http://www.newburyportnews.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:33:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_078220120.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_078220120.html Let's face it. Our country is in a slump. And it's up to us to do something about it. In the past, I've blamed Congress, the president, greed on Wall Street, wimpy regulators, nasty terrorists and climate change. But a country's soul comes from its people. And, people, we're tired; bone weary and frustrated, we need to get our mojo back. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:32:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_078220049.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_078220049.html John Adams called it "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived." Thomas Jefferson, who held it next, called it "a station where no effort to render service can avail anything." Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:31:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_078220022.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_078220022.html Big Freddy was chuckling with all three chins when I joined him for our midmorning break. "Reading the comics page?" I asked, as I pushed into my side of the booth. "Better," Freddy said. "Pelosi is going to get the health care bill passed come hell or high water." Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:59:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225111.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225111.html Big Brother is getting uncomfortably big. Yes, video cameras are a part of modern life. They are used by most businesses, ranging from banks to gas stations to restaurants. They have been in operation for years at courthouses, police stations, other government buildings and tollbooths. Those involve private property or are for a specific purpose and mdash; building security or to make sure drivers can't get away with just driving through tollbooths without paying. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:58:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225118.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225118.html Considering the Congressional standoff on health care, it was heartwarming to come away from the annual meeting of the Anna Jaques Hospital feeling good about its successes in 2009. Good news relating to the economics of delivering health care is almost nonexistent. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:57:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225146.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225146.html To the editor: It is my sincere wish that Congressman Tierney will do the right thing for the American people and vote no on the health care bill. At this time, the economy just cannot sustain another entitlement program, and frankly, I think his time should be spent focused on more pressing matters for his constituents. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:56:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225204.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225204.html To the editor: The Byfield Community Arts Center wishes to thank Patsy Whelan for appearing at our St. Patrick's Day Concert last week. Although he no longer lives in our town, having moved to Brewster on the Cape, Patsy still has a great fondness for the Newburyport area. Along with his partner Paul Kenny on guitar, he provided one of the most exciting evenings ever held at the Byfield Town Hall. A full house of people from all over New England came to our little theater for a foot-stomping festival and a bowl of Irish stew. Every seat was filled with cheering fans of these talented performers. It was the perfect type of use for this historic building and we are indebted to the people who came to support its preservation. The comments at the door as the crowd left were an almost unanimous "Wow! What a night!" We are so pleased to hold this type of event and help bring the community together. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:55:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225244.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_077225244.html To the editor: In Newburyport, we are very fortunate to have the Community Preservation Act (CPA), which provides monies through a 2 percent surcharge on property taxes matched by state funds. Throughout Newburyport, affordable housing, open space, historical resources and recreation use projects have benefitted from CPA grants. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:59:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_076233147.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_076233147.html State and Suffolk County employees enjoyed another St. Patrick's Day off, with pay, yesterday, thanks to the gullible Massachusetts taxpayer. It's officially known as Evacuation Day, marking the date British troops departed Boston at the start of the Revolutionary War. But only a fool believes it's mere coincidence the date also happens to be St. Patrick's Day, once a high holiday for Bay State politicians. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:58:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_076233218.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_076233218.html I pipe to fight extinction. No matter that passers-by sometimes request, sometimes chide me for a premature forecast of spring or accuse me of cashing in on global warming. Many consider me the local Punxsutawney Phil, but lately I'm more analogous to Tyrannosaurus Rex. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:57:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_076233224.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_076233224.html To the editor: The teachers and staff of the Brown Elementary School would like to express their thanks to the many volunteers who helped make "100 Day" a success! One small aspect of the kindergarten math curriculum is for students to keep track of the number of days in school. This is a fun way for children to practice counting by 1's , 2's, 5's and 10's. We are fortunate to have visits every 10 school days by our friend "Zero the Hero." He reads math stories, discusses the "rules of school" and counts with the kids. Feb. 5 marked the 100th day of school in Newburyport. "Zero" arrived by limousine (aka "Zero-mobile") thanks to Dave Wolpert from Moonlight Limousine, who generously donates his time and limo each year. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:59:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_075223958.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_075223958.html The sudden spate of erosion on Plum Island in the Annapolis Way neighborhood makes it imperative that our local, state and federal governments alter their plans to replenish the beach with sand. Nature is changing the game plan, and government needs to act fast to keep up. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:58:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_075224038.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_075224038.html At the risk of angering the many Democratic fans of Hillary Clinton in Newburyport, I thought others might find it interesting to hear that much of the Latin press is referring to our secretary of state and former first lady as little more than a "diplomatic tourist" in the wake of her recent visit to Central and South America. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:57:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_075224106.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_075224106.html To the editor: Unfortunately, many people speaking out against health care reform distort the facts to convince Americans, particularly older adults, that such reform would be harmful. Perhaps the worst distortion is the claim that the reform bills will drastically cut Medicare. The truth is that the bills will eliminate the huge bonuses that have been paid to insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage plans, the managed care option for seniors. Previous administrations promoted Medicare managed care as a cost-saving, comprehensive alternative to traditional Medicare, yet managed care plans engineered a bonus of 14 percent higher payments than the average cost of traditional Medicare. The health reform bills will require those insurance companies to compete on a level playing field with traditional Medicare. Other distortions such as fear of "death panels" deciding who will live have been shown to be disturbingly false, yet the drone of fear-mongering has taken a toll on senior support for health reform. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:56:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_075224134.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_075224134.html To the editor: On behalf of the Small Solutions team, I extend our heartfelt thanks to all the Newburyport restaurants and businesses that contributed to Have a Heart for Africa event: Ten Center Street, The Black Cow, Michael's Harborside, The Grog, Alden Merrell, Shaw's, and Stripers Grille.