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MassMoments reminds us today of the terrible famine faced by the people of Ireland in the mid-1840s. Brought low by the potato blight, harsh winter weather and burdensome taxes, the Irish people were starving and perishing in horrible numbers. Those who could – left their land. The plight of the…
Read More »The MetroDesk of the Boston Globe has a Michael Paulson story about the next step planned by the Achdiocese of Boston in dealing with seven closed parishes. These parishes have lost a final appeal with the Vatican to have them reopened. Included in the seven – is the Lowell Parish…
Read More »With the centennial of the famous 1912 Bread and Roses Strike in Lawrence approaching, will scenes like this one below of union workers protesting cuts in pay and benefits multiply in the months ahead as state legislatures grapple with budget shortfalls? Read the NY Times article that goes with the…
Read More »On February 9 a two alarm fire raged through the Contrast Glass Service building on Andover Street in Wilmington. North Reading and Tewksbury Fire Departments assisted the Wilmington in containing the blaze. Citizen Journalist tonytwister18 captured the event on video and posted it on YouTube.
Read More »It’s been ten years since writer Neil Miller in the Boston Globe Magazine shone a spotlight on the Merrimack Valley literary renaissance that was getting noticed at home and far away. The region of Bradstreet, Thoreau, Whittier, Frost, Kerouac, and others has emerged in our time as a literary hotspot. Read the…
Read More »MassMoments tells us this morning that in 1849 – the first American-made Valentine cards were created and sold in Worcester, Massachusetts by Mt. Holyoke graduate Esther Howland. Modeled on the English-style Valentine, her fancy designs, embossed, cut and colored paper along with romantic sentiments and hidden messages soon grew into a…
Read More »These ten districts will be downsized in to nine districts as a result of the 2010 Census. (Note: Include Middlesex above with Essex.) A headline in yesterday’s MetroWest Daily News asks: ” Is there political gamesmanship in Mass. redistricting?” Redistricting in Massachusetts – and elsewhere – is always political – it’s the nature…
Read More »Some might wonder about how elected officials take up certain topics. Lately here’s been some buzz about Senator Susan Fargo’s push to name the iconic Rex Trailer as the Commonwealth’s official cowboy. Now it’s a regional school sports league on a legislator’s radar sceen. There’s a story in today’s Eagle Tribune…
Read More »I’m excited and here is why…BeatleJuice is coming to Middlesex Community College. I must admit I love the Beatles. On February 9, 1964, they began what became known in music circles as the “British Invasion”. The Rolling Stones, The Dave Clark Five, and Gerry and the Pacemakers joined the Beatles…
Read More »MassMoments tells us that on this day – February 11, 1812 – the political weapon known the “gerrymander” was born with the stroke of Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry’s pen. The practice of gerrymandering in America predates the invention of the term, but it was this Massachusetts law that gave rise to the…
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