October 31, 2007

Four incumbents, two challengers 10/31/2007

The Lowell School Department far too often sees additional funding as the way to resolve district problems, is slow to push for increased accountability -- both financially and educationally -- and is lacking in communication with the community.

The district has made some progress in its MCAS scores, but Lowell still has too many schools on the state's "needs improvement" lists and too many students struggling. The pace of progress must be stepped up.

Certainly, we recognize that the School Department faces significant challenges. More than 65 percent of its students live in poverty and 38 percent are not proficient in English. It's not easy to overcome such hurdles, but it can be done. It's been proven in Memphis, Tenn., where that city's former superintendent -- who now leads Boston's school district -- pushed struggling students to excel and was rewarded with skyrocketing test scores and college acceptance rates.

We would like to see the school district more willing to embrace innovations and initiatives recommended by teachers, administrators and parents. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience in Lowell, and school leaders should take advantage of it.
Also, the district should have a detailed strategic plan as a guide toward achieving excellence. It doesn't.

We believe a majority of the incumbents are striving to reach those goals. We see a core group of incumbents -- Jacqueline Doherty, Regina Faticanti, John Leahy and James Leary -- who are working well together to improve the school system and deserve to be returned to office. However, they need assistance from some new voices who are willing to challenge the status quo. With this in mind, The Sun also endorses challengers Dennis Canney and David Conway. We see this as a strong team to assist Superintendent Karla Brooks Baehr in pushing for academic excellence.

Canney, who taught English and coached a variety of sports in the Lowell School System for more than 30 years, wants to see more emphasis placed on mathematics and science. He knows that is where we will find the jobs of today and tomorrow. He believes in teaching civics as well as character and self-discipline to students. That is the way to build good citizens and successful students.

Conway has made a strong case that too many new hires are coming from outside the Lowell School Department. Longtime employees feel they have no opportunity to advance in their careers, and they should not feel that way. Conway is scheduled to retire in December from his position as housemaster at Lowell High School. He knows the school system and will have time to devote to the School Committee. Conway initiated the Laptops for Lowell program that helped boost attendance at Lowell High, and would push for a board to review innovative ideas and reward those employees whose suggestions come to fruition.

Doherty remains an outspoken advocate for Lowell's schoolchildren. She wants to raise standards for all students. We would like to see her question the superintendent more, but recognize her passion for improving education.

Faticanti has no problem challenging the administration. She would work with the challengers to instill a culture where internal candidates have a fair shot at promotion and where all employees are treated with respect.

Leahy has worked to bridge the communication gap between the School Committee and City Council. Leahy tends to question school leaders behind closed doors, but we'd like to see him speak up during board meetings.

Leary wants to continue scrutinizing the budget to seek additional efficiencies. He pushed to start an internship program for future high-school housemasters and for school principals.

Posted by Admin at 4:57 PM

Backtalk 10/31/2007

GOOD TIME: I want to thank "Lowell Unleashed" for organizing Wagapalooza on Sunday, Oct. 28. It was nice to get together with other people who enjoy their dogs. My dog really enjoyed it, too. A dog park in Lowell is what we have needed for a long time.

Lowell

TOO MUCH SPORTS: Many of us are fed up with the excess time given to sports on television. About 15 minutes out of every hour, we get some news and most of it is a rerun of previous sports reports. Keep television fair and for all of us, not just the sports lovers.

Groton

BETTER TIMING: They need to fix the lights on Lakeview Avenue in Dracut. Trying to get onto the avenue near Phineas Street, I waited seven minutes for my light to change with no cars coming in either direction.

Dracut

DROOPY DRAWERS: There has been talk about making a law against wearing your pants very low, with your underwear showing. Listen: If these guys want to walk around looking like circus clowns, let them. They obviously think they look "cool!" I just laugh.
Lowell

LIGHT IT UP: I'm glad the Riverwalk lights are turned on. It looks nice and it's safer, too. Whomever is responsible for that did a great job.

Lowell

TRAGIC LOSS: It's so sad that Theresa Frye has lost her young son in such horrible way, She has been my kids' school nurse since they started school and is such a nice person.

Lowell

DANGEROUS: I'm not surprised about the man who got hit by a car in Dracut. Our kids have to get on the bus at 6:45 a.m. in the dark and cold. They should not be starting school so early.

Dracut

OVERBLOWN A-ROD: Once again, the news media and sports announcers blow the whole aspect of a glory moment for the Red Sox. You mean to tell me that selfish A-Rod news was more important than the Red Sox in Game 4 of the World Series -- that what he wants could not have waited a day to talk about? A kid who battled cancer and overcame all odds and most media focuses on A-Rod. Sad.

Tewksbury

NO CREDIT: I will do everything possible to steer my child away from public service. They are undervalued, underpaid, and criticized for being as human as the rest of us. Go for-profit, and leave the selfless work for someone else's child.

Dunstable

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 4:55 PM

October 30, 2007

The Sox sweep

The curse is definitely reversed. With Sunday night's sweep, the Red Sox became the first team to win two championships in the 21st century.

Take that, Babe Ruth.

Just like in 2004, when the Sox swept away the St. Louis Cardinals in four games, they showed no mercy again. They won their first two games at home, absolutely crushing the Colorado Rockies in the first game, and then beat them twice at Coors Field in Denver.

We are particularly proud of those players who once graced LeLacheur Field in Lowell with their athletic prowess. Kevin Youkilis, Jonathan Papelbon and Jacoby Ellsbury all once played for the Lowell Spinners and were instrumental in the Sox winning the World Series in a four-game sweep. To date, more than 30 Spinners have gone on to play in the major leagues.

Papelbon pitched in Lowell in 2003, Youkilis was the Spinners' Player of the Year in 2001 and Ellsbury was here a mere two summers ago but is showing great maturity and focus at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox have made the minor-league team an integral part of its system, investing heavily in player development and spending more than $5 million a year in signing bonuses to top amateur players taken in the draft.
Clearly, John Henry's syndicate knows what it's doing.

And, of course, Mike Lowell was named the World Series Most Valuable Player. Lowell, a four-time All-Star, was considered by some to be a "throw-in" on the 2005 deal with Florida that brought ace pitcher Josh Beckett to the Red Sox. Lowell did have a disappointing season that year, but the third baseman has since proven that he's far more than a throw-in -- and what a great last name.

Adding poignancy to Sunday night's game and the overall Series, was seeing pitcher Jon Lester delivering a solid 5 2/3 innings in the fourth -- and final -- game of the series. At this time last year Lester, 23, was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. After beating cancer, the young player had to fight his way back from the minors before helping the Sox to win the World Series for the second time in four years.

It seems long ago that Red Sox fans were wondering if they'd ever see a championship. They had come so close so many times, but for 86 years it was always snatched away.

That ended in 2004 and again in 2007.

The future looks bright for the team, and Red Sox Nation can rejoice.

Posted by Admin at 12:53 PM

Backtalk 10/30/2007

DISAPPOINTING: So, two disabled war veterans from the Iraq war throw out the first pitch Saturday night and the Fox network can't even air it. Enough said.

Lowell

KEEP LOWELL: There is no way in the world that you could get me to swap a class act like Mike Lowell for Alex Rodriques and his attitude problem.

Littleton

GREAT JOB: I would like to commend the Lowell High School Junior ROTC unit who stood at attention during the opening ceremonies of the World Series Game 1. To those of us watching the game from outside of Lowell, they did us proud. Congratulations for a job well done!

St. Petersburg, Fla.

TOO MUCH SPITTING: I enjoyed Bob Reed's chaw-in-cheek article about the fine art of spitting. He certainly spit it on the head. It seems the TV cameras zero in on every spit. How'd you like the job of cleaning out the dugout after a game? That could be a candidate for Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs. Although I think even Mike would take a pass on that job -- yuk. May the game should be called "hittin' and spittin.'"
Hudson, N.H.

SECOND AMENDMENT: I am a Lowell resident and I will not vote for any City Council candidate who would refuse to recognize my fundamental right to keep and bear arms for the protection of my family and myself.

Lowell

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: Regarding the Blue Health Plan for Kids and parents who decided not to include their children in their employee benefits: So Rep. Jamie Eldridge feels the rest of us should pick up the tab when it was the parents who made the decision not to cover their kids. I am outraged -- anyone else?

Ayer

FOOLISH ISSUE: What a relief! Pelham selectmen have now resolved a town crisis by banning a dog from the fire station. Umm, tell me again. Why does Pelham even need selectmen if they waste their time on silly issues like this?

Chelmsford

RAINING INSIDE: The gym roof at Billerica Memorial High School leaks so badly that games held inside are called off because of rain. Students are tripping and falling over broken and missing tiles in their classrooms while administrators are having new windows and carpeting installed in their office. Billerica School Committee, please wake up. Schools are for kids.

Billerica

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 12:51 PM

October 29, 2007

Was Dracut set on Mullin before the interviews?

PERCEPTION IS everything, but it appears the Dracut School Committee still doesn't get it.

Did committee members have their minds made up before conducting interviews with four superintendent finalists last week? That's the talk in the local coffee shops and on message boards throughout the town.

In less time than it took for W. Spencer Mullin to leave the school parking lot after his interview, the committee unanimously voted him in as the new superintendent. Mullin was the last of four finalists to be interviewed by the board on Monday night. The committee spent close to an hour with each candidate, but very little discussion followed.

The committee chatted briefly about their site visits then committee member Mary Gail Martin announced, "I'm prepared to vote."

She nominated Mullin. Mike Miles quickly joined her, as did Dennis "D.J." Deeb and Chairman Ron Mercier Jr. Committee member Nancy Mendonca wanted more time to go over her interview notes but gave in when she sensed she was outnumbered.
Everyone is asking the same question: Why the rush?

Rarely, if ever, have school committees selected a superintendent on the same day or night that interviews are conducted.

Deeb was almost indignant at the suggestion after the meeting that Mullin was the board's pick from the beginning and that the committee's questions were crafted to suit him. Deeb said Mullin is clearly the best person for the job and there was no need to drag out the process.

To onlookers, it didn't seem that the one-hour interviews with the finalists had any effect on the committee's final decision. The "losing" candidates had to travel to Dracut from Lynnfield, Medfield and Paris, Maine (a nearly three-hour ride) for something that may have been a foregone conclusion.

This is the second so-called nationwide search conducted in Dracut in two months that resulted in a wink-and-a-nod fashion. The other came at the Dracut Housing Authority, where Mary Karabatsos, who wasn't even selected a finalist by the original screening committee, got the job over more experienced candidates. She was the choice of three DHA members, who added Karabatsos' name to the screening committee's list after a lawsuit to overturn the screening process failed.

