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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

8/2/2019

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COMING REAL SOON!!
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Prepare for Summer Travel

6/5/2019

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Now that the summer is fast approaching, many people are thinking about summer travel. There are some things that could occur, which might ruin your trip. Some things can be avoided and some things cannot. However, you can at least plan ahead for what might happen. If you want to prevent health issues while traveling this summer continue reading this article.
 
If you’re planning a trip out of the country, begin planning four to six weeks before your scheduled trip. There are lots of things to consider before taking off that could impact your health and safety. What you may need to consider may not be what another traveler would need to consider based on their specific health issues and concerns. You’ll need to also consider the types of illnesses that the country you are traveling to may expose you to.
 
If you have a pre-existing health condition, discuss your travel plans with your doctor to find out whether or not it is safe for you to travel. If it is safe for you to travel, there may still be some precautions that you should be aware of due to the possibility of any flare-ups or chronic illnesses. You will need to have an adequate amount of your medications. We would advise you to make sure they are left in their original containers so that you don’t mix them with anything else. Remember to keep all medications in your carry-on luggage. This is important in case you need to take them or if your checked luggage is lost. You should also consider minimizing the possibility of becoming sick while traveling such as taking medicine that can help you avoid altitude sickness, applying sunscreen to avoid sunburn, and wearing a specific type of clothing. Travelling within the United States is certainly a great idea with so many wonderful regions to explore. When heading down South, a popular city for many types of businesses is Birmingham, Alabama as well as other great cities in the southern part of the US.
 
You will also want to be sure that you have received all of your routine vaccinations, mumps, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, flue, chickenpox and other vaccinations that may be necessary. There are some types of vaccinations that you might also want to consider that will help prevent food born illnesses, which include cholera, hepatitis A, or typhoid. There are also those that will help prevent mosquito-transmitted viruses. This is especially important if you are traveling to an area where mosquitos are a problem. 
 
It is also possible for you to avoid or reduce the possibility of being bitten by harmful insects while traveling. This could include a bug spray and/or a mosquito net around where you sleep. You should use an insect repellent with at least 30% or greater DEET. If you are traveling where malaria is easily transmitted, it is advised that you take a prophylactic medication to prevent contracting it. There are some food-borne illnesses that you can avoid by avoiding certain street food, unpasteurized dairy products and raw foods that are offered to you. Also, carry a hand sanitizer wherever you go and use it before and after every meal. You can stay in control by taking precautions before you travel this summer.
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Playing in the Dirt

5/28/2019

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If you want to maintain a beautiful garden then it is important to understand the various types of soils that are used in order to do so. Soil happens to be a fundamental part of keeping your plants healthy. With healthy soil, you are sure to have healthy plants. The other advantage for having food soil is that you won’t have to fertilize it or use as much pesticide. There are four major components that should be considered for your soil: mineral material, air, water, and organic material. The mineral parts would include sand, clay and silt. However, the ratio of these will vary depending on your location. Also, how the soil is amended will also depend on type of soil.
 
Adding organic matter into clay soil helps to produce better drainage and will help tender roots get into the soil. When you are not certain about the type of soil to use, dig a hole and fill it up with water. Then watch to see just how long it takes the water to drain. If the clay is solid this would be just like having a bowl of water. On the other hand, if the clay is sandy it will drain faster. Even though clay is hard, it is also rich in minerals and has plenty of useful nutrients. When ground pine bark, composted leaves, sawdust or organic material are added to the soil it will grow better.
 
Believe it or not, worms are great for helping the soil. When compost is added to a whole, worms will eventually burrow through it so that they can carry food. During the process, they help to improve the structure of the soil. This is because along the way they are depositing worm manure with is powerful. When you add soil, it is as though you are actually feeding the worms. If you are interested in planting a vegetable garden or a flower bed, you will have to work the soil in and add organic material. This is primarily important to those who have a yard where it is lifeless and is unfit to grow things.
 
Many know that manure holds moisture, but they don’t consider how it also helps their soil. The manure also helps fed worms. The same worms that help improve the condition of your soil. You can apply something as simple as chicken litter to produce the results that you want from you soil. If you are unable to find this then you could also use dehydrated black cow manure, double ground bark, composted leaves or mushroom compost.
 
