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Dracut After Dark
The Best Issues & Information Forum in Dracut
Untitled Document

Bon jour. Dracut After Dark is a moderated forum (a sounding board or bulletin board) which gives people the opportunity to express their views, ideas, questions, or concerns relative to Dracut Massachusetts and its surrounding area -- a local networking watchdog advocate or blog, if you will.

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Dracut After Dark
Subject: Scumbag Mullin


Author:
Bring Back Espindle
[Edit]
Date Posted: 17:33 07/01/09 Wed
Was watching the school committee meeting on cable the other night and saw a couple things that weren't mentioned in the Lowell Sun coverge of the meeting . When going over the budget for next year two things stand out.First is that Mullin budgeted himself for a 3% pay raise.When question by Bonnie Ellie that she was under the impression that he was going to accept a pay freeze like other town employees, Mullin would only say "My contract calls for me to get a raise".Then when told that his contract calls for only a 2% raise and not a 3% raise , Mullin had no answer , only to say that should be discussed in executive session.Secondly Mullin budget for a new position of Assistant Superintendent at a cost of 95,000 dollars a year.He already has a director of curliculuim for grades 1-6 and 7-112 both making over 90K each. In Tewksbury these jobs are combined and done by the assistant superntendent . Here he wants 3 people to do the job that one does there. With 2 directors, a business manager, dept. heads , refusal to answer calls or meet with parents, this guy doesnt have much to do , never mind need a 95k assistant. On top of that he tries to slide a 3% pay raise by everyone. There is definately a glut of high paid people at the top of the school systemand its only getting bigger. Instead of cutting at the top they cut in the classrooms. They cry poormouth but find money for raises for someone making 140k already and a 95k assistant? why do we need 3 vice principals at the high school? A Dean of Students? Two directors of curlriculum. Mullin obviously doesnt care, only looking out for his wallet.Given the lousey job he is doing , to even ask for a raise, nevermind one for more than entitled to , takes balls. But I guess this is what to expect when you hire the candidate with no experience , just because he was someones buddy. Thanks DJ and Mary Gail.

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Replies:
Subject: Lowell Sun attempts to resolve its own financial problems via Pet Memoriams


Author:
Duplicate Dawg (Desperate for $)
[Edit]
Date Posted: 13:15 07/05/09 Sun
(posted on, RichardHowe.com )

Local Newspaper Solves Financial Woes

Posted by DickH on 02 Jul 2009 at 08:43 pm | Tagged as: Lowell-2009, Technology

After much effort and experimentation, the local newspaper has finally discovered the key to its long-term financial viability. Mandatory furloughs, elimination of corporate 401K contributions, staff layoffs, declining subscriptions, evaporating advertising revenue and all the other seemingly insurmountable challenges of the past year have been swept away by this incredible example of journalistic innovation.

To what, you wonder, does the local newspaper owe this financial renaissance? Pet Memoriams. For just $25 for a 2×2 piece, or $40 for 2×4, bereaved pet owners throughout the Merrimack Valley are now able to share their grief with the entire newspaper buying community.

And because the crafting of these memorials will be the product of trained, unbiased, professional journalists whose work will be held to the highest standards of ethics and exactitude, this service will be a game-changing financial windfall that will be emulated by other publications around the world.

So congratulations to the Dutton Street brain trust for this remarkable achievement.

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Subject: Foxworth sentenced to Life in Prison after 1st Degree Murder


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 17:23 06/29/09 Mon
Scott Foxworth

(published in, Lowell Sun, Breaking News, 6-29-09)

Dracut man guilty in murder-for-hire case

By Lisa Redmond
lredmond@lowellsun.com

WOBURN -- After a three-week trial, a Middlesex Superior Court jury found a Dracut man guilty on Monday of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the 2006 murder-for-hire shooting death of Edward Schiller in a Newton parking garage.

Scott Foxworth, 55, will be sentenced Monday afternoon. He will receive a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

The jury was deliberating for about seven hours between Friday and Monday before reaching its verdict.

Prosecutor Adrienne Lynch had alleged that Foxworth, who had a conviction for second-degree murder, was paid $10,000 by James Brescia, a jilted husband, to kill Schiller, a 39-year-old insurance agent. Schiller was dating Brescia's estranged wife. Brescia wanted Schiller out of the way so that he could reconcile with his wife.

For more on this story read Tuesday's Sun or click on http://www.lowellsun.com .

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Subject: 1st Annual Ms. Preneur Business Expo and Shopping Experience


Author:
ms. Preneur
[Edit]
Date Posted: 12:13 07/04/09 Sat
Ms. Preneur is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Ms. Preneur Business Expo and Shopping Experience one Saturday in the month of October. (Date to be determined). At this time the event will be held at our own Sherburne Hall contingent on availability. Event will run from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm


The Purpose of Ms. Preneur is to bring local woman owned businesses and residents together to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life in our community. This expo will provide you with an opportunity to network, showcase your goods and or services and meet and enhance your cause-related marketing by participating in an event that benefits the community and empowers women. It will also increase your database and visibility through brand exposure to entrepreneurial women with tremendous consumer needs and purchasing power

The Expo will be showcasing women owned businesses from the surrounding areas, including Pelham, Windham, Derry, Salem NH, Dracut, Tewksbury and Tyngsboro MA. Businesses will include Direct Sales, Home Based Businesses and Services, and women business owners from a wide variety of disciplines. These businesses will offer information, samples, business opportunities and merchandise for sale.

I am also looking into having The National Breast Cancer Foundation, New Hampshire Women's Lobby, Parenting NH Magazine, New Hampshire Women’s Policy Institute, the Clothesline Project and the NH Women's Business Center, among others.