ASKED LAST summer whether he would like to become city manager again, Brian Martin had this to say about his job as Lowell High School's athletic director: "I just love what I'm doing, and I enjoy the kids tremendously. To give all that up and be a candidate just didn't make sense at the end of the day."

Of course, he would have given it up had he been successful in rounding up the necessary five votes to replace the departing John Cox.

Well, Martin has indeed given it up, to work as district director for the new 5th District Rep. Niki Tsongas.

Since Tsongas made the announcement Tuesday, kudos have poured into Martin, and rightfully so. It's the least Tsongas could do. Martin was a zealot on the campaign trail for Tsongas, whose late husband, Paul Tsongas, boosted Martin's political stature in the city and region tenfold.

Yet most pols question why Martin is making the jump.

How about money? Martin was making about $85,000 as athletic director. The Column has learned that, based on what other congressional district directors earn, Martin will get a sizable pay increase, anywhere from $110,000 to $120,000 in his new position.

That's a minimum $25,000 pay hike. For comparison, Dorothy Reichard, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank's DD, makes $136,000, and Michael Gorman, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano's DD, makes $103,000.

Martin had been allegedly eyeing the headmaster's post at Lowell High School, should Schools Superintendent Karla Brooks Baehr be successful in ousting Headmaster William Samaras at the end of the current school year. Word is Martin would not have gotten the job.

And knowing Martin like The Column knows Martin, don't be surprised if he's laying the groundwork for a possible run for Congress himself.

THE COMMUNITY continues to circle the wagons around Samaras.

First the Lowell Plan came out for Samaras, urging Baehr to let him work one more year.

Then state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos, a former Lowell School Committee member and current chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, threw laurels Samaras' way.

Adding his voice to the chorus is Paul Georges, the outspoken president of the United Teachers of Lowell.

Now Samaras has been chosen as the grand marshal of this year's City of Lights Parade on Nov. 24. "We are thrilled to have Bill Samaras as our honorary grand marshal this year, as he has been so instrumental over the years in making Lowell High School what is today," said Mayor Bill Martin, also School Committee chairman.

SAINTS MEDICAL Center, which historically has played second fiddle to crosstown rival Lowell General Hospital, had a banner week. First it promoted Kevin Coughlin, its chief fundraiser, to vice president of government and community strategies. In his place, Saints hired the popular Michael Kuenzler, the former Lowell-cop-turned-successful businessman/fundraiser. Kuenzler hopes to launch a new -- and large -- fundraising campaign for the hospital.

In another notable change-of-address, Saints snatched one of Lowell General's most-popular faces, that of Susan Lavallee, who has been at LGH for nearly two decades. She's the amiable wife of Lowell Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee.

At Saints, Lavallee will be the coordinator of outpatient services, responsible for the facilitation of patient care, communication and clinical leadership.

The announcements signal that Saints CEO Mike Guley is going on the offensive to give the hospital a high community profile.

EVERY LOSING campaign picks a scapegoat.

The people behind Republican Jim Ogonowski, who lost to Democrat Tsongas in an Oct. 16 special election, chose The Sun.

Ogonowski's flacks thought The Sun's coverage was biased. Pressed to produce examples, the flacks either chose not to or couldn't.

In keeping with tradition, Ogonowski's campaign spokesman, Barney Keller, said "no" to The Sun's Advertising Department when a sales rep called to see if the campaign wanted to place an ad thanking the 46 percent of the 5th District's voters who cast their ballot for the Dracut citizen-farmer.

The Tsongas campaign was approached and signed on.

Traditionally, candidates place thank-you ads in the days following an election.

LOCAL PUNDITS have been speculating as to who will be filling Tsongas' position at Middlesex Community College, where she served as dean of external affairs.

Wonder no more: the position and responsibilities are being filled from within MCC's ranks, according to President Carole Cowan.

Jay Linnehan of Lowell, the college's longtime vice president of administration and finance, will be bumped up to executive vice president and take on Tsongas' fundraising role.

Two other MCC internals, Dennis Malvers of Chelmsford and Patrick Cook of Lowell, are divvying up the rest of Tsongas' duties, such as the Celebrity Forum speaker's series and some of the college's other external affairs functions.

THE WELL-LIKED and well-known Paul Sullivan received a well-deserved posthumous honor from the New England Police Benevolent Association during its inaugural convention in Portsmouth, N.H., last week.

Sullivan, The Sun columnist who passed away on Sept. 9 following a battle with cancer, received the PBA's "Pen & Quill Award."

Union founder and executive director Jerry Flynn of Chelmsford praised Sullivan's selection. He said Sullivan was a strong advocate of public employees -- as long as they were doing their jobs and not hosing the taxpayer.

The PBA also gave "Legislator of the Year" awards to state Rep. Dave Nangle and Panagiotakos, both of Lowell, for their support of legislation helping police officers.

IS CHANGE in the wind for the leadership of the Lowell patrolmen's union?

Patrolman John Boutselis is seeking his third two-year term in a Nov. 8 election. He's being challenged by Officer Frank Nobrega.

Nobrega, who is also a lawyer, is representing Lowell police Sgt. Mickey O'Keefe who unsuccessfully sought 111F status for sick pay from the city. O'Keefe's claim was rejected last week.

O'Keefe has been out of work, allegedly injured, since early September. Whatever the ailment is or was, it didn't prevent O'Keefe from running a half-marathon -- 13.1 miles -- in Lowell earlier this month.

Had O'Keefe's 111F claim been approved, he would have received his $1,556 weekly check free of federal, state or local tax withholdings from the date of his alleged injury on duty until his return to work.

THE LOWELL police patrolmen's union is out with its endorsements for the Nov. 6 council election and it snubbed six of the eight incumbents.

Rank-and-file members voted last month to back incumbents Armand Mercier and Rita Mercier and challengers Alan Kazanjian, Jo-Ann Keegan, Michael Lenzi and Robert McMahon.

Incumbent Councilor Edward "Bud" Caulfield reportedly was quite upset to be left off the 180-member union's list.

Local 1705 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the largest union in city government led by Keith Rudy, endorsed nearly the same slate a couple weeks ago. The only difference is Rudy's group supported Caulfield rather than Keegan.

The Merrimack Valley Central Labor Counsel -- i.e., Georges' union -- endorsed both Merciers, Caulfield, and Jim Milinazzo among the incumbents and challengers Lenzi, Kazanjian, McMahon, Curtis LeMay and Jo-Ann Keegan.

CAULFIELD HAS a campaign pledge.

"If I'm re-elected, I will immediately call for a unity breakfast and bring everyone together," he said.

"We have a responsibility to the people who put us there to work in the best interest of the city to get along and make things happen in a positive way. Are you going to have some roadblocks along the way? Of course. But the city of Lowell has always put its best foot forward and that's what the City Council has to do. I do not like the petty politics and the bickering. I despise it. That's not me. I'm a workhorse."

FLASH TO Tuesday night.

Caulfield joined Councilors Armand Mercier and Rita Mercier in questioning Lynch's proposal to sell the dilapidated, Peter Powers House at 26-28 Lawrence St. -- that 19th century "gem" the city Historic Board, in its infinite wisdom, purchased as a moneymaking venture in April 2000.

Between the city's $17,500 purchase of the property and an $85,000 state preservation grant, there has been $102,500 in taxpayer money spent on preserving the wood-frame, two-family house. Two attempts to sell the 5,600 -square-foot home in 2003 for $114,000 and then $85,000 met with no takers.

It can't be razed because of the state grant used to renovate its exterior. The interior is a wreck, and the house sits on an unattractive lot across from the Central Plaza shopping center.

Lynch administration officials want to sell the property for a minimum bid price of $40,000. The Board of Assessors values the property at nearly $270,000.

The $40,000 figure reflects a recent appraisal that considers that any buyer would be legally required to keep the dilapidated house. City assessors base their estimates on the re-sale prices of two-family homes that lacked those restrictions.

Armand Mercier questioned how the city could let the property go so cheaply. Caulfield and Rita Mercier were incredulous.

"Whoever purchases this building, I can't blame them for buying it for $40,000," Caulfield said.

Armand Mercier, who used to own a realty business, wants a copy of the appraisal before he will vote to approve the sale. The council did not receive a copy in its meeting packet provided by the manager.

Rita Mercier wants pictures.

Caulfield wants a tour.

Of course, Caulfield and the Merciers could argue it's reasonable to question such a proposal by the city manager. One wonders if they would have had such questions for former City Manager John Cox.

Regardless, the council voted unanimously to table Lynch's proposal for a week until it gets a copy of the appraisal.

This week's Column was written by City Editor Christopher Scott, City Hall Reporter Michael Lafleur and Dracut Reporter Dennis Shaughnessey.

Posted by Admin at 11:48 AM

Good site, solid future

The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 10/26/2007 11:56:28 AM EDT

It's no secret that UMass Lowell needs to upgrade its facilities or that nanotechnology and green chemistry are expected to be the economic future of this region.

By responding to the university's facilities needs, Chancellor Marty Meehan may help spark the growth of exciting new businesses in Greater Lowell. UMass Lowell's recently released facilities plan contains about $155 million in new buildings, including an $80 million Emerging Technology and Innovation Center to be built on the corner of University Avenue and VFW Highway, a highly visible site on North Campus.

We believe that to be an excellent location for a facility that academic, government and business leaders hope will create spin-off companies and good-paying jobs for skilled residents.

About a month before Meehan's announcement, City Manager Bernie Lynch had named the developer of the $500 million 10-year Hamilton Canal District project -- Trinity Financial of Boston. We hope the research and development that will eventually be conducted at UMass
Lowell's Emerging Technology facility will lead to a collaboration with Trinity and the city to incorporate satellite nanotechnology businesses and other research facilities into the Hamilton Canal District plan.
Trinity president James Keefe has proposed a mixed-use development -- a "vibrant urban village" -- that will include commercial, retail and offices as well as some residential use. That concept should tie in well with the new facilities to be constructed at UMass Lowell.

Meehan chose an excellent site for the Emerging Technology center, nestled in the heart of North Campus where science, mathematics and engineering are studied. It will allow for easy interaction between professors, scientists and students. It can also become a showpiece for the university and the city, attracting more interest and business to the area.

We commend Meehan for his site selection and look forward to the opening, scheduled for the beginning of the 2010 academic year.

Posted by Admin at 11:29 AM

Compromise on affordable housing

The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 10/27/2007 03:14:07 PM EDT

There's no question that lawmakers need to debate the merits of the state's Chapter 40B law, but there should not be an all-out assault on the regulation, nor should the law be entirely abolished.

