5+ hour, 42+ min ago (550+ words) Lowell was always there. When my family moved to greater Boston in 2012, we had to figure out a place to live. We visited a couple of places in Lowell, and were very interested in the Western Avenue Lofts. A woman named Maxine Farkas showed us around. It was a cool space, with cool people, and hard to forget although ultimately it wasn't the right fit for my wife's Boston-centric job. Maxine was just the first fascinating character I met on my inexorable journey to the Mill City. Fast forward many years later, and an opportunity to oversee The Sun and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise presented itself. The city of Kerouac, the city of Paul Tsongas, the city of Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward. Who could say no? I said yes to Lowell and so have a lot of other people....

2+ day, 5+ hour ago (568+ words) LOWELL " An 18-year-old Lowell man was arrested early Wednesday morning after police say they found him asleep behind the wheel of a stolen Kia sedan. Police said they also discovered a loaded 9mm handgun inside the vehicle with Oziel Gomez, which was idling near Elm and Linden streets with its headlights on shortly before 2:30 a.m. A Lowell police officer said in an incident report that he grew suspicious when he spotted the parked 2019 Kia Forte with a moving blanket covering a smashed rear window. The officer noted that police have taken "multiple reports in the previous days involving the thefts of Kia motor vehicles." A license plate check confirmed the vehicle had previously been reported stolen from a 27-year-old Lowell woman. Additional officers were called to the scene, at which point the sleeping driver " later identified as Gomez " was removed from the…...

3+ day, 8+ hour ago (293+ words) LOWELL " A Lowell police officer had his law enforcement certification suspended by state regulators and is no longer employed by the department following an investigation into allegations of misconduct. The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission cited public safety concerns in its order but did not disclose the details of the allegations against Dylan DaSilva, nor did the Lowell Police Department. In its Nov. 20 order, the POST Commission stated it had concluded "by a preponderance of the evidence that the suspension is in the best interest of the health, safety, or welfare of the public." The order directed DaSilva to immediately surrender his badge, firearm, uniform, and other police-issued equipment. The state's suspension order came nearly two months after the Lowell Police had opened an investigation into DaSilva, who graduated from the Lowell Police Academy in October 2023, according to…...

3+ day, 11+ hour ago (359+ words) MANCHESTER, N.H. " A Lowell man is facing a pile of charges after an early-morning pursuit that topped 100 mph ended with him ramming a State Police cruiser with his pickup truck when cornered in Manchester. Alejandro Vargas, 27, was captured by police after the alleged vehicle pursuit turned into a foot pursuit following the crash. According to the New Hampshire State Police, it was later determined that Vargas had an outstanding U.S. Marshals warrant. The incident began at about 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, when the State Police said they received reports that Epping police officers had briefly pursued a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado on Route 101 westbound. Shortly afterward, members of the Candia Police spotted the pickup truck, which was allegedly clocked traveling at 105 mph. Police said Trooper Brian Knell observed the truck as it entered Interstate 93 South in Manchester. He caught up with the vehicle at Exit 1 on Interstate…...

4+ day, 4+ hour ago (885+ words) Between Wednesday and Thursday, there will be 10 area high school football games. Thanksgiving Eve will feature two games: Lowell Catholic at Greater Lowell Tech, and Monty Tech at Nashoba Tech. Thursday will have a full slate of eight games, and previews of those matchups will appear in Thursday's Sun. Here's a look at Wednesday's two games. Each team has taken turns with a lopsided victory the last two years. Last year, Greater Lowell (4-6) won 40-6 a year after losing 42-6. It would appear on paper, anyway, that the Gryphons will have the upper hand over Lowell Catholic (1-9) for the second straight year. Greater Lowell has faced a handful of talented teams, with losses to Shawsheen Tech, North Reading, Greater Lawrence, KIPP and, most recently, Diman Voc in the first round of the State Voc playoffs. The Gryphons have been led on offense…...

4+ day, 14+ hour ago (878+ words) That's what the Lowell City Council accomplished in overwhelmingly voting last week to prohibit safe injection sites ahead of proposed bills in the Legislature that would allow such facilities in Massachusetts. State law currently doesn't allow the clinically supervised use of illicit drugs from opening anywhere in the state. More importantly, that also reflects the position of the federal government, which state lawmakers apparently appear willing to test. The ordinance approved by the City Council at last Tuesday's meeting bans sites where those hooked on illegal substances could safely inject drugs in the presence of health-care professionals, who can help prevent overdoses while encouraging them to enter treatment. As noted by Councilor Wayne Jenness, both the House and the Senate have proposed bills to legalize safe injection sites. According to Jenness, the Senate version doesn't include opt-out language for communities…...

6+ day, 7+ hour ago (490+ words) BOSTON " Authorities say a Lowell man is facing federal charges after allegedly cooking powder cocaine into crack and selling it to a cooperating witness " even walking the witness through the process " during a sting inside his apartment. A federal complaint filed by a Lowell police detective assigned to the FBI states Marc "Sweep" Sanchez, 31, produced about 1 1/2 ounces of crack cocaine in his kitchen inside the Massachusetts Mills Apartments complex before handing it to the cooperating witness who was equipped with audio and video recording devices. Sanchez was charged last month in federal court with one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance " a charge that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, according to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office. The complaint states that authorities learned from the cooperating witness that Sanchez allegedly…...

1+ week, 17+ hour ago (1750+ words) LOWELL HAS a reputation for extending a helping hand to those in need. It is home to numerous nonprofit agencies that provide services and support in areas such as food banks and pantries, mental health, substance use recovery, and housing assistance, to name just a few of the outreach programs provided in the community. Last week, Project Kompass cut the ribbon on a new kind of community-center model on Appleton Street. The nonprofit is originally known for providing transitional housing for women ages 18-24 at its North Chelmsford location. But it recently shifted its focus to provide wraparound services to create a path toward greater independence and personal well-being for at-risk residents in the heart of Lowell's Back Central neighborhood. "Our target audience has been homeless women, moms and babies at our other facilities," founder and board Chair Dave Aldrich said…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago (345+ words) LOWELL " On Nov. 17, 1978, Lowell Police Officer Christos G. Rouses chased down an armed robbery suspect after responding to a silent alarm at Limby's Pharmacy on Branch Street. The veteran patrolman caught up with the suspect near 11 Smith St., where he was shot twice during a struggle. He died a short time later at St. Joseph's Hospital. Rouses, who the Lowell Police described as a fixture in the city, joined the department 13 years after graduating with the Lowell High School Class of 1943. He and his wife, Stama, raised four children: George, Sally, Sandy, and Diana. Rouses is the last Lowell police officer killed in the line of duty. He now rests in Lowell's Edson Cemetery, with his badge number, 33, carved into the headstone as a lasting tribute. A ceremony drew dozens of officers along with members of Rouses' family, including his surviving…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago (1503+ words) LOWELL " Talk about a galaxy of stars. On Thursday night, the Lowell High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction night was held at Lenzi's in Dracut. This year's class featured five star athletes: Edward Kulis (Class of 1976), Natalie Shea Welch ('04), Sarah Kanellas (08), Raymond "RJ" Noel ('12) and Leyshla Gonzalez ('15). A three-sport star, Gonzalez was nearly impossible to catch on the soccer field or track because of her amazing speed. A four-year member of the girls soccer team, Gonzalez enjoyed a breakout season during her junior year (2013), scoring 15 goals, adding 12 assists, and earning MVC All-Conference and Lowell Sun All-Star honors. She was again named a team captain and to the all-conference team as a senior. She competed for two years in indoor track and became one of the state's best sprinters. She was crowned the MVC 55-meter dash champion both years and…...