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Traditionally, dining out is a favorite way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and with many area restaurants offering specials these days, it’s affordable and fun. A friend told me about dining at La Boniche the other night and ordering from their Tuesdays-fixed-price menu—four delicious courses for $25; they not only enjoyed an exquisite dining experience, but had enough food for lunch the next day. Also, as noted in yesterday’s Sun, many Lowell restaurants will be offering Great Plates, three courses for a fixed price, beginning next week and continuing until Feb. 28.

For Valentine’s Day, in addition to sharing a special meal with the love in your life, spread the warmth by celebrating early and taking your date to the Heartiest Lunch in Town, from 12-3 tomorrow. The fund raiser for Lowell’s homeless shelter is being offered by Cobblestones and Brew’d Awakenings. For a cash or check donation of $10 to the shelter and a mention of “heartiest lunch,” you can enjoy macaroni and cheese, soup and salad, or a special sandwich at Cobblestones, or a BLT, coffee, and a famous homemade cookie from Brew’d Awakenings—a real deal of a meal for a good cause. Bon appétit!

There’s an article in today’s Boston Globe about an MBTA driver, Patrick Coughlin, who helped a woman allegedly being harassed on his bus by a fellow passenger. After ordering the man to change seats and then, when the behavior continued, demanding he get off his bus, Coughlin called for backup, and the man was arrested. As someone who used to live in Boston years ago, often travelling alone at night by public transportation, I can relate to the woman’s fear, and I admire Coughlin’s courage in intervening. So often it seems we look away from the pain of strangers, afraid to get involved—whether it’s stopping to help a stranded traveler or, even scarier, speaking out against another’s aggressive behavior. You have to be careful because you never know who might have a weapon, or whether it’s legitimate or some sort of scam. Yet, when we look away from another’s need, we lose a little of our own humanity. Coughlin put his personal safety at risk by refusing to allow a man to harass a woman on his bus, and that makes him a hero.

Another sort of hero, one who showed courage and dogged persistence, is Harry Markopolos, the Whitman man who struggled for nine years to get federal authorities to stop Bernard Madoff and his $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Today’s Globe covers Markopolos’ testimony before Congress where he describes his near-decade of efforts to get someone at the Boston and New York offices of the Securities and Exchange Commission to do their job. The fact that Markopolos spoke out in the first place, not to mention his relentless pursuit of justice despite years of bureaucratic brush-off, is remarkable and inspiring. I am relieved to know there are still heroes among us; everyday folks who try to do the right thing in spite of the risks. I like to think that when those opportunities arise in my life, I also will act with courage and persistence to be a person I can admire.

Even though I’m not a cold-weather fan, I won’t miss visiting downtown Lowell this weekend to participate in the ninth annual WinterFest celebration—always a frosty good time for folks of all ages. The city has added new activities such as a Progressive Dinner & Jazz Night (tomorrow night from 6-10) that includes live music and special appetizers, entrees and desserts featured at downtown restaurants, as well as a Winter Cocktail Competition with choices such as Polar Berry Martini or Snow Blower (rum, cranberry, Schnapps, and orange juice). Diners “progress” through their meal by visiting the restaurants and sampling featured items. Also new is Merrimack Valley’s Got Talent, an entertainment competition that will showcase high school youth, as well as a Chinese Lantern Festival, and free horse-drawn sleigh rides. The best-loved old standbys, of course, will also be included, such as the Human Dogsled Races, the North Bowl Soup Competition, free skating and children’s activities at the Tsongas Arena, lots of music and art, and the grand finale on Saturday—fireworks over City Hall. So bundle up and join us for some winter fun.

