And the hits just keep on coming. Some say that the Mayor is milking the "All America City" award won last summer, but we think they might not understand what that distinction comes with. Without going over the origins of the award and the qualifications needed to be considered, it must be noted that this is an award that is supposed to instill a sense of community pride not just in the future, but at the very least, the time that elapses between receiving the recognition and the next year's award ceremony.

So that means that the Mayor and everyone who worked so hard to be considered, much less win the award, are doing what they're supposed to be doing – reveling in the glory of such an honor – without needing to be told do to exactly that. Those that suspect anything different are a special breed of negativity, which will hopefully be worn down by the overwhelming sense of community pride that keeps hitting us all in the face with awards, honors, recognition and admiration of other communities not just here in Massachusetts, but across the country.

We should be proud, and for the most part, we are as a community and that shows with the participation from every day residents and their families at the various events held throughout the year, All America City award or not. Sure it trickles down from the Mayor, at this point that's a given, but it has more to do with everyone coming together, so in a sense, it is bigger than just one person.

Our patience will soon be tested as a community with the beginning of the serious discussions on the next budget cycle, and probably continue onward non-stop until the end of the next budget cycle. Most of the serious and inevitably contentious discussions will certainly happen for a number of reasons, most of which will develop at least initially over money/funding, or lack thereof.

As residents, we will be tested with more/higher fees and fines, cutbacks, layoffs and whatever else is required to make sure we receive the services so vital to us all as a community. As elected officials, they will be charged with making tough decisions, most of which will be unpopular, and try to explain to the rest of us where the line in the sand is drawn as far as one cutback vs the viability of another one. And that's just the short version.

Some would say to enjoy it for now – that the gravy train is going to jump the track and derail. Again, that's some of the negativity that we are hopefully shaking each time we have the chance to celebrate our city's achievements and history. We not only survived a lot better than most other communities in the midst of this past year's budget, but somehow managed to flourish – and it all rests in how we come together and share in that thing called community pride.