December is a busy time for most of us as we see an influx of holiday parties and celebrations. It also marks the end of a year. I think that most of us are awaiting 2010 with the expectations of better things to come in terms of our businesses. At least most economists agree that the recession is over and that 2010 will be a year of slow, economic recovery. This is good news for us all.

On November 23, 2009 the MRA presented the Massachusetts Hospitality Hall of Fame Awards. This award dinner was started by Tom Kershaw 20 years ago as a fundraising event for the National Restaurant Association's SAFE Fund and PAC and for the MRA's Legislative Action Forum which funds our State House Day. It honors individuals who have gone above and beyond in the service of our industry and of their communities. This year's honorees were Harvey Allen (M.S. Walker Inc.), Billy Costa (NECN's TV Diner), Donato and Filippo Frattaroli (Ristorante Lucia and Filippo Ristorante) and Jon Luther (Dunkin' Brands). Their careers and passion for what they do serve as inspirations to us all...congratulations! Read more

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated their "Equal Employment Opportunity is THE LAW" poster. The latest version includes information about the Genetic Information Non- discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which became effective on November 21, 2009.

History was made on November 17 in Lowell. It was not the type of history of textbooks, but history nonetheless. Five ProStart® students from Whittier Regional Vocational Tech. High School (WRVTHS) in Haverhill and their teacher, Cathie Baines, were given an opportunity few have ever been given, to be a part of the Guy Fieri Roadshow.

The Guy Fieri Roadshow, which began its 21-city tour in 30 days at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Nov. 17, was a fast-paced show with Guy and his "Kulinary Krew" marrying food with a high energy rock-n-roll concert. Read more

"We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors... we borrow it from our children."    - Anonymous

This quote, remembered from a bumper sticker, seems to be at the heart of protecting the environment. When we speak of Green Initiatives, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly and reducing our Carbon Footprint, it translates into preserving the environment for future generations...an inevitable endeavor. Read more

A recent Appeals Court decision limited the authority of a city or town to suspend or revoke a restaurant's entertainment license.

A city had suspended the entertainment license because, according to the licensing board, the restaurant failed to monitor the activities of a customer who apparently wandered into the kitchen area where the general public was not permitted, fell down a flight of stairs, and died from his injuries.

The Appeals Court reversed the licensing board's suspension of the license. It noted that a suspension must be based upon "substantial evidence" and concluded that there was no such evidence because there was no evidence the restaurant violated any public health or safety laws, rules or regulation. Read more