could have trucking for the manufacturing and for the retail (tasting) would require parking

the liquid could be made one place and sold elsewhere, but not by the manufacturer

motion made to recommend to Town COuncil to start the process

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

#shopFranklin: Franklin Agway - Your Urban Farm Store (video)


#shopFranklin spends time with Mel Hamblen, recent new owner of Franklin Agway - Your Urban Farm Store. Mel explains how she went from working in a lab to working on finding the best products for the Franklin community. 
We also learn how to make homemade root beer with a definitive fizz!




If you have pets, check out their line up of pet foods!

If you make your own beer, check out their beer supplies!

Franklin Agway - Your Urban Farm Store
Franklin Agway - Your Urban Farm Store


Friday, November 4, 2016

You're Invited to a Pour Richard's 'Double Header'



Wine or Beer - We've Got You Covered
Never Drink Ordinary!
Fulcrum Winemaker Tasting and Bottle Signing
Friday, Nov 4 5-7 PM
Beer Extravaganza: Chill Out!
Saturday, Nov 5 4-7 PM
They did it- The Chicago Cubs won the World Series, ending a 108 year title drought! Baseball is over. So....we're hosting a double header of our very own.

Like wine? Then join us Friday evening from 5-7 PM to meet David Rossi, winemaker of Fulcrum Wines. David concentrates on Chardonnay and several single-vineyard Pinot Noirs. The wines are silky and languid, but above all, balanced. Taste the wines, chat with David, and get your bottle signed by the winemaker. (Psst! This is a GREAT holiday gift for the wine lover in your life.) Tasting is free, 21+.

More of a beer person? Then show up Saturday from 4-7 PM for our last Beer Extravaganza of 2016. As always, we'll have plenty of cold beer and cider to sample, plus some great tunes courtesy of Franklin's own Kai Olsson. Special guest appearance by MBA's Joe McCann, aka Joe Redbeard with great brews from Cincy's Rhinegeist, plus introducing Vermont's Champlain Ciders.Tasting is free, 21+, but we do put out a donation bucket for the Franklin Food Pantry.

If you're an equal opportunity sipper, come to both. At Pour Richard's, there's never a drought.
Thank you for trusting us with your beverage business. Please share this email with friends who are interested in delicious wine, beer, and spirits. (Keeping all the good stuff for yourself is bad karma.) 

Cheers!
Ann Williams
Like us on Facebook
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Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits 
 14 Grove Street  Franklin, MA 02038

Sun 12-5  Mon 12-7  Tues-Thurs 10-8  Fri-Sat 10-9  
Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits, 14 Grove Street, Franklin, MA 02038

Sent by ann@pourrichardswine.com in collaboration with
Constant Contact

Friday, October 21, 2016

In the News: drought continues, craft brewing in Hopkinton

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

"Occasional showers with above normal temperatures in the past week did not help drought conditions in Massachusetts, according to the weekly report by the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday. 
The report shows 37.83 percent of the state is still in extreme drought, the second highest category of drought. That figure is unchanged from last week. More than 87 percent of the state is in at least severe drought, a slight rise from last week's figure of 83.7 percent. 
There may be some relief in the next several days. Rain is forecast Thursday night through Saturday morning. More than two inches of rain could fall in some areas, especially with the risk of thunderstorms Friday night."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161020/extreme-drought-persists-in-mass

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/mapsanddata/maparchive.aspx
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/mapsanddata/maparchive.aspx

A small craft brewery, hoping to open at Water Fresh Farm, is seeking permission to serve its products to customers on the premises. 
Start Line Brewery is set to open mid-November, said Edwin Twinney, owner and operating manager. 
"We are just doing final testing and hope to be brewing soon," he said. 
In the meantime, the company, CraftLife Brewing Co., will go before selectmen Tuesday night to seek the farmer-brewing pouring permit. Twinney said he already has a license to sell products for off-premise consumption.
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161020/hopkinton-start-line-brewing-seeks-pouring-license


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Live reporting: License transactions


G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS 
  • British Beer Company – Change of Manager- 7:10 pm tabled to next meeting

  • Gill N Sidhu, LLC – Chinese Mirch - Change of DBA- 7:10 pm
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
Chinese food with Indian spices

