Uncategorized

Curious Traveler C.J. Fitzwater Stevie Wonder wrote a song called ”Isn’t She Lovely” for his newborn baby girl, Aisha. “Isn’t she lovely, Isn’t she wonderful, isn’t she precious, less than one minute old. I never thought through love we’d be making one as lovely as she, but isn’t she lovely, made from love.” The moment I…

Originally published May 16th 2024 “The purest form of democratic governing is practiced in a Town Meeting. In use for over 300 years and still today, it has proven to be a valuable means for many Massachusetts taxpayers to voice their opinions and directly affect change in their communities. Here in this ancient American assembly,…

Originally published May 23rd 2024 “Persistence is what makes the impossible possible, the possible likely, and the likely definite.” — Robert Half In my column last week, I talked about Salisbury’s Colonial-style form of government and how open Town Meeting plays a pivotal role in governance. Every registered voter has the opportunity to cast a…

Originally Published on April 25th 2024 “Traveler, as you labor on your journey along the swift Powwow, with the summer sun beating down upon your brow, take a moment to heed the tranquility that surrounds you, to the gentle stream flowing from the hill.” This opening stanza from John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem “The Fountain’’ paints…

Curious Traveler | C.J. Fitzwater  Feb 29, 2024  Last week was winter break for most Massachusetts schools. I feel it’s my duty to create lasting memories for my child, offer learning experiences and expand his horizons. Due to work commitments, the chance for slightly cheaper flights, and an opportunity to stretch our vacation to a full…

Originally Published on April 4th 2024 I have the privilege of joining my friend Jim Pollard for breakfast a few times a week at Connie’s Stagecoach. Alongside his coffee, Jim is given a shaker of cinnamon – an old-school approach to adding flavor without resorting to sugar. Did he learn that from his mother, Helen,…

Curious Traveler | C.J. Fitzwater  Feb 21, 2024  On Sunday, Aug. 15, 1938, a service at the East Parish marked the beginning of Salisbury’s 300-year celebrations. The venue was so packed that additional seating had to be arranged on the sidewalk outside the church. This event kicked off a week full of festivities, including a massive…

Originally published April 19th 2024 I’ve pledged (to myself) to write 52 columns this year. Dave Rogers, the avant editor of The Daily News, first presented me with this chance last fall. I’m grateful for his generous offer to a novice writer who’s somewhat conservative, a tad long winded, and carries a few extra pounds.…

Curious Traveler: CJ Fitzwater Here on the edge of the Great Salt Marsh, I stand an old lady, seasoned by the winds and tides, nearing my 100th year. My pink facade, once bright and cheerful, now whispers tales of time’s passage since my birth in 1924. I was more than just a structure; I was…

In January, I received an email from Larry Bertram, inviting me to speak at The Bard Owl Café. It’s a poetry club that meets at the Merrimac Council on Aging on the third Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m., and brings together local poets like Chris and Peter Bryant, a couple dedicated to the…