It took most of the day on Saturday, but residents approved several key items during Annual Town Meeting. In a six-hour session, about 150 voters approved the town’s operating budget and several other purchases, including the acquisition of land at 9 Cross Street known as Yentile Farm. “I think today the most gratifying vote was the unanimous vote on the purchase of Yentile Farm,” said Town Manager Michael Caira following the meeting. “Voters really made a great decision there and we’re well positioned now to pay for it without impacting tax payers, and hopefully to develop it into a first …

Editor's Note: Check back throughout the day for updates on Wilmington's Annual Town Meeting. It took just about 30 minutes after the scheduled 10:30 a.m. start time, but Annual Town Meeting is underway as of 10:56 a.m. now that the necessary quorum of 150 residents is in attendance. The Wilmington Minutemen presented the colors before marching out of the Wilmington High School gymnasium to a round of applause. Town Moderator James Stewart is running through the rules now voters are now hearing a reading of Article 1. Updated at 11:29 a.m.: Voters have approved General Government and Public …

Several noteworthy items are on the agenda for Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting, including the purchase of potential field space and petitioned articles seeking to overturn the decision by voters in December to demolish the current Wilmington High School. Voters will file into the high school gymnasium at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, and Town Manager Michael Caira said he expects a larger crowd than last year. During the 2011 meeting, residents in attendance were forced to wait more than an hour for a quorum of 150 voters needed to start the meeting. “I don’t think we’ll have a problem getting the …

Dear Wilmington Community, I would like to take the time to humbly thank you for the votes I received in my election to the Wilmington School Committee! I am truly grateful for the overwhelming help and support I received at the polls and throughout my campaign. It has been quite endearing.   I am looking forward to serving on the committee, as well as becoming a productive and effective member for the benefit of our children, teachers, parents, and our community. I welcome the challenge that awaits me,and am excited to get started.   I would also like to thank my family for their …

Dear Editor, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the good people of Wilmington for taking time to vote this past Election Day. I know that we all had many activities to attend to on Saturday, so I am very grateful to all my supporters for coming out. I am honored to have been elected to the Wilmington School Committee and I promise to work hard and be an active member on your behalf. I would like to thank my family, friends and all the people that encouraged and supported me throughout the past few weeks.  Sincerely,Manny Mulas

UPDATE: Town Clerk Sharon George provided the official count of Saturday's election. Michael Champoux took the Board of Selectmen vote by a count of 1,476-370. The unofficial numbers in the School Committee race proved to be the same in the official count. ORIGINAL STORY: Voters decided on more of the same in the Board of Selectmen race while opting for new faces on the School Committee during Saturday’s Annual Town Election. Incumbent Michael Champoux soundly defeated Kevin MacDonald in the race for one seat on the Board of Selectmen. Manny Mulas, meanwhile, was victorious in his second run …

UPDATE: Town Clerk Sharon George provided the official count of Saturday's election. Michael Champoux took the Board of Selectmen vote by a count of 1,476-370. The unofficial numbers in the School Committee race proved to be the same in the official count. ORIGINAL STORY: Incumbent Michael Champoux soundly defeated challenger Kevin MacDonald, while Mary Jane Byrnes and Manny Mulas earned seats on the School Committee during Saturday's Annual Town Election. Champoux snagged his second consecutive term as he defeated MacDonald by an unofficial count of 1,476-290.  Mulas topped the ticket with 1…

The minutes are ticking down on Election Day, and though voter turnout is lower than last year's, candidates made the rounds at the precincts around town. As of 6 p.m., Town Clerk Sharon George reported that 1,712 residents have visited the polls, a total of 12 percent. In 2011, 20 percent of residents totalling 3,029 votes came to the polls. There are 15,516 registered voters in town. Polls close at 8 p.m. on the two contested races. Michael Champoux and Kevin MacDonald are fighting for one spot on the Board of Selectmen. Mario Marchese, Mary Jane Byrnes and Manny Mulas are up for two seats …

Local boards will take shape on Saturday as residents come out to the polls to appoint the newest Wilmington elected officials. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, with results announced just after 8 p.m. by Town Clerk Sharon George. Precincts one and two will vote at Boutwell School, precincts three and four will vote at Wildwood School and precincts five and six will travel to cast their vote at Town Hall. If you need any help finding out where to vote, log on to this site through the town's website. Incumbent Michael Champoux squares off against hopeful Kevin MacDonald for …

The candidates have made their cases. On Saturday, Wilmington residents will make their choice. Saturday is Election Day in town, with a pair of contested races taking center stage. Incumbent Michael Champouxs squares off against challenger Kevin MacDonald, who was often combative during public meetings in recent months, for one seat on the Board of Selectmen. On the School Committee ballot, incumbent Mario Marchese takes on challengers Manny Mulas and Mary Jane Byrnes in a race for two spots. “My opponent’s reputation precedes itself,” said Champoux. “I will hope residents use judgment in …

