Quincy City Councilor-At-Large Noel DiBona Announces Candidacy for Norfolk County Register of Probate

Quincy City Councilor-at-Large Noel DiBona officially announced his candidacy for Register of Probate of Norfolk County last week. DiBona who began his political career in 2013 as a Quincy School Committee member, has served as a Quincy City Councilor-At-Large since 2016, and has been elected to three consecutive terms. 

DiBona has been a small business owner in Quincy for the last 24 years, managing Russ DiBona & Son Landscape & Snow. DiBona graduated from Quincy High School in 1993, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts-Boston.
 

Noel DiBona

DiBona has been employed by the Norfolk County Sheriff’s office since 2016, where he currently serves as re-entry program coordinator for inmates. DiBona previously served as a senior community services coordinator for the Sheriff’s office, assisting senior citizens in scam and fraud prevention at facilities for the elderly throughout Norfolk County. If elected as the Register of the Probate, DiBona plans to improve all services provided by the court, and pledges to be a consistent strong advocate for attorneys, judges, clients, and citizens. 

“I am seeking the seat as the Register of Probate of Norfolk County because I have a strong desire to serve and assist others. Virtually everyone will encounter an experience with probate, whether it is a birth, a death, or divorce. Your experience with the court should be managed with compassion and empathy. I will apply my business management background to the official record keeping and customer service areas of the court to ensure that the public always has the best experience possible, especially during tough times” Said DiBona.

“The decision to run for Norfolk County Register of Probate has been a family decision. Following discussions with my wife, Niamh, and other family members we collaboratively decided that I should seek the seat and they are all 100% behind the decision”. Added DiBona.

DiBona will be running as a Democrat. The primary election is set for Tuesday, September 1st and if successful in the primary, the final election will be on November 3rd. The Committee to Elect Noel DiBona will be holding a Kickoff Reception event at Alba Restaurant at 1486 Hancock St. in Quincy Center on Thursday, February 27 from 5:00-8:00 PM, and members of the public are encouraged to attend. 

Court Stops Sprawling Scheme that Operated Hundreds of Websites that Deceived Consumers About Government Services

Court Stops Sprawling Scheme That Operated Hundreds of Websites That Deceived Consumers About Government Services

Defendants made millions of dollars from sites that overwhelmingly mislead consumers

A court has granted the Federal Trade Commission's request to preliminarily halt a scheme in which the defendants operated hundreds of websites that promised a quick and easy government service, such as renewing a driver's license, or eligibility determinations for public benefits. Following an evidentiary hearing, the court held that the FTC was likely to prevail in proving that "the websites were patently misleading."

The FTC's filings in the case allege that consumers provided their information because they believe the websites will actually provide these services. Instead, consumers received only a PDF containing publicly available, general information about the service they sought.

Documents filed by the FTC allege that the defendants' sites employed similar branding, language, and functionality to induce consumers to relinquish their credit card information, personal data, or both.

State Licensing Sites

According to the complaint, the defendants operated sites like DMV.com, which offers links for driver's services in all 50 states and presents itself as a clearinghouse for many types of DMV-related services, from licensing to driving records, under the heading "Online DMV Services." Other sites operated by the defendants included floridadriverslicense.org, coloradodriverslicenses.org, californiadrivers.org, and texasdriverslicenses.org.

The defendants used search-engine advertising and search-engine optimization to target consumers who search for state motor-vehicle or licensing services online. The FTC's complaint alleges that in the spring and summer of 2019, entering the phrases "renew Florida drivers license online" and "get fishing license" into online search engines brought up the defendants' sites as either the first- or second-listed link.

According to the complaint, after consumers submitted payment, in some instances, the sites simply linked back to the landing page, and the consumer received nothing. In other instances, the consumer received an email containing a link to a downloadable PDF with general, publicly available information.

The FTC alleges that the defendants' sites did not deliver the promised services.

Public Benefits Sites

Documents filed by the FTC further allege that the defendants also operated dozens of websites that promise to verify consumers' eligibility for public benefits. These sites appeared high in search results or sponsored links when consumers searched for ways to obtain public benefits.