Advertising for this event will be provided by print advertising in local newspapers, flyers, internet email campaign, Ms. Preneur newsletter and word of mouth.

Tables will be free for members of the Ms. Preneur Networking Community or $10.00 for non members.


To gage interest in the Expo I would ask that you email me with your interest in participation at cathy@mspreneur.com . Confirmation will needed by July 31st. Check out our website at www.mspreneur.com

Thank you and remember to support local business!

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Replies:
Subject: Lowell RMV to close


Author:
ohgreat
[Edit]
Date Posted: 21:32 07/03/09 Fri
http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_12748943

"For Lowell area motorists, the Wilmington and Lawrence branches will be the closest, while those living in the Nashoba Valley may prefer to drive to the Leominster branch."

Damn. The RMV has been in Lowell at least the 31 years since I got my license.

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Subject: fire works / parade ?


Author:
Uncle Sam
[Edit]
Date Posted: 16:55 06/28/09 Sun
Anyone know if fireworks and parade in Dracut for the 4th July

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Replies:
Subject: Purchase will bring more affordable local senior housing


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 22:30 06/28/09 Sun
(published in, Lowell Sun, 6-28-09)

By Bridget Scrimenti
bscrimenti@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Seniors living on fixed incomes sometimes have to choose between medication and food.

Senior housing units at Louisburg Square on Mammoth Road will hopefully ease that burden.

"Our seniors deserve it," said Selectman Joe DiRocco, who serves on the town's Affordable Housing Partnership Committee. "They work hard all their lives and, at the end, they don't have anything."

In December, the town will purchase an apartment building at 1476 Mammoth Road, with 38 existing senior units. The Dracut Housing Authority will manage the building.

Seniors who live in the apartments will pay 30 percent of their income, which includes deductions for prescriptions and medical bills.

"It's much more feasible for people," said Housing Authority Executive Director Mary Karabatsos. "It makes sense that someone on a fixed income will pay a fixed rent."

The town will buy the property from Gerry Lussier of Draco Homes for $2.7 million, using funds from Dracut's Community Preservation account.

The DHA will then pay the town $70,000 for 20 years, and then purchase the building from the town.

Karabatsos said the architects hired by the Housing Authority are close to sending their final documents for approval from the Department of Housing and Community Development, while construction is expected to start sometime after December.

The DHCD previously awarded $2.9 million to the Housing Authority to pay for renovations to the building.

Improvements will include an updated sprinkler system, new handicapped-accessible units, a new roof, new windows and doors, and bringing the building's elevator up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Upgrades to the three-story building also include revamping some of the existing units to add new kitchens.

"They're pretty excited about it because they're getting an updated building," Karabatsos said of the residents.

While existing senior tenants will stay in their apartments, there are already about 200 residents on the waiting list for other available units.

"We're constantly trying to find other avenues to get more housing," DiRocco said. "With the economy the way it is, it's tough to survive."

DiRocco said the DHA hopes to develop an acre of property the town repossessed on Lakeview Avenue just before Nashua Road.

For many seniors, the need for affordable housing is just as critical as developing a sense of community.

The units at Louisburg Square are close to the senior center, an integral part of senior life in Dracut.

"The senior center is a really big piece of the culture in Dracut," Karabatsos said. "In most cases, as people retire, they like to go back to the area they grow up in."

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Subject: Selectmen bitch they didn't have time to "dress appropriately" for Walgreen's public TV hearing


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:46 06/28/09 Sun
(published in, Lowell Sun, 6-28-09)

IN AN INTENSE and heated discussion, selectmen and Dracut Access Television Board members attempted to clear the air about two incidents.

During a special meeting at the Town Hall lunch room on May 18, selectmen were surprised to see a DATV cameraman show up.

So surprised that DATV board members said Selectmen Chairman George Malliaros slammed the door in the cameraman's face.

During Monday night's selectmen meeting, Malliaros said he did it in a joking manner.

"I just didn't expect a televised public meeting," Malliaros said. "If I was inappropriate, I apologize."

Some selectmen weren't dressed as they would normally be for a regularly scheduled (and televised) meeting, and felt it would have been common courtesy for DATV to tell them they planned on taping the meeting.

"I don't think we have to notify you to dress appropriately for a public meeting -- that's common sense," said DATV board member May Paquette.

DATV board members were also upset about comments made by Selectmen Jim O'Loughlin, who was concerned about DATV being used as a political tool, after a political candidate wanted to pay a cameraman to use DATV equipment to tape a political advocacy show.

"If I insulted anyone, I apologize. If I defamed anyone, I apologize," O'Loughlin said on Monday. "I do not apologize for raising the issue that I had a concern that cable was being used for political issues."

O'Loughlin also questioned how DATV spent their money, after he was told DATV was a "corporation" and he had no right to question it.

DATV board member Mike McNamara said on Monday that O'Loughin's comments attacked the board's reputation.

"The only thing that Mr. O'Loughlin manages to accomplish is to tarnish the reputation and integrity of the entire DATV Board, a board that has given literally hundreds of hours of volunteer service to the community," McNamara said, while reading from a statement.

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Subject: 16 Dracut teachers received layoff notices; Superintendent Mullin ignores media YET AGAIN


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 11:13 07/02/09 Thu
Spencer Mullin

(published in, Lowell Sun, Briefs, 7-2-09)

DRACUT- The School Department issued 16 layoff notices to teachers, according to School Committee Chairman Matthew Sheehan.

The positions will not be reinstated, while some teachers were planning on retiring at the end of the past school year, Sheehan said.

