Dracut Election – Deeb Out!

Dracut election: Deeb’s charge against Espindle likely backfired

DRACUT — He stumbled to the finish line.

He made gaffes along the way. He missed the only candidates’ debate and never offered a clear explanation. He sent out very little literature to the folks in town. He missed the deadline for filing his campaign finance report.

Rookie mistakes.

But at the end of the day, 29-year-old Matthew Sheehan managed to squeak by the polished, consummate politician Dennis “D.J.” Deeb by 27 votes — 1,783 to 1,756.

Many factors that contributed to his victory.

During his three-year tenure on the board, Deeb alienated 27 more people than he should have. Deeb had been consistently critical of Superintendent of Schools Elaine Espindle and was seen by many as the the catalyst behind her decision not to renew her contract.

Shortly after being elected in 2005, he voted to give the School Committee the authority to hire a business manager. Deeb tried to hire Matthew McLaughlin even though McLaughlin’s qualifications were called into question. The job went to Terry Wiggins.

Deeb moved to privatize the district’s cafeteria workers. He challenged Espindle over incoming High School Principal James Generoso’s three-year-contract. The exchange took place during a televised meeting while Generoso was in attendance.

“He was disconnected with the parents in the schools,” said resident Barry Myers. “I consider D.J. a friend, but I couldn’t vote for him. … I don’t think it mattered who was running against D.J.”

Overall, there has been a lack of support from the committee for Espindle, and Deeb’s face is the most recognizable. He was sole member up for re-election this year.

Deeb often railed against the district’s dropout rate, low SAT scores and poor MCAS results.

“Almost every time you heard him speak, he was bashing the schools,” Myers said. “People started getting tired of it.”

It was a year ago when Deeb led the charge replace Espindle and began the search process for a new superintendent. Parents targeted him.

On Monday night, after the votes were tallied, Deeb, a high-school teacher in Reading and an adjunct professor at Bunker Hill Community College and UMass Lowell, said he stands by every vote he has taken in the last three years.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said, adding that he plans to teach a college course in the fall. “My Monday nights will be freed up, and I’ll make an extra $10,000.”

For his part, Sheehan has said that many of his votes came from people who were dissatisfied with Deeb.

“There were friends I didn’t know I had. At least 27 of them,” said the 29-year-old Sheehan, who works as a chef at Lenzi’s Catering and Mill House in town.

Incumbents in all other races were returned to office, including Selectmen John Zimini and Robert Cox, who fended off a strong challenge by Ted Kosiavelon.

Both men say they benefited from the work of Town Manager Dennis Piendak, who has balanced the budget with no loss of services, kept residential tax rates among the lowest in the Merrimack Valley and managed to have a modest surplus of $1.9 million.

Dirtbag Murders Girlfriend and Gets Friend to Dump Her Body

A Lowell judge denied bail today for a 28-year-old man charged with killing his live-in girlfriend and dumping her body in a Dracut dumpster.

Salinda Sun is accused of shooting Shannon Meara, 24, in the head and disposing of her body with the help of Eric Anderson, a 28-year-old who shared an apartment with the couple on Westford Street in Lowell. Anderson was charged as an accessory after the fact and was held on $100,000 cash bail.

“We allege that this is another unfortunate example of domestic violence, this time between a boyfriend and his girlfriend,” Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. said in a written statement.

The body of Shannon Meara was found Sunday morning in a dumpster on Skyline Drive in Dracut. A resident was taking out her trash, saw the body, and called police. Meara was identified after police found a tattoo of her first name on her body.

Prosecutors said that Anderson and Sun were seen on Wal-Mart surveillance video purchasing cleaning supplies after the woman’s death. A Chevrolet Tahoe seized from the apartment had been wiped clean, but State Police investigators uncovered traces of blood in the vehicle, according to police.

Dozens of Meara’s relatives sat in Lowell District Court today during the arraignment. One woman held up a photo of the victim. They declined to speak to a reporter.

Fronzen Ropes Victory – Week 1

Frozen Ropes Dominate!
Under new ownership and leadership the once storied Frozen Ropes softball franchise returned to glory in a crushing week 1 victory, 18 and 7 against some team that doesnt even matter.

The only player that was unable to attend this weeks game was Andro (Sean dont call me Jimmy) Davis who is still in extended spring training because of his unexpected weight loss when our league started testing for illegal substances. The teams DH and senior video analyst was at the game but not in uniform because of an undisclosed illness.

As for the game: the attack was paced by the greatest coaching duo ever assembled you new leaders Nick Nazzaro and Sean Quealy.

Defense was solid I might be wrong but I believe that Matt Collinge only had 1 throwing error and 1 fielding error. If might also be a career low. I would like to thank my catching duo of Karen and Katie without their tireless work of the umpire of finding out what balls deep meant I would be confused and not able to pitch as good as I did.

ICECREAM

As you know we have and standing tradition of coach taking the team out for ice cream when our first victory happens. We will go after our first 6:30 game or Friday night game what ever happens first.

