COOL Collaboration Between MCC and the Murkland Elementary School

Celebrating the installation of Murkland Elementary School’s new moveable alphabet are (left to right) Lowell Public Schools Superintendent Jean M. Franco; PreK/Kindergarten Special Education Teacher Sarah McPhee; Middlesex Community College Professor of Art Jan Arabas, and Murkland School Principal Jason DiCarlo. MCC students designed the letters in the new teaching tool, incorporating images drawn by Murkland fourth-graders. The alphabet hangs in Murkland’s Early Childhood wing.

Middlesex Community College and Lowell’s Murkland Elementary School recently celebrated the installation of a colorful, moveable alphabet that combines English letters with multicultural images. Created last spring as a community-service project, the alphabet was designed by MCC students in Professor Jan Arabas’ Electronic Imaging course. The series of 52 upper- and lower-case letters incorporates graphic images of objects that start with each specific letter. (For example, images of a boat, banana and bubbles appear on the letter “B.”)

Murkland fourth-grade students, under the direction of Preschool/Kindergarten Special Education Teacher Sarah McPhee, created drawings of objects that MCC students also incorporated into some of the alphabet’s letters. This Middlesex-Murkland collaboration grew out of a trip to Cambodia made by Arabas and McPhee in the summer of 2010.

They were among the 13 MCC and Lowell Public Schools teachers who took part in a U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad, designed to promote communication between American and Cambodian educators. The alphabet is installed in Murkland’s Early Childhood wing. The letters were professionally printed by ProForma Graphics. Printing costs were funded by the Cambodian Opera Fund, which is administered by the Cultural Council of Lowell.

This program is another great example of what can be accomplished by forging partnerships and tapping into the rich cultural and educational resources available to us here in Lowell.

Don’t Miss Out on the Fun! Register Your Human Dogsled Team for Lowell Winterfest 2012

Saturday’s snowstorm was just the reminder we needed that Winterfest is right around the corner.  If you’re thinking about running a Human Dog Sled team now is the time to register.   The National Human Dogsled Competition is one of the highlights of the annual Winterfest festivities and as the saying goes, sometimes you don’t realize how much you miss something until you don’t have it.  This was clearly the case with the absence of the Human Dogsled races last year do to the unfortunate timing of an overabundance of snow.  The year sleds will run, snow or no snow.   

So join in on the fun and rally your friends, co-workers, or organization to run a six-member team.  Get all the details and register here.

Prescription Drug Benefit Program Offered

Representatives from NeedyMeds will be at the Senior Center on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10 am to explain the prescription drug benefit card.  The City Council recognized that despite mandatory health insurance coverage, gaps remain for many people, all too often for those most vulnerable.  An opportunity for City of Lowell residents to save money on prescription drugs is available through a program with NeedyMeds, a Gloucester-based national non-profit. The program, initiated by the City Council, makes available a NeedyMeds drug discount card. The card, which is widely accepted by most of the area pharmacies, provides a discount determined by the individual pharmacy for consumers purchasing prescriptions drugs not in combination with any insurance benefit.

The card, a joint project of NeedyMeds and the City of Lowell, is provided free to any Lowell Resident. The card may be used to obtain up to an 80% discount on prescription medications, over-the-counter medications or medical supplies written as a prescription, as well as pet medications purchased at a pharmacy. The card is available at many locations including City Hall, the Health Dept., Senior Center, local social service agencies, health facilities, non-profit organizations and provided upon request by NeedyMeds.

Winterfest 2012 — February 9th through February 11th

The Holidays are behind us, but the busy folks in the Cultural Affairs and Special Events office and their partners always have something in the works for us to look forward to.  The City of Lowell offers more ways to usher in the winter season with a new and expanded program and entertainment lineup for its 12th Annual Winterfest Celebration, Thursday, February 9 through Saturday, February 11, 2012. The family-friendly, 3-day festival kicks off on Thursday, February 9 with an added evening of events for visitors of all ages featuring a Looks of Lowell Fashion Show at Lowell High School, free Public Skating and a Broomball Tournament on Ice at the Tsongas Center, a Pop-Up Art Gallery & Performance Space, and Winterfest’s first-ever Micro Brew Showcase at the Masonic Center. Rounding out the night is a Lowell Taste of Winter event which offers visitors a local dining experience and the chance to taste a variety of delicious winter-inspired cocktails. 

