It May Be Too Old To Be News But, It's Not Forgotten Here

-MAY 2003-

Lowell, MA
In "The Flowering City" there was a walk among the flowers in the woods for a Haiku Workshop. "Flowering City" BMOC, Charles Nikotopoulus, and LCK! Prez, Lawrence Carradini toured with a goodly crowd and some local Native American guidance. Both were so inspired that they wrote some haikus of their own.

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-LCK! In APRIL-

Lawrence, MA
On Saturday April 26, 2003, Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! along with The Robert Frost Foundation were just down the road from Lowell, in Lawrence to celebrate the "Second Annual 400 Years of Poetry in the Merrimack Valley." Included were live music, snacks, poetry workshops for students of all ages and short videos about the celebrated poets.
To top it off, the winners of an associated school poetry contest were announced, followed by a reading by this year's Pulitzer Prize winning Irish-born poet, Paul Muldoon.

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-March 2003-

Lowell, MA
Was the happenin'est!
With showings of Henry Ferrini's, Lowell Blues, at the Lowell National Historical Park, Visitor Center, and Jim Cameron with his hippest cat friends at the Dove Cafe', Saturday night. You may remember Jim from the 1997 Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Festival with poet Anne Waldman in an LCK! tribute to Alan Ginsberg, and from March 2001 with his trio and singer Maggie Galloway. Always A BLAST! when Jim swings, hot or cool...

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LIVE In The Big Apple -
New York saw a Celebration of Lowells, Jack Kerouac at Midnight with Musician extraordinaire, David Amram (w/John DeWitt, and Kevin Twigg); poet, and president of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!, Lawrence Carradini; John Ventimiglia (The Sopranos, and Jack Kerouac in the new play based on Joyce Johnson's, Door Wide Open); Adira Amram (Joyce in the same play); and poet, "Danse Oriental" dancer, award-winning journalist, Meg Smith; hosted by Bob H-cool at the Bowery Poetry Club, Bowery and Bleecker in "The Village." It ROCKED!
At 4:30 AM we were working hard to close the doors and let Bob get home.

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LCK! FEST #16 A HUMUNGUS SUCCESS!!!
As were the previous 15. It is always cool in October Lowell. Every Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Festival has something memorable. Whether it is something new being presented, or a familiar beat we can tap our foot to. Even the familiar is new. A different time, new faces, October's roulette weather, a new twist, of lemon, of elbow, of... love, or life - as the saying goes, It's ALL good.
The Beat Conference over at U. Mass., Lowell, was AWESOME for all those seekers trying to get deeper inside what Jack, and Beat were all about.
David Amram was AWESOME, as always. No wonder Jack hung out with this gem of a human Being. David is For Real. Don't get hung up on what For Real means - if you do, you've missed it.
It - being the bus where the driver calls -Either you're ON the bus, or you're OFF the bus.
Friday night was AWESOME. Joyce Johnson, playing herself, and John Ventamiglia playing Jack, Adira Amram as Joyce in the late 1950's.
What a ringer - talk about casting!
The walls should have been constructed from accordian bellows, because we were stacked to the legal limit of a sardine catch! And, every one of us glad to be there.
The tours were FABULOUS. The video showings were FABULOUS.
Saturday night was TOO MUCH in the Best Way possible. And the after hours John Sinclair Happenin' was pure J-Sin without any masks.
The readings were FABULOUS. Thank You, Regina, and all the folks at the Rainbow and at the Sunday Amram Jam.
It is impossible to get all the thank you's in, but to our Canadian friends who came all that way to contribute to our, meaning All Our (as in meaning Their, as well) festival and make it outstanding, our Nashua friends, Meg Smith for all her work, and Nancy Herbstman for volunteering her time again and again at the merchandise table,
Thank you SO Much!
Thank you, to our Vice President, Richard Hyatt, for all his In Town work throughout the year. And a special Thanks, to LCK!'s board of directors. All you folks make it happen.
And, especially, "Thanks," to all you fans of Jack and his work who keep the excitement going.
It is Your enthusiasm that keeps LCK! stoked. And, your support that keeps us able to keep providing all those who would come (build it and they will...),
with this PHENOM Fest year after year.

Thank You - each and every one of you!

Lawrence Carradini, President
Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!

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More 03 Thanks
LCK! extends its "Thanks" to you, our membership and non-member contributers, volunteers, partners and granting agencies; the Massachusetts Cultural Council and LCC, the Lowell Festival Foundation, the Massachusetts Department of Economic Development, the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the Cultural Organization Of Lowell, Penguin Books, U. Mass. Lowell, the Estate, Lowell High School, Pollard Memorial Library, Brush with Art Gallery, the Higher Ground Coffee Shop, The Rainbow Cafe, Barnes and Noble - Lowell, Evos, Capo's, the Old Court; and all the other past and present friends of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!, that have and continue to "make happen" what is still considered to be the premiere literary festival of its kind dedicated to the life and work of Jack Kerouac.

