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There was no Lowell City Council meeting this week due to Christmas, however, today we’ll look back to the December 16, 2025, and the departing remarks of Councilors Paul Ratha Yem, Wayne Jenness, and Corey Belanger. Here is what each of them had to say. I’ve slightly edited the transcript…

Morning Song By Jim Provencher Waking to predawn summer stillness, A pleasant coolness, the town asleep in river fog. A few night-perch birdcalls try the darkness, throat-clearing chortles, signalling, I’m here. Adrift in the night, whirring and whispering an overture of small sibilant cries. This tentative faltering reminds me I…

My Christmases By Leo Racicot When I was a boy, a must do every Christmas was to go downtown to see the holiday lights on City Hall, and the manger display in front of it. Papa would take Diane and me down to see it. In those days, the entire…

Recollections of Noël By Louise Peloquin When the priest at Notre Dame de Lourdes church * put on violet vestments on the first Sunday of Advent, Noël was on the horizon. My family attended French Mass which always included traditional hymns from Québec and France. Our Advent favorite was: “Venez…

This essay by Henri Marchand was first heard in 2008 as a radio essay on the “Sunrise” program of WUML, 92.5 FM, at UMass Lowell. Today we continue our tradition of reposting the essay each year at Christmas. The Perfect Tree By Henri Marchand We begin the holiday season engaged…

Last Tuesday’s Lowell City Council meeting was the final one for outgoing councilors Corey Belanger, Wayne Jenness, and Paul Ratha Yem, all of whom gave farewell remarks. I’ll write about what they said in next Sunday’s newsletter. Otherwise, the most significant thing that arose at Tuesday’s meeting was a report…

This essay by Henri Marchand was first heard as a radio essay on the “Sunrise” program of WUML, 92.5 FM, at UMass Lowell. Today we continue our tradition of reposting the essay each year at Christmas.     The Christmas Fruitcake: An Ageless Tradition By Henri Marchand I think there…

Living Madly: The Holidays Simplified By Emilie-Noelle Provost I didn’t put up my Christmas tree this year. It’s the first time in my life that I haven’t had a decorated tree in my house during the holiday season. Although I have always enjoyed our Christmas tree, I just couldn’t bring…

Home for the Holidays: Cowboy Christmas By Henri Marchand “The memories of childhood have no order, and no end,” wrote Dylan Thomas in Reminiscences of Childhood.  A popular holiday song claims that, “there’s no place like home for the holidays.”  These lines come to mind as my family prepares to…

“How to forgive” – (PIP #89) By Louise Peloquin      Tucked in the local news columns, L’Etoile occasionally slipped unusual pieces inviting readers to introspection.  L’Etoile – January 6, 1926  HOW TO FORGIVE       We believe we have made a marvelous moral effort when we have not caused our neighbor…