 ”In today’s economy, we know the importance of offering affordable, quality entertainment that people of all ages can enjoy,” said Lowell City Manager Bernie Lynch. “In addition to making sure we include perennially popular Winterfest events, we’re extending the festival to include dynamic activities on Thursday night—public skating, a fashion show, gallery walk, micro-brew competition, and “taste of winter” activities featuring restaurants and venues around town. This year’s festival will show off our rich array of cultural, entertainment, dining and retail establishments.”

 “Lowell’s WinterFest inspires people to get out and celebrate the season,” said Richard Bolton, Chairman & CEO of Lowell Bank.  Mr. Bolton is spearheading this year’s fundraising efforts for the event. “There’s truly something for everyone at this year’s event.

As in years past, Lowell Winterfest will include crowd favorites like the Human Dog Sled Competition, Soup Bowl Competition, Live Music at Club Celsius, and Museum Madness Kids Activities. For 2012, the weekend lineup will also include a dramatic night-time Fire Dancer Performance, Ice Sculpture Display and Demonstrations, plus Youth Open Mic and Spoken Word Performances.

Back by popular demand are the All-You-Can-Eat Chocolate Festival at St. Anne’s Church and Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides through downtown Lowell. All these great festivities are capped off on Saturday night with a Winterfest tradition — the 7 p.m. Fireworks Display over theTsongasCenter followed by late-night live music in Club Celsius.

All Winterfest activities are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.lowellwinterfest.org or call 978-674-1483.

 To sign up to volunteer, please contact Suzzanne Cromwell at 978-674-1483 or scromwell@lowellma.gov.

Be a part of the Winterfest fun and become an official event sponsor! Sponsorship opportunities are available at all levels by visiting www.lowellwinterfest.org or contacting Deborah Belanger at 978-459-6150 or dbelanger@merrimackvalley.org.

 Lowell Winterfest is programmed by the City ofLowelland the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL) in partnership with the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Lowell Memorial Auditorium, and The Tsongas Center/Global Spectrum.  It is made possible by the generous support of sponsors across the region. To become a sponsor, please contact Deborah Belanger at 978-459-6150 or dbelanger@merrimackvalley.org.

Permitting Compliance

The issues surrounding the Lowell Housing Authority’s renovations at the North Common Village have received an unusual amount of attention in the local media and among various elected officials. This coverage can potentially help Development Services change long standing perceptions with respect to compliance with permit and inspection requirements for building projects, but only if the discussion of the issue recognizes the Division’s actions in resolving the matter in a fair and honest manner without an agenda. As with other cases where work being conducted without proper permits or inspections is brought to the attention Development Services, the staff have responded to this issue with professionalism, integrity, and diligence that should be recognized and applauded rather than tarred with the same brush that is being applied to the negligent property owners and contractors in this case. Painting the office that is working hard to address and resolve a problem in the same context as those who caused the problem, will actually have the counterproductive effect of decreasing trust in the very permit and inspections processes that anyone who genuinely cares about code compliance and public safety should be strongly supporting.

All property owners contemplating building projects need to be cognizant of the following sections of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations. The State’s Electrical and Plumbing Codes contain similar provisions making it clear that property owners and their contractors are responsible for obtaining all required permits and inspections.

780 CMR 105.1 Required. It shall be unlawful to construct, reconstruct, alter, repair, remove or demolish a building or structure; or to change the use or occupancy of a building or structure; or to install or alter any equipment for which provision is made or the installation of which is regulated by this code without first filing a written application with the building official and obtaining the required permit.

780 CMR 110.5 Inspection Requests. It shall be the duty of the holder of the building permit or their duly authorized agent to notify the building official when work is ready for inspection. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to provide access to and means for inspections of such work that are required by this code. The building official may require the permit holder or his representative to attend these inspections.