The Sun filed a Freedom of Information Act request yesterday for documentation about teacher layoffs and the School Department’s budget. The School Department recently received about $400,000 less in Chapter 70 state education aid than what was anticipated, said Town Manager Dennis Piendak.

Superintendent of Schools Spencer Mullin did not return calls for comment.

– Bridget Scrimenti

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Replies:
  • SHOCKING -- DHS Parent, 18:42 07/02/09 Thu
Subject: Dumping in the Merrimack River


Author:
Dracut Man
[Edit]
Date Posted: 19:59 06/03/09 Wed
Is it Legal to dump in the river? I remember reading an artical in the Boston Globe on March 17,2009 about Paul Borriello from MVS having to pay $20,000 as part of a big Exxon clean up. There was a quote under a pic of him that read... "I could have dumped it down the drain and not owed anything" And now I see him dumping truckloads of fill into the river, Behing his garage on 500 Merrimack ave. I just want to know is this ok to do? i took my boat back there and there is all kinds of debris on the banking behind his property. What can be done ....

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Replies:
Subject: 8th Grade Moving On Ceremony


Author:
Disappointed Mom (Confused?)
[Edit]
Date Posted: 19:08 06/21/09 Sun
Did anyone notice that Dr. Mullin, at the 8th Grade moving on ceremony looked disheveled and dressed inappropriately? He did not sit with the administration and sat under the exit sign in the doorway. He did not address the student body and left early. Could he have been hung over??? At least Mrs. Espindle always addressed the student body, dressed appropriately, and left the kids with a meaningful message. Is this what we can expect from our new superintendent?

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Replies:
Subject: Top 10 Shawn Ashe, er, I mean, Michael Jackson jokes


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 22:36 06/26/09 Fri
Michael Jackson

According to Web Usage Associates (and Public Notary), the following ten Michael Jackson Jokes are the most popular with Americans.

Q: What's the difference between Michael Jackson and a grocery bag?

A: One is white, made out of plastic, and dangerous for kids to play with and the other you carry your groceries in.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Q: How can you tell if Michael Jackson has a hot date?

A: There's a big wheel parked outside his house.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Q: Why does Michael Jackson like twenty eight year olds?

A: Because there are twenty of them.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Q: Who does Michael Jackson consider a Perfect "10"??

A: Two 5 year olds.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Q: How does Michael Jackson pick his nose?

A: From a catalogue.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Q: Why did Michael Jackson place a phone call to Boyz-2-Men??

A: He thought it was a delivery service.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Q: What has 18 balls and 3 pubic hairs?

A: A Michael Jackson slumber party.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Q: Did you know they're putting out a Michael Jackson stamp?

A: Fans get to vote for the white or black Michael Jackson.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Q: What's brown and often found in a baby's diaper?

A: Michael Jackson's hand.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Prince Michael Jackson, Jr., you know in a few years they'll probably change his name to: The Child Formerly Known as Michael Jackson's Baby.

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Subject: Former sex offender Goodwin (Ralph W.? or Alfred?) is no longer @ Level 3


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 17:48 06/29/09 Mon
Ralph W. Goodwin

(Published in, Lowell Sun, 6-23-09. DAWG NOTE: The Lowell Sun reported an Alfred Goodwin, 47, of 456 Broadway Road in Dracut while the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry listed a Ralph W. Goodwin, 48, at the exact same address. Which one is it? It’s highly unlikely that these two are brothers in their late-40's, both living at the same street address and both convicted sex offenders. It should be noted that Ralph W. Goodwin is no longer listed on the State Sex Offender Registry website for Level 3 violators. It wouldn’t exactly shock me that the Lowell Sun screwed up and referred to this guy as Alfred, but I don’t know that for sure.)

Dracut sex offender on probation, but with no conditions

By Lisa Redmond
lredmond@lowellsun.com

LOWELL -- When a jury ruled that Alfred Goodwin was no longer a sexually dangerous person earlier this month and released him after nearly 19 years in custody for kidnapping and raping a 7-year-old Lowell boy, a red flag went up for Probation Officer Michael Checkman.

"When he was sentenced in 1990 for kidnapping and raping a 7-year-old, there were no conditions on his 10-year probation,'' Checkman said in Lowell Superior Court this week.

Goodwin was sentenced in 1990 and upon what would have been his release in 2005, he was deemed to be a sexually dangerous person. At a trial earlier this month, despite conflicting testimony from psychologists about his sexual dangerousness, a jury ruled Goodwin, a Level 3 sex offender, is not sexually dangerous and released him from custody.

Although he is released back into the community, Goodwin is still on probation for 10 years based on his original sentence.

Chelmsford resident Laurie Myers, of the victim-rights group Community Voices, said "I'm disappointed that Mr. Goodwin was released from prison without stricter probation conditions. His actions prove he's a danger and the courts must do everything within its power to monitor his behavior during his probation.''

The only condition placed on the 47-year-old Dracut man as part of his original sentence is that he seek mental-health treatment. For some unknown reason, the standard conditions of no contact with the victim and no contact with children under 16 were not there, Checkman said.

Judge Paul Chernoff agreed to prohibit Goodwin, who is listed as living at 456 Broadway Road, from contacting the victim and to have no contact with children under 16, but balked at Checkman's request that Goodwin wear a GPS ankle monitoring bracelet which tracks his location at all times.

Defense attorney Jeannine Mercure, who represents Goodwin, argued that the Probation Department is seeking to impose additional conditions when "there has been a lot of water under the bridge.''

