EDITOR AT LARGE

What do nuclear power and Rosa’s Restaurant have in common? Not a darn thing. Or at least they didn’t until last week, when the editor some wise guy mentioned that nuclear power is the energy of the future. Sometimes the future and the past collide like atomic fusion.

EDITOR AT LARGE

The sign is beginning to fade, and so are the memories. Soon thirteen colonial houses on "The Hill" will be entirely surrounded by modern hotels. They stand as the final reminder of the North End Italian neighborhood, lost to urban development in the early 1970s.

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

It’s hard out there for a mime. The world has turned downright hostile to silent comics in white-face and striped shirts. But be fair. What did a mime ever do to you? They’ve been around since Ancient Greek and Roman days, and many are highly talented actors and athletes. But be careful. Even a mime can break your heart.

REMEMBERING JUNE 1978

Long before the Internet, cell phone, laptops and iPods there was Market Square Day. Thirty years later, those who attend the annual June block party may be unaware of its humble beginnings. It was local people celebrating the revival of the city’s downtown – a revival that marked the marriage of the arts and history that continues to this day.

EDITOR AT LARGE 

Not everybody goes to the finest eateries. Not everybody loves opera. Not everybody likes historic houses, but everybody loves Gilleys. At least, that’s the way the editor sees it. For almost a century the foot has been hot, fast and cheap – just like your – no let’s not go there. But let’s definitely go to Gilley’s late-night lunch cart.

EDITOR AT LARGE

The editor vaguely recalls the low life in Portsmouth back before designer beer, health codes and homeland security. In its final transition from hardknuckle seaport to family destination, the downtown scene was cheaper and cheesier, if you knew where to go.

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Portsmouth finally built a new library after 20 years of talking about it. But that isn’t the first thing Portsmouth did right. They city also took over a failing condo health center, made it better and made it available to residents cheap. How can we complain about local government if it starts getting smart? 

GUEST EDITORIAL

Rye, NH resident Bill Roach wrote the following editorial after learning that cruise ships have begun calling at the port in Gloucester. He asks -- Why is Portsmouth the only port in the North East without dedicated cruise ships? (Then click to see reader responses)

EDITOR AT LARGE

Portsmouth loves to recycle old buildings. The "old" library itself is actually three separate connected structures. Why not combine them again to solve the city’s #1 problem? What we need is one clean well-lighted space that connects everything so that Portsmouth finally makes sense.