"exempts people who rent their homes 14 or fewer nights a year"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Governor Charlie Baker on Friday signed first-of-its-kind legislation to tax and regulate the short-term housing rental market in Massachusetts, capping years of debate over how to navigate an industry that has exploded through companies like Airbnb. 

The new rules will take effect July 1 and could transform a market that spans the state, from Cape Cod summer homes to Boston apartment buildings to Western Massachusetts vacation retreats. 

The bill requires every rental host to register with the state, mandates they carry insurance, and opens the potential for local taxes on top of a new state levy. A chief negotiator for the House said the goal is to register every short-term rental in the state by September, and local officials, including in Boston, say the new law will help buttress their own efforts to regulate the booming market."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/12/28/baker-signs-long-awaited-airbnb-bill-opening-new-era-for-industry/gyCoryp9D15nLPYxYk5cTN/story.html

exempts people who rent their homes 14 or fewer nights a year {WALDO SWIEGERS/BLOOMBERG NEWS}

Additional info on MA.gov
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2018/Chapter337

In the News: minimum age for tobacco products becomes 21; MA cabinet level get pay raise

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

Minimum age for tobacco now 21

"Nearly 14 years after Needham became the first town in the country to ban tobacco sales to people under 21, the higher purchase age for cigarettes and other tobacco products will kick in across the state on Monday. 

Gov. Charlie Baker in July signed a bill imposing new restrictions on tobacco products in Massachusetts, with an effective date of Dec. 31, 2018. 

Along with raising the minimum age for buying tobacco products from its current 18, the law prohibits the sale of tobacco products by pharmacies and bans the use of e-cigarettes in places where state law already prohibits smoking. 

The use of tobacco products including e-cigarettes will also be prohibited on the grounds of any public or private primary, secondary, or vocational school."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181229/minimum-age-for-buy-tobacco-jumps-to-21-on-monday

For additional information on the minimum age for tobacco products
https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-tobacco-cessation-and-prevention-program-mtcp

https://twitter.com/MakeSmkngHistry

Governor's cabinet get pay raise

"Chief Human Resources Officer Ronald Arigo outlined the raises, which are effective Jan. 1, in a memo to the secretaries and their chiefs of staff and human resources directors Friday, a day after salary increases for lawmakers and constitutional officers were announced. 

The 5.5 percent raise will bring the salary for cabinet secretaries up to $170,405.71 from the current $161,522. 

Agency heads and commissioners will not be eligible for the pay hike if they entered their role on or after Jan. 2, 2018. Acting or interim appointees and 120-day appointees are ineligible, Arigo wrote. 

Most members of Baker’s office will also receive the same 5.5 percent increase effective next Tuesday, with recent hires ineligible. According to the governor’s office, staff there have not received the merit pay increases other executive branch managers received over the past four years."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181229/bakers-cabinet-secretaries-others-to-see-55-percent-raises

Mass Poetry: Poetry for a New Year

View this email in your browser Dear Friend of Mass Poetry – New Year's Resolutions come in many stripes; here at Mass Poetry we're resolved to double our reach in 2019. But to do that, we need your help. In 2018, we put poetry in front of more New Englanders than ever before: ·      With our "Poetry on the T" program, tens of thousands of Bostonians encountered a poem on their commute, while riding the T; ·      More than 4,000 middle school and high school students across the state of Massachusetts participated in one of our "Student Day of Poetry" events – for many of those students it was their first encounter with poetry; ·      "Raining Poetry" (if you haven't watched the video – more than 24 million views! – watch it now) surprised people all over the Boston metro area by revealing poetry on the sidewalk – but only when it rains; https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkMag/videos/10154210845129826/ ·      Thousands of people from across New England attended our Poetry Festival this past year in Salem; ·      Hundreds of classrooms and book groups used our Common Threads poetry guide to celebrate National Poetry Month; ·      Our Spring Showers poetry installation at the Prudential Center in Boston brought poetry to a whole new audience. But our aspirations for 2019 are even greater. Why? Because words matter. In our increasingly connected-but-distant world, poetry captures a kind of magic that makes the moment sing. Bringing poetry to all kinds of communities around Massachusetts is the purpose of Mass Poetry – and your contribution, no matter how modest, makes a difference. With your help, we can double our reach in 2019. Please give today. Thank you for everything you do for poetry – Nicco Mele P.S. Please give – every dollar counts If you love the work we do to support poets and spread the power of poetry to students, T riders, and more, please consider supporting us with a recurring monthly donation. Donate Now Copyright © *2017* *Mass Poetry*, All rights reserved.

