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Word is out. Make that, Words are out. The first-ever Massachusetts Poetry Festival is set for October 10-12 in Lowell and the Greater Merrimack Valley. The Lowell Sun had the first report of this new cultural development a few weeks ago. Boston media folks picked up on it. David Mehegan, editor of the Books section of the Boston Globe, right off saw what was going on. He asked on his blog, “Why has no one thought of doing this in Massachusetts before? …The closest thing to it that I can think of is the [biennial] Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival [in New Jersey]. Well, a group of ambitious organizers did think of it and are ready to launch it this fall. What state has contributed more to American poetry? Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Longfellow and Whittier, Phyllis Wheatley, Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath, Jack Kerouac and Robert Lowell, e e cummings, Charles Olsen, Lucy Larcom and Anne Bradstreet, Thoreau, Emerson, Elizabeth Bishop, Kahlil Gribran, T.S. Eliot, Stanley Kunitz, and more.  Today’s poets are a match for the giants.

With former US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, award-winning poets and authors Andre Dubus III of UMass Lowell’s English Dept [his new novel incorporates passages by TS Eliot], Rhina Espaillat of Newburyport, Martin Espada of UMass Amherst, Regie Gibson, Marjorie Agosin, Lucie Brock-Broido, post-Beat writer Ed Sanders, Everett Hoagland, J.D. Scrimgeour, and X. J. Kennedy and the Light [poetry] Brigade of the Concord Poetry Center, as well as Gloucester filmmaker Henry Ferrini with his Charles Olsen and Kerouac documentaries, musician Jeff Robinson, book artist Susan Kapuscincki Gaylord, and much more–the festival promises to transform Columbus Day Weekend in Lowell. For details on the schedule and information about advance tickets and opportunties to donate to this “epic celebration” go to www.masspoetry.org/festival or contact the City of Lowell’s office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events–or go to www.cultureiscool.org, the website of COOL.

This special event, which is expected to be a regular offering in Lowell, will rise to the category of last year’s premiere of the Cambodian rock opera, “Where Elephants Weep,” and the summer-long exhibition of Kerouac’s legendary “On the Road” scroll manuscript at the Boott Mills Museum. More than 4,500 people witnessed the rock opera performances at Lowell High School’s auditorium and some 25,000 people visited the Kerouac exhibit and attended related readings, concerts, panel talks, tours, etc. Lowell is the perfect place for the Massachusetts Poetry Festival because of our experience with major events (note the wild continuing success of the Lowell Folk Festival as seen last weekend) and our location and history. One can argue that the Greater Merrimack Valley is the cradle of American poetry, with Anne Bradstreet of North Andover leading most anthologies of American poetry and the A List of poets who hail from our region: Emerson, Whittier, Frost, Kerouac. Lucy Larcom was a pioneering figure in American literature and a colleague of Whittier’s in publishing and abolitionist activity. Edgar Allan Poe has an interesting connection to Lowell (more on this in subsequent blogging). The Sept-Oct issue of Poets and Writers Magazine (circulation 80,000), the main national publication for creative writing, will feature a full-page ad: “October is Literary Month in the Greater Merrimack Valley.” Thanks to the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, readers will see a schedule for a regional literary theme park, starting with the 21st annual Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! festival on the first weekend of October, and continuing with the Mass Poetry Festival,  Concord Festival of Authors in mid-month (with events in Concord and Lowell), and Robert Frost Festival on the final weekend of the month. This is the first time the regional literary activity has been packaged for national promotion. This is the kind of strategy that puts Lowell and the region out front with the creative economy.

The hands-on science and tech museum in San Francisco, The Exploratorium, has small labels with the various displays that read, “What’s Going on Here?” What follows is an easy explanation of the scientific principle at work in the display. So, what’s going on with this emphasis on poetry and writing? At bottom it is about turning a spotlight on writing, reading, critical thinking, imagination and invention and inspiration. It’s about making community life more meaningful and uplifting. It’s about bringing people together to talk, listen, and share what they are thinking and feeling. We write to understand ourselves and our world, to put our sense of it into words so we can exchange our version with others. 

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Over on the Herald’s blog former SUN reporter Hillary Chabot writes about the impending override of Governor Patrick’s budget vetoes. She notes that Ways and Means Chair Senator Steve Panagiotakos is predicting a prudent “fifty-fifty split” with the Governor. Apparently the Republican members expect Pangi  to jump through hoops to explain why this Governor is allowed to keep half of his cuts while a GOP Governor would suffer a full override.

“There has better communication (with Patrick) so there will be less for us to have to override” said Panagiotakos. “I want to make sure that the five members of the minority party remember those days of wine and roses, because they’re gone.”

The Senator will probably end up on GOP mouthpiece Barney Keller’s  hit list or at least as a talking points bullet. Barney and friends have been lobbing charges at Democrats from one end of the Commonwealth to the other. As the legislative session ends the heat is turned up for the coming election. Stay tuned.

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John McCain launched an effective TV Ad this week making fun of Barack Obama’s “rock star” status. The video even mingles pictures of the superficial Paris Hilton and Britney Spears with Obama’s. Here is is…

Today Barack Obama’s campaign responded to McCain with this Ad called “The Low Road”. The video uses dull, black and white images and the use of the words “old” and “failed”.

In the end I think the McCain Ad is more effective

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If you are looking  for other campaign volunteer opportunities, there are State Senate and Rep races needing  workers and races for Governor’s Council.

