Dexter Ditties

Just a few quick hits today,

From our friends over at Shrewburied, a blog covering the town of...yep, Shrewsbury. The town instituted a pay-as-you-throw program for their trash. (For those who don't know, residents must put all their trash in town-specific bags. They're available at local stores.) We linked to a video presentation about the program a month back.

I'm not sure if we'll see the program here. Hard to see the mayor taking this one on as I also can't see locals taking the program in stride as the commenters on the Shrewburied blog seem to be.

But I say pay per throw definitely has to be on the table.

Looks like Steve Karp is getting a little company on Nantucket. Perhaps this fellow will buy up the rest of Newburyport as well.

I'm a big fan of bike safety, but I'm not quite sure if two bike accidents in one day warrant this level of attention from the Daily News. I recognize that something has to go on page 1, but I'm glad to see we're keeping our heads about us. Yep, Water Street is trick as are the narrow South End roads. But a little personal care and responsibility are all we need.

Wow

How the hell do you break a 120-foot long, 60-ton beam? Back it into a parked car?

I know, as an optimist, I should focus on the 26 beams that weren't broken. But I just think that takes some serious doing.

Extra credit....What animal weighs 50 tons?

Answer here.

I do love the Internet.

Kissing Tree?

Former Mayoral Candidate and Early Rail Trail Advocate Jim Stiles sent out an email this weekend. Not sure if it counts as a submission for the blog, but I'm treating it as such.

It's an interesting phenomenon.

At the moment however I would like to draw everyone's attention to one particular feature of the trail that I am personally very fond of and may still be threatened by the current state of planning. In the stretch between Low St and Washington St, there is a pair of oak trees joined by branches that have grafted themselves together, forming a shared branch. Tree afficianados will recognize this as a variety of 'kissing tree', which in this case I refer to as 'holding hands trees'.

Neither I nor anyone else I have ever shown this pair to has every seen or heard of anything like it.

Since the routing of the trail and therefore the fate of this pair remains unclear, I urge all interested people to take a look for themselves. If you agree that this is a feature worth protecting, please join in the effort to minimizing the damage done by the paving work that is imminent (I have submitted my suggestion for a modest relocation of the trail bed that will maximize the protection for this pair while minimizing the problems for abutters).

If you start a Low St, walk toward Washington until you come to three large tractor trailers toward the near end of the Enpro Site (on the right side). The pair of trees is directly opposite (on the left) - two 14" red oak trees joined by one 8" branch. Please weigh in with the planning department and your city councilor.

Tourist attraction, anyone? Perhaps this can represent the joining of hands by Newbie and Native, Starbucks and Dunkin, Me and X, Khaki and ... well, what do natives wear?

Or this could be the first letter in a giant N-E-W-B-U-R-Y-P-O-R-T sign.

In any case, I think it's worth saving.

I did Google "kissing tree." Came up with a lot of sentimental sop, but no other info. I'm sure it's out there.

Any Yo-Yos out there?

I don't fish, but I'd like to someday. Looks like a lot of fun.


Any thoughts on this practice? Is it done around here? Seems a bit inhumane to the fish simply because they're forced to pass led weights through their intestines.

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Note to you anonymous commenters

We've got a new tag line for you....

Tony Hamlet

As in, "Just below the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border, the tiny barrier island juts into the Atlantic off the tony hamlet of Newburyport."

That's taken from Bloomberg's recent travel piece on Plum Island and Newburyport.

Yum

Gotta try the Flynnly at Plum Island Roasters, a delectable smoothie coffee drink.*



*I recognize this serves as a big, giant "He's not from around here" sign. But so be it. It's damn good.

It's Legit

The fire dept. fundraising

Hi Tom,

I call the Fire Dept. Its legit. All donations are asked to be checks made out to Local Aid 27. The Fire Dept. makes donations to the Elks Troop support effort, families in need, baseball (Pioneer, High School, etc.) and others that come seeking aid.

James

I could have done that.

