Left In Lowell

Jenn Myers is reporting on the Sun’s web site that we have a new lease with the Spinners. By a vote 8-1, CC A. Kazanjian voting against it, the City Council voted to accept the new lease agreement. Last Monday the CC went into executive session to discuss the terms of the lease agreement with the Spinners’ organization.

The preliminary contract appears on the City’s web site as part of the City Council packet. Here is the link to the pdf file. Myers reports that the terms of the contract are $2.5 million over a 10 year period. I think the City got a good deal. I hope CC A.K. is just as demanding when other contracts for City-owned properties (i.e. auditorim) comes around.

With the City Hall transmitters failing to broadcast tonight, we missed some of the usual theatrics. If anything of interest or unusual occurred, we will post a video clip. Congratulations to all who made this happen.

It seems like everywhere I go, I am asked who is the Lowell Shallot? Lowell’s version of the Onion. I do not know who he is but I am as curious as you. In case you have not checked out Lowell’s latest blog, please do. The Shallot refers to his blog as a “satirist view of Lowell.”

Why such an interest? All bloggers can be critical observers and some of can be brutally honest, but he knows a lot about how Lowell operates behind the scenes, much more than the average resident; and yes, is not afraid to say it. How many of you understand the “significance” of Louis Saab, Frank Keefe and the City Center Committee. They, among others, were target of his keyboard.

However, he leaves his harshest criticism for the leadership of the Sun. His facebook site says he was born in 1980; that does not seem right. However, the dropping of “f” bombs here and there, leads me to believe that he may be. But then why would a 29-year old person have such a visceral reaction to Campy and Kendall? Some have told me it has to be a current employee or ex-employee of the Sun. I know it is not a current one as for ex-employees, I am not sure.

I know all of Greater Lowell’s other bloggers. This person remains a mystery. Not only is he knowledgeable about the inner workings of the City, both private and public, but he is a good writer and technologically savvy.

I think we should call in a profiler.

Yesterday morning after finishing my bi-monthly “blogger’s spot” on WCAP, I ran into Officer Tim Golden who was there to promote a summer program for kids of Lowell: the Student Police Academy. I never knew such a program existed. What a great idea!

The program runs for 3 weeks from 8:30 - 2:00 p.m. Incoming 7-8 graders attend from July 27 th - August 14th; incoming 7th and 9th graders attend from June 29 - July 17th.

The purpose of the Student Police Academy is to instill discipline, structure and team-work. The day begins with exercises. The Cadets take their classes at the Little Theater at LHS. Those classes consist of gang prevention, bullying, internset safety, drug and alchohol awareness, smoking cessation, ethics, decision making and the entire Grang Resistance Education and Training Curriculum.

Also the students will get CPR certified and First Aid Instruction; a tour of the Lowell Police Station, fire safety clases and demonstrations from the cannine division and the bomb squad.

Of course, there will also be opportunities for fun and games. At the end of the 3-week course, the cadets are given a diploma during a graduation ceremony.

Those parents interested can contact their children’s School Resource Officer or call 978-937-8943. There will be a mandatory meeting at the LHS cafeteria this coming Wednesday, May 13th at 6:00 p.m. Of course, the entire program is free of charge to children who live in Lowell. This is a great way to keep the kids off the streets while teaching them important life skills. I wish I was a kid again.