The Mill Stream (Old Mill) in winter Photo by Chelmsford Open Space Stewardship

Proposed Chelmsford budget up 2.8 percent

By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.comUPDATED:   01/28/2014 06:36:48 AM EST

Lowell Sunhttp://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_25007694/proposed-chelmsford-budge-up-2-8-percent

CHELMSFORD -- A proposed fiscal 2015 budget presented by Town Manager Paul Cohen Monday would raise spending by nearly $3.2 million, or 2.8 percent, to more than $115 million.

The budget would maintain the same programs and service levels currently in place. It is also subject to change before going into effect July 1, depending on state aid and other factors, Cohen said.

"We have uncertainty on local aid. We also have uncertainly on health care," Cohen said. "It's a fluid document. It doesn't end tonight."

The largest increase by far would be in the town's contribution to Nashoba Valley Technical High School thanks to a sharp rise in the number of Chelmsford students going to school there. Chelmsford's contribution is slated to rise by more than 17 percent, or $375,000.

Chelmsford's enrollment at the school has risen by nearly one-third in five years, according to the town.

For the first time, the town budget will include a line item dedicated to paying down the town's employee retirement benefits known as OPEB, or other post-employment benefits costs. The decision to dedicate $1 million for OPEB costs, something that the Finance Committee recommended earlier this month, was questioned by board members Janet Askenburg and Jim Lane.

"The million dollars makes me very nervous," said Askenburg, who has also previously opposed the town manager's plans for paying down the liability. "I'm not comfortable with the number. I think it's very aggressive."

Chelmsford has devoted a similar amount in each of the past two years.

"It's my neck in the noose," Cohen said in an exchange with Askenburg over whether the Board of Selectmen or the town manager might take the blame for not committing to covering the retirement costs. "It's my budget."

The largest portion of the budget, for the Chelmsford school district, is proposed to rise by $1.5 million, or 3 percent. That is mostly in line with school budget increases in recent years, though budgets have growth by as much as 5.7 percent from fiscal 2012 to 2013.

In a five-year span including proposed fiscal 2015, Chelmsford school spending has risen by 19 percent while student enrollment has decreased by more than 7 percent. The town is roughly in line with peer communities at $11,751 per pupil, according to the latest town data.

Schools Superintendent Frank Tiano has yet to unveil specifics of his proposed budget.

Much of the overall Chelmsford budget increase is also driven by costs for town retirees.

In addition to the $1 million proposed for OPEB costs, Chelmsford is also in line to pay $392,000 more in fiscal 2015 than in this year for pensions, an increase of more than 6 percent.

Debt payments will also rise significantly, thanks to the new central fire station under construction and an $18 million energy-efficiency project for schools and town buildings.

A proposed $3 million capital budget would include $1.2 million for a new fire-ladder truck.

This year's budget is also funded at level-services levels, which is an increase of 2.5 percent, or $2.6 million, over the prior year.

Askenburg later made a proposal for a new policy to use at least half the town's free-cash reserves for property-tax relief, with exceptions for extraordinary circumstances. Money left over at the end of the fiscal year should be given over to taxpayers, she said.

"It's a matter of principle," she said.

Free cash has often been diverted into the town's stabilization fund reserve, said Cohen, who gave resistance to Askenburg's proposal.

"I think the policy has to be mindful of the broader themes," Cohen said.

Other selectmen gave the proposal a mostly lukewarm response. Selectmen Lane and Pat Wojtas said they agreed with the idea but didn't support committing to devoting such a large share of free cash.

The proposal will be taken up at the board's next meeting.

Follow Grant Welker on Twitter and Tout @SunGrantWelker.

Askenburg Presents Free Cash Proposal For Tax ReliefPosted by Andrew Sylvia (Editor) , January 28, 2014 at 01:04 PMChelmsford Patchhttp://chelmsford.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/askenburg-presents-free-cash-proposal-for-tax-relief

The following is part of a transcript from the Jan. 27, 2014 Chelmsford Board of Selectmen meeting. For the full meeting,

10:00 p.m. click here.

The agenda then went to Askenburg for a first draft of a new policy on free cash.

Askenburg said she had a lot of discussions on property taxes with residents and that she said one of her priorities when running for office was tax relief.

While she understood this wouldn’t be a complete fix, it would be a start to put at least 50 percent of free cash in excess of the goal reserve amount should be used for non-recurring emergency expenditures or tax relief.

Askenburg had heard from some residents who wanted the 50 percent money to be higher, with her saying that she did not have a good answer for the town keeping more than 50 cents on the dollar, but that there were obligations by the town.

She said that she understood that $1 million is only $70 per resident, but said it was not the town’s $70 to spend.

Dixon said that the town had fought in the past, and was unsure if putting this as a policy was a good idea due to the contentiousness then.

Lane added a motion he made at Town Meeting to expend free cash to the new fire station that was defeated, so these efforts had been made in the past.

Dixon said that if people paid attention to tonight’s meeting that the town is mandated to spend on things like OPEB.

He would like to do have the policy, and that it’s a good start, but it would not be an easy process to accept.

Wotjas went back to recommendations by Cohen made during his presentation on ways to reduce property taxes.

She was uncomfortable with a flat mandated number, but agreed with Askenburg that $70 per resident is important.

Hanson said it would be a good idea to look at what boards did in the past with free cash.

Cohen elaborated on this with a history of the past several years, adding that just after he arrived, (2007) the town made a concerted effort to put free cash into the stabilization fund due to the town’s bond rating behind downgraded then.

He said that something like what Askenburg proposes has to take into account in excess of stabilization goal amounts, and discussed the windfall 2013 Fiscal Year where the money was divided toward tax relief and other things like the Sewer Stabilization Fund.

Askenburg asked why money wasn’t put into the Stabilization Fund, and Cohen said that progress had been made to near the midway point and that the major concern was OPEB.

Cohen said that if the language taking account goal amounts for the stabilization fund that Askenburg wouldn’t get what she wanted, and that if the policy was kept as is, it would impact the stabilization fund.

Askenburg brought up concerns about property taxes and that she continually hears concerns from residents and that this is a preliminary solution.

Dixon said this is a first reading and Cohen said that the policy should have flexibility rather than a fixed policy. Cohen said if a fixed policy is put in place, the options would either be to make cuts or pass the buck like on OPEB.

Selectwoman Janet Askenburg

Cohen said that there would not be any parades for fulfilling OPEB liabilities, but not funding liabilities would be passing the tax burden to future generations.

Cohen said the only way to cut taxes is cut spending, but that town government spending is not out of control and the real problem is that the town is not getting its fair share from the state government.

Askenburg disagrees and she asked the board to seriously consider it.

Hanson appreciated Askenburg’s efforts and made some other comments.

Lane also appreciated Askenburg’s efforts and echoed Wotjas’ comments regarding a percentage amount, saying it was aggressive and also mentioned OPEB, saying it is a real problem and that Chelmsford is in the minority of addressing it.

