Amesbury on the Rise

The Daily News' front-page article on Amesbury certainly provided a different take on the high-end homogenization that some of us in Port fear so much. They are embracing the change.

I personally like the vibe of Amesbury's downtown, and I'm a huge fan of the Barking Dog and Flatbreads. Both are in my top five local restaurants.

The downtown misses one crucial element--our board walk and proximity to the river. The Millyard is nice, but it's not in the same league.

The downtown simply doesn't offer the same strollability as ours, but it's definitely on the rise.

Amesbury officials definitely are open with their strategy of poaching Newburyport's and Portsmouth's businesses. I don't think every business that thrives in Port will do well in Amesbury, but some might.

I'm anxious to see how port exports (or expats) like Ashley & Barnes fare.

Yep

Changed it again. I got sick of the lighthouse.

This is more appropriate, and we own the IP rights on the photo.

Amazing what a beer will buy you these days.

Upper Crust

Had a taste of the Upper Crust pizza last night. Enjoyed it very much. Looking forward to more.

Comina Comes to Town

It appears as if the high-end furniture shoppers will not be disappointed. A new shop, Comina, is moving into the old Ashley & Barnes storefront at the post office end of Pleasant Street.

I won't try to describe the business. Go here.

However, it's worth noting Comina appears to be family-owned. However, this family owns and operates shops in seven other locations: West Hartford and Mystic in Conn.; Providence and Watch Hill, RI; Marblehead, Concord and Wellesley in Mass. Those are some neighborhoods.

If I can recall correctly, this type of business would have been permitted under the chain store ban.

Globe Sports Mag

Count me as someone who thinks this to be a pretty shrewd move by the Globe. The Boring Broadsheet is launching a new sports magazine, written by Boston Globe writers.

I, for one, will not buy the Globe because I can read any content online. And I'm now out of the habit of paying for that content so if they ever start charging me, I'm out of there.

But this I might buy.

Of course, the strategy is not unlike the Daily News' launch of its Newburyport magazine (due out on newstands this week.)

I suspect the Daily News faces similar obstacles after pushing all its content online for free. I still subscribe, partly out of loyalty, but I also enjoy picking the paper up on our door step.

But I wonder if the time will come when we see a hybrid of the web and publishing. Could a web site be used to deliver free content and news blurbs while the published paper itself is converted into a semi-weekly news mag that takes more in-depth look at issues.

Karma Bike

Made another discovery on a recent Lucy Dog Walk. I saw an old bike propped against a fence at the corner of Titcomb and Washington.

I thought it might have been stolen since the house and fence didn't seem like the proper setting for a rickety old bike.

Then I noticed a cardboard sign hanging off the bike's center bar. I didn't write down the exact words, but it said something like..

Karma Bike #2
Ride it
Leave it
Repeat

I thought it was a cool idea. I wasn't sure if this guerrilla effort was well known.

Found Some Parking

Took Lucy Dog for her regular morning walk Sunday morning. As usual, we found ourselves downtown by way of Washington and Harris Street.

I took the opportunity to clear out something that had been rambling in my head for a long while.

Why can't folks park on the downtown bank parking lots during the weekends and evenings.

All together, the TD Bank (used to be First & Ocean, right), the Newburyport Five and the Institution for Savings have 114 spaces. Each becomes off limits to anyone after noon on Saturday when each bank closes.

What can the city do to open up those spaces? What sort of indemnity can we grant to make the banks comfortable enough to free up those crucial spots?

Perhaps the banks could even take the idea further and offer them up as fund-raising vehicles for the schools or other non-profits. Cheerleaders, football players or little leaguers could collect a couple of bucks from weekend visitors looking for a nearby place to park.

If we wanted to go a bit crazy, we might suggest the city and banks team up to add second tiers where appropriate thereby increasing the available spots (although I'm not sure by how much given walls, ramps and such.

The Daily News begrudgingly--and somewhat unwillingly--serves as the unofficial lot for the Liberty Street area. I know this can be a pain for the owners and workers at time, but it's an essential public service.

