Happy New Year to all. Since today is the beginning of a New Year I wanted to share some information from 2011 and again say Thank You to all for reading.
Special Thanks to Jack Mitchell, Remember in November, No More Union Looting, Joan and Joe S who were the most frequent commenters on the blog in 2011 and to richardhowe.com – right-side-of-lowell.blogspot.com -facebook.com – wordpress.com – cometolowell.com who were the top referring sites for this blog in 2011. The busiest day of the year was September 20th with 2,098 views. The most popular post that day was Asst Clerk has plenty of company in accountability Issue.
These are the posts that got the most views in 2011.
1. Asst Clerk has plenty of company in accountability Issue. September 2011
2. Greater Lowell Veterans’ Council MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES – May 2011
3. Should “Lone Wolf” be Leader of the Pack? November 2011
4. 4 Weeks to go..where do the candidates stand? October 2011
Thanks to WordPress who host the BLOG and sends a great year end report for providing me the above stats.
Classy Note of Thanks to the citizens of Lowell from outgoing City Councilor Franky Descoteaux on page 8 of today’s Sun.
Today’s Lowell Sun has a look back at the many people who passed away in 2011 by Rita Savard, Jen Myers has the story about former chief executive of the now-defunct Butler Bank John “Jock” Pearson who has been has been banned from the banking industry and fined. On the front of the Local Section Editor Jim Campanini confirms that the magnificent Picture on the Front page of the Sun Christmas Day Issue by outstanding Sun photographer Dave Brow was genuine and NOT photo-shopped. Evan Lipps tells us Chelmsford businessman and Leader of the failed recall movement Roland Van Liew has filed a lawsuit against Roy Earley, publisher of the In Town Report, Debbie Hovanasian has a story on New Year’s Day open house versus the New year’s Eve Club parties and in sports David Pevear has a story on Westford’s Steven Demaras who for the third straight year, will suit up for a bowl game playing for Clemson where he was a walk-on. As always (or mostly anyway) subscribe to the e-edition or home delivery or pick up a copy of the Regional Paper that covers Greater Lowell the best The Sun!
The Political Column..
Has Patrick Murphy becoming Lowell’s youngest Mayor being finalized this week and speculation he WILL (and IMHO should) accept the salary after not taking it the past two years.
It continues to discuss newly elected councilors Vesna Nuon’s wrongful arrest settlement with the city against the Lowell Police. (Funny how everyone knew about the suit including the SUN and they still endorsed him for Council) and now that the dollar amount is finalized run stories as if they are amazed by this?
It says we may NOT have seen the end of John Leahy or Jim Milinazzo in the political arena and points out that Councilor Joe Mendonca may be the “New” Bud Caulfield when it comes to being on the shot end of an 8-1 council vote and Councilor Joe saying he has no issue with that!
They also point out that Attleboro which is missing drugs from their Police dept. hire the same investigator Dracut did to find out what happened. Guess they didn’t consult with the Dracut Police or Selectman to see what a failure that was and concludes with reprint an old SUN Column BLOG post about Bill Samara working in Haverhill.
Speaking of Blog Post Dan Phelps has one up that says ” a few weeks back I said I’d move out of Lowell if Patrick Murphy were to be selected mayor. Looks like I’d better start looking for a good real-estate agent” I suggest Dan moves to WESTFORD where he works for the Nashoba Valley Tech as their PR Flack but like Alec Baldwin, Phelps will not be keeping his word saying at the end ” So will I really move out of Lowell if (when) Murphy is selected mayor? No. I’ll do like Baldwin and stay!..too bad Dan LIL would have helped you move.
A few other items…
We start the New year with a small tax cut here in MA> with Sales Tax going to 5.25 from 5.3% and Corporate Tax going from 8.25 to 8% (every little bit helps)
Dracut Schools have almost a $200,000 deficit and even with 5 potential lay-offs the deficit remains at $77,000 and yet that ISN”T the concern, it is that a Dracut Selectman who is friends with disgraced politician Mike McLaughlin was the one who went public with the information. Yep that makes sense???
Wonder if Lowell had this deficit would the SUN be taking Jean Franco, Jay Lang and the Lowell School Committee to task in editorial’s and stories about poor budgeting and forecasting or would they be ignoring it and blasting the Councilor who spoke about it ?
Then again if full disclosure my “New Business Cards” state ” Ziminite Public Relations Internet Operations” at the very least a title like Director or Chief Protector should have been added.
The 2012 Greater Lowell Technical Superintendent’s Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday March 7th 2012 and this year will have a medieval theme. All proceeds go to the scholarship Fund so contact the school at 978-441-4802 for Ticket Information (and invite me along if you have space at your table).
This Tuesday Jan 3rd is MUST SEE TV, schedule for City Life that morning is the twosome of former City Manager/School Committee person and “Downtown Mafia” leader Bill Taupier and Sun Editor Jim Campanini. Wonder what their opinion is on the moving of the swearing in of the new Councilors is?
Tomorrow Jan 2nd the 1st Monday in January is the swearing in ceremony for Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, Springfield,Brockton and Lowe…Oh no Lowell ignores its charter and our swearing in isn’t until Tuesday Jan. 3rd