Dear Wilmington Residents,  We have an opportunity on Saturday, April 28, to elect a new and worthy candidate, Manny Mulas, to the Wilmington School Committee.  Over the past year, I have had the benefit of getting to know Manny better as a person and as an active Wilmington resident.  During this time I have continued to learn more about Manny’s dedication to his family and his willingness to support key initiatives and important projects for the betterment of our children, our schools and our community.  Additionally, I had the pleasure of working together with Manny and others as members …

I write today to express my support for Manny Mulas for the office of School Committee Member. I have been publicly in support of Mr. Mulas since the moment he announced his candidacy.  Over the course of the last year or so, I have been fortunate to be able to get to know Manny professionally and personally.  He is a positive, entrepreneurial person who is passionate about the present and future of our town's school system.  Manny's demeanor is inherently friendly, approachable and amiable while still being able to dig seriously into issues and work hard for what he feels is right.  He shows…

I would like to offer a strong endorsement for Mike Champoux for Selectman in the upcoming election. I have known Mike for several years and can honestly say I am a big fan of what Mike has done for our Town and what I know he will continue to do in the role of Selectman. I have seen many positive changes in Wilmington since our family moved here. Members in Town Government continue to be fiscally conservative but progressive as it relates to the needs of our community. Mike is right on track with this mindset, especially as it relates to his involvement with the approval of the new High …

Dear Wilmington Residents, It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I write this Letter to the Editor on behalf of Michael Champoux who is seeking re-election to the Wilmington Board of Selectmen. I have come to know Michael over the years through various community activities as well as through volunteer participation in town government. During this time it continues to be clearly evident that Michael is a proud family man, a hard working business professional and a dedicated resident of the Town of Wilmington.  Michael takes pride in everything he does in life which includes his …

The three candidates for two seats on the School Committee last night discussed the School Department's needs and what they can bring to the table as potential members. Incumbent Mario Marchese, Mary Jane Byrnes and Manny Mulas offered their perspectives on what the most pressing need is for Wilmington Public Schools. "Right now, the new high school building is the priority," said Marchese. "The (current building) was built in the 1950s it has had minor modifications but we know right now ... we have teachers who don’t have classrooms who float around, it's undersized for today," he said. The…

Candidates for a seat on the Board of Selectmen squared off last night as they discussed options for a new town manager, the Nichols Street bridge and Yentile Farm. Incumbent Michael Champoux will face challenger Kevin MacDonald in the April 28 election. Champoux said he and the rest of the Board of Selectmen will look to promote Assistant Town Manager Jeffrey Hull when Town Manager Michael Caira retires laters this year. MacDonald said there are probably other qualified people out there who could do the job. "The four of us who made it to the meeting unanimously felt it was prudent to …

Wilmington’s Annual Town Election is rapidly approaching, and on Tuesday night residents will have the chance to learn more about their choices on the April 28 ballot. School Committee and Board of Selectmen candidates will take part in the annual Candidates night. The event will take place inside the Wilmington Community Television studio beginning at 6:30 p.m. For residents unable to attend in person, the debate will be televised on WCTV. Former Wilmington Town Crier editor Steve Bjork will moderate the event as he did last year. Town Moderator Jim Stewart normally moderates the debate, but…

Dear Voters: I am writing to ask you to vote for my friend, Manny Mulas, for School Committee on April 28th. Manny and I have known each other for years and I worked with him in the fall on the New High School Committee. His commitment to learning the facts, promoting those facts to the community and supporting our schools was awesome to see in practice. However, there is more to Manny than his support for a new high school or a 21st century education. Manny has dedicated himself over the past few years in learning about all issues around a school system and it is his desire to be educated on…

We first met Mike Champoux while watching him deliver a humorous speech and thought, “we like him." We had heard many good things about his support of Wilmington, even outside of his role as Selectman. Since then, we’ve experienced him being a great husband and father, who volunteers his free time to helping our town be a great place and become an even better place. Wilmington has achieved many accomplishments during Mr. Champoux’s term for residents of the town of Wilmington to celebrate. Mike was an active advocate and supporter of Wilmington’s efforts through the high school feasibility …

Dear Voters: I am writing to ask for your vote for Mike Champoux for Selectman. I have come to know Mike through our children’s activities and have been very impressed with him not only as a Selectman, but also as a father, husband, parishioner at St. Thomas and member of the Knights of Columbus. When my wife and I were helping to put together a fundraiser a few years ago for a family in need, Mike and his family stepped out to help in any way that they could. He didn’t do this because he was a Selectman- he did it because he is a caring member of our community. Mike has demonstrated his …