Perhaps we can work out a more official relationships with the downtown banks.

Happy Birthday Jim

*not Jim Roy. Another Jim completely, one of the many Jims I know, which reminds me of a song....

Dibs!

Given the steady stream of news from Wall Street, I hereby call dibs on the corner of State and Liberty Streets for my pencil selling business.

Do I need a permit from the city?

Congrats

to fellow blogger Ari Herzog.

A Jim Roy Response

Jim Roy shot me an email asking if I was calling him out in this passage.

I'm still not sure how we'll pay for this. I see some inconsistences in the position of people who rail against the city for building senior centers or maintaining the Kelley School while simulataneosly insisting we just insert a big green patch of grass along the waterfront.

As I told him, I was but I wasn't. I was trying to state some general inconsistencies in the positions of waterfront park proponents. Jim was among the folks on my mind, but he wasn't the only one. Still, Jim has come out recently both against the senior center adn the Kelley School plans in the recent Liberator, I can see why he felt singled out.

Anyway, I welcome his perspective and he agreed to let me publish his email here.

Hi Tom: I assume (perhaps presumptuously) that you had me in mind when you talked about people "railing" re. the Kelley, Senior Center etc. My my, I'm offended.

I don't know how long you've lived around here (and it doesn't matter really, except in terms of institutional memory, so I'm not being a snob here in this respect), but for over twenty-five years I served (and was the chair for several years), on the Mayor's Traffic & Parking Committee. The closest we've come to getting a municipal downtown parking garage was during Lavendar's term, and we came within one cc vote to getting it (thank-you Erford Fowler et al). The whole point of the garage was the revenue it would have generated (it would have been almost completely pd for by the state, thus a revenue flow pretty quickly; now, of course, the construction cost of such a facility has more than doubled, and Moak has, in all probability, allowed our grant to expire).

A significant % of that revenue was to be earmarked for the NRA and to be used solely for park development. If you think the figure too meagre, ck out what Portsmouth NH nets from parking. My position is therefore not inconsistent in the least, as you claimed. We provided a funding mechanism that supported the waterfront, whereas in the current situation we're being delusional to say the least. I have never been an advocate of building things we can't or shouldn't maintain. Perhaps you'd like to "correct the record" in your next blog.

The two brick buildings in both Cecil renditions are there, pretty obviously, to generate income. That couldn't be clearer. For the record, I'm not opposed to them in the least.

The entire parking and traffic flow situation in Newburyport is black comedy. I could go on forever.

I will be "railing" in the next Liberator re. the NRA scheme, which is grossly flawed, uneconomical, and unrealistic. I appreciate their effort and work, but not the result. Something far more modest might, in fact, work.

Jim Roy

I'm not sure if this corrects the record, but it's delivers some institutional knowledge as well as another valid viewpoint.

I offered this in my reply to him:

I do know and appreciate the time you've spent on the parking issue. I wasn't here during the past few admnistrations so I missed the battles that have been fought and lost. I'll take your word on the revenues from the Portsmouth garage. That plan might have worked.

Unfortunately, as you note, it seems as if the opportunity is lost. It seems as if we're dealing with a new reality regarding the waterfront. Even if we were to implement a comprehensive paid parking program downtown--and I hope we do--I can't see the revenue being committed soley to park development at the NRA. Frankly, I'm not convinced that would be the best investment of those dollars.

I think the new reality demands that the NRA lots support themselves, at least partially. I'm glad to hear you're not opposed to the buildings along Merrimac Street. I took your KISS comments to suggest you only wanted to see greenspace on those parcels.

So there you go.

Parking into Parks

A cheaper way of turning parking into parks.

From the Mayor

This went out to the press (but no bloggers) today as well as some local officials.

I shall post without comment because I'm not really sure what it means yet. But I'll give it some thought when I have a few.