  • Table & Vine, Inc. – Annual Wine & Malt Package Store - New License – 7:10 pm
process to advertise, posted, advertised MDN, etc.
only one applicant came in at the deadline

paying approx $100,000 in taxes
payed additional dollars to fix up the road
employee about 100 

privately owner company

James Wilson, store manager

in 2012 constructed, construction, widening of the roadway, signal added
development of the commercial sector on the eastern part

all the ABC documents are contained in your package

Michael Gold, VP Legal Affairs of BIG Y
MA corporation, based in Springfield area
in business 80 years, owned and operated by the family
3rd generation of the family

we are a great neighbor in the community, support numerous local organizations

Table & Vine essentially the liquor business for Big Y
currently has 4 liquor licenses
1 strandalone, 3 within stores

would be the smallest liquor dept in MA
loyal customers have been asking for it since they opened

well trained, talented and educated, 
experts in wine, food and craft beers
hoping to bring that expertise here

take obligations to sell alcohol seriously
Point of sale systems do require a valid birth date entered in the system

serve the public need, in search of a common good
MA case law has identified several factors

  • proximity to school, no schools in immediate area
  • number of existing dispensaries, there is an available license
  • competition among existing license holders should not be made in determination, DaVitas and Franklin Liquor have full license, this would only be beer/wine as a convenience for the customers; not looking to put anyone out of the business; there is a distinction between the licenses and the nature of the operations
  • submitted letters in support of the license; received a resounding yes
  • reputation of the applicant, over 50 years of experience, can bring expertise to the area with craft beer and specialty wines
  • wines - always a concern, the state of the art development, a completely different facade, the traffic is not a deterrent in this case, the traffic improvements are allowing negotiations with other developments proposed next door to utilize the entrance
Feldman - quantified?
customers come in frequently, asking for beer/wine

we were careful about where to use the last license

Padula - how does the sale work?
there is a point of sale system that is required with a valid date in order to process the transaction; there are also 32 locations in CT as well

Padula - how many times?
never in MA? in CT? one issue among the 32 stores in 9 years

DaVitas issue won the full license and when they got it, they turned in the beer/wine 

The Council last year voted against the Cottage/Union, and developed the process we have used here

Kelly - how do you handle the situation when a cashier is underage?
if a minor would try to scan an alcohol transaction, it would lock the system until a supervisor came over

Mark Lenzi - Franklin Liquors, across from the BIG Y
in 1978 purchased Jimmies Penny Candy Liquor Store
this is the oldest liquor license in town
family all work there

please consider the decision from last year, in consideration 
there was one license last year
there are three licenses this time

consider the legal precedence set in MA
the laws are changing, it used to be three, it will be 7 in 2016

what does it mean for the town?
it may mean more corporations coming

I am a BIG Y customer, and I did not get asked
consider the support for the small business movement in town

in closing, I am not sure they showed a public need, just because they are the only application doesn't demonstrate the public need

Cerel - can only take into consideration material presented at the meeting and not in other ways


Michael Rourke - Franklin resident
chose Franklin for a variety of reasons for the family
voted best town for families, affordable homes, top rated jobs, good schools, etc.
local were proud to call Franklin, discourage to see the charm decline in the past several years
now some of those small business are out of business
too much of our hard earned dollars are going to corporation

Mark and his family are a true proponent
in the spirit of national small business that started this week

the main reason was due to the saturation in the area, 
there are others around, a saturation

I urge you to deny this application

"Industry need not wish, there is no need here"

Karen Mullen, a Big Y customer
I feel strongly that BIG Y supports the small town
I don't think it would take away their business
I don't see the competition here 
MA case law doesn't support the need
I would request that this license be approved

Sandra Verhagen, town resident
there is a movement to support small business
we are all in it together
this being small business week, we are spending our money to keep them operating
ask you to look at this and deny the license
I don't understand how there is public need

Laurie Blake - Norfolk resident
BIG Y customer, I do think it would be convenient
The other liquor stores that are in town, I would still good to them for other things; if I am looking for hard alcohol, I would go elsewhere
if they are the oldest they are survivors
I am on both sides, I think having BIG Y and their regulations would be a strong contender on this town


motion to close the hearing, seconded, 9-0


additional comment from BIG Y
focus is on the craft brews and unique wines, not the regular stuff you see
I advocate for small business and for family business, that is where we came from, our core business is food, and proper pairings is what we are looking to do

Feldman - I appreciate the comments on both side, the situation last year was between two small businesses, any time we take on a license, some one will oppose it, the government should not impede competition


motion to approve, seconded, 8-1 via roll call (Dellorco - no)