Sleeper Restaurant

Where's the newest restaurant in town? You won't find it downtown. The Riverside Cafe opened up inside the Towle Building. Looks like it operates mostly as an onsite eatery for Towle tenants and customers.

But it's now open on Sundays for brunch. Looks like they're packing folks in too. Lots of parking and decent views.

I haven't been there yet, and I don't know the owner. I just thought it's an interesting spot for a restaurant.

No sign of any cozy booths.

Fire Dept. Fund Raising

Someone sent in an email asking if the fire department is raising funds over the phone. Seems he received a phone call asking for donations.

Any info out there?

I could just call the Fire Department. But the phone is way over there.

A-Frames

This issue has been covered to death so I won't repeat the arguments of Gillian Swart and others.

But I agree with today's Daily News editorial as well (although I disagree vehemently with last week's editorial knocking this summer's weather. This summer has been great!)

I can't buy into the conspiracy theories that the A-Frame ban is merely a tool to force out independent stores so the chains can move in. First, there no evidence that the chains want to move in. Second, if a Baby Gap wanted to move into the tea shop spot an A-frame sign wouldn't stand in the way.

But I do think A-frames will help our local businesses, so here's what we do.

First, the city designate certain areas of the sidewalk as A-Frame sites. They should obviously avoid high traffic areas, ramps and other risk sites.

Second, the city accepts applications for businesses to put A-frames into said sites. If there are more applications than a site can handle, then some sort of selection process is adopted. If two business are competing for the same site maybe each could take a side of the A-frame sign.

Third, the city--perhaps through through the NRA--adopt a design process for A-Frame signs since an process already exists for store fronts. Perhaps the city could identify two or three acceptable sign designs so we could have some uniformity. There are many.

Ideally, this process would remove risk, clutter and unattractive signs while giving businesses a bit of a boost.

For my energy plan, click

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

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Howard J. "Flash" Zabriskie

The earlier post on the rail trail construction led to a conversations in the comments sections about the various undertakings in town, including the restoration of the high school stadium.

A few commenters suggested the project meant more than just new athletic fields. It was the repair and refurbishing of a memorial honoring veterans, specifically those of the first and second World Wars.

I knew the stadium's name reflected such a dedication, but I thought--and still think--it's a bit much to declare the stadium to be a war memorial. It's principal and primary use is as an athletic field. In fact, I'd never seen a memorial until I went looking for it this morning.

Buried in the hedges at the northwest corner of the field sits the pictured memorial. (I didn't take the photo. Thanks to NP's staff photographer. I've walked by this corner more than a few times and never knew this memorial existed.

I think this underscores the point that this project is about restoring an athletic field, not a war memorial. However, if this isn't already being considered, an element of the project should include cleaning up this corner so this memorial gets a bit more visibility.

Who was Howard "Flash" Zabriskie? I hope Jean Foley Doyle doesn't mind, but I'm going to borrow generously from her "Life in Newburyport: 1900-1950".

I clearly need to read this book again. And if you haven't read it once, you should.

Page 271

Every family with a son in the Pacific or anywhere else felt that clutch of fear that became a regular companion.

Donald Zabriskie remembers:

"On December 1, 1943, my parents were notified that their son, P.F.C. Howard J. Zabriskie, U.S.M.C., was killed in action in the Battle of Bougainville in the South Pacific. He was twenty-one years old. He graduated from Newburyport High School in 1940 and enlisted in the Marines on May 8.[1942, according to photo] Howard was given the name `Flash' by his teammates at N.H.S. During a scrimmage, Howard recovered a fumble in the other team's backfield, whereupon members of his team commented on his quickness. His response was, `Just call me Flash," and so they did for the rest of his short life. Flash had a wonderful personality and was well liked by person of all ages. He loved to sing and dance. In the high school show, `Kampus Kapers,' in his senior year, he saing, `Tangerine' while dressed as a sailor and brought the show to a stop. I will never forget the standing ovation.

"I was in boot camp when I was told by a drill instructor that my brother had been killed in action. Since I was due home Dec. 4 for a ten-day furlough, my parents had hoped I would not learn of ihs death until they had the opportunity to tell me but this was not to be."