The defendants' public benefits sites offered to help consumers seeking government programs, such as housing assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, or unemployment benefits. According to the complaint, the sites solicited certain core pieces of personal information from consumers, including, but not limited to, their full name, address, date of birth, gender, telephone number, and email address.

According to the complaint, the sites also asked consumers about various sensitive topics, including their employment status, income range, social security eligibility, health insurance, credit-card debt, and health conditions. The FTC alleges that consumers who provided all the requested information on the defendants' public benefits websites did not receive the promised eligibility determination.

According to the complaint, after providing information on the defendants' public benefits websites, consumers almost immediately began receiving marketing emails from the defendants and third parties. Consumers also started receiving text messages containing marketing offers from the defendants and third parties. The emails and texts contained various marketing offers, including job-search assistance, free gift cards, and home buyer grants. The complaint alleges that the defendants received millions of dollars from selling the personal data they collected from consumers through deceptive marketing.

The FTC complaint names as defendants Burton Katz, Brent Levison, Robert Zangrillo, Arlene Mahon, and Elisha Rothman, along with more than fifty companies they own and control.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 5-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has "reason to believe" that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The case will be decided by the court. 

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

Federal Trade Commission

Franklin Residents: Job Opportunities with Senior Center, DPW, Facilities, Fire Dept

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

• Senior Center Director 

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/senior-center-director-job-posting-feb72020.pdf

• Motor Equipment Repair Person (Mechanic) - Department of Public Works 

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/l6-motor-equipment-repair-person-external-posting-jan162020.pdf

• Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works 

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/hmeo-external-posting-october252019.pdf

• ON CALL SNOW SHOVELERS - Come work on an on call basis for the DPW and help us keep school and town sidewalks clean!

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/shoveler-posting.pdf

• Part-Time and Substitute Custodian positions - Facilities Department 

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/part-time.and-substitute-custodians-oct252019.pdf

• Firefighter/Paramedics - The Town of Franklin's Fire Department is in the Massachusetts Civil Service system. 
  • If you are currently a Firefighter/Paramedic in a Civil Service community and are interested in working for Franklin, send a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov. 
  • Please note: new hires must have and maintain a paramedic certification and complete an Associate's Degree within 5 years of the date they are hired.   

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/application_for_employment_-_town_of_franklin.pdf

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here 
http://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

Franklin Residents: Job Opportunities with Senior Center, DPW, Facilities, Fire Dept

MA Republican State Committeewoman, Patricia Saint Aubin, Supports Republican Contender Matt Kelly

Patricia Saint Aubin of Norfolk, the incumbent Massachusetts Republican State Committeewoman, joined dozens of other activists this evening for the formal announcement by Matt Kelly of his intention to reclaim the Norfolk, Bristol, & Middlesex Senate District for the Republican party. Saint Aubin represents the district within the state GOP.

Kelly, a Franklin businessman and long-time member of the Franklin Town Council, promised to make sure everyone in the district is fully represented in the legislature and that the needs of local communities, faced with rising costs and government mandates, are considered when new legislation is proposed. 

Matt Kelly, center, has announced his candidacy for State Senate. His wife, Lesley is shown to the left and GOP State Committeewoman Patricia Saint Aubin is to the right

Saint Aubin, who is looking to extend her term of service to the district on March 3, when party elections coincide with primary day, was enthusiastic about Kelly’s decision to run against first-term Senator, Democrat Rebecca Rausch of Needham. “Matt has shown his long-term commitment to tackling tough local issues and I’m sure he will make a big impact on Beacon Hill,” she said.

“I am a life-long Republican and I regularly attend nearly 100 percent of the Republican Town Committee meetings in my 11-town and one city district,” which includes Attleboro, North Attleboro, Plainville, Wrentham, Norfolk, Franklin, Millis, Sherborn, Natick, Wellesley, Needham and Wayland, says Saint Aubin. She is also a member of the Republican Town Committee in Norfolk. “In addition, I have missed only one State Committee meeting since I was elected in 2012,” she says.

Saint Aubin has worked for the campaigns of numerous Republican presidential, senatorial, and congressional candidates and many, many campaigns for state Representative and Senate within the Bay State. Saint Aubin herself was a candidate for the office of State Auditor in 2014 and was endorsed by the Boston Globe.

