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Last week I mentioned the on-going rehab on Andover Street in Lowell. It had all the aspects of a “This Old House” project. Well, the inside scoop comes today in a front-page story in the Lowell SUN courtesy of life-style guru extraordinaire Nancye Tuttle. “All they wanted was a new kitchen and garage for their 19-room, 1875 Victorian manse at 396 Andover Street.”  Thanks to the Saabs for caring and preserving this historic Lowell manse and thanks to Nancye getting the story.

Read about how the project grew at http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_10235896

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As noted in a Governor’s office  press release and by our friends over at BlueMassGroup, Commonwealth Corps grants were announced today. Locally the Revolving Museum and UMass Lowell were recipients of this largess.

• The Revolving Museum

Program Name: Commonwealth Corps 2008-2009

Amount: $10,260

The Revolving Museum is an evolving laboratory of creative expression for people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities who seek to experience the transformative power of art.  The organization seeks three Commonwealth Corps members to work on three distinct projects: 1) Volunteer Program Coordination; 2) Website Manager; and 3) Facilities Coordinator.  Some goals for the projects are to 1) establish a permanent volunteer program; 2) use web technology to increase community participation, provide better services to the public, expand audience, improve communication; and 3) serve the mission of TRM by insuring facility needs are met.

• Universityof Massachusetts Lowell

Program Name: Project IMPACT

Amount: $53,600

Project IMPACT will provide a program of consistent math tutoring for 9^th grade students at Lowell High School to increase the passing rate in Algebra One and prepare students for success on the MCAS test required for graduation.  The goal is to increase the passing rate in Algebra One by 68%.  UMASS Lowell will recruit 1 part time Corps member and  24  14 flex-time members from the student body at the university to tutor the Freshman Academy.

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Lowell and her neighborhoods are replete with historic homes . Many have been restored, reclaimed and revitalized in an on-going love-affair with preservation and a certain life-style. Of course, there have been losses - those hit by the wrecking ball - as seen by the destruction (after a fire) of the Butler Mansion on Andover Street. Well there’s a new project on Andover Street these days. The focus is on an historic “twin” - the former home of historic Lowell figure Freeman Ballard Shedd. For months I’ve expected to see Tommy Silva or Richard Trethewey or maybe even Norm Abram hard at work – but alas no sightings! At first it seemed to be a simple rehab but over the months a huge multi-story addition appeared along with what seems to be an elevator shaft. The stucco has been stripped, the front porch has disappeared and windows have been covered, uncovered and recovered. Lookie-loos like me can only marvel at the enormity of the task and hope that the home will be on a future house tour. I understand the owners have also purchased the former carriage house now a single family home. Stay tuned.

Note: Those of you who are aficionados of Lowell history will remember the duo of Freeman Ballard Shedd and Eli W. Hoyt as purveyors of Hoyt’s German cologne. For more information on Shedd, his businesses, his philanthropy and the magnificent “mirror image” Andover Street homes, check out the UML/Center for Lowell History website and read the Helen Desjarlais exhibit essay: “One Man’s Legacy.” http://libweb.uml.edu/clh/Mans/Mans3.Html

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Many readers of this blog have ties to the Old Sacred Heart Parish and the Grove, South Lowell, Wigginsville, Ayer City, the Bleachery and Swede Village areas of Lowell. A group of folks who attended the Sacred Heart School, played in the band, went to the Sacred Heart camp, joined the Scouts and grew-up in these neighborhoods are having their annual reunion. An old friend Father Edward Randall, OMI - now in residence at the Oblate House - in Tewksbury will be a special guest. If you’d like some information please e-mail me at sweeney133@comcast.net.

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This morning Congresswoman Niki Tsongas renewed contact with over 50 women constitutents as she hosted a breakfast meeting at Cafe Paradiso in downtown Lowell. This - after all  - is what being back in the District is all about for a member of Congress. The 20+ Republicans waging that crazy “sit in” in the dark back in DC should also go home and get in touch with their constituents or at least their families! But I digress. Tsongas began her remarks with an homage to the late 5th District member of Congress Edith Nourse Rogers (R) who served from 1925 to 1960 - the longest reign for a woman in the House. Her example was extolled by Tsongas as paving the way for other women to follow.

Tsongas talked about her Armed Services Committee activities and her service on  the Military Personnel and Strategic Forces subcommittees. Armed Services Chair Ike Skelton recently honored a Tsongas’ request with a coveted appointment to the Board of Visitors of the US Air Force Academy. She spoke of the dynamics of member-to-member relationships and the barriers caused by philosophical differences and physical separation. But she noted that the recently passed stimulus and housing packages proved that with a common goal bipartisan work can be done. Her insight on the importance of  holding and expanding the Democratic majority in the House was enlightening.

Audience concerns included questions about student loans, renewal of the Medicaid waiver for Massachusetts, Title VII funds for allied health care worker job development, green energy, the energy crisis, LIHEAP and a postage stamp. Former Mayor Rita Mercier requested help getting the first day issue of the Bette Davis stamp celebrated here in Lowell - her birthplace. When asked about the upcoming Democratic Convention and race for the White House (by me), Tsongas focused on the larger issue of “change” - not just as embodied by Barack Obama but for the Congress as well.

Niki Tsongas seems quite comfortable in her role as a member of Congress. She was articulate, focused, relaxed, knowledgeable, down-to-earth and maturely-sensible.

The ladies who joined Tsongas this morning from academia, business, the arts, politics and the professions - included Martha Mayo, Brenda Costello, Eileen Donoghue, Kay Doyle, Joan Ross, Nancy Donahue, Molly Sheehy, Carol Cowan,  Suzanne Frechette, Dorcas Grigg-Saito, Maria Sheehy, Effie Dragon, Maria Cunha, Kay Petruziello, Diane Earl, Mary Jo Griffin, Jeanne Osborn, Ashley O’Neill, Beverly Woods and many more. Yesterday Tsongas hosted similar groups in Lawrence and Concord.

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Due to a scheduling conflict The Annual Mary Bacigalupo Educational Forum has now been scheduled for  Saturday November 15, 2008. The keynote speaker is Dr. Henry Levin of Columbia University. The Forum theme is based on Dr. Levin’s book - The Price We Pay: The Economic  and Social Cost of Inadequate Education.  The Forum will take place at the Kathryn P. Stoklosa Middle School on Broadway in Lowell from 8:30am -12:00pm. More information will be posted as confirmed.

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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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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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