City workers were saying last weekend, when they had to take Friday off, that they were ordered to not say offices were closed for budgets reasons, but because of the Memorial Day holiday. The directive came from the mayor's office, they said.

For a memorable occasion this week on Thursday, May 28, there will be a recitation of the romantic poem "In School Days," by John Greenleaf Whittier, at the grave of Lydia Ayer in Walnut Cemetery. The entire fifth-grade class of Renee Murphy at Bradford Elementary School will recite the poem in unison at 10 a.m.

Watch for more cooperation among the city's various historical and cultural groups. Meetings have started, with a search for ways to work together.

Active night life in the city's historic shoe district is attracting attention outside the city, The Lamplighter hears.

In case you weren't looking, the water level is quite high in the city's lakes and ponds, and even in the Merrimack River.

One of the busiest places in the city on weekends is Winnekenni Park, where almost every part had users last weekend, from the play area for young children, near the entrance, to the castle itself, where new car dealers and the Chamber of Commerce had a Business After Hours program. Cars lined the roadway after filling the parking area near the gate,

The Lamplighter has been told there is a "Home of Carlos Pena" sign at one highway entrance to the city. Pena has been on top of the American League home run list for much of the season so far, despite a gap of about two weeks.

Folks who would like to preserve historic buildings (like the Clement house at the Legion Farm) might want to keep an eye on the preservation movement gaining strength in Newburyport. The Lamplighter hears much work and money will be needed to restore the damaged interior of the home of the family that gave the property to the city.

As usual, the grounds at Linwood Cemetery were in fine shape for the annual Memorial Day program. Workers there make it a point to have it in good condition for the arrival of marchers, spectators and speakers. The "Archie" comic books, in which Haverhill-centered characters were drawn by Bob Montana, came in for discussion on "The View" television program a few days ago when one participant confessed to having every edition of the magazine. There was the usual talk about the personalities of the two girl characters, Veronica and Betty.

It is worth noting that Bradford Christian Academy and Zion Bible College are making good on their plans to work together. The academy's graduation ceremony is being held in the chapel of the college.

Observers of a collision last week on Main Street near City Hall said the value of safety belts (and problems with the lack of their use) were evident when the heads of both drivers struck their windshields .