He was once cynical that it was a problem, but now he sees it as one, and he has struggled with that understanding due to his desire for tax relief.

Lane agrees that the policy is written too loosely as is, but it does need to give some flexibility for current and future boards.

Askenburg appreciated the feedback, but she still doesn’t agree due to her principles and said that she wants to address OPEB and emergencies, as mentioned in the proposed policy.

Dixon and Cohen then criticized Patrick for running on proposed property tax relief, which he did not deliver.

Lane then talked about CPA surpluses from the state, but Dixon said that Patrick cut that in half.

For full article Read Morehttp://chelmsford.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/cohen-and-askenburg-offer-differing-paths-to-tax-relief

◉ Finance Committee Meeting: January 30, 2014Town Manager presents his budget to FinCom———————————Paul Cohen: "Lets say what it really is.There are two hot button items in the community that have taken place. One is the funding of the OPEB liability which I am a strong advocate for, then there is another group that are pushing to reduce the property tax below the levy limit,which Clare and others are strong advocates for. And this is the skirmish."

CLICK HERE for Video

Visions of a downtown rebornBrook walkway, bridge highlight master plan for Chelmsford center

By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.comUPDATED:   02/03/2014 07:14:23 AM EST

Lowell Sunhttp://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_25050157/visions-downtown-reborn#ixzz2sJZIcNJu

CHELMSFORD -- A vision for the next 10 years for the town center includes creating a walkway along the largely hidden Beaver Brook, making the area easier for pedestrians and those looking for parking spots, and improving signage.

The plan is "more than simply a vision," an introduction from the Center Village Master Plan Committee says. It is "a viable, realistic and achievable reality for our Center Village."

The master plan, which was presented to the Board of Selectmen on Jan. 27, got a potential major boost only days later when the state's transportation bond bill was approved by the House with $5 million for improvements to the center of town. If approved by the Senate and the governor, it would fund many of the features detailed in the plan.

Officials hope to make the town center into more of a destination, and making parking and walking around easier is seen as a way to make visiting convenient. The brook walkway is envisioned as a draw comparable to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.

"I have never been more excited about this plan and seeing this plan come to fruition," said Selectman James Lane, who chaired the committee that oversaw the planning process. "Chelmsford Center Village would become a destination."

Taking advantage of Beaver Brook has been a plan going back to 1998, as long as planning for the rail trail. A walkway along the brook would stretch from the rail trail off of Littleton Road in the west to Summer Street in the east, a distance of nearly two-thirds of a mile.

"It will be wonderful," said Peggy Dunn, who served on the Center Village Master Plan Committee. "If we can get it all done, it will be the best thing you've ever seen."

Construction of the walkway, called Brook Walk, is expected to require agreements with abutting landowners, the plan says. Just west of Central Square, for example, the brook is buried in parts underneath parking and buildings. What is called a "nonhistorical" wing of the Odd Fellows Hall on the other end of the street would need to be removed to open up space for the walkway.

The Brook Walk is the most expensive component of the plan, estimated at between $1.6 million and $2.4 million. Pedestrian improvements are expected to cost another $1.3 million or more. In addition to potential funding from the state, other sources could also be tapped, the plan says.

Other proposals call for some on-street parking on Chelmsford Street south of Fletcher Street, and improved sidewalks and crosswalks throughout the center, including a walking bridge over Beaver Brook to connect a public parking lot behind Odd Fellows Hall with places like the former Stop & Shop plaza, now known as Chelmsford Town Center.

If visitors feel like there aren't enough parking spaces, it's only because they don't know where to look or because the spaces aren't close to the driver's destination, a traffic study found. The master plan aims to fix that problem by adding signs directing drivers to parking lots across the neighborhood, and urging private landowners to allow anyone to park in their lots.

A rendering of the proposed walkway along Beaver Brook in Chelmsford center, from the Center Village Master Plan. The view looks west toward Boston Road. The Brook Walk is envisioned as a draw comparable to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. COURTESY CENTER VILLAGE MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE

The next steps for the plan include a review by the town's Master Plan Implementation Committee, which will work to ensure recommendations are put into place.

The future of the town center has been given added importance in recent years. The master plan follows a detailed survey in 2012 that showed respondents wanted more shops and restaurants in the neighborhood, and that the center was positioned to capture a "significant portion" of the nearly 700 new housing units the town is expected to add by 2020.

Two sites show how difficult reuse can be for Chelmsford center.

The former Stop & Shop and Marshalls storefronts off Boston Road have been vacant for more than two years, and only in recent weeks has work begun to turn the space into a more high-end development. A fitness center, a Japanese restaurant and a men's hair salon are the first three tenants of what will be a space for eight retailers.

The plaza's developer has also committed to clearing brush along the brook where it passes by the property.

The Odd Fellows Hall, a few properties to the north, has been vacant for far longer. Officials have called the building an eyesore and say they've been in talks with Santander, the bank that leases the property until 2020, for potential reuse.

The 2012 survey identified the building, constructed in 1896, for a possible residential use. At a closed-door meeting in September, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to ask an attorney for the town on thoughts for what the town's option for the site could be, including potentially taking the property by eminent domain, according to meeting minutes later made public.

Eminent domain is still a possibility, but the town and Santander both would like to see the building occupied and preserved, Town Manager Paul Cohen said.

"I think we and the bank have the same goal," he said.

Despite uncertainty with commercial and office space, the center has built momentum in other ways over the years, most notably with the opening in 2009 of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, which bisects the neighborhood. The former Town Hall reopened after years of underutilization in 2012 as the Chelmsford Center for the Arts, utility lines in parts of the center have been buried underground, and roads have been repaved.

Those involved with creating the master plan said they were impressed with how well it came together. It has also been well received by business owners and others, they said.

"We worked so hard," said Dunn, one of the committee members. "Everyone was on the same page."

Follow Grant Welker on Twitter and Tout @SunGrantWelker.

A rendering from the Center Village Master Plan of what a new walkway along the Beaver Brook could look like. Boston Road runs horizontally along the top. The walkway would stretch from the rail trail off of Littleton Road in the west to Summer Street in the east, a distance of nearly two-thirds of a mile. COURTESY CENTER VILLAGE MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE

Preliminary OK from state for two 40B plans in Chelmsford

By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.comUPDATED:   02/05/2014 06:35:41 AM EST

Lowell Sunhttp://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_25066126/preliminary-ok-from-state-two-40b-plans-chelmsford

CHELMSFORD -- Riverneck Road could soon get two new housing developments, 13 units of 40B affordable housing on the west end and a 14-unit subdivision by the east end.

The state has given preliminary approval for Greenwood Estates, the 40B affordable-housing development on the west end of Riverneck Road across from Pine Ridge Cemetery. The development will include eight single-family homes and a five-unit group home, with at least one-fourth of the units made affordable to families earning below 80 percent of the area median income.

About a mile and a half to the east, a 14-home subdivision is planned for 62-68 Riverneck Road. That project, called McKennedy Farm, received approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals last September and is scheduled to go before the Planning Board later this month.

