This is the fourth batch of those who contributed works to History as It Happens: Community Bloggers in Lowell, Mass. our forthcoming book of community writing by more than 40 contributors to this website over the past ten years. (Earlier posts on contributor biographies are  here and here and here.

History as It Happens will be released at a book launch event on Saturday, August 5, 2017, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Lowell Telecommunications Corporation at 246 Market Street. Thereafter, the book will be available locally and online.

History as It Happens: Contributors part IV

Dave Perry is a senior writer at UMass Lowell and the founder of Vinyl Destination, a record store in Lowell’s Mill No. 5. A one-time Lowell Sun reporter, he was nominated in 1991 for a Grammy Award for best liner notes on The Jack Kerouac Collection. Dave contributed Willie from 2010.

Chath Piersath, poet, painter, and humanitarian, is the author of After (poems) and Sinat and the Instrument of the Heart (children’s book). He lives in Massachusetts and Cambodia. Chath’s poem The Way I Want to Remember My Cambodia is in the poetry section.

James Peters is the creator of the “Peters’ Principles” program at Lowell Telecommunications Corporation and a former history teacher at Lowell High School. Jim contributed Open Campus: 1970s Lowell High from 2014.

Mary (Boutselis) Sampas was a lifelong journalist beginning in high school as a reporter for the Lowell Sun, where her articles and columns provided a running account of life in the city for decades. Mary’s poem, Memory of an Afternoon, is in the poetry section

Tony Sampas, a librarian at UMass Lowell, has organized programs such as a “Lowell Walks” exhibit and a panel talk about journalist Charles G. Sampas. He has an MFA from Lesley University College of Art and Design. Tony has a portfolio of Lowell photos in the book.

Tom Sexton, a poet and former editor of Alaska Quarterly Review, was Poet Laureate of Alaska in 1995. He is a distinquished alumnus of Lowell High School He taught for many years at the University of Alaska. His many books of poetry include A Ladder of Cranes, A Clock with No Hands, and Bridge Street at Dusk. Tom has two poems, Lowell’s Irish Micky Ward and Manny, and one essay, On the Road with Apologies to Everyone, in the book.

Francey Slater is a seasoned educator and gardener who co-founded Mill City Grows, which is dedicated to creating urban food production in Lowell. Francey has Remarks at Lowell Plan Breakfast (co-authored with Colleen Brady) from 2013 in the book.

Joseph Smith is a community activist in Lowell who is retired from the Raytheon Company, headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Joe contributed Hamilton Canal Planning Meeting from 2009.

Marie Sweeney is a member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, founder of Greater Lowell Area Democrats, and a former English teacher at Lowell High School. Marie has a dozen posts in the book.

Nancye Tuttle is a freelance writer who formerly wrote for the Lowell Sun and Merrimack Valley Magazine. She lives in Maine. Nancye’s essay Maine Musings from 2010 is in the book.

John Wooding, professor of political science at UMass Lowell, is the co-author, with Kristin G. Esterberg, of Divided Conversations, about leadership and change in public higher education. He has served on the boards of the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL), the SayDaNa Burmese Community Coalition, Lowell Earth Day, and others. John contributed Holding onto Those Self-Evident Truths from 2013 and For Cassie from 2014 to the book.