When the leaves are still on the trees in New England October, when the light has changed with the seasons, and the sun is slanted low in the sky, it can be quite dark on the ground. But when the leaves fall, all of a sudden it seems as if [...]
When the leaves are still on the trees in New England October, when the light has changed with the seasons, and the sun is slanted low in the sky, it can be quite dark on the ground. But when the leaves fall, all of a sudden it seems as if [...]
I had never really thought that there was any correlation between painting, my painting (see previous post) and my love of local politics. But after this last political race, 2009, I’m beginning to think differently.
When I start a painting there is an idea, the canvas is “blocked in” with shapes, [...]
“Many locals know her only as the author of the Newburyport Political Blog. But the political junkie that is Mary Baker Eaton is also an accomplished artist whose work has appeared at prestigious New York City galleries and can be found in private and corporate collections [...]
Both The Newburyport Current and
The Newburyport Daily News have very good stories on the outcome of the Newburyport Election 2009. Donna Holaday won as Mayor of Newburyport.
The un-official numbers are:
Holaday 2,704
Shanley 2,257
The Newburyport Daily News has an article on the race for [...]
Results for Newburyport Election 2009
Mayor of Newburyport
Donna D. Holaday
James G. Shanley
Winner: Donna Holaday
Ward 1
Lawrence V. McCavitt
Allison Heartquist
Winner: Allison Heartquist
Ward 3
Robert J. Cronin
Dawne Shand
Winner: Robert J. Cronin
Councilor At-Large
Barry N. Connell
Steven R. Hutcheson
Kathleen O’Connnor Ives
Thomas E. Jones
Michael Edward Ferrick
Ari B. [...]
I actually went to all the polling places, except Plum Island. One thing surprised everyone I talked to. Usually there is an “early morning commuter” vote, from about 7:00 AM to 8:15-8:30 AM. Often there are people waiting in line to get into vote. That did not seem to exist [...]
Go Vote! (Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM)
Vote for:
Mayor of Newburyport
Newburyport City Council
Newburyport School Committee
Question #1 (whether or not we should have a discussion about the structure of Newburyport’s government, voting just on having a discussion–vote “Yes!”)
9 members for Newburyport’s Charter Review (who will be leading [...]
I am a political junkie. In local elections, I love the day before voting day, and voting day itself. The candidates have waged their campaigns, the last push over the weekend has been made, and there is a certain excitement and anticipation in the air.
And no matter who wins [...]
I was watching Charley Rose last night, and he and the person that he was interviewing were talking about the nature of politics. The conclusion that they appeared to arrive at, and I am paraphrasing here, is that politics is yes, an ability to form sound political policy, but politics [...]
Entrance to Newburyport's Rail Trail--High Street
Sunday was one of those amazing, “this is why we live here,” kind of gorgeous, mild fall days. I had not checked on Newburyport’s Rail Trail for awhile, so I thought that I would go down to [...]
If you have not done so already, go out and get yourself the latest copy of The Newburyport Liberator (I get mine at Richdales, but they are sold all over town). You may or may not agree with the Liberator’s endorsements, but this election copy (October 23, 2009) would be [...]
I watched the mayoral debate between Donna Holaday and James Shanley last night on Channel 9 (see earlier entries for other times, as well as the video and link below).
I came away thinking that we are lucky to have two really good candidates, who I think would both make good [...]
In re-reading the 2 previous posts on the mayoral candidates differing positions on their vision for Newburyport’s Central Waterfront, I was struck by something.
If I had “recently” moved to Newburyport, and a candidate had suggested to me that we replace what was destroyed on the Central Waterfront during Urban Renewal [...]
I looked back at posts on “the waterfront” on the Newburyport Blog. And when the blog was started back in January 2006, for about 6 months the subject of the resistance to Mayor John Moak’s proposal of paving over the Newburyport’s Central Waterfront, comes up over and over again, and [...]
The differences between the two candidates running for Mayor of Newburyport in the 2009 election, Donna Holaday and James Shanley are beginning to emerge. And the one, unbelievably significant distinction is their plan for Newburyport’s Central Waterfront.
The Central Waterfront is not the land owned by Stephen Karp and New England [...]
One of the things that has floored me this summer is, to me, the irrational amount of “hate” displayed towards President Obama. It’s gotten so out of hand that it alarms many of us. My friend Frank Schaeffer, never one to be subtle or understated, is involved in a [...]
As a blogger, I really, really don’t like election time. Even if I might disagree with a candidate or wonder about their qualifications, I am always impressed when someone takes the time to run for office–it indicates that they care a tremendous amount about Newburyport, MA. And I really get [...]
The election for Newburyport City Councilor at Large. There are 5 seats for Newburyport Councilor at Large and 7 folks are running. All 4 incumbents would get my vote. They are, in no particular order:
Kathleen (Katy) Ives
Thomas (Tom) Jones
Steven Hutcheson
Barry Connell
For me that leaves the seat [...]
