
We are a month into the new year, and I hope that your 2025 is starting out on a positive note. The top articles from January covered a range of topics from personal interest to breaking news and government updates.
Here are the top five stories from January 2025, based on website views.
5. Section of Main Street Closing at 11am Today
News you can use is often the most important news, and this article is one example. A train derailed, meaning a section of Main Street needed to be shut down the next day as railroad crews took care of the problem. This press release from the Lowell Police Department about the closure was the fifth most-read article in January.
4. Lowell Twp Planning Recap: Wedding Barns and Solar Farms
The Lowell Township Planning Commission was asking itself two main questions in January: should wedding barns be permitted in agricultural districts and should the township amend its renewable energy ordinance to better mirror state standards? While readers had thoughts about solar farms, the majority of the comments online centered on wedding barns. Planning commissioners were debating whether parking and noise could pose a problem for neighbors – and ultimately turn farmland into commercial property – but most people commenting on the recap were in favor of allowing the venues.
3. Lowell Fire Dept Helps Battle Blaze in Saranac

A fire destroyed a barn at a Saranac business, and 15 departments provided support to put out the blaze. The Lowell Area Fire Department was one of them. What’s more, with the fire being in a rural location, tankers ran to Lowell to fill up with water. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and since the barn was used mainly for storage, it was business as usual for employees the next day.
2. Remembering Garbutt Graham: The Artist Who Left a Mark on Lowell

Lowell residents of a certain age probably remember Garbutt Graham – or at least his artwork. Anyone who drove past the corner of Alden Nash and 52nd Street couldn’t help but notice the house and eclectically decorated barns there. Graham is no longer with us but his memory remains, and writer Ginny Velting beautifully captured both his talent and struggles in this tribute to his memory.
1. Year Ends Without Resolution to LAS Lawsuit
This article, published on the last day of 2024, took the No. 3 spot for December, and now it’s in the top spot for January. Stefanie Boone has sued Lowell Area Schools for “grooming” children, prohibiting her for posting about LAS staff members on social media and prohibiting her from having contact with teachers without receiving prior approval from the building principal or a superintendent.
The article highlighted what was in the lawsuit, the district’s response and other legal action threatened by Mrs. Boone. Some readers took issue with the article, and one said it was airing “dirty laundry.” To that concern, I just want to reiterate that almost everything mentioned in the article – minus the district’s response – had been published online by Mrs. Boone herself at one time or another.
I also heard through the grapevine that Mrs. Boone said in the Lowell Kids 1st group that she declined an interview with Lowell’s First Look because she was worried about “how things are twisted and spun by the media.” In response that that, I want to share that when Mrs. Boone expressed reservations about an in-person interview, I sent questions via email. I understand that some people are more comfortable putting answers in writing, and, for the record, these are the questions I sent her:
- Why did you decide to file a lawsuit against Lowell Area Schools?
- Assuming you win, what changes would you like to see made as a result?
- Is your request for damages of at least $30,000 per count or is that $30,000 total? As a LAS parent, do you have a preference for where the district would pull money to pay that award?
- The introduction of the complaint states, “Defendants have isolated children through the school system,,,.” and “Defendants have attempted to and have physically or emotionally separated children from their parents…” It doesn’t appear there is anything specific to isolating children in the exhibits. Can you provide some more context for these statements?
- One of the exhibits includes an email to Christine Beachler in which you mention you had offered various solutions. Can you share what those were?
- Do you feel your children have been personally harmed by the content of books in the LAS library?
- Do you see any way to resolve this issue outside the court system?
- Is there anything else you’d like Lowell residents to know?
These questions were intended to clarify information in the lawsuit and give Mrs. Boone a chance to provide more information to the community about her intent and goals. However, she declined to answer them, noting: “Many of them will be answered as the lawsuit works its way through the courts.”
Still, my offer stands to have a conversation with Mrs. Boone to discuss the matter. Since she has mentioned a concern about her words being twisted, a recorded interview that is published without any edits or other commentary may be ideal. If the Sound Check studio is available, the interview could be recorded there.
Mrs. Boone, if you are interested, please send me a message so we can arrange a date. You have my email.
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