Hi everyone,
Well, Friday’s snowstorm wasn’t so bad. Now, with the clocks 
set back and the temperature flirting with the forties and fifties, it looks like
spring is right around the corner. Yay!
Our first story today comes from Taunton, where Mayor Charles Crowley recently met
with Roberto Manuel Lima Medeiros, vice mayor of the City of Lagoa in Portugal. Taunton has a large Portuguese population, and the two cities are exploring the idea of becoming official sister-cities. Portuguese dignitaries sometimes stop by the city while visiting the United States, and there is a healthy 
high school exchange program between the two cities. “”Portuguese culture is part of the fabric of Taunton… There’s a need to embrace it – on both sides.”” Says Crowley.
“The two mayors agreed to recommit efforts between their two communities, foster cultural and economic ties and promote awareness of local Portuguese history, contribution and culture.”
”With less than 15,000 inhabitants, Medeiros said [Lagoa’s] population has more relatives in New England than in their own hometown.”
City seeks Sister
RORY SCHULER Staff Writer of the Taunton Gazette 03/20/2007
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(THIS POST REMOVED DUE TO INCORRECT ATTRIBUTION – SORRY! :P )
If a library is a beloved institution in town, then so is the local hair cuttery. However, the all-American barbershop with 
the slowly red-and-white rotating pole and the as-slowly moving locals is dying out. Where can one go nowadays to get a good, clean shave with a straight-edge razor, but not have to pay Newbury Street prices? In Sterling. Bette Moulton owns Woody’s Barber Shop on Worcester Road. The shop has been cutting hair for over 100 years, and Bette is the fourth generation to take over the scissors. She hopes to get her son into it as well. 
Bette, along with newcomer Christina Karsberg charge $11 for their do’s, and the coffee and conversation is free. “Saturdays are the busiest days, said Moutlon, and the customers aren’t coming in just for the haircuts.. They’ll stop in to the shop for a cup of coffee and some good conversation. One customer said, “Any information you want to know, you can come into Woody’s and get it – all the local news.”Moulton said, “Saturday mornings, we have a coffee club. People come in to see each other and just have coffee. We always have the coffee pot going.”” Sounds like my kind of place!
Shave and a haircut — 11 bucks
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I’m a recent convert to Fast Lane, and I’m a long-time convert to saving money. So here’s some news I really like – the Mass. 
Dept of Transportation is extending the Mass Pike discount that Fast Lane users enjoy. I drive from Boston to Worcester and back pretty regularly, so that saves me a couple bucks each week. The department has money enough to extend the discount for just a few more months, but lawmakers such as State Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, and even Gov. Patrick favor making the discount permanent. The article mentions a Fast Lane saving “25 cents off the $1 toll at the Allston-Brighton plaza and 50 cents off the $3 tolls at the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnels.” My question is, what about discounts for toll plazas west of Boston?
Transportation secretary supports permanent Fast Lane discount
by the Associated Press – Tuesday, March 20, 2007
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OK, I’m off to Pilates Class. But first, here’s some Massachusetts Trivia. Taunton is known as the Silver City, because of its factories which made silver goods. But Taunton has another nickname as well… know what it is?
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