I do appreciate the mayor offering an explanation.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mayor John F. Moak announced today his reasons for expediting his decision on solar panel project for the Nock Middle School and the DPS building. The primary purpose for moving ahead this year is a priority to obtain MTC (Massachusetts Technology Collaborative) rebates. This is a competitive process where first come, first serve applications are the method for selection. We are in the queue for this year. Analysis of the reasons for the decision to consider the project this year are listed below. The Mayor would also like to clarify that the School Committee’s approval of this application is in regards to the installation of the panels on the roof of the Nock Middle School including concerns for safety, security and assurance of construction procedures. The financial decision on this matter directly falls upon the Mayor.

Priorities for Solar Panel Alternative Energy Project Decisions

• The City is only giving up $1.2 million of its rebate.
• The City is keeping $400 thousand to use for the future purchase of the system.
• If we loose our position in the MTC queue this year then we will have to start all over again next year.
• The Green Communities Act has capped the amount of rebates per year at $10 million.
• With a $10 million dollar cap only 7 similar projects will be rebated or 3.7 MW.
• Currently there are 3 that we know of already in the queue for next year totaling 1.3 MW, and MTC is a first come first serve.
• To date every good State incentive (CA, AZ, NJ, and CT) have decreased the amount of rebates per project.
o CA is now at $1.90/watt and on a lottery system for rebates.
o AZ is now at $2.45/watt capped at $500,000.
o NJ has no more rebate money and the remaining large systems are capped at $245,000 apiece.
o CT has capped the size of system for municipality to 200 kW.
o MA our experts predict to decrease it rebate to municipality after next year probably to a maximum of $1.2 million, this will drive PPA numbers higher.
• By starting over again next year we will have to follow the DOER guidelines for municipalities meaning a closed sealed bid, not that that is bad but it will cost money and will take 4-6 months. We could miss next year.
• It will take a solid 2.5 months from permitting to commissioning for installation and the risk is not with the PPA company, so much as it is with the electrical contracting company.
• The economics work for this model utilizing projected electric costs from Constellation New Energy, National Grid and private citizens from Newburyport who have submitted data on projected future electrical costs.

What about our Solar Express?

I credit the Triton School officials for gently applying the brakes to their rush to build solar panels, as reported in today's Daily News.

Perhaps we should consider a similar slowdown.

Thankfully, the city's legal counsel convinced John Moak that he at least needed the school committee's approval on the project before going forward. He got the vote, although it wasn't unanimous. (I can't find the article on the Daily News web site.)

I understand the implications of the expiring tax credit. But I've personally come to regret nearly every major purchase decision that I had to make quickly. So I wasn't at all comfortable with the Mayor's push to sign a 20-year-contract, apparently with little or no input from the school committee or, apparently, the city's alternative energy committee. The state didn't ease my concerns at all by waiving the requirement that the city go through the bid process.

But the published article I read about the school committee's vote raised an interesting point. Apparently, the federal government is moving to extend the tax credit for the companies that supply the solar panels, therefore removing the game clock that reportedly forced the mayor to rush into discussions with one solar panel vendor.

In her account, Gillian Swart reported on another interesting element.

Tim Brennan, NRA member and employee of National Grid, speaking as a private citizen cautioned the group over entering into the contract due to the fact that electricity rates might actually flatten out since they are in a peak right now.

Brennan said that the city could end up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars over market, but Mayor John Moak said the city will save $110,000 in the first 3 years and as much as $2.7 million overall.

I'm admittedly ignorant to the ebbs and flows of energy pricing, but it does seem to me we've seen historic peaks in energy costs. Is this the best time to sign a long-term contract?

Furthermore, the Daily News reports on concerns from Steve Cole about some difficulties Pentucket has had with its solar panels (which I never knew they had.) I'd love it if someone (Daily News) could shine a little light on that element of the discussion.

I support the notion of putting solar panels on the school. I'm just not comfortable with how this process has unfolded. I might feel better if I heard the city shopped around a bit and concluded, after a bit of public deliberation, that this was indeed the best deal.

Perhaps this has happened already? Could somebody shine some light on this?

The Big Question

Katie Farrell has a nice summation of last night's NRA meeting in this morning's news.

