Comcast Channel 9 - Cable Line Up for 2/5 to 2/11
Friday, January 30
The local access cable line up for Thursday, Februry 5 through Wednesday, February 11 can be found here: 2/5 to 2/11.
Read more...Override Meeting Wednesday Jan 6
Support of Local Business Crucial
Thursday, January 29
Over the last year, Middleborough has seen three substantial restaurants close their door. Blame it on the economy and peoples lack of disposable income. May blame it on that income leaving town and purchasing elsewhere.
The restaurant business is not one of high margins. Many are running month to month, week to week and some even day to day. Even a minor loss in business can be devastating and bring closure to that business. People should consider the remaining restaurants in town before the get in their car and drive out of town for a meal.
The big three closures from the past year has left a void in Middleborough which will be picked up by the other existing businesses who still provide a good meal at a good price.
One such deal is Lorenzo's Superbowl Takeout Specials that serves from 6 to 8 people. For $20 you can Choose From:
- 50 Buffalo, BBQ, or Teriyaki Wings
- Their Famous 2.5 Foot Italian Grinder
- Small Tray Baked Shells Parm
- Two Dozen Homemade Meatballs
- TWO Family-Sized One-Topping Pizzas
You can call 508-947-3000 to place and order. Personally I like their chicken parm sandwich.
Support of local businesses town is crucial to the survival of the town.
Read more...FY2009 Local Aid Cuts $300K for Middleborough
Wednesday, January 28
The weather outside may be dark and stormy but the weather inside the state house is darker. The Department of Local Services has released its cuts to the FY2009 lottery aid to towns. FY2009 is the current year which started July 1, 2008 and runs through June 30, 32009.
Middleborough is slated for a $299,014 reduction in lottery aid from numbers which were budgeted at town meeting last spring.
The statewide reductions can be found on the DLS website. The announcement with a link to the aid reductions can be read here.
The DLS also released the estimated Cherry Sheets for state aid to local communities for FY2010 which begins July 1, 2009. This estimate is not final but reflects the current financial crisis the state is currently in. It shows a reduction of local aid of $707,568. Although the Chapter 70 aid (school) was not reduced, it remained level which results in the town having to make up the increases or cut the school budget. The Cherry Sheets for the current year and FY2010 can be found here.
The board of selectmen will continue their review of the budgets this coming Monday night, 7 PM at the Town Hall. You can also watch the meeting on local cable access.
Selectmen Place Seat on April Ballot
Tuesday, January 27
Fast work of the Town Manager and Town Clerk allowed for the board of selectmen to hold an emergency meeting last night and place the vacant seat on the regular town spring election. The quick action saved the town about $12,000.
Under the rules of the office of Selectmen, when a seat is officially vacated, the board must call for an election to fill the seat if not within 120 days of a regularly scheduled election. The concern was that the selectmen also had to request the seat placed on the ballot no less than 15 days prior to the closing of date for which request to take out papers can be made.
With a full board present on Tuesday Night, the Board voted unanimously to place the seat on the April 4 ballot and Town Clerk Eileen Gates, received the written request and is acting on it.
The seat will be for the remainder of a three year term and runs through April 2010.
BOS Chairman Resigns
Monday, January 26
Prior to opening the meeting this evening, former Chairman, Adam Bond, resigned, effective immediately from the Board of Selectmen. Citing the toll the position has taken on him and his family and his belief that the Board has not been acting in the town's best interest with respect to the Mashpee Wampanoag proposed facility in Middleborough. Bond thanked the voters of Middleborough for the opportunity, passed the gavel to his left, picked up his coat and walked out the door.
There will be an election to fill the remainder of Bond's term on the board (through spring 2010). This along with the seat that is currently filled by Selectman Steve Spataro should be filling this spring.
Local Grants Available from Makepeace Neighborhood Fund
The Makepeace Neighborhood Fund was established in 2004 as a way for the A.D. Makepeace Company to provide significant support to community groups providing services the company finds important.
In the past three years, the company has awarded some $685,000 in grants.
Application packages for grants from the Makepeace Neighborhood Fund are now available.
Grants are available on a competitive basis to non-profit organizations and governmental agencies which provide services to residents of Wareham, Plymouth, Carver, Middleborough and Rochester.
Grants are limited to $5,000 to $10,000 and must be in one of the following disciplines: education, health care, community housing, historic preservation, or environmental protection.
Grants are not available to individuals.
For additional Information and applications, visit their website.
Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts Opens Local Office
Friday, January 23
The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts has opened an office in Wareham to serve the Southcoast area of Massachusetts from Attleboro to Provincetown.
All Middleborough residents who have sustained a brain injury from a trauma, stroke, aneurysm, or brain tumor are encouraged to call the office to find out about possible services and support groups in the area.
If you have had a brain injury and since then have had trouble remembering things, concentrating, finding the right words, or making decisions, they are available.
They also offer support groups that are doing fun things such as the recent Winter Wonderland Ball, BINGO, Valentine’s dinner party, yoga, fishing, and bowling.
Call toll-free at 888-607-7678 or email them at biamase@biama.org.
Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts
Southeastern Regional Office
3119 Cranberry Highway, Suite 5FE.
Wareham, MA 02538
508-743-0333
888-60-SPORT
Massachusetts Unemployment Rate at 6.9%
The Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Department released its statewide data on employment for the month of December 2008 with a full 1% increase (to 6.9%) over the upwardly revised (from 5.5% to 5.9%) November 2008 rate. The new data reveals that nearly more than 1 of every 13 persons actively looking for work in Massachusetts are unemployed.
