Uncategorized

Work Life: Part 2 By Leo Racicot When it became clear I was going to be trapped in Las Vegas indefinitely, I figured I’d try to get a job. With some library experience under my belt, I hoped to find work with one of the city’s libraries: a main library…

Having a Ball – (PIP #96) By Louise Peloquin Have you recognized any names among the 100 + listed below distributing tickets for the Lowell Centennial Ball? L’Etoile – February 20, 1926 TICKETS FOR THE CENTENNIAL BALL __________ On the evening of March 1, admission to the Auditorium will require…

Before getting to the February 3, 2026, city council meeting, here are the results of the same day’s special primary election for the state senate seat left vacant when Edward Kennedy died last year. In the Special Democratic Primary, State Representative Vanna Howard defeated State Representative Rodney Elliott. Here are…

Time of the End of the Season Part Two: Bubblz—LA–Broken Arrow By Bob Hodge Bob Hodge grew up in Lowell and went on to graduate from Lowell High (1973) and University of Lowell (1990). He was (and still is) one the greatest runners to come out of this region. He’s also…

COPLEY SQUARE WINTER Terry Downes The wind blew low and mournful cold Across the heating grate The granite building shielding him He prayed from cruelest fate. Across the square the grand hotel Drew rev’lers by the score, Who passing barely noticed him Collapsed at Reaper’s door. His stomach ached for…

Work Life Part 1 By Leo Racicot My very first job was acquired via Community Teamwork. I was assigned to the School Department’s Title 1 offices which were located on the third floor of Pollard Memorial Library. I was hired as a cleaning boy/gofer. My job involved emptying trash buckets, vacuuming,…

Welcome to this week’s edition of Seen and Heard, in which I catalog the most interesting things I’ve seen, heard and read over the previous seven days: Movie: One Battle After Another – When this year’s Academy Award nominations were announced, Sinners, which I reviewed last week, broke a record…

 Centennial Spending Objections  – (PIP #95) By Louise Peloquin No consensus among City Council members discussing centennial spending. L’Etoile – Front page, January 23, 1926 OBJECTIONS TO THE $35,000 VOTE FOR THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION __________ Councilor Campbell says it is beyond the city’s means. __________ ONLY $15,000, SAYS MR. STEARNS…

This coming Tuesday is the Special Primary for the 1st Middlesex State Senate District which became vacant when Edward J. Kennedy passed away last October. The district includes Lowell, Dracut, Dunstable, Pepperell and Tyngsborough. In the Democratic primary, the candidates are State Representatives Rodney Elliott and Vanna Howard, both of…

BULLIES By Gregory F. DeLaurier I was born and raised in a small tough working-class city up in Northern New York. Wrote a novel about the place. Growing up there, you had two choices—be bullied or be a bully. For the first few years of my life, say from kindergarten…