The Massachusetts Republican State Committee is the governing body of the Republican Party in Massachusetts. Members of the State Committee play a key role in building the Republican Party in their districts: they recruit candidates, help with fundraising, register new voters, and grow the local Republican City and Town Committees in the district. One state committeeman and one state committeewoman are elected from each state senate district every four years. 

 This year’s State Committee election will be held in conjunction with the Presidential Primary on March 3, 2020. “I encourage all Republican voters to make their voice heard on March 3; I hope to be Re-Elected in order to continue to help Republican candidates such as Matt Kelly for State Senate,” adds Saint Aubin.

FHS girls basketball post win vs. Taunton

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of FHS winter sports action on Friday

Boys Basketball = Taunton, 62 @ Franklin, 48 – Final
– A tight battle for three quarters, Taunton clamped down defensively in the fourth to limit the Panthers to a pair of field goals and five total points and pull out the win. Taunton’s offense got off to a good start and led 21-14 after a quarter before Franklin tightened things up, trailing 33-31 at halftime and 47-43 heading into the fourth. The Tigers had five players scored in the final quarter to secure the win with sophomore Tristan Herry (career-high 19 points) and junior Josh Lopes (15 points) each scoring four while sophomore Trent Santos, junior Tyler Stewart (13 points), and sophomore Faisal Mass (eight points) each had two. Lopes hit three three-pointers in the opening quarter and had 11 of his 15 points while Herry had a pair of first half three-pointers. Nigel Choate also had a three for Taunton, who had all six of its threes in the first half. Franklin senior Brayden Sullivan had a team-high 17 points, junior Andrew Byfield added 11 points, and senior Chris Edgehill added 10 points.

Girls Basketball = Franklin, 79 @ Taunton, 36 – Final
– Franklin came out of the gates swinging, surging to a big lead early and never looked back to beat Taunton. Ali Brigham had a game-high 25 points, Olivia Quinn added 18 points and Megan O’Connell added 13 points. Taunton freshman Kameron St. Pierre scored a team-high 14 points and Sonya Fernandez added six points for the Tigers, who had a much better second half.

Girls Gymnastics = Franklin @ Norton – Postponed

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-02-07-20/

FHS girls basketball post win vs. Taunton

FHS VS Norton has been cancelled tonight due to power outage. Please spread the word! @FHSSports @MetroWestSports @FranklinMatters @FHSPantherbook @FranklinHS

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) February 7, 2020

FPS Music Event: MICCA Showcase Concerts Mar 10 and Mar 12

MICCA SHOWCASE CONCERTS - 2020

Each year, the Franklin Public School performance ensembles participate in the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association music festival. 

 "It is the purpose of the Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductor's Association to encourage and support high-performance standards by high school, middle school, and elementary school musical organizations. MICCA Concert Festivals encourage the improvement of a group's musical standards by providing musical adjudication by highly qualified adjudicators. Attendance at a festival also allows organizations to hear performances by other groups and experience the presentation of a wide variety of musical literature."

The Franklin Music Department is pleased to invite you to come to celebrate over 500 student musicians as they perform this year's MICCA programs for the public. We will hold two concerts:

• On Tuesday, March 10 we will feature our Chorus and Orchestra students 
• On Thursday, March 12 we will feature all of our bands. 

Both concerts will be held and Franklin High School and begin at 6:00 PM

A $5 donation is requested at the door. Refreshments will be sold.

Prior year Symphony Band at MICCA

In the News: Kelly sets sights on state Senate

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

With 12 years of town elective office under his belt, Franklin Town Councilor Matthew Kelly is ready to take on a bigger role. With an eye toward Beacon Hill, he is mounting a campaign for the Norfolk, Bristol & Middlesex state Senate district.

Presently held by freshman Sen. Rebecca Rausch, D-Needham, who took office in January 2019, the seat represents Attleboro, Franklin, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Wayland, Wellesley and Wrentham.

Kelly, who officially announced his candidacy this week, asserts that many voters in the district “are fed up with narrow agendas and a lack of concern for the bread-and-butter issues that each of our communities face.”

