Maureen Vacca
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Comments
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On the article School Building Project Estimated to Cost $13 to $16 Million More
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On the article Will Patrick's $1.9 Billion Tax Hike Pass?
Maureen Vacca
11:17 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
ReplyI hope not. In addition to tax increases, it includes the elimination of 44 tax deductions. Under current tax law you can sell your primary residence and not pay capital gains tax...the Gov. wants to eliminate that benefit. Those of us that have built up equity in our homes with the hope of retiring on those funds will get hit hard! He also wants to eliminate the tax deduction for college tuition and health savings accounts. Two of the highest expenses middle-class families have, college education and health insurance costs. Urge your legislator to vote NO.
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On the article School Building Project Estimated to Cost $13 to $16 Million More
Maureen Vacca
11:12 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Reply"If the voters do not approve the additional money, then the project requires some redesign and contractor rescheduling that will delay the project 7 months. That translates to $3 million in additional costs". THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE....NOR IS IT BELIEVABLE. Redesign does not take that long. The contractors & project managers should be working on some of these NOW and, in light of their contributions to this debacle, SHOULD make it a priority. Someone needs to get tougher. And yes I am speaking from experience and would be willing to get involved IF the objective is to build within the approved budget a wonderful school for all children into the future. IT CAN BE DONE.
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On the article What Do You Love Most About North Reading?
Maureen Vacca
2:23 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
ReplyI love so many things about our community! Family values are evident, people fund-raised to hire a Youth Director when our kids were in need. People of all faiths are free to celebrate their religions & churches often hold interfaith services such as Easter Sunrise service on The Common and the Nativity at Christmas. Our neighborhoods are friendly to folks of all ages, and our town employees do an excellent job serving the needs of our community. Our businesses donate so much to charitable causes, particularly to the students.
North Reading truly is a nice place to live....thank you to each & every resident for making it so. -
On the article Jon Favreau to Leave Job As White House Speechwriter
Maureen Vacca
2:10 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
ReplyI wish Jon the best of luck! He certainly is an example of our outstanding school system. And his parents must be very proud of him.
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On the article North Reading Trash Program Reduces Barrel Limit
Maureen Vacca
1:05 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
ReplyIn order to evaluate this move I am wondering how much we will save on our trash collection costs? And if our recycling costs will increase?
Oh, and I am very curious to the reference to a scrap metal bin at the DPW. Is it available to residents? What can we dispose of? Are there other 'bins' at the DPW that residents can use to dispose of trash?
I support initiatives to reduce costs to taxpayers & increase recycling.
Thanks! -
On the article Will There Be a Dog Park in North Reading?
Maureen Vacca
7:59 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
ReplyWhere there is a will...there is a way! People interested in a dog park should work together to present a list of potential sites to the BOS. One place that comes to my mind is the abandoned ball park between Walmart & the postal annex. No neighbors, plenty of parking....and it just might be partially fenced in.
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On the article What Should Go Here?
Maureen Vacca
7:51 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
ReplyGood question. Perferably a company that has jobs for teenagers, maybe even one willing to establish an internship program with the school district. A combination of learning & earning potential!
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On the article White Cat "Blizzard" Is Home
Maureen Vacca
1:13 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
ReplyI tried to email info@mylostkitty.com & it was returned as undeliverable.
I may have spotted Blizzard yesterday in my backyard. I live at 118 Chestnut St. (intersection of Chestnut & Haverhill). The cat was walking along the stonewall in my backyard, headed to my neighbors yard (yellow house on Haverhill St.).
In addition to acres of woods that run along Haverhill St. there is the Heritage St. neighborhood (off Chestunut St.).
If I see the cat again I will call the phone number listed. Good luck!
Maureen Vacca -
On the article NRHS Ranked Among the Top 50 Public High Schools in the State
Maureen Vacca
2:20 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
ReplyI am so proud of our school district and everyone that works so hard to make it the success it is! Go Hornets!!
Maureen Vacca
3:32 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
I don't think I have to convince anyone that I support education (15 years on the school committee) and have extensive experience in school construction projects (5 years on the school building committee). Even with new MSBA regulations in place, my experience is still relevant. Construction, design plans, educational needs, etc. are still the same. In the past we were not required to have a project manager, the SBC members did that job. I spent every morning at on-site meetings during the Hood School construction project. But that's not the point...
I cannot believe that the town is not able to build a new high school & core facility & renovate the middle school...produce a more-than-adequate school facility... that will last for generations...for $107 million!
However, we are voting NO because we cannot afford the tax increase.
It's simply a matter of affordability.
It's not about trash fees, it's not about what other towns do. I understand the consequences of reducing the scope of the project.
We voted for the project knowing it would stretch our budget. We voted yes, we have made sacrifices in our personal finances. We cannot do anymore.
I hope people can appreciate that, no amount of information shared at a meeting is going to put more money in my bank account.