Rep. Jamie Eldridge - 37th Middlesex District - is running for the Democratic nomination in the Middlesex & Worcester District to replace retiring Senator Pam Resor. Eldridge is well-respected for his high-level  5th CD campaign last summer. http://jamie.combsnet.com/

Jim Arciero of Westford and Chelmsford Board of Selectman member Pat Wojtas are running for the Democratic nomination in the 2nd Middlesex District to replace retiring Representative Geoff Hall.  Billerica Representative Bill Green is challenged in the Democratic primary by Selectman Jim O’Donnell. As part of an ongoing effort to turn the First Middlesex Rep District “blue,” Groton Democrat Virginia Wood is challenging Republican incumbent Bob Hargraves. Lawrence has a spirited and heated race in the 6th Essex District as former Acting Mayor and City Councillor Marcos Devers challenges incumbent Rep. Willie Lantigua for the Democratic nomination while the Freshman Rep Methuen’s Linda Dean Campbell is again facing Christopher DiBella in the 15th Essex District primary.

Others in the Greater Lowell /MV delegation - Senators Panagiotakos and Tucker, Representatives Golden, Nangle, Garry, Miceli, Finegold and Tucker have no primary or Republican opposition. But Reps Kevin Murphy (Lowell) and Barbara L’Italien (Andover) and Senator Susan Fargo (Third Middlesex) face either a Republican or Independent in November.

And then there is the race in the 4th Middlesex District to replace Senator Jim Marzilli. The contest in the Democratic primary is between  firefighter union exec Ken Donnelly and Arlington Selectman John Hurd. Billerica is in the 4th District.

In the Governor’s Council - Third District race, longtime incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney of Watertown is facing a double-barreled challenge in the primary from fellow Democrats Watertown Fire Department Lieutentant Tom Walsh and Jack Doyle of Waltham. In the Fifth District incumbent Mary Ellen Manning of Peabody faces primary challenger Timothy Houlten.

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Taking advantage of today’s beautiful weather, I signed up for a canal tour at the Lowell National Historical Park.  It was a wonderful experience.  If you haven’t taken such a tour recently, find a couple of hours during August and do it.  Here’s what it was like today:

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As July comes to a close, local political activities continue to ramp-up for more than just the Presidential race. Ashly O’Neill - Merrimack Valley Regional Coordinator for Senator  John Kerry’s reelection campaign - will be discussing organizational plans for the Lowell area at a Wednesday July 30th meeting scheduled for 7pm at the home of DSC member Patti Kirwin Keilty, 60 Stafford Road in Lowell. If you plan to attend - RSVP to pkk60@yahoo.com.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas is hosting area discussions for women supporters - conversations about issues of concern in the 5th District. They’ll meet for breakfast on August 6th at the Cafe Paradiso in Lowell; for breakfast on August 5th at the Colonial Inn in Concord and for lunch on August 5th at the Cedar Crest in Lawrence. Meanwhile the Tsongas Campaign will host  district-wide supporters at a Tsongas Tsummer Celebration on August 21st from 7-9 pm at Longmeadow Country Club in Lowell - a donation of $20 is suggested. The Tsongas Tscoops and local and NH canvassing activities are ongoing thoughout the summer and fall. For specific information - check out the website at: http://www.nikitsongas.com.

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On October 22, 2008 from 6pm to 9pm there will be a gala event celebrating Community Teamwork Inc.’s 15th Annual Evening with Local Heroes. The gathering at Lenzi’s in Dracut is a staple on the Greater Lowell fall community calendar as nominated heroes are recognized for enriching our lives through their contributions, civic example and community service. You can nominate your hero by contacting organizers at 978-459-0551 Ext. 281 or by picking up a nomination form at CTI, 167 Dutton Street, Lowell. Full information will be on-line soon at www.comteam.org. Stay tuned.

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Like every newspaper in America, the Lowell Sun is being squeezed financially.  Evidence of that was apparent one day last week when the amount of column inches devoted to foreclosure notices and planning board advertisements exceeded the amount of commercial advertising in the paper.  But shutting down the air conditioning in the newsroom as a cost saving measure was a mistake.  The resulting nastiness over high heat and humidity in the workplace has spilled over into the paper as is evident by the something-negative-for-everyone Column of today.  Oh, there are a few items that appear positive, but they’re really cross-dressing stabs-in-the-back to their subjects.  Read it and draw your own conclusions.  I’m heading to the Folk Festival right now so I’ll omit my analysis.  And after all, as the saying goes, “don’t waste any bullets on someone who’s committing suicide.”  But do save a paper version of this Column.  When the paper’s obituary is being written in a few years, the July 27, 2008 edition will be an important artifact that will explain much about the Sun’s demise.

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In the twenty-something years that I’ve been attending the Lowell Folk Festival, today has to rate near the top, weather-wise.  And good weather seemed to bring out a large and enthusiastic crowd.  (Hopefully tomorrow will be just as nice).  This year, I volunteered to run a Lowell Telecommunications Camera at the Market Street Stage which turned out to be a lot of fun.  My camera was positioned about five feet in front of the stage, so I got a terrific view of the performances which were mostly dancers of various traditions.  Being assigned to a post kept me from roaming around downtown, so please use the comment feature to share your observations and insights into this year’s Festival.

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Yesterday Barack Obama spoke in Berlin to a crowd of over 200,000 people. Yesterday John McCain ate in a German restaurant in Ohio. Yes, it has been a bad week for the Republican nominee as he struggles to wrestle some attention way from his rival’s high profile trip. Many pundits believe the main reason for the enormous success of “the trip” is the media’s love for Obama. To counter this the McCain campaign released this video called…”Obama Love”. It takes snippets of mushie statements made by talking heads about Obama. The media gushes while the song “I Can’t Take My Eye’s Off You” plays in the background…good stuff.

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