Many Massachusetts residents need affordable housing to continue living here, particularly younger people, senior citizens, and residents employed in low-paying fields. Without a requirement that communities provide some kind of affordable housing, many residents -- including people who were born and raised here, and others who lived here for decades -- would be priced out of the market and forced to relocate.

Not only is that unfair, but it would have a detrimental impact on the state's economy. If those with high-paying jobs are the only people who can afford to reside in Massachusetts, who will fulfill the employment needs of our restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and social-service industries? Positions in these businesses typically pay considerably less than high-tech jobs, but are necessary for the Bay State's economic survival and the quality of life of residents.
Currently, activists are diligently working to get Chapter 40B repealed. We understand their reasoning and share many of their concerns, but we feel abolishing the law would be going too far.

A better solution would be to strive to improve Chapter 40B, to make it work for everyone -- both affluent and struggling residents, lawmakers and developers.

Should the regulations be tightened up? Absolutely. No community should have a ridiculously high-density development shoved down its throat. But communities also shouldn't be allowed to perpetuate "snob zoning" where there's no room for anything less than half-million dollar homes.

Otherwise, where will our children live when they've finished high school or college? How can our parents remain in the town in which they raised their families when they live on a fixed income? If some people want to spend their entire lives in their hometown, shouldn't they have that option?

We think so. And we hope legislators and 40B activists will discuss this issue in a cooperative manner to find a solution that works for everyone.

Posted by Admin at 11:26 AM

Backtalk 10/27/2007

USE SOAP: Regarding the staph infection: As an athlete at Lowell High School in the mid-1970s, after gym class or any sport, everyone took a shower. Nowadays, the kids don't take a shower; they just put their clothes back on.

Lowell

MAKE A CALL: Shame and three demerits for the Dracut School Committee. They didn't think to call the Haverhill school system and do their homework. A few phone calls to Haverhill would've given them plenty of reasons to let their cream-of-the-crop candidate stay in Woburn.

Haverhill

BIG JUMP: If the Dracut School Committee thinks W. Spencer Mullin can go from being a principal in a building of 535 students and 52 teachers, to being a superintendent of a school system with 4,200 students and 250 teachers, they're crazy.

Dracut

JUST SAY NO: Billerica zoning bylaws were voted to protect the residents. If Home Depot doesn't conform to the strict interpretation of our bylaws, it should be just told no. It's that simple. Laws are to protect the residents.

Billerica

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DESK PATROL: I've known Lowell Police Sgt. Mickey O'Keefe for many years, and like him, but if he can run a half-marathon, then he can work light duty. It seems beyond reasonable. It's not right.

Lowell

LOOK ELSEWHERE: Why pick on Police Sgt. Mickey O'Keefe when he hasn't collected a dime for his injury, but there are many who have been collecting for years? Why isn't anything said about those people?

Lowell

DO NOT CALL: For all the people who complained they received too many calls so they didn't vote for that candidate: Please be aware that politicians and charities are exempt from the Do Not Call listing. With the first call, you should have requested to be put on their do not call list. To not vote for someone with whom you agree just because they called your house one too many times is outrageous.

Chelmsford

PUT IT OUT: When is Dracut going to enforce no smoking at Pop Warner and high school football games? It's illegal to smoke on school property and it's disgusting.

Dracut

STRANGE DELAY: About the man who was in a hit-and-run in Dracut: I found it very strange that it took three days for the Dracut police to release the information, and that the man who killed the man was picked up, failed several field sobriety tests, and was arraigned only on drunken-driving charges and released. Am I the only one who thinks there's something wrong with this?

No town given

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 11:24 AM

Backtalk 10/28/2007

EXCELLENT TRIBUTE: Congratulations to The Sun for the "Serving Us Proud" section. It's a wonderful page to honor all these people who have made sacrifices. I hope it's going to be a regular event.

Lowell

SPLENDID SPITTER: Terrific column by Robert Reed on Red Sox manager Terry Francona as a champion spitter. I've noticed that myself. I think it helps to keep him calm and focused during games. It was a fun column to read.

Tewksbury

UNNECESSARY: Can someone tell me why Gov. Patrick needs an office in Washington, D.C.? Is he planning on leaving us before his term is up?

Billerica

LET ROCKY STAY: How ridiculous that Pelham selectmen won't allow the fire chief's Dalmatian to stay at the station during work hours. Having a Dalmatian at fire stations is a proud tradition and something that should have been embraced.

Pelham, N.H.

UNEQUAL TREATMENT: Why is Chelmsford allowing one resident on Boston Road to interfere with the current flow of the sidewalk project, just because he doesn't want the standard curbstone in front of his property? He wants a special order of oversized curbstone installed.
Chelmsford

TOO MUCH: I can't believe the town agreed to pay the new Dracut Housing Authority director more than they paid the former director, who had 20 years of experience. That is just so wrong.

Dracut

NO MORE 40B: The 40B laws are bad for our communities. They only help developers, not those who need affordable housing. It's time to change the law.

Wilmington

REPEAL 40B: Thank you to the citizens who are working to repeal 40B. I'm surprised it's taken 40 years for people to realize 40B not only destroys communities, but hurts affordable housing, too. It's time for us to do what every other state does -- produce real affordable housing without a catch.

No town given

SPEED UP REPAIRS: About the bridge work on Princeton Boulevard entering North Chelmsford: Why do they have a two-year state contract when Modern Continental can span a six-lane highway in 14 days? It's impacting local businesses dramatically and fire trucks can't even go over it.

Chelmsford

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 11:23 AM

October 26, 2007

Backtalk

GO SOX: Congratulations to the Red Sox. They proved they were the best. Now, let's win the World Series.

Dracut

OVER-EXCITED: I love the Red Sox and am delighted they won the American League championship. But once again, Jonathan Papelbon has gone over the top. It's absolutely ridiculous that he would pour beer over the trophy. It shows disrespect.

Lowell

KEEP BRIDGE OPEN: Shouldn't the prominent Tyngsboro bridge be open for emergency vehicles only? Especially on weekends.

Tyngsboro

ENOUGH ALREADY: More public servants pushing for higher pensions? We can't afford the pensions we're paying them now. Most of us working people don't get a pension anymore. When are these people going to realize what they have?

Tewksbury

FIGURE IT OUT: City Councilor Rodney Elliott is right: The shelter isn't going anywhere; nor should it go anywhere. The councilors have to work this out and do their job.

Lowell

VOTER APATHY: We had a special election Tuesday for the teachers' contract (which
was not recommended by the board) and only 727 residents bothered to vote. I guess the teachers have spoken.
Pelham, N.H.

TOO MANY SIGNALS: Whose bright idea was it to put all those lights on Lakeview Avenue in Dracut? I could travel from Dracut to Boston by the time I'm through all the lights and traffic on Lakeview Avenue in the morning.

Dracut

FOCUS ON VALUES: Don Ordway's letter to the editor suggests the school is taking away parental control by giving birth control to middle-school students. I agree. But, his solution is to make sure children know God, which takes away my parental rights as an atheist. It's about good parents teaching their children good values; God has nothing to do with it.

Lowell

RULE REVISIONS: It's not about the 25 cents for coffee at the Chelmsford Senior Center, it's about the director, changing the rules every single day.

Chelmsford

KEEP GYMNASTICS: The Pelham School Board should leave gymnastics in the school budget for next year. Interest has grown in that program and it deserves to continue.

Pelham, N.H.

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 12:09 PM | Comments (1)

October 25, 2007

Calling voters is a key part of campaign strategy

I am writing in response to a letter which appeared in the Oct. 22 Sun and numerous BackTalk postings that have complained about being called by campaigns in the recent special election to succeed Marty Meehan. Voters need to realize that aside from actually casting a ballot, which is of course secret, electioneering is in fact a very public exercise. The democratic process is largely one of persuasion and getting people to the polls. This is especially true in a special election in which part of the message has to be the basic fact of what day the election is being held.

Campaigns do not like leaving much to chance, and both survey and anecdotal evidence suggest that, contrary to the "BackTalkers" many people actually do bother to take time to vote precisely because they were asked to do so. Yes, that generally means they vote for the candidate whose campaign contacted them. One other thing, it is important to note is that political campaigns and charities are exempt from the provisions of the "Do Not Call" list.

Calling

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voters is an essential piece of any campaign strategy and is often done in three rounds. Not everyone is called, and it is up to each campaign to decide which voters to call based on the dynamics and variables of a particular race. First round of calls is to identify who will definitely or likely vote for the candidate, who is undecided, and who will definitely or likely vote for the opponent. You are of course free to decline to answer this question, but please do so politely. Those who are calling you are most likely volunteers just working for a candidate they favor, and may even be your neighbor. They are not telemarketers and will generally be gracious about taking a moment of your time. Campaigns create their own internal "do not call" lists for their own purposes and you are welcome to ask to be put on that when they call. The second round is to try to persuade those who identified as undecided to come on board for the candidate. The third round is what is called GOTV (get-out-the-vote), which is to remind identified supporters, especially those who don't always vote, to come vote on Election Day. This was even more important in the recent congressional race, being that it was a special election.
I want to turn and address campaigns for a moment. You need to uphold your end of this deal also and show that what I have written is true. There was a particular campaign in the primary which called several times to ask if the candidate could count on my support, despite the fact that I made it very clear I was volunteering for another candidate. As a citizen and a political junkie it did not bother me too much personally, but as someone who has experience on the campaign side I was starting to wonder whether this campaign had its act together. Lists need to be constantly updated and cross-referenced and the technology now exists to do this very effectively.

Those of you in Lowell and other communities with local elections next month may very well continue to get calls. There are some ways to make you less likely to be called, such as consistently voting, which will tell a campaign you don't need to be reminded to vote. In partisan elections being registered in one of the parties will also cut down on the calls as both sides will likely make some assumption about your voting habits. Voting is every citizen's civic duty, and achieving victory in an election means contacting voters personally. I'm sure we all prefer to live in a democratic rather than dictatorial system and this is part of the deal.

CHRISTOPHER JENKINS

Dracut

Posted by Admin at 2:25 PM

More risk to smoking

If America's youngsters need another reason to not smoke cigarettes -- beyond the increased risk of lung cancer and emphysema -- the results of a report by Columbia University certainly gives it to them.

Research released last week by the institution's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse highlights additional evidence that links youth smoking to substance abuse, and points out how nicotine affects teenagers' brains.