The local unemployment issue for the month has not been released as of the writing of the article but the most recent data for November 2008 showed that for the Town of Middleborough, the unemployment rate has been running between 0.5 and 0.75 percent higher than the statewide numbers.
The unemployment picture for Middleborough as compared with the whole state over the year:
November 2008 11,657 (workers) 10,934 (employed) 723 (unemployed) 6.2% (town rate) 5.5*(state rate)
November 2007 11,626 (workers) 11,111 (employed) 515 (unemployed) 4.4% (town rate) 3.8 (state rate)
*Statewide rate for November 2008 revised 1/22/09 to 5.9%.
December 2008 unemployment numbers for the Town of Middleborough will be released in a few days.
Comcast Channel 9 - Cable Line Up for 1/28 to 2/4
The local access cable line up for Thursday, January 28 through Wednesday, February 4 can be found here: 1/28 to 2/4.
Read more...Winter Beauty in Middleborough
Monday, January 19
Waking to fresh blanket of snow, Middleborough received from 6 to 10 inches of snow over the weekend. There is much to admire in the snow, the branches, buildings and bogs show innocence and and calm.
The Green School is eerily quiet after the snow fell. Almost saying, no school today.
New Ladies Clothing Store in Town
Thursday, January 15
Ragz consignment shop located at 380 Centre Street in Middleboro is opening its doors with a flair for ladies fashions. Three friends (Patricia, Kimberly and Kimberly) are partnering together to offer the people of Middleboro affordable fashions right in downtown Middleboro.
Their hours are:
- Tuesday and Wednesday 10:30 am to 6:00 pm
- Thursday and Friday 10:30 am to 7:00 pm
- Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Sunday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Stop by and say hi, consign a fashion or pick up a great deal.
Read more...B & B Income Tax Services Opens in Middleboro
Tuesday, January 13
A new business has come to town and the faces are local. B & B Income Tax Services has opened in Downtown Middleboro for all your income tax needs.
Located at 11 North Main Street diagonally across the four corners from Eastern Bank, B & B was founded by two local residents who want to provide affordable local service to the people of Middleboro.
Co-owner, Mr. Ed. Beaulieu mentions that they are a full service tax service with over 45 years of experience, with e-filing one can expect their refunds in about 2 weeks.
They are open from 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturdays and by appointment as well.
A recent Middleborough News article mentions how economic development in Middleboro relies on the many things. Local residents can do their part by shopping locally and using the services that are available in their town. B & B Income Tax Service is a fine example of a local and friendly service and a fine addition to Middleboro.
B & B Income Tax Service can be contacted by calling 508-947-TAXX (8299).
Read more...
CPA on the Selectmen's Agenda
Sunday, January 11
The Board of Selectmen have an agenda with many items on it, one of which is a presentation by Planning and Conservation about the Community Preservation Act. Fo those who do not know what the CPA is, you can come to the town hall Monday Night or watch it on local access.
In a nutshell, the CPA is a program that allows communitites to save money and receive matching funds by assessing a small additional fee of 2% (in the case of the current Middleboro ballot inititve) on your taxes, with an exemption of the first $100,000 in value of your real estate.
After the first 30% of that fund is used for programs earmarked by the statute, the remaining 70% can be used for many things from purchasing land or historic buildings, new recreation or community housing.
The matching funds are from a fee that is collected by the registry of deeds on all real estate transactions. It can be up to a 100% match for communities who assess the full 3% (maximum). The current year match is looking for in the range of 30% due to the economy.
More information about the CPA inititive in Middleborough can be found at www.cpanow.org.
KME Aerial Cat Arrives
Tuesday, January 6
The new KME 102 foot Aerial Ladder Truck arrived in Middleborough today. Approved at the May town meeting, the ladder truck will be in service with the next few weeks once all fire fighters are trained on the apparatus.
The Aerial Cat is capable reaching horizontally 100 feet with a basket capacity of 1,000 lbs in 55 mph winds.
The truck is capable of pumping 2,000 gallons per minute and has dual 2 1/2 inch nozzels on the basket.
The new truck replaces one of the last aerial ladder trucks that was produced at the former Maxxim Motors in Middleborough in the late 1980's.
South Coast Rail Comments Due Jan 9th.
Monday, January 5
In a recent reminder to the public from Charlie Patton, public comments on the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) for the South Coast Rail project must be submitted by this Friday, January 9, 2009.
The US Army Corps of Engineers and the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office (MEPA) will accept written comments until that time. Please send your comments to both agencies:
Alan Anacheka-Nasemann
US Army Corps of Engineers, New England District
696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751,
screis@usace.army.mil
Secretary Ian Bowles, EOEEA,
attn.: MEPA Office (Aisling Eglington)
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston MA 02114
fax: 617-626-1181
aisling.eglington@state.ma.us
or via hand delivery.
Background information on the project is available at http://www.southcoastrail.com/. The ENF is posted on the project website. Copies are also available in local libraries. To request a CD or printed copy of the ENF, please contact Charlie Patton (617-357-5772 x 16 or cpatton@reginavilla.com).
For more information on the project, call South Coast Rail Manager Kristina Egan, 617-973-7314.
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