Dracut Forum

Starting at 11:00 from the Greenmont School, the annual Memorial Day parade will wind down Pleasant Street and follow Lakeview across town to the Veteran’s Monument at the Dracut High School parking lot.
The parade will be followed by a short ceremony at the monument.
Oh, and I’m told that this is “Rain or Shine”.

Superintendent Mullin stated in last nights School Committee meeting that his initial budget is just about ready to present to the Finance Committee.
The budget calls for a 1.18% increase over last year’s.
This, I believe, is a mistake.
I think the schools will need to level funded, or even cut, before the end of this process.
The [...]

Thats the word we’re hearing from the street.
The teacher’s union is refusing to participate in a one-year wage freeze (basically delaying their raises for a year).
I understand Sup Mullin will show up at Monday’s School Committee meeting with a list of over 40 initial layoffs that now must happen for next year.
With the state revenue [...]

Well, I was at the town hall for a couple hours last night, you would have thought I would have looked at the bulliten board..
The School Committee met at 6:00 at the High School tonite (not 6:30 at the admin building, as I expected) to vote on their new organization.
Matt Sheehan was voted in unanimously [...]

If you get a chance, stop by the Blue Angus tonite for dinner or drinks..
They are contributing 10% of all orders to the Grad Night program tonite (Tuesday).. bring this flyer: Blue Angus supports Grand Night.
Another great local business supporting our kids.

By Dennis Shaughnessey, dshaughnessey@lowellsun.com
DRACUT — Incumbent School Committee member Ron Mercier handily won a third term last night, finishing with 2,089 votes in the three-way race for two seats.
Only 65 votes separated the second- and third-place finishers. Former committee member Bonnie Elie, who served on the committee from 1999 to 2002, ended the night [...]

In the race for selectman, Bond was right in saying it was a David and Goliath situation.
DiRocco is in the key Selectman’s seat, where he is the only seat up for re-election. He is also very well liked throughout town.
Bond had one strong thing going for him.. his efforts in the creation of the Canney [...]

The “unofficial” numbers are in:
Selectman:
Joe DiRocco: 2366 Brian Bond: 1605, Blanks: 95
School Committee:
Ron Mercier: 2089, Bonnie Elie: 1945, Paul Elmstrom: 1880, Blanks: 2215
Mike McNamara: 3239, Blanks: 800

Moderator:
Gary McCarthy: 2892, Jeanne Balkas: 880, Blanks: 291
Library Trustee:
Cheryl Storm: 1650, John Dyer: 1781, Mary Lee Matthews: 2274, Blanks: 2425
Regional Vocational School Cmte:
Dave Norkiewicz: 1593, Paul Morin: 2153, [...]

This is a tough one to call. All three have a very good chance of getting in. I noticed yesterday while driving across town that while everyone else was at corners (especially Navy Yard), Elmstrom was over on Lakeview with his support out in front of the credit union. I like a guy who thinks [...]