Dracut Forum

09/18/2020

Judge Declares "Stay-at-Home" Order UNCONSTITUTIONAL - Viva Frei Vlawg

Pennsylvania case against Governor over lockdowns finds them unconstitutional, when they became unlimited and arbitrary.

All shutting down small businesses did was drive those customers to large stores. People who would by hair products at their local hairdresser, just went to Walgreens or CVS. Those who wanted to buy a chair or cabinet from a local furniture maker were just driven to Walmart or Home Depot. What was supposed to "flattten the curve" became.. "slow the spread and reduce the number of cases".. with no end in site.

1st amendment, 4th, 14th... a whole lot of problems.

For a short term emergency, a termporary reduction of rights is valid.. and unlimited order, with no end it sight.. is not.

Won't be long until a similar case hits Mass.

This might be the best judgment I have ever vlawged. #CovidLogic #ConstitutionMatters #WilliamStickman

09/11/2020

Dracut going back the drawing board in attempt to sell historic home

Dracut going back the drawing board in attempt to sell historic home

DRACUT – The town is headed back to the drawing board in its efforts to sell the historic Beaver Brook Farmhouse on Mammoth Road. The town received only one bid, for $100,000, in its most re…

09/11/2020

"The Safety of employees.."

At the Sept 8 Board of Selectmen meeting, Mr DiRocco asked that we clarify the request to the DATV organization, as the finance report that they sent was an end-of-year report from last year.
The town would like something more up to date.

Seemed a simple discussion, and DiRocco is on target asking for this as the town looks into the happenings at DATV.

However.. rumors are afloat regarding issues over there. Board members have resigned, Infighting has eliminated one of the talking head shows that was the most offensive to DiRocco and others in town. It seems that putting a spotlight on the organization seems to have resulted in change.

However, when Chairman Jesse Forcier said something about "the safety of employees or residents going over there," that drew my attention.

Maybe we'll know more for Saturday Mornings show in 980 WCAP.

09/11/2020

I caught the Sept 8 Board of Selectmen meeting last evening. During the manager's report, Vandal reported that after the two RFP's to attempt to sell the Richardson farmhouse on Beaver Brook farm, they have not been successful in selling the property.
In what seems a direct response to the only offer proposed (which was rejected for a number of reasons), and the discussion we had on 980 WCAP two weeks ago.. they admit that the property has been over-restricted and that a change is underway to remove the restrictions on the inside of the house and to just restrict the outside to keep the historic architecture.
This is exactly what I and Phil Thibault had recommended on the radio show, as well as the developer who made the only proposal.
I didn't like hearing the manager say the town was looking to "unload and sell it," as the term "unload" seems to be something you don't want to be saying when you are looking to enter into a negotiation. If you're trying to sell something, you usually want to promote it as having value.
Having spoken to the developer myself, and gone up to see the work he is doing on a similar property in Windham, I don't believe he will come back.
A new, less restrictive situation is the only way this will move forward.
A

06/11/2020

Some states have embraced online voting. It's a huge risk.

Online voting is not ready for prime time...

People’s phones, tablets and computers are vulnerable to hackers. Securing the internet could take a decade or more. But some states are plowing ahead anyway.

06/09/2020

Its not gone... I don't think its as strong now as when it began, or maybe it was overestimated its potential, but its not completely gone yet.

As of Friday, June 5th,the Dracut Board of Health has 2 more cases of Covid19. This brings the total to 476. The total recovered as of today is 425. The death total is 2. Please be safe and please keep practicing social distancing

06/09/2020

I took a walk at Beaver Brook Farm this weekend, and was surprised at the fact that nobody seems to be taking care of the fields... then again, why be surprised by the fact that if anyone does cut it, they will be branded as trying to profit off the town?

So why isn't the DPW or some other town department cutting this field?

I was nervous of ticks as I walked the trails, and fear what this place will be like in the summer as all this grass dries in the hot sun.

We cut the grass at Veterans Park.. and nobody's allowed there. (those fences should come down and people be allowed to walk the walkways.. just don't plan organized sports on the fields this year.. just my opinion)

The grass should be cut here to improve safety (both visibility and from fire and animals..)

06/08/2020

I agree, Michael Quinn got it right (though I don't appreciate the language, I get it). This town, a microcosm of the American community, thinks its ridiculous to consider "defunding the police."
Dracut remains moderate to Right, and I'm glad to see that.
Even the one candidate out there willing to respond, Phil Thibault, pointed to an existing study and did not fall for the PR answer.
Dracut knows better, and I think as the rest of the country settles back to a norm, they will have the same answer.
Those who continue to call for "defunding" will be the first to call for someone else to provide their protection.

