The New Uxbridge Times

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~ THE NEW ~

Uxbridge Times

“Your Hometown News” VoluMe 20 • ISSue 4

A FREE Monthly Publication

uxbridge • north uxbridge • linwood • Douglas • northbridge • whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug

Another obstacle for Small Business

Fitzpatrick named Mass Superintendent of the year Blackstone Valley Vocational RegionIn his 16 years as Superintendental School District Superintendent- Director of the Blackstone Valley VocaDirector, Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick has tional Regional School District, the been named Massachusetts Superin- District has earned acclaim for dramattendent of the Year ically improved stuby the American Asdent performance and sociation of School has served as a model Administrators of education reform (AASA), ARAMARK and excellence. The school received a Education and the Silver Award and was ING Foundations. named Pacesetter Site This prestigious tribfor High Schools ute is bestowed upon That Work program superintendents who of the Southern Resuccessfully lead gional Education learning in their disBoard in 1997. That tricts, who have model school status strength in both perwas reaffirmed for sonal and organiza2007-2010 and again tional communicafor 2010-2013. The tion, who illustrate school has also been constant improvement of administra- Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick named a Commonwealth Compass tive knowledge and skills, and who participate in local School by the state in 2003, the only community activities as well as under- school in the country to receive the stand regional, national and interna- 2004 National School Change Award tional issues. There were 49 State-level from Fordham Univer-sity, and earned Superintendent recipients on behalf of designation as a 2005 Vanguard Model their respective states along with School by Mass Insight Education. Dr. Fitzpatrick earned his Doctor of Canadian and international winners. A dedicated administrator for over 40 Education degree in Education Adminiyears, Dr. Fitzpatrick has been stration from the University of MassaSuperintendent-Director of Blackstone chusetts at Amherst in 1981. As an Valley Vocational Regional School Education Professional Development District for 16 years. Previously, he Act fellow, he earned his Master of Arts was Director for the Center for degree in Education from Westfield Vocational Technical Education at State College (WSC) as well as his Fitchburg State College for 4 years, the Bachelor of Science degree in EduDirector of Statewide Curriculum cation. At WSC, Dr. Fitzpatrick played Projects at Westfield State College and varsity basketball and advanced several South-eastern Regional Vocational youth athletic programs within the City Technical School District for 3 years, of Westfield. “Dr. Fitzpatrick has never backed Statewide Conference Coordinator for Vocational-Technical Leadership Per- down from challenging the system and sonnel at Fitchburg State College and proposing meaningful change that Westfield State College for 13 years makes a difference in the lives of young and Assistant Superintendent at people,” commented Paul Reville, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Tech- Secretary of Education for the Comof Massachusetts. nical School District in Palmer, monwealth continued on page 38 Massachusetts for 13 years.

PoStal PatRon

april 2011

By ConStanCe DwyeR

How Sweet It IS! ~ Ranger Val Stegemoen welcomes visitors to the “Sugar Shack” at River Bend Farm. there visitors can see demonstrations on how sap is made into Maple Syrup. Below trees are tapped for sap. Photos by stanley smyth

PRESoRTED STANDARD US PoSTAGE PAID BoSToN, MA PERMIT No 55800

business bio:

Superior Roofing Inc. takes pride in workmanship

eCRWss

By Constance Dwyer “this has been the worst winter in 25 years. What a way to celebrate our 25th anniversary,” smiled mike burbank, owner of superior Roofing in Whitinsville. Michael Burbank

See complete story on page 39

If you work for a living, are you legally an “employee” or an “independent contractor?” It may not seem important to you, but it is a serious concern for the company that issues your pay check, particularly if they are a small business in Massachusetts subject to the Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law (M.G.L. c.149, s.148B). However it might concern you because once you’re classified as an employee you may lose rights to work related intellectual property. Affected parties may not need a “Philadelphia Lawyer” to untangle the ambiguities in the law, but a knowledgeable Massachusetts lawyer would definitely be advantageous. Any company understands that its employees are entitled to defined benefits such as health insurance and unemployment compensation. The intent of this law was the protection of such workers’ rights, but this required the Massachusetts law to clearly distinguish between an employee and an independent contractor. To examine more closely the distinction between these terms, Denise Minor Esq., owner of Start Here LLC, located in Sutton, organized a meeting at the State House with newly elected 18th Worcester District Rep. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton), his aide, Carl Copeland of Sutton, and student intern, Bret Denault of Grafton, this correspondent and her self-employed spouse and a number of other interested parties: Suzanne Gray, Business Coach, Fitzwilliam, NH; Laura Davis, a former senior executive in sales and marketing who decided against purchasing a Massachusetts franchise because of the ambiguity of the law; Keith Fuller, Partner, Next Generations Communications, Marlborough, an IT company and Scott Crystal of American Translation Partcontinued on page 20

~ INDEX ~ town news ..............Page Calendar...................Page Society .....................Page Senior Corner ..........Page School news............Page Business news........Page Sports.......................Page Real estate...............Page Classified .................Page

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