thevalleydispatch - Latest Comments

Re: SUPER BOWL THROWBACK (Patriots vs. Packers, 1997)

Melissa Hunt — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 14:12:47 -0000

A great site for parents shopping for baby strollers jodislist.com

Re: An education for Lowell awaits in San Antonio and Bricktown

Mhmjjj2012 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:33:08 -0000

OK, so what's the real difference between Lowell and San Antonio? Why is San Antonio getting it right with successful economic development and Lowell struggling? I went on San Antonio's website and guess who's the city manager? A professional with extensive experience in economic development and city management. Specifically, she was City Manager of Kalamazoo, Michigan for 15 years where she consolidated police and fire services cutting the number of positions in half while tripling public safety service coverage and maintaining a constructive labor-management relationship with the city’s unions then she was assistant city manager for Phoenix for 16 years where she was responsible for the day to day operations of city government and numerous incredibly complex economic development projects until finally being recruited by San Antonio. Who does Lowell have as its city manager? A part-time state rep who ran a part time law practice. When San Antonio's city council looked for a new city manager, it conducted a real search and was looking for someone who could produce positive results for the city. When Lowell's city council looked for a new city manager...well councilors got what they looked for.

Re: For Dracut tuna fishermen, reel exciting replay (VIDEO)

Some_dude — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 12:46:42 -0000

Isn't this supposed to end with the fish getting eaten by sharks?

Re: Two-alarm blaze fought in Dracut

Andrew Jackson — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 15:51:48 -0000

This is a great program to get the youth interested in metal fabrication and to afford them a great career path. - www.tricktools.com

Re: New charges fly in Dracut override battle (VIDEO)

guest — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 19:12:35 -0000

Funny stuff. When Zimini and Kosiavelon say that 165 signs were "stolen" I wonder if they included my house in that figure. I had a sign placed on my lawn, without permission. I was told that it was a "replacement" for the one that was stolen. Umm... I never had a sign stolen from my lawn.

Re: Dracut's high-stakes day of decision

madtownie1 — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 09:29:50 -0000

I truly hope everyone can see through all the rhetoric and realize the schools need these funds in order to properly educate our children. Also, whether you are a yes or a no we are all still residents and neighbors and we need to stop all the nastiness and hold our elected officials accountable. I understand times are tough and it is going to require some to make sacrifices, me and my family included. I truly wish this override was not needed but it is due to the facts mentioned in the above letter. I am not sure how some of these exemptions work but the fact that there is some relief available to those in this town who really need it. I love this town, my hometown and I do not like the fact that there has been so much mudslinging on the part of some from both sides. If you are a no I beg you to reconsider and look at the facts and ask yourself don't today's students deserve to have a quality education. After all, these students are going to be our future leaders, police officers, firemen, local business owners and we want them to be properly educated.

Re: Dracut school spendthrifts don't need any more of our money

Dracut Reality — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 20:59:10 -0000

Gerry, this is a distortion. Taxpayers in Dracut put only 18.5 million into the school system. The state of Massachusetts puts in another 18.5 million and the federal government plus school lunch fees contribute 4 million.

Also: eight principals do not make $1.4 million. There are only about six principals and about five vice principals and the total salary comes in just under $1 million.

Re: New charges fly in Dracut override battle (VIDEO)

rich.cc — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 12:55:37 -0000

At 10:15 in the video, DiRocco claims that he was willing to support a "town manager proposal of $1.3 million." The problem is the town manager originally supported only $350,000 in an education spending increase, and he offered to increase that to $900,000 through an operating override of $550,000 whose success at the polls would be highly uncertain, since it was a low-ball number (total school appropriation would go up by just 3.3% even after a successful prop 2.5 vote) and would be unlikely to generate excitement from parents. Parents are not going to go out of their way to campaign for a number that is just 0.5% above what is required by state law! There never was any offer by the selectmen or the town manager for $1.3 million in new school funding. Mr. DiRocco claims he made an offer in an unwitnessed phone call to Mr. Wilkie. This is just hearsay. unless Mr. Wilkie can confirm this.

Re: Dracut selectmen set meeting to consider reducing override

Eric — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 13:53:33 -0000

"Gerlach said of the mystery mailing. "I felt like writing a letter back to them. They want to hire 27 teachers, for what? I sent my kids to private school. If you want to give your kids a better education, send them to private school."-so your admitting the Dracut school system is below standards but you're not willing to do anything about it.

This line is the most ignorant thing I've heard so far "They want to hire 27 teachers, for what?" You may not like paying more in taxes and that is understandable but to complain that some of money is going to be used to hire new teachers is incredible.

Re: Dracut can't afford another tax increase

DracutObserver — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 09:36:38 -0000

It costs $20K/year to send your kid to St. Johns Prep (Danvers). If I was a certain Selectman, I wouldn't want to pay more for the Dracut Schools either.

Re: Dracut can't afford another tax increase

rich.cc — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 00:57:10 -0000

hi Teddy K -- Isn't it a dirty trick to suggest opponents have been talking what kind of school your kids went to when the only statement published on that came from Sun Reporter John Collins. Collins wrote on August 5, that you "took only modest vacations to support his family and pay thousands of dollars per year toward his children's private-school tuition."
If you have an issue with the Sun's reporting, then shouldn't you simply call editor Campanini and ask him for a correction?

If on the other hand, your kids attended public school part of the time and private school part of the time (pretty common because private school is a big expense to absorb for 13 years), why not just clarify that instead of trying to incite a false split between the interests of parents with kids going to private schools and parents with kids in public schools?