On November 3, 2009 we (residents of Newburyport) go to the polls and vote whether or not we would like a discussion about whether we would like to think about changing our current form of government or not. We will be voting only on whether or not to have a [...]
I think that we have two good candidates for mayor of Newburyport, MA–James Shanley and Donna Holaday, which makes me very happy.
We go to the polls and vote on Tuesday November 3, 2009. You can judge for yourselves which candidate you would vote for.
The two candidates have been [...]
I will admit that I was hoping that I would turn up some fellow Newburyport and Massachusetts North Shore gluten free/Celiacs (see earlier entries) by writing about the subject on the Newburyport Blog.
And voila, so far someone local who makes gluten free cookies and a fellow Newburyport Celiac has contacted [...]
My health insurance this year goes up a whopping 37%. It is so high I weirdly feel embarrassed, instead of angry and outraged.
I am one of those people who basically gets to buy their health insurance “retail,” no bargaining power for moi.
Ed Cameron graciously tells me who to [...]
I begin to figure out how to eat at home with this gluten free, Celiac thing (see earlier entries), but what about my beloved, in a pinch or not even in a pinch, Newburyport take-out restaurant.
I go to my first line of take-out defense, Chinese–Szechuan Taste on Pleasant [...]
Watch the larger YouTube video here
A shameless promotion of my son, Hal Fickett (see many earlier entries), a native Newburyporter, actually born here, a graduate of Newburyport High School, and his new YouTube music video.
[...]One of my great treats this warm season of 2009 has been a Sunday stroll down Federal Street to the Farmers’ Market at the Tannery in Newburyport, MA (see earlier entry). And my discovery of “the pie guy,” who is actually Cape Ann Pies www.capeannpies.com.
Both [...]
I open my mailbox, weeks ago, possibly now months ago, checking on when my last posting would be on the Newburyport Blog. There is a fat letter from my doctor. I cannot imagine what it could possibly be. Results from a lab test long since forgotten by moi. Apparently my [...]
Talk about a bad PR, good grief.
For those who may not have heard yet, Mr. Karp and company are evicting a small, local, neighborhood convenience store up on Pond Street, White Hen Pantry.
And I was afraid that the feisty spirit of Newburyport was dying out, only to be replaced by [...]
The photo to the left is a sculpture by Michael Alfano, “Peace Offering,” that is currently in the Somerby’s Landing Sculpture Park in Newburyport, MA. If the ticket booth is moved by the Newburyport Waterfront Trust to the Somerby’s Landing Sculpture Park, this is location where it [...]
I’ve written a lot about why original art work is so important to people’s daily lives and our culture at large (disclaimer: I am an artist). Original art enlivens an environment and enriches lives. A more crass reason is that the very wealthy may often buy original art because it [...]
One of my favorite walks in my beloved hometown of Newburyport, MA is to walk to downtown Newburyport, go to Market Square, cross Merrimac Street at the Firehouse Center for the Arts, walk down the grassy area towards the board walk that runs along the mouth [...]
Baker optimism. Baker resilience.
My father would say that long spring rains in May and June are great for the fish (trout), that as a result the summer scenery is lush.And, yes, he certainly would be correct in the summer of 2009.He might even look out the window, or step out [...]
If anyone thinks that Newburyport, MA has gradually turned into a bland and happy version of Pleasantville, they are most decidedly wrong.
One of the things that I detect in the upcoming Newburyport 2009 election is still a strong and virulent backlash against the “Yes for Newburyport” campaign in the spring [...]
The “go along to a get along” thing, I’ve never been good at it. In fact, I suck at it, so much so that it seems sometimes to me to be deep within my genes. It is both oddly one of my major character defects and one of my major [...]
I always used to drive my mother nuts by asking “Why?” “Why was ‘Aunt Hilda’ taking a ‘vacation’ by herself for X amount of weeks or months?”
It wasn’t enough to know that the event was happening, I wanted to know the reason behind it, because “Aunt Hilda” never did [...]
One of the things that fascinates me is what really happens in life, and what happens to make things happen, what are the “politics” of the situation, not what is on the surface. Not gossip and innuendo, but the reality behind the veneer.
And in the reporting business, this is almost [...]
I walk down Federal Street in Newburyport, MA and there they are, all neatly lined up on both sides of the street, like SWAT soldiers, waiting for the order to charge.
64 gallon dark green and black recycling soldier bins.
A couple of weeks earlier I get the notice form Newburyport’s [...]
A friend of mine said that they were concerned that the Republicans did not fear President Obama. I get what they were saying, we were talking about the difficult job of governing, i.e. getting things done on a political level.
The Bush-Cheney years were certainly governed by fear, not that we [...]
Torture, descriptions of torture, pictures of torture, pushback that torture isn’t that bad, complete and over the top overreaction by the media to the swine flu, leaving millions anxious and panicked has left me dispirited and somewhat speechless.
I like what Jon Stewart said on the Daily Show, just when he [...]