Myers, who attended Goodwin's probation hearing this week, said, "As a citizen, I'm concerned that the judge refused the state's request for GPS monitoring. Given the heinousness of the crimes we should be using every tool available to make sure another child doesn't fall victim to this sex offender.''

Chernoff agreed to a July 8 date to continue the probation hearing.

According to published reports, Goodwin, who lived in Lowell nearly two decades ago, abducted a 7-year-old boy while the boy's father attended a meeting at a Lowell civic club. The boy was playing hide-and-seek with a friend inside the civic club in Lowell on Feb. 3, 1990.

A short time later, the boy's father realized his son had disappeared, and police were called. Police and friends searched for the boy without success.

Goodwin held the boy captive overnight, walking around the city with him, then releasing him the following day, a Sunday afternoon, at a Lowell telephone booth.

Goodwin smuggled the boy into his home through a cellar window. Once inside, Goodwin raped the boy more than once.

At about 3 p.m., the next day, Goodwin smuggled the boy out of his home by hiding him in a cardboard box.

Goodwin then took the boy to a Lowell phone booth, called a taxi for him and left. The cab driver took the boy home.

In September 1990, Goodwin, whom the prosecutor called "a menace,'' was sentenced to serve 10 to 15 years in state prison, followed by 10 years probation, after pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated rape and one charge of kidnapping.

In 1984, the district attorney's office investigated charges that Goodwin had allegedly raped two neighborhood boys, but no charges were brought because one of the victims would have had difficulty on the stand, according to published reports.

Then in 1988, the DA's office again investigated charges that Goodwin had raped two neighborhood girls, but the girls' mother refused to allow them to testify.

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Subject: Failed Polygraph


Author:
big ears dumbo
[Edit]
Date Posted: 20:28 06/25/09 Thu
I was at the corner kitchen on lakeview and over heard a cop and an older guy. The guy had fake hair and a potleaf tattoed on his hand from listening it appears they knew who failed the lie detector. The old guy got into a red honda truck, and the cops may want to tolk to him.

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Replies:
Subject: Nine (9) wicked funny jokes about Jon & Kate Gosselin


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 10:54 06/29/09 Mon
Jon Kate Gosselin

Reality show stars Jon and Kate Gosselin of TLC's "Jon & Kate plus 8" are finally getting a divorce after months of feuding.

There will be a new reality show to cover the divorce proceedings, to be called "Jon & Kate plus 8 Jewish attorneys."

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Kate Threatens Jon With The Worst STD known to any man --
Child Support!

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

The big question is who will get custody of the kids: Jon, Kate, or Madonna?

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

So many woman these days are being publicized for having multiple births:

Jon and Kate Plus 8

Octomom

The Duggars (18 and Counting) just to name a few;

Ladies let me remind you, the vagina is NOT a clown car.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

...Jon & Kate Gosselin are putting aside their bickering and differences for the sake of their reality TV show...that show has been re-tooled with minor changes and will now be known as "Jon & Kate Plus Hate."

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

A mystery surrounding the whereabouts of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was apparently solved late Monday when a Sanford spokesman said he was hiking along the Appalachian Trail. The spokesman said the governor was upset and just wanted to be alone after learning that Jon and Kate were getting a divorce.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Reality TV stars Jon and Kate Gosselin deny media reports that they have cheated on each other. They are especially angry at Rush Limbaugh who said today that he hopes their marriage fails.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Divided by 2 attorneys = Ratings Gold. New Gosselin family math.

Pull the plug on these two morons TLC. You still have Amercian Choppers and that show with the Oompa Loompas, Little People, Big World.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

I am not sure if I have cared less about two people in the world. These two pump out 6 kids at one time, alienate the 2 they already had, get a TV show, then proceed to sleep around on each other like rabbits.

On top of that there are living humans who actually spend time talking about these two morons as if their lives are heaven. If they are on Good Morning America one more time I'm flying to NY and slapping someone with a tire iron. He's got a head like an alien and she has that hair style that always makes it look like she's lying flat on her back. Which, apparently she always is.

I can not wait for their 15 minutes of fame to come to an end in a fireball of hatred. Then, they'll be back on Celebrity Rehab or Celebrity Fights within the decade. I'm sure their children will end up completely normal. I'm sure none of them will end up on Sunset Blvd selling themselves for crack. Good luck wackos!

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Subject: Which famous celebrity’s death are YOU grieving most & why?


Author:
Nostradamus
[Edit]
Date Posted: 21:21 06/25/09 Thu
1) David Carradine

2) Farrah Fawcett

3) Michael Jackson

4) Ed McMahon


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Replies:
Subject: Hundreds of teachers face job loss


Author:
Duplicate Dog
[Edit]
Date Posted: 08:48 06/22/09 Mon
(published in, Lowell Sun, 6-22-09)

By Bridget Scrimenti
bscrimenti@lowellsun.com

While many Greater Lowell school districts have been forced to lay off hundreds of teachers, some say union concessions could have helped save jobs and eased painful budget cuts.

In Dracut, the teacher's union refused to renegotiate its recent three-year contract to include a wage freeze for 2010, which would have saved $541,241, said School Committee Chairman Matthew Sheehan.

"The School Committee gave them raises; now all we're asking is for the teachers to put it off for one year," Sheehan said. "The teachers can save jobs."

The school superintendent's office could not provide numbers on how many teachers were laid off and how many will be hired back.

Union President Joyce Desjardins wrote in an e-mail that the union does not have a comment at this time, and is waiting for "further budget information from the state and federal government."

In Tewksbury, every school employee received a pink slip, but none of them will lose their job.