Development Services is responsible for reviewing permit applications, issuing permits, and conducting inspections when contacted by the permit holders. The entire process is designed to help ensure that building projects are completed in compliance with all applicable codes, many of which are promulgated to protect public safety, but some are designed to further other public purposes including energy conservation. Development Services is also often called upon to address work being conducted without proper permits and/or inspections.

Similar to the police responding to tips about crimes, generally these issues are brought to the Division’s attention through complaints. Just as the police force is unable to anticipate every crime that may occur, it is impossible for the far smaller staff of inspectors to monitor all properties in the City at all times for potential violations. However, when one is identified, Development Services works with the property owners and contractors to resolve the matter with the following priorities:

1. Ensure that the work is either constructed in compliance with all codes or code violations are corrected.

2. Ensure that proper permits and inspection documentation are ultimately obtained for the project.

3. Minimize disruption and inconvenience for innocent third parties who may be harmed by the work and/or the remedy of any violations, including tenants.

4. Work with contractors and property owners in a collaborative manner focused on problem solving in order to achieve the higher priority objectives as expeditiously as possible.

Despite the intense media attention and political scrutiny, to the credit of the staff involved, this approach is being applied to the North Common Village just as it is for any other property identified with similar violations. Deputy Director Kendra Amaral, Building Commissioner Robert Marsilia, Wire Inspector Doug Collupy, and Plumbing and Gas Inspector Norman Card should be commended for their diligence and perseverance in working to resolve this issue with an outcome that protects the integrity of their inspections processes, ensures code compliance, and ultimately stands as an example to encourage property owners and contractors to comply with all permit and inspection requirements. All of these individuals are committed professionals who operate with integrity and genuine respect for the codes and laws they are charged with enforcing.

Several thorough reports have detailed the processes they have been steadily applying and will continue to until this matter is satisfactorily resolved. These reports can be found in the City Council packets found here. Development Services welcomes the review of its attention to this project and process for bringing it into compliance from any third party, because we fully believe any such review will both reinforce the steps taken to date as well as those planned and also provide further assurance to all parties involved that the property will ultimately be code compliant at the conclusion of the process. Development Services welcomes the press coverage of the situation with the sincere hope that it will reduce the likelihood of property owners and contractors working without proper permits in the future. We also welcome any constructive and specific advice or direction as to how to more effectively meet the goals outlined above.

You’re Invited! Mayor’s Holiday Reception – Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 5-7 pm at City Hall

Go Global by Staying Local! Two “Best Retail Practices” Participants Profiled in Boston Globe

The Economic Development Office of the Division of Planning and Development recently had the pleasure of working with two Iraqi families as they opened new restaurants in downtown Lowell.  The Babylon and Abu Nawas Restaurants participated in the “Best Retail Practices Program” and were recipients of $2,500 grants.  

The restaurants received some well-deserved regional attention in a recent Boston Globe article by Kathleen Pierce which profiled the Al Zubaidi  and Jassim families.   Both families are recent refugees from Iraq who through hard work and perseverance are already making an impact on the downtown restaurant scene.  We are glad, along with the Small Business Assistance Center and the International Institute of Lowell, to have played a role in the future success of these new establishments.  Of course, the best way to show support for any of our Lowell businesses is to support them with your business.  Both the Babylon Restaurant at 25 Merrimack St. and the Abu Nawas Restaurant, 21 Hurd St. specialize in authentic fresh Iraqi cuisine with their own unique twist.  Next time you’re in the mood for great food and hospitality, go global by staying local.

The three-part ”Best Retail Practices Program” includes a 2-hour workshop on best practices in customer service, curb appeal, store layout, marketing and more.  The second part is an individual in-store consultation from which eligible participants receive detailed findings and recommendations.  The Grant Program provides an 80% matching grant of up to $2,500 per grantee, based on the availability of grant funds and eligibility.  The BRRP played an important role in the assisting both families in their journey towards becoming restauranteurs.  The program was particularly valuable to these entrepeneurs as they were not only newcomers to the food industry but also new to the country.  For more information regarding business development in Lowell contact the Economic Development office at 978-674-1437.