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IN MEMORIAM
William S. Kennedy Jr., editor of the Journal of Spiral Writing, REFLECT, left us on October 17, 2003. W.S., as he was known to many, was a veteran of the U.S. Navy who later attended the New York School of Music and William and Mary College. An accomplished jazz musician, who played tenor sax, clarinet, and guitar, Mr. Kennedy founded REFLECT in 1979 which soon gained the respect of the writing community, especially among poets. Considered one of the finest small press publications of its kind, REFLECT has been used in several colleges and universities and has continued, with the assistance of Mr. Kennedy's sister, Clara Holton, since complications of diabetes limited his activities. We will miss you William.

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ARTISTS TALK ON ART

FRIDAY, JAN.23,2004
SOHO20 CHELSE GALLERY
511 WEST 25th STREET
New York, NY 10001
212 779-9250

8PM Doors open 7:30
$7 Regular admission
$3 Students and Seniors

ART AND THE BEAT GENERATION

Moderator: Ed Adler
Panelists: Robert C. Morgan, John Sampas, Dawn Ward

ED ADLER is a painter with a long exhibition record, most recently at the Studio 18 - Molly Barnes Gallery "And the Beats Go On" show and in Solo shows at the Whistler Museum of Art in Lowell, Mass, and the Galerie Christion Siret in Paris. He is the author of Beyond Words:the Paintings and Drawings of Jack Kerouac and was an organizer of the NYU Beat Art conference and exhibits of 1994and 1995. He has a Ph.D from NYU and has taught courses there on the Beat Generation and The Sixties since 1980, He has also taught at the Sorbonne.

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OTHER KEROUAC EVENTS HAPPENING MARCH 2004!
The Lowell National Historical Park will be showing Henry Ferrini's short film "Lowell Blues," a film poem based on the book "Dr. Sax," by Lowell native, Jack Kerouac at 4:00 PM daily in the Park Visitor Center on Market Street.
(978) 970-5000

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The Parker Lecture Series is featuring two Kerouac related events for March. A 2:00 pm talk from Kerouac aficionado Roger Brunelle on Kerouacs Beloved Lowell, March 14 and another 2:00 pm presentation March 21 by John Suiter on the authors experiences researching his book on the Beats (including Jack Kerouac) and the North Cascades. Both lectures are held in cooperation with the Lowell National Historical Park, and will be held at the Park Visitor Center, on Market Street.
For more information dial (978) 970-5000 or (978) 454-7979 or email: m_g_parker@hotmail.com

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From:
Magnus Toren @ magnus@henrymiller.org

Coming up at the Henry Miller Library

...I have received guests from around the world here at the Henry Miller Library for over ten years now very often talking about Kerouac, his books, his life, his influence on world literature...,but most of all, I've answered...: "Where is the cabin Kerouac lived in while writing Big Sur"...
On Saturday March 20 at 3 PM we will have a fine and knowledgeable visitor, Steve Edington, who will present a talk titled: "THE TWO SIDES OF JACK KEROUAC."
Jack Kerouac the vagabond was also the Jack Kerouac who clung to his French-Canadian roots. These roots are what is explored in Steve Edington's book "Kerouac's Nashua Connection" (available at the Library). The book explores Kerouac's French-Canadian ancestry and shows how it plays out in his novels, both his Lowell novels and his Road novels.
Steve Edington is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, New Hampshire. Nashua is the town where many of Kerouac's relatives lived...
Rev. Edington... an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell... teaches a course on "The Literature of the Beat Movement." He (also) serves (as member of)... Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!..., (the non-profit organization that coordinates and promotes the) annual Kerouac Festival (in Lowell).
Steve Edington will also share some parts of his current work-in-progress The Beat Face of God: The Beat Generation Writers as Spirit Guides. This work treats the Beat Movement as primarily a religious and spiritual phenomenon--a search for meaning and authenticity against the cultural backdrop of the America of the 1950s.
A fellow Unitarian Universalist minister..., Ric Masten, will be here (the same afternoon)... Perhaps... (reading from) his "beat" poems.

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UNC-Chapel Hill held its first Beat lit. conference, "Beats in America: Alternative Visions, Then and Now," the first weekend in April. There was an accompanying rare books exhibit on Ginsberg drawn from UNC's growing collection of Beat materials. Links to details on these events can be found by clicking on the LCK! links item in the menu located at the top of this page, then scrolling down the links page.

