Author Archives: ldna

SAVE THE DATE

Annual “Spring” Neighborhood Food Drive (a.k.a. The Pantry Raid)! The drive is schedule for March 17 – March 24 with bag distribution being completed by Thursday March 22nd and the pick up on Saturday, March 24! I realize that for some of you March 17th is considered one of the major holidays throughout the year….feel free to begin on the 18th (maybe the 19th)!

If you have any questions please send me an email or give me a call!

Debbie CalleryBusiness Development &
Fundraising Coordinator
Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc.
735 Broadway Street
Lowell, MA 01854
Phone: 978-454-7272 Fax: 978-454-1717

License Commission Meeting Time

Pleased to find this SUN editorial regarding the License Commission. Well stated and also includes the suggestion of a compromise.

“In this case, we see a simple compromise that can satisfy both the business sector and the public.
The License Commission can hold a 3 p.m. meeting on the first Thursday of the month, followed by a 6:30 p.m. meeting on the third Thursday of the month.
Those who have business before the board can simply inform the commission’s executive secretary as to which slot is convenient for their schedule.
Of course, it won’t solve the problem of giving the same access to all the people all the time, but it is a start in the right direction. Over time, we’d prefer to see the 6:30 p.m. meeting time become the rule rather than the exception.
The License Commission performs a valuable function and does its job well. All it has to do now is become a bit more flexible in continuing its public service”.

http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_19751791?IADID=Search-www.lowellsun.com-www.lowellsun.com

LDNA MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 23RD, 7PM
AT LCT, 246 MARKET ST.

American Textile History Museum – Free Saturday

Man stabbed in downtown Lowell

And more discussion over at Left-in-Lowell
http://www.leftinlowell.com/2012/01/16/what-the-hell-is-going-on-downtown/

Rob Mills has updated his story on-line
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_19751690

Thankfully the young man who was stabbed has been released from the hospital.
this situation does beg the question why the city continues to ignore repeated reports from Chief Lavallee about the escalating situation in this area.
There are some very simple and cost efficient things that could have been done immediately…enlist business owners to keep lights on at night, specifically in the parking lot of Paige & John where most of these fights occur; place surveillance cameras in the parking dept. office which is directly across from aformentioned parking lot and cameras at the corner of John & Merrimack Streets.

The city has committed considerable resources on surveillance to catch people illegally dumping trash; can we not do at least that much to improve public safety?

Rob Mills tells the very sad story and states the obvious about the neighborhood bickering…

Man stabbed in downtown Lowell
Posted by Police Line on January 15, 2012
The Lowell Downtown Neighborhood Association, bar owners, the city administration and the License Commission are battling each other in an epic attempt to decide when to hold a meeting.

Meanwhile, a man was stabbed in downtown Lowell and flown to a Boston trauma center early this morning shortly after last call.

Police have not identified the man. I have no indication whatsoever whether alcohol was involved. Here is what I do know:

At about 2 a.m., a police sergeant called the “downtown portable,” a police unit assigned to patrol around downtown bars, to the area of Middle and Central streets to help deal with a “highly intoxicated” woman.

At the same time, a fight was reported in the area of Paige and Lee streets — a common trouble spot downtown when bars close, which has been discussed at prior public meetings.

Two cars who weren’t dealing with the situation on Middle Street were sent to Lee and Paige. By the time they arrived, they reported the fight was breaking up. There were no more radio transmissions regarding the fight.

At 2:12 a.m., an officer was sent to the emergency room at Lowell General Hospital, because a man had just walked into the ER with a stab wound…

Read the whole blog entry:
http://sunpoliceline.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/man-stabbed-in-downtown-lowell/

Veterans for Peace plan "eat-in" at Babylon Restaurant tonight

Nice coverage of this story by Rachel Maddow

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In the event you may not be aware, as reported in today’s Lowell Sun, a restaurant downtown was recently the victim of a malicious act of vandalism where a 20 lb building stone was thrown through the window. While investigations are currently underway to determine whether this incident was a “hate crime,” it goes without say that acts like this have no place in our community.

Vandalism and Public Safety are topics of frequent discussion concerning the state and culture of downtown and actions are currently being taken by the City, Lowell Police Department, Business Owners and Residents to address these concerns. The extreme nature of this recent incident at Babylon Restaurant has shown us just how important these partnerships are in the continuing growth and development of downtown.

I am contacting you to encourage you to join the Veterans for Peace and other concerned Lowellians tonight at an “eat-in” at Babylon Restaurant, 25 Merrimack Street,between 5pm and 8pm. For those who are unable to attend I encourage you to visit this restaurant for lunch or dinner, at any time, and tell the staff that you support them and are taking a stand against violence in our community.

Each of us has the power to help make our community a place that everyone can enjoy. In addition to continuing to support businesses downtown, I hope you will join Center City Committee in discussing and creating solutions aimed at Downtown’s continued development as a place for all to admire and enjoy.

Bobby Tugbiyele
President
Center City Committee, Inc.
centercitycommittee@gmail.com
http://www.lowellcentercity.org/
The Center City Committee is made up of 23 Stakeholder Organizations representing every aspect of downtown life from residents to business owners (including retailers, restaurant owners and commercial businesses) to city officials, building owners, educational institutions, cultural organizations, social service agencies, students, and visitor-oriented organizations like the National Park and the CVB. It provides a forum for networking and information exchange and meets regularly to help promote the downtown.

Running on Empty

License Commission Public Hearing

CITY OF LOWELL

LICENSE COMMISSION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The License Commission of the City of Lowell will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. in Lowell City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chamber at 375 Merrimack Street on the request of the City Manager that the License Commission change time of meetings from 3:00 p.m. on Thursdays, to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays; meetings to be held in the Council Chamber.
The reason for the request to change meeting time was on a motion voted by the City Council; read and referred to the City Manager, November 29, 2011: “changing the meeting time to the evening because many people are unable to attend 3 p.m. meetings due to their work and business commitments. Councilors discussed changing License Commission meeting times to allow for more community input.”
The License Commission will open the hearing for public comment; the licensing board reserves the right to limit the time for public comment.
License Commission City of Lowell
Walter F. Bayliss, Jr., Commissioner
Raymond T. Weicker, Commissioner
Brian T. Akashian, Commissioner

Date: January 6, 2012
Lowell Sun newspaper

WATER MAIN BREAK ON MIDDLESEX STREET

Middlesex Street is closed from Burnside to Livingston Streets due to a break in an 8-inch water main earlier this afternoon.

Traffic is being detoured around this stretch of Middlesex Street which is in front of the Public Works facility as Water Utility crews work to determine the extent of the damage and begin repairs.

A handful of nearby water customers are affected at this point. Repairs are expected to continue late into the evening.

For more information contact the Lowell Regional Water Facility at (978) 970-4242.