Category Archives: Youth

Youth and young people in Newburyport, MA, the period between childhood and adulthood.

Newburyport, Practical Civics

One of the odd things that’s happened to this blogger as a result of blogging now for 10 and a half months is that philosophically, politically I’ve moved from what I would consider a “liberal” bias more towards the “center.” My goodness.

I find this very odd.

As a blogger, I will have to admit, I’ve paid a great deal more attention to civics than I ever did as a regular resident.

Take the elementary school needs for example. Before becoming a bloggett I was all for neighborhood elementary schools, including keeping the Kelly School open.

However, as a bloggett I’ve gone “over to the dark side.”

To quote an astute reader of the Newburyport Political Blog in an email to moi:

“…the only parents that spoke at the recent meeting said that they are less interested in ‘bricks and mortar’ than sound educational programs. Many middle school parents are upset about the abysmal results on the 2006 MCAS tests. About 2/3 of our middle school students are not proficient in math – we did not even match the statewide average, never mind keep up with our peer districts.

The link to those figures is:

http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/home.asp?orgcode=02040000&view=tst”

And also according to the astute reader:

“9 out of 10 girls graduate from Newburyport High School and only 2 out of 3 boys graduate.

These graduation rates are posted on www.SchoolMatters.com (funded by Bill & Melinda Gates):

http://www.schoolmatters.com/app/data/q/stid=22/llid=116/stllid=321/
locid=1009994/catid=814/secid=3504/compid=771/site=pes ”

Not good. The point being that quality education would be the first priority, way before an unbelievably expensive, extensive building extravaganza.

(And let’s not forget the Middle School, that will need an overhaul next.)

So as a bloggett, I find myself looking at a much bigger picture than I did before becoming a bloggett. I find that I am becoming a fiscal conservative, wanting us as a City to live as much as possible within its financial means.

Whereas before I would have said, “Kelly School at all cost, I don’t care what the cost is.” Now the picture to me is that the City has many options open to it because the City owns 4 very expensive pieces of property… the Brown School, the Kelly School, the Bresnahan School and the Cherry Hill property.

If the whole notion of neighborhood schools is taken out of the picture, then fiscally all kinds of practical solutions become an option.

Alas, a female blogging Darth Vader.

I seem to be becoming a practical bloggett, one who hopes (although from reading the Newburyport Daily News today, it may be a hope against hope) that the School Committee would rethink its position on the elementary school building, diamond necklace extravaganza, and take a different approach. An approach that takes the entire community into its equation.

I don’t want to feel railroaded (the way I felt railroaded into voting for the new Newburyport High School) into something that I do not feel is good for Newburyport, MA.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Special Education

Editor’s note: (How about that, an editor’s note at the beginning, instead of the end of a post.)

Ellen Chambers came to speak at Newburyport, MA.

This an excerpt from an article in the Boston Globe June 4, 2006 By Matt Gunderson explaining who Ellen Chambers is:

“Chambers considers herself lucky, but hasn’t stopped combating a statewide system that, she claims, pulled her daughter into a downward spiral. In January (2006,) Chambers formed SpEdWatch, Inc., which she says is the state’s first watchdog group on special education across the state.

Advocacy for individual special education students is not new, but a proactive organization tackling systemic issues within special education is, said Chambers.”

Apparently SpEdWatch, Inc. now has representation in over 70 communities consisting of parents, educators and other special education professionals from across the state.

This is a response from Beth Hall to Ellen Chambers’ visit.

Hi Mary,

Thrilled does not begin to describe how I felt when I discovered Ellen Chambers’ SpEdWatch. I was one of roughly 30 people that attended the SpEdWatch meeting lead by Ellen Chambers in Newburyport a couple of weeks ago.

362 or 15% of Newburyport students have some type of learning disability. Raising awareness of what it is like for the children and families that face different types of learning issues is important for many reasons.

The fact is that 98% of children that have been diagnosed with a learning disability have as much potential to succeed and be productive as kids without disabilities.

Thank you to Ellen Chambers for coming to Newburyport to present informative facts. And thank you to everyone who came to that meeting as well as those who show their continued support for children with learning disabilities.

