Author Archive

Five Life-Altering Books

Five Life-Altering Books By Leo Racicot  Aunt Marie used to say, “Leo liked to read straight out of the cradle. “She was only half-exaggerating; I’ve always loved to read and started reading at the age of 5 when I amazed my teacher, Mrs. Hare, and myself going through books at…

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Leo with Louis at L’Etoile

The following post first appeared on this site on October 5, 2023. It is being republished today in honor of the upcoming Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival which will take place from October 9-13, 2025.  Leo with Louis at L’Etoile By Louise Peloquin October always conjures up visions of Jack Kerouac.…

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Lowell Politics: October 5, 2025

With the city election just a month away, today I’ll share some thoughts about voter turnout in Lowell, or more accurately, the lack of it. In the last city election in November 2023, only 7,516 people voted. That’s 7,516 of the 75,516 registered to vote, which is fewer than 10…

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Kerouac’s Characters: L.V. Rochette

Kerouac’s Characters: L. V. Rochette By Kurt Phaneuf  According to his granddaughter Lucille (Parthenais) Sullivan, Dr. Louis Vitalien “Victor” Rochette (1862-1930) delivered an estimated 10,000 babies for Lowell’s Franco-American mothers during his four-decade career.  Arguably his most famous delivery was Jack Kerouac, whose birth Rochette oversaw at Leo and Gabrielle’s…

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Penant Fever

PENNANT FEVER By Terry Downes Could this finally be the year Home fans will have much to cheer The boys bring home as souvenir The pennant soaring high? The wins they just keep piling up The foe limps home like beaten pup Joy flows out of coach’s cup The team…

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Lowell People (from L’Etoile)

Lowell People – (PIP #82) By Louise Peloquin In the pre-LinkedIn era, the local daily newspaper allowed readers to learn about Lowell people. Here are 4 peeks into the past. L’Étoile – January 6, 1925 HE SPENDS 28 YEARS AT LOWELL HUMANE SOCIETY ——- Agent Charles F. Richardson has seen…

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