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Students return to the Lowell public schools tomorrow, so add some extra time to your morning commute to compensate for the frazzled parent/chauffeurs, bus drivers trying to learn new routes and students trying to find new bus stops.  The public schools play such a significant role in the day-to-day life of our city, it’s appropriate to take inventory of our school facilities, both active and retired.  Here they are in alphabetical order:

• Ames - built in 1885; closed in June 1992 after a winter fire

• Bailey - built in 1992

• Bartlett - built in 1950; new addition in 1965; renovated in 1993

• Butler (840 Gorham St) - built in 1882; closed in 1992

• Butler (1140 Gorham St) - built in 1992

• Cardinal O’Connell - built in 1896; renovated in 1971; closed as elementary school and opened as McHugh Alternative School in 2003

• Central Street - built in 1896; closed in 1983

• Colburn - built in 1848; closed in 1992

• Daley - built in 1956; renovated in 1994

• Eliot - opened in 1880; closed in 1994

• Green - opened in 1870; revovated in 1958; closed in 2009

• Greenhalge -  built in 1905; addition in 1910; renovated in 1971; demolished and rebuilt in 1994

• Laura Lee - built in 1890; renovated in 1895

• Lincoln - built in 1894; demolished and rebuilt in 1993

• McAuliffe - built in 1993

• Middlesex Village - built in 1898; closed in 1983

• Molloy - built in 1937; closed in 2002; reopened as Lowell High Alternative Program in 2003

• Moody - built in 1893

• Morey - built in 1882; renovated in 1958; renovated in 1968; demolished and rebuilt in 2009

• Morrill - built in 1860; closed in 1975

• Murkland - built in 1993

• Oakland aka Leblanc - built in 1935; closed in 2002; reopened as Therapeutic Day program in 2003

• Pawtucket Jr High, aka McAvinnue - built in 1880; closed in 1992; demolished and rebuilt as McAvinnue in 1994

• Pawtucket Memorial - built in 1965; renovated in 2004

• Pine Street aka Brady - built in 1880; closed in 1992; reopened for Middle School Alternative Program in 1998; closed in 2003 (now Lowell Health Dept)

• Pyne - built in 1965; renovated and renamed Pyne/Arts in 2003

• Reilly - built in 1959, addition in 1965; renovated in 1997

• Riverside - built in 1900; renovated in 1905; closed in 1983; reopened in 1987; closed and reopened for Title 1 in 1991; became Alternative Middle School in 1997

• Robinson - built in 1969; renovated in 1993

• Rogers - built in 1963; renovated in 1993; closed in 2009

• Rogerson - built in 1880; closed in 1973

• Shaughnessy - built in 1957; demolished and rebuilt in 1991

• Sullivan - built in 1992

• Varnum  - built in 1852; closed in 2007

• Wang - built in 1992

• Washington - built in 1905

• Lowell High - built in 1831; addition in 1894; addition in 1922; renovated in 1971; added new wing in 1980; added two new wings and renovated in 1997

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Every issue of The Pilot, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Boston - highlights people - priests, religious and laity - prominent in Catholic history - usually of the Archdiocese. Last Friday’s edition focused on Joseph E. Sullivan of Lowell and used an excerpt from George E. Ryan’s 1979 writings in “Figures in Our Catholic History” to describe this Lowelllian.

Joe Sullivan is certainly an influential and legendary figure in Lowell’s 20th Century history known as an astute businessman, a philanthopist and great supporter of the Catholic Church. He was generous to many local parishes including the donation of a marble altar and canopy to his own parish of the Immaculate Conception in memory of his wife. He also donated the main altar when the Sacred Heart Church was renovated in 1950.

Good works and philanthropy continue into the next generation of Sullivans. The D’Youville Foundation 7th Annual “Lasting Impressions” Celebration will honor his son Joseph and wife Genevieve Sullivan  at their October event at Vesper Country Club. Proceeds will benefit all seniors served on D’Youville’s campus.

From The Pilot: 

Printer-philanthropist… Joseph E. Sullivan (1895-1972) of Lowell began his printer’s career, at 18, as a pressman with The Lowell Sun, the area’s leading daily newspaper. Six years later he established Sullivan Brothers Printers, becoming in 1940 the firm’s sole owner. Based in Lowell, the company today has nine auxiliary plants in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Kentucky, Florida, and Pennsylvania, and specializes in printing sports and other programs, as well as reference works like The Boston Catholic Directory. Extraordinarily active as a trustee, board member, and director of countless Archdiocesan institutions, he was also a prime and generous supporter of local charities. He was awarded honorary doctorates by Boston College, Fairfield, Holy Cross, Suffolk, St. Anselm’s, Rivier and other colleges and universities, and was both a Knight of Malta (1940) and a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre (1952).

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Governor Deval Patrick has announced Tuesday January 19, 2010 as the date of the special election to chose the successor to the US Senate seat held by Senator Ted Kennedy and Tuesday December 8, 2009 as the primary election date. Patrick noted that Secretary of State Bill Galvin will soon announce other dates relative to this process - I would imagine these are the dates for nomination papers to be available and then due in for certification, etc. Governor Patrick in commenting about the bill to allow him to appoint someone to act in an interim capacity in the US Senate as asked by Senator Kennedy himself  ”a modest proposal”  - one that was “reasonable and wise.” The Joint Committee on Election Laws has scheduled a public hearing on that bill for Wednesday September 9, 2009 at 1:00pm in Gardner Auditorium. State Representative Tom Golden of Lowell is the Vice-Chair of that Election Laws Committee. Stay tuned.

