Doug Sparks

Walking is a hobby well suited for people who enjoy reading and writing. I now carry before me the shield of cuteness – a stroller bearing my two daughters. 

Hosted by conservationist Leah Hart, ‘The Merrimack River at Risk’ spotlights the threats the river and the watershed face now and in the future.

“Sweet, Sweet Jayne,” is a raw and compelling debut novel with a central idea you’d expect to see more often: Lowell-based, hard-boiled crime fiction.

On Wednesday night, Methuen featherweight Calvin Kattar edged out Hawaiian fighter Dan Ige in a unanimous decision at UFC Fight ight 172.

“Sick Souls, Healthy Minds,” combines biography, memoir and self-help guide in one package, written to be inviting to people unfamiliar with the subject.

Writers and those with a public platform often assume the role once held by elders and people of wisdom. But what happens when events render you speechless?

Doug Sparks reviews three books by local authors and publishers: a novel, a collection of photographs, and a study of the Lowell Police Department.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, I sensed that we might be hunkering down, so I took on an overdue task: cleaning the garage.

The administration also announced that the Department of Public Health’s Stay At Home Advisory remains in effect and gatherings of 10 or more people remain prohibited until May 18.

This week on The 495, host Doug Sparks talks with comedian Amy Tee from Experimental Comedy Therapy – Unique comedy with stigma-busting honesty.

In this week’s Noteworthy, local businesses and organizations are stepping up their efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus some regular news … for a nice change of pace.

Cabin fever is real, and we’re all under tremendous stress. We’ve got coping tips that cover everything from video meal prep to your new hair color.