Both proposals are fairly straightforward, according to Community Development Director Evan Belansky, who said he doesn't expect any major issues with the developments winning approval.

Approval from the state agency MassHousing allows Greenwood Estates developer H&L Pioneer 40B LLC of Boston to seek approval from the Chelmsford Zoning Board of Appeals. The board is currently reviewing another 40B proposal, a development of between 108 and 132 units proposed for the east end of Mill Road next to the Hittite office building.

Earlier this month, the board reached an agreement with the developer of the Mill Road complex on the size of the proposal and a commitment by developer Princeton Properties to offer a "fair share" of mitigation for the project in return for an expedited review process.

The site at 62-68 Riverneck Road in Chelmsford where a 14-home subdivision is proposed. Sun/Grant Welker

A third 40B complex, Chelmsford Woods, would include 115 units on Littleton Road across from the Chelmsford Commons mobile-home park. Construction on the development, being led by the Chelmsford Housing Authority, is expected to begin this summer.

Yet another 40B development, Hillside Gardens, a 44-unit complex proposed for Littleton Road near Chamberlain Road, has survived years of legal challenges from abutters and is permitted by the town. Construction could begin this spring, Belansky said.

State law allows developers of 40B complexes to build with more density than they would otherwise be allowed in exchange for selling a minimum number of units under affordability restrictions.

MassHousing issued approval earlier this month for the Greenwood Estates proposal, contingent upon taking actions such as satisfying concerns on emergency fire access for the Fire Department. The development will be built on less than 4 acres.

H&L Pioneer could not be reached for comment.

The Chelmsford Housing Authority is working with H&L Pioneer with hopes of managing or buying the development's group home, which would be used to house developmentally disabled residents, said David Hedison, the authority's director.

At the proposed McKennedy Farm development, 14 single-family homes would be built on about 9.4 acres with a cul-de-sac. As a requirement of the zoning variance approved by the appeals board, the developer, E.J.H. Inc., will donate to the town's affordable-housing efforts the difference between the sale price on two of the homes and the state's designated affordable-housing rates.

The development, described as an "attractive 'starter home' community" by E.J.H. Inc., will fit in with the neighborhood, the developer's attorneys said in a filing with the town.

The McKennedy family, for which the development is named, sold the property to E.J.H. Inc. for $765,000 in 2012, according to records filed with the development's application.Follow Grant Welker on Twitter and Tout @SunGrantWelker.

Business owner appeals city methadone clinic voteBy Lyle Moran, lmoran@lowellsun.com

UPDATED:   02/05/2014 02:46:20 PM ESTLowell Sun

http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_25067251/business-owner-appeals-city-methadone-clinic-vote

LOWELL -- The owner of two businesses on Stedman Street has appealed the Zoning Board of Appeals recent decision to allow a methadone clinic to relocate to 22 Olde Canal Drive.

David Daly, president and CEO of Daly General Contracting and PrideSTAR EMS at 229 Stedman St., which is close to the planned clinic site, had an appeal filed by his attorney in Middlesex Superior Court on Tuesday.

The complaint, which names the ZBA and clinic operator Habit OpCo as defendants, seeks to have annulled the ZBA's 4-1 vote last month to grant Habit OpCo a special permit to move to the new location on the Lowell/Chelmsford line.

Voting to grant the special permit were ZBA Chairman William Bailey and members Van Pech and Dennis McCarthy. Alternate Melissa Carino also voted to grant the permit.

ZBA member Gary Perrin was the lone vote in opposition.

The approval came after the board had voted 4-1 last June in opposition to granting the special permit. McCarthy was absent for that vote; Carino was not eligible to vote.

Daly's complaint argues the ZBA failed to assess properly the criteria in the zoning ordinance prior to making its recent decision, "including the adverse affects on the neighborhood character and social structures, the traffic flow and safety including parking and loading, the adequacy of public services, and the social, economic or community needs which are served by the proposal."

Daly had been a strong opponent of the clinic's relocation from its Hall Street location, citing concerns about the safety of pedestrians making their way to the clinic, among other concerns.

The clinic sought to relocate because its lease in the Wannalancit Mills complex has expired.

The ZBA's original denial prompted Habit OpCo to file legal challenges to the decision both in state Land Court and in federal court.

The issue came back before the ZBA last month as a result of a legal settlement worked out to resolve the Land Court appeal.

The settlement approved by a judge voided the previous ZBA decision and called for a new public hearing. The city and Habit OpCo came to agreement on a settlement in talks between both sides' attorneys and executive sessions held by the ZBA.

"The closed door pre-hearing meetings under the guise of executive session allowed the Law Department to advance the goals of the city administration and to cause the ZBA to issue a favorable decision to (Habit OpCo) and avoid further court review of the ordinance or the steps

relating to the amendment of the ordinance," states Daly's complaint.

Daly has filed the complaint in his role as trustee of Kennedy Place Trust, which owns 229 Stedman St. Attorney Douglas Hausler of Chelmsford is representing Daly.Follow Moran on Twitter and Tout @lylemoran.

CHELMSFORD ELECTION SEASON 2014

Last day for candidates to file nomination papers with Board of Registrars (Town Meeting Representatives and Town Wide Offices) (MGL c. 53 § 7) 49 days before election (14 days before filing with Town Clerk)

Tuesday, February 11, 2014 -5:00 pm

Last day for Board of Registrars to file nomination papers with Town Clerk (MGL c. 53 §10) 35 days before election

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 5:00 pm

Last day to object or withdraw papers (MGL c. 53 § 11) 33 days before election

Thursday, February 27, 2014 5:00 pm

Drawing of names for ballot positions

Friday, February 28, 2014 10 am

Last day to register voters for Town Election MGL c. 51 §§ 26, 28 –

20 days before Election

Wednesday, March 12 , 2014

8:30am to 8 pm

Last day and hour to submit ‘8-day’ pre-election Campaign Finance Reports for Annual Town Election Candidates. Report all activity from January 1, 2014 to March 15, 2014

Monday, March 24, 2014 5:00 pm

Last day to post warrant (MGL c. 39 § 10) 7 days (before Town Election)

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Last day and hour to file an absentee ballot request for the Annual Town Election

Monday, March 31, 2014 - 12 noon

Annual Town Election

Polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Chelmsford could see 3 run for selectmen

By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.comUPDATED:   02/08/2014 06:34:51 AM EST

Lowell Sunhttp://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_25092188/chelmsford-could-see-3-run-selectmen

CHELMSFORD -- This year's race for the Board of Selectmen will feature as many as three candidates seeking a seat being vacated by James Lane.

Bob Joyce, Glenn Kohl and Joseph Ready took out nomination forms before Friday's deadline to run for the board. Candidates have until the end of the business day Tuesday to return the forms with 50 signatures from voters to the Town Clerk's Office.

The position of town moderator, who oversees Town Meeting and appoints the Finance Committee, will have two candidates. Incumbent Richard DeFreitas of St. Andrew's Way is being challenged by former Selectman Jon Kurland of Mansfield Drive.

