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Last night, Lowell was home to the biggest, best outdoor party—with music drifting along the breeze from Boarding House Park to the lot behind the National Park Visitors’ Center (a new location for the dance tent and an absolutely brilliant decision). I know, it’s the Folk Festival, and we expect to hear music and see people outside dancing and eating ethnic foods. Well, I didn’t expect to see so many people having fun (thousands), nor see bands in new locations. In fact, there were only two festival stages set for opening night of the 21st annual event, touted as the largest free folk festival in the country. Area businesses joined together (or on their own) to provide live music, such as the band playing in the middle of Palmer Street, which was flanked by crowds at tables outside Café Paradiso, Fortunato’s, and the Blue Shamrock. There was also a band of local veterans playing in the lot on Market Street where Olive That and More served beer and wine, and Café Aiello dished up gelato. Mambo Grill had a band on the sidewalk amid outside diners, drinkers, and walkers. People of all ages—from seniors toe-tapping on the benches at Market Street to a toddler twirling with mom at the dance tent—joined in the fun as the whole downtown became a huge block party. Best of all, it’s just beginning! more »

As I said in a previous post, I saw a lot of Tom Tierney signs in North Chelmsford the other day.  On one side of Tierney’s signs you see the candidate’s name, but on the other it says “Tom Tierney will save Social Security.”  This statement seems disingenuous since it implies that he thinks there is something badly wrong with the program and that we need him to step in and save it.  Having heard him at the NPA debate last week, I understand that he believes that there is nothing wrong with Social Security and that it is one of the most successful programs ever, so the people he is saving it from are actually his fellow Republicans.  As President Bush was unable to get anywhere with his attacks on the program (one of his big campaign issues in ‘03), it seems to me as if Tierney is beating a dead horse; surely there are other issues he might want to emphasize?  Or, is he trying to have it both ways, attract those who think the program is in trouble as well as those who think it should be left alone? These were my thoughts as I sat in construction traffic looking at the numerous Tom Tierney signs.