Saturday, April 6, 2013

MassBudget: the new transportation plan - how does it compare



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 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy.
Less Revenue. Fewer Investments.
Earlier this week, House and Senate leaders unveiled their plan to fund transportation with a combination of new tax revenue and increased fees. The plan would shore up MBTA finances and move MassDOT employees from the capital budget to the operating budget--freeing up resources for capital spending. The Joint House and Senate plan is significantly smaller than the Governor's earlier transportation package and it does not include the investments in education that the Governor had proposed.

MassBudget's new brief, "The Joint Ways & Means Transportation Proposal," describes the basic structure of the new proposal and compares it to the Governor's.

  • The Joint Ways & Means plan is significantly smaller than the Governor's, raising less money for capital projects.

  • Whereas the Governor's proposal included efforts to make higher education more affordable, to expand access to early education & care, and to increase funding for our public schools, the Joint Ways & Means proposal is focused on transportation. More will be known about the impact on other areas when the House Ways & Means budget comes out next week.

  • New tax revenues to support the Joint Ways & Means plan come from a mix of focused changes, including increases in gas and tobacco taxes along with some changes to business taxes


For a fuller discussion of the Governor's proposal, see OUR BUDGET MONITOR
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

"We need to go back and re-evaluate"

Initiated during the Citizens Comments during the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, the issue of the intersection at BJ's was discussed during the New Business section and reported on by the Milford Daily News here.
The accident opened old wounds for the West Central Street neighborhood of some 80 homes. For Jenkins and her husband, Gordon, though this crash hit close to home, it was not a surprise. 
While jamming on their brakes and laying on their horns, they and several other Conlyn Avenue residents have been lobbying the town and the state to install a full traffic light there for years. 
They’ve written letters, sent in petitions, gone to the State House, attended Planning Board and Town Council meetings and even stood about the intersection with "STOP" signs, all for naught. 
Because the Massachusetts Department of Transportation owns the roadway, the town cannot install a traffic light. And MassDOT won’t act in large part because not enough traffic passes through the intersection to warrant a light.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1433808197/Crusade-continues-for-signal-at-Franklin-intersection#ixzz2Pg5C4myH

For all the reporting on what happened at the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, check here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/town-council-040313.html

Friday, April 5, 2013

Bert Jacobs brings his optimism to Dean

"Optimism Can Take You Anywhere" was the title of the presentation and talk that Bert Jacobs gave at Dean College on Thursday evening. This was the 8th in the series by the Dean Leadership Institute. Dr. Paula Rooney thanked the Robert Kraft and the Kraft Group, last year's speaker for helping to make the connection with the Life is Good founder.

Dean Leadership Institute
Dr Paula Rooney introduction

Bert wasn't going to talk about t-shirts. He was going to talk about how to approach life as an optimist and how that makes a difference. He touted one of the key factors in his own development as having a family dinner. "Half the world's problems would be solved if people sat down regularly to a family dinner." He father had told him he could be part of the problem or part of the solution.

He downplayed the "6:00 news" as really the "6:00 violence report." When you look around there is a whole lot of good in the world. Longevity is up. Wealth is better distributed. There is no active war at this time. Is life perfect, no. But it is not as bad as it is reported to be.

Dean Leadership Institute
Bert Jacobs at Dean College

He touted persistence. he and his brother had five and a half years of bad ideas before they hit upon a good one. The good one being the first smiling face t-shirt who image eventually got the name "Jake." What told him that had hit on a good idea. That they had sold 48 t-shirts in an hour in Cambridge to 48 different people. They recognized they had found their market with "life is good."

They focused on finding an element of life and celebrating it. He told of his first t-shirt shop on Cape Cod. They were next to an ice cream parlor. The owner called him to order more shirts and asked if "Jake" could be eating ice cream? Sure, why not. Another idea came from a store owner in Vermont who wanted Jake riding a mountain bike. Sure, why not.