Most people are well aware that smoking is an unhealthy habit that can lead to debilitating illness and even death, but how many realize that smoking at an early age can trigger a susceptibility to drug and alcohol addiction and mental illness?

Columbia University's report cited scientific studies that show the nicotine in tobacco products -- cigarettes, cigars, chew, etc. -- can produce structural and chemical changes in the developing brain that make youngsters more vulnerable to addiction and mental-health problems.

This information should prompt considerable concern among parents whose children have started smoking cigarettes. Tobacco use should not be considered a youthful folly that can be dealt with later. Not only is smoking illegal for youngsters, it is now shown to be detrimental to brain development and can lead to a lifetime of struggle and heartache.
Columbia's researchers found that the younger a child is when he or she starts smoking, the greater the risk of underage drinking and other drug abuse.

The statistics are alarming. Children who start smoking by age 12 are three times more likely to binge on alcohol, nearly 15 times more likely to smoke marijuana, and almost seven times more likely to use hard-core drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

This report proves, once again, that parents cannot turn a blind eye to their children's infractions, even if the child claims he or she rarely smokes. An occasional cigarette can quickly become a habit, which in turn can harm brain development and lead to a lifetime of regret.

Posted by Admin at 2:23 PM

Backtalk

GREAT STORY: Congratulations to The Sun. I'm happy to see on Page 1 the article about the heroes from the Battle of the Bulge. It is so good to see you honoring these veterans.

Lowell

GOOD COVERAGE: I appreciated the article on the veterans of The Battle of the Bulge. That one battle in WWII had far more casualties than this entire Iraq war. I want those guys to know there are people out here of a much younger generation who are aware of your bravery and sacrifice, and are grateful for it.

Tewksbury

BETTER IDEA: I saw where Red Sox were giving food to the fans who were waiting in line to buy tickets. While it was a nice thing to do, wouldn't it be nice if they instead fed the homeless?

Billerica

SURE BET: Whoever wrote the article on the horse race comparison to the city elections should be drug tested. Mike Lenzi, Bob McMahon and Alan Kazanjian are definitely in.

Lowell

WISH LIST: Incumbent councilors Kevin Broderick, Jim Milinazzo, Rodney Elliott, Joe Mendonca and Mayor Bill Martin are working hard for the city. I hope they get re-elected, along with challengers Jo-Ann Keegan, Kristin Ross-Sitcawich, Lou Stylos and David Koch.
Lowell

TOO P.C.: If you can't bring yourself to call your Halloween costume a "hobo" or a "bum," you shouldn't be dressing as a homeless person. That's way too politically correct for me.

Chelmsford

SAFE AND SOUND: We would like to thank the Lowell Police Department, 911 operator Lopez, the K-9 unit of Lowell and the residents of South Lowell for bringing our son home safely. Thank you so very much.

Smith Family, Lowell

STORE WANTED: I second the idea of Michael's, A.C. Moore or Jo-Ann Fabrics opening on Bridge Street at the site of the old Ames store. It would be a great fit.

North Chelmsford

SAFETY FIRST: The reason children are not buckled up on school buses is because if there were an accident it would be impossible to unbuckle all of the children, and get them out of the bus.

Woburn

LATE DELIVERY: What is going on with the mail box in front of Fios on Mammoth Road in Lowell? I mailed a mortgage payment on Oct. 4, and got a letter dated Oct. 18 saying they did not receive my payment. The Post Office is no help at all in this.

Lowell

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 2:21 PM | Comments (1)

October 24, 2007

Backtalk

GREAT JOB: What a pleasure it is to see somebody finally saying it like it is about the Red Sox. Good going, Dennis Whitton. I wish the other sportscasters were like him.

Tewksbury

THAT'S ONE VOTE: I read the letter to the editor Friday in The Sun, and what Matt Vieira wrote about Lowell voters is true. I congratulate him on his future goals, and I hope to have him serving myself, and the city of Lowell in two years. He's got my vote!

Lowell

LITTERBUGS: If Tyngsboro really wants to make money, maybe it should enforce the no-littering laws, especially between Westford Road and Middlesex Road. All you see are bottles, cups, cardboard boxes. That's a main road into town, and it's disgusting.

Tyngsboro

GREAT POLICE WORK: I would like to thank Sgt. Gilmore and Officer Sargent of the Dunstable Police Department. Both were very helpful to me when I recently had a theft at my place of business. They both were very thorough in catching the thieves. Once again, thanks, guys. It's nice to know you're here.

Dunstable

SPEAK UP: Billerica has more than 30,000 residents, yet we're going to let the fate of the Home Depot project be decided by a couple of hundred people. Let's speak up those of us who are in favor of it or forever hold your wallets.

Billerica

RATIONAL REACTION: In response to the caller from Westford: Those of us who did not vote for Niki Tsongas do not want to see our military men and women die in Iraq. We are all for a rational withdrawal, finishing what we started, and not publishing our timetable to give a heads-up to the enemy.

Chelmsford

PROMPT ACTION: To the kind police officer who contacted the animal control officer for me Sunday: The animal control officer came to my home even though he was going off duty, moved a trash barrel and allowed a very large skunk trapped in it to get free. Both gentlemen were fantastic, and I thank them for their kindness and quick response.

Lowell

CHAIR CONTROVERSY: The Windham School Committee has cost the taxpayers millions of dollars because of its ongoing errors with the construction of the high school project, yet it has the time to criticize an executive over the cost of a chair that cost a couple of hundred dollars more than members think it should. It's absolutely ridiculous and a waste of time.

Windham, N.H.

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 4:18 PM

The manager, the champion

The Red Sox may come and the Red Sox may go. Big Papi may hit homers, and Manny may knock in runs. Or they may strike out. The fortunes of the team may rise and they may fall. Red Sox Nation may cheer and howl in victory or slink off sniffling quietly in defeat. But one thing remains constant, reliable, assured always to be at the very peak of performance, one super star.

He is the manager. In the manager the Red Sox have a leader who, by constant example and unvarying demonstration, shows the world what a manager should be, what he should do, how he should lead. The manager is a paragon, a beacon shining in a dark world, an example to all who see him, an inspiration and model for the thousands of hero-worshipping boys who aspire to don the uniform of a big-league team and play ball. In the manager the Sox have perfection.

In baseball? Oh no. Baseball is trivia. Who wins and loses is of little consequence. Performance on the field is a sometime thing, forgotten when the last inning ends. The manager is excellence personified in something far more substantial and universally practiced than mere baseball.
Here is a man who can spit.

Watch him. Observe every move through every game, note the timing, the posture, the head movement, the unflagging production, the constancy of it all. You see a thing of beauty. Pay close attention to the manager when the team is playing. You see a man of great talent, dedicated to his art.

As he sits in the dugout the head is bowed slightly. The chewing ceases for a moment. The lips purse. There is a pause, not prolonged, but noticeable. Then it comes. The perfect spit, dead center between the feet, of major volume but not overbearing, aimed like rifle fire. Magnificent. Then the head rises momentarily, the chewing begins again, and the next one is soon to come.

Does anyone dare to suggest that there is a better spitter in the world of baseball than the Red Sox manager? The very thought is heresy. And this sort of talent does not come easily. A spitter of this caliber is like a sculptor or a flute soloist or a novelist, all of whom spend countless hours bringing their vocation to the highest level of excellence. The Red Sox manager is the Ernest Hemingway of spitting.

Consider the time the manager through the years put into achieving the correct posture, the back straight leaning ahead a little, neck bent slightly forward. Think of the hours spent practicing as a young man, when others were out enjoying their pointless existence of having youthful fun. In the Red Sox manager you see determination, dedication, self-denial and the steadfast pursuit of excellence.

And there is the matter of what brings about all this excellence of performance. From time to time, as the game rages and the roar from the stands reaches a crescendo worthy of the world's brass bands put together, there is the manager stuffing something into his mouth. Tobacco? Probably not. If it were, the manager would not have any teeth; and the chaw, once as much a part of baseball as home plate, has pretty much disappeared from the Big Leagues, and the almost constant spurt across the field of brown goo from the mouths of the players has subsided. Gum? Not likely, although some of the players have reached fourth-grade status at producing bubbles. No, it has to be something that will produce sufficient quantities of the essence of spitting to allow the performance to go on through a full game, even into extra innings.

Spitting is such a vital part of baseball that one can dream up a scene of a rookie coming up to the Big Leagues. The scouts have found him. He looks ready for years at the top. But one thing remains. The manager looks over all the records. Fielding? Great. Hitting? A long-ball man. Base running? Fast. Then comes the key question. Can the kid spit? Let's have a look. The kid puckers up, draws all the material he can and lets one go. Not bad, not bad, says the manager, impressed. To himself he says, this kid's got a big career ahead of him.

But not as good as that of the Red Sox manager. He can out-spit anyone who ever put on a pair of spikes. He is the champ, uncontested, with a rapid-fire pace, unlimited endurance and perfect execution every time. Let the game go on. Let the score seesaw back and forth. Let the crowd go wild. But there in the dugout, standing occasionally and leaning on the railing looking out at the field but usually sitting on the bench, is the manager, chewing and chewing, his cheeks distended, getting ready. Then from the head bowed in the perfect posture, comes the beautifully executed spit. The Red Sox must be walking about with chests thrust forward in pride. He's all theirs. And fans by the thousands across the country can watch him. It's enough to get you settled in your favorite chair in front of the TV or going back to the ball park game after game. It's the ultimate performance.

Baseball does not offer anything better than this.

Robert Reed is a former editorial writer for The Sun.

Posted by Admin at 4:17 PM

Patient safety job No. 1

An excellent example as to why Massachusetts hospitals need to retain the ability to control their own staffing levels is the flood that devastated the region last year, forcing the evacuations of thousands of residents.

It was fortunate our hospitals had the flexibility to call in more nurses, LPNs, aides and administrators during a time of need.

The Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Health is scheduled to hold a hearing tomorrow on two competing nurse staffing bills -- a Senate and a House version. The House bill, being pushed by a nursing union, would impose government-mandated registered nurse ratios on hospitals, which we find troubling.

This issue was last debated more than a year ago, and there is still no solid scientific evidence to support an RN ratio. Equally important, the union's bill has not been modified to take into consideration the entire caregiving team.

A frightening thought is that if the proposed nurse-staffing ratio bill had been in effect, local hospitals would have been unable to react as quickly as they did during last spring's flooding. There's a good chance some patients -- including those evacuated from nursing homes -- would have been turned away and sent to hospitals farther from family and friends.
The nurse-staffing ratio bill would mandate the staffing ratios of registered nurses to patients. On the surface, that sounds acceptable. However, the legislation would not allow hospitals to factor in the many other caregivers assisting patients, such as licensed practical nurses, physical therapists and aides. In California, which has a registered nurse ratio requirement, hospitals are sometimes forced to send patients elsewhere to meet the state mandates. We don't think that best serves the needs of patients.

