Opinion
Our view: Healthy competition
Nothing like some good, old-fashioned competition to get everyone in the recycling spirit.
The recent release of community-by-community recycling rates by the state Department of Environmental Protection produced smiles in Ipswich (best on the North Shore) and red faces in Peabody (worst).
A member of the Hamilton recycling committee (letter to the editor, Monday, Sept. 28) was quick to point out that the DEP figures are based on 2007 experience and her town has in the meantime taken steps both to increase the collection of traditional recyclables (paper, glass, plastic, etc.) and encourage the recycling of organic material (kitchen and yard waste).
Meanwhile the city of Salem has implemented a competition among its various neighborhoods to pick up the recycling pace.
The city's contractor, Northside Carting, is tracking how much recyclable material is put out at the curb each day, and the route (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.) showing the most improvement in a quarter will have a tree planted in the neighborhood. So this afternoon city and Northside officials were scheduled on Jefferson Avenue (Wednesday collection) to plant a tree in recognition of the 2.3 percent improvement in that neighborhood's recycling rate over the previous quarter.
According to a release from City Hall last week, "Statistics show that for each ton of paper recycled, 17 trees are saved from destruction. Over the last year, Salem residents have recycled over 1,700 tons of paper; thereby saving nearly 30,000 trees."
Little wonder the Witch City has also won "Tree City" designation.
- Opinion
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Dale McFeatters: Saluting our 300-million-strong workforce on Labor Day
Americans are an industrious people. They like to work. And they are unhappy when they can't — as shown with the unrest over the current 9 percent-plus unemployment, a rate many countries would take in a second.
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Our View: Region's colleges provide economic advantage
At the recent ceremony marking the opening of the new residence hall on Salem State's Central Campus, there were several comments about how the site was once home to a large light-bulb manufacturing plant.
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Essex County Chronicles: Enterprising Salem merchant built one of America's most famous homes
Sometime in 1668 an up-and-coming young merchant moved into a brand-new, two-and-a-half story mansion on the Salem waterfront. Not yet 25 years old at the time of the move, and recently married to Elizabeth Roberts of Boston, John Turner would live here in high style for the next dozen years with his ever-growing family.
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My View: The unpredictable path of gifts that come from the heart
August was a very exciting time at the Plummer Home in Salem as our boys received a state-of-the-art basketball court, courtesy of football hall-of-famer Steve Young's Forever Young Foundation and the Celtics - RE/MAX Home Court program. As the court was unveiled, 15 teen-age boys were awed by a personal visit from Celtics forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell.
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Our view: Use influx of education money wisely
School officials here on the North Shore might take a hint from the mayor of Haverhill who is recommending that his school system use at least a portion of its $1 million share of federal Race to the Top money to buy new textbooks.
- Letter: Big difference between Bush and Obama
- Letter: Hillcrest site best location for clinic if one is needed
- Our View: Late Labor Day still has plenty to recommend it
- David M. Shribman: This has been a stark year for Democrats
- Quips & Quotes
- Nelson Benton: Earl won't help build interest in lackluster primaries
- Our View: Voters want to know they'll be heard
- Our View: Schools see profit in student parking
- Letter: New Lowe's will be asset to community
- Jay Ambrose: Beck rally signals political change in the wind
- Letter: It's not all about making money
- What Others Say: No excuse for negligent driving
- Letter: Do we have to agree on everything?
- Our View: Energy policy threatens state's economic viability
- Our View: U.S. could use dose of peace and prosperity, too
- Barbara Anderson: These dark tales help lift gloom of modern life
- Letter: Obama judged by different standard than Bush
- Brian T. Watson: Mixed martial arts has many different faces
- Letter: Great letter on church and the Point
- Letter: News a 'voice of fiscal sanity' for the North Shore
- Letter: Beverly convenience store began life as Laribee's Market
- Our View: Dealing with coastal storms no easy task
- Our View: Speaker needs to follow words with action
- Letter: Thoughts on the start of another school year
- Letter: Recent SHS graduate has eye set on City Hall
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Dale McFeatters: Saluting our 300-million-strong workforce on Labor Day
