March 21st, 2011
by DickH
A letter to the editor in today’s Sun caught my eye this morning. A suburban resident had been ticketed for taking a right turn on a red light at the intersection of Chelmsford and Plain Streets. The intersection has “No Right on Red” signs, but the writer said the sign was blocked by a utility crew and so she did not see it. The officers around the corner who were positioned to stop drivers committing this infraction were unmoved and the driver intends to appeal.
When I exited the Lowell Connector at Plain Street at lunchtime today, two Lowell police officers were positioned up near the Chelmsford Street intersection, pulling over all those who had failed to see the above-referenced letter and ignored the “No Right on Red” sign which today had neither a utility crew nor anything else masking it.
While I sympathize with the letter writer – it’s impossible to drive and not commit an inadvertent violation on occasion – I was quite pleased to see the police officers cracking down on this particular violation. For many drivers, “No Right on Red” is more a suggestion than a rule that is usually accompanied not by a stop but by acceleration as the driver tries to rush in front of the oncoming traffic. Some strategic enforcement can only help.
Lowell | 
9 Comments »
March 21st, 2011
by DickH
The Lowell Sun is reporting that School Committee member John Leahy will not seek reelection this fall but instead will run for the Lowell City Council. (Gerry Nutter is attributing the same news and the news that Leahy’s School Committee colleague, Dave Conway, who was rumored to be considering a run for the city council, will run for reelection to the school committee).
Leahy, whose father (Dan) was elected to a term on the council in 1997, was elected to the school committee in 2001 and has been reelected every two years. Four years ago, I believe he contemplated running for city council, but his cousin Mike Lenzi was also in the race which may have influenced his decision to stick with the school committee at that time.
School committee members have had mixed luck making the jump to the city council. Without doing a thorough job of researching the topic, I know that Gerry Durkin, Kathy Kelley, Gus Coutu and Victor Forsley were all successful; Joe Mendonca was eventually successful; and Dave Allen and Bob Hoey were not. I have a feeling there were others, but I can’t remember them so any help from readers via the comment feature would be helpful.
City Council, Lowell | 1 Comment »
March 21st, 2011
by PaulM
Bryan Marquard of the Boston Globe remembers playwright Jon Lipsky, a longtime activist in the Boston theater community. Lowell area people may recall that he wrote “Maggie’s Riff” for Merrimack Repertory Theatre, an adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s novel “Maggie Cassidy,” which is set mostly in the city and at Lowell High School. Read the appreciation here, and get the Globe if you want more.
Culture, Education, Greater Lowell, History, Lowell | 1 Comment »
March 21st, 2011
by PaulM
Composer, musician, and writer Bob Martin is one of the great living artists of Lowell. He’s been touring in Europe for many weeks now, playing for crowds of people who love his Americana music. Thanks to him and Dave Robinson on Facebook for this link to an interview with Bob conducted by a blogger from Slovenia, Klemen Breznikar of the blog Prog Spheres.
Bob Martin
Culture, History, Lowell | 2 Comments »
March 21st, 2011
by PaulM
Please reserve your space now for the timely lecture about the importance of diversity in health care professions by UMass Lowell Prof. of Nursing Margaret Knight on Monday, March 28, at 12 noon, at the UML Inn & Conference Center. “As the U.S. demographics continue to shift, providing culturally competent health care becomes critical in order to descrease health disparities, improve access to care, and decrease the financial burden associated with illness care,” says Prof. Knight.
Prof. Margaret Knight, Ph.D., APRN, BC
This lecture, free and open to the public, is a program of the Moses Greeley Parker Lectures offered in collaboration with the UMass Lowell Center for Arts and Ideas. A light buffet lunch is provided. Reservations are necessary because the seating is limited to 100. Contact paul_marion@uml.edu or 978-934-3107 to reserve seats for yourself and colleagues or friends.
Culture, Education, Greater Lowell, History, Lowell | No Comments »
March 21st, 2011
by Marie
I’m a regular at Boston Chowda, so I was especially attracted to a post on Lowell City Manager Lynch’s blog today. Lately, there’s been an expansion of the daily offerings way beyond my favorites – clam chowdah, beef stew, chicken vegetable soup and the ultra-delicious Boston garden vegetable soup. Check out his site here and get the full story of what’s made there and who some other customers happen to be – like Bertucci’s, Au Bon Pain and more.