Beth Tremblay Hall
Newburyport

Newburyport, Public School Importance

Alas alack, my computer crashed, it’s come back from computer hospital, hopefully, whatever ailed it, it will aspire to keep it and other stuff at bay.

Ah, and yes, I high-tailed it to New York City, the place of my birth (no I’m not a native of Newburyport, anyone who has heard me lapse into a New Yawk ackcent knows I’m not a borner.)

I went to see my son, most favorite son, open first time ever, just out of college in an off (off) Broadway production of Shakespeare no less. The romantic prince in “The Winter’s Tale.”

The prince falls in love with a lowly shepherdess, who turns out happily, to be a true princess and “alls well that ends well.” Luckily for my son’s handsomest character.

(Now this “alls well that ends well” business — only in Shakespeare, only with an amazing amount of faith, complete oblivion, or an ability to be totally out of touch with reality. In my youth of course I would have an answer to that question right away. In my middle age, I have no clue.)

And for all those wonderful teachers all through the Newburyport Public School system who would say to my son, “remember me when…(you get to the Oscars, you get to Broadway, you get to whatever…) you can go see him in his role as the handsome love-interest.

He has been embraced by The Hipgnosis Theatre Company. (“Hip” meaning, “hip” as in slang “hip.” “Gnosis” meaning “journey towards enlightenment through self-knowledge and personal exploration.” So nice to have “depth” in a superficial world.) Website and ticket information: www.hipgnosistheatre.org.

The play and its amazing talented cast, director and crew, runs from November 2-November 19 at the Access Theatre 380 Broadway, NYC. Run, do not walk. And tickets are actually reasonable, even by Newburyport standards.

So all of those parents who despair about the Newburyport Public School system, here is a young man who manage “toot suit” (that’s mangled French for “right away”) to land an off (off) Broadway role with a very cool company.

And please don’t say to me “Oh, but it was so much different when YOUR child was in school. ” Well frankly, my child was one of those “sacrifice children,” the ones who scrunched into the Middle School during those very important High School years so that others might have the delight of the spanking new sparkling High School facility. So don’t “complain to me Argentina.”

And herein lies my unending point, that it is NOT the facility that is of greatest importance (although nice), but the PEOPLE who guide, teach, exhort within.

My son’s many guardian angles at the Newburyport High School helped make this ongoing, going event, eventful. And for them I am deeply grateful.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Educating Our Children, Why Should We Bother, Why Should We Care

After reading yesterday’s Newburyport Daily News it appears that there is the possibility that the Newburyport School Committee would not feel it needed to ask for a ballot override. The question appears to be still very much up in the air.

But the fact that this issue of a ballot override for teachers (which is still a question mark,) even at the beginning of a possible process, is so emotionally charged, intrigues me. It begs the question, why should those of us who are older 20-95 and everything in between care about the education of the children in Newburyport Massachusetts?

The bottom line for many, and frankly for most of us, is “What’s in it for me?”

And I’ve thought about that question a lot.

What’s in it for all of us is that the children of today will be taking care of us in the not too distant future. They will be our doctors, lawyers, politicians, sanitation workers.

There comes an unnerving time in one’s life when one day you realize that your doctor is younger than you are.

It also begins to dawn on one that the politicians representing you are starting to be made up of a whole other younger generation.

All of a sudden one day the “blue collar worker” who used to be your uncle’s age, is now your nephew’s age.

And you start to feel very old. And you also hope they know what the heck they are doing.

And that’s why education is so important from Kindergarten to High School in all municipalities.

I want my doctor to know what she or he is doing. I want the person at the UN who may have started to learn languages early in Middle School to get their translation right. I want the reporter to have an understanding of both the English language and a host of other things so that she or he can report the news correctly. Obviously the list is endless.

Educating our children well is vital. So if you are a law maker on Capital Hill or a taxpayer who doesn’t want to dig into their pocket, remember, when you are sitting in a doctor’s office, you probably would want the children of today to have had a first rate education so that when it’s their turn, they can make the right diagnosis and possibly save your life.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport

Newburyport Schools, Administrative Positions

The Newburyport School Committee’s efforts in conjunction with administration has always been to try and do what is best for the children, to provide continuity and stability and prevent crisis.

That is our ethical, and primary responsibility within all of our dealings with the community. And we are entrusted, by vote, to do this to the best of our ability.

