By Bridget Scrimenti, Lowell Sun

Shaw Farms in Dracut will use geothermal energy to power its new retail store, which opens next month. From left, Eric Peters of Ayer Purchases Inc., the wholesale supplier, API owner Steve Engel, farmer Warren Shaw and Ed Ayotte, owner of J & J Heating, display the high-density polyethylene piping for the geothermal system. sun photos/Tory Germann
DRACUT — When local farmer Warren Shaw opens his new retail store next month, he’ll be going green. And he’s not just talking about lettuce, bell peppers and zucchini.

Behind the store, layers of black piping beneath the grass will create a powerhouse of sustainable energy.

The piping is part of a geothermal exchange system, allowing Shaw to use energy from the earth to heat and cool the building. The piping is made from high-density polyethylene, a type of plastic compound.

Shaw estimates he’ll save 60 percent on energy costs because of geothermal heating.

“It’s a huge win for us,” said Shaw, the owner of Shaw Farm on New Boston Road. “One of the challenges we’ve had in the (agriculture) business is energy costs.”

J & J Heating employee Alan Ayotte installs heating ducts at the newly constructed Shaw Farms retail building that will open next month. The facility will be powered largely by geothermal energy.

The geothermal system works when the piping is placed at least 10 feet below the earth’s surface. Unaffected by frost, the temperature of the earth stays at about 55 degrees, allowing energy to be extracted from the earth, according to the Energy Information Administration, (EIA) part of the U.S. Department of Energy.
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By Bridget Scrimenti, The Lowell Sun

DRACUT — While neighbors continue to put “Stop Walgreens” signs on their lawns, Wednesday may be their last opportunity to speak publicly about the project.

The Planning Board will hold another public hearing about the proposed Walgreens project at 7 p.m. at Harmony Hall. Chairman Phil Thibault said the board could potentially close the public hearing, but he does not expect a vote then.

Representatives from Walgreens will present the results of a traffic study and real-estate appraisals of surrounding homes.

The drugstore is slated to be built at the corner of Lakeview Avenue and Mammoth Road. Although the area has been zoned commercial for at least the past couple of decades, the area is highly residential, and the store will abut homes.

Traffic has been a major concern among residents, while the corner of Lakeview Avenue and Mammoth Road is notorious for being a difficult intersection.
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This morning’s paper focuses on some of the local restaurants and businesses trying to survive in this recession and having a tough go of it.

Many are having trouble keeping up with the costs and expenses, and the taxes are just another thing throwing them over the edge.

Our own Bob Cox is trying to survive this sewer expansion project on 113 that has been going on for two years now. At times, the road past his restaurant became undrivable… but so far he’s survived.

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

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

We hear this morning that the state budget out of conference committee has included a 1.25% increase in the meals tax that would go to the state, and each town and city could choose to add on an additional 0.75% for themselves.

Seems to me that much of what they raise in meal’s tax will be lost in the income tax revenues that are gone due to the closing of a number of businesses over the next few years.

Ah, but the state doesn’t worry.. they’ve increased the sales tax, and added a tax on liquor, and increased the hotel tax, and cut back on school funding…

Ok, that’s not fair, they are worrying down there. But again, it sure looks like there’s a lot of work being done to save government jobs while the rest of the economy crumbles around us.

By Dennis Shaughnessey, Lowell Sun

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

And the bills are piling up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* Europa Cafe, Lowell, $40,647.

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

* Smithwick’s, Lowell, $350,000.

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

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

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

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

There is no listing for CTC Properties.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I can’t remember the last time I saw $4,000,” Cox said.

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

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

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

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

Ten on state’s tax-debt list:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I got their water quality report in the mail this week, and was impressed to see that they listened.

The report was just as informative as always, but printed in a much more cost effective manner (without the glossy finish, etc).

I have often complained in the past of the wasted cost of the fancy printing of these types of reports in the past. It made the district look great, but also look like they were splurging on un-needed printing costs.

See, government does learn (or at least is looks so)!

Today and tomorrow is a charity event and fundraiser being held at the Collinsville Beaver Brook Mills.

Starting at 11:00 and going until 9:00 today, and more time tomorrow as well, the local businesses have come together to have a fun family event to help raise funds for the Lowell Wish Project, the Transitional Center, and the Dracut Food Pantry.

During the day there will be a bake sale, book sale, raffles, and clothing sales.

The Dracut Rotary will be cooking and serving sausages and other outdoor foods.. while the fire department will show up with a fire truck for the kids to be able to climb all over.

Local sports teams, the Devil Dogs and the Spinners, will be having their mascots there as well.

Starting at 4:00 tonite is a series of concerts featuring both soft rock and more modern rock music.

Great event.. all for a good cause.

During last nights Board meeting the Selectmen voted to reduce the Rally Cap’s closing time to midnight for 30 days in response to all the problems coming from that establishment.

Selectman Zimini called for a harsher punishment, but was not joined in his motion.

While the owner of the establishment tried to blame the neighbor for all the problems caused by the bar patrons, the board did concede that the owner has had no problems at the other establishment he owns in town (Jokers Lounge).

The lower punishment was to encourage the owner to get more involved in this bar, and fix the problems that have been occurring.

Read the Lowell Sun story for more info..

By Ed Burns, Sun Correspondent

DRACUT — Closing time will come a little earlier for a local pub after selectmen voted to punish the establishment for repeated complaints.

Selectmen voted, 3-1, to move back the closing time of the Rally Cap Pub on Pleasant Street to midnight for 30 days. It presently closes at 2 a.m.

John Zimini was the dissenting vote — but not because he was seeking to give the pub a break. He recited a laundry list of recent police calls to the pub, including nine for assault and battery, four for malicious property damage and two armed robberies.

“We’re lucky there hasn’t been a murder down there, but I guarantee there will be if this continues,” said Zimini.

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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.