SALISBURY — The featured speakers at last night's Salisbury Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Wobbly Pop Sports Stop were the town's two state lawmakers, and legislators draw a crowd.
But everyone at the meeting last night knew the star of the show was longtime chamber President Maria Miles, back after months in the hospital due to heart surgery and life-threatening complications.
"I feel wonderful," Miles told the the many people who came to shake her hand or kiss her cheek. "Walking is still a chore, but I made the three steps coming here tonight."
Cheers of, "You look fabulous," "How are you feeling, hon? We really missed you," and "Welcome home," echoed as scores of chamber members and local officials went to pay tribute to Miles.
"Maria is well-loved," said Salisbury Housing Authority director and chamber board member Dan Ouellette. "She's the dame of Salisbury Beach."
Miles' vitality has been missing from the Salisbury scene since November, when she entered Anna Jaques Hospital with breathing problems. Diagnosed there with heart blockages, Miles had cardiac bypass surgery at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, N.H., on Nov. 14.
All was going well until Miles — a diabetic — encountered serious postoperative complications, which included a severe infection, as she convalesced at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital in Haverhill.
The infection brought Miles back to Portsmouth Hospital for a long period, and it was touch and go for a while. Once out of the woods, Miles went to rehabilitation facilities.
"I thought I was dead," Miles said. "Several weeks ago, I couldn't even sit up, but now I'm walking with a walker."
She may have been ill, but according to chamber officials, Miles has been setting up meetings and taking care of critical chamber business ever since she was strong enough to hold a phone.
Miles said plans would have had her home last week, but the stairs in her home were too much for her, leading her back to Newburyport's Brigham Manor.
"Brigham Manor is a phenomenal place," Miles said. "I've never done as much physical therapy as they're doing with me there. I'm earmarked to go home on Tuesday, if all goes well."
Earmarking is exactly why Miles left Brigham Manor to attend the chamber's meeting, with Salisbury's legislative delegation. She made the meeting to lobby Sen. Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, and Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport, on behalf of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce.
"I'm always asking for money," Miles said. "I want to make sure that Salisbury Chamber has money from the state budget."
"And we couldn't wait for you to get back," Baddour said. "My phone hasn't rung for a while."
Last night, Costello said he was able to earmark $25,000 for the chamber in the House budget.
Baddour said the Senate budget is being finalized, and he believes it will also carry $25,000 for the chamber's promotional needs.
Baddour said criticism of Costello for pork-barreling the budget with money for his district is unwarranted. The money Costello's put into the budget is needed to accommodate for the harsh impact the economic slowdown is having on the district.
"$25,000 for the Salisbury Chamber is not pork," Baddour said. "It's money for (tourism) promotion. That's economic development money that will come back to help the area and the state. And the money for Pettengill House (a regionwide social service agency), I defy anyone to call that pork."
Both Baddour and Costello said the financial picture is tough across the state due to the sluggish economy, but both believe the state and Salisbury will weather it well.
Costello said April's revenues were encouraging.
"April's numbers showed $350 million more than we expected," Costello said. "This year's been tough, but we've been able to maintain level-funded services."
"As bad as the economy is, there's a lot of good things happening in Massachusetts and Salisbury," Baddour said. "Salisbury has a lot of potential."
