Politics
To Be the Best City of Its Size
There was a time not that long ago when it was common to hear a statement that was used to sum up the purpose of the community’s manifold efforts to move Lowell forward—efforts in the public and private sectors, efforts involving vast financial investments or genuine sweat equity, efforts involving…
Read More »A Look Back ~ Tewksbury and Some Merrimack Valley Neighbors
In taking a look back over the year 2013 in Tewksbury and other Merrimack Valley environs – the issues of politics, economics, quality of life, culture – traditional and pop, education and sports – are all vying for attention. Across the Merrimack Valley the stand-out event – in my opinion…
Read More »Lowell Political Year in Review: 2013
With no city council meeting last or this week due to Christmas and New Year’s, there’s not much new to report on politics in the city. That’s good because with this being the final Sunday of 2013, it’s time to review the year in local politics. Here are some observations…
Read More »From the Archive: Christmas ~ Banned in Massachusetts
In some quarters the myth of “the war on Christmas” still lingers even thrives. In truth there was a such a crusade, but it took place in 1659 and it was here in Massachusetts. A minister of that day decided that that the celebration of Christmas was becoming too merry… too profane……
Read More »In the Merrimack Valley ~ Lawrence poised to move forward but remembering the Malden Mills fire on December 11, 1995
Our Merrimack Valley sister city of Lawrence, Massachusetts has been much in the news lately. Still struggling, the city weathered a mayoral campaign earlier this Fall that saw the toppling of the controversial administration of William Lantigua. It took a recount and some oversight from SOS Bill Galvin’s elections office…
Read More »Lowell Social Media Conference report
Thanks to the more than 50 people who attended today’s Lowell Social Media Conference at LTC which was a co-sponsor of the event. Planning has already begun for the Second Annual Lowell Social Media Conference with a target date of the first Saturday in December. This morning began with a…
Read More »‘Grace and Beauty’
We need beauty. We need it badly. On a day when we grappled with our grief over the enduring evil of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, on a day when we learned more from the media about the heinous attack on a young teacher, Colleen Ritzer of Danvers,…
Read More ». . . And Howe
The morning began with dark purple clouds bumping in the sky lanes above a sherbet-rinsed sunrise of raspberry and peach. Wind kicked the brittle leaves every which way, and the frigid air made you feel extra alive in your skin. All good for a big day in Lowell. Spirits were…
Read More »‘Kennedyana’
I borrowed this title from Joe Donahue’s poem sequence about JFK in his 1989 book Before Creation. I imagine a drawer in an old bureau in the cellar or attic filled with collectibles from the Kennedy years. Campaign pins, scrapbooks, LIFE magazine issues. I still have in my office at…
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