Some ideas didn't work as well as others. Oddly, they had trouble with Jake in a wheel chair. Folks were not getting the real 'life is good' message. "Takers may eat well, but givers sleep well." "Life can hurt, but play can heal."

life is good
Bert Jacobs at Dean

He told the story of how they developed their Halloween pumpkin celebrations, how they eveloved to focus on sharing their wealth and doing fund raising for kids. Life is Good Playmakers is part of the overall company. He told of their plans to expand their product lines beyond t-shirts. Hallmark is selling life is good cards. Life is good will have coffee come July. He wouldn't reveal their partner in the coffee business.  They are in talks with an auto manufacturer for a Life is good vehicle.

Bert said "authenticity builds business." "The only ones who can build a brand are your customers." Life is good does not do advertising, everything they do is by word of mouth. Satisfied customers telling their friends and spreading the word.

He closed asking the students to find their positive purpose. He said 'life is good' is spreading the power of optimism. He said, "We can't stop the waves, we need to learn to surf."


Six One Seven Studios April Newsletter





Six One Seven Studios | 430 Franklin Village Drive | Box 120 | Franklin | MA | 02038

In the News: FSPA, marijuana, principal



Register for FSPA summer, fall classes

Registration for summer and fall programming is now underway at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA).



Medical marijuana overlay district planned along I-495

Potential medical marijuana treatment centers would likely have to be located in a special overlay district along Interstate 495, according to new zoning bylaw amendments proposed by the Department of Planning and Community Development.


Franklin principal withdraws candidacy for Hopkinton job

Superintendent Steven Hiersche announced today that a finalist in the search for Center School's next principal has withdrawn her application.


Look What's Happening at Team Fitness and CrossFit Franklin





Look what's Happening at Team Fitness and CrossFit Franklin
Greetings!

There are some exciting events happening at Team Fitness and CrossFit Franklin. Over the past few years we have received numerous questions from members regarding who to see for injuries and massages. I have personally asked many members for their local recommendations. We are so pleased and honored to welcome Dr. Cameron MacEwen, D.C., and Ms. Stephanie Dixon, LMT to our facility. 



Dr. Cameron MacEwen, D.C.
We are thrilled and excited to welcome Dr. Cameron MacEwen, D.C,  of Tritown Chiropractic Rehabilitation, to our team!!
Dr. Cameron MacEwen is a 1988 graduate of the Logan College of Chiropractic, in St. Louis, Missouri.  He completed his internship and residency at the Montgomery Clinic in Chesterfield Missouri. He has continued postgraduate studies in Chiropractic Orthopedics and is board eligible with the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists. He has been in practice for more than twenty years at his Foxboro location.
 Please click on the link above to learn more about Dr. MacEwen and his credentials. To schedule a free consultation, stop by the front desk or call 508-541-8330 for information. 

Stephanie Dixon, LMT
Stephanie has been in the medical field for over 10 years and graduated MassBay Massage School around 2006. She is well educated in her field and specializes in a variety of therapeutic massage techniques. These 30 min, 60 min or 90 min massage techniques include:
Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue and Hot Stone.


Please click the link above for more details on the massages available. Pricing varies per time and technique. Packages are also available. Please contact the front desk for more details at 508-541-8330.




Cops For Kids with Cancer Fundraiser
Saturday, April 13, 2013, from 11 am- 1 pm 
Whether you are a seasoned athlete or have never worked out, CrossFit is for you. So come join us for a CrossFit Class and you will be amazed.  Workouts will be partner, introductory level workouts with basic elements and skills of CrossFit. ALL elements are scalable and all fitness levels are welcome.

Click here for More info about our event and how to donate/participate in the event, and learn more about this organization.


Quick Links
If you have any questions regarding this email blast, please feel free to stop by the front desk or call us at 508-541-8330 for details. 

We hope you take advantage of the opportunities for a FREE chiropractic consult and a FREE massage. A great way to ease your pains, stresses, and prepare for the coming spring activities.

Happy Spring!!
The TEAM at Team Fitness and CrossFit Franklin


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Team Fitness Franklin | 100 Franklin Village Drive | Franklin | MA | 02038

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Town Council - 04/03/13

The summary of posts from the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Apr 3, 2013 can be found here.

Two issues brought out a bunch of citizens to the Council meeting. One group presented a petition to get their road which has not been rebuilt in the 50 years it has existed repaired. The second group was lobbying for improvements to the BJ intersection where since the lights were taken out, the traffic has become more dangerous.