WINTER SNOW OPERATIONS READY DESPITE MILD START

While temperatures have been unseasonably mild since the historic Halloween snowstorm and we hope for a winter with far less snow than last year, the Public Works Department is ready for whatever winter storms come our way.

New snow-fighting vehicles ready to be deployed.

New plow and sander vehicles have been delivered along with new snow blowers and a front end loader. Older vehicles have been re-furbished. Private plow contracts are in place. Sand and salt have been stockpiled.

And just in case this year’s snowfall piles up to the point of impeding auto and pedestrian traffic, several snow dump sites have been identified where snow removed from sidewalks and streets can be relocated. After several substantive storms with no melting to reduce snow banks, Public Works crews will move from plowing to snow removal operations to open up narrow streets, intersection sightlines, parking lots and sidewalks.

This snow has to go somewhere and since EPA regulations no longer allow us to dump this snow directly into our rivers, DPW has identified sites across the city that provide environmentally appropriate and adequate space for storing the snow should the need arise. These sites include:

 Cawley Complex parking lot, Belvidere
 Old drive in site, Pawtucketville
 Middlesex Street lot by Spring Street
 Hamilton Canal area lot off of Dutton Street
 Hovey Field in Centralville
 South Common in Back Central

It should be noted that these are “standby” sites to be used should we receive snow amounts that require removal of snow banks for public safety and access.

It is our hope that snowfalls will be short and few this year, keeping our new equipment unseasonably silent and eliminating our need to execute snow removal operations.

If you have any questions regarding snow operations, please contact Ralph Snow, Asst. City Manager/Public Works at (978) 674-4111.

DPD Associate Planner Aaron Clausen Recognized as the Young Planner of the Year in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association has named City of Lowell Associate Planner Aaron Clausenas the 2011 recipient of the Young Planner Award.  This award is given annually to a junior or mid-level young practicing planner who has excelled in leadership, and increased the impact of planning in public and private decision making.

 Mr. Clausen has worked for the Department of Planning and Development since 2007.  However, since the reorganization that created the Division of Development Services, he has assumed a new level of responsibility and demonstrated exceptional work on behalf of the City and its residents. 

 Mr. Clausen was assigned the responsibility of coordinating all of the City’s four major land-use boards to streamline permitting, improve consistency of project review, implement planning best practices, ensure that the City’s Master Plan was followed in the project review process, and enhance customer service for both applicants and abutters.  In addition, he was given supervisory responsibility for three staff.

 In a very short time, he has made the most of this new responsibility, improving public participation and access to information in board processes, updating the by-laws and regulations for all of the boards, and creating new procedures for the use of third-party technical reviewers for complicated projects.

 In addition, he spearheaded the effort to get the City of Lowell designated as one of the Commonwealth’s first Green Communities and has played a leading role in the extensive public opinion research and data collection processes to inform a comprehensive update to the City’s Master Plan (a 2005 Mass-APA award winning document) which is expected to be issued and adopted in 2012.

 Mr. Clausen also recently passed a test, which was the final requirement for him to obtain certification as a planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).  He is the fourth DPD employee to be certified by AICP joining AssistantCity Managerand DPD DirectorAdam Baacke, and former DPD staff George Proakis and Colin McNiece.

Call for “Green Building Excellence Project” Submissions

How would you like to have your “green” building project recognized?  The Green Building Commission is accepting nominations and applications for deserving development projects that wish to compete for the City of Lowell award in Green Building Excellence.  Any interested party may nominate a development project within the City of Lowell (new construction or significant rehabilitation) that has successfully implemented best practices in sustainable design and construction.  Applications are due by the close of business Monday, January 9th, 2012.

 The intent of the award program is to recognize projects that best demonstrate green building practices and to foster greater interest and adoption of green building practices community wide.

2010 Green Building Excellence Award Winner

 The award criteria used to determine excellence in green building will be the internationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification process.  Program categories to be considered are:

• Commercial/public /industrial/not for profit (does not include City owned or operated property)
• Residential and multi unit residential

 One award in either or both categories may be awarded by the GBC.

 For a full announcement and application/nomination form, please visit:

http://greenbuilding.lowellma.gov/information