According to today’s Column Blog, the darkening of Dracut After Dark hasn’t stopped Warren Shaw from pursuing his lawsuit.

I know many in the blog world feel anonymous posting attacking the writer of the blog or the subject matter is something that has gone on since the days of our forefathers but this particular blog was morally bankrupt and had no qualms about extending attacks from a public figure to their family or family name.

This coward exploited the tragic death of a child in Centralville because he didn’t like me covering Dracut and being on Warren’s show so since the boyfriend involved in the death had the last name Nutter (no relation) he went off and it was sickening and twisted and using a child death to do this could NEVER under any circumstance be justified by those who think posting under fake names is fine.

The things he accused Warren of doing were not only illegal but sickening and this person deserves the full punishment possible under the law. Along with the cowards who posted similar items and hid because they are spineless. I hope he is 100% successful and yes I see some irony but I may attack a person on an issue or action but do so without accusing them of illegal or immoral activity.

From Today’s Column Blog:

The suit alleges that Zabrierek posted or allowed, in his capacity as moderator, others to post untrue statements about Shaw including allegations that he engaged in criminal behavior and benefited financially from the criminal acts of others.

Most of the postings are pretty racy and could not be posted on a family blog like this one.

In this week’s City Council Packet, the City Manager provides a report on what he feels his administrations success has been regarding the past years Goals and Objectives. There may be some discussion of this at tonight’s council meeting.

Here is his Cover letter and the report the Councilors received. Do you agree with his findings?

Manager’sGoalsHighlight

January 27, 2012
Mayor Patrick O Murphy
And
Members of the Lowell City Council
RE: Goals and Objectives

Dear Mayor Murphy and City Councilors,

I am pleased to provide a presentation to the Council regarding the City Manager’s Goals and Objectives which was adopted in February of 2011 . An update was provided to the Council at the December 13th meeting and is attached for your information. The presentation provides an excellent opportunity to look back over the last year and reflect upon our progress in aligning our focus to strategic goals and objectives outlined in that plan and supported by the Council. The focus of the strategic plan should be providing a framework to direct resources in order to achieve a specific vision for the City. The eight goals accomplish this and at the same time give departments the guidance necessary to develop their own goals.

I want to thank the department heads for their commitment towards meeting the challenges in
attempting to achieve these goals, even in the face of changes in personnel or funding levels which
threatened to derail their efforts. I want to recognize Michael Hebert for his work in guiding department heads through the goal setting process.

It is clear that the vision and specific priorities of the Council are reflected in what has been accomplished over the past year, particularly in the areas of financial stability, sustainability, infrastructure improvements and improved customer service. As we begin the new year, I look forward to the current Council’s input as we establish our next steps and complete those items left unfinished.
Sincerely ,

Bernard F. Lynch
City Manager

Recently there’s been a lot of discussion about the relevance of blogs. What purpose do they serve? Who’s actually paying attention? Are they a form of journalism or creative writing?

So I decided to tool around a bit, and came across a blogger’s post that included a video of a person making a statement about a situation. The blogger misquotes what the person said in the video, then misinterprets the person’s remarks in the same post. 

In essence, the blogger bashes the person in the video for saying something he didn’t say, or even imply. Now my question is this: Why would a blogger post a video that he obviously didn’t watch, then bash the person for something he didn’t say?

Then when someone calls him on it in a comment, the blogger tries to explain away the faux pas with gibberish. (Pass the aspirin please.) This is a typical scenario that plays out ad nauseum all over the internet every minute of every day.

Generally speaking, with all the distortion, are blogs even relevant as news sources? Is it a waste of time for news seekers to follow blogs? 

Although many blog posts are useful, an increasingly vast number can be relied on only as a means of personal expression. In fact, feel free to flush …

George DeLuca produces ComeToLowell.com

DHA Board member and City Life rotating co-host Brian Bond teases that we should all should tune into City Life Today in Dracut this coming Friday Feb.3rd to hear a “BIG ANNOUNCEMENT”!

I do not think it will be that he is stepping down from the board of Dracut Housing.

From the Home Office (formerly in Chelsea now in Methuen)
Here are the Top 10 Announcements that Brian Bond could be making this Friday.

10) He’s switching his party affiliation back to Republican and endorsing Cathy Richardson for State Rep.

9) He’s applying to be acting Supt. and replace Dr. Scott when he leaves to take the Framingham job

8) He’s hosting a Dracut based political cable show and the alleged owner of D.A.D Frank will co-host (Will Mike McLaughlin be his first guest?)

7) He is running for the Greater Lowell Tech School Committee because he says “no one pays attention to them anyway.”

6) To say he NEVER talked with McLaughlin and that he let DiRocco borrow his phone since last April.

5) He’s challenging Colleen Garry for State Rep and Mike Blatus will be his Campaign Manager and McLaughlin will handle finances.

