Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/693414
www.wbjournal.com June 20, 2016 • Worcester Business Journal 3 I started off writing this editor's letter as an announcement/thank you for the Worcester Business Journal being named the second best small business-to-business newspaper in the country for 2015 by the Alliance of Area Business Publications, an organization we hold in high regard. Most of the credit goes to Rick Saia, my prede- cessor who ran WBJ editorial for eight months of that year. It was nice how I and Publisher Peter Stanton won for our Oct. 12 editorial about solar subsidies, but I really wish that the staff members were recog- nized for their individual efforts, because their contributions are what make WBJ print and digital so amazing on a daily basis. I was going to fill this entire column with those thoughts, but then June 13 happened. While the news may not have been that significant to most people – it wasn't even the top news of the day nationally – June 13 was the day the Washington Post became the latest and most prominent media outlet to be banned by Republican presiden- tial candidate Donald Trump from covering his events, even the public ones, because he doesn't like the way the Post writes about his campaign. I'm not writing this to endorse one candidate or another – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton isn't exactly media-friendly either – but I want to take the time here to hop- fully convince you what a huge deal this assault on Freedom of the Press is. There is one professional named in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution – journalism. Right next to Freedom of Speech in the same text, Freedom of the Press is the anchor of the document that is the foundation for America. The right of private industry to distribute information free of government control separates us from countries like China, North Korea and Syria where the public only gets to hear what their leaders want them to. America is still a long way from becoming any of those coun- tries, but Trump's bans and Clinton's refusals to hold press confer- ences are indicative of what the future U.S. president feels about Freedom of the Press in this country. It is not an attitude I toler- ate, and you shouldn't either. -Brad Kane, editor This Week In The WBJ Worcester Business Journal (ISSN#1063-6595) is published bi-weeky, 24x per year, including 5 special issues in April, July, September, November and December, by New Engand Business Media. 172 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester, MA. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Worcester Business Journal, PO Box 330, Congers, NY 10920- 9894. Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are available for $54.95. For more information, please email wbjournal@cambeywest.com or contact our circulation department at 845-267-3008. Fax: 845.267.3478 Advertising: For advertising information, please call Mark Murray at 508-755-8004 ext. 227. Fax: 508-755-8860. Worcester Business Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or materials and in general does not return them to the sender. Worcester Business Journal • 172 Shrewsbury Street • Worcester, MA 01604 • 508-755-8004 tel. • 508-755-8860 fax www.wbjournal.com A division of: Thanks for the awards... What?!? For crying out loud, Trump NEWS & ANALYSIS DEPARTMENTS 4 Briefing 5 Real Deal 8 Ticker 11 The Rainmaker 16 List: Top Worcester commercial taxpayers 17 Know How 18 Movers & Shakers ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS: Worcester Worcester's unkept private roads are impeding development and commerce in the city. Also, read the continuation of our cover story about the development and branding of Crompton Place and how it became an example for other former manufacturing properties in Worcester. See page 12. Tweet of the week "Congrats to @WBJournal for 2nd place finish in national B2B publication contest." – Lisa Eckelbecker (@LisaEckelbecker) June 13, on WBJ winning a Silver Award for Best Small Newspaper from the Alliance of Area Business Publications Top Facebook comment "is is really sad that a restaurant would pay employees monthly & steal their tips!" – Jennifer Bemis, via Facebook on June 2, on Worcester restaurant Shrangi-La being cited $11,000 for wage and hour violations Top poll comment "Curious if this building escaped the wrecking ball as a preservation effort? Especially in light of Mount Carmel, Les Canadians, etc....." – Steve Quist, June 10, on a maker space planned for the former location of Worcester's Ionic Ave. Boys and Girls Club Most read stories on WBJournal.com 1. MetroWest attracting millionaires 2. Board of Medicine disciplines MetroWest doctors 3. Maker space coming to Worcester's Ionic Ave. Boys and Girls Club 4. Zoning reform bill a mixed bag for realtors, developers scheme 5. Shrewsbury resident launches 'smart' buildings company Editor, Brad Kane, bkane@wjournal.com Digital Editor, Sam Bonacci, sbonacci@wbjournal.com (Real estate, construction, retail) Staff Writer Laura Finaldi, lfinaldi@wbjournal.com (Health care, manufacturing, energy, technology, higher education, finance, nonprofits) Contributors Susan Shalhoub, sshalhoub@wbjournal.com Livia Gershon Research Director, Stephanie Meagher, smeagher@nebusinessmedia.com Research Assistant, Heide Martin, hmartin@nebusinessmedia.com Production Director, Kira Beaudoin, kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com Associate Art Director, Mitchell Hayes, mhayes@wbjournal.com Senior Accounts Manager Matt Majikas, mmajikas@wbjournal.com Custom Publishing Project Manager Christine Juetten, cjuetten@wbjournal.com Account Manager Daniel Pelletier, dpelletier@wbjournal.com Marketing & Events Manager Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com CFO, Mary Rogers, mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com Accounting Assistant, Valerie Clark, vclark@nebusinessmedia.com Collections Manager, Raki Zwiebel, rzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com Human Resources, Kim Vautour, kvautour@nebusinessmedia.com Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com Associate Publisher, Mark Murray mmurray@wbjournal.com Group Publisher, Joseph Zwiebel jzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com From WBJournal.com to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn, the Worcester Business Journal offers breaking news and thoughtful analysis throughout the Internet. WBJournal .com Worcester Business Journal Online 10 Lobster wire Northbridge manufacturer Riverdale Mills is moving to 24-hour operations to handle demand and compete globally for its coated wire mesh used in lobster traps and other wildlife and security applications. 21 New overtime rules The changes to the federal overtime laws that modify how many salaried employees are eligible for overtime puts new strain on employer-employee relationships. Top social story A new maker space is coming to Worcester at the Ionic Ave Boys and Girls Club space WBJ Facebook post: The 30,000 square-foot space will house approximately 25 studios and offices and is already under construction. • The story reached 1,723 people and had 48 reactions, comments and shares on Facebook. under construction. 18 Accolades 19 Incorporations 19 Fresh Beginnings 20 Flash Poll 21 Editorial 21 Viewpoint 22 Photo Finish WBJ