Our view: Wouldn't it be nice ...

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December 23, 2009

Wouldn't it be nice if someone — or a group of someones — took up the now decade-old tradition of collecting Teddy Bears for Home Health VNA?

Sisters Kristen and Kelly Klemarczyk estimate that they have donated as many as 1,800 teddy bears and other stuffed animals to patients and family members receiving services from Home Health VNA, which among other things operates the Hospice House in Haverhill.

Just teens when they began the collection drive, the Klemarczyk sisters are now young women beginning careers and finishing challenging courses of study.

In the last several weeks, the pages of The Haverhill Gazette have been full of stories about local young people who have undertaken myriad service projects and volunteered time and talents for others.

There is no lack of generosity among people of all ages in Haverhill; surely some way can be found to keep this worthwhile effort alive.

Wouldn't it be nice if local municipal unions took a cue from the Trition Regional Teachers Association, which voted overwhelmingly last week to two-day unpaid furloughs? The money saved from this move preserved the jobs of five of their colleagues who otherwise would have been laid off because of a $390,000 cut in state aid.

Haverhill has suffered a similar fate, with the potential for depper cuts in the coming fiscal year, which is now only six months away.

Despite cuts of services and programs, Haverhill's teachers have failed to agree to even a single furlough day.

If unpaid days are not possible, wouldn't it be nice if local unions agreed to cost-saving changes to their health insurance plans? Among the largest expenditures on the city payroll, health-care costs are expected to rise again in calendar year 2010 — and fiscal year 2011 — further challenging the Fiorentini administration to provide essential services with less.

Wouldn't it be nice if all sports seasons could end the way the Whittier Vo-Tech Wildcats football season did — with a perfect record and a Super Bowl championship? Such dream seasons don't come along often, but the attributes that helped the team get there — cooperation, respect, hard work and teamwork — are within reach of every team at every level at every local school. Haverhill's Hillies recently finished a winless season, but don't count it as a failure. Coach Tim Briggs noted correctly after several games that players showed determination, resiliency and a never-give-up spirit that gives the young team a solid foundation for growth in the coming years.

Wouldn't it be nice if Groveland officials, who say no official vote was ever taken to remove WHAV's audio broadcast from the town's cable TV station, voted to order it restored? In a bit of irony, Groveland Selectman William Darke plans to appear on the "Open Mike" show with Jack Bevelaqua Monday night, but unless Groveland folks tune on on their computers, they won't hear Darke's explanation about how the station's programming was pulled and what — if anything — will happen next.

Wouldn't it be nice if, when they take the oath of office on Jan. 4, Haverhill's new City Council and School Committee also pledge an extra effort to change the tone and tenor of public debate? We urge both boards to commit to governing with transparency, to sharing as much information as possible with the public and to conducting all meetings, public and private, with respect for each other and the public's trust.

Here's hoping that your "wouldn't it be nice" comes true this holiday season.