But she didn't mention the most poignant moment.

Following the presentation of the two potential scenarios, which you can read about here, the consultant from the Cecil Group (I came late so I missed his name. Just got it from the article David O'Connor.) was taking questions. Things rolled pretty much as the article laid out.

Then came this question:

Audience member: Where would the money come from to maintain this [park]?

Consultant: Um….

Audience: Snicker

Consultant, after getting little input from the NRA: That remains to be seen.

Indeed it does.

I'm still not sure how we'll pay for this. I see some inconsistences in the position of people who rail against the city for building senior centers or maintaining the Kelley School while simulataneosly insisting we just insert a big green patch of grass along the waterfront.

I don't see how we'll keep the park in good order. We couldn't even afford to build most the parks we currently have.

Furthermore, I don't see how a wide open space would generate enough traffic to the local economy to offset the loss of parking.

Overall, I liked the plans presented. (BTW, I couldn't grab a copy of them. If anyone can send me an electronic version I'll post them up here.) I'd probably scale down on the elements within the green space (garden, sculpture park, etc) but stick with the bike path, tot lot and a smaller cafe.

But I could also support erecting some buildings on the Merrimac Street side of the east lot. I agree with the Cecil Group. While presenting a pleasant view of the river, the street lacks cohesion with the rest of the downtown. Take a look at some historical photos of the street and you'll see buildings lining Merrimac Street, injecting some vitality to what's currently an empty walking space.

Furthermore, the proceeds from selling the lots or working with a developer could help maintain the rest of the park.

Finally, I counted about 60 people there, with a lot of familiar faces. This matter isn't resonating with the public. It should be.

But The crowd correctly gave a nice bit of credit to the NRA for moving this forward.

Rail Trail Yard Sale

From Rail Trail Activist Mary Harbough:

Hi Tom. I know it's not your usual sort of topic, but how about a plug for the benefit yard sale and silent auction hosted by the Coastal Trails Coalition to raise funds for Newburyport rail-trail amenities? It's truly a community event, with scores of families donating goods and many volunteers helping to organize the event. We're "opening the gates" at 9 am Saturday morning at Cushing Park. (Rain date Sunday Sept 21.) We've planned a sort of Filene's Basement approach to pricing: Prices will be firm from 9 am to 11 am, half price from 11:01am to noon, quarter price from 12:01 to 1pm, and free at 1 pm! The silent auction will run concurrently, with bids closing at 12:30 pm. Winning bidders will be notified.

We are still accepting goods. So far, we have an amazing range of donations -- a huge box of assorted sizes of knee- and elbow-pads for in-line skaters; some first-rate fiction, including current bestsellers; a woman's wet suit; a couple of state-of-the-art LED chandelier bulbs; old sterling; fly fishing rods; a kayak; many framed paintings and prints; brand-new upholstery fabric; old saws; a new singing-dancing leprechaun; charming china; rocking chairs; an antique clothes drying rack; several "country" style decorating items; some brand-new "re-gift" items; reproduction Federal-style light fixtures; and lots more.

A couple of young people will serve as DJs to provide music, and beverages and snacks will be available.

I'm all over this. I'll be there.

Parking

Incidentally, Bill Harris of the Friends of the Newburyport Waterfront did point out the obvious. We really need a citywide parking/transportation plan.

He raised the idea of having visitors park at the Ferraz Shawmut building and using a Ferry service to bring them downtown. I actually had a similar thought during a recent harbor tour, although I don't know if the logistics work.

A few folks got all excited about the notion of running trollies from the train and bus stations. An interesting idea that's been tossed around before, again, I'm not sure if we could support such a service or if people would even use it except on special events.

I'd still like to see if the city can free up some of the lots that exist downtown already. It's a shame the bank parking lots sit empty during the weekends. Perhaps you could add another level to those to add another 50 or so spaces downtown. Adding a second level to the Prince Place lot wouldn't hurt either.