Page 284

After the war, two memorials were established on the high school grounds. One is a flagpole at the stadium, dedicated in the memory of Howard "Flash" Zabriskie. The flag flies from it over the football games of October and the graduations of June, the alpha and omega of high school years. The other is a tree, planted in the memory of Edmund Knight, who was killed in France in 1944. It stands at the bend of Toppan's Lane driveway and can be seen from the classroom windows facing west. It is a full canopy when school opens in September; it glows under October's blue skies and shimmers after a dusting of January snow; most important, it is that most vibrant of greens in April's gift of regeneration. Its roots are buried deep in the soil of the high school, but its limbs are reaching every upward and out, a living metaphor of their town's irremediable loss, and an affirmation of life.

Page 297

"I was a senior in high school in the autumn of 1946 the night the memorial to `Flash' Zabriskie was dedicated. I sat in the stands with my friends watching the ceremony. The war was over only a year before and we were still emotionally involved with the aftermath of war. My boyfriend, who would later become my husband, had just recently returned from the Pacific. Along with several of his friends, he stood in his white uniform at attention beside the memorial. The lights in the stadium were dimmed as `Taps' was played. I shall never forget the scene."

Rail Trail Tales

I really haven't established a guest post policy. But if an email is germane, and my time is short, I'm happy to run them.

In fact, I'd like to run more. So if you have a long comment that you'd prefer to see as a post. Feel free to email me with a request.

That said, here's a post and photos from Global Citizen James Shanley. The restaurant is a converted firehouse.

Just back from a week's vacation in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, and I am somewhat saddened by some of negativity expressed in the comments on your posting about the Clipper City Rail Trail.

Karen and I ended up choosing the Eastern Townships because they have a very good, extensive networks of bike trails and paths suited to all levels ofcycling skills. Canada has a 1500 mile network of dedicated bike paths, trails,and bike lanes stretching from Nova Scotia to Ontario, called the Route Verte. We chose a very modest section that promised (and delivered) easy cycling, cultural attractions, and great food.

There were almost none of the dreaded Spandex horde so often quoted as being the problem with cycling. The majority of those using the paths (and we were always encountering other cyclists) were couples in their 60's and up, with the next most prominent age cohort being young families. When we did encounter the Spandex Set, it was mostly out on the paved roads, and when out on said roads and in the towns, there were many, many a car with bikes on a rack.

Bikes were just part of the total equation, as were kayaks, wineries, women's clothing stores, golf, skiing and restaurants.

One thing was very obvious: there were people of all ages using both the urban paths and the rural ones for both recreation and for general around town transportation. There were also resturants and bike shops near many of thetrails, and they were busy. We left money at both business types, and all wereexcellent. What struck me was that each wasn't a destination into itself butwas part of an integrated whole.

Why wouldn't we want to provide something like the Route Verte for not just visitors, for us?

An important read

Not Newburyport-centric, but we do have a well traveled population. However, this should concern you even if you never leave the US.

They're Here

I just saw some heavy equipment being unloaded on the rail trail. They didn't look Russian, so I'm guessing the work on the trail will begin.

Where I can I buy some locally made spandex?

Ward 4 Councillor Ed Cameron supplied this link on his blog. Check it out. The trail will offer a lot more than an asphalt pathway. I'll be able to bike to Haley's!

I'll be interested in seeing how some folks see this as a negative. Bring it on.

The Fickle Pickle

Manny Ramirez reminded me of something recently. The public is fickle.

No shit, I know. The public sentiment was beginning to turn against Manny prior to his trade to LA. But any remaining support for the man drained away the instant the deal was announced.

I recognize this isn't a startling insight. But the timing of my revelation was a bit odd. I was actually thinking of Steve Karp.

As I noted a few months ago, Karp & Co. won over a number of fans with his showing in March. He meeted. He greeted. He spun some yarns, slapped up some fuzzy slides and told us all we love the town just the way it is. In short, he told us what we wanted to hear or, to continue the Manny comparison, he hit a few dingers.