4) He’s starting his own BLOG Dracut After Dark II.. Bonds Revenge!

3) He is running for School Committee..said Mercier will won’t be running anyway and Deeb will be his campaign Manager.

2) He is running for Selectman…AGAIN!

1) He’s admitting that there is indeed a McLaughlin Group that features Him-Zim-Ken Martin and Mike
and his role is that of the “enforcer” (The Paulie Walnuts of the group)

Tune into City Life – Today in Dracut to find out this coming Friday February 3rd 2012 what Brian Bond’s BIG ANNOUNCEMENT is.

Hi Gerry,

It has come to my attention that an editorial today incorrectly stated that it took 8 days to lower the flag. A “correction” pegs that now at 3.

However, as I stated at last week’s meeting, I spoke with Diane in my office on Saturday morning, who then asked Jim Green to lower the flags. That was done Saturday (one day later), as had been done for previous mayors.

Having said that, I agree with the veterans that believe that honor should be reserved for those who have been recognized by either the President or the Governor, particularly those who have died in service to our country, as we did recently for Specialist Keith Benson of Norwood, MA.

I would therefore offer as a compromise that we devise guidelines for city officials to lower the City of Lowell flag at City Hall in their honor. I hope this helps clarify the situation.

all the best,
Patrick

UPDATE: The Sun now has a note on the on-line edition that reads:

Editor’s note: The editorial as first posted earlier this morning has been corrected. It took three days to lower the flag after City Councilor Armand Mercier’s death, not eight has previously written in the editorial. The Sun regrets the error.

I’m sure you may be SHOCKED to find inaccurate information in a Lowell Sun Editorial but the following item caught my eye in today’s Sun Editorial.

It states: Armand Mercier died on Friday, Jan. 13, but the directive to lower the flag wasn’t issued until eight days went by. Mercier’s funeral and burial were already completed

However the above picture that ran in the SUN on Thursday Jan 19th shows his funeral procession passing City Hall on Wednesday Jan.18th and if you blow it up you can see the Flags appear to be at half staff. Look at the flag that appears at the rear of the 1st car. I may not be a math wizard but Jan 13 to Jan. 17 seems to be 4 days. I’m sure that the Editor will blame a “new” editorial writer. Could it be the person who wrote this Editorial doesn’t read Lyle’s stuff or look at the pictures in the Sun?

I also recall both Councilor Mercier and the Manager at the last city council meeting talking about how they were lowered at her request late Monday or Tuesday of the week he passed.

In addition, I was informed by a city employee NOT located on Arcand Drive that there was an email blast that went out to all depts. throughout the city on the morning of Tuesday Jan. 17th informing everyone that:

In honor of former City Councilor and Mayor, Armand P. Mercier, the City Manager has requested that city flags be flown at half staff until Wednesday, January 18th

BTW: The editorial deals with Councilor Rita Mercier’s request to have a permanent policy regarding lowering flags when a dignitary passes. My favorite line during the debate came from Councilor Kennedy who basically said “do it until someone tells you – you can’t.” ( or Sometimes it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission). ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

From the Council Packet I share the following information and observation:

The city ended last fiscal year with a $2.1 million surplus (“Free” Cash) and after the Manager transfers $1.7 into stabilization fund, it will bring city’s reserves to $8 million. Compare that to the Negative $2.2 Million Dollars in “Free” cash in 2006 and $4.2 Million in the stabilization fund then and Lowell seems to be in pretty good fiscal shape.
————————————————————————–

LHA Update

On January 23rd , Deputy Director Kendra Amaral and Adam Baacke met with the Massachusetts Inspector General, along with officials from his office (OlG) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety Division of Inspections. They reviewed the City’s report on the matter and its plan. The plan was deemed appropriate and the correct path to achieve both compliance and protection of public safety.

On January 24th, staff from the OIG and the Division of Inspections conducted a walk-through of the two sample units. They confirmed that the selective demolition conducted was appropriate to assess code compliance. The City has offered to forward the weekly updates to both the OlG and the Division of Inspections. Both offices have also been provided with all reports and updates issued to date.

Permitting

On January 19th, the Fire Department conducted a walk-through of the two sample units in which walls were opened, to get a better sense of the scope of the renovation work in advance of receiving plans for review.

Fire reported that the viewing was helpful.

Development Services and Fire Department met with the Lowell Housing Authority (LHA) and their architect on January 23rd to review the requirements for the plan submission and code analysis. The meeting was productive in addressing questions and providing clear direction on the level of detail required in the plans and code analysis .

LHA has begun submitting the permit applications for building and are preparing the plumbing and gas. Processing of the applications will begin next week. Building permit issuance will not occur until the required plans and code analysis are submitted which are expected in early February.