Rail Trail Committee meeting - Jun 11

The agenda for the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee meeting is available for review.




Additional information on the Rail Trail can be found on their webpage
http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

MassBudget: Declining value of the minimum wage for tipped workers

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers A strong minimum wage helps workers support their families, and it can bolster our economy by increasing the amount of money workers have to spend at local businesses. In the case of workers who regularly earn tips, like waiters and hairdressers, employers are only required to pay what's called the "tipped minimum wage," which in Massachusetts is well below the regular minimum wage (it is currently $2.63). The law then requires that for any such worker, the combination of hourly pay and tips must be at least as high as the full minimum wage. Our new factsheet, "The Declining Value of the Tipped Minimum Wage in Massachusetts," tracks the history of the tipped minimum wage and finds that: Since 1968, the value of the tipped minimum wage has fallen by 58% Massachussets has the lowest tipped minimum wage in New England Nationwide, about 73% of all tipped workers are women In those states where the tipped minimum wage is above the federal minimum, the number of tipped workers living in poverty is lower. And the difference is especially dramatic in states where the tipped minimum wage is the same as the regular minimum wage. "The Declining Value of the Tipped Minimum Wage in Massachusetts" is part of MassBudget's ongoing analysis of the Massachusetts minimum wage. Other recent reports include: What's It Worth?: The Value of the Minimum Wage in Massachusetts Who is Affected by the Minimum Wage? The Minimum Wage and Job Creation Futures of the Minimum Wage - an interactive tool showing the effect of various proposals Read THE DECLINING VALUE OF THE TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE IN MASSACHUSETTS See OUR RECENT WORK ON THE MINIMUM WAGE 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. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Franklin Youth Soccer Association registration for Fall 2013

Franklin Youth Soccer Association registration for Fall 2013 Soccer will be closing on Sunday, June 16^th.

Programs are available for children ages 4 through High School.  Cost to play is $65.  Uniform cost is additional where needed.

Registration is online at:  http://www.franklinyouthsoccer.org/registration

Fall season will run Sept 7^th – Nov 16^th.  In addition, summer camp options are available:  http://www.franklinyouthsoccer.org/resources/summercamps

"These were exploratory-type conversations"

In the Town Council meeting last Wednesday, the final approval was received for the medical marijuana zoning changes. Franklin is now prepared for a business looking to locate here.

Its "Medical Marijuana Use Overlay Districts" are spread out on or near Forge Parkway, National Drive, Kenwood Circle and Constitution Boulevard. Located south and west of Interstate 495, they fall within the town’s industrial zone. 

Incidentally, the industrial zone also contains an "Adult Use Overlay District" designated for adult entertainment businesses, such as strip clubs and risqué bookstores. 

According to the town’s regulations, a registered dispensary, the nonprofit company where the drug can be cultivated and sold to patients who’ve received approval from a doctor to use it, could not set up shop within 200 feet of a residential zoned district, school, library, church, child-care facility, park or playground.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x625969468/Zoning-regulations-for-medical-pot-shops-approved-in-Franklin#ixzz2VtnrC2XO


While the anaerobic digestion plant took the headlines last week, one of the series of zoning bylaw changes covered the medical marijuana overlay district
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/live-reporting-legislation-continued_5.html

The full set of reporting for the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/anaerobic-digestion-tabled-in-franklin.html

Mount St Mary's - solar farm

The sisters of Mount St Mary's Abbey installed a wind turbine a couple of years ago. It helps to power their candy store operations.  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/09/mount-st-marys-new-candy-house.html

You can purchase their candy on site or via their web store  http://www.trappistinecandy.com/

Mt St Mary's Abbey - wind turbine

The wind turbine in action as captured in a 2010 video
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/02/abbey-wind-turbine.html


Recently they signed an agreement with the Town of Franklin to install a solar farm. The Town Council voted in November 2012 to approve the deal.  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/real-time-reporting-legislation.html

Mt St Mary's Abbey - solar farm

I stopped by on Sunday to grab these photos of the construction underway for this solar farm.

Mt St Mary's Abbey - solar farm 2

The frames are sturdy and follow the contour of the ground.  Completely installed the farm is reported to generate 6 megawatts of electricity.