Practice

If anyone is interested I can look into getting the field on Sunday between 6:00 – 6:30 let me know what you think. I would like to get some work in.

Quote of the week: Pitchers, like poets, are born not made. — Cy Young

The Avenue Pub Caught Gambling

Video Poker Machines in Bars and Clubs in Massachusetts.

More as soon as Shawn writes it.

Ex Dracut Police Officer Philip Berard Retires

Dracut Police Officer Philip Berard retired all of a sudden this week and from what I heard it’s because he got in trouble for something new. The Lowell Sun could not reach Ex-Officer Berard for comment. Philip Berard, was removed from a normal patrol duty sometimes earlier this week and also was demoted from sergeant to just an entry-level patrolman in April 2003 because he used excessive force in the arrest of another Dracut man riding a 4 wheeler someplace he obviously shouldn’t have been. Basically Berard pointed his gun at the guy on the 4 wheeler and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t stop. A little excessive Mr Berard?

Berard submitted testimony to a Civil Service group but he was found to have “no credibility” and the demotion was upheld.

The Lowell Sun found that, “The high-ranking source inside the department said Berard’s retirement came in anticipation of more disciplinary action for an undisclosed violation.” What I heard was that Berard had made another screw up that was inexcusable by another which was the last straw and he was going to be fired or given the chance to retire.

Dennis Dockham Pleads Innocent?

Dennis Dockham, 43, of Dracut, pleaded innocent in Middlesex Superior Court to two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, posing a child in a state of nudity and distribution of material of a child in the nude.

Dennis Dockham was freed without bail but must wear a GPS ankle bracelet with a global-positioning system. He is also to be confined to his home, except from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. so he may search for employment, and Sunday’s from 8 a.m. to noon so he may attend church services. I can’t believe this guy gets to come and go during the day. Isn’t that just another oppertunity to roam around looking for more kids? Maybe he would take a drive down to the Dracut Skatepark. Yea scarey huh?
Is there anything Rep. Garry can do?

A former food-service director for Carlisle schools has been released with an electronic-monitoring ankle bracelet after denying allegations he forced children to pose nude and engage in sexual activities.

He is prohibited from having any contact with the alleged victims, their families, and he is to have no unsupervised contact with children under 16, including his own.

Dockham, of 7 Third St. (this is where he lives), was arrested in February, after he allegedly coerced an 11-year-old Revere girl to pose nude with a 7-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, investigators said.

In addition, Dockham allegedly took digital photos of the three children engaging in sexual acts. Read the rest of this entry »

Dracut Timothy Volis Murdered

Dracut police and the Middlesex District Attorney’s office is conducting a murder investigation, now that the medical examiner ruled the death of Timothy Volis a homicide today.

Volis, 26, of Lowell, who was found floating in the Merrimack River in Dracut around 4 Sunday afternoon, died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the DA’s office.

No arrests have been made. Volis was last seen alive on Saturday around 7 p.m. in Lowell’s Acre neighborhood, the DA’s office said.

If the death is ruled a homicide, it would be the first in Dracut in several years.

Emily LaGrassa, spokesman for District Attorney Martha Coakley, said there have already been 25 homicides across Middlesex County this year, which is higher than usual.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Dracut police at 978-957-5648 (ext. 119), or state police at 617-679-6600.

Dracut Old Home Day Will Be Bigger than Ever

The 6th annual Dracut Old Home Day is well on it’s way. The 2006 event is expected to be bigger than ever and will include the Dracut Firefighter’s Activity Day. This all day event takes place on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at The High School Complex, 1580 Lakeview Ave, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The event took place only 11 days after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The day took on a special feeling. The pilot of the ill-fated American Airlines Flight 11 was Dracut resident John Ogonowski.

At the time, Selectman James O’Loughlin called the day, “a sort of catharsis.”

Organizers have tried to build on that success. This year’s Old Home Day is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Daoulas School Complex on Lakeview Avenue. Committee Chairman David Paquin promises “bigger and better.”

“That’s what we’re striving for. It’s grown every year,” he said. “We had about 25 or 30 booths that first year, and this year we have over 130. It’s taken on a life of its own, and that’s great.”

Booths are available for $25 for nonprofit organizations and $50 for businesses. Read the rest of this entry »

David Brouillette Returns to Dracut from Iraq

Dracut Fire Capt. Dave Brouillette, 41, was with them. For months, the U.S. Army National Guard captain acted as an adviser to the Iraqi Army, living as an Iraqi, eating their food, wearing their clothes, and gaining an understanding of the differences between American and Iraqi culture.

Members of the Iraqi Security Force entered a home and stayed inside for hours and hours, drinking chai with the residents, but this was no social call.

They emerged with the names and locations of five dangerous insurgents and that night went on a raid.

“Americans would have just kicked down the door and probably would have gotten nothing,” he said. “The Arabic culture is much more relaxed, built on trust. It takes a lot of patience to get used to it.”

Not to mention getting used to the food.