I admit, your stance is making my head hurt. Let's see if I get it. Public schools were good enough for you to use when sending your kids there (either as a first choice or a fallback choice), but you prefer that those schools not have the money to maintain those standards in the future. Somehow this does not sound like a platform you are gonna get elected on if you try to run again for selectman.

Re: Dracut can't afford another tax increase

RJPJr — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 22:58:25 -0000

Oh Ted, you really don't get it. You're talking about a School Department that has had to cut and cut year after year due to the short shortsightedness of the Selectmen and Town Manager.

Back a couple of years ago when stimulus money was coming in, the town didn't appropriate finding properly to the schools. Look no further than what recently became public with the outgoing Town Manager getting an almost $300k pension, highlighted by over $250k in unused sick and vacation time.
We live in a technology world where people or more mobile than ever before. Children are using technology such as PC's, smartphones, tablets/iPads at a very early age.
Dracut needs to move out of the 19th century and get into the 21st century now or it will fall farther behind than it already has.Could this override been prevented? Possibly but the Selectmen have been reluctant to work WITH the School Department.Hopefully the new Town Manager will make it a priority the leaders of this town work TOGETHER.This override isn't just for the children it is for ALL of Dracut.Vote Yes on September 9th.“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” ― Benjamin Franklin

Re: Big payout for retiring Dracut town manager

jazz5579 — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 12:05:00 -0000

Wow....how did this get away from the town? Town manager should be paid out every year on the vacation time leftovers. hmmm

Re: Dracut amps up for election

DracutObserver — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 08:33:02 -0000

Dear God these guys are embarrassing. I pity the incoming Town Manager. I hope he knows he will be dealing with a BOS that is notorious for sticking their collective heads in the sand until the State has to step in (Dilapidated HS, Town Hall compliance etc...). Then of course they sell it to their voter base (elderly) as "we are saving you money"... "we have the lowest tax rate". Wonderful fellas. Maybe a little less time protecting everyone's bank accounts (I can balance my own check book) and a little more time creating, driving, fostering some type of initiatives to drive the town forward? What are the BOS' top goals in terms of increasing town revenue? Crickets.

Re: http://www.thevalleydispatch.com/dracut/ci_21443132/15-get-jobs-back-at-dracut-schools

Mike — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 16:28:45 -0000

Exactly where in their new budget proposal does it state that crayons and paper will be bought for the children with this override? I see that they (the Staff) will hire more staff, paraprofessionals and get their faster internet and wireless but I don't see a line item for crayons. Actually I don't see a line item for anything on their budget. All I see is a 30k foot view of things they want. That would never fly as a proposal in the private sector.

Re: Taking anti-override signs gives Dracut a black eye

RJPJr — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:37:26 -0000

Practically broken into homes? Over 75 signs stolen?

Sensationalism at its finest.
What is ironic is that in several areas where No signs were allegedly stolen, there was a No sign right back up within hours.

Re: Groton sewer panel, health board seek to clarify septic rules

Miller Plante Inc — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 10:35:25 -0000

For clogging, septic system, plumbing and water supply maintenance use the all-natural http://www.MillerPlante.net Advanced Formula Septic-Helper 2000 and Enza Drain Line Cleaner. It has the 8 natural bacteria and enzymes that digest the waste in the tank AND out in the drain field.

In 2011, the EPA (TMDL), mandates that states and counties clean up their water supplies. It mandates new inspections on all septic systems, water wells and with funding, local waterways. A failed inspection would include a slow drain in your leach field, low septic tank bacteria levels or elevated Nitrate levels in your Water Well or local Water Supplies; could require replacement of your entire system for $10K to $80K+ or connect to the city sewer system for $5K to $40K. The new inspections are failing 12% of systems each year and 82% of those older than 1977.

Re: Dracut 'opponents' can still be friends

rich.cc — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 05:32:19 -0000

This editorial makes a lot of good points, and I hope they catch anyone organized to take signs, as that is very wrong. However there is a principle in America known as innocent until proven guilty.

Override supporters have always always encouraged supporters to "take the high road." Let's hope the opponents are not inflating the number (one day they said 75, the next day they said it was 50).

Re: Two charged with beating homeless man in Lowell

Wayne Fleury — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 09:36:48 -0000

Wayne C Fleury
Don't like to see my name in lights like this. I am from Ottawa Canada and now live in Cali Colombia in South America.

Re: http://www.thevalleydispatch.com/sports/ci_20239701/travel-basketball-sixth-grade-boys-take-league-title

Dawn2Dusk — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 17:46:32 -0000

It was a fun ride, these young men were all awesome this season!

Re: Take the mattress challenge lying down

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Re: Shirley JBOS selectman says resignation due to opponent's concern

VimNott — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 23:29:27 -0000

There's a highly recommended site ENENEWS (dot) com

that has many links and comments on this issue.

Re: Watch: A Toyota kit car you can build yourself

Car Service — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:58:21 -0000

Love how you can remove panels and replace them. Great idea man

Re: Is small business health insurance 'loophole' a threat to Obamacare?

byrontx — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:37:20 -0000

With 62% of the bankruptcies in the U. S. caused by medical bills the need for a solution is obvious. I think the Republican solution is Debtor's Prisons.

Re: Report: Tax breaks cost $12 trillion over decade, mainly benefit wealthy

Rjb — Thu, 30 May 2013 09:58:49 -0000

Stupid article. First the government is taking money. It's not theirs. Second. 40 some percent of Americans aren't even paying taxes. That's not fair. To say some how the tax break is benefiting only 20% of Americans is disingenuous. They are they only ones really paying federal taxes. It doesn't cost the federal government anything. They just aren't stealing as much as they were. If you'd like to pay more taxes your more than welcome to. Send them a check ,I'm sure they'll appreciate it.