A few comments on recent news:
In the black
It's encouraging to hear that Newburyport ended the last fiscal year $1.5 million in the black, and even more so to hear that no one sees this as an opportunity to go on a spending splurge.
City councilors interviewed by The Daily News indicated some obvious needs, such as more money for sidewalk repair. This highly walkable city has some of the worst sidewalks around, particularly on the side streets near the downtown.
But there was also caution expressed, and as Councilor Ed Cameron noted, the city's surplus may seem large, but it's small compared to what the city used to find in its coffers a decade ago.
We're all well aware that these times are uncertain, that the economy continues to sputter along, and that our federal government is poised to make enormous cuts in order to rein in its out-of-control spending habits. How that will trickle down to local government is anyone's guess, but it's better to have a little extra padding in the bank right now.
It makes sense for Newburyport to spend some of its saved money on items of public need — like sidewalks. But we like the idea of putting more of it away for a rainy day.
Signs of the times
We're all for widening and improving the heavily traveled section of Route 110 between interstates 95 and 495 in Amesbury, but couldn't the state come up with signs and signposts that were a little more in keeping with their surroundings?
Enormous highway signs have been popping up, suspended by huge steel structures that extend over all four lanes of the roads. The signs and the structures that support them are similar to what you would find on a superhighway. They look completely out of place on Amesbury's secondary roads, particularly on Elm Street. The old side-of-the-road highway signs seem more in keeping with what you would expect to find on a local road.
A solid improvement
In another corner of Amesbury, a big improvement has taken place. The town is rebuilding the granite spillway wall in the Upper Millyard, which was heavily damaged by the Mother's Day Flood of 2006.
Finally, the federal government has come through with the long-promised $150,000 needed to rebuild the wall. It will be larger and stronger than its predecessor. It seems like it will fit in well with the millyard's 19th century industrial-era look.
The Upper Millyard is one of those uniquely New England places. There are no cars, just pedestrians. A river cascades through it, roaring in the spring and trickling in the late summer. On its banks are attractive brick buildings, walking paths and a useful amphitheater. There's nothing else quite like it in this region.
The repair of the wall restores the millyard to its proper appearance, as Amesbury's downtown centerpiece.
Wild weather for Memorial Day weekend
Inspiration for the class of 2012
Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing
Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3"
80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump
JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini
Sliders on the Grill
Cruise ship crunch
Backstage With Beyonce
Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad
Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest
Jenny McCarthy's New Man
Tyler's Classic Coleslaw
Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
Hurricanes and Heat Waves Across America
Kristen Stewart Is Red Hot
Shark Attacks Australian Fishing Boat
Bradley out for playoffs
Kayaker Survives Trip Over Washington Waterfall
