News

Drop in price brings new gasoline plan for city vehicles

Newburyport City Notebook
Katie Farrell
Published: November 17, 2008

The drop in gas prices came just a little bit too late for Newburyport.

It was just a few weeks ago that the city bought a new 10,000-gallon supply of gasoline to use for the city's vehicles.

Then the prices at the pumps started to drop. With the price now so low, city officials have decided to wait to use their supply until the price for gasoline again climbs back up.

Until then, the city will fill up at Irving gas station in Amesbury.

Mayor John Moak said the city has opened an account with Irving, after determining they had the lowest price in the area. Irving will be opening a location in Newburyport, Moak said.

Each of the city's vehicles will be assigned a gas card.

"We're going to try this," Moak said. "This might only be temporary. It just seems sensible."

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The Newburyport Mothers Club is holding their annual "holiday shopping night" on Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Mission Oak Grille.

The event is open to the public. More than 20 vendors will be featured and products include beauty items, books, jewelry and children's products.

Mission Oak Grille will offer a free appetizer with the purchase of an entrée and half-price bar menu from 5 to 7 p.m.

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Matter Communications in the Tannery is running a Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit the Salvation Army. All donations will be given to local families in need.

The company has a collection box at their office on the second floor of The Tannery, Mill #3 or items can be dropped off with participating Tannery merchants.

Thanksgiving items requested for the drive: cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, juice (cranberry or apple), ready-made pie crust and filling, stuffing, sweet potatoes, yams (fresh or canned), turkey gravy or broth and white potatoes (fresh, canned or instant).

Additional food items are also being collected, including peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese, pasta and tomato sauce, cereal, oatmeal, snack crackers or cookies, individually wrapped snack and pudding, Jell-O or fruit cups.

The food drive will run through Monday, Nov. 24.

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The city has received a $500,000 grant for the refurbishment of Brown Square Park, state legislators announced last week.

The grant is from Massachusetts Parkland Acquisition and Renovations for Communities Program (PARC), which is through the Executive Office of Energy and Environment.

The renovations will include: creating a central handicapped-accessible brick pathway, creating two small public plazas at each end of the park, new park benches, drinking fountains, replanting shrubs and trees, regrouping the veterans' monuments and building interpretive panels that will exhibit aspects of Newburyport's history.

"I am pleased that after two centuries Brown Square is receiving a comprehensive landscape upgrade while retaining the historic elements" said state Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport in a statement released by his office. "The new plan will create an attractive destination for locals and tourists. I want to thank Energy and Environment Secretary Ian Bowles for making this opportunity possible."

"This is a major step forward in what is a very important renovation project for the City of Newburyport," said state Sen. Steven Baddour. D-Methuen in a prepared statement. "This money will allow the city to make major improvements the park's appearance and functionality at Brown Square in historical downtown Newburyport."

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The following meetings have been scheduled:

Monday

School Committee, 6:30 p.m., Newburyport High Room 118

Tuesday

Conservation Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers

Wednesday

Planning Board, 7 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers

Board of Health, 7 p.m., City Hall second floor conference room

Redevelopment Authority, 7 p.m., City Hall auditorium

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Katie Farrell covers Newburyport for The Daily News. She can be reached at 978-462-6666, ext. 3232, or by e-mail at kfarrell@newburyportnews.com.