The Tewksbury School Department plans to roll back the workday, with a reduced 90 percent workload. The employees that agree to be rehired will accept a 10 percent pay cut and shorter workweek.

School Committee Chairman Rick O'Neill said the board is keeping the door open for future negotiations with the union. He wouldn't say whether the board asked the teachers to give up any concessions.

"We're willing to discuss everything and anything, except closing a school or laying off 30 teachers to help pay off the deficiency," O'Neill said.

Other districts including Tyngsboro, Lowell, the Groton-Dunstable School District and North Middlesex Regional School District also had to lay off teachers, while Greater Lowell Technical High School, Billerica, Wilmington, Westford, and Littleton had no layoffs...

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Subject: Captain Kangaroo: "Recession serves up tax trouble for more Greater Lowell restaurants"


Author:
Duplicate Dog
[Edit]
Date Posted: 00:47 06/21/09 Sun
Selectman Cox

(published in, Lowell Sun, 6-19-09)

By Dennis Shaughnessey
dshaughnessey@lowellsun.com

The economic downturn has left some local restaurants struggling to pay state meal taxes.

And the bills are piling up.

According to Robert Bliss, a spokesman for the Department of Revenue, the state is owed $91.5 million in meal taxes -- now 5 percent of every customer's bill.

The list of meal-tax delinquents, compiled weekly by the business newspaper Banker & Tradesman, has held steady since Jan. 1.

Dracut Selectman Robert “Captain Kangaroo” Cox, who owns Coyle's Roadhouse Tavern on Broadway Road, admits his business has suffered dramatically over the past year, causing him to fall behind in meals-tax payments to the state. At one point, he owed $57,225 in meal-tax payments, including interest and penalties.

Cox said he has worked out a payment plan with the DOR and Coyle's was recently taken off the DOR list, indicating that his debt has been paid off. But business remains difficult.

Cox, who bought the tavern with his wife, Leslie, seven years ago, said things began looking bad about a year ago. Business slowed during the summer, the recession hit, and road construction rerouted traffic away from Coyle's.

"It was like a snowball going down a hill," said Cox.

Other local restaurants and related businesses that owe meals taxes include:

* Europa Cafe, Lowell, $40,647.

* Gem Restaurant Group, Dracut, $10,556.

* Smithwick's, Lowell, $350,000.

* Lowell Donut Co., Tyngsboro, $47,832.

A message was left at Cafe Europa, but was not returned.

Owners of Gem, who operate Good Olde Yum Yum in Dracut, could not be reached for comment.

Smithwick's, formerly located on Middle Street in Lowell and owned by CTC Properties, closed more than five years ago.

There is no listing for CTC Properties.

Neither is there a listing for Lowell Donut Co. of Tyngsboro.

"As far as historic information on sales-tax receivables, we have not tracked it in the past," Bliss said, adding that the tax-delinquent list is updated weekly and is available at the DOR Web site.

At the height of their financial problems, the DOR placed a levy on Coyle's operational account and took all the restaurant's credit-card receipts.

"That was about half of what we made," said Cox. "We've been struggling to get by on half our gross receipts. It's nearly impossible."

Cox sought the assistance of tax attorneys and soon began seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

But business is not getting any better. On a good day, particularly on the weekend, Coyle's could pull in $4,000.

"I can't remember the last time I saw $4,000," Cox said.

Leslie works almost full time in the kitchen or waiting tables just to keep payroll costs down. The couple has not taken a steady paycheck since October.

"That's what you do," Leslie says. "You work hard. You just keep going. We've always kept our prices low so it's affordable to everybody."

Cox said that as a selectman, it's easy to feel embarrassed about owing so much money to the state.

"It eats away at you," he said. "I wish it was different, but it isn't. We've paid almost all of it back and we plan to stay out of debt. We have no option. We'll kick and claw to stay out of the hole. Everything we have is tied up here. ... We never hid from it."

Of the 37 Greater Lowell businesses on the Department of Revenue's list of tax delinquents, 10 are eateries that are behind on paying their meal taxes.

The 10 businesses listed owe more than $25,000:

* Ciros of Maynard, Littleton, $506,787 (woman who answered the phone said it was the wrong number).

* CTC Prop. Smithwicks, Lowell, $348,152 (phone no longer in service).

* Millbrook Farm, Concord, $79,276 (phone no longer in service).

* Chef's Table, Wilmington, $70,548 (person who answered the phone said Chef's Table no longer exists).

* Northmeadow, Tewksbury, $54,579 (phone no longer in service).

* Lowell Donut, Tyngsboro, $47,832 (no listing for this company).

* Europa Cafe, Lowell, $40,647 (no answer).

* Ma's Kitchen, Pa's Parlor, Tyngsboro, $33,577 (no longer in business).

* Pang Voeuth, Lowell, $32,526 (phone no longer in service).

* Gem Restaurant Group, Dracut, $10,556 (left message, no return phone call).

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Replies:
Subject: What happened to Porky?


Author:
Frogman Henry
[Edit]
Date Posted: 20:41 06/22/09 Mon
I read over on Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum message boards that The Sun has a new Dracut reporter. Bridget-something. What happened to Porky? Who did he piss off? Did it have anythinng to do with teh Bobby Cox story? Could it be that Luv-Me-Brudder's Big Brudder didn't like Widdle Brudder to be shown in a bad light so Shaunessey got exiled?

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Replies:
Subject: Selectmen suspend 2 liquor licenses for selling alcohol to minors


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:51 06/24/09 Wed
(published in, Lowell Sun, 6-24-09)

By Bridget Scrimenti
bscrimenti@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Sending a message of zero tolerance, selectmen voted last night to suspend the licenses of two businesses that sold alcohol to minors.