Keep in mind that soil has to be rich in humus, which is what you’ll discover when there is decaying materials like grass clippings, compost or leaves. It is able to retain moisture and will drain well. This is exactly what you want for your garden or your flowerbed. So if you’ve ever wanted to play in the dirt, why not start with your soil.
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A New Brewery in Plymouth

5/21/2019

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The Mayflower Brewing Company is introducing a new beer, The Pinehills Pale Ale. The only place where you will be able to sample it is at the Village Green at The Pinehills opening May 30, 2019. The brewery in Plymouth admits introducing its latest brew at the opening of the areas seasonal outdoor pavilion, as this is where several of their beers will be served. They will also offer a variety of food options from different food trucks, which will include Wahlburgers. This is the chain owned by famous actors Donnie and Mark Wahlberg along with their brother Paul who is the business chef.
 
Tony Green, a managing partner of the planned community directly off Beaver Dam Rd, said that they wanted to bring something new and different to those living in The Pinehills. It will be used as a public facility where people can gather to enjoy a beer, a meal, lawn games, live music and more. They have engaged Mayflower Brewing to manage its beer garden, opening at the end of the month. Not only will  they be offering The Pinehills Pale Ale but you can also look forward to their IPA, Porter, OttoBahn Lager, Wrestling Double IPA, Boomerang Hoppy Pale Ale, New World IPA, and Summer Ale and Love beers to served at the beer garden. Developers hope to make The Pinehills Village Green into the perfect place to relax and enjoy the various craft beers offered by Plymouth’s local brewery, Mayflower. They intend on making the beer garden at The Pinehills Village Green a destination venue.
 
The Mayflower Beer Garden is situated just across from the U.S. Post Office at 3 Village Green North. You will be able to indulge in many different wines, beers, sodas, and purchase crafts and artisan gifts. These items will b sold out of two large, bright containers that open up to convert into a bar and store. It’s certainly worth seeing and experiencing for yourself. There is also a large patio paved with gravel that is adjacent to the Village Greens grassy area. This area can be used for various recreational activities and as a place where lawn games can be played.
 
Visitors will be able to take advantage of the tables and benches or play corn hole and some of the other lawn games that will be made available to them. There will be plenty of shade due to the trees that are located in and around the Tavern Green. Live musical performances will be enjoyed on the wooden deck and a fire pit will keep visitors warm on those cool autumn evenings.  There will be a constant procession of food trucks schedule to be at the Mayflower Beer Garden, with the Wahlburgers schedule to be there every Friday evening.
 
Visitors will also have the opportunity to order from Mamma Mia’s and they can even opt to have food delivered to the Village Green. The Mayflower Beer Garden is sure to be a welcome addition to the city.
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Saying Good-by to a Legend in Ballet

5/14/2019

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Well-known ballerina, Kathleen Combes has been given a special surprise, the chance to dance lead for the new ballet, Rhapsody in Blue, which was created by Paulo Arrais, a fellow dancer. This comes as the Boston Ballet makes its season finale. The ballet will alternate between Sir Frederick Ashton’s ballet, Rhapsody, and Cinderalla at the Boston Opera House. Kathleen Combes joined the Boston Ballet in the early 2000’s and is set to retire from the stage once the season ends. She will then move into a new roll as Executive Director of Festival Ballet in September.
 
Rising choreographer and performed, Arrais has undoubtedly produced a winning ballet on his first go-round. As he uses George Gershwin’s 18-minute piece, he has purposefully called on Combes for the lead, surrounded by 15 men. She desires two of the men, one a manipulative hunk and the other who is more adaptable, whom she later rescues and brings around to her side. However, this ballet is anything but a damsel in distress. She is seen as more of a queen, as she is rolled and lifted by a quartet of male dancers. The ballets artistic director outfitted her with bobbed hair and a white dress to give the impression of a 20th century goddess.
 
The play, Rhapsody, opens with three Soviet produced pieces by Leonid Yacobson. While he is talented, much of his work has gone unnoticed in the West. The first of the three short ballets is a romance, Pas de Quatre. It involves four women being followed by a living statue-like series of pas de deux in homage to Rodin. The three short ballets produced by choreographer, Yacobson, ends with a 1969 solo by Mihail Baryshnikov prior to his leaving Russia. The dancers performance was riveting as he was able to seamlessly go between the various moods of the legendary dancer. The finale was Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, which was choreographed by Balanchine. It was based on the memories of his childhood of the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg.
 
The ballet, Cinderella, is reminiscent of a springtime rendition of The Nutcracker, as it also appeals to families and also an awe-inspiring masterpiece and childhood fairy tale that many can relate to. At the opening performance, the company’s South Korean-born principal dancer Hye Han presenting one of the evenings most talked about performances, displaying technical excellence and superior stamina. Every move was beautifully maneuvered and handsomely performed with grace.
 