But I see know how fleeting that support might be. In fact, I found my own warm feelings chilling a bit as a I sat on a park bench on Inn Street during Yankee Homecoming. I'd hurt my back, so I just sat and watched folks while the economic advistor to Newburyport Posts inspected the offerings of the Sidewalk Sales. (Offerings were a bit thin this year, but bargains were found.)

Well, I watched and listened. Eavesdropped actually, on a rather loud conversation between an amiable fellow who presented himself as someone who's done work with Karp and a native.

The pair must have started the conversation before I arrived, but the native apparently had revealed he had reservations about Karp's plan. The amiable--and slightly loud--fellow offered a public defense of Karp saying, in essence, that he's done good things on Nantucket and he'll do good things here.

The native was working and tried to put off the conversation, but the second fellow was persistent to the point of appearing a bit pushy to me.

The odd thing is this fellow was repeating many of the arguments that I continue to make, including the need for a hotel downtown. Still, I began to sense my own support of Karp to drain away just a little. One man's benign, but pushy, presentation caused me to reconsider my position.

A few weeks have passed, and I'm still optimistic about Karp's plans. But I'm a bit more apprehensive. I see now that Mr. Karp really does need to tread carefully around these parts. Since the March meeting, his support in this town runs far and wide, but I learned it's not particularly deep.

One misstep--perhaps the closing of a beloved business--and the good will might be gone.

Just ask Manny how fickle folks can be.

Downtown

I had this thought while I was walking downtown pondering the feelings of those who feel the downtown doesn't cater to residents.

Did the downtown abandon residents? Or did residents abandon the downtown first?

Think about it. The entire urban renewal project grew from the motivation to renew a stagnant and dying downtown. I didn't live here at the time, so locals can call me on any misrepresentation.

But local legend and works like the Port In Progress series leave little doubt that local leaders felt the downtown needed fixing. In fact, they were prepared to tear down the downtown in order to save it.

Some might argue that's what the HUD dollars did anyway. But I don' think anyone can really argue that our downtown is a vibrant part of the city. Yes, a good deal of that life is instilled by visitors, but so what. The place has a nice hum.

I drove recently through downtown Malden on Saturday. The storefronts were filled by many of the shops we claim to want on State and Pleasant Streets. But I'll be honest, the downtown was desolate. Those shops closed up, and the people went somewhere else. Hell, maybe some of them came to Newburyport.

I came away realizing I really do like our downtown. Yes, I agree with folks who responded to the poll recently. We could use a few more shops selling our daily needs. But downtowns are living entities that evolve to fit the needs of its customers. If rising gas prices truly force residents to consider shopping closer to home, those businesses will come.

Just as those businesses left when we all began to turn to shopping malls.

The New Phone Books Are Here!!!, Part Two

I had a chance to skim through the new Port in Progress book. It looked like a high quality product. No coffee table should be without one.

Should be in bookstores soon, I guess.

Ahhhh Silence

I'll be back to blogging soon. I'm just appreciating a little self-stifling. It's liberating to just shut up once in a while.

Hartford Courant did a feature and film on Tiny House Lady.

Next on Oprah

Author Tom Ryan.

Seriously, this can't hurt his chances of someday appearing on the nationally televised book tour.

More importantly, it certainly helped many animals.

Congratulations to Tom and Atticus.

I'm not sure where Tom is where his mountain climbing campaign, but dedications make a great gift for animal lovers.

Seriously?

I'm taking a bit of blogging holiday so pardon the lack of posts and slow comment moderation.

But I have to ask this.

Did people really call the fireworks organizers to complain about the show as the Daily News suggested? What in the world did people want them to do. It rained every single day.

Yes, I was largely unimpressed by the show this year. But blame the weather, not the volunteer organizers who bust their butts to pull this thing together.

I personally commend them for making the right decision under difficult conditions.

Now, with that out of the way, I certainly hope the organizers find a way to make it work next year. I have a hard time believing the placement of one building will slow things down.