“The citizens within the district have expressed concerns to me about the lack of focus and aid for our struggling city and town budgets, dilapidated roads, unreliable train service and ever increasing traffic,” he said. “As state senator, it will be my objective to work with each and every community to find ways for the state to support them through local aid and to ensure that legislation incorporates their concerns. My door will always be open, as it has been during over 12 years in local government.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200207/franklin-town-councilor-sets-sights-on-state-senate

https://twitter.com/MattKellySenate

Franklin Line - MBTA - Reminder: shuttle bus service on weekends through March 2020

South Station – Forge Park/495

Weekends through March

Shuttle buses will replace Franklin Line service between Forge Park/495 and Readville Stations while we upgrade the signal system as part of Positive Train Control (PTC) work. Also during this work, connecting train service between Readville and South Station will be on the Fairmount Line. There will be no Franklin Line service at Ruggles or Back Bay.

Learn about Positive Train Control

See all Franklin Line service changes

MBTA - Franklin Line - Reminder: shuttle bus service on weekends through March 2020

MassBudget: Taxing The GILTI

In our latest tax series report, Taxing the GILTI, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) highlights the impacts of corporate tax avoidance, and solutions to help bring this needed revenue back to the Bay State.

"Aggressive tax avoidance is a tactic often employed by large, multinational corporations and it's hurting our communities," said Marie-Frances Rivera, president of MassBudget. "At a time when there are calls for increased revenue to fund education and fix our broken transportation system, we can't afford to forfeit these dollars. Future generations are depending on us to do what's right."

Recognizing the scope and scale of this problem, federal lawmakers established a process for identifying some of this shifted income and then taxing a portion of it. The Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) provision allows the federal government and the states to recoup some of the tax dollars lost to aggressive corporate income shifting. "Currently, Massachusetts is not making full use of this powerful tool," said Kurt Wise, senior policy analyst and author of the report. 

"Recoupling to the GILTI provision would level the playing field for corporate taxpayers and would allow the Commonwealth to collect millions in tax dollars now lost to sophisticated accounting tricks."

Key findings in this report include:

• The federal government has created a tax provision, GILTI, to combat this abusive tax planning;
• Massachusetts lawmakers decoupled from this federal provision in 2018. Instead of taxing 50 percent of GILTI, as the federal provision does, Massachusetts now taxes only five percent;
• If lawmakers now choose to recouple to the federal provision, the Commonwealth stands to gain up to $450 million in additional revenue each year;
• Fourteen states - including ME, VT, NH and RI - have adopted the federal GILTI provision, taxing 50 percent of GILTI; and,
• States are on solid constitutional footing when taxing the GILTI, backed by multiple rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court dating back to the 19th Century.

To learn more about how the Commonwealth can combat abusive income shifting by large, multinational corporations, read the full Taxing the GILTI report here Bit.ly/TaxGILTI

For the full infographic
http://massbudget.org/reports/pdf/GILTI%20Infographic.pdf

For other resources, like our Gas Tax: What Is It and Who Pays fact sheet and more, visit our tax homepage here  http://massbudget.org

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

What is GILTI?

"The Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) provision was created to combat corporate tax avoidance. Many large, profitable U.S. multinational corporations go to great lengths to reduce their taxes."

MassBudget: Taxing The GILTI

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Feb 7 to THU - Feb 13

Friday, February 7

10:00am

 Knitting Group

10:30am

 Library-Happy Feet!-Ages 2-4

1:30pm

 Library-Storytime S.T.E.A.M.-Grades K-5

3:30pm

 Library - Chess Club for Kids! - Ages 8-13

7:00pm

 Jazz Cafe

7:30pm

 Shabbat Shirah

Saturday, February 8

10:00am

 Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)

