I recently blogged about the benefits of communities merging, so in a similar light I am merging my two blogs. More on that later.

First, it is worth noting that Newburyport’s 17,000 population live on 8.4 square miles of land, compared to Boca Raton, Florida’s 86,000 residents on 27.2 square miles.

This is a useful comparison, considering an article in today’s Boca Raton News that government leaders are seeking ways to reduce the number of boards and commissions in the name of seat vacancies, absenteeism, and concluded tasks.

Boca Raton has about two dozen such boards, says the paper. Newburyport has more.

I respect Newburyporters’ sense of volunteerism but that should go so far. Is it truly necessary to have a different group of volunteer commissioners to manage different city parks? Why must Bartlet Mall, Atkinson Common, and Moseley Woods have their own commissioners, when park management could be more efficient with one group?

I’ve spoken to others about this duplication of effort for multiple parks and there is consensus that this is an issue that should be reviewed. Of course, who reviews it? Create an ad-hoc taskforce, or assign the duties to the City Council’s Neighborhoods and City Services subcommittee?

Tomorrow morning I am flying to Florida and will visit Boca Raton, albeit for different reasons.

When I return, one will notice slight changes at the Newburyport Report.

Explained here, I will cease maintaining two blogs but will have one. Newburyport-centric posts will be marked by a Newburyport label as seen on this link which is where readers may wish to update their bookmarks.

Four months ago, I began the Newburyport Report, a blog of my reflections on living in the oceanside community of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Between that blog and this one, I’ve noticed an increase in frequency and length of my posts. My unemployed status is partially to blame but moreover I have developed an increased thirst for knowledge in diverse areas and a parallel desire to share that knowledge with either personal or local commentary. Maintaining and updating two blogs is a tiring act.

Thus, with this post, the Newburyport Report is no longer a self-contained blog but will be shortly linked to this link showing every post on this blog with the tag Newburyport.

I’m also at work on a newer version of my website to further improve its look as prospective employers see it.

Tomorrow morning, I’ll join Mom and my sister for a mini-vacation to Florida. We’re flying down early Friday and returning late Sunday. It will be quick but enough time to see my grandmother Muriel who I last wrote about here.

We’ll be staying near Palm Beach Gardens, and intend to find a sports bar tomorrow night to watch the NBA Playoff game. I wonder if Floridians are rooting for the Celtics or the Pistons.

Next week, I’ll resume web development.