I haven’t dragged David “Uncle Dave” Brooks over here for a long time. He was irritating during the presidential election, trying to find ways to stay on Mitt Romney’s side—every once in a while he gave it up for the President, but I think Uncle Dave was always pulling for…
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I enjoyed watching and listening to the inauguration of President Obama this time even more than the first time. In 2009, we knew we were seeing a history-making event. His election both represented and caused a developmental leap in the American psyche. I never thought his re-election would be easy.…
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This is a repost from last year… but an important reminder of the formation and role of the Sixth Massachusetts with many volunteers who were Lowell millworkers. MassMoments reminds us that on this day – January 21, 1861 – the Sixth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia was formally organized. In early January 1861, as…
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It was a frigidly cold but sunny Inauguration Day morning that January 20 of 1961… a fierce snow storm had hit the DC area the night before creating chaos. The parade was nearly cancelled… the U.S. Army had to clear the snow-covered streets. Former President Herbert Hoover missed the event because his…
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“Boot Cotton Storehouse, Eastern Canal” by Richard Marion (c) 2013 See more artwork at www.richardmarion.net
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In 1958, the League of Women Voters published a pamphlet with results of a survey about Lowell, which was intended to provide “general background on which citizens can base informed opinions and take intelligent action on local governmental issues.” The pamphlet was produced with financial assistance from the First Federal…
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President Obama’s Second Inaugural public ceremony will take place on Monday January 21, 2013. Later that evening there will be two official Inaugural Balls and countless receptions, galas and parties. There is always great anticipation about the First Lady’s gown. The display of these gowns from the past is one…
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In 1996, I led a creative writing workshop for the Hellenic Culture Society of Lowell. For the first session I asked the participants to do an exercise. Everyone would contribute one line on the theme of his or her mother’s kitchen. When we had all the individual lines, I took…
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In today’s Column blog, the Sun’s Chris Scott writes about the ongoing construction of the Richard Howe Bridge and about the man for whom the structure is named, Richard P. Howe Sr. (who is also my dad). The first few paragraphs of Chris’s post and a link to the full…
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