Administrative positions in the Newburyport schools have been looked at, have been cut, and while we have maintained small class size, we have made lean our supervision ratio.

In FY ’06 there was a total cut to administration of 1.6 FTE to save $107,500. But at what cost?

The supervision ratio between administrator / supervisor to teachers today, in the Newburyport district could be 8 : 1 ? 10 : 1 ? or 20 : 1.

However, it is not. Instead it is: 30 : 1, and 34 : 1.

Administration is related to the supervision of teachers. Cuts to administration has tremendous impact on the climate and culture of our schools, but especially on the supervision and evaluation of staff, curriculum and instruction, as well as the organization and administration of MCAS.

Dean of Student life equates to “Assistant Principal” at the high school. Dean of Student services has the role of working closely with guidance, and with all of our students, including those with special needs, to see that their educational plans are properly implemented.

The Curriculum Coordinator works closely with building administration and teaching staff to ensure that the curriculum is well aligned and that efforts in curriculum and instruction are effective.

One type of administrator is the Curriculum Director. These administrators are closely involved with K-12 support and monitoring of curriculum, instruction and assessment practices, oversight of the continuity of all instruction, helping to provide professional development opportunities, and more.

The Student Services person at the Middle School, actually heads up all special education, as Special Education Director in our school system. A key position, which when slippage occurs, can be very costly. I believe this is one area that has hurt Pentucket in the last year, resulting in special education costs failing to be reimbursed.

Special Education costs and programs are well managed in Newburyport, providing appropriate services, which prevent students from needing to go out of district for these services, which would end up costing the district more.

The two House Coordinators at the Middle School are analogous to two assistant principals, one for grades 5 & 6, and the other for grades 7 & 8. The separation of these two groups is essential in our middle school model, and was recognized as very innovative in this state when the Middle School first opened in 1972 – it was one of the first middle schools.

As a member of the Newburyport School Committee I look forward to opportunities to increase the value of public education in Newburyport, so that it is a win-win for all involved, the children and the community. I am thankful to the citizens of Newburyport who have supported improvements to our schools. And yes, there is still work to be done, and personally, I want to be a part of that.

Steven Cole
Vice Chairman, Newburyport School Committee

(Editor’s note: A longer version of this post can be found on Around the North Shore Blog.)

Newburyport, The School Administration’s Effort to Reduce Expenses

Many people have expressed concern about what the Newburyport School Committee has done in terms of reducing expenses.

We have supported our school district administration’s effort in this regard. The administration has acted prudently and in good faith, and has reduced expenses.

First, the school district has had a spending freeze since October 17, 2005, on all discretionary expenses, and those not related to student needs. Yes, that is most of the school year.

The administration has implemented energy conservation efforts, to include shutting down all of the school buildings during winter vacation periods, and turning down the thermostats during those periods, as well as on weekends, to 55 degrees.

School administration also asked, and received cooperation from custodial staff to use vacation time during these periods, and the staff were graciously supportive, and participated with this plan.

By doing all of this, Newburyport has maximized the number of days to save dollars, which has led to more dollars being saved. There are some cities in this state that did not make these efforts in as timely of a way, and now they are looking at huge shortfalls, or have had to lay off personnel in January of ’06, as a result.

As a School Committee member, I was pleased to learn today, that Mayor Moak has been able to add approximately $100,000 more of an appropriation for the schools in the budget that he presented to the City Council. And I hope that the Massachusetts State Senate can add more dollars to Chapter 70, and I have lobbied legislators in regard to this, as recently as April 26, 2006, joining Mayor John Moak at the State House.

We hope to get more dollars for extraordinary relief from the Special Education Circuit Breaker account, perhaps as much as $100,000. And there is the possibility of attracting “Choice” tuition students to our schools. We especially have room in next year’s grades 5, 7, & 9, with limited availability in other grades — especially limited in our elementary schools.

Students who enroll as “Choice” in grades 5, 7, & 9 will not threaten class size guidelines, as there are desks to fill, in each one of these grades.

To summarize, efforts by the administration to save dollars have been prudent, and done in good faith, especially with the expectation of increasing utility costs, and done with the idea that the more that can be saved today, the less that will require reduction, or cuts, later.

