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August 16, 2011

A bed race to remember

To the editor:

I often feel so full of pride and gratitude for the city in which I live when partaking in the Yankee Homecoming activities. I am especially fond of the bed race. As a board member of the Newburyport Education Foundation, I suggested to the board that we enter this year's race ... the only caveat, that Dr. Marc Kerble, our superintendent, would sit upon the bed. Dr. Kerble is new to our schools and had no idea what he was getting into. Without pause, he said yes. And only days before the event did he learn that I planned to put him in a Superman costume; he didn't bat an eye. My pride for Newburyport grew. Thank you, Dr. Kerble!

I then assembled the fastest 40-plus group of runners I knew. Thank you to Pete Katavolos, Chris Kealey, Brent Kinsey, Stratton Lloyd and Kurt Mullen. They represent community members and/or fathers of Newburyport Public School kids. Not only did they give their time and effort to the schools as NEF representatives in the race, but they literally flew down Federal Street and just missed the win by 2 seconds. (Gentlemen: I apologize again for making you wear the capes that created the significant wind drag. I'll adjust for next year.)

Thank you to fellow NEF board members, John Elwell, Wendy Gus and Martha Trail for rounding out the team and holding NEF banners with me as we raced down Federal Street chasing our bed. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

Finally, thank you for the nice surprise that came at the end of the bed race in the form of a donation from Dolores Persons and William Raveis Real Estate. Dolores had an impromptu concession stand at the bed race that garnered quite a sum of money. She handed it over to the NEF as a donation. My proud-o-meter went off the charts. Thank you!

We are truly blessed to be part of a community like Newburyport. Go Clippers!

Meghan Kinsey

Newburyport Education Foundation board member

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