History

Battle of the Bulge

On a cold pre-dawn walk this week, my companion and I lamented the soaring rates of Covid-19 infections that plague us today. Coming after the lull in the virus during the summer and the good news of an imminent and effective vaccine, this most recent blow is almost enough to…

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Pearl Harbor Day

Today is the 79th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which was the home port of the United State Pacific Fleet. At attack was a complete surprise and brought the United States into World War II. On December 7, 2017, I was the guest speaker at the Greater…

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Lowell’s Little Canada

Congratulations and thanks to UMass Lowell for erecting four wayside exhibit panels about Lowell’s Little Canada neighborhood. I believe this project is part of the remediation agreement that allowed the demolition of the two surviving triple-decker residences that stood on Pawtucket Street at the Howe Bridge (photo below). The Geography…

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Remarks at Lowell Plan Breakfast (Sep 26, 2013)

History as It Happens: Citizen Bloggers in Lowell, Mass. (2017) captures the best writing from the first ten years of this blog, an unsettled time for the economy, politics, technology, and culture. The book, featuring many writers, documents the local story and offers commentary on national and global matters that touched our…

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Willie (Nov 2, 2010)

History as It Happens: Citizen Bloggers in Lowell, Mass. (2017) captures the best writing from the first ten years of this blog, an unsettled time for the economy, politics, technology, and culture. The book, featuring many writers, documents the local story and offers commentary on national and global matters that touched our…

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Musing on Moxie’s Lowell Roots (Aug 5, 2007)

History as It Happens: Citizen Bloggers in Lowell, Mass. (2017) captures the best writing from the first ten years of this blog, an unsettled time for the economy, politics, technology, and culture. The book, featuring many writers, documents the local story and offers commentary on national and global matters that touched our…

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Obamamania in Nashua (Jan 6, 2008)

History as It Happens: Citizen Bloggers in Lowell, Mass. (2017) captures the best writing from the first ten years of this blog, an unsettled time for the economy, politics, technology, and culture. The book, featuring many writers, documents the local story and offers commentary on national and global matters that touched our…

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Denis Barrett of Ireland Shares His Nation’s Joy About Joe Biden’s Victory

Two days ago, Denis Barrett, coordinator of Cork Learning City, wrote to colleagues including John Wooding, former professor and provost at UMass Lowell who leads Lowell: City of Learning. The two partner organizations promote lifelong learning in their cities, and this year brought out the Cork-Lowell writing anthology ATLANTIC CURRENTS,…

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“Woodbines and Tall Tales” and “A Christmas Wake” by BERNIE CONDON

Throughout October, Trasna will focus on the Celtic festival of Samhain, better known to Americans as Halloween. The holiday originated in Ireland and celebrates that time of year when the veil between this world and the next grows thin, and life seems more mysterious. This week we feature two poems by Bernie Condon, as…

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