Beach Bluff Renovation

When entering Marblehead via Atlantic Avenue, you are greeted by this house just after the "Marblehead" sign. My wife and I always are in awe of this house... not because of what it looks like, but because of the potential it has. It is on the ocean, up a hill, behind a seawall. Beautiful views it must have.

It has looked like the picture for as long as I've lived here (not long), but I'd imagine it has looked like this for awhile. Someday, someone is going to fix up that house... and it's going to be awesome.

Well it looks like someday has come. And they are blogging it!

The Blog: The Falk House

I did blatantly lift the photo from their website. It looks like it is going to be awesome. It is a huge job... and I wish you the best! Good luck!

Swampscott Reference in the Movie "Cars"

Everyone once in a while, actually very rarely these days, I do a search on Swampscott to see what I come up with, and if I find it interesting, I post it here. Very seldom do I have something jump out at me when I'm not looking for it. Today (with the help of subtitles) it happened.

I was watching the movie "Cars" for, I don't know, somewhere between my 100th and 600th time (if you have a kid between 3-6, you understand). Right after the first race, McQueen has to go to his sponsor's tent, where Rusty and Dusty Rusteze are on stage telling jokes for the audience. The scene starts with Rusty (pictured): "I once knew a car from Swampscott that was so rusty, he didn't cast a shadow."

Rusty and Dusty Rusteze are voiced by Tom and Ray Magliozzi, better known as Click and Clack from Car Talk. Interesting guys... I have linked their Wikipedia entries.

Swampscott is not integral to the story, so thanks to Tom for the shout out. Since Cars debuted in 2006, I'm only about three years late in noticing!

What's New for Winter 2008

I haven't been blogging much as you can probably tell.

I did want to mention a couple of things that have changed around town...

1) The FYE (For Your Entertainment) between the Salem Five bank and Borders Express is gone, and was quickly replaced by a Joseph A. Bank clothiers.

2) Trader Joe's is now gone... and is missed by me. How I didn't appreciate you enough.

3) Two spots away from Trader Joe's was a Kabloom, which is now gone and currently vacant.

4) Next to that was the leather store that is gone and not replaced.

5) Next to the Panera Bread is the art framing place. The name escapes me (the sign is gone) but it is covered in giant stickers that say something to the effect of "Seized by the Essex County Sheriff." Sounds like a rent dispute to me... (blogger speculation)

6) The gas station/service station/dry cleaners next to the Uno's (former Bickford's site) has been leveled and a new building has popped up. It will feature a Five Guys Burgers and Fries, a Dunkin Donuts, and a T-mobile.

I am told that Five Guys is the East Coast response to In-N-Out Burger. If that is the case, this blogger needs to prepare for a weight gain somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 pounds in 2009.

This Dunkin' Donuts will be our fourth within two blocks of Vinnin Square.

Did you know that drive through windows are against the Swampscott Town Laws? Apparently Dunkin' Donuts wanted a drive-through window, and the town said no. Local residents complained about traffic that the DD could generate. I wonder how many parking spaces the Five Guys/DD/T-mobile lot will have? I'm counting about 10. Unless they build some sort of triple deck parking structure. Which we probably have town laws against. I'm predicting that will be traffic problem.

That's all I got for you at this time. Hope everyone had a great holiday!

New for Summer 2008

Yes, here we are... late July and I haven't updated the blog for over two months. During the summer, I just can't be bothered... I love the beach and I spend all my time there, somewhere between Devereaux and Nahant Beaches. Weekends... I'm at the beach. Dinner time? I'm at the beach.

So I guess I'm just going to talk a bit about what is new for summer 2008 in Swampscott.

1. The take-out window at Red Rock is re-branded as Lime Rickey's Beach Food (just like the restaurant at Devereaux Beach in Marblehead, hence the picture, lifted online from Rick from Marblehead).

2. The take-out window at Red Rock has some competition. A Kell's Kreme now shares the building with Popo's Hot Dogs across the street. The ice cream is a good buck cheaper... but the view isn't as nice. You may want to cross the street.

3. A new restaurant opened toward Fisherman's on Humphrey Street called "G." I was going to go in there and grab a drink one night but I had just spent the day at the beach. I took one look in the window and there was no way they were going to let me in there looking like I did. The bar was packed, anyway. Looked nice though. I went to the Red Rock instead and listened to a band play a Johnny Cash cover. It was pretty good.

4. 'No Name Pizza' is gone and has been replaced by 'Hot Cheese Pizzeria.' An upgrade, in my humble opinion.

5. There are now two Dunkin' Donuts in Vinnin square, across the street from each other. The Sandwiches, Pizza, and More is gone, and the new Dunkin's is in that site.

That's all I've got for now. I stayed away from the politics. Now I'm going back to the beach.

Town Meeting

Town Meeting is going on right now.

I don't understand it.
I don't get it.
I don't know why.
I don't know what.
I don't know how.
And at this point, I'm not even trying to learn about it. I am seldom so blissful of my own ignorance.

So I'm not touching it. This post is a placeholder for anyone that wants to tell me whatever you want to about Town Meeting. I'll believe you.

...or I'll just watch the comments section of this article...

Superintendent Malone's Spin Cycle - Works For Me!

A day after it was reported that Dr. Malone was a candidate for the superintendent job in Springfield, we learned that he did not get the job. We also learn:

He 'allowed' his name to be entered; he did not actually apply for the job.

It is 'affirmative' for both he and Swampscott school that he was recruited.

I find it somewhat remarkable that I found his spin on the situation very effective. I do believe that it is affirmative for both. And I don't doubt his committment to the town any less after having learned this information. (Unlike a certain other town employee to remain nameless.)

I actually didn't apply for the last three jobs that I've held. Recruiters would call me on the phone and say, "Are you interested in job X." I sent them a resume, but I never actually applied... Right. If you allowed your name in the hat; you applied. But you know, when you are a superintendent if you want more money and a bigger challenge, you have to go to a bigger district. I can't fault anyone for doing that, or at least exploring it.

So, he didn't get it. So he'll have to stay a while... and do a good job!

BTW, the comments are ON for this story at the Swampscott Reporter website (linked above). This is round 3... we'll see how this one goes.

Make It Stop - My Super Plans Were Crushed

I know that I'm not one to criticize for not keeping a blog updated... but the "Swampscott Blog" on the Swampscott Reporter site kills me every time I see it. The last post is January 21st, 2008, and the title of the post is "Do You Have Super Plans?" in reference to the Super Bowl in which our previously perfect Patriots lost to the New Jersey Giants 17-14 (I know the helmet says New York, but they play in Jersey, so I'm sticking to it.) It was a crushing defeat and it pains me to see it. Every time I go to that web page. Please, please change it George. To anything else. Anything! You are killing me. Every day.