Both Nason's Quick Mart on Lakeview Avenue and Dracut Center Convenience on Bridge Street sold beer to an underage female during a Dracut police sting operation.

"I'm not looking to put anyone out of business, but I'm looking to send a strong message that they obey the law," said Selectmen John Zimini.

Nason's, which sold the underage female a large can of Bud Light, had a previous violation of selling alcohol to a minor.

Zimini initially wanted to revoke the store's license, but the board voted 4-0 to suspend it for 30 days, mandating that it purchase liquor-liability insurance. Selectman Robert Cox abstained from voting, because he owns a restaurant in town.

The board also voted 4-0 to suspend Dracut Center Convenience's license for 42 days and ordered the owner, Naren Patel, to purchase liquor-liability insurance, after the store sold a can of Miller Lite to the minor, who didn't present identification.

The 42-day suspension includes 30 days for the most recent violation, and 12 days from a past violation, when the store was put on a two-year probation.

In other business, selectmen and Dracut Access Television Board members engaged in a heated and emotional discussion about an incident on May 18, when selectmen were surprised to see a DATV cameraman during a special meeting at the Town Hall lunch room.

The meeting lasted less than 15 minutes, and was for the purpose of accepting a donation from Walgreens for a traffic study, something the board twice rejected.

While selectmen met for the special meeting in the lunchroom, some were not dressed as they would normally be for a regularly scheduled (and televised) meeting.

"I don't think we (DATV) have to notify you (selectmen) to dress appropriately for a public meeting -- that's common sense," said DATV board member May Paquette. "To attack this group (DATV) without any basis for those attacks was frankly unbelievable to all of us."

DATV members said Selectmen Chairman George Malliaros slammed the door in the cameraman's face.

However, Malliaros said he shut the door in a joking manner.

"I just didn't expect a televised public meeting," Malliaros said. "If I was inappropriate, I apologize."

Selectmen also hosted a public hearing about lighting at Veterans Memorial Park. They decided to continue that hearing at their next meeting on July 14, because abutters on Arlington Street were not notified.

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Replies:
Subject: How many more deaths will it take before we finally restrict elderly drivers?


Author:
Kopy Kitten
[Edit]
Date Posted: 08:09 06/16/09 Tue

Diya Patel

(published in, Boston Herald, 6-15-09)

Elderly driver charged with vehicular homicide in tot’s death

By Jessica Van Sack and Laurel J. Sweet

The 88-year-old retired secretary who allegedly killed 4-year-old pedestrian Diya Patel has been charged with motor vehicle homicide, acting Stoughton police Chief Tom Murphy tells the Herald.

Ilse R. Horn of Canton, whose driver’s license the Registry of Motor Vehicles today revoked because she is an “immediate threat” to public safety, will be summoned to Stoughton District Court on a date to be determined to be arraigned on additional charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, driving to endanger and failure to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Murphy said Horn has retained an attorney and did not speak with investigators today.

“We understand she’s upset and a bit distraught,” he said.
The petite senior has been stopped for speeding and involved in five surchargeable accidents since 1982, RMV records show.

Family of the preschooler Horn allegedly mowed down in a crosswalk as the little girl was riding her scooter are begging for a crackdown on elderly drivers.

“Cancel their licenses!” cried Govind Patel, clenching his heart and sobbing yesterday as he recalled the sight of his beloved granddaughter being run down during their morning stroll.

“My granddaughter, very, very loved,” said Patel, who lives with his grandchildren in a modest apartment on Bennett Drive in Stoughton. “Very, very loved. Very, very sad.”

Patel’s death marked the worst of four crashes involving elderly drivers this month, prompting a rising call across the state to monitor and retest senior operators.

Diya’s uncle, also named Govind Patel, said drivers should be tested annually after age 60.

Asked whether he agreed, Diya’s father, Sanjay Patel, was too overcome to speak. Earlier, he told reporters no one over age 70 should be allowed to drive.

Meanwhile, three miles away, Horn answered the door of her apartment in the Orchard Cove Continuing Care Retirement Community and said she could not comment on the crash until she heard from authorities.

“I’m refusing to say anything to any paper,” Horn told the Herald. Clad in a mint-green blouse, her white hair neatly cropped, she said, “I have no . . . report.”

Little Diya, who authorities said was 4 years old but family pegged at age 6, was crossing Route 138 with her grandfather, sister and brother when a Toyota Camry struck Diya, tossing her at least 50 feet, police said.

She was more than halfway through through the crosswalk, her grandfather said, recalling how he tried to push the children out of the car’s path.

Diya was airlifted to Tufts Medical Center in Boston, where she did not survive the night.

Sen. Brian A. Joyce (D-Milton) stood at the crash scene yesterday and called for lawmakers to pass his proposal requiring drivers over age 85 take a periodic road test. He also called the proposal “too modest” and suggested the age should be lower. “It’s time to act,” he said. “It’s beyond time to act.”

On June 2, a 93-year-old man drove his car into a Wal-Mart in Danvers, injuring a mother and her 1-year-old baby. The next day, a 73-year-old Middleboro woman lost control of her minivan and plowed into a crowd gathered at a Vietnam War memorial in Plymouth, sending seven bystanders to the hospital.

And on June 5, an 84-year-old man slammed into a Somerset storefront.

As for the little girl in Stoughton, Diya’s family described her as a precocious tot who loved “anything pink” and would dance in front of the television watching her favorite shows.

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Replies:
Subject: SnakeBoy DJ article Lowell Sun--the real deal, just plain fun!!