Breaking (Down) News

We relayed news about some layoffs at the Daily News' Merrimack Valley cousin, the Lawrence Eagle Tribue, a bit ago. Well, the paper's parent company is having some difficulties in other regions as well. Read here and here.

Honestly, after this weekend's news on Lehman, I wouldn't be surprised if the New York Times shut down.

Man.

Did you know

C&J offers a wireless signal on its buses? In fact, they do.

Breaking News

I know the Daily News has had some "Breaking News" links before, but I think this might be the first time it's used on a truly local story.

Someone will tell me if I'm wrong.

Friendly Reminder

Ward 4 Friend and Councilor Ed Cameron posts an important reminder on his blog. The NRA is giving a public update to its plans for the waterfront.

Need reasons to go? Here are some:

1. Be interesting to see what the plans are for this vital piece of public property that could, but likely will not, provide some much needed new growth to the tax rolls.
2. See how far the NRA and Cecil Group have progressed from these hearings in February.
3. Watch newest NRA member James Shanley in action. He, of course, has quite a different vision for the waterfront than some. No guarantees this thoughts will be offered on Wednesday, but who knows.
4. You might see a blogger.
5. It's important.

Any questions?

Ayuh, can't blog here from there.

Just got back from the deep woods of Maine. Not an Internet connection to be found, and even if I had found one, ain't no way in hell I was blogging or emailing.

(We did get a cell signal from the top of a mountain we climbed. But the Boy didn't want to talk to us when we called him at the grandparents house.)

Anyway, I hope that explains the absence.

Certainly a lot going on. But here's a semi-interesting link about a New England Development investment that went down the porcelain wastebasket.

You also might want to take a look at what's going on in Leominster. A NED site is responsible for a bit of environmental despoiling. The Karp crowd appear to be stepping up to the plate to correct the problem, but it's a shame it happened in the first place.

Our Mr. Karp is no King Midas.

Another Voice to the Chorus

The Daily News editorial today asks the same questions about who owns the clam shack property.

But McCavitt does have a legitimate point that ought to be fully investigated by the city. The city's Geographic Information System maps — which are based on assessor and zoning data — seem to show quite clearly that the building is mostly on land owned by the city, while Roland owns an adjoining piece of land. Meanwhile, the city's attorney has stated that neither the city nor Roland "can establish ownership of" the lots in question.

But here's the real question: Is ANYBODY in city government--elected or appointed--looking into this?

If you pave it...

I can't for the life of me figure out why the crew building the new condos by the Towle building already paved and painted what I assume will be the parking lots to the new complex. Not a building to be seen, but the parking is in place.

Are those spaces going to be an extension of the Towle building parking lot?

This project is bumming me out a bit. We're losing a sweeping river sightline.

I know, very NIMBY of me.

Non Port

I just enjoyed the hell out of this. Nothing local about it. I suppose it's worth noting that John Moak is mayor of a considerably larger city.


">

This is rather interesting

Check out this post on Gillian Swart's blog.

Slow Going

Well, we hear that New England Development definitely won't be bringing forth any plans this year. Why would it? Shaky retail market. Exhorbitant construction costs, and they own a lucrative marina and retaurant properties, the proceeds of which I'm guessing cover the tax bill.

Things apparently are moving just as slowly over in Provincetown where Karp and Lagasses are hoping to establish the third point of the Khaki Triangle (Nantucket, Newburyport and ...)

News from the Provincetown banner is the group still are performing due diligence on the pier they'd like to purchase.

Sounds like town officials are getting a little anxious.

Utility consultants representing New England Development, the company considering purchasing and renovating Fisherman’s Wharf, met with town officials last week.

The meetings with Town Manager Sharon Lynn and David Guertin, department of public works director, were part of the intensive due diligence the prospective buyers, led by waterfront developer Chuck Lagasse, are doing. The meeting last Thursday was essentially a fact-finding mission on what town-owned utilities such as wastewater, electricity and storm draining would be available for a renovation of the wharf, which Lagasse said earlier might involve developing the pier into a 350-boat marina.