At the expense of this year’s canceled Winter Carnival, Mother Nature’s help with a pretty mild January and February certainly is something to be thankful for, as well.

Steven P. Cole
Vice Chairman, Newburyport School Committee

Newburyport, School Committee ’07 Budget Dilemma

This year the School Committee has already voted to cut $265,675 from the FY ’07 budget. Reductions include areas like summer help, supplies and materials, athletic budget, secretarial hours, custodial support and personnel, and more restrictive hiring in some areas to replace teachers who are retiring at the middle and high school levels.

However, the School Committee stopped there. After much deliberation, the vote was to pass an unbalanced budget to Mayor John Moak. If this budget becomes balanced via the Mayor and City Council, it will include the following cuts totaling $328,388:

Library Assistants at the Brown and Kelley Schools.

Elimination of one Instructional Assistant in the high school learning lab – the position is designed to assist 30-50 students in the program especially those who are struggling.

Elimination of one high school teaching staff.

Elimination of one art teacher at the Nock Middle School which will reduce the number of times that students in grades 5 – 8 have art to one time per week.

Reduction by 90% of one foreign language teacher at the middle school which would reduce foreign language instruction for 5th and 6th graders by 33%, limit the student choice of three foreign languages to grades 7 & 8, and restrict 5th and 6th graders to choose Spanish as the only available language. Sections of foreign language would likely increase to 26 or more students, as well.

Eliminate four electives at the high school, which reduces the availability of elective offerings and limits the options for students while increasing the class size of some electives.

An elimination of two elementary school teachers at the Bresnahan School, one from 1st grade, and one from 2nd grade, was taken off of cut consideration on May 1, 2006 when it was announced, during the Working Meeting of the School Committee, that enrollment would be increasing in these grades at the Bresnahan by 11 students over FY ’06 figures.

And that does not include any children that move into the large Bresnahan neighborhood between now and when school begins in September. Four Bresnahan parents were also on hand at the Budget Hearing, that preceded the Working Meeting to speak against these cuts, as well. And they were the only four parents to speak at the hearing.

While these positions will be preserved out of necessity, it means that Superintendent Mary Murray, along with the Administrative Council of the school district, will have to find an additional $82,000 in cuts in place of these two teaching positions, and present those to the School Committee, likely at our Business Meeting, on May 15, 2006.

Cuts on top of cuts . . . consider foreign language. A student who took Spanish as a 2nd grader last year, did not have it this year as a 3rd grader. The student will now have to wait until grade 5 to take Spanish again, and at best, with the current proposed program cuts, have it 33% less than a 5th grader taking Spanish, right now.

Or consider a fourth grade student who wishes to learn German or French. They now will have to wait until the 7th grade to get started . . . cuts on top of cuts . . .

Steven Cole
Vice Chairman, Newburyport School Committee

Newburyport, 1 Million Dollars of Cuts to Schools Last Year

Thank you for letting me use the Newburyport Political Blog as a way to communicate what we as a City are facing in regard to the education of our children.

Last year the Newburyport School Committee was forced to make over $1 million dollars of cuts to our school programs.

Especially difficult were cuts eliminating foreign languages at the elementary school level — a critical period to learn foreign languages. As a result, this school district’s foreign language department, which took 20 years to build to this point, has now lost its elementary foundation. Our school district’s foreign language program was so well structured that other Massachusetts school districts would inquire, and even visit to find out how Newburyport got the job done.

Another was the elimination of a popular theater arts program that touched just about every student at the Nock Middle School. It was hoped to be replaced, or at least fill some of the need, with the help of a fee based after school drama program. When the substitute program was conceived, developed and ready for sign-up, it drew less than 10 children.

Finally, one of the smallest cuts involved the total elimination of the music department’s strings program. At a cost of less than $8,000, the program included a part time and very flexible strings instructor. The program served 40 middle school students, five of which came from other districts as “Choice” students.

Steven Cole
Vice Chair, Newburyport School Committee

Newburyport, Getting Informed on our Schools

I would like to thank Steven Cole, the chair of the Newburyport School Committee, for writing to the Newburyport Political Blog to give the public more information on what our schools are dealing with and what our children are facing.

The issue of a possible, proposed Newburyport School Committee override is already emotionally charged, and from what I understand the issue thus far has only been sent to a subcommittee.

Mr. Cole has already sent in the first short post and is now working on others. I look forward to learning more about all the questions and concerns involved before making up my mind one way or another on how I would vote on such an override if it were to be an actual ballot question.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport

Newburyport, Ballot Question Override, What has been Voted?

Dear Mary:

I am humbled and honored to be a member of the Newburyport School Committee. As a School Committee member, within my relations with the community my primary responsibility is to the children. And as an elected official, I have been entrusted by the voters with the responsibility to help provide the best education possible for the children of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

If it would be all right with you, I would like to use the Newburyport Political Blog to share and communicate issues that we as a School Committee deal with, and that I am able to appropriately report on.

For example, related to the issue of the idea of an override that was recently published in the local newspaper. On May 1, 2006, in our Working Meeting open to the public, as a School Committee we did: “Vote to refer the issue of a Prop 2 1/2 override to the Finance subcommittee for preparation of a ballot question to present to the City Council.”

I look forward to more opportunities to communicate issues, again, that I am able to report on.

Thanks,

Steven P. Cole
Vice Chairman, Newburyport School Committee

Newburyport, Motherhood

Since I seem to be on a Mom-blogging roll, so to speak, I thought I would blog a little more about my son.

At first I wasn’t going to ask his permission. After all if you have a mom who’s a blogger, you’ll probably appear on her blog sooner or later, right? But I did ask him, and he said it was fine by him.

I talk to parents with younger children all the time. And their worries and concerns are exactly what my worries and concerns as a younger parent used to be. And I know that at certain key phases of a child’s life, as a parent one thinks that it will never be Ok. Frankly, sometimes it never is. But by and large, for the most part, it appears that things, one way or another, usually turn out just fine.

When Ulrika Gerth, the editor of the Newburyport Current came to do her story on the Newburyport Political Blog, she saw the poem that my son wrote, which I have above my computer.

Her reaction, was the same as mine, she was deeply moved. Since I’ve already published my son’s poem on my website, Mary Baker Art, I figured it was ok to publish it on the Newburyport Political Blog. Everyday my son’s poem gives my day meaning and it gives my day hope.

in my belly is the sea
of my mother
i am the wind
a white dress
slips through a hand
like water
this is love

 

 

Being a Mom Living in Newburyport, Massachusetts

Living in Newburyport as a mother I worried as my child grew up, what good mother doesn’t?

I remember carrying my son out under my arm, him kicking and screaming, and wondering what in the world people might be thinking. When I see mom’s doing the same thing now, I give them a broad smile and say to them “been there,” knowing that that was just part of the process, and it turned out just fine. I want to say, “Honey, it’s Ok, you’ve just joined the millions.”

I see the latest crop of “urchins” as I used to call them, popping up downtown. I forget exactly what age, somewhere in Middle School, probably around 7th grade. I remember the utter fear of every parent that their child would be hanging around downtown in front of Richdales. I think the location changed to in front of the library, I’m not quite sure where it is now.

When I pass the latest crop of “urchins” downtown, I just smile. I think they are so cute. Their strike at independence so obvious and now to me so benign.

And when I walk along the playground at the Brown School and see the pick-up games going on at the basket ball hoops, I want to clap. I want to shout, “Yes! Good for you! You go guys.” Of course I don’t, they would think I was crazy and I would completely embarrass them. But I always think it.

And probably my favorite, are the kids on Inn Street. I remember the fear of every parent, that their child would be hanging down at “that place,” doing who knows what. But I think they are delightful too. It’s all I can do not to stop and sit on the bench where they are, say nothing, listen to their conversations and just enjoy the fact that they are there. I asked my son if he thought they would mind, and the answer was, “Yes, Mom.” So, so far, I’ve managed to refrain.

And now that my child is older and about to graduate from college and about to go onto whatever is next in his own journey, I get such delight from seeing all the kids, all over Newburyport. I know that things will turn out in varying degrees of “success” with some tragedy along the way. But I thoroughly enjoy that they are part of my experience of living in Newburyport, Massachusetts. And even though they are completely oblivious that I see and enjoy them so much, and that they enliven my experience, I would like to thank them for the privilege of just having them be there.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport

Newburyport’s Guardian Angels

I’ve just come back from seeing my son perform a “solo performance” that he wrote–an independent study for college. My son graduates from college this May.