I know many of us in Newburyport complain about all the new folks that have moved to Newburyport in the last ten years, how much development there has been, and how high real estate prices have gotten in our city. Although real estate prices have come down in Newburyport, they [...]
Probably the largest economic threat at the moment to Newburyport, which would effect everyone in a major way, is the proposal by the MBTA to cutback train services from Boston to Newburyport. (More on why this is true later.)
It is really important for us as a city to let the [...]
I got this email from a reader of the Newburyport Blog and was given permission to share it:
Mary- I have been very interested in your blogging about the turbine. I am one of the people affected by it and I want you to know not everyone feels the same in [...]
What I really have wanted to write about, and have hesitated, very politically incorrect, especially in the midst of “Greater Newburyport Earth Day Celebration,” is my research into wind turbines in Copenhagen, one of the world’s, if not the world’s greenest city, and Costa Rica, one of the world’s, if [...]
This video was sent to me by a reader of the Newburyport Blog. It is one of the latest (and looks like one of the most effective) new vertical wind turbines (as opposed to the horizontal propeller wind turbines) for urban, suburban and populated areas. Very cool. Jay Leno makes [...]
Mayor John Moak is worried. I’m worried. There is good reason for concern.
When the train left North Station in Boston for Newburyport back in 1998, it helped Newburyport, MA a whole lot.
It helped Newburyport, MA become an extra desirable place to live, work and play. Even if a person never, [...]
The power and nuance of words.
My objective would be to have a Newburyport wind ordinance that effectively uses wind energy and also protects local quality of life (to paraphrase or steal from Newburyport City Councilor Ed Cameron).
From talking to and emails from people, one of the central themes of this [...]
Ari Herzog has been hoping that I would enter the world of Twitter. So far I have not succumbed, despite Ari’s very persuasive reasoning. (I can see myself, should I surrender, becoming a complete Twitter addict.)
However, Twitter has become a valuable resource in trying to get a handle [...]
When I wake up in the morning in Newburyport, MA and it’s sunny, it makes me smile.
I can’t (or maybe I could) imagine what it would be like to wake up on a regular sunny morning in Newburyport, MA and be in despair, and wish instead that it were cloudy.
And [...]
I haven’t been to a Newburyport civic meeting in a while, and I went to the public meeting on the Wind Turbine Ordinance on Tuesday night.
I enjoyed seeing all the members of the Newburyport City Council there. I appreciate all the time and effort that they put into running our [...]
In Newburyport, MA I read an hysterical piece in The New Yorker Magazine by Woody Allen. I, for some reason, never read The New Yorker anymore, but “Bernie Maddoff” captures my eyeballs. And what really captures my eyeballs is the last paragraph of the essay:
“Moscowitz lives to this day with [...]
Who knew last spring when Newburyport’s wind energy, turbine ordinance was written, that Barack Obama would become president of the United States or that we as a country would have a mandate from our new president to make wind energy work.
Wind-wise we are light years ahead of where we were [...]
Although it is laudable that we in Newburyport, MA have an individual—company that is on the cutting edge of clean energy, it is also up to our Newburyport governing bodies not to be advocates for any one agenda, but to understand the pulse of the entire city of Newburyport, MA [...]
I know what it is like to work on a Newburyport civic project, to be completely committed to a Newburyport civic project for years, and then have an incredible Newburyport public backlash. It’s not fun.
So I understand how our elected and civic Newburyport officials might feel, working on the Wind [...]
I am now intensely curious about the possibilities of wind turbines in populated areas, Newburyport and elsewhere. And with a small amount of Googling I come up with a website that claims to have all the world’s small wind turbines. At the moment the website lists 283 small [...]
In thinking about wind turbines and scale and balance for our historic Newburyport, MA city, it seemed to me that we would not be the only place feeling somewhat conflicted about having huge wind turbines in residential areas (vast understatement).
And we now have a president who A) believes in science [...]
Actually the quote from President Obama is about clean, green energy.. “...we have to balance economic growth with good stewardship of the land God gave us.”
(Courier-Journal.com, “Obama chides Republicans, President says party needs to offer ideas,” by James R. Carroll, March 24, 2009.)
I’m still wondering about the idea of how [...]
As I drive on Rt. 95 going North past the Scotland Road exit, I come to the Newburyport vista that I always enjoy so much, what is known as the “Common Pasture.” Newburyport is one of those rare communities that has fought to combine rural agricultural historic areas, the Common [...]
I flip though the TV channels and go, “Wait a minute, that looks like Frank,” but in backtracking, he’s vanished or I was wrong.
So a few days later I Google, and yes, on YouTube I find him. The most entertaining and Frankesk is his appearance on CNN.
I’m very proud, of [...]
I find that when something major bad happens in my life I go, not surprisingly, into shock—paralysis, then fear, then I start to get cranky, irritable and downright angry, and then eventually some sense of equilibrium settles in. All part of the process.
At least what the press is reporting is [...]