While almost any ballet that is performed by the Boston Ballet Company is magical, it is clear to see that there is something extraordinary about its most recent ballet. With the leaving of one of its stars, there is much anticipation of just how she will leave. So far, she has not disappointed those in attendance. Kathleen Combes has delivered the performance of her life and is leaving the stag with grace and dignity. As she takes her leave, her presence is sure to be missed. 
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Not All Scholarships Are Free

4/2/2019

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Like many adults, many students also believe that the scholarship or grant that they receive will never have to be repaired. Imagine the faces of those who have been awarded certain grants and scholarships when they receive a bill at the end of their college graduation. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 72% of college students who were 18 years or younger received scholarships or grants during the 2015-2016 school year and 65% for students 19-23 years of age.
 
You may not know it but not all money is free money. Your free money might disappear after your freshman year because there are some scholarships that are not renewable. While you could receive a certain scholarship for one year, the same one may not be available the following year. There are some schools that will award new students (freshman) a one-time scholarship in an effort for them to visit their college campus or to interview with their school. There are some scholarships that can be renewed if the student meets certain criteria’s. This might mean that the student must maintain a specific grade average, select from a certain major, or follow a strict school code of conduct. Every freshman should evaluate their scholarship to find out if it is renewable and to make sure they meet its terms. This information can often be found in the award letter that the student receives or by contacting the schools financial aid office.
 
Generally, a school will do all that they can to maintain their awards from one year to the next. However, the type of money that is awarded might change. If a student has a high federal student loan limit preceding their freshman year, during their sophomore year they may only receive a grant that is equal to grant that they have to replace the loan with. Some people see this as a bait and switch tactic. Regardless of how it looks, the student will still receive the same amount of aid, no matter how it is distributed. Despite this, grants and scholarships are more popular than financial aid that you will undoubtedly have to pay back, similar to a student loan.
 
Another thing that you might not realize is that when household circumstances change, it could affect your financial aid status. Perhaps you were enrolled when another sibling was still living at home but the sibling moved out while you were still enrolled. Your financial aid calculations will then indicate a change in your family’s finances. Without another mouth to fee, they see it as an increase in your family’s financial situation. Which means that they could reduce the amount of your financial aid.
 
These are just some of the reasons that you may end up spending money despite being awarded a scholarship. With a scholarship or grant, like any other type of financial agreement, you have to read the fine print. There is always someone in the departments financial aid department who can help you understand what you are actually receiving.
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Proposed Brewery and Apartments

3/5/2019

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One of the most recent proposed developments for the Wollaston Center is 75 apartments with retail spaces on the ground-level, including one that could possibly be used for a brewery or restaurant. This new development was proposed by Bayfort Holdings and would include demolishing several retail buildings on Beale St. and four-family houses on Cushing St. and Chapman St. All in an effort to make room for the newly proposed development, which would also include a two-story parking garage at the back of the property.
 
A layer for the development company, Zhang said that this plan was in keeping with the city’s initiative to redevelop the Wollaston Center. The city’s Mayor, Thomas Koch targeted this area for redevelopment six months ago. He began the process of developing an urban revitalization area by providing specially zoned sections that would encourage further development of the city.
 
It appears that as you look around, many city’s are adopting the same redevelopment structure. They continue to receive assistance from the Mayor’s to receive designated areas for redevelopment in the urban areas of the city. Since it has worked so well for many of the other cities, chances are that Quincy will also benefit from its efforts too. As a part of this initiative in Quincy, over 200 Wollaston residents and several business owners met over a year ago to discuss what they would like to see for the neighborhood transformation. Among the things that were proposed was a brewery, affordable housing, and restaurants.
 
After the developers of Zhang carefully considered the report while also designing the proposed mixed-use development on Beale St. They met with the city planning department and discussed what they hoped would happen in the city and what their interests were in redeveloping Wollaston Center. They also wanted to know what the neighbors thought of their redevelopment and planning proposals so that they could be included in their plans. It’s clear that they realize that in order for things to work out well, it would have to be a collaborative effort between themselves and the city.
 
Their proposed building project would be four stories high in the back and seven stories on the Beale Street side. The apartments would be on the higher floors of the building. The property would also include a courtyard, fitness facility, and meeting space. In the proposed project it includes wider sidewalks on Beale Street with several retail spaces on the bottom (street) level. Retail space would range from 963 to 6,125 square feet with the largest being a two-story space with a complete basement area, which is where a brewery or restaurant could be housed. Since there are currently no breweries in Quincy, this makes it the largest community without a brewery. As the city continues to transform itself, there is increased interest in a brewery in the area. It already has new restaurants and apartments so the next step is to also include a brewery.
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Scholarship Awarded to Plymouth Recipient

2/19/2019

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It is quite the honor to be recognized for your talent by the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra. No one knows this better than Oskar Mundt of Marshfield High School. A high school junior receives this scholarship if they are pursuing a musical career. The scholarship is awarded annually. Past president of the Philharmonic’s Board of Trustees said that they strive to focus on music and community as their core values. The scholarship event is intended to reflect the organizations commitment to those young people who appreciate music.
 
