Rita Mercier gets it right

I commend Councilor Rita Mercier on her remarks this evening regarding crime in Lowell.  My notes from the entire meeting are available online but I want to single out Rita’s comments, partly because she and I haven’t shared a lot of common ground on issues, but mostly because she’s right.…

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Lowell City Council Meeting: September 23, 2014

My notes from tonight’s Lowell City Council meeting: Resignation of Erik Gitschier from Greater Lowell Vocational School Committee – City Council trying to schedule a joint meeting with the Lowell School Committee to select his replacement.  Special meeting on October 7, 2014 at 6:30 pm (council will begin its regular…

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Lowell History comes in many forms

Several years ago UMass Lowell began requiring its freshmen honors students to take a seminar their first semester that’s designed to introduce them to the city of Lowell.  It’s one of the many ways in which the University is striving to make closer connections with the city.  Last year, one…

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“Meanderings” by Jim Peters

On the first day of autumn, frequent contributor Jim Peters shares some end of summer thoughts: I have not written much this summer because I have been living the dream; soft quiet nights, camping, fishing, swimming, and other pleasurable activities.  It is quite a change from the bipolar activities I…

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Lowell Week in Review: September 21, 2014

“Social Service Agencies Are Destroying the City” –  Councilor Corey Belanger A letter to the editor printed in the Sun on Wednesday caught my attention.  It was from Stephen Swindells and it criticized Councilor Belanger for blaming social service agencies for violent crime in Lowell.  Here is some of what…

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United Kingdom stays united

The BBC is reporting that the Scottish Independence Referendum lost with 55% voting no and 45% voting yes.  My interest in this process increased as election day grew near, not because I was committed to one side or the other but because of the rare phenomenon of a country (possibly)…

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