Another significant concern is that having such a requirement could force hospitals to eliminate jobs of other caregivers to hire more registered nurses. And the RNs then would be required to perform less-skilled tasks because there would be fewer LPNs and aides to handle those duties. Again, we find this troubling.

It is no secret that Massachusetts is experiencing a nursing shortage, so hospitals could well end up in registered-nurse bidding wars with each other as well as with nursing homes and visiting-nurse organizations, creating patient-care problems in those institutions.

It makes far more sense to us for hospital staffing needs to continue to be assessed on a shift-by-shift basis, taking into consideration the number of patients and their specific needs as well as the skills and experience of the staff.

The Senate's Patient Safety Act calls for increased accountability by health-care providers while also recognizing the contributions of all caregivers -- RNs, LPNs, aides and those who transport patients. We support this measure and believe legislators should vote against House Bill 2059 which could jeopardize jobs and patient care.

Posted by Admin at 4:14 PM

Keep camp open

Westford Special Town Meeting voters made a good decision Monday night when they agreed to continue a summer camp at the East Boston Camps property.

By voting in favor of the article, residents have authorized the Board of Selectmen and the Conservation Commission to enter into a lease or contract with a camp operator. Although the vote is nonbinding, it is clear that residents want a camp to continue, and they prefer a camp that will include low- and moderate-income children from inner-city areas.

Nearly 400 residents signed a petition stating they wanted a camp to be operated on the property. In fact, the citizens' petition is what sparked the Special Town Meeting warrant article.

The petition states that residents support a camp program that includes at least 20 percent of children come from low- to moderate-income homes. Residents also want a program that will encourage more Westford children to apply.

A request for proposal will be drafted, and interested camp programs can apply. Unfortunately, it seems that the East Boston Social Center, which operated on the property for 70 years, will have a difficult time competing because the successful bidder is expected to fund the financial expenses associated with the camp, maintain the buildings and pay a share of the caretaker's annual salary.
It is unlikely that the East Boston Social Center, which runs an excellent program for inner-city children, will be able to come up with that kind of cash. That would be a disappointment.

However, we certainly hope that whatever organization is awarded the camp contract, that group will include a significant percentage of low- to moderate-income children who would otherwise not be able to experience the wonders of the outdoors in a beautiful rural setting.

By striving to continue a camp that includes needy youngsters, Westford parents would be setting an excellent example for their own children.

Posted by Admin at 4:13 PM

October 23, 2007

Blame GOP for Ogonowski's loss

Blame GOP for Ogonowski's loss
The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 10/22/2007 11:33:32 AM EDT

Republicans got what they deserved in Tuesday's 5th District congressional election: another loss.

Yes, Jim Ogonowski shook things up.

Yes, his man-of-the-people campaign tapped into voter discontent throughout the Merrimack Valley.

Yes, his fiery salvoes against Washington politicians, Beltway insiders, fat-cat lobbyists, and politics-as-usual ignited outrage.

Yes, he won 11 of the 5th District's 29 communities, pulling in an impressive 47,770 votes, or 45 percent of the total.

But he lost.

And Republicans have no one but state and national party officials to blame.

They hung out to dry the best hope they had of landing a major news story on the front pages of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

The message -- "Democratic stronghold (Massachusetts) elects Republican to Congress" -- would have played in every corner of the country where the GOP is rightfully under attack for its misguided direction.

It would have sent shockwaves to Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and every other faker in the Democratic party who believes obstructionist politics breeds success.
But the GOP blew it.

When the Dracut farmer-citizen had big-time favorite Niki Tsongas in his sights, trailing in the polls by 6-9 percentage points, the GOP cavalry never mounted a winning charge. It dismounted instead.

Ogonowski was outspent 5-to-1 by Niki's Democratic machine. She raised $1.5 million on her own and got another $1 million in advertising support from the Democratic National Committee, Emily's List and a top union. Tsongas buried the landscape with campaign leaflets, mailings and TV and radio advertising. She launched a late newspaper ad blitz over the campaign's final weekend.

Ogonowski raised roughly $500,000. He tried to maximize every dollar with an unwavering message on illegal immigration, wasteful spending, the war in Iraq, Social Security, and health care.

But what if Ogonowski had received a $500,000 fund-raising match from the Republican National Committee? Might he have pulled off the upset of the year?

National Republicans should be ashamed they didn't come to the Massachusetts war front when duty called.

The fact Ogonowski came within 6 percentage points of knocking off Tsongas is remarkable, seeing that his campaign convoy consisted of his own 2002 Buick LeSabre and two pairs of worn shoes.

Fast jets and limos paraded around President Bill Clinton, House Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Ted Kennedy for Tsongas.

Ogonowski could have been the poster boy for a new breed of Republicans. A blue-collar worker who prefers blue overalls instead of blue suits. His victory would have invited others just like him to join a party that is perceived as only for the rich and tax-paying impaired.

Republicans had a great reward in their grasp with Jim Ogonowski.

They blew it.

Today, local, state and national Republicans are giddy about Ogonowski's performance. They believe it signals a "weariness" with same-old Massachusetts Democrats and that change is in the air.

They are dead wrong.
The GOP in Massachusetts has dug another grave for itself for at least another decade, thanks to its national power brokers. Because when Lazarus had a chance to rise, the GOP gave Jim Ogonowski lip service rather than the cold-hard cash he needed to make a dream victory walk come true.

Sun editor Jim Campanini can be contacted at jcampanini@lowellsun.com.

Posted by Admin at 11:04 AM

Backtalk

BIG SPENDER: Another election has been won by the big money spender. There has to be a better way!

Chelmsford

SURPRISING: Jim Ogonowski lost the congressional race. But it seems as if the majority of voters in Billerica, Chelmsford and Tyngsboro would've preferred for our military service men and women to stay in Iraq and die for Bush.

Westford

CHANGES: According to my wise old grandfather, people started out as Democrats, but once they got to own a home and had their own lawn and when they got the lawnmower, it was then they became Republican.

Tewksbury

EXPENSIVE FUTURE: The Democrats are in charge; hold onto your wallets, Massachusetts. It's going to cost you more to heat your home this winter and drive a car.

Tyngsboro

LOW INCREASE: I am thrilled that our taxes will not be increasing by much this year. I think we will have the lowest increase of any community in the area. Thank you to City Manager Bernie Lynch and the City Council!

Lowell

TOO LENIENT: I read about the

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Billerica man who was arrested for his fifth OUI. Great court system we have in this state. Guess we'll let him out again and maybe he'll kill somebody.
Tewksbury

NOT FAIR: I agree with Ken Martin's letter. It's an insult to Joe Tully who worked very hard for the Dracut Housing Authority and the residents of Dracut. His salary at retirement was $62,000 after many years of being executive director. How can they in good faith give Mary Karabatsos more money?

Dracut

LONG DAY: My child gets home almost 4 o'clock. Extending the school day is not a good idea. My child is exhausted, has homework, and after-school activities. No wonder there's no time for a family dinner.

Lowell

SILLY IDEA: My dog would not want to be buckled. I have taken upon myself to train my dog. She sits in the well of my car and she loves it. What is next -- helmets?

Chelmsford

COSTLY: The UMass Lowell athletic director stated the hockey team lost $730,000 last year. How can they pay the hockey coach $167,000? It doesn't make sense.

Lowell

JUST A THOUGHT: The new owners of WCAP should have the Yankees games broadcast on their station next season.

Lowell

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 10:48 AM

Too many candidate phone calls

Thank goodness this special election is over. I cannot begin to count the number of phone calls that came to my house encouraging us to vote for either Tsongas or Ogonowski -- even as late as 5:30 p.m. on Election Day. This has been the worst case of phone harassment that I have experienced. Candidates, beware -- I will not be voting for anyone who subjects me to constant harassment via telephone.

NANCY TUSCANO

Billerica

Posted by Admin at 10:46 AM

Ogonowski not ordinary enough on campaign trail

The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 10/21/2007 06:35:27 AM EDT
A Sun Staff Report

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL candidate Jim Ogonowski succeeded in giving the Democratic political machine backing Niki Tsongas a run for its money.

Ogonowski fell 6 percent short in Tuesday's 5th District congressional election, better than polls predicted.

The Dracut hay farmer and retired Air Force National Guard lieutenant colonel said over and over again that he would be a "nonpartisan" politician. His success was more about returning to basic Republican tenets -- low taxes, small federal government, tough national security.

The national GOP would have voters believe this election was a harbinger for Democrats, a sign of the beginning of the end after they barnstormed their way to a majority in the House and Senate in 2006.

What is probably closer to the truth is that Ogonowski successfully capitalized on a conservative district in a liberal state that was drawn to a "regular guy."

Unfortunately, too often on the campaign trail he seemed unwilling or too uncomfortable to stray from his campaign script and be that "regular guy," someone who could talk about the complicated issues in simple terms.
His position on the war -- which amounted to "stay the course" -- also hurt him, as did his inability to be frank on the looming veto vote in Congress concerning the state Children's Health Insurance Program.

Tsongas is well known in the district, primarily as the widow of former U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas but also as a dean at Middlesex Community College and for her roles on several local boards.

Tsongas had been almost inactive in local politics for a decade, and has been living in Boston for the past several years. But her supporters liked the Niki Tsongas they knew personally, agreed with her positions and valued keeping the seat in Democratic hands.

But as one Democratic consultant put it this week, she was "underwhelming" as a candidate, lacking the charisma on the stump to run away with it. Person-to-person, Tsongas could be terrific. But she wasn't exactly the type of campaigner who could walk into a room and stir up a frenzy. That opened the door for Ogonowski.

Tsongas was sworn in Thursday morning, and cast her first vote in a failed effort to override President George Bush's SCHIP veto.

She has to run again in a year for a full term, but she will be tough to beat. Democrats will be out in full force next November voting in a highly anticipated presidential election, no doubt more than doubling voter turnout.

But don't think you've heard the last of Ogonowski either.

FORMER LOWELL Police Superintendent Edward Davis should have been the guest of honor at a testimonial tomorrow night at the Vesper Country Club in Tyngsboro.

Proceeds from the event would have benefitted D'Youville Manor. But Davis said the "appearance" of a possible conflict weighed too heavily on his mind so he decided to pull the plug.

"It was too murky," he said.