The election is Tuesday, April 1.

The Board of Selectmen race will have as many as three candidates.

Joyce, a Turnpike Road resident, a former selectman and former Planning Board member, has already had his nomination forms returned and certified.

Kohl, of Wildwood Street, is a member of the Agricultural Committee and Grinder Pump Study Committee.

Ready, also of Turnpike Road, serves on the Economic Development Commission.

Many incumbents are running for re-election unopposed.

Two School Committee members, Michael Rigney and Al Thomas, have no challengers, nor do three of the incumbent library trustees -- Pamela Davies, Peggy Dunn and Margaret Marshall. Planning Board member Michael Raisbeck and Cemetery Commission member Thomas St. Germain Sr. are also running unopposed.

Others are unopposed in seeking a new position, including Nancy Araway, who is running for a Planning Board spot being vacated by Ann McGuigan; Andrew Silinsh, seeking for a one-year term on the Library Board of Trustees for the seat left by Tom Christiano; and Nicholas Parlee, who is running for a Board of Health seat being vacated by Peter Dulchinos.Follow Grant Welker on Twitter and Tout @SunGrantWelker.

Today,  I  am  announcing  that  I  will  be  withdrawing  from  the  roll  as  a  candidate  for  the  Board  of  Selectmen.  I  am  very  apprecia=ve  of  the  significant  support  and  encouragement  that  I  received  when  I  first  announced  my  candidacy.  

I  met  with  Joe  Ready.  We  each  were  born,  raised,  and  educated  in  Chelmsford.  We  had  the  opportunity  today  to  discuss  what  each  of  us  believe  are  the  key  issues  and  how  each  of  us  would  proceed  if  elected.  It  became  apparent  to  me  that  we  agree  on  almost  all  of  the  points  that  we  expect  will  be  the  plaEorm  for  this  elec=on,  and  we  share  many  points  of  our  vision  of  what  Chelmsford  is  today  and  what  its  future  should  be.  Since  we  would  likely  appeal  to  the  same  cons=tuency,  it  does  not  make  sense  to  take  the  votes  away  from  each  other.  

Therefore,  I  whole  heartedly  endorse  Joe  Ready  for  the  Board  of  Selectmen  and  ask  each  of  my  supporters  to  vote  for  Joe  and  support  his  candidacy.  I  hope  to  have  the  opportunity  to  offer  my  =me  and  energy  in  the  future  to  the  residents  and  businesses  of  Chelmsford,  and  thank  everyone  for  the  strong  support  and  encouragement  from  so  many  people  in  such  a  short  =me.

-­‐  Glenn  Kohl

Not this time...

My  name  is  Joseph  Ready  and  I  am  excited  to  announce  my  candidacy  for  the  Chelmsford  Board  of  Selectman.    

I  was  born  and  raised  in  Chelmsford,  purchased  the  house  my  grandfather  built  and  feel  fortunate  that  I  am  raising  my  family  in  this  great  town.    

I  am  the  proud  owner  of  Ready  Real  Estate  in  North  Chelmsford,  which  has  afforded  me  the  opportunity  to  par=cipate  and  be  ac=vely  involved  in  the  Town  of  Chelmsford.    

I  have  been  a  Town  Mee=ng  Representa=ve  for  three  different  precincts  over  the  past  decade  and  have  enjoyed  serving  our  town.        I’ve  served  as  a  member  of  the  Economic  Development  Commission  to  help  bring  more  business  to  Chelmsford.      I  am  an  ac=ve  volunteer  and  member  of  both  the  Chelmsford  Rotary  Club  and  Chelmsford  Businessman’s  Associa=on.    

I  am  running  because  I  would  like  to  offer  the  voters  a  choice  in  this  upcoming  elec=on.  I  would  like  to  bring  forward  posi=ve  leadership,  accountability  and  transparency  to  the  posi=on.  I  would  like  to  be  a  strong  advocate  and  provide  a  voice  for  people  in  Chelmsford  that  have  ques=ons  or  concerns  about  the  policies,  direc=on  or  opera=ons  of  the  town.      Chelmsford  is  one  of  the  best  communi=es  in  the  state  and  I  look  forward  to  working  with  the  current  board  of  Selectman  and  the  manager  to  con=nue  its  success.  

I  learned  at  a  young  age  how  important  volunteerism  is.      My  parents  Donna  &  Dennis  Ready  and  Uncle  Bernard  Ready  have  been  great  mentors  that  have  always  encouraged  me  to  give  back  to  the  community.      They  fostered  in  me  an  importance  of  history  and  preserving  Chelmsford’s  great  past.    It’s  this  rich  history  that  gives  Chelmsford  the  character  and  charm  that  aTracts  so  many  residents.    My  goal  is  to  preserve  Chelmsford’s  historic  past  and  add  to  the  future  in  a  way  that  keeps  Chelmsford,  Chelmsford.

I  have  some  big  shoes  to  fill  and  I  would  like  to  thank  Jim  Lane  for  his  outstanding  service  to  the  town.    I  am  up  for  the  challenge  and  hope  the  Town  of  Chelmsford  voters  will  give  me  the  opportunity  to  serve  them  and  help  con=nue  to  achieve  goals  to  beTer  Chelmsford.I  respecEully  ask  for  your  vote  on  Tuesday,  April  1,  2014.

Sincerely,Joe  Ready

☆READY or not, here comes JOE☆

SAME OLE BOB,

DIFFERENT DAY ;)

So I am just going to recycle his info from last year...

Having  served  as  a  Selectman  from  1993-­‐-­‐-­‐96  I  have  an  apprecia=on  for  what  is  involved  to  serve  in  this  posi=on.I  have  no=ced  over  the  past  five  years  that  the  current  Boards  have  been  less  concerned  about  the  residen=altaxpayers  and  more  concerned  about  building  the  infrastructure  of  the  Town.  While  this  is  an  admirablething  to  invest  in  our  infrastructure,  we  have  come  to  a  point  where  the  taxpayers  cannot  handle  any  moreincreases  in  taxes.  

We  are  now  resor=ng  to  replacing  old  sewer  debt,  and  other  re=red  debt  with  new  debt.  They  jus=fy  this  by  saying  that  the  annual  debt  service  payment  will  not  go  up,  this  is  true  but  why  not  let  our  debt  service  payments  go  down  and  pass  those  savings  onto  the  taxpayers.  

If  Projects  need  to  be  funded  they  should  be  subjected  to  a  Proposi=on  2  1/2  Debt  exemp=on  vote.

While  this  will  add  to  the  Debt  service,  it  will  only  be  for  a  set  period  of  ;me  and  then  the  debt  payment  will  drop.Some  examples  of  this  are  the  new  $7.7  million  Fire  Sta=on  on  Billerica  Road  and  the  new  $13.5  million  DPWBuilding  on  Alpha  Road.  In  both  these  cases  they  have  absorbed  the  debt  into  the  debt  structure  by  replacing  olddebt  with  debt  on  these  projects.  In  the  case  of  the  DPW  we  passed  a  Prop  2  1/2  debt  exclusion  for  $4.5  million  but  there  are  no  plans  to  ask  for  another  Prop  2  1/2  debt  exemp=on  for  the  remaining  $9  million  to  complete  the  project.

