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As the delayed season of the National Basketball Association is now underway – MassMoments reminds us that on this day – December 21, 1891 – the game of basketball as designed by James Naismith was first played at what is known today as Springfield College in Massachusetts. As Naismith nailed a peach basket to the lower rail of a balcony in…
Read More »Back in the late 1970s when I was a student at Providence College, downtown Providence left much to be desired. Aside from regular trips to the Civic Center (now the Dunkin Donuts Center) to see a Friars basketball game or making the passage to the East Side and the bookstores…
Read More »I wrote the first draft of this poem in 1976, and worked on it on and off for a long time. I had in mind the extensive outdoor lighting displays in Dracut (the town) and Lowell, but, especially as it evolved, the dense array of Christmas decorations in Pawtucketville, between Mammoth Road and…
Read More »For those of us who believe in government as the civilized way to make decisions about matters in life that affect us all, the action at the Lowell City Council this evening is reason for optimism. Our municipal representatives and professional staff in collaboration with the various labor unions in the city found their…
Read More »One of my favorite Christmas traditions is placing candles in the windows of our home. I still use some triple candles used years ago to light-up the Sweeney home on St. James Street. While the white light is my preference, my mother preferred the soft glow of amber in her…
Read More »Above from left: Brian Martin, Bill Martin, Jim Milinazzo, Rita Mercier, Niki Tsongas, Richard Howe Sr, Bud Caulfield, Armand LeMay; from October 2010 in front of Lowell City Hall. Tonight is the final city council meeting (for now, at least) for three councilors. The meeting begins at 6:30 pm and…
Read More »Last night, I went to a Christmas party in the suburbs. The destination was off Route 40, out the Chelmsford-Tyngsborough way, down among the woodsy parcels along Dunstable Road. Now, is it just me or can it be said that every third person drives routinely with his or her headlights set…
Read More »Two views of the Swamp Locks from Tony Sampas. The Swamp Locks are on the Pawtucket Canal along Dutton Street, midway between the intersections with Fletcher and Broadway. Together with the Guard Locks further up Broadway and the Lower Locks outside the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, the Swamp…
Read More »Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah is gaining in NH according to Glen Johnson’s report in the Globe. Huntsman’s three smart and spunky daughters will be at UMass Lowell today at 12 noon (O’Leary Library) talking about what it’s like to campaign for the Presidency when the candidate is your dad.…
Read More »Last Wednesday iconic performer Billy Joel visited UMass Lowell and charmed the small crowd. Here is a video (original posted by djhawk32) showing Joel being introduced.
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