The appearance issue is real because Davis is still an active chief, leading the Boston Police Department. If he was retired or working in the private sector, it would be a different story.

The same concerns prompted the local boys in blue to abandon their plans to throw Davis a party months ago.

LOWELL SCHOOL Superintendent Karla Brooks Baehr is often criticized for not attending nearly enough neighborhood and school-related events after hours.

So Baehr attended the Citywide Parent Council School Committee Candidate's Debate ... and got criticized.

Committee member Regina Faticanti, one of six incumbents up for re-election, said it's unusual for a super to attend a candidate's night.

Faticanti added in an e-mail: "After we were done, I asked her if she was there as an intimidation tactic. (Challenger Dave) Conway does work for her, and I am sure she was wondering if there were going to be any questions about her on the night's agenda. She laughed and turned away from me at which I asked her again. Her response 'Oh come on, Regina.'"

SCHOOL COMMITTEE member Jackie Doherty's latest radio ad includes three public-school kids: her 11-year-old daughter, a boy in her sixth-grade class and a Lowell High School teen. Doherty said her daughter also helped out with a television spot she's running on Lowell's public access cable channel.

The premise of both Doherty ads, and particularly the radio spot, is that the Lowell public school system is "making progress." On the radio ad, her daughter complains that "we have to learn so much stuff and do all this math and reading." Her classmate bemoans his summer reading assignments, and the high school teen notes that she has been placed in an advanced Algebra Academy -- a Doherty initiative -- after earning straight As in math.

"Well folks, there you have it: Three out of three experts agree that academic standards are rising," Doherty says at the ad's conclusion.

DICK HOWE Jr. ripped a page from the NFL rulebook last week, providing Lowell School Committee candidates red flags, like that which Patriots Coach Bill Belichick's stores in his sock, to toss if they wanted to challenge a fellow candidates' response during the Citywide Parent Council's candidates forum.

"I urge you to use them judiciously," Howe said, adding each candidate had four challengers.

Incumbent Kevin McHugh was the first to toss his flag, whipping it three feet across the floor during Faticanti's response to a question regarding alternative schools. He was chided by Howe for failing to wait until Faticanti finished her statement.

Challengers Conway and Dennis Canney used all four of their challenges.

"In sports we always say use all of your challenges and time-outs because you can't save them for the next game," said Canney, who coached six sports in his 36-year Lowell High School teaching career.

One question: how does Howe look in a hoodie?

This week's Column was written by Sun Editor Jim Campanini, City Editor Christopher Scott, City Hall reporter Michael Lafleur, Statehouse reporter Matt Murphy and Lowell Schools reporter Jennifer Amy Myers

Posted by Admin at 10:45 AM

More jobs needed

Unemployment may have dropped a bit in Massachusetts, but there is still a tremendous need for good-paying jobs in the region as well as nationwide. Nationally, unemployment increased last week by the largest amount since early February.

We were pleased Gov. Deval Patrick spent time in the area visiting some of the state's 37 one-stop career centers, listening to residents who are struggling with unemployment and the workers who are helping in their search for new jobs.

Last Thursday, the U.S. Labor Department reported that applications for unemployment benefits hit 337,000, an increase of 28,000 from the previous week. That was the biggest one-week surge since Feb. 10.

That is a troubling rush for financial assistance and one that shouldn't be taken lightly. Economists believe it could be a sign that the labor market is starting to weaken under the impact of a severe downturn in housing and the credit crisis that hit the financial markets in August.

However, it's not all dismal news here in Massachusetts.

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Patrick pointed out that the state has 125,000 people looking for jobs and 90,000 vacancies.
"We know we have a lot of skill and talent in this state, but we need to do a better job of matching those skills to where they're needed," Patrick said.

He's right. The state must increase its focus on matching available employment opportunities with Massachusetts residents in need of work.

Also, by pinpointing what types of jobs are available and where they are located, state leaders will know what kind of training should be offered in each region. The state's academic institutions, particularly Middlesex Community College, do an excellent job of providing training for residents looking to improve their skills, adapt to a changing workplace or make a career switch.

Rising unemployment and sagging housing and financial markets are concerning, but we believe Massachusetts can meet this challenge through innovation, education and perseverance.

Posted by Admin at 10:41 AM

October 18, 2007

Shelter, JAM Plan can coexist

Shelter, JAM Plan can coexist
The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 10/18/2007 11:35:20 AM EDT

I know that Dan Phelps likes to play the fool, and maybe some readers will think his column in Monday's Sun was funny (it wasn't); however, I would like to offer some suggestions for the shelter, the city, and local businesses to coexist in the JAM area.

Having recently worked in Boston in the vicinity of the Saint Francis House on Boylston Street, I saw a 20-year-old shelter within a block of a Starbucks, Registry of Motor Vehicles building, Chinatown restaurants, CVS and the Ritz Carlton Hotel & Towers (home to Manny Ramirez of the Red Sox). Now the shelter began to operate while that area was still essentially the "Combat Zone," but the city of Boston has worked to improve that area while not displacing the shelter. I do not compare the Hamilton Canal District to downtown Boston, but I think that some strategies may be available to Lowell by studying what Boston has done in that area.

In addition, the Pine Street Inn in the South End of Boston opened in a derelict warehouse district many years ago. As Boston continues to redevelop, the shelter now sits a stone's throw from high-end condos, art galleries and artists lofts, and office and retail spaces. Again, perhaps some strategies and lessons can be learned.
The Transitional Living Center isn't going anywhere, but if the residents, businesses, city officials and shelter staff work together, then the JAM Plan/Hamilton Canal district has a chance to succeed.

MICHAEL J. PAGLIA

Lowell

Posted by Admin at 4:51 PM

Spend the same on all students

Spend the same on all students
The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 10/18/2007 11:35:57 AM EDT

The Special Education Program is the program that is eating the school system alive fiscally in Billerica, leaving crumbs for the 80 percent of the students not in the program. That SPED comes first seems to be the budgetary rule while the average and bright students are short-changed. Which group will make the greatest contribution to our society in the long run? No more money should be spent on a special-education student than any other student. Do bright students deserve more? Not in the current system. It is my opinion that we are misusing our educational dollars and will pay for it in the future.

FREDERICK LIBERATORE, Billerica

Posted by Admin at 4:49 PM | Comments (8)

More waste

Article Last Updated: 10/18/2007 02:33:19 PM EDT

With two Democratic U.S. senators and 10 Democratic U.S. congressmen in Washington, the average citizen could assume that Massachusetts has its political bases well-covered when it comes to watching out for our interests.

Evidently, Gov. Deval Patrick and the state Legislature don't think so.

Last week, the Democrat-controlled Legislature approved Patrick's request to spend an extra $453,292 on the governor's administration office in the nation's capital. The additional funds, Patrick said, would help with lobbying efforts to attract more federal dollars to the state.

Give us a break.

No one has ever accused our state's congressional delegation from shirking on the job.

If the federal dollars are there, they do their best to bring them home.

All Patrick and his aides have to do is dial any one of the state's 12 federal lawmakers and they'll listen and respond. This is what teamwork is all about.

Patrick, however, feels he can be effective with more personal lobbyists doing the state's work.
Pllleeease! Washington doesn't need extra lobbyists, nor does Massachusetts need the extra expense.
This is how big government just keeps getting bigger.

Patrick's expansion of the Washington office is wasteful and unnecessary, especially when the state is fighting through a $1 billion budget deficit.

Patrick needs to focus on Beacon Hill, and leave Capitol Hill to our federal lawmakers.

Stamp of approval

Why not have a stamp with Beat writer Jack Kerouac's image on it? Some argue that because Kerouac had substance-abuse problems, he doesn't deserve a stamp. Yet Elvis Presley and Ernest Hemingway have stamps bearing their images, and they weren't exactly tea-totalers.

We agree with Chelmsford resident Dean Contover who has been fighting for 14 years to get the U.S. Postal Service to put Kerouac's photo on a stamp. Kerouac is an internationally known writer and has helped to put Lowell on the map. His work is held in high regard and is studied by scholars.

We support Contover's efforts and hope newly elected Congresswoman Niki Tsongas will sign on to this endeavor.

Posted by Admin at 4:47 PM

October 17, 2007

Drug testing

Town leaders in Billerica took a positive step last week when Town Meeting approved contracts for firefighters and professional administrators that include drug-testing policies based on reasonable suspicion.

The decision by town officials and union leaders to incorporate such a policy into the contracts is a prudent one. It will serve to protect the town, its residents and its employees.

A policy calling for random drug testing, and testing when there is reasonable suspicion, was added to the Billerica police contract last year.

When split-second, life-or-death decisions must be made, no one wants someone impaired by alcohol or drugs to be running into a burning building, searching for victims or holding a loaded weapon. Such scenarios pose a threat to everyone at the scene and are a financial liability for municipalities.

The Boston Fire Department is now struggling with the knowledge that one of the two firefighters who died at an August blaze was drunk and the other tested positive for traces of cocaine and marijuana.

Last week, Billerica Firefighters' Union President Joe Bradley said no Billerica firefighter wants to go into an emergency situation with someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. That makes good sense. Who would want to risk their life, and the lives of others, more than is absolutely necessary?

In Billerica, examples of suspicious behavior that would warrant testing include: witnessed use or possession of drugs, erratic or abnormal behavior, a drug-related arrest, or an accident that results in the death or injury of another person or property damage in excess of $20,000. That sounds reasonable to us.

Employees testing positive once will be required to enter a rehabilitation program and be subject to unannounced testing for 36 months. A second positive test and the employee will be terminated.

That's fair. Employees are offered help; if they choose to ignore it or to become repeat offenders, they should be fired.

We applaud Billerica for incorporating these policies into their contracts and urge all municipalities to follow suit.

Posted by Admin at 1:47 PM

Inconvenient honor

It used to be quite an honor to win the Nobel Peace Prize. In some quarters it still is. But the days of Poland's Lech Walesa (1983), America's Elie Wiesel (1986), and the 14th Dalai Lama (1989) are long gone. These were award recipients who stood up to Communist regimes, exposed governments hiding Nazi war criminals and preached peaceful rebellion through religious dialogue.

Today, one just has to stand up for a radical, if not questionable idea to win the liberal popularity contest run annually by Norway's Nobel Peace Prize Committee.

Al Gore's name is now etched in granite, along side that of Jew-hater Yasser Arafat and United Nations conniver Kofi Annan.

It's a stretch how Gore won. The Nobel committee selected Gore for his determined drive to educate the world on the dangers of global warning, saying those threats are creating tensions that could lead to violence and war. Gore is the green peacemaker, so to speak.

