Left In Lowell

Looks like the City of Lights parade is expanding its scope. CM Lynch has the details on his blog, and new events feature art and music, and for kids, a “Holiday Express” on a decorated trolley with a reading of the Polar Express and hot chocolate and cookies. That sounds really fun!

I’ll admit it. I have not yet once attended a City of Lights parade. Two reasons: we’re usually recovering from Thanksgiving and feeling really lazy (especially since I now host my whole family), and also, I really, really hate the cold. Same reason I skip Winterfest every year. Helps that I don’t have children for whom I must constantly find diversions…

Maybe this year I’ll make an exception. The City of Lights events start at 4:30 p.m. on November 29th.

Here’s today’s interview with Paul Marion. We talked about Monday’s F. Bradford Morse Distinguished Lecture (open to the public, being held at 7 p.m. at the F. Bradford Morse Federal Building on Merrimack Street).

 Thinking Out Loud - 11/7/08 Interview with Paul Marion [13:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The City of Lowell and NPS are seeking volunteers for this years City of Lights Parade.

The schedule of the day will include:
12– 4 pm: Stroll downtown for affordable and original gifts and be
entertained…with holiday street performers, hay rides, face painting, art
exhibits and warm winter treats!
4:30pm: City of Lights Parade begins along Jackson Street
6:30pm: City of Lights Parade concludes, and Photos w/ Santa at Lowell City
Hall
6:30 – 8:00pm: Parade of Lights Choral Concert at St. Anne’s Church

We could use your help in the following ways:
greeting visitors at various locations
assisting with coordinating and setting up downtown venues
guiding street performers
marching in costumes to entertain children
providing crowd control at key intersections downtown
assisting in photos w/ Santa

Your commitment would be minimal (a 2-3 hour shift), and all volunteers
will receive a City of Lights fleece holiday scarf as a token of
appreciation.

Please contact Michael Paglia in the Mayor’s Office to RSVP as a volunteer:
978.970.4040; mpaglia at lowellma.gov

Today on TOL, we’ll be talking to Paul Marion, Executive Director for Outreach at UMass Lowell, about this year’s F. Bradford Morse Distinguished Lecture taking place on Monday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at the F. Bradford Morse Federal Building on Merrimack Street. The guest lecturer this year is Prof. Padraig O’Malley of UMass Boston, who will talk about his efforts on reconciliation in Iraq and his history working for peace.

The event is open to the public, and is free.

Join us at 10am, either at 91.5FM or streaming online live.

Tomorrow after a hard and full day on the campaign trail (I’ll be down in Eldridge/Benson territory), I think it’d be cool if any LiL’ers wanted to meet up to watch the election returns. I am guessing that this will be much less of a let down than the last two. I plan to stay up nice and late.

So local Demcrats, if you want to come and watch the election returns on a huuuuuge screen, come to the Brewery Exchange, 201 Cabot St in Lowell. I like the Brewery because of the setup they have on the second floor, it’s pretty nifty. Say, around 8:30pm or so?

PS - I will try to post election day updates tomorrow via PDA. If I have enough phone juice, that is.

Have at ye. I’ll be busy most of the weekend, so you’re on your own.

Be nice.

It’s a gorgeous night for tricks and treating, ain’t it? Hope those with kids don’t fail to take them out for the sugar rush. Halloween is a sacred kid holiday. Trick or Treating is from 6pm to 8pm, so for heaven’s sake people, make sure you have lots of candy and leave your porch light on. Make the kiddies happy. (As for me, I am donning a costume in order to give out da goods…why should the kids have all the fun??)

OK, speaking of sugar rush, someone at City Hall has had way too much Halloween candy…this is on the city’s website:

Hehe. Cute.

You could go watch “Tom Dowd and the Language of Music” at the Music on Film series by the Lowell Film Collaborative, Sunday, November 2 at 5 p.m. It will be held at UMass Lowell’s O’Leary Library, Room 222.

Then there are the various galleries around Lowell. If you’ve never been to the Whistler House, you have to go. I love that place (and Whistler). Though if you wait until November 5th, they are having their Annual Juried Members Exhibition, with the reception happening on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2 to 4 PM.

There, your non-political post of the week. Enjoy.

In addition to Haz Mat Day that Lynne had posted earlier, there are a few other activities to consider getting involved in this Saturday, October 25th, National Make A Differance Day!

Lowell Canalwater Cleaners
Meet at 9am at the National Parks Maintenance Facility on Aiken St. Cook out for volunteers at Noon. Areas designated for cleaning will depend on Enel’s drain down. Keep in mind, to assist in these clean ups, you don’t have to hoof it over a rail and onto the banks of the canals. There are many other areas you can assist and still make a huge differance!

The Judy Keen Memorial Blanket the Valley @ The Wish Project.
11am to 3pm
1A Foundry St. in Lowell (off Plain St.)
For the 5th year in a row, Lowell’s Furniture & Baby Goods Bank is running a huge National Make A Differance Day Project in conjunction with the Paul Newman Foundation and the City of Lowell’s Hunger Homeless Awareness Month.
Mayor Caulfield will be presenting Presidential Awards at Noon, to five exceptional volunteers.
Bring the family (kids too!) for a tour of the 13,000 sq. ft. warehouse and enjoy chowder from Boston Chowda Company, pizza from Trolley Pizza, hot dogs, popcorn and much more.
Since your coming anyway (ha, ha), this is a great opportunity to go through your linen closets and attics and donate any clean, good condition blankets for distribution in the upcoming winter months. Blankets of all shapes and sizes welcome.
The Wish Project is in competition nationally and this is a great opportunity to shine the light on all the great things Lowell does!

Family Oktoberfest, sponsored by State Representative Tom Golden
2pm to 5pm
The Brewery Exchange, 201 Cabot St in Lowell
Proceeds to benefit Greatr Lowell Annual Thanksgiving dinner baskets
$10 per person or $20 per family
Tom and his crew have tons of activities planned for all members of the family.

Have a great Saturday!

Just a reminder, tomorrow is the fall Household Hazardous Waste Day. Gate opens at 9 am, last car at 1 pm. Cawley Stadium (map) on Douglas Road from 9am until 1pm. For more details visit the city’s webpage on what is accepted.

Two items on fellow blogs of note: First, apparently that work will get done on the Rourke Bridge:

The Mass Highway work to the bridge deck and top support systems announced earlier this year, will be commencing this week.

All work will be done between the hours of 8pm and 4am.

For the next seven nights, ‘spot’ work will be done on bridge joints, and motorists can expect minor delays.

After October 21st, the deck/surface work will begin, which will necessitate bridge closure from 8pm to 4am Sunday through Thursday. Traffic will be detoured to the O’Donnell/School Street Bridge during this time.

All work is projected to be complete in 60 days.

Luckily for me, most of my life/work/play is south of the river. With the University Ave bridge closed and the Rourke delays at night, you couldn’t pay me to cross the river. OK, you could pay me, but it’ll cost ya. (Unluckily for me, they’ve really been ramping up the sewer/drainage work down the street from me. Fun!)

Also, if you are interested in knowing more about what’s happening with the schools these days, there’s a town hall style meeting with superintendent Dr. Chris Scott, Monday, October 20, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. It will also be broadcast live on Channel 22 for those with cable. See above link for details!