06/08/2020

As cities and towns across the country are calling to "defund the police".. I wonder what the candidates for Selectmen would think about reallocating some police funds to join others in hiring an independent facilitator who could create and lead a task force to make recommendations on the “purview, composition, and implementation of a civilian oversight and advisory structure for the DPD.” (as Marty Walsh said of Boston).

Should some of the Dracut PD funding be reallocated to social services?

06/06/2020

Anne Murray: A Little Good News (2003)

"...How I want to hear the anchor man talk about a county fair
And how we cleaned up the air, how everybody learned to care...
And everybody loves everybody in the good old USA
We sure could use a little good news today" -- Anne Murray

Anne Murray: A Little Good News (2003)

06/06/2020

Dennis Shaughnessey Performs at DSF Telethon

Good friend to Dracut

2012, Shaughnessey sings for the Dracut Scholarship Telethon

05/29/2020

The Salvation Army, Lowell MA

Over the last several weeks volunteers and staff have been hard at work supporting those affected by COVID-19. To date The Salvation Army of Lowell has provided over 12,000 food boxes supporting our community, veterans from across eastern Mass and to Massachusetts Emergency Managment Agency in support of several communities who have requested the additional support. Thank you to the many volunteers who have made this support possible!

01/24/2020

Statement on Maine’s Growing Opposition to TCI

Hmmm.. TCI.. Massachusetts effort to raise gas taxes to try to get other states to fund our transportation projects.. and they're walking away. So now it means we'll use "global warming" as a fear tactic to raise gas taxes. Me, I'll just get gas in NH and ME.

“The appetite for a regressive multi-state carbon gas tax seems to be very limited in New England,”

01/24/2020

Dracut Forum's cover photo

01/17/2020

The Salvation Army, Lowell MA

Salvation Army Food Pantry will receive a $1 donation for every $2.50 Fight Hunger Bag sold in January at the Hannaford store located at 777 Rogers St., Lowell MA for the month of January!

01/16/2020

Town of Dracut

News from the Town's Clerk's Office:

Your Local 2020 Census is on it's way! Be on the lookout for the LOCAL Annual Town Census in the mail January 2020. It is very important to return your annual census form for several reasons.

* The only way the Board of Registers can know that you still reside in Dracut is by returning your census.

* The only way to ascertain the current population in your Town in order to receive grant awards and state funding is through the census.

* Your voter status is determined by returning your census.

For more information please contact the Town Clerk's Office at 978-453-0951

12/26/2019

Town of Dracut

Town of Dracut

*** IMPORTANT REMINDER ***

Please be reminded that the trash and recycling are now on a one-day delay due to the Christmas Day Holiday.

If your regular trash and recycling day is Wednesday, it will be collected Thursday.

If your regular trash and recycling day is Thursday, it will be collected Friday.

If your regular trash and recycling day is Friday, it will be collected Saturday.

12/23/2019

The Salvation Army, Lowell MA

The Salvation Army would like to thank the Greater Lowell Communities for their support and generosity of our 2019 WCAP 980 Radiothon. We are very excited to share as was announced on WCAP 980 this morning that we have been able to surpass our goal of $200,000 and currently stands at $211,700.21. These funds will be used to assist those in our communities who are in need over the next year of 2020. Thank you to all who helped make this Radiothon a success. We would not be able to do it without you. Merry Christmas!

12/23/2019

Town of Dracut

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transportation - Highway Division

Notice of a Public Hearing - Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Nashua Road Reconstruction Project.

Dracut Central Fire Station
488 Pleasant Street
Dracut, MA 01826

12/16/2019

Some of Dracut's best

Salvation Army Lowell Radiothon

12/13/2019

Salvation Army launches electronic donation option for Red Kettle Campaign

Salvation Army launches electronic donation option for Red Kettle Campaign

LOWELL — Dracut resident Tom Bomil stood bundled in a beige coat and plaid scarf outside the Market Basket on Bridge Street Wednesday morning, bell in hand. As a bell ringer for the Salvation Army,…

12/09/2019

http://www.salvationarmyradiothon.com

12/08/2019

Dracut Forum

12/08/2019

Dracut Forum's cover photo

12/08/2019

Milk Punch and How Milk Clarification Produces a Crystal Clear Cocktail | What's Eating Dan?

The Shaw Farm store continues to be a great resource for local ice cream, pizza, meats, sauces,etc. Right now I've got a quart of heavy cream setting with buttermilk getting ready to make a batch of cultured butter.
This story from Dan Sousa talks about a historic method of using milk to tame strong cocktails.
This might just be another fun experiment during the holidays..(there are reciples all over the internet for this that I have never seen before)

Have you ever tried milk punch? It's not the creamy beverage you might be picturing. Milk clarified cocktails use curdled milk to trap tannins and other poly...

