Full disclosure from the top: I have appeared in the past as a guest on "Saturday Morning Live" on WCAP.
I must say we are very lucky here in Greater Lowell. Many middle size cities such as Lowell do not have a full service radio station plus a daily newspaper. As a local news and politics junkie, I love having these hyper local resources and hope they stay around for sometime. That's why its important to subscribe to the paper and visit the sponsors of the radio station.
Lately I've been listening to WCAP in the morning more often. I've been listening off and on since I moved to the area but over the past few months the first thing I put on in the car for the morning and afternoon commutes is WCAP. Unfortunately in the morning, I lose the signal pretty quickly as I get deep into Pelham but strangely it comes back in stronger around Londonderry. Coming home the signal is perfect since its daylight.
Since I can't listen all the time I wonder if the station would consider podcasting its content and putting it on their website. Oftentimes I hear the hosts talking about an upcoming segment that I'd really like to hear but I can't because I am at work. I know Tommy Duggan, who hosts a show on Saturdays, put his show up as a podcast on his website so the technology is there. Shawn Ashe does it at times for "Saturday Morning Live."
WCAP is a great resource and has a lot of content you really can't get anywhere else. As the new owners move into their third year, here's hoping the station continues to grow and more and more of its content is available on-line.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Great place to work...
Today's Boston Globe reveals the top 100 places to work in Massachusetts and Greater Lowell has some good representation.
Coming in at number 1 is Comcast which has a big office in Chelmsford, off on Rte. 3 Meanwhile, Enterprise Bank came in at 41 and Lowell General Hospital is 91.
See the whole list here.
Coming in at number 1 is Comcast which has a big office in Chelmsford, off on Rte. 3 Meanwhile, Enterprise Bank came in at 41 and Lowell General Hospital is 91.
See the whole list here.
I'm in the wrong field
So Spencer Mullin is retiring at the age of 58 and today's Sun had a story about a Greenmont Ave. School teacher who retired last month at the age of 57!
As a Catholic School teacher, me thinks public school teachers have it pretty darn good!
As a Catholic School teacher, me thinks public school teachers have it pretty darn good!
Bring back Elaine?
While I am sure former Superintendent of Schools Elaine Espindle would love to come back and serve as interim superintendent, my money says she stays retired. Espindle left the post last year after 10 years and after some tense moments with School Committee members, especially DJ Deeb. Certainly her coming back to save the day after Deeb's hand-picked successor, Spencer Mullin's, abrupt retirement and rocky time in office would be nothing more than satisfying for Espindle.
But, I don't think she'll do it, as does today's Column. The Sun did have an editorial last week calling for Espindle's return but school officials are saying it won't happen.
Too bad...would have been great theatre!
But, I don't think she'll do it, as does today's Column. The Sun did have an editorial last week calling for Espindle's return but school officials are saying it won't happen.
Too bad...would have been great theatre!
Thumbs Down
In this morning's Lowell Sun, the paper gives the town a thumbs down for not revealing the status of Dracut High Vice Principal Hank Golec. Golec is alleged to have sent into school security tapes to the MIAA in an attempt to get football coach Jeff Moore in trouble for having illegal summer practices. It turns out that the practices were open to all students so they were fine.
Since this came out, Golec has been out of work but no one knows the status of his employment or the investigation. The editorial in its entirety is below:
Dracut residents have a lot of questions regarding the lengthy absence of Dracut High School vice principal Hank Golec. They deserve some answers.
Golec has been absent for more than a month, but schools officials have revealed precious little information as to why. The Sun learned from sources that there is an investigation into allegations Golec was responsible for a breach in the school's security system and allegedly misused surveillance equipment at the high school.
Residents have been talking about the incident since September, but school officials refuse to disclose if Golec is on paid or unpaid administrative leave, or if he is taking sick or vacation time. Officials say they are protecting Golec's privacy.
Well, what about Dracut residents' right to know how their tax dollars are being spent? If they are funding an employee's administrative leave, they should be told.
It's time for Dracut school officials to be more forthcoming about this incident. Residents have a right to know what is happening in their school system.
Since this came out, Golec has been out of work but no one knows the status of his employment or the investigation. The editorial in its entirety is below:
Dracut residents have a lot of questions regarding the lengthy absence of Dracut High School vice principal Hank Golec. They deserve some answers.
Golec has been absent for more than a month, but schools officials have revealed precious little information as to why. The Sun learned from sources that there is an investigation into allegations Golec was responsible for a breach in the school's security system and allegedly misused surveillance equipment at the high school.
Residents have been talking about the incident since September, but school officials refuse to disclose if Golec is on paid or unpaid administrative leave, or if he is taking sick or vacation time. Officials say they are protecting Golec's privacy.
