Viewpoints

LETTER: Minimize on-the-job training. Elect Armini.
Opinion, Viewpoints

LETTER: Minimize on-the-job training. Elect Armini.

In a field of promising candidates, Jenny Armini stands out, when you compare their background and experience. As a UVA government major and a grad of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, she has the educational foundation to critically analyze policy and write legislation. Having worked on Capitol Hill and Beacon Hill, Jenny know what it takes to pass legislation and respond to constituent needs. Our district has been a year without a seat at the table of government, we need to minimize the time for “on-the-job training”. With Jenny Armini we would get a representative who has actually already worked in the legislative and political arena in a substantive way and has excellent communication skills. She has also served as the Communications Director for Mass Inc., a non-partisan t...
LETTER: ‘I proudly support Jenny Armini for state representative’
Opinion, Viewpoints

LETTER: ‘I proudly support Jenny Armini for state representative’

I never realized just how important local politics were. Having lived in Massachusetts my whole life, I took so much for granted. Now, more than ever, it's important to be represented by someone who has our best interests in the State House. Jenny has the experience and a proven track record to show that she will start getting things done on Day One! She is the real deal who can bring this community together and lead us forward. Please join me on Sept. 6 to cast your vote for Jenny Armini, our next State Representative for the 8th Essex District. - Susan Solomon, Pine Hill Road, Swampscott
LETTER: ‘I’m so proud to be supporting Diann Slavit Baylis’
Opinion, Viewpoints

LETTER: ‘I’m so proud to be supporting Diann Slavit Baylis’

I’m so proud to be supporting Diann Slavit Baylis for State Representative because of the priorities she is fighting for, in particular her commitment to civil rights and equality.  I first met Diann at a rally at the Marblehead Community Center protesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade. It was at this event that I realized how passionate she is for social justice. My greatest motive is creating a world where everyone can be happy and safe, and Diann stood out to me as a person who could accomplish this.  When we raised the pride flag at Abbott Hall, I was the student speaker, and Diann was there, standing up for equality for the LGBTQ+ community. This confirmed what I already knew; Diann is a champion for equality and will stand up for our rights in the State House. Our civi...
LETTER: Armini has a proven track record to get the job done
Opinion, Viewpoints

LETTER: Armini has a proven track record to get the job done

There are junctures in life where "now more than ever" a particular cause or candidate are critical choices. Now is that time and Jenny is the only candidate with a proven track record. Further, she has demonstrated integrity and respect during her campaign that makes me proud to stand behind her as a resident and voter. We don't need another politician telling us what we want to hear and serving their interests, while putting down others. Jenny's extensive experience in legislation and policy will well position us in the 8th Essex with an intelligent and relentless advocate. Jenny, in my view, is easily the most qualified candidate to bring our collective voice—for health, climate action, social justice, and a resilient future—to Beacon Hill. And because of her experience, she will...
ANCHORS & SAILS: Becoming a TikTok chef
Local News, Opinion, Viewpoints

ANCHORS & SAILS: Becoming a TikTok chef

“Cooking is the art of adjustment.” ---Jacques Pepin I have a new habit, and while it's been fun and enlightening, it's also a bottomless rabbit hole of time I should spend on work, grocery shopping, lawn care, and so much else. Still, I can't seem to stop myself from spending way too much time on TikTok. No, I haven't learned any dance moves, and I haven't turned my wee pug Penny into an Internet star (yet), but I'm learning how to make food. Food that the fussy people in my house will actually eat. The good thing about TikTok videos is they are super short. The cooking videos are about two to three minutes long, and in that time, you can learn how to make oven-fried chicken with veggies, cowboy pot roast, and seafood chowder. None of the recipes are hard to do, and since it's a vide...
LETTER: ‘We need to elect Jenny Armini’
Local News, Opinion, Viewpoints

LETTER: ‘We need to elect Jenny Armini’

Over the past few years, I’ve come to realize the importance of state and local governments. In this time of brazen and dangerous attacks against our voting rights, our reproductive rights, our right to marry whom we want, our right to health care, and the refusal to address climate change, we need strong state legislators to protect what Congress and the Supreme Court will not. We need someone who represents our values as Americans, as Democrats, as progressives. For these reasons, we need to elect Jenny Armini as our representative for the 8th Essex District. I met Jenny just after the 2016 Presidential election. She organized a large group of devastated and angry people into Elect Blue. We focused on flipping Congressional districts around the country in the 2018 mid-terms....
LETTER: Doug Thompson for 8th Essex District seat
Opinion, Politics, Viewpoints

LETTER: Doug Thompson for 8th Essex District seat

Thank you to all 6 courageous public-service oriented candidates for State Rep. in the 8th Essex District.  Here is why I will be voting for Doug Thompson on Sept. 6: His career in public service began right out of college with case management for homeless people.  In time he moved on to a degree at the Kennedy School at Harvard and into health care agency work, including authoring a public health plan in the Clinton administration and finally becoming CFO of Mass Health, overseeing an $8 billion budget.  All this took a vision of fairness, equity and justice, and experience in working collaboratively to make things happen on Beacon Hill and in people’s lives.His climate plan is detailed and comprehensive in getting to net zero carbon emissi...
ANCHORS & SAILS: The back to school schlep
Local News, Opinion, Viewpoints

ANCHORS & SAILS: The back to school schlep

"I'm not telling you it's going to be easy- I'm telling you it's going to be worth it." – Art Williams. While there are still plenty of soft summer nights and fun beach days left, there is no denying that what some call "The most wonderful time of the year" is approaching. No, not Christmas; that's way off. Oh, and by the way, you freaks that are all done shopping for it and looking for pumpkin spice lattes can take a seat and wait your turn. First, we have to navigate the back-to-school gamut. Parents everywhere are staring into the abyss known as "Back to School," and some of them are not okay. I have always loved back-to-school shopping. Everything is new. There were always a few snazzy outfits and a fresh pair of sneakers. I wish they still had Garanimals because that was an e...
ANCHORS & SAILS: Life at the lake
Opinion, Viewpoints

ANCHORS & SAILS: Life at the lake

“The beauty of camping is in its simplicity. You’re brought back to a basic way of living.” - Brendan Leonard Is camping about simplicity? Oh please. Have you ever seen the directions for putting up a four-person tent? You'll need a measuring tape, a hammer, and an engineering degree. Do you know the thermal dynamics and physics required to build a fire without matches? Oh, and don't forget to study up on your botany, so you don't eat the wrong mushrooms or wind up with Poison Ivy somewhere delicate and unscratchable. Camping is not simple. I have friends who live to camp. They’re all about the tents, the campgrounds, hiking, fishing, and sleeping under the stars. It's great for them; we all have travel preferences, hobbies, and activities we enjoy. I've just never seen the app...
ANCHORS & SAILS: Election season is upon us
Opinion, Top Stories, Viewpoints

ANCHORS & SAILS: Election season is upon us

“In crucial things, unity. In important things, diversity, in ALL things, generosity."George H. W. Bush I’m not normally a political junkie, but the past few weeks have found me looking around at local politics, community happenings, and national events and going off on a few rants. OK, perhaps the rants are not unusual for me, but still. While I haven't had a summer off since high school, the dog days of July are usually pretty low-key for me. If I'm lucky, there are lots of beach days, dog walks, and maybe a quick weekend in Vermont, but there is always work to do as well, even if it does happen at a slower pace. However, we cannot deny that all around us, from town issues, to national and even global concerns, it’s a busy time. No matter which side you’re on, is anyone else f...