Senator Spilka: Encouraging Economic Growth and Innovation in Massachusetts

January 15, 2015 Yesterday I announced key pieces of my economic development legislative agenda for the new 2015-2016 legislative session. I will continue to advocate for programs and policies that encourage economic growth, job creation and innovation across all sectors of the Massachusetts economy. I'm always looking for new ways to help Massachusetts companies start, grow and thrive here. We need to continue to support all sectors of our economy, foster innovation and improve education and workforce training opportunities. I look forward to a new session advocating on behalf of smart economic development policies for MetroWest and the Commonwealth. Continue reading to learn about some of my economic development priorities for the new session, including civic innovation, crowdfunding, entrepreneurship and education. For other news and updates, please connect with me on Facebook and Twitter. Innovative Communities A terrific group of people from the tech community and government shared feedback on the latest version of the Innovative Communities bill. A product of a November Tech Hub Caucus policy "Idea-a-thon" event, the new Innovative Communities Program would connect and educate Massachusetts startups and municipalities. The program is the result of a collaborative process, pulling together best practices from existing government programs and incorporating input and ideas from startups, government offices and municipal groups. The bill creates a new program charged with guiding startups through the purchasing process and helping them to more easily pursue local government contracts. Startups would have the opportunity to sell their technology to innovative cities and towns that have chosen to be designated as "Innovative Communities." These civic technology solutions would allow communities to better serve residents and use resources more efficiently and effectively. Read press coverage of the Innovative Communities Program in State House News and the Boston Globe. Partnering World-Class Entrepreneurs with State Agencies This bill authorizes the state's Executive Offices to establish a pilot Innovator-in-Residence program, placing successful entrepreneurs in state agencies to identify ways to make agency services and operations simpler, more efficient and more responsive. The program would encourage improved public-private coordination, address entrepreneur and business obstacles and opportunities and identify ineffective or duplicative government programs. Encouraging Small Business Growth Through Crowdfunding This bill amends the Uniform Securities Act in Massachusetts to include an exemption to securities registration requirements for emerging businesses seeking small-scale investments through crowdfunding. The bill helps local small businesses raise seed funding and grow more easily while still protecting investors from overly high-risk investments. Bi-literacy Education The legislation creates a State Seal of Bi-literacy to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. The bill supports foreign language educational programs in the Commonwealth as a way to promote global trade and prepare our students to compete in a global economy. Tax Code I will also file legislation to make the tax process more predictable and transparent for companies in all industries and encourage companies to maintain or establish their corporate headquarters in Massachusetts. As always, if you would like additional information or have any concerns or comments, please call my office at (617) 722-1640 or email me at Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov. Warm Regards, Senator Karen E. Spilka 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk http://www.karenspilka.com Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka Room 320, State House Boston, Massachusetts  02133 Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077 http://www.karenspilka.com/

Senator Karen Spilka | Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov | Office of Karen Spilka | Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka, Room 511-C, State House | Boston, MA 02133

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What a marked difference for a community meeting

The School Committee meeting on Tuesday had almost as many in the audience as the Town Council did in their last meeting. It was an eventful meeting but more emotionally moving for good reasons.

Two young ladies, seniors at Franklin High School were recognized with the Superintendents Award for being in the Top 1% of their class.

(Left to right) Supt. M Sabolinski, H Frank, M Wendell, Sch Comm Chair P Mullen

This was followed by a presentation on the special education program. Beth Fitzmaurice was joined by Stephanie Gedis, Dillon Scarnicki, and Sara Mulcahey in making the presentation. Dillon was supported by most of the Franklin Boys Hockey team which he is part of. He showed a brief video clip of his first goal scored!

community participating in the School Committee meeting

Fitzmaurice acknowledged that there can be a feeling of isolation for a parent of a special education student, in that there maybe no one to help. In Franklin, there is a community to provide support. The town has been amazing supporting us. 

What a marked difference in community presence and meeting conduct. 

The School Committee did get into some hard discussions around the capital budget (top priorities outlined here) and on the 2015-16 calendar (the school marking periods and parent meetings still need to be added to this draft). One section of a policy is being retired as it is outdated and covered by other business practices and legal requirements.

Of not, there will likely be a future discussion about the school starting time. Given some studies about high schoolers starting so early and recent weather events where extra time in the morning would make a difference for the safety of all involved with the schools, there is work underway to see if that could be done. Stay tuned as this will be a topic for a future meeting.

The enxt meeting this month will also be held at the Franklin High School. Details on specific location within remained to be announced.


All my notes reported live from the meeting can be found here:

• Live reporting - closing

• Live reporting: Action Items

• Live reporting: Discussion Only Items (BICO Collab...

• Live reporting - Capital discussion

• Live reporting - Presentations (Excellence Awards,...

• Live reporting: School Committee - Jan 13, 2015

• 
  

MassBudget: New study--Who pays lowest taxes in MA?