“We were all hoping to hear something, maybe see something, but this was purely an investigation into utilities,” said David Gardner, assistant town manager, who attended the meeting. “We continue to work closely with them to ensure they get the information they need.”

I personally got a kick out of this little ditty.

Lagasse, who along with New England Development owner Steven Karp, redeveloped much of the downtown waterfront in Newburyport, said earlier he is primarily interested in expanding the marina component on Fisherman’s Wharf.

Um. No. I say someone's just assuming. I'd say Provincetown officials might to buy Port in Progress The Book, available somewhere now, for the real story.

By the way

Curiosity finally got the best of me on Saturday. I climbed to the top of the Tannery building on the river side of Water Street (75 Water Street) to see why someone was installing canopies and putting in chairs.

It someday (soon I hope) will be roof seating for Andaman Thai Restaurant. This is guaranteed to be one of the best places to dine next summer. I asked our waitress when the roof might be ready. She didn't have any guess.

Is that officially part of the Tannery complex?

Bummer

Sign of the times....from the Herald.

In another blow to the newspaper industry, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. cut more than 50 jobs north of Boston yesterday, the bulk of them at the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune.

Publisher Al Getler said they “restructured the company” and 52 full- and part-time positions were eliminated.

Getler said the Eagle-Tribune’s editorial department was the least affected and the bulk of the cuts were in the circulation department. One full-time and three part-time newsroom jobs were cut, primarily reporting and copy-editing positions.

“These are challenging economic times, especially in our business,” Getler said. “We had to restructure to reflect the current business climate and to assure the long-term viability of our company.”

Getler said some positions were cut at the Derry News as well as one circulation position at the Gloucester Daily Times and Daily News of Newburyport.

Getler said the decision to cut jobs was extremely difficult. “This is a fantastic group of people that work here,” he said.

MediaBiz obtained the memo Getler sent to employees.

“I have asked you to innovate, to launch new products and save on expense items everywhere possible, and you have responded,” Getler wrote.But, he continued, “despite our best efforts, we have been unable to overcome the present business climate. And, like many other newspaper companies, we are now forced to address our present staffing levels.”

Something to consider. The Daily News already is running a lot leaner than it did back in The Day, and they're being asked to produce online and magazine content as well.

McCavitt's Suit

Just a quick follow up on yesterday, a commenter pointed us to this full text from The Current.

From the suit:

6. The property identified as 269 Water Street is Lot 30-15 on the Newburyport Tax Assessor’s Map. This Lot consists of 820 square feet of land as set out on the Assessor’s Map. The entirety of the lot is covered by the clam shack. There is no open or unoccupied land whatsoever at or on 269 Water Street. Roland is identified as the owner of 269 Water Street on the Assessor’s Map. Lots 30-10 through 30-14 (on the westerly side of 269 Water Street) and Lot 30-17 (on the easterly side) are identified as owned by the City as set out in the Assessor’s Maps.

7. Even though he identified the property at issue as 269 Water Street (which is 820 square feet), in his Application and accompanying materials, Roland claimed that his existing lot had 51,513 square feet; 97.5 per cent “open space” (269 Water has zero open space); and 302.3 feet of frontage on Water Street (269 Water Street has approximately 60 feet of frontage). These dimensional claims rest in part on Roland’s claim that in addition to 269 Water Street (Lot 30-15) he owns all of the City’s filled tidelands property consisting of Lots 30-10 through 30-14 together with Lot 30-17. These additional City Lots comprise 3,450 square feet according to the City records. In addition, approximately 47,000 square feet of Roland’s purported lot is based on his claim of ownership of the actual tidelands or mud flats below the seawall down to the mean low tidal line. All of these tidelands or flats are also owned by the City though they do not appear on tax records because the area is active tidal land. (Lots 30-10 through Lot 30-17, including 269 Water Street, together with the 47,000 square foot tidal area, the “Locus”).

First question, are these figures correct? Is this truly what he's claiming?

Second, over an acre of land with 302.3 square feet of frontage. What's the minimum lot size and frontage in that area? Would these dimensions allow him to build a larger house in the future?

