I Blame The Media For The Unrest In My Country

I have been very quiet with my blogging but this last assassination of two NYPD police officers and pot shots at Police across the country is very disturbing to me and should be to you.

The media in my option is fueling the unrest and wackos  watching TV all day at home are taking action on those who protect and serve our community. What a waste of resources we have paid on protests for folks that did not comply with Police requests .

I have no problem with demonstrating but in my option the media twisted these stories and didn't get the facts right as the Grand Jury found out in the Brown case. Now we have divide between the races again.

I lived with and saw the heinous news feeds  during the 60's and the busing in Boston . We are going backwards not forward.  I know it is a small minority of troublemakers that are making the news but Media is all over them .

What can we do to stop this nonsense? I don't have the answer  on how we can bring us all together  as one...Americans. To be honest I'm a little worried but hope this to shall pass.

Sea Ya.
The Capt.

So Many Good and Loving People ...

I am glad to post again as I haven't done so in a while because between work and family and life. The last few months I have been attending a meeting once a week with what I will call angels on earth. I am very moved every time I am with these folks.
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We  have been meeting for the Salvation Army Radiothorn which happened last weekend , Today we learned the final total was 126.000 dollars and money is still coming in.  I am so proud to live in a community that opens their hearts in such a way.

As Tom Bomil said this morning to hear Mothers and Fathers swallow their pride and ask for the basic things like food , help with heating bills , rent and toys for the kids for Christmas just pulls at your heart and no one is turned away .

This all happens because of you . the good and loving people of the Merrimack Valley . I wish and hope all of you have that warm and fussy feeling I have about how good and loving people can be.

Looking at the news every night it's seems the world is out of control and evil but in our little part of it . It's a good place to Live .....Merry Christmas  and Happy New Year.

Where is Mayor Patick Murphy's Portairt ?

This question was raised recently by Lowell resident Joe Smith. Much was said about the portrait the Mayor submitted mostly from some members of the City Council and the Lowell Sun. I liked Mayor Murphy as a Councilor and as a person. He marched to his own drummer and that didn't always sit well with some of his colleagues on the council. The portrait he submitted sits in the vault in City Hall and in my option should be hung next to the Mayors office. Yes it is not the traditional face on portrait that has upset certain people but is shows to me that he did his job and took family in hand went back to his personal life as our fore fathers wanted our public servants to do . Hang the portrait .


Sea ya
The Capt.

LOWELL CITY COUNCIL Might Have Thown Back Three Keeps And Kept a Kibbe

I have watched the interviews for the new Lowell City Manager three nights in a row this week and at times deprived myself of much needed sleep as I get up so early to go to work. I would like to thank all the candidates that made the cut for coming out to be interviewed. I would have liked to have seen who didn't make the cut as rumors were that the fix was in and these were the most qualified.That being said I thought the Council did a good job asking questions.

I believe this process was jaded from the beginning with leaks of the vote counts and the blog of record reporting what should have been known to only to our elected officials. I want to believe that those we elected will do the right thing for our city but I am not naive that there was a anti Bernie push this past city council election to push CM Lynch out.

We heard from professional city managers from smaller city's and town's that were knowledgeable on all aspect 's of city and town government and I was happy to hear from many of the candidates that they felt the past administration had done a good job despite the economic climate these past few years and would take the gig with a contract if chosen.

I have no horse in the race but feel Rep. Kevin Murphy does not meet the requirements to be our CM.
He is a nice guy and has served his district well along side his fellow Lowell delegation but has no experience in  running a city . Yes he can surround himself with what he feels are the best people to help him run the city but in reality that would be like me jumping from my 23 ft. fishing boat in the Merrimack River to a Cruise Ship on a trans Atlantic crossing.

If it is Kevin Murphy I wish him well and hope he leaves Lowell better than he found it.

Sea ya
The Capt. 

All Out War On The Homeless

All across our country our most vulnerable citizens are being pushed out of our sight and into the shadows. Our homeless population is at its highest since the deep depression.  Back then President Roosevelt formed the WPA program and put millions of Americans back to work on Federal, State and Municipal projects.

