Saturday, January 19, 2013

Livy's Hope - The Cake Bar

While I was on my errands Saturday afternoon, Tracie Turinese sent me an email about a fund raiser at her place, The Cake Bar. Hmm, I was going to drive right by on my way home, might as well stop in and see what's up.

The Cake Bar was busy. As I was in line, watching for an opportunity to take a picture of the luscious cupcakes in the display case, the tray marked "Livy's Hope" was pulled out. The last of that batch had just been sold. Any cupcake purchase qualifies for a contribution to this cause so I did make a choice. There are so many decadent ones to choose from!


Here is the flyer with the full story on the fund raising effort for Livy




Here is a view of the special Livy cupcakes. Yes, more are being made. You might be able to get one or more when you go there this weekend.

The Cake Bar - Livy's Hope

For more about Livy's Hope you can visit their webpage   www.livyshope.com

If you don't make it to the Cake Bar, you can donate through the Livy's Hope website


BTW - The Cake Bar now is selling gluten free cupcakes made by Twist Bakery from Millis


If it is hard to get to the links in the flyer, you can try these

Food Pantry: Volunteers needed for Phone-a-thon


Franklin Food Pantry Volunteers,

On Saturday(s), February 9th and February 16th the Franklin Food Pantry will be holding its biggest fundraiser, The Annual Phone-A-Thon.

Last year, through the help of generous folks like you, we were able to raise over $12,500.00 to feed our Franklin neighbors in need.

This year, it is our goal to exceed that number by 20% to support the 40% increase in the number of clients seeking our assistance.

Will you join us?

Volunteers are asked to sign on for two-hour call shifts at Dean College:

February 9th       February 16th
10:00-Noon
Noon-2:00
2:00-4:00

Can we count you in?

Please call the Phone-A-Thon hotline @ (508) 528-3115 (option 5 on voicemail), or contact me via email bob@franklinfoodpantry.org.

Please be sure to leave the following information
· First name, Last name
· Best phone number to reach you
· Email address
· Preference of day and shift/time(s)

Your response by January 26th would be appreciated.

As always, it is neighbors like you that keep us going!

Thanks,

Bob Hamilton
Fundraising Committee Chair


Note: this was also posted to the Franklin Food Pantry web page here
Disclosure: I am one of the volunteers on the Board of Directors for the Food Pantry and proud to lead this effort to help our neighbors.

MassBudget: Analyzing the Governor's Proposals on Education, Transportation, and Revenue



MassBudget    Information.
   Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy.
Analyzing the Governor's Proposals
Over the past week, the Governor has introduced a series of important policy proposals, including: 1) new investments in education; 2) a commitment to fix and improve the state's transportation system; and 3) a detailed plan to pay for these investments with new revenue.

MassBudget's "First Look at the Governor's Proposals" analyzes each of these initiatives, including the impact they would have on Early Education & Care, K-12, Higher Ed., Transportation, the Sales Tax, and the Income Tax. Among other things, the Governor's proposals include:

  • Significantly more funding for Early Education & Care, to help ensure that lower-income families have access to the kind of high-quality child care that helps prepare young children for success in school and in life.

  • A combination of sales taxes decreases and income tax increases that would help fund these investments in education and transportation with $1.9 billion in new revenues--while also making the state's tax system more fair.




Other MassBudget Updates
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
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This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |  

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

In the News: Lt Gov Murray, head on crash, right to repair, stove rebates



Lt. Gov. Murray: I won't run for governor next year

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, after spending the last 15 years in local and statewide public office, will not run for governor in 2014, citing the time commitment that would be required to juggle his current job, a full-time campaign, and his responsibilities to his family.

Two hurt in head-on crash in Franklin

Two women were injured, one seriously, in a head-on collision on Rte. 140 near Franklin Village shopping center Thursday night, police said.

Note: the stub of the story available on Friday has been updated in this posting.



'Right to Repair' might need fixing

Get ready for Right to Repair déjà vu. Last year, the Bay State passed two versions of a bill requiring automakers to make previously guarded diagnostic and repair information available to independent garages. The measures conflict on key details, and now advocacy groups are lining up behind dueling bills on how to reconcile the differences.


State offers rebates for new woodstoves

The state's Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs today announced the second round of a program that provides rebates to residents for the replacement of old, inefficient wood or coal-burning stoves.




Friday, January 18, 2013

Downtown triangle signs

On the triangle, if you have driven by this week maybe you saw one side of the sign.



If you didn't go back the same way, maybe you did not see the other side of the sign



With the eventual reconfiguration of this intersection to allow two way traffic on Main St, I expect these signs will go away. I recall from one of the preparation meetings, there is a plan for the historical water trough. It wasn't always here and can be re-located.


I hope it finds a good place. It is one of the connections to where I grew up, down the road a piece in Pawtucket, RI.

Andy Puddicombe: All it takes is 10 mindful minutes (video)


"Most people assume that meditation is all about stopping thoughts, getting rid of emotions, somehow controlling the mind. But actually it's … about stepping back, seeing the thought clearly, witnessing it coming and going.” (Andy Puddicombe)

Hear this quote in the context of this 10 minute video



Then reward yourself with 10 minutes of nothing.

You can do it!

Governor Patrick calls for income tax hike, sales tax cut

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Bob Salsberg on 1/17/13

deval-patrick-011613.jpg
Gov. Deval Patrick asked the Legislature on Wednesday to support a net increase of $1.9 billion in state taxes to support major new spending on transportation and education. Patrick used his annual state of the state address to propose hiking the state income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent, while doubling the personal exemption for all taxpayers and eliminating dozens of itemized deductions. At the same time, he called for reducing the state sales tax from the current 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent.

Things you can do from here: