News opinion 2008-06-01 Andanh.com

Letter: Not impressed with mayor's plan Sat, 31 May 2008 05:30:00 EDT
To the editor:
Beverly parents who are tempted to breath a sigh of relief that the mayor has come to the rescue should look closer at his plan, just as the School Committee should have before voting on a plan this lacking in specifics and real details.

It's important that you express your preference Sat, 31 May 2008 05:30:00 EDT
Like all humans, politicians are imperfect people. They may have a perfect plan for dealing with the oil crisis, but their views on health care don't line up with yours. Or they may be too conservative for your liking, but you agree with their immigration policy.

Casting a ballot a choice, not an obligation Sat, 31 May 2008 05:30:00 EDT
Every four years, the media swarms around the potential presidential candidates, critiquing their viewpoints and political stances.
During this same time, citizens are making decisions about which candidate to vote for. What happens when you can't seem to agree with a high percentage of any candidate's views? Should you vote anyway?

Bill Scanlon: Why five-school plan makes most sense for Beverly Sat, 31 May 2008 05:30:00 EDT
As is well known, Beverly is facing the same difficult choices that communities throughout the commonwealth, and the country, are facing. None of those choices are more difficult than the ones that affect our school system.

Letter: Five-school model a temporary solution Sat, 31 May 2008 05:30:00 EDT
To the editor:
After looking at all the plans presented, and considering what is possible, and what is probable, I have concluded that the only way to avoid calamity in our school system over the next few years is to support the override on June 2.

Essex County Chronicles: Trains brought first tourists to Salem Fri, 30 May 2008 00:58:00 EDT
Columnist Jim McAllister was honored Wednesday night as the first recipient of the Essex National Heritage Commission's Heritage Hero award. Below is a column he wrote some six years ago about the city he has known and loved for the past 25 years.

Letter: Gordon has nothing to be embarrassed about Fri, 30 May 2008 00:57:00 EDT
To the editor:
In reference to a recent letter from Saul Heller of Salem wherein he accuses Gordon College students of bigotry for voting down a homosexual group's request to have a support group on campus:

Letter: Get rid of the 'BUMs' Fri, 30 May 2008 00:57:00 EDT
To the editor:
I look with disdain on the recent continuing reports of municipal safety workers violating our trust in them. Although they are in the minority, what an embarrassment it must be for their fellow workers who don't share their shortcomings.

Letter: Parents need to get involved Fri, 30 May 2008 00:57:00 EDT
To the editor:
What has happened to the good parents of Salem schoolchildren? What has happened to parental involvement?
At the Bentley, Saltonstall and Salem High schools, which my children attended and graduated from, practically every teacher there knew my name. I was like a permanent fixture.

Letter: Return Salem's public golf course to the public Fri, 30 May 2008 00:56:00 EDT
To the editor:
In response to last week's letter to the editor headlined "Study slight's Salem's serious golfers":
If the writer feels the need to personally attack someone, the least she can do is get her facts straight.

Letter: Criticism of Fleming was unfair Fri, 30 May 2008 00:56:00 EDT
To the editor:
I am writing in response to Nelson Benton's Friday, May 24, column criticizing Salem School Committee member Jim Fleming for being absent from the May 19 public school hearing and budget vote.

Poem: A toast to Jim Fri, 30 May 2008 00:55:00 EDT
The following poetic tribute to local historian, tour guide and story-teller Jim McAllister appeared in the program for Wednesday night's tribute held at Salem's Hawthorne Hotel. It's from "Jean and the team at Olde Ipswich Tours" in Ipswich.

Our view: Dangerous turns Fri, 30 May 2008 00:55:00 EDT
One of the region's busiest and most confusing intersections — at Derby and Congress streets on the Salem waterfront — will soon be equipped with traffic lights.
That will certainly come as a relief to those who travel that part of town regularly. Meanwhile the many tourists who pass through the intersection bound for Pickering Wharf, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site or The House of the Seven Gables, won't know what they've missed — Salem's greatest thrill ride.

Our view: Getting the facts on drug, alcohol abuse Fri, 30 May 2008 00:54:00 EDT
The question for the Peabody School Committee when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse at the middle school and high school should not be, "How do we control the data?" Rather, committee members should be asking, "What are the facts and what do we do about them?"

Nelson Benton: With friends like these ... Fri, 30 May 2008 00:54:00 EDT
Hard to believe Beacon Hill is contemplating legislation granting new cost-of-living increases for state and municipal pensioners.
Cities and towns are sinking under the weight of their obligations to retirees. If you want to learn more about the extent of the problem go to www.PensionTsunami.com which seeks to document the huge liability facing governmental entities nationwide. Chip Ford of Citizens for Limited Taxation calls it "the ticking time bomb" of state and local government in a release issued this week.

Barbara Anderson: Next president must be able to tell the sane from the evil Fri, 30 May 2008 00:53:00 EDT
I'm still celebrating Memorial Day, since the official date is May 30.
This year I needed extra time to think about war; with the presidential election it's important for ordinary citizens to try to understand America's foreign policy, in order to vote intelligently. Here's my best ordinary-citizen analysis:

Morton Kondracke: GOP must reform to avoid 'Kennedy scenario' for 2008 Sat, 31 May 2008 03:39:00 EDT
Everyone in and around American politics is pulling for Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., on a personal level. But Republicans have to work very hard to avoid the fulfillment of his political dream.
In an interview in March, Kennedy talked about the difference that the 1964 Democratic landslide meant for the passage of liberal legislation, specifically Medicare. He clearly was hoping for a similar triumph this year.

David Shribman: Kennedy dynasty still has power to shape nation's history Sat, 31 May 2008 03:36:00 EDT
The last brother is gravely ill, prompting an outpouring of acclaim, even from precincts that seldom have praised him.
The Democratic Party is in a swivet over remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton made about the second brother, whose June triumph in the tumultuous year 1968 was undone by his June assassination. A sad spring anniversary — 40 years ago this week — approaches, dreaded by many of the victim's aging acolytes, their idealism undiminished, their hero's promise never realized.

Taylor Armerding: Pols shouldn't be in the business of deciding what we need Sat, 31 May 2008 03:30:00 EDT
I guess the proposal for a new tax on Massachusetts colleges with big endowments is, as they say at the Statehouse, a "nonstarter" — for the moment.
But if I were the leaders of those colleges, I wouldn't relax. The mentality that led to the proposed 2.5 percent tax on endowments of more than $1 billion is alive and spreading like a virus. It's the mentality that says government gets to decide how much you, your business or your institution "needs." Anything more than that, you don't really deserve, and they can take it away — all so they can swell with false pride at their "compassion" in giving other people's money to those they have defined as "less fortunate."

Letter: Crown Pilots too important to disappear Fri, 30 May 2008 03:42:00 EDT
To the editor:
Once again Nabisco has decided to halt production on the Crown Pilot cracker. With this news I feel a little of my heritage disappear.
This cracker which has its origins in Newburyport in 1792 was the only cracker my mom would use in her chowder recipe which was actually her grandmother's. I grew up with constantly seeing a box somewhere in the cupboard or pantry. These crackers were more common to me than saltines or Ritz. Sometimes my mom would make a snack of them by putting peanut butter on them.

Letter: Not a raise for Kezer Fri, 30 May 2008 03:42:00 EDT
To the editor:
To all those people who have been whining about the town council giving Mayor Kezer a raise, you need to realize this isn't a raise for him unless he is re-elected next year. The salary increase is for the position of mayor, not the person who has the job now.

Letter: Thanks for helping to plant trees in Amesbury Fri, 30 May 2008 03:42:00 EDT
To the editor:
The Amesbury Tree Board and the Amesbury Improvement Association would like to thank all who helped with our Arbor Day tree planting at the following sites:
1. Cashman Elementary School — 50 white pines and 50 shade and flowering tress.

Letter: Board backs Village on energy, environmental aspects Fri, 30 May 2008 03:42:00 EDT
To the editor:
The Board of Directors of the Parker River Clean Water Association met recently to discuss the plans for the proposed Village at Little River. As you are aware, we hosted on April 29 at the Newbury Town Library, the last of several informal public information meetings held by Beacon Communities Development LLC (Beacon), because we are vitally interested in the impact which the Village may have within our Parker River Watershed.

Bill Plante's North Shore: A bridge between past and present Fri, 30 May 2008 03:42:00 EDT
I am sitting in the only chair at Lynch's Pharmacy in Newburyport watching Stella Andriotakis greeting customers while her husband, Lou, was making a phone call relating to a prescription change. It was Wednesday morning, and I was there for health reasons that had caused me to miss Newbury's Town Meeting Tuesday night.

Our view: Choice of a senator should remain with the people Fri, 30 May 2008 03:40:00 EDT
Ted Kennedy, recently hit with a diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor, isn't going anywhere yet. And we hope the senator is able to serve out his full term, which runs through 2012.
But Massachusetts politics being what it is, speculation has already turned to what might happen to Kennedy's seat should the senator resign for health reasons or worse, pass on.

Teen's effort on stuttering deserves credit Fri, 30 May 2008 03:28:00 EDT
To the editor:
I have struggled with stuttering for all of my life, and want to say that your article, "Plenty to say: Amesbury boy spreads awareness of stuttering to help him tackle the disorder" was the best article on stuttering that I have ever read (Daily News, May 23).

Our view: Region a step closer to having its own university Thu, 29 May 2008 03:20:00 EDT
One reader thought he'd spotted a mistake upon reading the headline in the paper two Fridays ago.
It stated: "Salem State awards 690 graduate degrees," and this alumnus insisted the story must have been about the undergraduate commencement.