“As long as you had a lot of Imodium, you were OK,” he laughed. “I really would have loved a real steak, a prime rib. I don’t know what it was that they were calling steak. It might have been the loser of the Kentucky Derby.” Read the rest of this entry »

Dracut Cancels Town Meeting and May Shut Down the Town

John Zimini has a flare for the dramatic.

But the Dracut selectman was not far off the mark after Monday night’s Town Meeting when he declared that town government will completely shut down if a quorum is not reached and the town’s operating budget is not approved by July 1st.

“We can’t operate. Plain and simple,” he said, moments after the Dracut Town Meeting was postponed Monday due to the lack of a 250-member quorum. “We’ll shut the town down. It’s too bad.”

On Tuesday morning, the day after the annual Town Meeting failed to reach a quorum by about 70 people, Town Accountant Ann Vandal confirmed that the town would indeed have to close shop if a quorum cannot be reached and the budget approved.

Having just spoken on the phone to Tony Rassias at the state Department of Revenue, Vandal said 90 percent of the town would cease to operate if an approved budget is not in place. Read the rest of this entry »

Dracut Is An Affordable Place To Live

James O’Loughlin has insisted for many years that Dracut is an affordable place to live, even though the state says otherwise.

The state wants every community to make 10 percent of its housing stock affordable under state “40B” guidelines — and Dracut hasn’t met that threshold. As a selectman, O’Loughlin has urged lawmakers to give Dracut a break from the requirement because there are hundreds of homes already rented and sold for much less than what developers charge for 40B units, but are not counted toward the threshold under the state regulation.

Today, O’Loughlin feels vindicated.

“The bottom line is it’s a very affordable community, which I think validates a lot of things myself and other public officials have been saying all along,” O’Loughlin said about an affordability index released yesterday by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which rates Dracut as the most affordable community in eastern Massachusetts. “Dracut has affordable housing stock.” Read the rest of this entry »

The Dracut Library is Open

The Moses Greeley Parker Memorial Library is Finally open. A grand opening is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. outside the library, at 28 Arlington St. It will be followed by another ceremony inside, when the public may view the new interior.

”The event is slated to be held until 4:30 p.m., but we are anticipating having trouble getting people to leave,” said Schwarz, who is director of the library.

Today’s grand opening caps more than a decade of efforts to upgrade the library. In 1992, the library was closed for six months, because of state budget cuts and because the town voted not to raise taxes. The library reopened with donated funds.

Ten years later, Dracut residents approved a tax increase to expand and renovate the library, agreeing to make up the difference between the state grant of $2.5 million and the $7.5 million project. The refurbished library has three times the usable library space, amounting to 30,000 square feet. Read the rest of this entry »

Marc Deschenes Pitches Great for Pawtucket Red Sox

The PawSox got stellar pitching from Marc Deschenes and Craig Hansen but lost in ten innings on Friday night, 3-2.

Marc Deschenes gave up one hit in six innings, striking out 5. Hansen’s I.L. debut was a rousing success, as he worked 2 and a third scoreless innings, fanning 2. Luke Allen and Enrique Wilson provided the offense, with seventh inning RBIs. Edwin Jackson held the Pawtucket offense hitless through the first five innings. In the tenth, B.J. Upton’s “seeing eye” single provided the margin of victory. The PawSox lose the season series 5-3. The club heads to Ottawa for the start of a 10 game road trip. Game one is Saturday night at 6:05. Matt Ginter (2-1) will oppose former PawSox righthander John Stephens (0-2).

Marc Deschenes is 1-0 for the season so far.

James Brescia Paid Scott Foxworth to Shoot His Wife’s Boyfriend

Edward Schiller knew he was in danger before he died, even in a tony suburb dubbed the safest city in America, police say.

Schiller had said, according to friends who talked to police, that if he ended up with a bullet in his head, they would know who did it.

His girlfriend’s estranged husband, James Brescia, had warned that, “If Ed kept seeing her it would not be good for his health,” according to a police report.

Then, prosecutors allege, Stacey Brescia served her husband with divorce papers and Brescia snapped.

Police say he hired a convicted killer for about $10,000 and paid him to shoot Schiller, 39, once in the head on Jan. 13 as he parked his car before work. Read the rest of this entry »

Dracut High School Bomb Threat is NO JOKE

Some one left a note in one of the bathrooms at Dracut High school on Feb

• The school’s vice principal waited for the principal to return to school before the Fire Department was told about the threat, rather than calling 911 immediately.

• A police officer posted at the school was unaware of the threat for hours, and learned about it when fire officials arrived.

• The police chief learned about the situation in a unrelated conversation with the school superintendent.

According to school officials, the janitor first told Vice Principal William Nunnally about the scrawl about 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 16. Principal Patricia Power later returned from a meeting with Superintendent of Schools Elaine Espindle.

“And I immediately called 911,” Power said yesterday. “I spoke to Fire Chief (Leo) Gaudette and informed him of the threat, according to protocol.”