Now we hear of  stories like Portland Oregon Mayor ordering there police to dismantle and remove the over 4000 homeless people from there camps and throw away what meager  belongings they have. .

We also hear of Columbia SC ruling that non profits must pull permits at the cost of 125.00 to set up soap kitchens in a local park to feed the homeless.

Even right here in Lowell we pushed our homeless out of sight.  I don't have the answers on how to stop the growing homeless population in our country. Some of the reasons are lack of jobs and the closing of mental health facility's. Substance abuse and returning war veterans with PTSD.

A friend of mine has a saying " You don't punch down" . 


Sea ya
The Capt.                                     

Capt. Pauls Guide to Fishing Guide's down South.

I've had enough of talking local politics for now. This cold stretch has Janet and I talking about heading south for a spell and I to wet a line. Janet and I have been heading down to the Keys for the last 20 years and hit some Caribbean Islands  for vacation.

I love fishing in the Keys. I have fished from Key Largo to Key West Fla. and this is in my option the fishing capital of the world . In February Key Largo has the best Sailfishing as the reef is only 3 miles off shore and after catching your live bait your on them in no time.

 Mid April- May is the best time to go for Tarpon because they are migrating from open sea to the gulf to spawn. I have fished under the 7 mile bridge and the Bay of Honda with thousands of Tarpon heading into the Gulf.

Off shore fishing  is awesome pulling up Grouper,  Yellow Tail Tuna , King Mackerel  and huge Barracuda and the prize of all Mai Mai Dolphin,   On the Gulf side you catch Snapper, Yellow Fin and many another smaller good eating fish that you can bring to any restaurant and they will prepare it as you wish and only pay for the side dishes.

There are hundreds of guides set up at their booths at marinas and and they are smooth talkers with their shiny 42ft sport fishing boats behind them. They have pictures and videos of huge fish displayed and everyone guarantee's fish. .....If you want to pay between 1500 to 2000 for a day of fishing.

I bypass all those guys and walk the docks and look for guys fileting fish and blood on the boat and guys having a couple of beers all sweaty and stinky. Stop and talk to these guys because they are the real deal and not some Corporate Company that owns a few shiny boats and give you a boat ride with air conditioned cabins.

You can deal with these guys or put your name on a list to split the fishing trip with other guys to defray the cost and it won't be any more than 800 to 1000 for the boat and you will most likely get more  than a day you wanted because they love to fish.

I have never paid more than 200 for a full day of world class fishing in the Keys . I have caught 16 Sailfish and a 200lbs Tarpon and Mai Mai to feed a army. Don't fall into the tourist trap and walk the docks,,,,,,,,some guys will take your money because they love to fish and cover their expenses .

Sea Ya
The Capt.

 

Mutiny at Lowell City Hall

What a week ay mates?  As I posted earlier in the week I was hopeful and  anxious to see our new city council in action this past Tuesday night. It was not boring indeed. The Capt. of our city gave his notice to my surprise and abandoned ship.

Capt. Lynch has steered the city on a straight course for the last 7 years and filled our treasure chests and kept us ship shape. There were some disgruntled crew members in his tenure as Capt, but he was a professional and kept to his duty's and looked ahead to the real mission and relied on his officers to handle the day to day operations .

I don't blame Capt. Lynch for leaving. A man can only take so much and being at the wheel can take a toll on you . I'm sure the Capt. looked into the horizon and saw some rough sea's ahead and decided it was time to head for port. He may have also looked at his new crew and they didn't have the same passion as he did for the next voyage.

In the olden days when a Capt. was killed or died men on ship men would get nervous. They looked at who would be the next one to lead them. Sometimes they would mutiny and  leave at the next port or they leave the ship because they had no confidence in the rest of the crew who had  someone else in mind to be there Capt.

I know I'm painting a picture right now but it is not far from what is happening in my city. I am pissed that we are losing good...no GREAT people. I hope we don't go backward to the olden days.

Sea Ya
The Capt.