Mt St Mary's Abbey - solar farm 3

The galvanized steel (?) is shining in the sunlight. When the panels are installed the sunlight will be generating electricity.

Mt St Mary's Abbey - solar farm 4

Additional links
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/its-win-win-for-town.html

Mount St Mary's Abbey = http://abbey.msmabbey.org/

Seven Years STRONG

View on the web Click here

Hey Steve  This month, my "baby" is celebrating its 7th anniversary! I know....time flies! It would be an understatement to say that it was a lot of hard work to made Shades IN Place come this far. Looking back, I decided to list the seven biggest reasons that I believe have helped the most in keeping us alive. Just a side note: there is absolutely no order of importance and all the reasons somewhat interconnect to one another. HAVING FUN - I enjoy meeting new people and learning about how they live, their culture and how each individual sees their lives. I meet some very wealthy and bright minds and it fascinates me when I am able to provide a solution for them. It puts a smile on my face. GOING THE EXTRA SEVERAL MILES - Because I was a long haul truck driver in the past, to me, no job is too far. If my clients like my work so much that they trust me working on their vacation homes, why would I say no? For those "far away jobs" I bring Ana along for the ride and buy her a nice dinner at the end of the day.  At this point I have completed work in all six New England states plus NY. BILLBOARD ON WHEELS - if you don't promote your business how people will know about it? To me, every moment is an opportunity. I even got a nice job because the girl at the bakery shop saw my shirt and said: "Oh, you do curtains? Please call my friend." The "friend" was a nice high end contractor...go figure!  NEVER STOP LEARNING - I was called on a job in Boston for some hard to reach windows a few years back. The guy showed me the windows and what he wanted. Then I said "Sure, I can do it".  He said "NO, YOU CAN'T!"  And he followed "there were four companies before you and they all said no!"  Well, because I keep myself on top of the industry, I was able to provide a solution for his challenging windows. SUPPORT FROM ANA - If you are married you know.... no man can work 15 - 18 hour days for too long without getting complaints from the wife. But my wife Ana is unique and she was aware that she was marring a workaholic guy. Ok, I admit, she is slowly changing me. I now "only" work 14 hours day max. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DRIVEN - My motto is "if you are happy, I am happy." And I also live by the principle of "treat people the way you would like to be treated." I am so shocked when people thank me for returning their call - it's my obligation to at least let you know if I can help you or not. LOVE CHALLENGES - this is my favorite! The harder, the more complicated the tallest the better...Some professionals like to make money the easy way. I, on the other hand, must be an exception because I LOVE the challenges and to solve problems other companies avoid confronting. Three years ago, one of my competitors called asking if I was interested in doing a job on behalf of his company. He said that none of his installers could do the job. Well, I did. Imagine that - even my competitors HIRE me! Thanks again for supporting Shades IN Place, Ana and me!   Now, if you want a piece of the birthday cake too you must be the SEVENTH person to call 508-520-6700 and sing "Happy Birthday". Ok...ok...if you are shy like me, you can email me your congratulations. It will count as well. See you again in seven years... Oh, wait! No, see you next month!     Roger Magalhaes  Shades IN Place, Inc. SHOWROOM HOURS Tue - 10am - 5pm Thru - 10am - 5pm Sat - 10am - 3pm *** Buy More...$ave More ***  Spring is in the air.And so is the several projects around the house. The more you buy, the more you save: 5 to 10 window coverings = 5% off 11 to 15 window coverings = 10% off 16 and up = 15% off

Forward email . Shades IN Place | 76 Grove St | Franklin | MA | 02038

"If the music stops, keep dancing"

The Milford Daily News reports on the graduation at Tri-County by writing:

The Superintendent-Director of Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School applauded the hard work the graduating class of 2013 had done to reach this moment in their lives. He also commended the parents for all their support. 

"Sometime today you should thank them for caring so much about you," Dockray encouraged the graduates under a bright blue sky Sunday, when 223 students received their diplomas and trade certificates at Tri-County's 34th commencement exercises. 

The hard work of the graduates has not gone unnoticed. More than $60,000 in scholarships has been awarded to those choosing to further their academic careers.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x625969029/More-than-200-students-turn-tassels-at-Franklins-Tri-County-Regional-Voc-Tech#ixzz2Vo0CbtI4