Author:
Phineas J. Whoopey (No pretense)
[Edit]
Date Posted: 14:38 06/22/09 Mon
Did anyone read the 10 questions article in the Lowell Sun on June 12 with Dracut's own SnakeBoy? He dj's regularly all around town and greater Lowell and if you ever want to meet a more hard working and down to earth person in the music industry you'll be hard pressed to find one. He has done a jack and jill party and a surprise birthday party for people I know and both times the parties ran late and not only did he not mind but he gladly played for free. Although we tipped him nicely. It's refreshing to see in these days of doom and gloom someone real and good!!

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Replies:
Subject: MATRIMONY


Author:
Duplicate Dog
[Edit]
Date Posted: 22:55 06/22/09 Mon
1. Getting married is very much like going to a continental restaurant with friends. You order what you want, then when you see what the other fellow has, you wish you had ordered what he has.

2. At the cocktail party, one woman said to another, "Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?" The other replied, "Yes, I am, I married the wrong man."

3. Man is incomplete until he is married. Then he’s really finished.

4. A happy marriage is a matter of give and take; the husband gives and the wife takes.

5. Marriage is an institution in which a man loses his bachelor's degree and the woman gets her master's.

6. A little boy asked his father, "Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?" The father replied, "I don't know, son, I'm still paying for it."

7. Young Son: Is it true, Dad, I heard that in some parts of Africa a man doesn't know his wife until he marries her?

Dad: Well, that happens in most countries, son.

8. Then there was a man who said, "I never knew what real happiness was until I got married; and then, it was too late.

9. When a newly married man looks happy we know why. But when a ten-year married man looks happy - we wonder why.

10. Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. The second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. The third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.

11. After a quarrel, a wife said to her husband, "You know, I was a fool when I married you." And the husband replied, "Yes, dear, but I was in love and I didn't notice it."

12. It doesn't matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.

13. A man inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: "Wife wanted". Next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing - "You can have mine."

14. When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car or his wife is new.

15. A perfect wife is one who helps her husband with the dishes.

16. A woman was telling her friend , "It is I, who made my husband a millionaire." "And what was he before you married him." Asked the friend. The woman replied, "A multi-millionaire".

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Subject: Dracut Police


Author:
Dracut Resident
[Edit]
Date Posted: 13:08 06/01/09 Mon
HAs anyone noticed over the last month or so, how many people you are seeing pulled over by Dracut's finest?

They must have created new ticket quotas that they all need to achive everyday.

So with that, everyone needs to pay attention more to their speeds or the fuzz is going to get ya sooner or later..

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Replies:
Subject: Dracut Football Running Wild?


Author:
UpsetAlready
[Edit]
Date Posted: 08:49 06/14/09 Sun
What is the deal with football? First the QB, now ANOTHER "Star" making less than stellar headlines in the Lowell Sun. Doesn't this coach have ANY control? Not to mention my son told me the player with the latest incidents brother told him that the coaches would "take care" of it so his brother would not miss a game next fall? Doesn't this sound like some bad movie, set in the south or some dirty big time college football team? I was told the coach is a police officer and this is how he deals with these incidents? My son is going to be a frosh this year & wants to play but I have my doubts. Now he's talking about some camp the coaches are demanding the kids attend, which I have to pay for on top of the user fee!!!! I spoke to a parent of a soph & was told to "wait until August when the fundraisers start", I guess I'll be asked to shell out more money again. Why are we being forced to pay additional fees for our sons to play football? Just to line the coaches pocket more? The coach should worry more about keeping his players out of the arrest log than milking the parents of this town of their money!

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Replies:
Subject: Graduation


Author:
Smerlas
[Edit]
Date Posted: 22:41 06/05/09 Fri
Any idea if Grimard graduated with his class tonite?

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Replies:
Subject: Graduation


Author:
Proud of Dracut
[Edit]
Date Posted: 00:28 06/06/09 Sat
The Dracut High Graduation was once again a beautiful ceremony. We put other towns to shame when it comes to graduations. The kids looked great and as a teacher I was proud and honored to be a part of it. I left with such a feeling of pride. Congratulations to the Class of 2009, may all your dreams and plans work out the way you wish. Thanks for making us proud.

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Replies:
Subject: What better way to honor Father’s Day than citing stats on “fatherless kids”?


Author:
Kopy Kitten
[Edit]
Date Posted: 23:18 06/19/09 Fri
Facts on Fatherless Kids

* 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census)

* 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes

* 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes (Source: Center for Disease Control)

* 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes (Source: Criminal Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26, 1978.)

* 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (Source: National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools.)

* 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes (Source: Rainbows for all God`s Children.)

* 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Special Report, Sept 1988)

* 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home (Source: Fulton Co. Georgia jail populations, Texas Dept. of Corrections 1992)

The State of Fatherhood

* 37.9% of fathers have no access/visitation rights. (Source: p.6, col.II, para. 6, lines 4 & 5, Census Bureau P-60, #173, Sept 1991.)

* "40% of mothers reported that they had interfered with the non-custodial father's visitation on at least one occasion, to punish the ex-spouse." (Source: p. 449, col. II, lines 3-6, (citing Fulton) Frequency of visitation by Divorced Fathers; Differences in Reports by Fathers and Mothers. Sanford Braver et al, Am. J. of Orthopsychiatry, 1991.)

