Holiday Stroll - Dec 4 - 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

The Christmas tree located on the triangle in downtown Franklin will get its lights turned on this evening for the Holiday Stroll.

Christmas tree downtown Franklin

For more information on the events at the Holiday Stroll check out the Downtown Partnership page here  http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2014/11/2014-holiday-stroll-press-release.html

Important Information Regarding FiOS TV - FOX is back

MY VERIZON SUPPORT PASSWORD HELP Important FiOS® TV Content Information Dear Valued Verizon Customer, As of December 3, 2014, Verizon and Cox Media Group reached an agreement to renew the contract allowing Verizon FiOS® to carry Cox Media's programming on the following channels: CHANNELS STATION STATION NAME 8 & 508 FOX WFXT-Fox TV 25 490 FOX WFXT Movies 21 & 521 FOX Fox TV 25 The channels will be updated shortly to carry Cox Media's programming.  At Verizon, we understand the importance of providing great service at a fair price. We apologize for any inconvenience you experienced as a result of the temporary loss of this programming.  The agreement we  reached  with Cox Media  provides reasonable rates and ensures you will receive the programming you want. Please know that we appreciate your patience and value your business.  We hope this email has addressed any concerns you may have had regarding your FiOS TV channels. Please visit verizon.com/content to find the latest information regarding this agreement. Sincerely, Your Verizon Team Quick Links: Sign In Forgot Password? Customer Service Ensure Verizon emails reach your inbox by adding verizon-notification@verizon.com to your "safe" email list. Your email or Internet provider can provide instructions on how it works. This email has been sent from an auto-notification system that cannot accept incoming email. © 2014 Verizon

MassBudget: FAQ on automatic income tax rate cut

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Automatic Income Tax Rate Cuts: Frequently Asked Questions The Governor recently announced the need to cut funding for school transportation, job training, health care, and other investments that support and strengthen our people and our economy. One of the reasons for these cuts was the anticipated triggering (which became official today) of an automatic tax cut caused by a twelve year old law.  "While our Commonwealth could be making investments to expand opportunity for all of our children and improve lives in our communities, this automatic tax cut will primarily benefit the wealthy and it will likely force cuts in education, transportation, and other investments in our people and our economy," said Noah Berger, President of MassBudget. This tax cut, which primarily benefits the highest income taxpayers, will cost the Commonwealth $145 million a year. It is part of a series of automatic income tax rate cuts that together will cost the Commonwealth $325 million this fiscal year. The annual cost could grow to over $800 million over the next five years. This could significantly weaken the Commonwealth's ability to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, invest in expanding access to high quality education, and protect access to affordable health care. MassBudget's new fact sheet Automatic Income Tax Rate Cuts: FAQ describes how this automatic tax cut works and examines its likely consequences. This tax cuts has its origins in a series of income tax cuts that began in 1998. Those tax cuts cost the Commonwealth over $3 billion a year and, in the years since, we have seen deep cuts in education, local aid, and other important public services (see chart above).  The primary beneficiaries of the automatic tax cut will be the very highest income households (see chart below), who already pay a smaller share of their income toward state and local taxes than do other households. 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

MassBudget

Hockomock League boys soccer awards

Franklin senior midfielder Tim LaRowe has been named the third annual HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Player of the year. LaRowe was also selected as a Hockomock League All Star, EMass All Star and named an All-State player by the EMSCA. 

LaRowe was a big reason why the Panthers were able to claim their fourth straight Hockomock League Kelley-Rex Division title. He scored four goals and had four assists on the season, but his affect on the game went far beyond the stat sheet. 

"Statistics don't really tell the story of how valuable Tim was to our team," Franklin head coach Fran Bositis said. "He was clearly an outstanding leader, someone who his teammates looked up to and responded to. He was like having a coach on the field, he was our organizer offensively and defensively.

Hockomock Sports photo of Tim LaRowe

Hockomock Sports First XI

F - Andrew Allen, King Philip
F - Damian Kozak, Canton
F - Kyle Lameiras, Attleboro
M - Devante Teixeira, Foxboro
M - Tim LaRowe, Franklin
M - Matt Rodrigues, Attleboro
M - Joe Morrison, Foxboro
D - Jeff Melo, Foxboro
D - Ben LaBelle, Franklin
D - Chris Romero, Oliver Ames
G - Jason Ross, Attleboro

The complete listing of awards for Boys Soccer can be found here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/2014-hockomocksportscom-boys-soccer-awards

Blackstone River Theatre - FREE Holiday Craft Fair & Festival Saturday!

