Oh What a Year It Was!

In just a few days, we will be saying good-bye to 2004, a year that brought many challenges locally, nationally and around the world. In our city, we received news that our Superintendent of Schools had been indicted on a count of receiving stolen property; we saw the School Committee and the Mayor doing battle over alleged broken promises, fiscal mismanagement, and the need to place the Superintendent on administrative leave; our property taxes (and property values) went up, as did the cost of doing business in the city; and rumors about Election 2005 (our local municipal elections scheduled for next year) are already making the rounds.

"Our parkland replacement plan was finally approved by the National Park Service, and we will have a new high school!"

Our Crimson Tide football team gave us another fabulous season, and although the final prize of another Super Bowl win was just out of reach, we are proud of our team!!!

Our Patriots achieved another Super Bowl win and, against all odds, our Red Sox Reversed the Curse!!!

Our Country endured a difficult presidential election season and witnessed the most contentious campaign in recent history. Yet democracy – and George Bush – prevailed and proved to us once again that, as flawed as our electoral system may be, we are truly privileged to be able to take part in it.

Our young men and women continue to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq, and sadly, we are losing young people every day in a war that is becoming more and more difficult to defend.

We saw school children slaughtered in Russia.

And as we strapped on our boots to face our first big snow storm of the season, Mother Nature unleashed her wrath on the unsuspecting people of Asia, where more than 44,000 people are dead across 11 nations, thousands more are injured, and at least one million people are homeless as a result of a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Think of these people as you complain about shoveling and poor driving conditions. Things could be so much worse.

And in 2004, the weblog was born, and The Everett Mirror launched as the first weblog dedicated to life in the city we love.

We at the Mirror are grateful for the support that you have shown us since our debut in September. We hope that we’ve raised issues and provided information that will give you a perspective you might not have considered. Our goal is to continue to bring you information about the City, our elected officials, and happenings in the community, as well as thoughts on cultural and world issues. We welcome your comments and ideas. What are the issues that matter to you? What are your hopes for our city and the world around us in 2005? Please continue to post your comments and let us know how this blog can serve you.

We’re coming into a new year . . . another chance to get it right, to make things better. What mark will you make in the New Year? How will you help make things better?

Thank you for your continued support of The Everett Mirror. We wish you a safe, happy and healthy 2005!!

Best wishes from Campbell, Elizabeth & David -- The Everett Mirror