PinnedChelmsford Center for the Arts campaigns for town funding, faces shutdownNew management and office spaces could impact CCA’s future CHELMSFORD — The Chelmsford Center for the Arts may be under new management and effectively downsized in the coming months, after years of advocating for funding through the town budget. Despite its best efforts, all the CCA has received is “lip service,” according to Executive Director Susan Gates. Gates plans…Protest5 min readProtest5 min read
Pinned‘Traumatic,’ ‘volatile’ and ‘torturous:’ BU students voice lasting impacts of working Orientation under Shiney JamesBy Cameron Morsberger and Colbi Edmonds Numerous Boston University students allege Orientation Director Shiney James created a “toxic” work environment and fostered a culture of fear during their time as Orientation leaders — an experience they say continues to impact them months and years later. Allegations against James include verbally…Boston University11 min readBoston University11 min read
Aug 22, 2022Andrea Campbell visits UTEC, wants young leaders ‘at the table’ to make a differenceLOWELL — Police accountability, gun violence, housing and more were all on the table at UTEC Monday afternoon, when attorney general candidate Andrea Campbell met with justice-involved youth to discuss how she can best serve them if elected. Campbell toured the Lowell facility — complete with a performance stage, outdoor…Attorney General4 min readAttorney General4 min read
Aug 19, 2022City of Lowell to remove five large trees from South Common for park improvementsLOWELL — Swimmers, dog walkers, runners and other Lowellians may have seen the signs posted on several trees scattered around the intersection of South and Summer streets on the South Common notifying people that they could be removed. But if you’re just seeing them now, it’s too late. The city…Trees4 min readTrees4 min read
Aug 17, 2022Local school officials react to rise in MCAS passing scores that ‘pigeonhole’ youthThe Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education board voted Monday to raise the passing scores on the state’s standardized test, leading many school officials to criticize the move and its potential negative impact on their students. To graduate, those students must now earn a scaled score of 486 on…Standardized Tests5 min readStandardized Tests5 min read
Aug 16, 2022A ‘return to some normalcy’: Local school districts ease COVID restrictions ahead of school yearWith the school year fast approaching, local districts are finalizing guidelines for students and staff regarding COVID-19, with many schools preparing to lessen restrictions and favor a return to normalcy. State Education Commissioner Jeff Riley and Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke informed Massachusetts school districts on Monday that many of…Covid 194 min readCovid 194 min read
Aug 11, 2022Chelmsford warehouse plans criticized at Planning Board meetingCHELMSFORD — The Planning Board met Wednesday night to continue the public hearing for a much-scrutinized warehouse project on Billerica Road. The plan is to demolish the existing office building at 270 Billerica Road to construct an 85,000-square-foot facility to function as an industrial warehouse. The public hearing began on…Planning3 min readPlanning3 min read
Aug 4, 2022‘I’m fighting for my son’: Lowell mother proposes 10-acre facility for adults with autism, disabilitiesLOWELL — Katie Cancro has spent over a decade preparing for her son’s uncertain future. Seminars, support groups and her own research led her to an unfortunate conclusion: No one can help her. Cancro’s son, Robert, was diagnosed with autism when he was still a toddler. Now, at 16 years…Autism5 min readAutism5 min read
Aug 3, 2022‘I’ve never caught a whale before’: Lowell fishermen capture close encounter with humpback whale in Boston HarborLOWELL — When Ricky Xavapy and Sam Man set out for an afternoon of fishing on the Boston Harbor on Monday, neither expected to come face-to-face with a 50,000-pound whale. The Lowell natives said they were hoping to catch some “stripers,” or striped bass, as Xavapy is a fisherman and…Boston3 min readBoston3 min read
Jul 31, 2022‘Makers and players’ descend on Lowell Folk Festival, share craft of luthiery, instrument restorationLOWELL — Mariia Gorkun was training to become a professional violinist in the United States when she stumbled upon a closet full of old, donated instruments at her university. They were in “terrible shape,” having been stored in a dry closet. …Instruments5 min readInstruments5 min read
