This blog post first appeared last year. It’s the text of remarks I delivered at the city of Lowell Memorial Day observance at Lowell City Hall on Saturday, May 31, 2025. History of Memorial Day By Richard Howe Good afternoon. My topic today is the history of Memorial Day. To…

Book Review: “Regret to Inform You” Review by Leo Racicot Book by Richard P. Howe Jr. History, when viewed from a distance, is often a matter of staggering numbers, of sweeping troop movements. But in Regret to Inform You: The Human Cost of WWII in Lowell, Mass. Historian Richard Howe…

Event: Lowell High Civics Day – On Monday, May 18, 2026, I attended the Lowell Public Schools Civics Fair at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. More than 300 middle and high school students participated. Organized in teams of four, each group identified and researched a public policy issue then devised an…

Motors and Maintenance – (PIP #106) By Louise Peloquin  Here are two articles with  “Peek into the Past” #105 topics. (1) The first announces an invention claimed to radically transform engine efficiency. The second covers a road maintenance question followed by an editorial on the issue. Inventions and infrastructure will…

The most important actions at Tuesday’s Lowell City Council meeting were brief and procedural with the council formally accepting the following items and scheduling them all for public hearings at upcoming meetings. These include: Accept timely submission of FY27 budget Appropriate the money to fund that budget To borrow $25…

Regret to Inform You: The Human Cost of WWII in Lowell, Mass. By Richard P. Howe Jr. I’ve long been intrigued by the bronze tablets in the entry hall of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. They memorialize Lowell residents who died while serving in the military during time of war. I…

Endless Courage By Leo Racicot 26 February 2026. On this date, a year ago, I lost the best part of me. Whereas I am flighty, my sister was practical. Where I struggled to learn common sense and logic, she seemed to have been born with both. Where she was pleasing…

Event – Doors Open Lowell – On Saturday, May 9, 2026, I joined hundreds of people in exploring some of the 29 historic buildings that were open for public viewing. The event was well organized with a shuttle bus making the rounds, distinctive signage at the entrance to each venue,…

To replace or not to replace? That is the question. By Louise Peloquin Six photo-illustrated pieces, posted between April 4, 2023 and May 5, 2025, covered the restoration of Notre Dame de Paris. (1) This top tourist attraction still makes the news as thousands continue to visit the “Limestone Ph0enix.”…