There are no simple solutions to either situation. On the one hand, Franklin needs 45-50 million dollars to get well with its roads. Even if it had the money, all the repairs could not be done at once. On the second problem, the State owns that section of the road and controls what happens there.

The situations will be addressed through the appropriate channels and hopefully we'll be able to report on some progress soon.

In other action at the Council meeting, there were several pieces of zoning bylaw adjustments sent to the Planning Board. These bylaws would permit medical marijuana businesses in specific areas (Forge Park Industrial area, for example). The bylaws would be subject to public hearing, adjustment and eventual approval by the Planning Board before coming back to the Town Council for two public hearings and eventual vote.

The Town Council also approved a payment in lieu of taxes (pilot) agreement with the Franklin TV cable access group.that had been negotiated. It is hoped that other non-profits would develop some similar agreements.


Live reporting - Closing
Live reporting: Legislation
Live reporting: Town Council - Apr 3, 2013



The text and accompanying pictures for the petition can be found here


MassBudget: the Income Tax in Massachusetts



MassBudget    Information.
   Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy.
The Income Tax in Massachusetts
What are some of the things we accomplish by working together through government?...We educate our children; we build and maintain our roads and transit systems; we provide police and fire protection to keep our towns and cities safe.

To pay for these investments in our people, our communities, and our economic future, we rely primarily on tax revenue. MassBudget's new factsheet, "The Income Tax in Massachusetts," analyzes the major features of the income tax, which is the single largest source of tax revenue in Massachusetts.

  • Overall, the tax system in Massachusetts is regressive, with low and middle-income people paying roughly 9.5 percent of their income in taxes while the highest-income people pay only 6 percent.

  • The income tax is the only major component of our tax system that cuts against this imbalance. A range of exemptions ensures that low and middle-income people pay a smaller share of their earnings in income taxes than higher-income people.

  • If the income tax were a larger part of the state tax system the whole system would be more fair (less regressive)--and also better able to keep up with changes in our economy and provide adequate funding for vital programs over the long term.

"The Income Tax in Massachusetts" is part of a series of MassBudget Tax Factsheets, covering topics from Tax Fairness to the Long-Term Cost of Income Tax Cuts and the Governor's Tax Plan.


See all of our work on TAXES IN MASSACHUSETTS
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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Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Friendly reminders - events today



  • The Kindergarten registration takes place today at Horace Mann Middle School. Information on the forms and documents required can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/03/kindergarten-registration.html

parmenter sign
Parmenter sign


  • Minute to Win It at the Franklin Library for kids 6-12

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-library-minute-to-win-it.html


  • Life is Good co-founder Bert Jacobs speaks at Dean College Thursday evening at 6:30PM

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/life-is-good-co-founder-bert-jacobs-at.html


Pour Richard's: Introducing Fat Tuesdays



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Connecting good friends with great wine!
   
Never Drink Ordinary!
Introducing Fat Tuesdays
(That's fat as in a fat, juicy bargain)
Why should Mardi Gras arrive only once a year? Here at Pour Richard's, we have our own version. No beads, but always a great buy. These items will not be available in-store, only to the Fat Tuesday email list.
  
Mardi Gras coins 
  
Do nothing, and you'll still get notifications about news and events. But opt in to our insider list, below, and you'll get our awesome Fat Tuesday specials. Press 'Join Now', and then check your inbox next Tuesday for your first Fat Deal.
For Email Newsletters you can trust
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Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits | 14 Grove Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

In the News: Bert Jacobs, best looking dogs


Co-founder of Life is good company to speak at Dean College

The Chief Executive Optimist of Life is good, a Boston-based apparel and accessory company, will tell Dean College students on Thursday that, above all else, owning a business "should be fun."


Franklin's Best Looking Dogs


Franklin’s Best Looking Dog contest winners gathered at the Municipal Building in Franklin on Wednesday.


Note: The Milford Daily News reporter did attend the Town Council meeting on Wednesday. How the editorial decision was made to not share anything from the meeting escapes me. So if you want to find out what happened during the meeting you can find that info here


Live reporting - Closing
Live reporting: Legislation
Live reporting: Town Council - Apr 3, 2013