Again, I have no issue with his living there. But we should make sure his shack isn't sitting on our land.

But isn't he right?

I'm a bit surprised by the torching Larry McCavitt is getting on the Daily News comments.

Granted, people are tired of his act. I get it. He seems to grab ahold of an issue and never let got.

Fine.

But, basically his lawsuit points out that at least some of Mark Roland's clam shack (which I have no problem with him living in) sits on city land. Some comments in a previous post suggested the same thing.

And city records, according to the Vision database, seems to back that up. Mark Roland's lot at 269 Water Street is 820 square feet. His building, with deck, is 1210square feet.

So on what land is the other 390 square feet sitting?

Again, I don't mind his living there, and I didn't really have a problem with the ZBAs' review. But the ZBA doesn't need to do a title search as far as I know. They assume the proponent has ownership since no sane property owner would let some neighbor propose a project on their own property.

Or would we? No one has said this but perhaps the thinking is the land isn't worth much so why bother? If so, that's a dangerous precedent we're setting.

If not I hope someone can explain things.

PS Credit where credit is due, the Current had the story last week.

PPS I wrote this yesteray but never published it. Over that time Mr. X came out with this. Looks like we agree on something.

Put Down The Locally Owned Book Store

Boston Globe magazine ran an interesting piece Sunday detailing a potential clash of the titans in Nantucket.

Seems the "high-end homogenization" (to steal a phrase from Mary Eaton) of Nantucket by local noble Steve Karp has elicited a response from rest of the island's Summer elite, particuarly one Wendy Schmidt, wife of Google co-founder Eric Schmidt.

The debutante-do gooders have formed charitable trusts to help preserve some of the properties in businesses in town, including the locally owned bookstore that had been the genesis of the chain store ban instituted on the island. (I think it's the same store. I couldn't find the article that ran in the Daily News last December.)

It's an interesting dynamic. Essentially, the wealthy who have made their homes (or one of their homes) on island feel a sense of responsibility for driving up the cost of living on the island. Indirectly, they also could be held at least partly responsible for the downtown's tilt toward offering higher end (i.e. expensive) products that don't do the townies any good.

I applaud these people for accepting a level of responsibility and taking action. No doubt, some good will come from it. But the results clearly are mixed:

LAST YEAR, SCHMIDT MADE her first foray into downtown revitalization by purchasing the former Island Spirits lot on Washington Street, a piece of land near the waterfront, for $3.5 million. She offered it to the town, for $1 a season, to use as the site of a new hub for the Nantucket Regional Transportation Authority. (The town had asked voters to fund the purchase, but they refused in a September 2007 special election.) It is a project that, she says, plays into her desire to get people out of cars and into environmentally friendly public transportation and ease the congestion that is making downtown increasingly inaccessible.

As some people quoted in the article point out, can a well-heeled group of philanthropists really use their considerable means to maintain a sustainable, natural existence for the rest of their town. Or do their very efforts make the job of preserving the downtown even more difficult because locals come to expect help from their richer neighbors?

Interesting questions. Worth a read.

Very Nice

Apologies for the dearth of entries. This damn work-family stuff...

Anyway, I need to take time offer a heartfelt thank you to whatever benevolent crackpot sent along a very cool new T-shirt in the mail on Saturday. The black shirt came in a white, cardboard postal envelope that contained no note but bore the ominous and hilarious return address "Mr. Y, Newburyport."

I had every intention of taking a photo and posting it, but we just bought a new camera, and I'd have to load the software, and, well, you know. But Gillian Swart--who received an identical package--was nice enough to post a photo here.

We'll be running the envelope through the Newburyport Posts Computer in the Posts Cave to match against every signature that has ever appeared on every Buy Local petition, candidate nomination paper and credit card slip signed at the local Starbucks.

So far, only one possible name keeps popping up....Tony Hamlet. Anyone know him?

Seriously, thanks very much to whomever sent the gift. It was a nice gesture that generated a good laugh.