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Cooperative grocery store coming to Maynard
Metro West Boston is about to get a new option for locally sourced food, the only grocery store of its kind in the region. The Assabet Co-op Market, a cooperative grocery store owned by more than 1,300 residents from 40 local towns and cities, announced its future home at 2 Powder Mill Road in Maynard. The Co-op plans to open next summer. The Co-op agreed to purchase the property in July and has launched a capital campaign to raise $2 million to build its store. The Assabet Co-op Market will be a full-service, 8,000-square-foot grocery store (5,800 square feet of retail space) at the former site of Suburban Glass & Mirror. Designed by Scott/Griffin Architects and Widseth, the Co-op will include every department found in a conventional grocery store, including meat, produce, dairy, deli and bulk foods. It will also have a cafe, prepared foods, and parking for 35 cars. Unlike conventional grocers, food cooperatives typically source from more than more than 100 local food producers, including farms, bakers, cheese makers and more. Siobain Mitchell, president of the board of directors and a Co-op owner, said the Co-op has built relationships with dozens of local farms and producers; the store’s general manager will determine the final list of suppliers based on shelf space and owners’ priorities. According to Food Co-op Initiative, a national nonprofit that advises startup food cooperatives, every $1,000 spent at a food co-op generates $1,600 in the local economy. The Co-op also aims to increase access to local, healthy food, regardless of a shopper’s income. The store will accept SNAP benefits and offer a Healthy Food Access program, which gives an additional 10% discount to low-income owners. The Co-op will be open to everyone, regardless of whether they become owners. For more information, visit https://assabetmarket.coop/
Union, Stop & Shop announce new premium pay pact
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) – which represents 1.3 million workers in grocery, retail and other frontline industries – has announced a new agreement with Stop & Shop on premium pay for 56,000 union Stop & Shop associates represented by UFCW. The agreement will provide retroactive premium pay – in the form of lump sum payments equal to 10% of all hours worked between July 5, 2020, and Aug. 22, 2020 – to recognize their ongoing efforts to ensure communities have access to the food and supplies they need as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Additionally, Stop & Shop has agreed to observe a moment of silence on Labor Day and Workers Memorial Day, starting in 2021, to recognize both the frontline workers lost to COVID-19 and the collective strength that union membership has provided to its associates. This is in addition to the initial Stop & Shop premium pay between March and July, as well as the two additional weeks of paid leave provided earlier this year if any workers become sick.
Register discusses how to record a land document
Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell reminds residents that even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Registry process to record land documents is designed to make it as easy and seamless as possible. “First and foremost, the document needs to be associated with one of the 28 communities comprising Norfolk County. In addition, the document must be an original; we will not record photo copies or documents submitted via fax. Please note in many cases, land documents require signatures be notarized before they are recorded. It should also be noted that the Registry does not draft land documents. The Registry of Deeds is in the business of recording land documents only. If an individual is unsure if a drafted land document, particularly a deed, is in proper order, it may be prudent to have a lawyer familiar with real estate law review the document for its accuracy,” said O’Donnell. If you have any questions about land documents in general, call the Registry’s Customer Service Center at 781-461-6101, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.