From the Lowell City Manager’s blog:
Boston Chowda produces over 40 varieties of soup, while East Coast Gourmet features a large variety of high quality entrees and appetizers.
One hundred twenty thousand pounds of food is produced and distributed weekly from the unassuming Phoenix Street location.
Lowell | 3 Comments »
March 21st, 2011
by Marie
For professionals looking to learn about “smart building”, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Presents some “Smart Building Workshops” – in April and May across the Commonwealth. Join them on April 4th in Lowell at the Mayor’s Reception Room in City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street.
Smart Building: High Performance Homes
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| …why do buildings still cost so much to heat and cool? …why are comfort and indoor air quality complaints so common? …why do so many buildings fail? |
In this workshop you will learn how to build homes that are …
- Durable
- Healthy
- Comfortable
- Energy efficient
- Less costly to operate
- Compliant with base and stretch energy codes
…and we will discuss how to cost effectively go beyond codes.
The Smarter Building Workshop describes smart building techniques from the ground up, from foundation to roof, using case studies, exercises, and discussion to show you proven methods that have enabled builders and designers to build cost effective high performance homes.
See a calendar of class locations and dates, and register online at:
Smart Building Workshops
Schedule:
- April 4 in Lowell
- April 5 in Cambridge
- April 22 in Belchertown
- April 26 in Springfield
- April 29 in Fall River
- May 19 in Springfield
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NOTE:
To RSVP - contact Lisa Karlin at
Education, Greater Lowell | No Comments »
March 21st, 2011
by Marie
From the CBS Boston.com (WBZ TV) website
State Senator Eileen Donoghue was seated prominently yesterday - to see and be seen – at the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breafast in South Boston – hosted by her colleague State Senator Jack Hart. This is quite a coup for a freshman senator. While watching the breakfast I made some comments on Facebook – with the disclaimer that I do have a point of view – here are a few to give you a flavor of the breakfast:
Just caught a really good view of Curtis LeMay on NECN at the St. Patrick’s Breakfast as Alison King interviewed a certain US Senator. His green sweater has his name – “Curtis O’LeMay” personally put on the sweater many years ago by Centralville neighborhood guru Anne Marie Page. I’ll hear lots of stories later!
Very good views of State Senator Eileen Donoghue sitting behind the head table at the St. Patrick’s Day breakfast (NECN). The Gov has a very nice voice – tough to sing Danny Boy tune – his lyrics very funny. He’s a good sport.
Lt. Gov – good reuse of the “man of the house” joke he told in Lowell! The Kerry boat joke – not so much… And then he sang about the Gov to “On the Road Again” not bad… lyrics pretty good.
Ronan Tynan – banished from New York and the Yankees – seems to have found a home in South Boston. Can’t fault his wonderous voice and his version of the “Fields of Anthry’ but I’ll take Lowell and New England-loving “Irish Tenor” John McDermott any day!
Treasurer Steve Grossman and his wife Barbara (Vice-Chair of the MassCultural Council) – “There’s Nothing Like a Dem” – s good voice, good and apt lyrics… They’re a great Dem couple!
Lots of “Fighter” images used at the breakfast today – that Lowell influence is everywhere!
Having noted the revelry at the many St. Patrick’s Day gatherings around the Commonwealth and the Merrimack Valley – Methuen Mayor Manzi hosts his St. Pat’s luncheon at the Claddagh Pub in Lawrence – I’m of the opinion that the Annual Lowell City Manager’s Breakfast more than holds its own!
Culture, Current Events, Greater Lowell, Lowell, Politics | 1 Comment »
March 21st, 2011
by DickH
Shortly after 11 am on April 19, 1861 as the Lowell-based Sixth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment marched through Baltimore on its way to reinforce the nearly undefended Washington DC, a pro-Southern mob attacked the soldiers from Lowell. Within an hour, Luther Ladd, Addison Whitney, Sumner Needham and Charles Taylor were dead and 32 of their comrades were seriously wounded, but the rest of the regiment made it through to Washington, preempting a Confederate attack.
How was it that soldiers from Lowell were the first to be killed in action during the American Civil War? On Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 11:30 am at the Lowell National Park Visitor Center, 246 Market Street, Lowell, I will explain how these men from Lowell came to be present at this critical point in our nation’s history. Admission is free. Please join us.
History, Lowell | 1 Comment »
March 21st, 2011
by DickH
Tony Sampas captures the point at which the Merrimack Canal and the Eastern Canal meet
Lowell | No Comments »
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