11/27/2019

Stone May Seek To Fund New Math Curriculum Via Town's Capital Budget | Your Dracut Today

I think we need to look into this.. on one side they are saying the cost of the turf fields is coming in $500,000 less than planned.. yet on the other the schools want to ask the town to pay $600,000 for curriculum (something that we've never paid for out of capital funds before).

Curriculum has never been a capital asset before.. can we show depreciation of previous curriculum assets over years?

After spending eight years focusing on strengthening literacy in grades K-8, Stone said the focus will now shift to improving math proficiency.

11/21/2019

Mass. Senate votes to ban single-use plastic bags

Pelham... Hudson.... Salem.... I'm there anyways, might was well just shop for food as well.

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Senate approved a statewide ban on retail businesses offering single-use plastic bags, but the bill advanced Wednesday night with more dissent than usual from the D…

11/14/2019

Iconic Salvation Army Red Kettles now accepting Apple Pay or Google Pay

Iconic Salvation Army Red Kettles now accepting Apple Pay or Google Pay

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Salvation Army has announced it will be making it easier for donors to give back during the holiday season by accepting Apple Pay or Google Pay at the iconic Red Kettles across Charlotte and DeSoto counties, according to a press release.

10/25/2019

Sat Morning.. come on down

10/19/2019

Dracut Public Schools

A Middie Family Needs Support: Last week the home of the Oakes family suffered a serious fire. As the family has four children enrolled in the Dracut Public Schools (a boy and girl in kindergarten, a young man in the 8th grade, and a young lady in the 10th grade at Dracut High) those who wish to support the family may contact the Campbell Elementary, Richardson Middle, and/or Dracut High beginning on Monday.

Additionally, a GoFundMe site has been created. It can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/oakes-family-in-need?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

10/19/2019

Are ALL Lowell Candidates “Driven to Give”? Five for Five will answer that question

Are ALL Lowell Candidates “Driven to Give”? Five for Five will answer that question

On Saturday October 26th from 6:00 am – 2:00 pm the Gervais Lincoln Dealership along with WCAP will be conducting their “Driven to Give” event to help support the Salvation Army …

10/12/2019

Veteran's Park today.. cloudy.. just after the rain. Not a lot of fall color this year. The first grass is growing well. Video is short as the camera battery died during flight.. on the charger now.

10/11/2019

As always. FB sucks.. went to edit a picture and it deleted everything.

Once again.. Jim Duggan's resignation statement was inaccurate. Town Counsel Hall told us today that Duggan had not spoken with any of the BOS to announce his resignation. The only person he communicated with was Hall.

At a special meeting of the BOS today, the board voted to approve a separation agreement with Duggan.

The agreement allows for 3 months of severance pay and health insurance.

Duggan agrees to provide a transition support (phone, emails, etc) to support projects underway at no cost.

Duggan waives all abilities to make claims against the town.

The town agrees to pay him for his time in any upcoming court cases from his time in office.

Asst TM Ann Vandal was appointed interim manager as we start the process to find a new permanent manager.

10/10/2019

Embattled Dracut town manager resigns

Next step.. a temporary manager, then a search..

DRACUT — After six years on the job, recently embattled Dracut Town Manager Jim Duggan abruptly resigned from his position on Wednesday afternoon. In a statement released by Duggan, he called…

10/09/2019

980 WCAP Saturday Morning Live

wow

Gentlemen,

I would like to offer the following statement as it pertains to my recent resignation as Town Manager for the Town of Dracut.

In a mutually agreed upon decision with the Board of Selectmen, I am stepping down as Dracut Town Manager after six full-fulling years on the job. I want to thank all elected and appointed officials, municipal workers and staff – both on the town side and School Department - and residents who have given me such a great opportunity and support in performing this important executive role.

I strongly believe that Dracut has made considerable progress through the hard work and dedication of all those affiliated with the town, including the many community partners and businesses who’ve shared our can-do vision and helped make positive things happen.

Dracut’s financial stability has never been better. Its infrastructure has been dramatically improved. Its public services have expanded and excelled. Economic development is no longer a figment of the imagination but a very significant and real initiative that has reaped positive results. As for our school system, it continues to improve and achieve great success aided by stronger collaboration and cooperation with Town Hall and other entities.

As you know, Dracut became home to my wife and me. We’ve met countless new friends and shared wonderful memories that will be cherished for a long time to come. Thank you for those best of times.

As town manager, I always put the best interest of the town first and foremost, and I am exceptionally proud of the numerous accomplishments we achieved together through.

Lastly, as I move forward to new endeavors, I wish Dracut and its residents all the best in the future.