THANK YOU! This year's Solstice Fest was our biggest yet... stay tuned for more on the 2015 festival set for June 20th... COMING SOON TO BRT!                     Ongoing   Zumba with April Hilliker on Mondays, 6:30 PM NO CLASSES 12/22 OR 12/29       Saturday, December 6 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. FREE!  7th annual BRT HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR & FESTIVAL 26 artisans and crafters and live continuous music! Sunday, December 7 2 PM and 5 PM shows! BOTH SHOWS ARE COMPLETELY SOLD OUT... THANK YOU!   3rd annual IRISH DANCE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR featuring TIR NA NOG IRISH DANCE Saturday, Dec. 13, 8 PM AND  Sunday, Dec. 14, 7 PM $18 adv / $20.00 day of show BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION!   Quick Links... BRT Website     BRT Classes       Directions to BRT Tickets often available at door but to ensure a seat CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 401-725-9272 Please understand that when a show is SOLD OUT, it truly is! We must adhere to fire codes and it truly is not possible to fit "just one more"... especially when we have had several people ask to do the same! If a show at BRT has an advance price & a day-of-show price it means: If you pre-pay OR call in your reservation any time before the show date, you get the advance price. If you show up at the door with no reservations OR call in your reservations on the same day as the show, you will pay the day-of show-price. NOTE for prepaid tickets or if reservations have been made but not pre-paid: If you reduce the number of tickets requested or paid for at the box office on the night of the performance, that ticket must still be paid for! BRT requires 24 hour notice for cancellations or you will be charged for all seats reserved. Dear Steve, What an amazing SOLD OUT Homecoming Concert Saturday... And we are very pleased to say that BOTH SHOWS of the TIR NA NOG IRISH DANCE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR on this Sunday have already sold out as well! But we have a great event for you this Saturday.... BRT's 7th annual HOLIDAY FAIR AND CRAFT FESTIVAL SHOP LOCALLY AND SUPPORT BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE WHILE YOU DO IT... and it is FREE. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook to get late-breaking news and really expensive gifts. Well, not that last one but definitely the first part... Please share what we do with your friends! www.facebook.com/pages/Blackstone-River-Theatre/165592431396    Hope to see you soon... Russell Gusetti, Executive Director   Blackstone River Theatre's 7th annual CRAFT FAIR AND HOLIDAY FESTIVAL Blackstone River Theatre invites YOU to our 7th annual Craft Fair and Holiday Festival. Please come out and support BRT programming as well as area craft vendors, artisans and home-based businesses while you do your holiday shopping locally! We will have 26 vendors on site and the event will also feature continuous live music by members of Pendragon, The Broad Street Fiddlers, and The Swamp Meadow Victorian Carolers plus raffle prizes, a bake sale table, refreshments and more. Door prizes will be raffled off from each vendor with the raffle proceeds to benefit BRT's programming. Think out of the box (store!)   Event Info Saturday, December 6, 9:00 A.M. to 3 P.M. FREE EVENT! at Blackstone River Theatre 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I.  www.riverfolk.org BOTH SHOWS ALREADY SOLD OUT! IRISH DANCE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR     Event Info Sunday, December 7, 2 P.M. and 5 P.M. BOTH SHOWS ALREADY SOLD OUT! at Blackstone River Theatre 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I.  www.riverfolk.org BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Blackstone River Theatre will present our 7th annual Christmas Celebration featuring Aubrey Atwater, Erika Damiani, Elwood Donnelly, Bob Drouin, Kevin Doyle, Russell Gusetti, Josh Kane, The Miller Family, Mary Lee Partington, Torrin Ryan, and the Swamp Meadow Victorian Carolers. Audiences can expect the unexpected - familiar and unfamiliar songs, high energy clogging and step dancing, ancient carols, spoken word, jokes and more - as musicians and dancers perform in varied combinations or join together on beautiful Christmas and winter-themed pieces.   Event Info Saturday, December 13, 8 P.M. AND Sunday, December 14, 7:00 P.M. $18.00 advance / $20.00 day of show Sponsored in part by Navigant Credit Union at Blackstone River Theatre 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I. Call 401-725-9272 for reservations  www.riverfolk.org

Forward email to a friend! Blackstone River Theatre | 549 Broad Street | Cumberland | RI | 02864

Jane's Frames Events - Holiday Stroll - Dec4

Holiday Stroll Downtown Franklin Dec 4, 2014, 4pm - 7 pm Dear Steve, Stop in to Jane's Frames during the   Holiday Stroll Thursday, 4- 8 pm Meet Ann Williams of Pour Richards Wine & Spirits while you enjoy some sampling from her line, stick around to listen to Jamie Barrett performing from 6pm-7pm.       See the new line of Gifts and Home Decor, including Puzzles, Jewelry, Greeting Cards, Handmade Table Runners, unique clocks, Original Artwork and more.        Check out the Special Pricing on prints as we offer some fantastic deals beginning at $2.00!!      We are looking forward to seeing you! Sincerely, Jane Curran Jane's Frames

Forward this email Jane's Frames | 11 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

In the News: Holiday Stroll, funding OPEB

A Holiday Stroll will kick off Thursday evening at Dean College with carolers providing the festive background music for a tree-lighting ceremony. 

The ceremony starts at 4 p.m. on the Dean College campus, 99 Main St., with the historic Dean Hall serving as the backdrop. The stroll then moves into the downtown, where more than 30 local businesses will provide entertainment, food and shopping until 7 p.m. for the hundreds of revelers expected to attend the Franklin Downtown Partnership annual event. 

“The Holiday Stroll is a unique event that we feel really showcases our businesses," said organizer Gregg Chalk. "Our merchants stay open late and invite everyone inside. It’s a great opportunity to discover new businesses and have one-on-one conversations with business owners."

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141204/NEWS/141208603/1994/NEWS

In recent years, Franklin and towns throughout the state have made it a mandate to put away more money for other post-employment benefits, also known as OPEB, which consists mostly of retiree health insurance. 

Franklin has an $89 million unfunded liability that is continuing to grow. To date, town officials have saved about $1.2 million in a stabilization account, but the creation of a trust would give them more options to invest the money in hopes of shrinking the liability. 

"If you establish a trust, you are allowed by law to invest in a much broader way, including equities," said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. "This is happening across the commonwealth." 

The trust will be made up of five members, including Nutting and two residents appointed by the council.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141204/NEWS/141208523/1994/NEWS