That  will  be  covered  by  replacing  old  debt  and  moving  money  from  the  Town’s  free-­‐-­‐-­‐cash  each  year,  rather  thanusing  that  free-­‐-­‐-­‐cash  to  reduce  the  tax  rate.  As  the  campaign  gets  into  full  swing  I  will  be  discussing  ways  ofproviding  relief  to  the  residen=al  taxpayers.

-­‐  Bob  Joyce  

I asked Bob a week ago to give the ITR readers a little background on his candidacy he was unable to get to it because of a pressing engagement.

FACEBOOK CHATTER

Bob JoyceYesterday via iOS

In NYC for Beatlefest until Monday.

ITR Community Flashback 2010

CLICK HERE for Park Clean Up Video

An Overview Provided on Chelmsford School Lunches

Posted by Andrew Sylvia (Editor) , January 26, 2014 at 01:12 PMChelmsford Patch

http://chelmsford.patch.com/groups/schools/p/an-overview-provided-on-chelmsford-school-lunches

Part One of a transcript from the Jan. 21, 2014 Chelmsford School Committee meeting. For the full meeting, click here.

7:30 p.m.

April Lasky, Chelmsford’s food service director, gave a presentation.

She began with federal regulations that give guidance over what meals should be given and nutritional regulations, and that Chelmsford is currently under compliance.

The current focus is reducing sodium, which does not have a federal guideline, but there is a look at lowering sodium before the guidelines come into place next school year.

Lasky said that all districts across the country are struggling to meet goals. The goals here in Chelmsford range from 1,230 milligrams per day for Elementary Schools to 1,420 milligrams at Chelmsford High School.

School Committee member Nick DiSilvio asked if sodium was used as a preservative, Lasky said sometimes, but also that there were times that it was naturally occurring.

Lasky said that the state requirements are the toughest in the country and they only apply to a la carte items, such as vending machines.

The next item was the cost of lunch. Currently it costs $2.40 at the elementary school level for lunch, with expenses currently at $2.23, with $1.20 going to labor costs.

Students are currently required to take at least three of five required components of a school lunch, with students who are lactose intolerant not being required to consume dairy products, one of those required components.

Proteins and grains were once components, but now there is flexibility in those areas.

Preferred Meals, a private company, provides meals that cost $1.92 each, with Lasky saying that they remain the best solution for Chelmsford Schools and a garden salad will be introduced in January.

Immediate needs in the food service department include refrigeration

7:45 p.m.

Long term goals include full-service kitchens in the schools, although with long term and short term goals, what is important is looking a staffing levels, and Lasky feels she is not ready to share plans on that information.

Currently 34.15 percent of students participate in school lunches, a jump from 24.20 percent in October 2012.

School Committee member Barbara Skaar was very impressed given the amount of rules that are in place.

DiSilvio asked about an audit and saying that food service has come a long way since then.

DiSilvio then talked about two pieces of food service equipment that will be voted upon at town meeting.

Lasky said that Preferred Meals owns some of the equipment inside Chelmsford Public Schools.

Chairman Mike Rigney asked about feedback from students, with Lasky saying often the students gave direct in-person feedback.

Rigney also asked who the schools did business with, Lasky said that Preferred Meals was the only company for packaged meals, but the schools did business with many local businesses such as Sal’s Pizza.

8:00 p.m.

Rigney also asked about how bids are made, Lasky explained that the process goes through a collaborative bid process with 72 other districts, focused largely on nutritional guidelines

Currently the district is moving away from chicken nuggets and toward chicken tenders. There was more discussion over the amount of sodium in products and the future of how much sodium will be in products.

DiSilvio asked Lasky to walk him through the process of the planning for the garden salad program and other possible enhancements to the menu.

Lasky discussed her work with Preferred Meals, saying that there were various obstacles such as retrofitted boxes for ingredients such as chicken and lettuce, but that Preferred Meals often used Chelmsford as an example for other districts on how to implement new items.

She discussed other things, such as scheduling meals on certain days to ensure that fresh ingredients were used as well as separating certain sauces to meet student tastes.

Skaar asked about food service policies in other districts as well as the bid process that led to Preferred Meals getting the contract. Lasky said Preferred Meals became the provider before she became food service director

Rigney asked questions made comments regarding the long-term goals of full-service on-site kitchens, with Lasky saying that parents want this eventually.

Lasky added that the requests for refrigeration units were predicated on that goal.

Rigney continued to elaborate on the expectation of self-sufficiency of the school lunch program, with Lasky saying that it may be a few years before the program goes back into black due to the unexpected loss of vending machines, although losses this year would not be as bad as last year.

DiSilvio agreed with Lasky that the district was not prepared for the unexpected loss of vending machines and then asked if there was a formula on how to get to breaking even.

Lasky said it was difficult to calculate due to things like benefits for employees, and it was unsure what participation rate would bring the school lunch program to breaking even, with the loss of soda and candy harming profits not just for food service but the DECA program.

The impact for the loss of soda for food service was $110,000.

8:15 p.m.

Rigney thanked Lasky for her time.

DiSilvio said that a path was needed for the food department’s goals on things like self-sufficiency.

Rigney said that more insight was needed on revenue and that some resources may need to be directed to bring in more revenue.

Rigney and DiSilvio had more discussion over school lunch prices. Lasky said that under new federal requirements, pricing of lunches are also something that needs to be taken into account. Chelmsford meets the guidelines and that a la carte items are not included in those requirements.

In the non a la carte items, the focus was on what is reimbursable.

For full article Read More

http://chelmsford.patch.com/groups/schools/p/an-overview-provided-on-chelmsford-school-lunches

Nashoba Tech panel votes to increase towns' contribution by $300G

By Pierre Comtois, CorrespondentUPDATED:   01/30/2014 06:35:52 AM EST

Lowell Sun http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_25025517/nashoba-tech-panel-votes-increase-towns-contribution-by#ixzz2rvB5ntAr

WESTFORD -- Fine-tuning their budget for fiscal 2015, the Nashoba Valley Technical School Committee voted to increase the minimum contribution of its member towns by $300,000.

The new amount is expected to be added to $12 million in spending proposed for fiscal 2015 in a draft budget presented to the School Committee Jan. 14.

That earlier draft represented an increase over the previous year of nearly $620,000; an amount that is expected to rise slightly as a result of the committee's vote Tuesday.

The budget for 2014 was $11,572,242.

Driving the increase was a rising number of students who attend the vocational school, necessitating an addition to the budget of items such as the hiring of a new school psychologist at an annual salary of $83,340; an increase of $57,110 for software upgrades; $167,151 for instructional materials; $67,476 for a new guidance counselor; and $10,000 for various student needs.

