TELL US: Should Mass. Blue Laws Be Eliminated?

Blue laws prohibit retailers from opening before midnight on Black Friday.

Black Friday is starting earlier than ever, as some national retailers have announced they will open the night of Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 22. However, here in Massachusetts, state blue laws prohibit stores from opening until midnight, according to a report by the Boston Globe.  Current blue laws prohibit retailers in the state from opening on Thanksgiving, thus preventing them from getting an early start on Black Friday sales, according to the Globe article. Some exceptions are restaurants, health care facilities and gas stations.  The laws, instituted in the 17th century, are intended to make sure holidays are properly observed, according to the Boston Globe.  Are Massachusetts' blue laws outdated? Should they be eliminated? Tell us …

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GiRRL_Earth

2:27 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

What's with Avon's straw man arguments? Talk about taking this topic off course. :-|   more ›

Sharon Residents Open New Coffee Shop in Walpole

The Coffee Perch sells three blends of coffee from a roaster in Rhode Island, espresso drinks and baked goods including bagels, muffins, croissants, scones and breakfast sandwiches.

When Sharon residents Mark and Maura McAuliffe opened up The Coffee Perch in Walpole for the first time on Saturday, Aug. 25, they had a line of people waiting to try out the new coffee stop. “We’re completely excited," said Maura McAuliffe. "We were a little intimidated this morning when we opened up the doors and we literally had probably a dozen people come in but we’re happy." After months of planning and construction the owners of The Raven's Nest - a pub two doors down - are hoping to continue the success they have had at the corner of Main and Common Streets. “It makes us feel happy. Everyone is just so enthusiastic about having the coffee shop here,” Maura said. “It’s going to revitalize even this corner, more than what we’ve done …

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Sharon Credit Union Adding Drive-Up ATM

The Sharon Zoning Board of Appeals has approved the project.

Sharon Credit Union customers needing an ATM will soon have an option. Drive up or walk up. Wednesday night, the Sharon Zoning Board of Appeals approved a drive-up ATM for the credit union, at 42 Pond St. The request was in response to "feedback from our members asking that we would install a drive-up ATM for additional convenience," Sharon Credit Union Chief Operating Officer Mark Emerson told the board. The financial institution has had a walk-up ATM at its vestibule entrance since the mid-1990s, Emerson said. "Some people prefer not to get out of their vehicle, especially after hours," he said. The drive-up ATM will be on "the opposite side of the building to the main entrance," Emerson said. The walk-up ATM will remain, because some …

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House Hunt

House Hunt: Open Houses This Weekend

A look at some area open houses this weekend.

Today, we bring you House Hunt—a weekly column dedicated to real estate open houses in the surrounding area. Make sure to check back with Patch each Friday for more open house listings. Information provided courtesy of AOL Real Estate.

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What Properties Sold in the Area This Week?

A sampling of homes sold in the area this past week.

Click on the photo at right to look at a photo gallery of homes that sold in the area from Feb. 23 - Feb 29. MLS data courtesy of www.newenglandmoves.com. In the market for a new home? Be sure to check out our House Hunt column on Fridays for open houses in your area. 16 Reynolds Street, Easton Sale date: Feb. 29 Days on market: 147 Sale price: $355,500 Listed price: $379,900 Bedrooms: 5 Full bathrooms: 2 Half bathrooms: 0 Square feet: 1917   50 Fairway Lane, Foxborough Sale date: Feb. 28 Days on market: 353 Sale price: $450,000 Listed price: $499,900 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Half-Bathrooms: 1 Square feet: 2666   329 Balcom Street, Mansfield Sale date: Feb. 24 Days on market: 96 Sale price: $335,000 Listed price: $347,000 Bedrooms: 5 …

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House Hunt

House Hunt: Open Houses This Weekend

A look at some area open houses this weekend.

Today, we bring you House Hunt—a weekly column dedicated to providing a sampling of real estate open houses in the surrounding area. Make sure to check back with Patch each Friday for more open house listings. Information provided courtesy of AOL Real Estate. To view listings in Easton, click here. To view listings in Mansfield, click here. To view listings in Stoughton, click here. To view listings in Sharon, click here. To view listings in Norton, click here. To view listings in Wrentham, click here. To view listings in Foxborough, click here.

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Sold!

What Properties Sold in the Area This Week?

A sampling of homes sold in the area this past week.

Click on the photo at right to look at a photo gallery of homes that sold in the area from Jan. 26 - Feb 1. MLS data courtesy of www.newenglandmoves.com. In the market for a new home? Be sure to check out our House Hunt column on Fridays for open houses in your area. 23 Lullaby Lane, Easton Sale date: Feb. 1 Days on market: 245 Sale price: $815,000 Listed price: $849,800 Bedrooms: 4 Full bathrooms: 3 Half bathrooms: 1 Square feet: 3840   16 Sweetmeadow Drive, Easton Sale date: Feb. 1 Days on market: 181 Sale price: $579,000 Listed price: $595,000 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4 Half-Bathrooms: 1 Square feet: 3158   50 Eisenhower Drive, Sharon Sale date: Jan. 31 Days on market: 145 Sale price: $482,500 Listed price: $499,000 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms…

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House Hunt

House Hunt: Open Houses This Weekend

A look at some area open houses this weekend.

Today, we bring you House Hunt—a weekly column dedicated to real estate open houses in the surrounding area. Make sure to check back with Patch each Friday for more open house listings. Information provided courtesy of AOL Real Estate.

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Sold!

What Properties Sold in the Area This Week?

A sampling of homes sold in the area this past week.

Click on the photo at right to look at a photo gallery of homes that sold in the area from Jan. 19 - Jan. 25. MLS data courtesy of www.newenglandmoves.com. In the market for a new home? Be sure to check out our House Hunt column on Fridays for open houses in your area. 7 Villa Drive, Foxborough Sale date: Jan. 23 Days on market: 232 Sale price: $323,000 Listed price: $339,900 Bedrooms: 3 Full bathrooms: 1 Half bathrooms: 1 Square feet: 1460   Lot 2 Smiley Ave, Mansfield Sale date: Jan. 20 Days on market: 160 Sale price: $544,978 Listed price: $449,900 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 Half-Bathrooms: 1 Square feet: 2328   9 Dearborn Drive, Norton Sale date: Jan. 24 Days on market: 111 Sale price: $280,000 Listed price: $264,000 Bedrooms: 3 …

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Businesses: Claim Your Listing on Patch

Business owners are encouraged to claim listings in Patch Places to better promote their business and inform Sharon Patch readers. It's free.

When Patch launched in 2010, editors and freelancers ventured to local businesses in order to collect information for our directory. Now, 16 months later, Patch Places is a spot where users can find descriptions, hours, accepted payment methods, and much more for spots around town. All users can add events taking place at local spots, can rate the business on a scale of one to five stars, and can add a review. But owners of local businesses get extra bonuses when they claim a listing. Owners or managers should search for their business listing and select "claim you listing" in order to make updates to the page. A form will pop up asking for your name, contact information, and proof of ownership. Within a few days, someone from Patch should…

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