* "Overall, approximately 50% of mothers "see no value in the father`s continued contact with his children...." (Source: Surviving the Breakup, Joan Kelly & Judith Wallerstein, p. 125)

* Only 11% of mothers value their husband's input when it comes to handling problems with their kids. Teachers & doctors rated 45%, and close friends & relatives rated 16%. (Source: EDK Associates survey of 500 women for Redbook Magazine. Redbook, November 1994, p. 36)

* "The former spouse (mother) was the greatest obstacle to having more frequent contact with the children." (Source: Increasing our understanding of fathers who have infrequent contact with their children, James Dudley, Family Relations, Vol. 4, p. 281, July 1991.)

* "A clear majority (70%) of fathers felt that they had too little time with their children." (Source: Visitation and the Noncustodial Father, Mary Ann Kock & Carol Lowery, Journal of Divorce, Vol. 8, No. 2, p. 54, Winter 1984.)

* "Very few of the children were satisfied with the amount of contact with their fathers, after divorce." (Source: Visitation and the Noncustodial Father, Koch & Lowery, Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, Vol. 8, No. 2, p. 50, Winter 1984.)

* "Feelings of anger towards their former spouses hindered effective involvement on the part of fathers; angry mothers would sometimes sabotage father's efforts to visit their children." (Source: Ahrons and Miller, Am. Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 63. p. 442, July `93.)

* "Mothers may prevent visits to retaliate against fathers for problems in their marital or post-marital relationship." (Source: Seltzer, Shaeffer & Charing, Journal of Marriage & the Family, Vol. 51, p. 1015, November 1989.)

* In a study: "Visitational Interference - A National Study" by Ms. J Annette Vanini, M.S.W. and Edward Nichols, M.S.W., it was found that 77% of non-custodial fathers are NOT able to "visit" their children, as ordered by the court, as a result of "visitation interference" perpetuated by the custodial parent. In other words, non-compliance with court ordered visitation is three times the problem of non-compliance with court ordered child support and impacts the children of divorce even more. (Originally published Sept. 1992)

Child Support

* Information from multiple sources show that only 10% of all noncustodial fathers fit the "deadbeat dad" category.

* 90% of the fathers with joint custody paid the support due. Fathers with visitation rights pay 79.1%; and 44.5% of those with NO visitation rights still financially support their children. (Source: Census Bureau report. Series P-23, No. 173).

* Additionally, of those not paying support, 66% are not doing so because they lack the financial resources to pay (Source: GAO report: GAO/HRD-92-39 FS).

* 52% of fathers who owe child support earn less than $6,155 per year. (Source: The Poverty Studies Institute at the University of Wisconsin, Madison,1993)

* 66% of single mothers work less than full time while only 10% of fathers fall into this category. In addition, almost 47% of non-custodial mothers default on support compared with the 27% of fathers who default. (Source: Garansky and Meyer, DHHS Technical Analysis Paper No. 42, 1991).

* 66% of all support not paid by non-custodial fathers is due to inability to pay. (Source: U.S. General Accounting Office Report, GAO/HRD-92-39FS January 1992).

* Total Custodial Mothers: 11,268,000
Total Custodial Fathers: 2,907,000 (Source: Current Population Reports, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Series P-20, No. 458, 1991).

* The following is sourced from: Technical Analysis Paper No. 42, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Income Security Policy, Oct. 1991, Authors: Meyer and Garansky.

* Custodial mothers who receive a support award: 79.6%
Custodial fathers who receive a support award: 29.9%

* Non-custodial mothers who totally default on support: 46.9%
* Non-custodial fathers who totally default on support: 26.9%

False accusations of abuse:

* 160,000 reports of suspected child abuse were reported in 1963. That number exploded to 1.7 million in 1985.

* There were more than three million reports of alleged child abuse and neglect in 1995. However, two million of those complaints were without foundation or false! (Source: National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) Child Maltreatment 1995: Reports From the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System)

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Now More Than Ever

Please help spread the word about, Dracut After Dark to all your friends, relatives, co-workers, and neighbors around town. It's crucial that we have, at least, one media outlet in this community that TELLS IT THE WAY IT REALLY IS. Let the people of Dracut have the opportunity to check out Dracut After Dark for themselves and draw their own conclusions. We’re constantly striving to become our town’s consummate underground network outlet. Thank you so much for your continued support to this message board as we appreciate it very, very, very much. Adios, and hope to see you again real soon.

P.S. Always remember and never forget -- It's all about the ISSUES, stupid.

LINKS: Please check out these fascinating and informative local websites, which come highly recommended by the management of this forum: Official Town of Dracut website; Dracut Pop Warner football & cheerleading; Dracut's lowest gas prices; Dracut's restaurant directory; NObama Network; Warren Shaw.com (Deeb's view on Warren Shaw); Dracut School Department; Dracut Assessor Online; Property Deeds; Obituaries; Citizens for Limited Taxation; National Organization for Marriage; Tewksbury Issues; Dracut Street Map; Helpful Dracut websites; Official State Website; Official Federal Government Website; Storm-related Public Closings; Shawn's Dracut Blog; Dracut After Dark’s blog; Howie Carr; and Anonymous Proxy Server.

Some of my personal favorites sites include: Bible verse reference; Teen Challenge; Youth Storm (local Christian youth ministry); Battle Cry (national Christian teen ministry); Unclaimed Money/Property; Reverse telephone number & address lookup; Curt Schilling's baseball blog; Town Hall; Hot Air; Laura Ingraham; Deval Patrick Watch; Federal Bailout Stimulus; New England Patriot's Fan Club; Boston Red Sox Fan Club; Boston Celtics News; Person Locator; Online World of Wrestling; D-Tension; Singer/D.J. Sharon DiFronzo; New England Stone Masonry; Whatever Happened To?; Washed Up Celebrities; and Dead or Alive?.

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