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Highest income residents pay lowest  share of income in state and local taxes A new study released today by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) finds that the highest income taxpayers in Massachusetts, and across the country, pay a smaller share of their income in state and local taxes than do low and middle income taxpayers. Read the study HERE.  The study, Who Pays?, analyzes tax systems in all 50 states and factors in all major state and local taxes, including personal and corporate income taxes, property taxes, sales and other excise taxes. Taxes, of course, are how we pay for our schools, our roads, our parks and playgrounds, public safety, our safety net, and everything else we do together through our government to make life better for all of our families and all of our communities. To provide more detail on the situation in Massachusetts, MassBudget is also publishing today updates of two factsheets: Examining Tax Fairness and Where Does the Taxachusetts Label Come From? In examining the Massachusetts tax system we see that the highest income 1% of taxpayers pay $83,000 a year less than they would if they paid the same percentage as most other taxpayers. This costs the state $2.1 billion a year. 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

To save some clicks, I went to the report and saved a copy of the MA page here

screen grab of MassBudget webpage

FHS Hockey takes 'game of the week' over Mansfield

From Hockomock Sports we find the FHS results from competiion on Wednesday. The boys did well to top Mansfield in hockey and wrestling but lost on the track to North Attleboro. The girls track results weren't posted.

Wrestling

Mansfield, 6 @ Franklin, 55 - Final

Boys Track

Franklin, 15 vs. North Attleboro, 85 - Final

Girls Track

Franklin vs. North Attleboro, 4:30 (sorry, no score listed)

Game of the Week - Boys Hockey

Mansfield, 1 @ Franklin, 6 - Final

As it was the "game of the week", there is a full article reporting on the game.

Franklin scored five goals in third period to runaway with a key 6-1 win over Mansfield in a Kelley-Rex showdown. 

The Panthers looked like they were going to jump all over the Hornets when Ryan Spillane buried a rebound off his own shot just 40 seconds into the game to make it 1-0, but it took over 30 minutes of game time for Franklin to strike again. 

“We came out flying early and I thought we had a really solid first period, we just didn’t have too many goals to show for it,” Franklin head coach Chris Spillane said. “In the second period. [Mansfield] came out flying, they took it too us. They took the wind out of our sails but we in the third we just had to move our legs again. I thought we did a good job forechecking, all four lines out there.”

FHS Hockey celebrates a goal ((Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Continue reading the article at Hockomock Sports here

http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/third-period-outburst-lifts-franklin-over-mansfield

Comedy Night January 30th!

3 461 W Central Street (Rt.140), Franklin, MA 02038 • 508.528.6333 • www.3-restaurant.com Please visit our other Let's Eat, Inc. restaurant in Norwood: SKY

Forward email Let's Eat, Inc. | 461 Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

Blackstone River Theatre - Matt & Shannon Heaton with Torrin Ryan & Mark Oien

THANK YOU! The 2014 Solstice Festival was our biggest yet... stay tuned for performer information for the 2015 festival set for June 20! COMING SOON TO BRT!                     Ongoing   Zumba with April Hilliker on Mondays, 6:30 PM Thursday, Jan. 15 TOTAL BEGINNER FIDDLE (6-week session) starts Saturday, January 17, 8 PM  MATT & SHANNON HEATON / TORRIN RYAN and MARK OIEN Saturday, January 24, 2 PM  DIXIE DIEHARDS JAZZ BAND Saturday, January 31, 8 PM  FELLSWATER / ERIC MCDONALD AND WILL WOODSON Saturday, February 7, 8 PM  OCCIDENTAL GYPSY Sunday, February 15, 7 PM  FULLSET (from Ireland) Saturday, February 21, 8 PM  ROSSONI Saturday, February 28, 8 PM  THE GNOMES Sunday, March 1, 7 PM  RUNA Quick Links... BRT Website     BRT Classes       Directions to BRT MATT & SHANNON HEATON DIXIE DIEHARDS 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, We have an incredible evening of Irish traditional music this Saturday featuring BRT favorites MATT AND SHANNON HEATON and TORRIN RYAN & MARK OIEN. And we will have a matinee show at 2 p.m. next Saturday, Jan. 24 as we bring back the DIXIE DIEHARDS JAZZ BAND. 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   MATT AND SHANNON HEATON / TORRIN RYAN AND MARK OIEN Boston's powerhouse duo Matt and Shannon Heaton have once again assembled an album of smartly-arranged traditional ballads with deep Irish roots and fresh, modern sensibilities. "Tell You in Earnest" is their fifth duo CD and features well-traveled "dialogue ballads" (each song is a conversation between two people, fitting for a husband-and-wife duo). As always, there is bright instrumental work and traditional-style singing from the Heatons. Shannon Heaton, Live Ireland's Female Musician of the Year 2010 and 2011, has been compared to Alison Krauss for her combination of vocal grace and instrumental prowess (Irish flute, button accordion). Matt is a 2013 Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant recipient and provides a firm foundation on the guitar and bouzouki. Since their move to Boston in 2001, the Heatons have become an integral part of Boston's vibrant Irish music and neo-Celtic acoustic scenes. Centered around the admiration each musician has for regional European roots music, Torrin Ryan and Mark Oien create a unique sound by combining the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle, Irish fiddle, and Irish uilleann pipes and whistles. Torrin Ryan, of Attleboro, has competed in several Mid-Atlantic Fleadhs where he's won first place on both whistle and pipes. In Ireland, he has competed at the All-Ireland Fleadh held in Tullamore and Derry and in the summer of 2013, Ryan was named All-Ireland Uilleann Pipes Slow Airs champion, also coming in third place overall. Through the years, Oien has refined his style by utilizing the long bow strokes and agile fingerwork of the Boston-Galway and New York-Sligo musicians. He has performed at numerous festivals throughout New England including ICONS and he can often be found hosting sessions and performing in Southeastern Mass. and Cape Cod. EVENT INFO Saturday, January 17, 8 P.M., $15.00 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