The scholarship recipient plays string bass with his schools orchestra and jazz band. He is also a member of the South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestra. This young musician also studies piano and participants in many of the local music festivals, showcasing in talents with both instruments the string bass and piano. One of these festivals includes the Berklee Jazz Festival. He has decided that he will use the money from the scholarship to be a participant in some summer music activities and the purchase of a new instrument.
 
The youth was recognized for his accomplishments at a reception after the Plymouth Philharmonic’s Magnificence in Spring Concert at the Plymouth Memorial Hall. He had the honor of performing with the South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestra and sat with the Philharmonic for Georges Bizet’s L’Arlesienne.  Those who receive this honor are said to be exemplary in their musical talents and deserve this type of recognition by other talented musicians. It’s clear to see from the many accomplishments of Oskar Mundt that he was well deserving of this type of scholarship.
 
The high school junior who receives the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra Music Scholarship must be a resident of Plymouth County who also intends on applying to a four-year music program during their senior year of high school.  They must major in the following programs: vocal performance, instrumental performance, music composition, and music education. The scholarship is generally awarded to the student during their junior year of high school in an effort to increase their chances of being accepted into the music school of their choice. The amount of the scholarship is $2,500 and can be used for more music lessons, master classes, summer music camps, workshops, travel expenses, tuition, and another instrument. They can also use the money for any of the expenses they may incur from participation in any of the aforementioned.
 
With this type of incredible opportunity, sky’s the limit for the youth that it is awarded to. Based on what we now know about Mudnt, it is clear that he is putting the scholarship money to good use. We certainly have a lot to be proud of in Plymouth and our youth can be included amongst the various things that we are proud of. We appreciate their efforts in contributing to their communities and this is just one way of rewarding them for their hard work and commitment. We hope to continue to encourage and foster such Plymouth talent.
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Support Local Plymouth Tourism

1/15/2019

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Travel and tourism is just as important to Plymouth, MA, as it is to any other city. This is why the Plymouth County CVB came out to rally in support of the travel and tourism industry. Business, political and community leaders came together to endorse the benefits of travel to the local economy at the National Travel and Tourism Week. The theme highlights the incredible impact that travel has on Plymouth County’s economy and culture. Each week of the event highlighted a different area of travel, i.e., new experiences, infrastructure, economy, health advantages, how travel strengthens families, and hometown pride.
 
If you ever thought that tourism was not a contender in the framework of the economy, think again. The numbers tell the story that needs to be told. Travel affects one in nine American jobs and in Massachusetts it accounts for over 140K jobs, which also includes thousands of local jobs situated in Plymouth County. In Plymouth County, specifically, travel and tourism accounts for $32,000,000 in local tax revenue. During the event, it was a way to celebrate the impact that travel has on the communities of Plymouth and surrounding cities. They called on everyone, including elected officials and locals, to join in saluting the importance of travel and tourism industry in Plymouth, MA. They also asked for support of the pro-travel legislation at the state, local and national level.
 
Everywhere from the smallest to the largest city in America, travel is important, according to U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. He admits that like many others, he admits that the being a part of the travel industry has shaped his life in ways that he could not have imagined before. The National Travel and Tourism Week celebrates how the power that travel has on the lives of those who travel, fuels the economy, and strengthens communities. These are certainly things worth celebrating.
 
Here are a couple of local figures that may not seem like much to the average person looking at them but trust us when we tell you that these figures are an part of the impact that travel has on the economy nationwide:
 
  • It has been reported that travel account for $2.5 trillion in U.S. travel
  • Spending, as it relates to travel, generated $171 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue in the past year (2018)
  • Visitors to the U.S. support 15.7 millions of Americans who work in the travel and tourism industry  (8.9 million in direct travel-related jobs and 6.8 million in indirect travel-related jobs)
 
Clearly, if you look at the big picture, this is a small fraction of worldwide travel. Travel and tourism in Plymouth, MA is also considered in these figures. In FY17 it was reported that visitors to Massachusetts spent more than $22.9 billion and generated $1.5 billion in State and Local taxes. Everyone in Plymouth can benefit from increased revenue from travel and tourism, which is why these types of events are so important.
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