Well, what about Dracut residents' right to know how their tax dollars are being spent? If they are funding an employee's administrative leave, they should be told.
It's time for Dracut school officials to be more forthcoming about this incident. Residents have a right to know what is happening in their school system.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Dracut's History
This morning on "Saturday Morning Live" Warren Shaw interviewed Lakeview Junior High teacher Rebecca Duda about Claypit Cemetery. I didn't catch all of it but for the past couple of weeks I've been getting more and more interested in Dracut's history. I visited the Dracut Historical Society on Sunday and could not believe the amount of artifacts they have. I want to go back and spend more time walking around and exploring, especially in the upstairs. One thing I learned is that Dracut had a big amusment park at one time, over near where St. Mary Magdalen Church is now.
In talking to the folks there they said they could use new members, especially younger ones. Membership is quite cheap ($5 I think) and they have some great talks and resources. They currently meet on the second Monday of the month at 7pm but they're moving to the second Sundays at 3pm beginning in January.
The building is open on Sundays from 1pm-3pm and is located at 1660 Lakeview Avenue, across from Hess Gas Station. As Shawn mentioned, they're having a talk this Monday, November 9, at 7pm on African Americans in Dracut. Duda will be giving the talk.
Dracut has a rich and long history, we should all learn more about it (especially newer residents like me) and also do what we can to preserve it.
In talking to the folks there they said they could use new members, especially younger ones. Membership is quite cheap ($5 I think) and they have some great talks and resources. They currently meet on the second Monday of the month at 7pm but they're moving to the second Sundays at 3pm beginning in January.
The building is open on Sundays from 1pm-3pm and is located at 1660 Lakeview Avenue, across from Hess Gas Station. As Shawn mentioned, they're having a talk this Monday, November 9, at 7pm on African Americans in Dracut. Duda will be giving the talk.
Dracut has a rich and long history, we should all learn more about it (especially newer residents like me) and also do what we can to preserve it.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Mullin speaks
Perhaps realizing that shutting out the Lowell Sun the other day was not a good idea, Dr. Spencer Mullin revealed a very personal side of him in today's paper. He said he is retiring as superintendent of schools because he wants to take care of his soon to be born grandchild. His son and daughter-in-law are expecting at the end of this month and Mullin will watch the baby during the day.
He said that the death of his father this past fall helped him put some perspective on life:
"I spent almost 37 years working and I missed a lot when my kids were growing up," said Mullin. "I've just spent so much time putting work first, so I thought to myself, this is a second chance."
As a teacher, I do know what he means. Teaching is not a Monday-Friday job, it is 24/7 with tons of nights and weekends. I love it, don't get me wrong, but there is a lot of work. This week alone I've had to work two nights, one night 4-8 and tonight 2-6. But, there is a trade off - summers, Christmas vacation, snow days, etc.
Anyway, I give Mullin credit and I wish he showed this side of himself during his tenure here. I do have some different views of him after reading the article and I wish him luck in the future.
Here is a taste:
Mullin has spent about 25 years of his more than 37 years in public education working in the Dracut school system as a teacher, principal and administrator.
He said that the death of his father this past fall helped him put some perspective on life:
"I spent almost 37 years working and I missed a lot when my kids were growing up," said Mullin. "I've just spent so much time putting work first, so I thought to myself, this is a second chance."
As a teacher, I do know what he means. Teaching is not a Monday-Friday job, it is 24/7 with tons of nights and weekends. I love it, don't get me wrong, but there is a lot of work. This week alone I've had to work two nights, one night 4-8 and tonight 2-6. But, there is a trade off - summers, Christmas vacation, snow days, etc.
Anyway, I give Mullin credit and I wish he showed this side of himself during his tenure here. I do have some different views of him after reading the article and I wish him luck in the future.
Here is a taste:
Mullin has spent about 25 years of his more than 37 years in public education working in the Dracut school system as a teacher, principal and administrator.
The Hello, Dolly! poster hanging on the wall in his office is a testament to the days when he taught English and theater classes at the high school. The framed 1997 poster marks Mullin's success at bringing back annual Broadway musical student productions to the high school. His students gave him the poster, along with the framed tickets from the April 10, 11 and 12 performances and a folding director's chair with "Dr. Mullin" embroidered on the back.
Mullin said his father's death in September gave him a new perspective on life. Mullin had already lost his wife to lung cancer about 10 years earlier and at the time, the school system was also embroiled in an investigation over whether high-school Vice Principal Hank Golec had misused school surveillance equipment.
Mullin said he discussed the idea of retiring to care for his first grandchild with his father -- who also often served as his confidant -- before his death.
"This has been weighing on my mind," said Mullin.
In the end, Mullin said he chose to make his family a priority and is looking forward to baby-proofing his house. Said Mullin about his decision, "I couldn't be more delighted."
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