What the committee didn't say is that Gore's environmental platform, while raising vital awareness, is also full of scientific inaccuracies and political biases.
If anything, Gore deserves a medal for turning his documentary movie -- An Inconvenient Truth -- into an Academy Award winner and parlaying it into a Nobel Peace Prize.

But while Hollywood and Norway have gobbled up Gore's green gloss, not everyone is so infatuated with the former vice president's climatological credibility -- or lack thereof.

On Monday, a British judge ruled that nine assertions in Gore's documentary remain unsupported by scientific evidence. In particular, the judge said Gore's claim that sea level rises of 23 feet might occur in the next 25 years was made in the context of "alarmism and exaggeration." (If Gore is correct, Norway's prize committee will be making its decisions under water by 2030!)

In reality, the best scientific minds say, under present conditions, Gore's calculations are off by at least 1,000 years. (Norway is saved!)

Still we're all for peace. And if Gore can end world conflicts by coupling inconvenient untruths with global warming warnings, that's great.

It's just too bad Yasser Arafat isn't around to see polar bears in Palestine.

Posted by Admin at 1:45 PM

October 16, 2007

Backtalk 10/16/2007

NOT WORTHY: I cannot understand why someone would have a stamp for Jack Kerouac. He was nothing but a bum. There have to be better people out there we can honor with a stamp.

Lowell

WITHOUT VALUE: Thank you, Dennis Shaughnessey, for writing what I've said for years: Jack Kerouac's writings aren't worth the paper they're written on.

Pelham, N.H.

NOT A FAN: Kudos to Dennis Shaughnessey for his comments about Jack Kerouac. I'm glad someone has finally called Mr. Kerouac for what he is, and has seen the truth about his literary ability. I appreciate his article.

Lowell

BUCKLE UP PUP: About the proposed bill for dogs: It's about time they passed this because some of these animal lovers have their dogs practically steering their vehicles and causing accidents. Hopefully this bill goes through.

Chelmsford

WHAT ABOUT KIDS?: About the bill to buckle up dogs: I find it odd that we're wasting our government's time making sure dogs are buckled up, when children don't have to wear a seat belt on a bus. What is wrong with our system?
Lowell

FOOLISH BILL: About the proposed dog-belt law: It's pretty ridiculous that they'll fine you $50 when the children who ride on school buses aren't buckled up.

Dracut

BACK TO WORK: How much longer is the town of Billerica going to waste money paying those three officers who have been paid to stay home for the last eight months?

Billerica

RISKY ROADWAY: Has anyone taken a look at the overpass at Interstate 495 going over Route 38 in Tewksbury? It's falling apart, rusted right to the struts. It looks like a dangerous situation. Is it on the list for repairs or replacement?

Tewksbury

SAFETY FIRST: What's with the lipstick having lead in it? Is that from China also? Don't we make anything here in the U.S.? Let's go back to the olden days -- if we can't make it, we go without. We'd be a lot safer.

Tyngsboro

LET IT GO: Why is the neighbor of Jones Farm making such a big deal of the small cafe with a couple of tables so you can sit for a piece of pie and coffee? Leave it alone; they're not bothering anybody.

No town given

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 2:48 PM

Drug testing

The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 10/16/2007 11:55:23 AM EDT

a wise policy

Town leaders in Billerica took a positive step last week when Town Meeting approved contracts for firefighters and professional administrators that include drug-testing policies based on reasonable suspicion.

The decision by town officials and union leaders to incorporate such a policy into the contracts is a prudent one. It will serve to protect the town, its residents and its employees.

A policy calling for random drug testing, and testing when there is reasonable suspicion, was added to the Billerica police contract last year.

When split-second, life-or-death decisions must be made, no one wants someone impaired by alcohol or drugs to be running into a burning building, searching for victims or holding a loaded weapon. Such scenarios pose a threat to everyone at the scene and are a financial liability for municipalities.

The Boston Fire Department is now struggling with the knowledge that one of the two firefighters who died at an August blaze was drunk and the other tested positive for traces of cocaine and marijuana.
Last week, Billerica Firefighters' Union President Joe Bradley said no Billerica firefighter wants to go into an emergency situation with someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. That makes good sense. Who would want to risk their life, and the lives of others, more than is absolutely necessary?

In Billerica, examples of suspicious behavior that would warrant testing include: witnessed use or possession of drugs, erratic or abnormal behavior, a drug-related arrest, or an accident that results in the death or injury of another person or property damage in excess of $20,000. That sounds reasonable to us.

Employees testing positive once will be required to enter a rehabilitation program and be subject to unannounced testing for 36 months. A second positive test and the employee will be terminated.

That's fair. Employees are offered help; if they choose to ignore it or to become repeat offenders, they should be fired.

We applaud Billerica for incorporating these policies into their contracts and urge all municipalities to follow suit.

Posted by Admin at 2:46 PM

October 15, 2007

Tsongas has money, solid lead, but still ...

A Sun staff report

TWO DAYS from now, 5th District voters will have chosen their next congressperson.

According to a WBZ poll, Democrat Niki Tsongas headed into this weekend with a nine-point lead, roughly the same advantage she held a month ago over Republican Jim Ogonowski.

This comes after Tsongas outspent Ogonowski by more than 3 to 1 -- shelling out $1 million-plus to less than $300,000 for Ogonowski. She has brought in former President Bill Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Edward Kennedy to energize her Democratic base.

Add to that support from outside groups like Emily's List, the Service Employees International Union and the state Democratic Party, which have pumped in hundreds of thousands of dollars to advertise on TV, radio and in the mail for Tsongas.

Yet, Ogonowski's still within striking distance.

The Dracut farmer and retired military officer has to be feeling good today about hanging close to Tsongas, despite negligible support from the state or national Republican Party in areas where he needs it most -- money and advertising.
In the case of an upset Tuesday, Tsongas will undoubtedly be shaking her head wondering how it all went wrong.

OGONOWSKI HAS refused to answer a basic question: If elected, will you vote to sustain the president's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program?

If he was looking to change the subject, Ogonowski was handed that opportunity on a silver platter by former U.S. Rep. Chester Atkins.

Atkins stuck his foot in his mouth Thursday when he told an Associated Press reporter that Ogonowski's anti-illegal immigrant rhetoric borders on "racism."

Atkins backs Tsongas. He evoked the memory of Ogonowski's late brother, John Ogonowski, who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, saying Jim Ogonowski was tarnishing his brother's legacy. John Ogonowski opened his Dracut farm to Cambodian immigrant farmers, a legacy Jim has continued.

Ogonowski called a press conference on Friday where, flanked by his family, he called Atkins comments "dirty" and "sleazy," representing politics in "its worst form."

Tsongas immediately distanced herself from Atkins. She telephoned Ogonowski and John Ogonowski's widow, Peg Ogonowski, to say that Atkins does not speak for her campaign, and that she strongly disagrees with his sentiments.

Ogonowski smartly used the episode to his advantage. He said the attacks on him and his family speak volumes about how desperate the Democrats are to keep the 5th District seat.

WHAT EXACTLY are we seeing in Ogonowski's latest ad, which shows the fleeting glimpse of a plane poised to strike a World Trade Center tower?

Peg Ogonowski opens the ad by saying, "John was a pilot just doing his job that day."

Then we see a commercial airline seconds away from striking the building. Solemn music is playing.

The Wall Street Journal, on its political blog, described the Ogonowski image as "a picture of his brother John's Boeing 767 being flown into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001."

The plane is actually United Flight 175, the second aircraft to strike the second tower.

"Both planes are depicted in that video," Ogonowski spokeswoman Alicia Preston said. "One is shown by the smoke that has already crashed into the building; that is where Jim's brother John was."

IT'S NO secret state Treasurer Tim Cahill is an ambitious guy.

But Cahill revealed just how far he is willing to go to succeed -- and kowtow to legislative leaders -- when he admitted he was evasive with a Sun reporter last week.

Immediately following a public meeting of the state Lottery Commission, in which votes were taken on lottery-game issues, Cahill told a Sun reporter he hadn't been briefed on changes to the Daily Game, a Keno-style racing game.

In reality, Cahill had just voted to sell the game at an additional 1,300 locations. He also voted to change the figures used in the game from racing cars to horses.

The reason he kept mum?

Cahill wanted to make sure Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Sal DiMasi knew about the changes first. Seems Cahill faced a huge legislative backlash the first time he moved ahead with the Daily Race in 2005 because he surprised lawmakers.

When asked why he told a reporter a mistruth, Cahill said: "I need to be successful, and one way I need to do that is by making sure I don't surprise people, and if that means I have to keep other people in the dark, then that's what I have to do."

After all, what's a little fib when it comes to Tim for Treasurer's political ambitions?

LAST WEEK the Lowell Plan, the business development group composed of many of the city's most powerful and influential businessmen, and state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means and Committee, went public with their support for Lowell High School Headmaster William Samaras in his battle with Superintendent of Schools Karla Brooks Baehr.

Now Paul Georges, president of the United Teachers of Lowell, is stepping up for Samaras, who wants to work one additional year, beyond the current school year. His request, however, has been rejected by Baehr.

Georges, a Lowell High history teacher, said Samaras is well-respected by UTL rank-and-file members at the school.

"How he manages to hold that school together on some days is truly an achievement," said Georges, who isn't one to back away from leveling criticism if he feels it's warranted. "Certainly, in my opinion, he does more than an adequate job."

Despite the outpouring of support for Samaras, Baehr is sticking to her guns and still hasn't made a public statement explaining why she's opposed to Samaras working an additional year.

TYPICALLY, WHEN a city employee union endorses council candidates, the union seeks publicity for its nod and for the recipients.

But it seemingly took a crowbar to get Keith Rudy, president of Local 1705 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, just to admit the union had made its endorsements for the November city election.

Still, Rudy, a city painter, wouldn't divulge by name the beneficiaries of 1705's political clout, or lack thereof.

The Column, however, has learned that the local is backing incumbents Edward "Bud" Caulfield, Rita Mercier and Armand Mercier and challengers Alan Kazanjian, Mike Lenzi and Bob McMahon.

No surprise there. Some workers at City Hall are still bemoaning the loss of John Cox, the former city manager. Especially Rudy.

Rudy was also one of the union chiefs going around the city claiming that Cox's replacement, Bernie Lynch, was going to raise health premiums on city retirees, which isn't true.

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but the six 1,705 candidates are the same six that have lawn signs on the front lawn of Cox's home in Belvidere, along with a sign for Niki Tsongas.