Other factors include the rising cost of health care due to changes imposed by the Affordable Care Act, the upkeep of playing fields, and school supplies plus increases in utilities and contractual obligations.

But the main driver for the increased spending is due to Nashoba's rising popularity among young people who continue to flock to its banners even as enrollment declines at some area public schools.

For 2015, for instance, the school's student population is expected to increase by 30, with those from Chelmsford and Pepperell registering the most growth.

At the Jan. 28 special committee meeting, members were informed by Superintendent Judith Klimkiewicz that the shortfall in projected spending for fiscal 2015 came to $693,000.

But voting reduced that figure to $300,000 after it was decided it would take $200,000 from the district's Efficiencies & Deficiencies account and $193,000 from school-choice funds to cover part of the expense.

Added to the budget only recently, and included in the $693,000 in spending, was $50,000 the School Committee had previously voted to deposit in a new OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefit) irrevocable trust-fund account.

Recommended by the district treasurer, the account was added as a new line item to the proposed budget earmarking money specifically for deposit in the fund, which could not be used for anything other than retired-employee health care.

That amount will need to be accepted at Town Meeting when they consider the annual budget for approval.

Committee members were told the district owed $11.3 million in such unfunded liabilities.

Though the district had been meeting its responsibilities on a pay-as-you-go basis, it was deemed best to assure such financial entities as the bond market that the district was serious about paying its bills.

Before the vote Tuesday, proposed minimum contributions for the district's member towns totaled $6,808,953: Ayer at $487,033 for a decrease of $29,695; Chelmsford at $2,229,779 for an increase of $257,724; Groton at $496,346 for an increase of $92,500; Littleton at $460,024 for a decrease of $156,535; Pepperell at $1,137,837 for an increase of $249,145; Shirley at $567,087 for an increase of $7,122; Townsend at $830,261 for an increase of $37,378; and Westford at $600,586 for an increase of $3,650.

Residents will have an opportunity for direct involvement in the budget process when a public hearing is held next month.

A final fiscal 2015 school budget will be prepared for discussion and a vote by the School Committee on Feb. 4.

After that, residents will have the final say at town meetings held by the district's member towns, beginning with Westford, scheduled for March 22.

Chelmsford's Center School joins Celtics to battle hunger By Molly Loughman

mloughman@wickedlocal.com Posted Feb. 6, 2014 @ 8:51 am

Chelmsford Independenthttp://chelmsford.wickedlocal.com/article/20140206/NEWS/140208297/?tag=1

Chelmsford, Mass.The Boston Celtics and Sal’s Pizza have joined forces through the state’s leading anti-hunger organization Project Bread, devoted to alleviating, preventing and ultimately ending hunger in Massachusetts.

The Celtics and Sal’s Pizza are launching a new community initiative called "Teaming Up Against Hunger presented by Sal’s Pizza." The program enables students at selected schools a chance to publically address the issue of hunger by producing their own public service announcement video. Four classes of fourth-graders at Chelmsford’s Center Elementary School created a two-minute PSA surrounding hunger and eating healthy. At the end of the video, the call to action is to register for Project Bread’s 20-mile Walk for Hunger May 4, starting at the Boston Common.

"You can imagine these fourth- and fifth-graders submitting video… It’s really exciting to see these kids take an idea at such a young age and I’ve seen a few videos so far, and I’ll tell you what, it’s spectacular. It’s such a great cause," said Sal’s Pizza CEO Sal Lupoli, whose 24-year-old family-owned business grew from one location in Salem, N.H., to close 50 shops in Massachusetts and new Hampshire.

"One in five kids in the state is going to bed hungry tonight, so this program teaches kids how to eat nutritional meals — it’s such a big deal," Lupoli said.

Project Bread strives to offer people of all ages, cultures, and walks of life with sustainable and reliable access to nutritious food. The organization provides community-based meal programs, improved access to farm-to-table resources, early childhood initiatives and school nutrition initiatives. Using funds collected from The Walk for Hunger and other contributions, Project Bread continues to pioneer avenues toward conquering hunger.

A total of five elementary schools in Chelmsford, Lawrence, Lowell, Woburn and Boston participated in the first year of "Teaming Up Against Hunger presented by Sal’s Pizza." At each elementary school, students had an introductory assembly explaining the program before the Boston Celtics video crew returned to film the PSAs. The final video includes portions from each classroom’s video. The hunger awareness PSAs will be showcased on the Celtics and Sal’s Pizza websites.

"Students are given little direction and they’ve created these new and innovation concepts. We’re looking for creativity, leadership and information on nutrition… This commercial will be played at the Celtics games and they’re talking about creating a commercial on NESN; it’s so exciting," said Lupoli, a former student at Center School.

The program was kicked off with a Pep Rally at Center School last Monday, Jan. 27, where Lupoli, former Celtics player Dana Barros and Project Bread Executive Director Ellen Park were all in attendance to congratulate students on their efforts.

The winning classroom received a private basketball clinic with Boston Celtics mascot Lucky and a Celtics Legend. The final PSA was shown to everyone at the assembly. The winning classroom also presented a check to Project Bread. Lucky delivered a dunk show in the gym for the students, where he jumped over Principal Christopher Raymond.

"We talk a lot in the school about giving back. We also do a food drive at the beginning of the year with the food pantry. It all fits nicely within the school throughout the year," said Raymond, adding kids will bring canned goods to a pajama-themed dance this Friday for the food drive. "I couldn’t be more proud of the skits the kids put together. We had a lot of fun with it and we’re open to doing it more in the future."

During the Pep Rally, Barros spoke to students about the importance of hard work while Park addressed hunger and healthy eating. Lupoli, with business empires in the restaurant, wholesale and real estate industries under the umbrella of the Lupoli Companies, spoke to students about family, respect, leadership and aiding the community."You don’t need money to make a difference. You need energy and a desire and with that and leadership, there’s nothing you can’t stop," he said.

This year marks the birth of Sal’s Pizza’s partnership with TD Garden, where they’re selling only Sal’s Pizza. Last year alone, Sal’s Pizza partnered with organizations to educate children, address homelessness and help Chelmsford fund its synthetic turf fields. When Lupoli’s not overseeing his many operations, the successful businessman mentors youth and coaches football for Chelmsford High School and Chelmsford Pop Warner.

Moving forward, he plans to expand "Teaming Up Against Hunger presented by Sal’s Pizza" to reach more communities and fill the empty stomachs of thousands throughout the state. Working with local youth to help raise hunger awareness remains a leading goal for Sal’s Pizza.

"You can see the effort students put into it, how serious they take it. You see all these big corporations and big brands and all the sudden you see these fourth- and fifth-graders create such a simple, but inspirational message," said Lupoli.

"Out of the mouth of babes, come words of wisdom."

For more information on Celtics team partners, visit www.celtics.com/partners. For more on Project Bread, visit www.projectbread.org. For more on Sal’s Pizza, go to www.sals-pizza.com. To watch the PSA, visit www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us.

