Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Help MassBudget Help Everyone



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Dear Friend,

MassBudget produces high-quality research, clear and accurate data, and trusted policy analysis.  And we make all of it available - for free - to everyone.  We believe that this leads to more inclusive public debates, more voices being heard, and policy choices that better reflect the interests and values of everyone in our Commonwealth, especially low- and moderate-income people.

If you agree that this is important, please consider a donation to MassBudget today.

In recent months people across the nation have begun to focus on the harm caused by economic inequality.  The problem is real, and there are real solutions.  Of course, many are national in scope, but states also play a crucial role in expanding opportunity, and protecting the economic security of families.  Economic strength that leads to widely-shared prosperity is built with things that states can provide:
  • High quality education and training for everyone;
  • Work supports like child care and health care that allow lower income parents to succeed in the workforce;
  • Reliable infrastructure to transport goods, customers and workers;
  • A fair and adequate tax system to pay for these effective investments
MassBudget's work - and people across the Commonwealth who use it - have been at the forefront of advancing the debate on these crucial issues.

When we help all of our people to participate effectively in our economy, we not only help those who are given new opportunities, but also our overall economy.  In the words of the late Paul Wellstone, "We all do better when we all do better."

If you share MassBudget's vision for a more inclusive, effective democracy and economy, please click here to give generously today.

Thank you,

 
Noah Berger
President
MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.  MassBudget is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  All contributions are tax-deductible.


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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Outdoors in Franklin

Looking to get out of the house and do something this week? Take a hike in Franklin.

Noted author Michael Tougias also wrote a "Trailguide: Outdoors in Franklin." The trailguide can be found on the Franklin website.

Author Michael Tougias has written many area guidebooks including River Days: Exploring the Connecticut River from Source to Sea, Exploring the Hidden Charles: A Guide to Outdoor Activities on Boston's Celebrated River, and New England Wild Places: Journey's Through the Back Country, as well as Until I Have No Country: A Novel of King Philip's War in New England and the non-Fiction King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict. 
This guidebook was developed as an initiative of the Franklin Open Space Committee with support from the Department of Community Planning including former director Todd Ford, current Director Daniel Ben Yisrael, Town Ecologist Rich Vacca, and GIS Specialist Nick Alfieri as well as input and support from the Conservation Commission. Special thanks go to the graphic arts class of Mr. Eskay Sriram at Tri-County Regional Vocational School, which provided several excellent candidates for cover illustrations. The illustration selected was created by Corey Gray.

There are descriptions of walks covering the following:

• Franklin Town Forest
• Franklin State Forest
• Charles River
• Indian Rock
• DelCarte Conservation Area
• Beaver Pond
• Charles River
• Dacey Farm
• Uncas Pond and Trout Fishing
• SNETT Trail

As this was written in 2002, the some of the subject areas may have changed. The Dacey Farm has since become more formal open space for Franklin with the development of ball fields and most recently the dog park.

The trailguide can be found here (PDF):

Monday, December 26, 2011

Happy Boxing Day!

There were plenty of good times with the extended family around for dinner on Sunday. There will be more time this week to spend with family. For those also who have taken time off from work this week, let there be safe travels and good times to enjoy!

Boxing Day is traditionally a day following Christmas when wealthy people and homeowners in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants. Nowadays Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday that occurs on December 26, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some other Commonwealth nations.
Read more about Boxing Day here




Saturday, December 24, 2011

"the celebration of Hanukkah"


The lighting was part of the temple’s annual celebration of Hanukkah, the eight-day holiday meant commemorating the Jews reclaiming Jerusalem from the oppressive Syrian Greeks. 
“Hanukkah is most often a home celebration in Judaism,” Widzer said. “What we’ve developed as our tradition here is we take one of those nights and celebrate with the (congregational) family.” 
About a dozen families came to see the candles lit on the fourth night of Hanukkah, the men and boys wearing yarmulkes, the traditional cloth skull caps, of various colors. One man even wore a yarmulke with the Patriots logo emblazoned on it.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1282424418/Franklin-temple-celebrates-Hanukkah-on-Town-Common#ixzz1hS7OcNUs

Friday, December 23, 2011

Ninja cookies

Christmas cookies

simple sugar cookies, some shape makers, different color frosting and some time

Ninja Christmas cookies

given the time, creativity will flow and maybe the ninja cookies will be delightful!

Have the kids (both big and little) gathered in your house for cookie decorating?

Hamilton Storage Technology

The following press release confirms the last step in the process for Hamilton Storage Technology to get the tax incentive that the Town Council approved. Hamilton Storage has purchased 3 Forge Parkway for its new headquarters facility.

The tax incentive allows the company to pay a smaller amount initially on the improvements they are making and gradually the amount increases over ten years. So whatever the tax would be on the base value they pay full and then only 5% for the first year on the improvement amount. The improvement amount increases to 10% the next year and ten percent each year thereafter.

Franklin gets revenue and an increasing amount of revenue over time. The company gets to develop their property bringing jobs to the area. A good win-win proposition.

Press Release - Hamilton Storage Technologies

Related posts on Hamilton Storage Technology

June  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/06/needs-to-open-its-doors-in-franklin.html

Sep http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/09/real-time-reporting-legislation-part-1.html

Sep http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/09/hamilton-storage-technologies.html