MBTA: Commuter Rail schedule for New Year's Eve

"On New Year's Eve, the Commuter Rail will run on a regular weekday schedule with some changes to last train departure times due to the fireworks.

All MBTA service, including the Commuter Rail, will be free after 8 PM on New Year's Eve.

Bikes, including folding bikes, are not allowed on all inbound trains between 10 AM and 6 PM and on all outbound trains from 4 PM until the end of service.

For additional information visit mbta.com/holidays.

Last Updated: Dec 28 2018 06:48 PM"

MBTA: Commuter Rail schedule for New Year's Eve

To sign up for commuter rail Alerts from the MBTA 
https://www.mbta.com/alerts/commuter-rail

FHS boys hockey top Bishop Guertin 3-2 in OT

Via HockomockSports and Twitter we share the results of the FHS sports action on Friday, Dec 28, 2018



*** Wrestling = Lowell Tournament
– Canton’s Eddie Marinilli became the first wrestling in program history to win an individual title at the George Bossi Lowell Holiday Tournament. Marinilli took first in the 145 bracket, which featured 60 wrestlers. Marinilli knocked off the fifth seeded wrestler in the quarterfinals to earn his 100th career win and then took down the top-seeded grappler Jacob Cardozo of Southington in the semifinals. In the finals, Marinilli used takedowns in the first and second periods, plus an escape in the third, to pick up a 5-3 win. 

Franklin had the top finish as a team, taking 17th overall with 89 points. Foxboro was 21st with 80 points, Canton totaled 72 points, Stoughton had 35 points and Taunton finished with 27 points. 

Franklin’s Jordan Carlucci (132) was the top Panther, taking third overall while Jake Carlucci (113) and Dominic Sackley (170) each took eighth. For Foxboro, William Ogebebor battled his way to a third place finish at 220 and Adam Lanctot (120) had a sixth place finish. Taunton’s Woudanly Danger (285) was seventh overall.


*** Boys Hockey = Franklin, 3 vs. Bishop Guertin (NH), 2 – Final (OT)

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-12-28-18/

Via the Twitterverse
https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/lists/fhs-sports

For detailed bracket results for the George Bossi Wrestling Tournament
https://thelowellholidays.com/

FHS Panthers

Jordan Carlucci finishes in 3rd. Jake Carlucci and Dom Sackley finish 8th.

— Franklin Wrestling (@FHSWrestle) December 29, 2018

Solid game to get back into the ‘W’ column. 3-2 win in a shootout over @BishopGuertin. Hard hat to Tommy Tasker for the game tying goal and finishing it in the fifth round of the shootout #ForTallMan pic.twitter.com/T0TGsEJ8Yj

— Franklin Hockey (@FHS_Puck) December 28, 2018

Franklin 3 Bishop Guertin (N.H.) 2 in OT. Goals from McCaffrey and 2 from Tasker including gw. Hard Hat to Tasker for playing physical. #17 win was for you. @FHSSports @HockomockSports @In_The_Slot @MyHockeyLive @MassHSHockey @BGlobeSports @MetroWestSports

— Coach Spillane (@FHS_PuckCoach) December 28, 2018

Excited for our entire program to spend the day with our friends at the Elisha Project @DiggingDitches on Saturday #TeamFirst

— Franklin Girls Basketball (@fhsgvbasketball) December 28, 2018

AAU Basketball team tryouts - Jan 9

"We are a new AAU Basketball club established in 2018. We'll be starting off with one team in boys' basketball but will be expanding in the future.

Currently accepting players from Massachusetts and Rhode Island for Boys 16 and Under. Boys AAU Basketball tryouts for Spring 2019 session are coming up!"

January 9, 2019 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Framingham State College
$25 Tryout Fee

If you are interested, please email info@ravenshoops.org or visit our website www.ravenshoops.org to register.

AAU Basketball team tryouts - Jan 9

“Every year, this is just something cool to see”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"It’s always clear that the bigger the gift during the holiday season, the more fun children will have with the box that contained it. That’s why the Franklin Public Library’s annual “Box City” event in late December has become so popular. 

Children’s Librarian Caleigh Keating hosted the third annual Box City event on Friday afternoon. Children from Franklin and surrounding communities came to create the mini-municipality in the gathering room at the library. 

With dozens of donated boxes, egg cartons and other items, children were able to fill the room with their own box structures and other designs, creating Box City. 

Keating said the event is a success every year."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181229/franklin-library-marks-third-annual-box-city-event

Franklin Public Library Box City was held on Friday