Letter: Major cost savings made by council Thu, 29 May 2008 03:18:00 EDT
To the editor:
As a new Amesbury city councilor, I wanted to comment on some of the postitive things that have come out of the budget reviews that have been overlooked. The first is a major cost-saving measure which was taken by the Fire Department changing its policy on sending out a fire engine with the ambulance. This is going to be significant as the fire engine gets only 3 miles to the gallon of diesel and would save on wear and tear on the fire engine. This measure will also eliminate having a large vehicle such as the fire engine on some of the narrow streets in Amesbury. Now a chaser car is sent to support the ambulance.

Letter: Ice Cream Social a huge success Thu, 29 May 2008 03:16:00 EDT
To the editor:
The Rowley community gathered at Pine Grove School on Tuesday, May 13 for the PTO Second Annual Ice Cream Social. The event was held on election day to encourage as many parents as possible to do their civic duty and vote.

As I See It: Contemplating May while lying in the grass Thu, 29 May 2008 03:14:00 EDT
May is a complex month. It is a month that should be enjoyed, but with spring also comes the enhanced chore schedule that mandates we clean up from the "Viking-like" pillages of winter, before life in the gardens makes leaf removal impossible. Yet, May is a month that should be enjoyed.

Letter: Column distorts the truth about election Thu, 29 May 2008 03:12:00 EDT
To the editor:
I am writing in response to Deb Della Piana's column ("It's not about the party, it's about the people," May 22). The column, which relies on circular reasoning, distorts a number of salient points and also utilizes a number of blatant falsehoods to advance its main thesis.

YOUR VIEW: Paul Revere sign is out of step Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:00 EST

May I bring attention to the merits of a local landmark, one that affects all of us? It's the Paul Revere sign one sees approaching New Bedford from the south on Route 195.

LETTER: Looking forward to post-Rove era Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:00 EST

Looking forward to post-Rove era

LETTER: Never too late to graduate Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:00 EST

Never too late

OUR VIEW: Gang crackdown great news for New Bedford Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:00 EST

The community's gratitude and congratulations go out to the network of New Bedford police and other law enforcement agencies for the collaboration and hard work that went into last week's roundup of Monte Park gang members on drug and weapons charges.

OUR VIEW: Park sign teaches youth the wrong lessons Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:00 EST

Nobody wants our children to believe that money and connections are the grease that makes the wheels of democracy turn.

FROM THE EDITOR: Surviving hard times -- together Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:00 EST

As people throughout much of Massachusetts know — especially in the Greater New Bedford region — a severe slump in the housing market, sharp increases in both the cost of gasoline for our cars and heating oil for our homes have slowed the...

LETTER: GOP should redeem itself Sat, 31 May 2008 23:10 EST

GOP should redeem itself

GUEST VIEW: A big problem solved? Sat, 31 May 2008 23:10 EST

Rejoice in the new report from the National Center for Health Statistics that suggests that childhood obesity rates might have plateaued. But rejoice for only a moment. As David Ludwig of Children's Hospital Boston wrote in a commentary released with the...

NATIONAL VIEW: Hillary can learn lesson from McClellan Sat, 31 May 2008 23:10 EST

Hillary Clinton could learn something from Scott McClellan, the former White House press secretary who bit the hand that stopped feeding him.

LETTER: Reconsider West Side decision Sat, 31 May 2008 23:10 EST

Reconsider

LETTER: Afghanistan forgotten Sat, 31 May 2008 23:10 EST

Afghanistan overlooked

OUR VIEW: Ocean plan protects our future Fri, 30 May 2008 06:00 EST

The first-in-the-nation ocean management act Gov. Deval Patrick signed Wednesday applies big-picture planning to offshore industrial activity.

LETTER: Stick to the rules Fri, 30 May 2008 06:00 EST

Stick to the rules

LETTER: Obama, McCain weak candidates Fri, 30 May 2008 06:00 EST

Obama, McCain weak candidates

YOUR VIEW: Correctional officers left public at risk Fri, 30 May 2008 06:00 EST

The search for justice demands courage. Only last week many citizens of this great nation went to cemeteries large and small to honor the men and women who died to preserve it.

YOUR VIEW: Adult diploma grad: 'Never give up' Fri, 30 May 2008 06:00 EST

I believe that education is one of the building blocks of life. Just as a house needs a solid foundation to sit on, we all need an education to secure a prosperous future.

LETTER: Merging school districts would save millions Fri, 30 May 2008 06:00 EST

Merging school districts would save millions

LETTER: Change school calendar, save on heating bills Fri, 30 May 2008 06:00 EST

Change school calendar, save

The doctor is IN Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:00 EST

New leadership at Cape Cod Healthcare Inc. and a new attitude at the predominant union couldn't come at a better time for the operator of the Cape's two hospitals and its network of clinics and ancillary services.

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