ON HER daily walks with friends throughout the city's voter-rich Belvidere section, Nancy Donahue has noticed that candidates Lenzi, Kazanjian and McMahon appear to be clumping their lawn signs in strategic groups of three.

Count Donahue among the set that doesn't buy the candidates' explanation that their campaigns are based on "giving back" to the city as well as economic development and public safety.

Donahue believes it's more than a coincidence the signs are appearing in threes.

Not true, said Kazanjian. "I'm running my own campaign." In a meeting with Sun editors, Kazanjian added: "I have no agenda. I'm not a vindictive person."

But, as Donahue points out, there are connections among the three. For instance:

* Kazanjian owns the SAC Club on Market Street, and that's where McMahon tends bar and manages the upstairs apartments.

* Kazanjian has many campaign volunteers, but one who is ubiquitous is Bill Moriarty, the patriarch of the well-known Moriarty clan. Moriarty's son, John Moriarty, is managing Lenzi's council campaign.

THE MOTION seemed innocent enough.

The answer could prove a bit uncomfortable for some councilors.

Armand Mercier last week asked for the city Division of Planning and Development to provide a "progress report" on urban-renewal efforts in Lowell's downtrodden but improving Acre neighborhood.

During last week's meeting, he said he was specifically interested in why a business he didn't name had moved out of the neighborhood and the city.

That business, Mercier said later last week, is Soucy Ironworks. The firm is moving across the border to Pelham, N.H.

Mercier said he was wondering how DPD let the company get away at around the same time it was advocating for the Planning Board to allow the expansion of a nearby homeless-services agency.

The truth of the matter is that DPD officials had brokered a compromise with company owner Will Soucy that would have seen Soucy redevelop his firm's current Mt. Vernon Street site with up to 30 units of housing, with the city paying for the ironworks' relocation to a spot a few blocks away on Western Avenue.

Local radio lambasted that plan as being too generous to Soucy.

It failed on a 5-3 vote with Councilors Caulfield, Rodney Elliott and Rita Mercier opposed. The measure needed six votes to pass. Mayor Bill Martin, an attorney, abstained because he's Soucy's lawyer.

That particular meeting was also marked by some rather harsh questioning of Soucy by Caulfield.

Councilors subsequently voted to take Soucy's land by eminent domain instead of allowing him to redevelop it.

Anne Barton, a deputy DPD director, said after the brokered compromise fell through, Soucy opted to take his business and his more than 100 employees to Pelham instead of the Western Avenue site.

Soucy could not be reached for comment on just why. With the pounding he took over the relocation proposal, perhaps his decision should have come as no surprise.

"We looked for years," Barton said. "The Western Ave. site was perfect. The whole thing was perfect, kept him in the neighborhood, kept him in the city."

The city now is paying for Soucy Industries' relocation costs to the tune of more than $1.5 million, as required by state and federal laws for any eminent-domain taking, Barton said.

Meanwhile, Soucy hasn't completely cut ties with Lowell. He still lives here and is developing the Tremont Yards site on Father Morissette Boulevard into an office building.

MEHMED ALI may be considered the honorary Cambodian candidate in the Nov. 6 city election, but he's not alone in drawing support from Cambodian community leaders.

Vesna Nuon, a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and a three-time unsuccessful School Committee candidate, confirms he's backing Ali, but that support isn't exclusive. Nuon said he's also helping former ZBA Chairman Alan Kazanjian as well as several other candidates he wouldn't name.

Meanwhile, former Councilor Rithy Uong -- the only Cambodian-American to ever hold elected office in Lowell and one of Cox's most loyal supporters -- said he's supporting Kazanjian, Lenzi, McMahon, Caulfield and the Merciers as well as Ali.

Uong said he also is supporting "quite a few more" other candidates, but he didn't wish to name them.

"I don't want to upset too many people," he said.

Rady Mom, who ran unsuccessfully for council in 2005, said he isn't working for anyone in this year's race.

MUFFINS WITH Mehmed.

That's how Ali is billing his campaign event this afternoon at the Brew'd Awakening coffee shop on Market Street. As the only Muslim candidate running for office in Lowell at a particularly delicate time, Ali -- who changed his name from Jim Bernard and converted to Islam as a young man -- has a long row to hoe.

He's been making up for that with an inventive and hardworking campaign that also has featured tiny boxing-glove key chains in a humorous nod to legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.

Kazanjian is the only other challenger who seems to be working as hard.

HOMEGROWN PRODUCT W. Spencer Mullin is among the four finalists for the job of school superintendent in Dracut. He is the only finalist who is not a superintendent of schools or has served as one.

Two members of the committee, Dennis "D.J." Deeb and Nancy Mendonca, had Mullin as an English teacher when they attended school in Dracut. By the time Ron Mercier Jr. was in high school, Mullin was vice principal.

Mullin was raised and educated in Dracut. He was the vice principal at Dracut High School when Elaine Espindle came on as superintendent in 1997. He then took over as principal at the junior high school. Mullin left Dracut in 2000 and has been the principal at schools in Haverhill and Woburn.

Although he has never held the position of superintendent, he does own a doctorate, something the School Committee said they wanted to see when the search began. Eyebrows were raised when his name was announced.

CHELMSFORD TOWN Manager Paul Cohen says keep the change, because rumors that town officials are planning to blanket Chelmsford Center and Vinal Square with parking meters are "not true."

But the idea sparked pages of commentary on www.chelmweb.com -- and a few doctored photos including a toll both in Chelmsford Center manned by Selectmen Bill Dalton and Sam Chase, as well as Cohen.

"It's nonsense," said Cohen. "I'm not considering it. I have not considered it, and it's certainly not on the horizon."

Cohen said the rumor might have stemmed from a report previously submitted by the town Revenue Enhancement Committee. Once a year, the committee brainstorms ways to put more cash in town coffers. Parking meters was an item on the punch list, Cohen said. But it never floated.

A collage of snapshots on the Web site depicts different scenes in town with meters doctored in front. Then there's the toll-booth photo.

"If somebody says 'I heard a rumor,' why don't they pick up the phone, call Town Hall, and just ask if it's true?" wonders Chase. "Most of the stuff on (Chelmweb) is inaccurate, people's rantings and ravings. But I thought the picture was very funny and give the person who did it credit for their creativity."

TEWKSBURY'S THREE Board of Selectman candidates engaged in a civil forum Thursday night on NewsTalk Live with Sun editor Jim Campanini. Ed Dick, Doug Sears and Ron Hall shared ideas as they contend for the seat vacated by former Selectman John Mackey.

The only animated moments of the hourlong show came when Selectman Jerry Selissen called in to ask candidates to state their No. 1 goals if elected. Sears jumped at the thought, saying he would be opposed to "serial overrides" and would cut government spending to the bone before he'd raise taxes a single penny. Hall shook his head as Sears delivered his slash-and-burn policy, later saying that a lot of budget work and prioritizing must come first. Dick said that he'd hate to raise taxes, but acknowledged it might be impossible in Tewksbury's present fiscal condition, where a $3 million deficit is forecast.

All seven Lowell School Committee candidates will debate the issues this Thursday night on NewsTalk Live. The show begins at 7 p.m. Callers can ask questions or simply listen to the responses by dialing (978) 364-8255.

This week's Column was written by City Editor Christopher Scott, City Hall reporter Michael Lafleur, Statehouse Bureau Chief Hillary Chabot, Statehouse reporter Matt Murphy, Dracut reporter Dennis Shaughnessey, Chelmsford reporter Rita Savard and Editor Jim Campanini.

Posted by Admin at 3:37 PM

Backtalk 10/15/2007

Backtalk
The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 10/15/2007 11:36:09 AM EDT

POOR TASTE: I was very disturbed by Chet Atkins' comments regarding congressional candidate Jim Ogonowski and racism. The campaign should not sink to such low levels.

Lowell

STOP CALLING: I am very tired of the Ogonowski and Tsongas campaigns calling my home. The calls keep coming. My answering machine is full every day. I am getting calls from them both from 6-9 p.m. at night. Stop the calls.

Billerica

SUPPORT TSONGAS: Niki Tsongas will serve the 5th District very well. She has the experience and the contacts to get things done in Washington.

Tewksbury

VOTE OGONOWSKI: I think Jim Ogonowski should be elected to Congress. He knows what it's like to struggle to make ends meet, and he has military experience.

Dracut

THOMPSON FAN: Vote for Kevin Thompson tomorrow. He is the best candidate for the 5th District.

Tewksbury

VOTE FOR MURPHY: Patrick Murphy will make an excellent congressman. He understands the issues and is a terrific speaker. I'm voting for him.

Groton

LET DOWN: How very disappointing that The Sun endorsed Niki Tsongas. Does The Sun now support raising taxes and amnesty for illegals? They should have endorsed Jim Ogonowski, who will stand by the people and will not play partisan politics.
Westford

HAPPY READER: I was stunned, but thrilled, when I read that The Sun endorsed Niki Tsongas for Congress. The Sun will finally agree with the majority of its readership.

Lowell

BOYCOTT: I can't believe lead in toys is still an issue. It's time to boycott everything made in China. I, for one, will check everything I buy this holiday season. If that means I buy no toys this Christmas, so be it. Hit them where they live, right in the pocketbook.

Dracut

WONDERING: Who do you suppose will be president when the bridge in North Chelmsford is completed?

Lowell

HERE'S AN IDEA: They should use the empty Ames Department Store on Bridge Street in Lowell for filming the Micky Ward movie.

Lowell

BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published.

Posted by Admin at 3:35 PM

October 11, 2007

Thompson will bring change

Thompson will bring change
The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 10/11/2007 11:31:21 AM EDT

On Tuesday, before you vote for Congress, consider the achievements of both the Democrats and Republicans: $700 billion in trade deficits, a $9 trillion federal debt, the Panama Canal in the hands of communist China, a broken Social Security trust fund, millions of illegal immigrants in our neighborhoods, our nation's factories and jobs being sent overseas and a gamble on a future democratic Iraq with the lives of hundreds of thousands of American soldiers!

Let's stop this madness and send a new perspective to the People's House of the United States. Vote Kevin Thompson of the Constitution Party.

JIM ECKLAND

Lancaster

Posted by Admin at 4:15 PM

Contract clash

It is a shame that filling the position of Dracut Housing Authority executive director appears destined for controversy from start to finish.

The DHA Commission has been bitterly divided in recent months, with complaints of an unfair screening process, seizure of authority, court filings and an illegal meeting.

Eventually there was a last-minute, surprise addition to the list of finalists, Dracut resident Mary Karabatsos, who -- to no one's surprise -- was appointed to the position by a 3-2 vote.

But now it appears