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In today’s NYTimes, opinion-writer Frank Bruni profiles an unusual politician, the long-long-time mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, Joe Riley, who talks about what makes a city tick, civic psychology, diversity, nonpartisan public administration, problem-solving, justice, the arts and excellence, and more. Read the column here, and get the NYT if…
Read More »On the Cultural Road: City of World Culture, Strategies for the Creative Economy in Lowell, Massachusetts A lot of thought, effort, and money were invested in developing this road map for cultural development several years go. The first Lowell Cultural Plan (1986) was at least a ten-year campaign. That report was revised…
Read More »From history.com On this day in 1826, former Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who were once fellow Patriots and then adversaries, die on the same day within five hours of each other. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were the last surviving members of the original American revolutionaries who had…
Read More »Note to Lowell cultural sector and marketing planners: $50M raised by the ICA in Boston. Add that to the recent expansion in the Boston museum network (MFA, ICA, Gardner) and you get a muscular, world-class attraction in the arts less than one hour away. It was always there, but now…
Read More »The South Common pool yesterday opened for the summer and not a day too early for the heat wave. More than 200 swimmers enjoyed the sparkling cool water. Pool hours are 12 noon to 6 pm. The City staff and lifeguards do a first-rate job on site. I learned that the…
Read More »For someone with such a sunny disposition, it was fitting that summer sunshine this morning graced the dedication ceremony for the Armand W. LeMay Garden at the corner of University and Gershom avenues in Pawtucketville. About 100 people gathered to share in the recognition of one of the most natural…
Read More »If one of the priorities is to get more Lowell and Greater Lowell dollars circulating in Lowell because that will help in various ways, then we may need to make it easier for people in the area to spend their money in the city. I’m thinking about something like an…
Read More »What promises to be an important community conversation gathered steam last evening when more than 50 people gathered at Jack and Terry O’Connor’s big white house at the peak of Mansur Street in Belvidere to share views and ideas about how best to tell people in, around, and outside of Lowell that the city has…
Read More »Sitting in my backyard in the sun late this morning, I heard church bells and was reminded of days like this when I was in my carefree 20s, working irregular hours, and enjoying the good weather when we had it. On a day like today I could grab a book and read under…
Read More »Following is an excerpt from the chapter “Telling the Story” in my forthcoming book Mill Power: The Origin and Impact of Lowell National Historical Park (Rowman & Littlefield, 2014), which is set for release this fall. I’m sharing this in the spirit of opening night, last night, of the Lowell Summer…
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