This time of year, my mailbox is full of welcomed cards from friends and family from near and far, as well as the standard amount of bills. There also seems to be an unprecedented number of requests for donations from different organizations. In a few weeks, I’ve collected requests for money from more than 33 nonprofit groups, most of them doing very important work and deserving of every dime we can spare. Here’s a sample of groups looking for my dime recently: Rosie’s Place, Salvation Army, WGBH, American Heart Association, World Wildlife Fund, National Children’s Leukemia Foundation, New England Home for Little Wanderers, Project Bread, Catholic Relief Services, and Paralyzed Veterans of America. Local groups soliciting me include Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Stand for Children, Saints Memorial Hospital, Lowell General Hospital, Community Teamwork, Girls Inc, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Acre Family Child Care, Lowell Community Health Center, Lowell Humane Society, Coalition for a Better Acre, and the United Way.

Like most of us, I’ve seen our savings depleted, our home devalued, and our financial solvency destabilized during the recent economic downturn. And yet, the overwhelming requests reflect the real needs of people in our community. In my family, helping others is not only about sharing (as Christ noted, whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me), but also is based on the very practical understanding that as members of a community, we do not fully prosper if fellow members suffer. And so, we decided an amount we can afford during these tough times (when giving is even more important) and to prioritize who gets the funds. (We’re leaning toward local groups where people we know provide for neighbors in need.)

I’m going to avoid the mall traffic this Saturday and look for unique gifts by going downtown to the Holiday Market Place at the Brush Art Gallery and Studios, 256 Market Street (behind the National Park Visitor Center). Special hours for the Sugar & Spice Weekend are 11-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and shoppers will be able to sample free sweets as part of the “Cookie Competition,” which includes voting for the winning cookie along with getting recipes and warm refreshments (another reason not to sit in traffic on Daniel Webster Highway). Visiting the gallery is always a pleasant, stress-free experience and a great way to find special gifts for those hard-to-buy-for folks. But watch out, if you’re anything like me, you won’t be able to resist picking up a little something for yourself too.

Before the onslaught of media technology, folks used to visit each other in person, gathering around a piano to sing or in a parlor to discuss the day’s events. Today, we have the internet, which gives each of us the power, with a few keystrokes, to communicate with others globally. We now have podcasts, streaming video, and a host of other technology-driven outlets that enable us to sit in our kitchens with the world at our fingertips, literally. But the need for human connection is still there—perhaps stronger than ever.  It’s depressing to hear about the end of UML’s Sunrise show because it is a loss for our community, especially as an outlet for voices not heard in the mainstream. It seems there might have been other options, as Lynne mentions in LiL, such as a push toward a more volunteer- or student-based production and perhaps we’ll see that happen. In the frenetic world we live in, however, it’s difficult to find time to volunteer, which is why kudos go to the staff of the new LTC cable show, City Life, produced by John McDonough with co-hosts George Anthes and Tom Byrne. The time and effort required to produce a show consistently is daunting, and these guys deserve credit for putting such energy into this project. And like Cliff Krieger—our latest local blogger—each new voice expands our perspectives and understanding of our community. These endeavors become especially important today because they use technology to connect us with our neighbors through idea sharing rather than isolate us in techno-cocoons of our own making, which is, of course, a downside to the text-messaging, ipod, laptop, blue-tooth-laden world we live in.

Forget ‘Black Friday’, the best way to kick-off the holiday season is tomorrow, Saturday, in downtown Lowell! Augmenting the annual City of Lights Parade, which starts at Jackson Street at 4:30 pm and proceeds to City Hall, is a new Holiday Art Stroll, from noon to 4:00 pm. While visiting participating shops, galleries, museums and restaurants you will enjoy holiday street performers and have the chance to vote for the best hot chocolate in town. I like to do my holiday shopping in Lowell and one of my favorite places to find unique gifts is the Brush Art Gallery. On Saturday they will have jazz and a cookie contest. After the parade, photos with Santa at City Hall are an option for families, then head over to St. Anne’s for a holiday choral concert. For more information on all the events, visit the COOL website.

