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In February 1978, I was living with my parents in an apartment off Mammoth Road in Dracut. We and the neighbors rode out the historic blizzard as best as we could. We monitored events on the radio and TV. I kept a journal in those days and made notes about…
Read More »On this day – February 7, 1978 – we awoke to many inches that later became feet of snow that had accumulated overnight. The snow continued falling throughout the day. Roads and highways were clogged with stranded cars and trucks locked-in by the snow and other vehicles. Governor Dukakis banned any but…
Read More »In 1978 I was a sophomore at Providence College and on February 6th of that year I trudged to morning class oblivious to the historic weather event that was about to unfold. Back then in our dorm room we had a portable TV with a rabbit ear antenna that pulled…
Read More »The 2nd Annual Lowell Writers and Publishers Winter Roundup is set for Saturday, February 23, 12.30 to 4.00 pm, upstairs at the Old Court Irish pub at Central and Middle streets in downtown Lowell. Publishers and writers attending include playwright Jack Neary, poet and memoir-writer Judith Dickerman-Nelson, Sweeney-and-Seawell creator Dave Robinson, John…
Read More »February 2 is a celebratory day with roots in ancient lore, Christian ritual and popular culture. In pre-Christian times, today February 2 was celebrated as the “Festival of Lights.” The day marked the time halfway between the shortest day of the year and the Spring Equinox. Ancient people also believed…
Read More »Martha Norkunas is a scholar, a folklorist, who was the director of cultural affairs at the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission in the early 1990s. Her book “Monuments and Memory: History and Representation in Lowell, Massachusetts” was published by the Smithsonian Institution Press in 2002. In it she catalogues the various…
Read More »Congratulations to Glen Johnson, most recently the Boston Globe’s political editor, but remembered fondly here as one of the best City Hall reporters the city of Lowell was fortunate to have had, on his upcoming career change. Starting this Monday, Glen will work at the U.S. State Department for our…
Read More »Between 1990 and 1993, a very different kind of public-art project happened in the power house of the Boott Cotton Mills. This was part of the growing Lowell Public Art Collection. UMass Lowell art students and dozens of volunteers joined San Francisco-based artist David Ireland (since deceased) in his effort…
Read More »St. Brigid of Ireland ~ “Mary of the Gaels” Today February 1 is the Feast Day of St Brigid of Ireland, often called Mary of the Gael. She is one of the great patron saints of Ireland along with St. Patrick and St. Columba. Named for Druid goddess Brid, and though she…
Read More »This poem is from Matt Miller’s new prize-winning collection of poems called “Club Icarus,” published by the University of North Texas Press. Matt is a Lowell High School graduate who earned degrees at Yale University, where he also played varsity football, and Emerson College. He teaches English and coaches football…
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