Sitting in the dark theater surrounded by his adorable, wonderful and boisterous fellow travelers, I forgot that the amazing versatile and gifted young man on stage, performing this remarkable, poetic piece, was the child that I gave birth to.

In the audience were two people from Newburyport, Massachusetts.

The first was Greg Moss, who cast my son in a play that he wrote and directed called “Yoohoo and Hank Williams.” An incredibly poignant play, performed at the Black Box at the Tannery, a play I’ve always wanted to see not only at the Fire House, but always thought it was worthy off-Broadway.

Greg Moss’ mother is Maureen Daly, who was my son’s kindergarten teacher. Mr. Moss’ father is yes, “Mr. Moss”, Myron Moss, my son’s poetry teacher his senior year at Newburyport High School. A family that so lovingly has book-ended my son’s earlier education.

Suzanne Bryan, my son’s high school theatre teacher, was also in the audience. “Mrs. Bryan” was one of his first high school “guardian angels.” Without Suzanne Bryan, there would have been no college “solo performance” this April.

When my son was going through the Newburyport school system, I would hear parents complain and complain. But I was always amazed at the men and women who showed up everyday, who had a gift that I could never imagine having, and cajoled, inspired, were exasperated and proud of my child. I always tried to thank them.

And there were many “guardian angles.” One always worth mentioning, Bernadette Darnell. There would have been no college experience, period, with out “Mrs. Darnell.”

I hear parents say to me today, “Ah, but your son’s experience was so different from our child’s experience.” I just say “Oh.” But, what I would like to say is, “Hush, be still, listen. If you open your eyes you will find your child’s guardian angels. No one has taken them away. They are most definitely there. There is a treasure hunt ready to happen.”

The guardian angles all through the Newburyport school system, made my son’s college experience possible. It is in part because of their dedication, warmth and caring that he will graduate from college this May. And for that I can never thank them enough. I know I am proud. And I am sure that they are proud too.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport

 

Newburyport, the Kelly School, the Bartlet Mall and the Parks Commission

Something happy to blog about. Something not politically charged. How nice.

The Bartlet Mall promenade project will be finished! Hurray! The Kelly School parents and children are happy! Hurray! And Mayor John Moak apparently had a very positive and productive meeting with all parties involved. Awesome.

Bob Uhlig, the chairman of the Parks Commission, is a hard working (vast understatement,) talented, kind, thoughtful, smart human being. One of those people Newburyport, Massachusetts is so lucky to have.

Bob Uhlig is also a Kelly School parent (so am I, once a Kelly School parent, always a Kelly School parent) and fought very hard to keep the Kelly School open when it was under siege in 2000 (I have to admit I’m not exactly sure of the year.)

And Kelly School parents know how import that playground is to the Kelly School. I could not imagine that the Parks Commission would not work with the Kelly School parents. And it sounds like everyone has come up with a good plan that works for all.

And I’m very happy that John Moak had a good experience. After this last week, I’m sure it feels nice. It would be hard to imagine that he wouldn’t want the Kelly School to have the best possible playground and want the best for the Bartlet Mall.

And I sure hope he would like the Kelly School to stay open too and might be able to figure out a way to make that happen. That would win many, many points in my book.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport

Newburyport, Teenagers and the Brown School Playground

In yesterday’s (March 15, 2006) Newburyport Daily News there is an article regarding the Brown School playground. It seems that the neighbors of the playground have a problem with people (other than the Brown School students) using the playground. They claim that too many teenagers and older people hang out there, they complain that it is noisy and that there is a drug problem there.

Yes, teenagers and older people hang out there. There are basketball courts on site, which is why they hang out there (they certainly aren’t there to swing on the swing sets). The playground is city property, open to the public after school hours. They have every right to be there, it is after all, a playground. Some neighbors say they would like to see the older kids kept out of the playground. If this is because they are scared of having teenagers around, then that is blatant discrimination. You can’t say that one group of people should be allowed to use the park, while another is not. In yesterday’s paper, another issue raised is that the park brings older kids from other parts of town, as if the park should be exclusive to only those in the south end.