Last night was a great evening to be downtown, dancing and celebrating with other members of the community at the Mayor’s Ball to raise funds for the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. My husband and I planned to attend briefly to support the cause, and then have a quiet dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants nearby. Instead, we stayed and enjoyed delicious appetizers while visiting with people from all walks of the community. Many familiar faces were there: Mayor Bud Caulfield obviously, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, Police Chief Lavallee, Schools Supt. Chris Scott, City Manager Bernie Lynch, city councillors, and school committee members, as well as cops, teachers, parents, administrators, and leaders from the nonprofit and business sectors. I loved the connection of folks hanging together in support of an organization so vital to our community. The atmosphere was festive, friendly, and infused with warm energy. Susan Lavallee, the chief’s wife, got a warm hello from a stranger, who it turns out, thought she was new Lowell Supt. Chris Scott. Lavallee told the embarrassed elderly gentleman that she hoped the superintendent was attractive, to which the man replied “absolutely!” To prove his point, I introduced the two women, who were not in the least concerned by the mistaken identity. As we headed home finally, I couldn’t help but think of a twist to an old adage: a community that parties together, stays healthy together.

Maybe what I’m about to suggest is not what you intended to do this weekend, but sometimes you have to adjust to the weather (scratch yard work, apple picking and the Sox game). Before I recommend a few local events that don’t require clear skies or big bucks, please note that Lowell’s semi-annual Hazardous Waste Day has been rescheduled from tomorrow to Saturday, Oct. 25. Instead, for a fun and free daytime activity this Saturday and Sunday, check out Lowell Open Studios 11 a.m. – noon. This annual event, currently in its eighth year, allows visitors to get a taste of the diverse creativity that exists in the city; experience art work and different art processes in metal, fabric, paint and clay right in our own backyard. Shuttle buses will run between the downtown and Western Ave studios.

Later, if you’re in for some evening entertainment, stroll down Middle Street, which will be closed to traffic, and participate in the Community Empowerment and Solutions Fair at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The fair will include music, food, inspiring speakers, and the opportunity for folks to gather around issues such as the greening of Lowell as well as social justice and health concerns facing our community. After that, take in the Image Theater’s presentation of “City Stories” upstairs at the Old Court Pub, 29 Central Street. The free show includes short stories and essays dramatically performed by local actors and writers. The shows start at 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday nights. What better way to spend a rainy night than sipping a brew and listening to stories? You may also enjoy a great meal at one of the city’s restaurants after visiting the art studios and before storytelling. (okay this part’s not free) We tried Blue Taleh on Middlesex Street last weekend and loved it; they had a kids menu too! (Don’t worry about missing the Red Sox or the presidential debate if they even happen, you can tape or devo them to watch later.) So don’t be a wet blanket even if it is raining. Get out and explore downtown.

I was using an old website for Congresswoman Tsongas and couldn’t figure out why it didn’t seem up to date. Here’s the proper link
A friend forwarded to me Congresswoman Niki Tsongas’ email update, called “Congress in your In-box.” I learned what Niki had been up to lately, especially that she had been in Lowell visiting the schools with our new Super. She heard from teachers about the demands of No Child Left Behind and summarized her findings:

The law was also supposed to provided additional funding over subsequent years as standards and expectations increased; however, the federal government has not provided the resources that the law promised for the succeeding years. These funding increases called for under the Act were intended to keep in step with the increase in targets for student performance. As a result of the lack of funding, schools are often unable to meet student learning standards required by the law further compounding the problem it was intended to address.

In other news, Niki recognized the efforts of ONE Lowell to help decrease truancy among ethnically diverse high school and middle school students, achieving improvement in 76% of their cases so far this year. From Niki:

Earlier this week, I was pleased to announce that the Department of Health and Human Services had awarded a federal grant in the amount of $93,397 to ONE Lowell in support of their efforts.

It is great to hear that this organization is getting the funding and recognition that it deserves. This is truly how we stop leaving children behind, rather than through unrealistic, unfunded mandates.

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