Note:

When asked about requiring that any interim appointee not be a candidate in the special election, Governor Patrick said that the “lawyers advised that it is probably not constitutional” but that if the bill passes - he would gain personal assurances from the appointee not to run in January.

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Governor Deval Patrick just announced that the special election to fill the vacant senate seat created by the death of Ted kennedy will take place on Tuesday, January 19. He stated further details about the election will appear on Secretary of State William Galvin’s website before the end of the day. Patrick also stated that he will NOT seek the senate seat himself.

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Former Senator John Culver and close friend of Ted Kennedy told one of the funniest and moving stories about the late Senator during Celebration of Life” service last Friday. Culver explained how a young Kennedy kind of “hoodwinked”, his Harvard Classmate to join him in a sailboat race in Nantucket Sound. The hilarious events detailed by Culver could form the center piece of a comedy movie. The main character in the odd couples comedy of errors was Jack Kennedy’s favorite sailboat named Victura. Below are pictures of the Victura sitting in the rear of the JFK Library.

In the lobby of the JFK Memorial Library visitors sign the memorial book in honor of the late Senator Kennedy.

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Some 400 UMass Lowell students moved in to the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center (ICC) today. The Center officially opened with a ceremony at 4 p.m. featuring remarks by Mayor Caulfield; Molly Sheehy, Dean of the Lowell Campus of Middlesex Community College; Andy Jacobson, owner of Brew’d Awakening coffee shop and a downtown business community leader; Tina (last name?) from the UMass Lowell Resident Advisor staff; and master of ceremonies Chancellor Meehan. Tina, a senior majoring in civil and environmental engineering, said the goal is to make “downtown a campus” in the same way that the University has North, South, and East sections of its overall campus. Chancellor Meehan thanked the Mayor, business leaders, Middlesex, and other partners for their support and assistance with the creation of the ICC. He had special praise for the UMass Lowell staff and contractors who worked above and beyond the call of duty to prepare the ICC for today’s move-in. The former hotel and surrounding property were transformed by the presence of the students and their families and the University’s support team and friends. The opening of the ICC signals a fundamental change in the dynamic of downtown Lowell. Optimism was in the air this afternoon.

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Yesterday was the grand opening of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail which runs from Cross Point in Lowell through Chelmsford and into Westford for a total of 6.8 miles.  Future plans call for two more phases: one of 13 miles through Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord and Sudbury with a final 4.6 mile phase in Sudbury and Framingham. 

Taking advantage of today’s beautiful weather, I made my initial visit to the Rail Trail.  The first challenge was finding it: I have a vague sense that it started somewhere behind Cross Point – which it does.  From the intersection of Chelmsford and Stevens, head down Chelmsford towards Route 3 and turn into the Cross Point parking lot across from the Alpine Butcher.  The bike path parking lot is along the tree line on the right.

The path begins with a tunnel that runs under Route 3.  The path itself is a pristine layer of blacktop except as you near intersections with streets.  Then the path changes to a brick patio effect, sort of a rumble strip for bikes.  Most of the path is lined with fencing, set back from the edges of the pavement although in many places, post and rail fencing of pressure treated lumber lends a rustic appearance.  Most of the bike path was in the shade today.

The Bruce Freeman Bike Path is a wonderful addition to our region.  Today it was being used by many bikers (mostly couples and families cycling leisurely), some joggers, some walkers, a few dogs, one guy on roller blades and one older guy wearing a motorcycle helmet and riding a motorized Razor scooter.  I went from Cross Point to Chelmsford Center and back, a one hour walk.  Below is a video slide show of that portion of the bike path.

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If you select the “Elections” tab just below the title of this website, you’ll find links to the results of every Lowell City Council election since 1965.  For some reason, however, I had neglected to add the 2007 election results, but after several inquiries I have fixed that oversight, adding the school committe results, as well.  Here’s the link to that page, but to save you time, here are the results for the council and the school committee:

2007 Lowell City Council election results

1. Rita Mercier - 7107
2. Bud Caulfield - 5884
3. Bill Martin - 5641
4. Alan Kazanjian - 5364
5. Armand Mercier - 5212
6. Kevin Broderick - 5206
7. Rodney Elliott - 5203
8. Michael Lenzi - 5098
9. Jim Milinazzo - 4908
10. Mehmed Ali - 4691
11. Joe Mendonca - 4392
12. Robert McMahon - 4227
13. Jo-Ann Keegan - 4038
14. Curtis LeMay - 3317
15. Louis Stylos - 2613
16. Kristin Ross-Sitcawich - 2308
17. David Koch - 1750
18. David Laferriere - 1592
19. Patricia Stratton - 995
20. Edward Mackness - 704
21. Darius Mitchell - 624

Lowell School Committee election results:

1. David Conway - 6453
2. Regina Faticanti - 6268
3. John Leahy - 6253
4. Jackie Doherty - 5877
5. Jim Leary - 5866
6. Connie Martin - 5337
7. Kevin McHugh - 5259
8. Dennis Canney - 4904

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This week’s TIME magazine has an essay by Joe Klein about Senator Kennedy’s struggle to regain his personal and political balance in the 1970s. Klein describes the Senator at a Greek festival in Lowell and mentions Paul Tsongas and Mike Dukakis, the future candidates for President. Read more here.

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These two YouTube clips show Ted Kennedy Jr’s eulogy for his father at today’s funeral mass.  From what I saw, this was the most moving and eloquent moment of the day:

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