February was a short month, but it was packed with big articles – at least, big in terms of how many people were reading them.
The top two articles for the month were neck-in-neck, and the No. 5 article narrowly edged out the sixth-place runner up by a mere five views that it garnered in the final hours of the month. And that sixth-place article? It was read only one time more than the story in the No. 7 spot.
We don’t normally post the runners-up, but we’ll make an exception this month since the difference in views is razor thin. Out of the 40 articles published last month, here are the ones that were almost, but not quite, in the top five for February:
9. Scenes from Lowell: Betty Yeiter Celebrates 99 Years
8. Liz Baker: 2023 Person of the Year
7. Scenes from Lowell: 2023 Winter Gathering Edition
6. Vergennes Twp Board Recap: Museum and Fire Reports, Kennel Denial
And here were the most-read articles, based on website views, during February 2023.
5. Lowell Student Launches Microgreens Business
This article was published late in the month – on the 27th – and it knocked the Vergennes Township Board recap out of the top five at the last minute. If this article had been published earlier in February, it undoubtedly would have landed higher on the list. It highlights Lowell senior David Johnston, who was inspired by a high school class to start a business that delivers fresh greens and microgreens to residents year-round.
4. Keeping Lowell Safe: Police Beat for January 2023
It almost wouldn’t be a top five list without the Police Beat. This monthly article makes the cut more often than not, and the February edition – which reported January case numbers – takes the No. 4 spot. The main crime reported was a break-in at a local marijuana dispensary. A theft is bad enough, but police were alarmed to review the security footage and see the suspects armed with guns.
3. A Note from the Editor: And Then There was One
This year brought a big change to Lowell’s First Look as one of our founders, Amanda Schrauben, stepped away to work on other projects. It’s tough to say good-bye to someone who has meant so much to this site, but I have appreciated all the kind words and encouragement from you, our readers.
So far, I have only messed up the ad placement for one advertiser (sorry!) and, knock on wood, everything else has gone relatively smoothly. Some new writers are being onboarded as well, and I hope that will allow LFL to cover a wider range of activities in the community.
Finally, the newsletter has been going out at all hours on Friday afternoon/evening, but it looks like a change with our email service will allow me to start scheduling it at specific times. If you feel strongly about when you’d like that to land in your inbox, let me know.
2. King Milling Company: Feeding America for More than 130 Years
Sometimes you sit down to write an article, and the words just flow. This article was not like that. I interviewed company executives way back in January, and then hemmed and hawed about writing. How do you sum up 130 years of business in 1,000 or so words? And could my words possibly do justice for what is arguably the most prominent business in town? When I clicked publish, I wasn’t sure I had hit the mark, but the fact that this article made the No. 2 spot reassures me that the finished product can’t be too bad.
1. Junction Bar to Become Italian Restaurant in 2024
Taking the top spot – but just barely – is this article about the future of Junction Bar. Early last year, Mike Larkin retired, and a Lowell institution, Larkin’s Restaurant, closed. The location transformed into Junction Bar, and it will change again next year. If all goes according to plan, in 2024, the corner of Main Street and N. Broadway will be home to Romynelli’s, which is envisioned as an Italian sports bar. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
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