CLICK HERE for Video

Chelmsford public access ready for the big screen

By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.comUPDATED:   01/26/2014 07:45:17 AM EST

LOWELL SUN http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_24996533/chelmsford-public-access-ready-big-screen#ixzz2sC9iRSVD

CHELMSFORD -- Selectmen or Planning Board meetings, amateur talk shows or Town Meeting broadcasts -- that's what most public-access TV outlets do, to varying degrees of quality.

Chelmsford TeleMedia often does it a notch above.

Selectmen and School Committee meetings, among others, have cameras mounted into the ceiling, almost imperceptible, with microphones picking up better sound than viewers might expect. Its a full-scale TV studio at Parker Middle School where everything is edited and produced, not some glorified audio/visual room.

Meetings and shows are available for viewing, often within a day or two, on Chelmsford TeleMedia's website.

Now Chelmsford TeleMedia is about to show off its crowning achievement, an hour-long film whose premiere on Feb. 7 will kick off the Boston Science Fiction Film Fest.

"It was something done with a number of local volunteers out of love, really. Just out of the joy for doing it," said Matt Scott, the Chelmsford TeleMedia director who has multiple roles in the movie, including writer, director and actor.

The film, The Nigerian Frequency, was a year in the making. Scott, others at Chelmsford TeleMedia and friends in the area put the movie together largely in their own time, between other jobs and obligations, and during vacation time and weekends. It was lower than low-budget, and many of the people who star in the film also filmed, produced and edited.

"We had a lot of long email chains when we'd figure out who was available on this day or that day," said Pat Snow, a 24-year-old Chelmsford resident who is an actor,

Chelmsford TeleMedia director Matt Scott, left, who wrote and directed the hour-long science fiction film T h e N i g e r i a n F r e q u e n, and Chris Borden, who was producer/actor/cameraman/editor. Both are from Chelmsford. The film will kick of the 39th annual Boston Sci-F i Film Festival at the Somerville Theatre.

editor and producer in the movie. Many days, filming took place because many on the crew happened to be available that day, he said.

The Nigerian Frequency isn't exactly science fiction, even though it'll be in a sci-fi film fest.

It's about Friendleme.com, a website in which users can set up online friends. The program creates online friends that it feels the users deserve, and the users expect them to be the ideal buddy: always available, nonjudgmental, supportive of the user's desires "no matter how twisted or sick they may be," as the film's introduction says.

Friendleme earns a killing and it's an advertiser's dream. The creator of the program, P. Nokio Longo, is brilliant but confused by reality. Two mysterious detectives are on his trail asking him about the program and his intentions.

"As with all Internet software, there is a virus, or is the software itself a virus?" a teaser asks.

The story is also about our relationships with one another and in the virtual world. More existential questions are a part of the story, too: Does P. Nokio Longo exist? Do we exist? Who is in control?

"I would describe it as a black comedy, kind of absurdist," said Scott, who worked on documentaries before joining Chelmsford TeleMedia. Scott compared The Nigerian Frequency to the 1950s play Waiting for Godot, or the works of the late writer Kurt Vonnegut, known for satire and dark humor, who wrote Slaughterhouse-Five.

"The movie is kind of a trip," said Suzzanne Cromwell of Lowell, who acted as one of the two detectives with her husband, Brett. "At the end," she added, "you're kind of left wondering, 'what?'"

The Nigerian Frequency was chosen to kick off the Boston Science Fiction Film Fest because of its local connections, said film fest director Garen Daly, who lives in Pelham."This is a film that has developed and growth out of a local community, and that is more important to us than anything," he said.

The Cromwells, who were not paid, are reminders that the Nigerian Frequency is still a community film. They never acted before, had no training, but are movie buffs and friends of Scott's. The couple founded the Lowell Film Collaborative, a group trying to bring an independent theater to the city.

"We're not actors at all," Cromwell said. "We would show up on the set and kind of just memorize it there."

Like the Cromwells, Snow, who plays the creator of Friendleme, was recruited because he knew Scott. Snow, a freelance editior for public-access channels in Acton, Ayer and Sudbury, previously volunteered for Chelmsford TeleMedia when he was in school.

Snow said Scott showed him a script toward the end of 2012. "He said that he got this crazy idea he's working on," he said.

See the movie trailer at http://www.youtube.com/user/randommatty.

Follow Grant Welker on Twitter and Tout @SunGrantWelker.

With Tom Christiano

GUESTS:Allen Thomas (School Committee)Mike Raisbeck (Planning Board)Stefani Bush (Town Meeting Rep.)Susan Dandaraw (Town Meeting Rep)

Topics include: The upcoming Chelmsford Election...School lunches, policies and programs....Planning Board Policies and current activities....The Department of Children & Families (DCF)...and South Row & other Chelmsford Schools.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Guests:

Mike Rigney, Jon Kurland, Molly LoughmanDee Miller, Brian Latina

Some Topics:

School Committee, Town Moderator and news around town

Politically Incorrect

CLICK HERE for SHOW

TOWN TALk

CLICK HERE for Show

This Episode: Robotics

CLICK HERE for Show

Volunteering at CTMHave you ever wondered what it would be like to be the "star" in your own TV show? Operate a camera? Edit video? Or, work "behind the scenes" at a TV station?

Then, volunteer at Chelmsford TeleMedia!

Volunteers are the soul of our operation. They range from high-school students to retirees. Some come once a month, while others show up practically every day. But, each one loves being involved. (Some of our volunteers have even gone on to win national awards for the programs they produce in our studio!)

The whole point of "public-access televsion" is to let you, the public, get involved in the creation, production, and broadcasting of TV shows in your community. Don't worry if you don't know how. Our staff will teach you at your own pace, and our studio is available most weekday evenings to accomodate your work schedule.

To volunteer, fill out the members registration form. Be sure to check the New Volunteer checkbox! Someone from our office will get back to you with more information.

Or, call us at 978-251-5143 and ask for our Community Coordinator Dan Silvia! He'll arrange a time for you to come in and tour the studio.

Or, just come visit. We love visitors!

Volunteer Here

For Chelmsford friends and family: to join the ITR email list, write to intownreport@gmail.com. And if you would like to read all of the articles in this newsletter and more as they happen, please join the ITR Facebook page which is linked here…

CHELMSFORD’S IN-TOWN REPORT

•Tickets go on sale February 10th at Harrington Wine & Liquors and through The Center School. If you want to reserve a table, you must purchase 10 tickets at a time and assign one name to the table.

$25 per ticket purchased in advance. $30 per ticket at the door if still available.

Enjoy an evening out at the Chelmsford Radisson, Monday - March 24, 2014 tasting delicious dishes from some of the finest local restaurants and caterers. Sample wines from Harrington Wine & Liquors and enjoy music by the Music Academy of Chelmsford. Cash bar.

This event is for adults only. Tickets will go on sale in early March 2014 at Harrington Wine & Liquors, Chelmsford MA.