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Public Poetry Reading, Thursday, June 3, 2004
LCK!s president, Lawrence Carradini has been asked as a poet , Kerouac enthusiast, and respected Lowellian, along with Kate Hanson and Denny Ludvino, from Lowells newest Journal, Renovation, and Gigi Thibodeau, poet and adjunct instructor of poetry at UMass Lowell to judge a poetry contest sponsored by Greater Lowell for Peace and Justice culminating in a public reading in honor of Memorial Day. The call for submissions is closed at this point, however, were accepted in three categories; youth, college, and general public. The reading will be held in the Wannalancit building, Suffolk Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, in the 1st floor conference room from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. A reception with light refreshments will take place at 6:30 pm. The event is co-sponsored by the UMass Lowell Literary Society and the Peace and Conflict Studies Institute. For more information contact Professor Diana Archibald. Diana_Archibald@uml.edu

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KEROUAC Documentary Filmmaker

JOHN ANTONELLI
L I V E

T h i s S a t u r d a y
July 31, 2004 @ 4:00 PM
Lowell National Historical Park
Visitors Center
246 Market Street, Lowell

Sponsored by LNHP and LCK!

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The Stone Church Music Club
Literary Jazz: Jack Kerouac Appreciation Night
Sunday January 30th, 2005, 7:00 PM
Granite Street, Newmarket NH.

Dinner Show Not To Be Missed By Kerouac Fans And Those With Literary Interests.

Well-known Spoken Word Artists:
Lawrence Carradini, Best known as a poet and spoken word performer, Lawrence is most recently published on line in the Evergreen Review.
Lawrence is also the current president of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!.

Steve Edington, Steve has worked to unearth Kerouac's blood ties to the area.
Steve is a minister at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, where he recorded a performance titled, The Beats and All That Jazz.
He also teaches a course on Kerouac and the Beats.

Meg Smith, another artist deeply involved with LCK! Meg has had recent publications in
The Café Review, Pudding, Lunatic Chameleon, and The Bridge Review.
Performing as an oriental dancer, Meg has worked with Lawrence to stage music and dance celebrations of Rumi and other Eastern poets called
"Dance of the Beloved."

Performing With Noted Jazz Composer/Guitarist:
Larry Simon and his band, Groove Bacteria.
Creator of the music and poetry series Beat Nights at Portsmouth's Press Room,
Larry and his quintet won last year's Spotlight Award for Best Jazz Act.

An open mic will follow the performances
outside performers are encouraged to participate in the open mic. If interested in the open mic, email:
dpollock@cisunix.unh.edu
Tickets for the evening are available for $6. Reserve a spot in advance at:
http://www.thestonechurch.com
or by calling 603-659-6321.
For menu and ticket sales information please go to: http://www.thestonechurch.com

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John Cassady, made his journey to Lowell for the October 2004 annual festival, "Further" than anticipated. He travelled cross country in Jerry Cimino's BeatMobile, much like Jack and Neal, rolled coast to coast. Check out the page linked at top of LCK!'s home page for pics. Check out Jerry's homepage to get an idea of what you can find inside the magic bus.
www.kerouac.com
(sorry, not live link - but, SHOULD be easy enough to remember)
Also, you can link to a blog with text and pics from the trip from his site.

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An exhibit of Jack Kerouac's selected drawings and paintings was rescheduled for late April due to snow.
There will be a reception and book signing from by Ed Adler, the editor of the new monograph collection "Departed Angels," in which much of the hanging work is included. Books will be available for sale.
Sponsored by the Whistler House Museum of Art.
243 Worthen Street
Lowell, MA
For more information call (978) 452-7641

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Lowell Celebrates Kerouac would like to honor the complexity of beliefs held by Jack Kerouac at this time by expressing the organization's most heartfelt sympathy to those mourning the loss of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II.

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LCK! feels the loss of festival friend and poet, Robert Creeley. We extend our warmest wishes for healing to his many fans, friends, and family.

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LCK! extends its utmost regards to the friends, fans and family of Lucien Carr. Our thoughts also go out to the friends, fans, and family of Gonzo Journalist, Hunter S. Thompson.

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As part of the 2005 Portsmouth, Jazzmouth, Poetry/Jazz Festival
Saturday April, 16th
8:00PM

Super "Beat Night" Extravaganza
(admission $10-$12)

Unitarian Church (South Church) State Street, Portsmouth, NH
featuring

David Amram and Charles Simic

Showcasing poets and musicians who have been collaborating in this mixed medium for years.
The event may sell out. Advance tickets are available: $10 advance at The Press Room, $10 advance at The Music Hall (you can order by phone using a Credit Card-603-436-2400 or online: www.themusichall.org) or $11 advance at all Bullmoose Music stores.