What really gets me about this issue is that the people with complaints knowingly bought a house next to a playground. What did they expect? When the original story broke last fall, one of the neighbors was quoted as having just moved there in the past 6 months and didn’t like the amount of activity that was taking place there. Well, those 6 months happened to be the spring/summer months, and when the weather is good, the kids want to use the park. Honestly, what did they expect when they bought their house? I hate to have to say it, but if you didn’t want a bunch of kids playing nearby, you shouldn’t have moved there.

As for the drug issue, the police regularly patrol the park and have yet to find any drug related problems. The simple truth is, whether or not there are drugs, you can’t exclude an entire group of people because you “think” they are doing something wrong. For every kid that might have drugs, there are plenty that don’t and they shouldn’t be allowed to use the park because some neighbor doesn’t want them too? I like to go down there occasionally on the weekend and shoot a basketball, maybe play a pick up game, and certainly don’t have any drugs on me, so why shouldn’t I be allowed to do so?

What it boils down to, from what I’ve read and seen, is that the neighbors, some of whom are new to town, don’t want this in their backyard, but I’m sorry, the park has been there for a long time and it isn’t an exclusive club, so you have to allow everyone to use it. Could the kids that hang out there find somewhere else to go? Not likely, they don’t call it “Nothing-to-do-buryport” for nothing, and I’ll tell you first hand from someone that grew up here, it seems no one wants kids around. They don’t want them hanging out downtown, they don’t want them hanging out on the waterfront, they don’t want them hanging out at the Brown School. It was a miracle to even get a skate park built in town, and even that has restrictions on it. So how do you solve the problem? Closing the park at 5:30 isn’t the answer (it is sunny in the summer until 8 o’clock) and excluding everyone over the age of 13 isn’t fair. So I say the neighbors have two options, learn to live with the situation, with the help of regular police patrols, or move somewhere that isn’t located next to a city park.

Ben Laing, Newburyport

A Youth Center for Newburyport, Massachusetts

Recently I was speaking with a group of parents, as I explained some of the challenges that face our youth today, the inevitable question arose…”Why don’t we have a Youth Center?” For as long as I have lived in Newburyport, I don’t think a week has gone by that I have not heard that question in one way or another.

This week I went to hear Nina Dickerman speak about friendship among youth. In this discussion, the adults in the group spoke about growing up in neighborhoods where you played from dawn ‘till dusk. This allowed opportunity to make friends, be a friend and strengthen our relationship skills.

A Center has been talked about for years. There have been countless hours spent by so many caring people in our community looking for dedicated space for our youth to have a place that they could come explore who they are and what they can be. The idea gets shot down over and over…”not in my back yard; not my building; not this budget season; we spend so much on education that should be enough; we didn’t have a community center; my kids didn’t need a youth center.”

Our kids are exposed to increasing negative and violent influences, in video games, TV, movies and the Internet. The rate of drug and alcohol use by minors continues to increase, and kids start drinking younger and younger. Most youth today don’t have neighborhood experiences like we did. Over the years we have lost bowling allies, the YMCA, movie theaters, and other healthy choices.

Youth need the opportunity to practice making friends, and being a friend. To me it is as basic as air. As adults, the connections that we share with other adults are important to us. It is vital for youth to have regular opportunities to make strong connections with each other, adults, and the community.

Imagine a place that has rooms for programs, doing homework, or art projects; a gym to play basketball, volleyball, or floor hockey; a space to hold a concert or a dance; an area for pool tables, and ping pong; couches to hang out on and strengthen friendships. Space is needed for after school, during vacations, and in the summer. Imagine youth of all ages from 1 to 101, coming together to play. A safe place where laughter happens and fabulous teen-age energy and attitude are welcomed.

A Center like this could have benefits for our entire community, reducing drug and alcohol use, violence, crime and the words that every parent hates to hear ” I am bored.” Providing this type of place would create greater value of our homes, businesses, and our community.

Newburyport is filled with smart, energetic people. It seems to me that there must be a way to make this happen. The caring adults in Newburyport need to find a way to provide a space that will allow our youth the opportunities to make healthy choices. I invite you to offer your suggestions as to how this can become a reality in our city.

Beth Tremblay Hall, Newburyport