Just a quick thought, as I am heading out the door, more to come later…
It was mentioned that the Kelly School is being looked at for a Youth Services building, wouldn’t it be perhaps a better idea to use the already existing Kelly School for a Senior Center, and build a new addition to one of the schools (middle school most likely) to house the Youth Center? Seems like a no brainer, especially since kids who want to use the skatepark, or have afterschool activites at the middle school wouldn’t have to travel to get to the Youth Service center, and the Seniors would be close to the Y and downtown…seems like a win-win to me. Not to mention there are no legal hurdles to this plan.
I know this is mainly a Newburyport blog, but I couldn’t help but throw my support behind Matt Kozazcki and other Newbury residents that oppose the development along Rt. 1. In a advertisement bought by Kozazcki in the Daily News, he laid out why a YES vote on the proposed development would be a bad idea and I have to say I agree with him. As Newburyporters, we’ve seen what these developments can do to your town, and the promise of increase tax revenues is never fulfilled. In fact its a joke. Don’t ruin Newbury for the sake of tax dollars, its like a dog chasing its tail, and you’ll never catch up to whatever proposed benefits the development promises. How fortunate that the town of Newbury has allowed the voters to decide the fate of this project, if only Newburyport could exercise a similar right in projects such as Waterside West. Don’t let Newbury go the way of Newburyport, protect what you have now, before its too late, because once the door is open to development, there is no stopping it.
Congrats to the celts for last nights amazing blowout. What a game, what a season. Couldn’t be happier for Paul Pierce. Also, 3 local boys will be bringing home championship rings, so it makes the win even sweeter.
Quick thought on the A-Frame debate, which i personally think is a waste of the city’s time. If the city is willing to allow private businesses to use public property to set up outdoor dining areas, then they really have no right to prohibit private businesses from setting up whatever kind of sign they want on public property. Frankly I don’t see why we would allow a private business to use public property to provide outdoor seating, but the precedent is set…
Yikes, I can’t believe I haven’t posted anything in nearly a month, I’ve been busy, but I didn’t think I was that busy. I suppose its been kinda slow around these parts the last few weeks as well, and in my spare time I had the opportunity to watch “There Will Be Blood” last night. First of all, it was an excellent film, and Daniel Day Lewis certainly earned his Oscar. But, following close on the heels of Mr. Karp’s announcement that he plans to aggressively pursue a hotel on the waterfront, I found one particular scene in the film quite ominous. For those of you who have scene the movie, I would venture to guess when you saw the scene of Mr. Plainview (Lewis) speaking to the citizens of Little Boston about his plans for their small town, you couldn’t help but draw a natural comparison between a fictional oilman and a living breathing land developer. I scoured the Internet for a video of that particular scene, but couldn’t find one, however, I did find a trailer which uses much of the dialogue from that scene, so it should give you a taste. Have a look and for anyone that has seen the film, what were your thoughts when compared to our own situation here in Newburyport?
“Plainview: [pitching his company to the people of Little Boston] Ladies and gentlemen? Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for visiting with us this evening. Now, I’ve traveled across half our state to be here and to see about this land. Now, I daresay some of you might have heard some of the more extravagant rumors about what my plans are; I just thought you’d like to hear it from me. This is the face. There’s no great mystery. I’m an oilman, ladies and gentlemen. I have numerous concerns spread across this state. I have many wells flowing at many thousand barrels per day. I like to think of myself as an oilman. As an oilman, I hope that you’ll forgive just good old fashioned plain-speaking. Now, this work that we do is very much a family enterprise- I work side by side with my wonderful son, H.W.- I think one or two of you might have met him already. And I encourage my men to bring their families, as well. Of course it makes for an ever so much more rewarding life for them. Family means children. Children means education. So wherever we set up camp, education is a necessity, and we’re just so happy to take care of that. So let’s build a wonderful school in Little Boston. These children are the future that we strive for and so they should have the very best of things. Now something else, and please don’t be insulted if I speak about this – bread. Let’s talk about bread. Now to my mind, its an abomination to consider that any man, woman or child in this magnificent country of ours should have to look upon a loaf of bread as a luxury. We’re going to dig water wells here. Water wells means irrigation, irrigation means cultivation. We’re going to raise crops here where before it just simply was impossible. You’re going to have more grain than you’ll know what to do with. Bread will be coming right out of your ears, ma’am. New roads. Agriculture. Employment, education. These are just a few of the things we can offer you, and I assure you ladies and gentlemen, that if we do find oil here, and I think there’s a very good chance that we will, this community of yours will not only survive, it will flourish.”
