WESTFORD — Welcome to the Dec. 3 edition of Weekend Wrap-Up. Here, we highlight the most important news you may have missed this week in Westford.
Monument approved for veteran involved in passage of GI Bill
A monument in honor of a Westford veteran involved in the passage of the GI Bill is set to be constructed in Freedom Park.
The Select Board unanimously approved the monument during a Nov. 28 meeting.
A granite slab to honor Forge Village native Francis Michael Sullivan will be installed at Freedom Park ahead of Memorial Day.
The bronze monument will be placed approximately five feet from the brick patio near the gazebo. $1,557.63 in funding will be donated by the Westford Historical Society.
Sullivan’s connection to Westford
Born on Pond Street in 1897, Sullivan is credited for his work and advocacy on the 1944 GI Bill of Rights. This bill provided service personnel returning from World War II opportunities for property ownership, college education, as well as unemployment, disability and pension assistance for wounded veterans.
Sullivan attended the Cameron School and graduated from Westford Academy in 1916.
Sullivan served briefly in the United States Navy, later serving four years in the Naval Reserve. He earned his Bachelor of Laws from George Washington University Law School in 1929, later serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia.
The American Legion and GI Bill
He later began work for the American Legion in 1943, where he served on the Legion’s legislative staff to advocate for veterans in Congress. During this work, he suffered a number of health issues.
“The urgency of his work for veterans, the death of his father, the destruction of the house he grew up in and the sudden expansion of his family all took its toll on our father,” according to a biography from Sullivan’s son and daughter, Dan Sullivan and Anne Hillyard. “In April 1943, he suffered he first of a series of heart attacks that would recur over the next 10 years.”
According to the biography, Sullivan returned to work by June of 1943 as acting Legislative Director for the American Legion, where he called for “one piece of comprehensive legislation” to address the needs of returning veterans.
After the passage of the GI Bill, Sullivan left the American Legion in 1947 and accepted a job as a Legislative Director for the Disabled American Veterans until his death in 1954.
“For the last year of his life, our father was confined to a wheelchair,” the biography reads. “In spite of this, he attended Mass every Sunday and reported for work at the DAV every day until his final illness in Dec. 1953.”
Sullivan’s legacy
Former Republican National Committee Chairman and former Commander of the American Legion Harry Colmery is credited with creating the first draft of the GI Bill on hotel stationery.
However, both Hillyard and Dan Sullivan believe their father’s contributions have been “obscured” by time.
“How can there be so many conflicting claims on who ‘drafted’ the bill? The answer lies in part in the nature of writing public policy,” the biography reads. “While the impetus for legislation on public policy is the work of many hands, the final drafting of it is the work of one steady hand penning it all, and penning the GI Bill was the contribution of our father.”
Both write that Sullivan “was never one to elbow his way to the front of the line” or to “stride uninvited to center stage for anything he did.”
They also note that Sullivan is “one constant” from the American Legion involved in veterans’ legislation.
Cable TV survey results released, public hearing for contract renewals scheduled
Ahead of cable television contract negotiations with Verizon and Comcast, results from a cable television survey from the Communications Advisory Committee have been released.
Cable TV survey results
The survey asked residents’ opinions on the level of service they receive through cable, as well as the future of WestfordCAT’s funding.
The survey had 261 responses from residents ages 18 and older. Approximately 83% of responses were from residents 45 and older.
Of the responses, approximately 61% of respondents say they subscribe to cable.
A majority of respondents felt their service quality, service reliability and equipment quality were either “good” or excellent.” Approximately 62% of respondents rated the value of their service as either “OK” or “poor.”
Of respondents who do not subscribe to cable, over 80% say the service is too expensive, while 50% say they prefer to use streaming services.
Over 69% of respondents say they would be unwilling to pay additional fees for better quality programming or additional programming. However, Approximately 48% of respondents say they would be willing to pay an additional percentage to maintain existing service levels.
Respondents were invited to share their thoughts anonymously, with a number of respondents citing concerns of poor service and rising costs. 70 respondents provided additional written feedback on the survey.
“Prices for cable and internet have become way too expensive. I’m retired and can hardly afford what I’m paying now,” one respondent wrote.
Another wrote, “Comcast has gotten ridiculously expensive for basic services. Lots of additional fees and rising prices. When I retire soon I may not be able to afford it.”
“Too expensive as it is. Seriously considering giving up cable due to predatory pricing and
horrible packaging,” wrote an anonymous third respondent.
Others cited support for local programming like WestfordCAT to continue to provide coverage of local meetings and high school sports.
Verizon and Comcast contracts fund WestfordCAT
These contracts, which are up for renewal next year, include provisions for what programming is available for subscribers, as well as obligations for service providers to provide funding for public, education and government programming.
A 15-year contract with Verizon is set to expire on Oct. 26, 2024, while a 10-year contract with Comcast is set to expire on Aug. 31, 2025.
Under the current contracts, Verizon and Comcast must pay 5% of gross annual revenue as a franchise fee to support public media. These funds make up the majority of WestfordCAT’s operating budget.
In 2022, cable franchise fees accounted for approximately $428,500 of the station’s operating budget.
Both companies have also contributed an average of approximately $10,000 per year towards WestfordCAT’s capital budget.
A public hearing with the Communications Advisory Committee and the Select Board is scheduled for Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Millennium School.
Santa Claus is coming to Westford: Where to visit, take pictures with him
Santa is coming to Westford this holiday season — so, where can you see him?
Santa tour around Westford
When: Dec. 10 from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Where: Multiple locations.
Join the Westford Fire Department with their fourth annual Santa Tour throughout Westford. The tour will begin at 8 a.m. on Dec. 10 in Forge Village and work around town.
Santa is scheduled to stop at Stony Brook Middle School at approximately 8:30 a.m., Miller School at 9 a.m., Nab School at 10 a.m., Nashoba Tech. at 11:20 a.m. Boston Rd. fire station by 1:30 p.m., Westford Academy at 2:45 p.m., Robinson School at 2:50 p.m. and the Forge Village station at 3:15 p.m.
The tour includes music, fire trucks, a police escort and Santa’s sleigh. A full list of stops can be found here.
Pictures with Santa
When: Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: 487 Groton Rd. at the WestfordCAT studio.
Come join WestfordCAT from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 9 for photos with Santa. Stop by with your family, friends, and pets.
A suggested donation of $20 for the photo session is appreciated.
When: Dec. 16 and Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 219 Littleton Rd. at the Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center.
Join the Westford Family FunFest, Westford Rotary, Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center for brunch with Santa during the annual Festival of Trees, Wreaths, Gingerbread and More.
Reservations are encouraged but not required. Call 978-692-8200 ex. 550 to schedule a reservation. Photos with Santa will be available during the event.
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