Past participating restaurants have included: Harrington Wine & Liquors, Sal's Pizza, Gibbet Hill Grill, Burton's Grill, Bianco's Catering, The Meat House, The Sugar Bake Shoppe, Zesty's, Trader Joe's, Independence Bar & Grill, Harrow's Chicken Pies, Bertuccis, Keyks, Alpine Butchers, Sweet Enough, Lester's Roadside BBQ, Feng Shui, Sichuan Palace, Catering by PJ, British Beer Company, and many other fine establishments.

☆ CARR COMES TO CHELMSFORD ☆Chelmsford Public Library The Friday Morning Lecture Series presents:

"Ratman: The Trial and Conviction of Whitey Bulger" presented by Howie CarrFriday, February 14, 2014

at 10 a.m. in the McCarthy Meeting Room

With a $2 million reward on his head, James “Whitey” Bulger had been the most-wanted fugitive in America for 16 years when he was captured by the FBI in June 2011. Two years later, this Boston organized-crime boss went on trial in his hometown. In his latest book, "Ratman: The Trial and Conviction of Whitey Bulger," New York Times best-selling author Howie Carr chronicles the trial of this notorious mob boss, who was charged with 19 murders. Carr describes the 7-week trial in vivid detail, using photographs submitted as evidence and excerpts from previously sealed FBI reports to illustrate the parade of hitmen, drug dealers, bookies, and crooked FBI agents testifying against their former boss. Carr also shares accounts of a uniquely personal nature, including testimony from one of Bulger’s hitmen that Whitey ordered him to kill Carr in the driveway of his home. After seeing Carr walk out his front door holding the hand of his young daughter, the hitman got cold feet. Despite Bulger’s attempts to keep this Boston Herald columnist and radio talk-show host out of the courtroom by listing him as a defense witness, the judge allowed Carr to cover the trial, putting readers in the front row at one of the most entrancing murder trials in recent history.

Howie Carr is the author of two New York Times best-sellers, "The Brothers Bulger" and "Hitman." His most recent book, "Rifleman," is a look into the life and mind of Whitey Bulger’s partner, Stevie Flemmi. Carr has been writing about Whitey Bulger for more than 30 years. Before Bulger fled in 1994, Carr was such an implacable foe of the serial killing gangster that Whitey and a henchman allegedly tried to kill him as he left his house in suburban Boston—an incident reported in 2006 on 60 Minutes. This summer, Bulger unsuccessfully tried to have him banned from the courtroom. Bulger’s younger brother, Billy Bulger, then president of the Massachusetts State Senate, publicly referred to Carr as “the savage.” "Ratman" is the last chapter, completing a series of fascinating books detailing organized crime in Boston. Carr is a columnist for the Boston Herald, host of a daily syndicated four-hour radio program heard throughout New England, and a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago. To learn more go to Howiecarrshow.com.

Brothers Bulger" and "Hitman." His most recent book, "Rifleman," is a look into the life and mind of Whitey Bulger’s partner, Stevie Flemmi. Carr has been writing about Whitey Bulger for more than 30 years. Before Bulger fled in 1994, Carr was such an implacable foe of the serial killing gangster that Whitey and a henchman allegedly tried to kill him as he left his house in suburban Boston—an incident reported in 2006 on 60 Minutes. This summer, Bulger unsuccessfully tried to have him banned from the courtroom. Bulger’s younger brother, Billy Bulger, then president of the Massachusetts State Senate, publicly referred to Carr as “the savage.” "Ratman" is the last chapter, completing a series of fascinating books detailing organized crime in Boston. Carr is a columnist for the Boston Herald, host of a daily syndicated four-hour radio program heard throughout New England, and a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago. To learn more go to Howiecarrshow.com.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆Coming Attractions at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts…

Feb. 9 – Jazz at the CCA: Shake the winter blues with the Brazilian sounds of O Pato in the Cabaret Cafe, 3 – 5 pm, $10 at the door

Feb. 15 – Jazz at the CCA: Wendee Glick & Friends, Chocolate, Wine, and Jazz. Treat your Valentine to a evening of romantic tunes in the CCA Cabaret Cafe. Tickets in Advance $17.50 at the CCA or on line HERE. $22 at the Door. Get your tickets early and SAVE.

Feb. 16 - David Young, Channeling George Harrison: An Evening of Music, Storytelling, Meditation, Spiritual Insights, Healing, and LaughterIn the past 3 years, Grammy-nominated musician David Young has been “contacted” by George Harrison in spirit, in dozens of remarkable and amazing ways. George’s message is that he wants to help raise the vibration of the planet at this crucial time in history. Due to David’s musical talent, his years of spiritual meditation practice, and his open heart, George selected David to be a conduit for his music and message to humanity. This 3 hour extravaganza will feature uplifting spiritual messages, beautiful music, and riveting stories of how George has made his presence known to David. Tickets in Advance at the CCA or on-line HERE $20 or at the door $30. 2:00 PM

Feb. 22 – Jazz at the CCA: Late Night Joe, 7 pm $10 at the door

For more details visit our website: www.chelmsfordarts.org and check back often for up to date information and new listings.

One of 14 sites at the preliminary level, Chelmsford will host theater groups from: Burncoat High School, Narragansett High School, North Central Charter Essential School, North Reading High School, Randolph High School, Shirley High School, and Wilbraham and Monson Academy. One hundred and fifteen one act plays will be performed around the state that day, with three shows from each site moving on to the Semi Final round to be held on March 15th. Two shows from each site will then move on to the State Finals, to be held March 27th – 29th in Boston.

CHS is pleased to present their entry, an original one act play entitled Civil Blood, written by Eloise Hoffman.  Civil Blood tells the tale of Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth, and his struggles with the tragedy that engulfed his family while he is trying to mount a production of Romeo and Juliet.

On March 1st, the first show begins at 9 am and the last one goes up at 5:30 pm, at the Chelmsford High School Performing Arts Center (PAC). The Chelmsford show is scheduled for 2:00 pm.

Tickets are only $10 for the entire day - all 8 shows. Quite a bargain for an incredible day of theater!

On Saturday, March 1st, the Chelmsford High School Theater Guild in conjunction with Chelmsford Theater Arts Parents (CTAP) will be a host site for the Preliminary Level of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) High School Festival. 

Laugh while you can...

ITR Entertainment clip of the week

Liam Neeson: Stand Up Comedian!!!

Bad idea???

CLICKHERE

Quote of the week:

This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer.

- Will Rogers

3 more to go

...TO BE CONTINUED

In-Town Report News LinksLOWELL SUNChelmsfordindependentchelmsford PatchChelmsford TeleMedia

ITR ON FACEBOOK LINK

Roy EarleyTown Meeting Representative:Precinct 6Westlands WatchdogsChelmsford's In-Town ReportChelmsford Open Space Steward

Chelmsford Open SpaceStewards

Fecebook page

CLICK HERE

The Westlands' Cynthia Ann Moores Nature Park

facebook pageCLICK HERE

Westlands Watchdogs on facebookCLICK HERE