Left In Lowell

We’re excited, we’re starting the first in a series of many canvasses for Deval Patrick on Sunday, July 2! We will meet at 2pm in the parking lot of 122 Western Ave (off School St) in Lowell to receive training, our walking lists, and packets, then head off and knock on doors. Don’t worry if you’ve never canvassed before; you will be trained and we’ll work in pairs. It will go until about 5pm where we’ll meet back at 122 Western Ave so I can take in all the wonderful work people have done and get it to campaign HQ.

Nothing, not even a holiday weekend will stop us!

This is also your Open Thread for the day; I’m headed off to Media Giraffe’s confabulation of bloggers out at UMass-Amherst. Wish me good luck in meeting Helen Thomas, who will be in attendance at the conference (no word on whether or not she’s even interested in crashing a local bloggers gaggle or not)!

Some artsy items I’ve been meaning for ages to talk about, but never seem to find the time or place.

“The First Ever Postcard Show

“Van Gogh’s Gear and the Revolving Museum are presenting a response to the second most asked tourist question in Lowell: “where can I buy postcards?” (The most asked question being “where is the bathroom?”.) This summer from July 1st thru Labor Day weekend, the Small Works Gallery at Van Gogh’s Gear will be offering original art postcards to tourists and residents. This show will be up during both the Folk Festival and the Quilt Festival.

A portion of the sale of original postcard works (around $10-$30 each) will go to two good causes: flood relief, and to the Revolving Museum’s childrens programs. I’ve checked it out, it’s very cool! It’s original art, folks, not prints, so each is unique. If you keeping wanting to buy original art but think you can’t afford it, here is your chance! It’s an ongoing show and I myself might even take the time to create some work for it, as I’ve done postcard-sized watercolors in the past (I’ll shamelessly promote myself here and let you know if I do). Van Gogh’s Gear is located on Middle Street next to the Revolving Museum.

OUtlET blog and website

Though I’m almost flat out with all the stuff I keep volunteering for and events I do go to, I’ve been meaning to add OUtlET’s website to my list of blogs and cultural happenings. I’m so not hip…I keep missing out on the underground rumblings of culture around here, but what’s happening in Lowell these days is pretty sweet. Though there was a disagreement between OUtlET members and other anonymous posters about the airing out of grievances by outgoing LTC Board Member Steve Albert, I didn’t comment on it because I don’t know much on the sitch, and I didn’t have time to ferret out more. But I think it was a healthy debate and it’s better to have the conversation. I applaude OUtLET for participating in our local culture and politics, and I hope to soon click in to the scene. Unfortunately, like I said, I am just really not hip.

Western Avenue Studios First Saturday

Yup, it’s that time of the month again. The first Saturday of the month, that is! This month’s Open Studios event will feature live music and lots of amazing art! If you haven’t seen the new studio spaces at 122 Western Ave, you are missing a major treat. Take a look at the website for directions. The open studios are from noon to five pm. I’ll probably be here for at least the first couple hours.

[Addendum: I wanted to also add a link to 119 Gallery, a place for very hip events, art, and culture. And when I say hip, I mean off the hook.]

The newest polls are in (as of yesterday), and I can tell you, as a supporter of Deval Patrick, I’m loving the trends, baby.

Reilly, on the other hand, is likely kicking himself for his alleged deal to get Gabrieli on the ballot, where he thought (quite logically) he would eat into Patrick’s support much more than his own. But you know that guy Reilly? He’s not so good at politics. I’ll admit, though, I also thought this way and still think it could happen.

Both sco and Charley have some thoughts on it, but Kos (the man himself, on the front page) also posted the previous numbers from that poll at the beginning of May:

Suffolk Univ. 6/22-26. Likely voters. MoE 4.01% (4/30-5/2 results [in parentheses])

Democratic primary

Patrick (D) 31 (20)
Reilly (D) 25 (35)
Gabrielli (D) 22 (15)

Gabrieli’s support surge in this poll was obviously pulled from Reilly, not Patrick. Patrick’s name recognition is still only at 80% (20% unknown), where the other two enjoy much higher noteriety. Reilly’s 5% unknown and Gabrieli’s at 11%. Seems the more they hear about and from Patrick, the more they like him. Which is what we’ve been saying all along!

[Addendum: Oh, and this being an early poll (still), anything can happen. It’s a good trend, but it’s tough being a frontrunner, so I’m not resting on any laurals. It’ll still be a tough race with Gabrieli pulling out his checkbook and Reilly doing his dirty attack tricks. Their aim will now focus on Deval.]

Unfortunately, sidebars and websites do not update themselves. All right, for an inordinate amount of money to hire a website programmer, maybe they can. I don’t have inordinate amounts of money. We’re low-tech here.

So I finally updated the lefthand sidebar to reflect (er, the last 4 months of) changes in the Democratic race for various offices…people dropping out…people paying their way dropping in…that sort of thing.

Calling all Lt Governor candidates: I will probably be looking into making an endorsement for that race in the next month or so. It’s the hard thing to do - I was just planning on making up my mind the day before the election on who to vote for. However, that would be officially lame. So, I will be making overtures to all the campaigns for a few minutes of the candidates’ time to speak to them or have them fill out a questionnaire. Feel free to save me some trouble and email me if you want to set something up.

So, to readers: if I get a few minutes of the candidates’ time, what do you want to know? I’m especially interested in local concerns you might have. I won’t publish the official questions I will ask until after all candidates have been given a chance to respond. If you like, you can email them to me (lynne at leftinlowell.com) as opposed to post in them comments. Whatever makes you more comfortable.

The next Lowell for Deval Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 28th at 7pm. It will be in the same place as before - 122 Western Ave in Lowell, off School St between Broadway and Middlesex. It’s the long L-shaped building on the right near the end of the dead-end street, go into the doorway with the handicap ramp past the loading docks with a small sign reading “Western Ave Studios” on it.

This is our bi-weekly Wed/7PM meeting, at least for the steering committee members (don’t worry, we have jobs for all levels of committment, so don’t be shy! Come and find out how you can plug in).

The city website has the info about the July 4th fireworks and concert. Particularly, you’ll want to pay attention to the road closures next Tuesday so you don’t get caught in holiday traffic:

Pawtucket St. between Wilder St. and Broadway will be closed per order of the State Fire Marshall from 3PM until approximately 10:30PM. This is necessary to launch the fireworks from the U-Mass Lowell softball field and to clear the area of unexploded ordnance thereafter. In addition the area along the riverbank as delineated by the snow fence must be kept clear of all people during this time.

Pawtucket Blvd. westbound from Varnum Ave. to Stockbridge Ave. and Pawtucket Blvd. eastbound from the eastern most crosswalk at Camelot Court to Varnum Ave. and Stockbridge Ave.

Rourke Bridge will be closed to northbound traffic from 8:30PM until approximately 10:30PM. This is necessary to allow two lanes of southbound traffic on the Rourke Bridge to alleviate congestion on the Pawtucket Blvd.

Pawtucket St. will be closed from Middlesex St. to Broadway from 9:10PM until traffic subsides. This is necessary to eliminate crossover traffic at Pawtucket and Middlesex St.

Entertainment for kids and food venders will be at the Pawtucket Blvd Sampas Pavillion area from 4pm onward, then the Lowell Summer Concert Band will play at 7:30, including of course the 1812 Overture (which is neither written by an American or about America, but I digress!) and then there will be fireworks. If I forget to mention it later, enjoy your holiday! However you celebrate it. And be careful on the roads!