10:00am

 Library - Adults - Tech Help with Nerds to Go

10:30am

 Library- Tape Town!- Whole Family

1:00pm

 Library- Girls Who Code!- Ages 6th-8th Grade

2:00pm

 Author Talk with Wayne Miller

8:00pm

 Small Potatoes: Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

Sunday, February 9

8:00am

 All You Can Eat Breakfast

1:00pm

 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:10pm

 Second Sunday Speaker Series

3:00pm

 Library - Adults - Acrylic Pour Workshop

4:00pm

 Irina Fainkichen and Irina Kotlyar

Monday, February 10

10:30am

 Library-Move Along- Ages 0-5

3:30pm

 Library- D&D for Kids- Ages 7-13

Tuesday, February 11

9:00am

 Kindergarten Registration

9:30am

 Library- Cool Cruisers- 8mo-18mo

10:30am

 Library-Get Ready for Kindergarten- 3-5yrs

4:00pm

 Library-Toe-Tapping Tuesdays-Ages 2-4!

6:00pm

 Library - Adults - Drop-In ESL Conversation Class

6:30pm

 Renaissance V Brass Valentine's Concert

7:00pm

 Concert Hour

7:00pm

 FCD: Partners Meeting

7:00pm

 Yankee Quilters: The history of Redwork quilts

7:30pm

 Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Public Meeting

7:30pm

 Let's Laugh Today

Wednesday, February 12

10:30am

 Library- Terrific Toddlers- Ages 18mo-3yrs

1:00pm

 Kindergarten Registration

3:30pm

 Library- Creation Station!- Ages 4+

6:30pm

 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

6:30pm

 Library-Teen Advisory Board-Teens (13+)

Thursday, February 13

9:30am

 Library- Tummy Time- Ages 0-12mo (pre-walkers)

10:30am

 Library-Story Xplorers- Ages 0-5

4:00pm

 Library- Bookworm Bounce Storytime!- Ages 0-5

6:30pm

 Library-Tales for Tails-Grades 2+

7:00pm

 2/6 Concert Hour Snow Date

8:00pm

 adam connie sr.

For the interactive version, please visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this link

https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/links/submit-event

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Feb  7 to THU - Feb 13

EVERLY BROTHERS EXPERIENCE featuring THE ZMED BROTHERS

at OCC Coffeehouse on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2 PM (Note the afternoon time)

This is a reminder that this concert is a little more than a week away. Don't miss it! Get your tickets either online or in the church office.

Since 2016, brothers Zachary and Dylan Zmed, along with their partner and drummer Burleigh Drummond, have celebrated the pivotal music and history of The Everly Brothers legacy with enthusiastic crowds all across the US and overseas in prestigious venues. 

They say, “The music of the 50's and 60's are nostalgic for us, our parents raised us all on it, and we feel that the Everly's contribution is greatly overlooked, especially by younger generations. Our aim is not to impersonate but to do our best in honoring the aesthetics of their iconic sound and in honoring the important role they played in pioneering the rock n' roll movement, all while having a little fun sharing our own personal story,” 

and they do just that. The Zmed Brothers continuously strive to pay homage to their personal roots by always infusing an instinctual blend of entertainment (a la Smothers Brothers) and contextual education in their performance.

The Everly Brothers' career lasted over half a century, they recorded 21 studio albums, sold more than 60 million records world wide, had over 30 billboard top-100 singles, which still to this day is the record for most billboard charting hits of any sibling rock duo ever. They received numerous accolades in their later career, and influenced countless legendary artist that came after them, including 

THE ZMED BROTHERS

The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Bee Gees, Neil Young..and the list goes on. 

THE ZMED BROTHERS are absolutely thrilled to be able to contribute to a cause that supports the recognition and preservation of the intimate and singular origins of America's greatest Rock n' Roll singing sibling duo.

Tickets for the concert are $35, available at the church office, 508-384-3110, or at www.musicatocc.org. The event will be in the sanctuary of the church with entry from the side door. Parking is available behind the church and in the lot across the street. For more information and to be added to the mailing list, visit the website or contact Ken Graves, 508-384-8084, occmusic99@gmail.com.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS SEASON

We have noticed that occasionally people like to gather their friends or fellow group members to attend one of our concerts as a group. As a way to encourage that, we will give you 2 free tickets for every 10 tickets you purchase. For instance, if you buy 10 tickets, you will get 12. Buying 20 tickets gets you a total of 24. Give it a try! More people to share the fun with!