Odysseus Wandering

Odysseus Wandering (How I Became a Prison Guard) By Tim Trask Here’s how it started. I’m on an overnight flight from San Francisco to Boston on January 10-11, 1969, after spending a year in the Republic of Viet Nam. There aren’t many people on the flight, but even the few…

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Before the Hamilton Canal District

On Saturday, September 18, 2021, I co-led a walk of the Hamilton Canal Innovation District with Yovani Baez-Rose, the city’s Economic Development Director, and with Camilo Espitia, the city’s Chief Design Planner. Yovani and Camilo spoke about the ongoing activity in and future plans for the district while I spoke…

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From the Archives: October 1, 2007

Here’s a post from Marie Sweeney from 14 years ago this week. It was a busy time politically with a special election for the local Congressional seat looming and the general election for Lowell City Council and School Committee just a month away. A Busy Time By Marie Sweeney –…

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The Mask of Sorrow, a Tragic Face Revealed

Some observations on contemporary American politics – and life – from our Central European correspondent, Malcolm Sharps. The Mask of Sorrow, a Tragic Face Revealed By Malcolm Sharps Here’s a name: Wolski. Veronica Wolski. An American with Slavic roots, you might conclude, not rare in itself. It’s a name that,…

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Boarding School Blues: Chapter 21

Boarding School Blues: Chapter 21 By Louise Peloquin Ch. 21: Inspection Desk inspection replaced morning chores the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Blanche and her classmates welcomed the shake-up in the schedule and felt confident that Madeleine’s tidying techniques would serve them well. “Girls, Sister Gerald will soon join us. We want…

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History of the Button Factory

History of the Button Factory By Gary Metras By the time the button factory depleted all the fresh water mussel shells from three rivers and was about to shut down, the Civil War began. It switched to ripping up earth and blasting rocks to mine tin and lead, to manufacture…

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Remembering Bob Whitaker

Remembering a Friendship: Robert W. Whitaker, III Nov. 9, 1950 – Sept. 16, 2019 By David Daniel We became friends through propinquity. Bob and his wife Anne and my wife Stephanie and I were among the first inhabitants of the regal old Lamson Estate on Nesmith Street in Belvidere when…

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2021 Preliminary Election Results

The city held its first election under its new hybrid system of government on Tuesday (Sep 21, 2021). There were preliminary elections held in four of the eight city council districts. A preliminary must be held when there are  more than twice as many candidates as there are seats to…

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