Caritas to Cerberus: AG Coakley Needs to Take the Long View

With one of the six Caritas Christi Health Care facilities – Holy Family Hospital in Methuen – such an important Merrimack Valley institution, I’ve posted frequently about the role of Attorney General Coakley in the proposed purchase by Cerberus Capital Management – a New York private equity firm Cerberus. The editorial…

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Salem’s Chinese House

My family took a stay-cation day trip to Salem last Thursday, visiting the Peabody Essex Museum, our favorite place in a city that we go to once or twice a year. I’d never seen the Yin Yu Tang house, but my wife had been inside several times. This 200-year-old house from…

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Rich Clears Up the Mosque Fog; Dowd Says Mob’s Mad; Cavett Urges Get Real; Rudy Rejects Plan

In today’s NYTimes, heavy-hitter columnist Frank Rich takes on the “mosque” controversy that has spread from Manhattan across the nation. Read his essay here, and consider subscribing to the NYT if you appreciate the writing and thinking. In a related national commentary, Maureen Dowd of the NYT worries that the U.S.…

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Southeast Asian Water Festival

Today is Southeast Asian Water Festival day in Lowell. This is the 14th year for the popular event. Last night, I attended the opening ceremony at Middlesex Community College, where the evening activities culminated in a candlelight ceremony and small boats floated on the canal with accompanying blessings and wishes. Master…

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Atty Louis M Saab, RIP

At 7 this morning, our eager-for-her-walk dog, dragged me out of the house. As we stepped onto Westview Road, a police car with lights flashing was just pulling to a stop a few houses away. An ambulance, the ladder truck from Branch Street, EMTs and more police all arrived at…

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Donoghue & Doherty: 24 days to go

With just 24 days to go until the September 14 primary election, time is growing short for the candidates. The calendar presents a real challenge: prevailing wisdom is that “no one pays attention until after Labor Day”, but this year, Labor Day comes late (September 6) and once it passes,…

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Flashback Friday: 1993 Lowell City Council

Another in our continuing series of images from Lowell’s political past: Front row from left: Laurie Machado, Larry Martin, Richard Howe Sr (mayor), Steve Gendron Back row from left: Bud Caulfield, Mike Geary, Matt Donahue, Grady Mulligan, Tarsy Poulios The 1993 election saw six new city councilors elected. Only Caulfield,…

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