Arrive early and take advantage of any one of Portsmouths many fine dining establishments.

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KEROUAC BIRTHDAY EVENTS

Lowell/Nashua "Sister City" Kerouac Poetry Event was held Friday, March 11, 2005 at
Blackbird Books & Cafe'
221 Main Street
Nashua, NH 03060

Kerouac aficionado, Suffolk County New York poet laureate, George Wallace was joined by David Amram for a well attended evening of collaboration, just like David did with Jack Kerouac back in The Village. The reading was followed by an open mic.

Sponsored by Blackbird Books & Cafe'

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March 12, 2005 was the first official celebration of Jack Kerouac day throughout the Commonwealth by act of the state legislature.
The news originally broke with that (with some assist from our very own Congressman, The Mighty Marty M.) Kerouac's On The Road Scroll will be coming to Lowell to be placed on display during the summer of 2007. This will be a community effort spearheaded by the University of Massachusetts - Lowell, the Lowell National Historical Park, and the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL). Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! president, Lawrence Carradini, announced LCK!'s commitment to the effort at a press conference held by Congressman Meehan in front of the Kerouac wall panel display in the LNHP Visitor Center, attended by LCK! vice president, Richard Hyatt, representatives from the above mentioned organizations, the estate, and city government.

Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! began demonstrating that commitment immediately, by donating a portion of the proceeds from LCK!'s Birthday Celebration at Capo's held to honor the 82nd anniversary of Jack Kerouac's birth, to the kitty. The party was a huge success! Great music by Evan Goodrow and The Hot Spot Jazz Trio, along with great readings by a sampling of established, and burgeoning, poets from the greater Lowell arts community. LCK! is pleased to welcome Capo's as one of its partnering organizations contributing to the celebration of Jack Kerouac in Lowell.

CHECK IT OUT!

Come join David Amram in celebrating the contribution of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! in coordinating and providing funding support, with help from their various partnering organizations over the past 20 years, that has helped to make the annual Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Festival one of the cornerstones of what makes Lowell a Destination City.

This Saturday, January 13, 2007 at Caffe' Paradiso on the corner of Middle and Parmer Streets. The event will feature short performances by several talents, including David Amram and featuring remembrances of Jack Kerouac by individuals who knew him personally. The event is free and begins between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Activities are scheduled to go until approximately 3:30/4:00 PM.

Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! (LCK!) wishes to thank the Lowell Cultural Council (LCC) for partial funding of LCK! sponsored events listed as part of the On the Road in Lowell summer programs. It was a fabulous summer of celebration with the original scroll manuscript here all the way through the 20th Annual Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Festival. Again, LCK! wishes to thank the Lowell Cultural Council for assistance in funding some of the festival programming as well.

Just to Recount: So, We Are Off To A Rousing Start

The March 10, 2007 Jack Kerouac Birthday Bash held at Life Alive was a standing room only, feel good, event in the tradition of previous LCK March Birthday celebrations.

Noted Lowell area authors and scholars, Jay Atkinson, Roger Brunelle, Lawrence Carradini, Paul Marion and Meg Smith read from Jacks works, sharing his remembrances of Lowell while he was on the road. Lowell Celebrates Kerouac officer, Nancy Herbstman also read passages that reveal Jacks thoughts seldom left Lowell for very long.

The readings accented the evenings music presented by area musicians, Bob Hand who performed a short tribute to Bob Dylan and a full evening of music provided by area favorites, the recently reformed ensemble, The City Council. LCK would like to thank Mr. Dave Norton for production assistance.

Refreshments and Lowell Celebrates Kerouac merchandise were available for purchase.

The Honorable Mayor, William F. Martin not only presented us with a copy of his own proclamation reestablishing March 12 as Jack Kerouac day in Lowell but, read aloud Governor Deval Patricks proclamation reestablishing March 12 as Jack Kerouac day throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Ms. L.Z. Nunn, director of the Cultural Organization Of Lowell (COOL), took a couple of minutes to present an overview of upcoming OTR Scroll related events.

With the assistance of Mr. John Sampas, executor of the Kerouac estate, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Lowell National Historical Park, Lowell Celebrates Kerouac, COOL, the Pollard Library, the Lowell Poetry Network and others, the Scroll to Lowell Committee has been working to create a full summer of activities designed to compliment the presence of Jack Kerouacs famous scroll manuscript of On The Road while on display, summer 2007, in Lowell.

And, the Kerouac related fun doesnt end in September. The annual Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival will be held Columbus day weekend in October, kicked off the previous weekend by the annual running of the Jack Kerouac 5K Road Race.

We are looking forward to a great extended season of Kerouac related fun here in Lowell.

Selected items, previously appearing on the Bulletin Board, will be archived in this location.