Saturday, July 16, 2011

A moveable feast

Amherst Farmers Market opened for business today (rent free as always) in a new location, a stone's throw from the old one currently undergoing a six week makeover by our DPW. This parking lot, although a tad smaller, is located more directly in the heart of downtown.

Last November a brief "Save the Market" campaign started on the privately owned town meeting listserve where activist rail at the drop of a hat, and market organizers flooded the Select Board with letters/petitions of concern. Unlike the Boy Scouts selling Christmas trees at Kendrick Park (for far longer than the Farmers Market has been in business) the town would never dream of banning or disrupting the farmers--a prized, protected demographic.

After all, the town seal is a book and a plow.

12 comments:

Ed said...

Rulebook to throw at the students and plow to plow them under with...

Sorry, couldn't resist....

Anonymous said...

Another ridiculous comment from Ed, the One-Note Wonder.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Anonymous said...

What an embarrassing post. How many businesses would be disrupted if the simple act of allowing them to move over to the next parking lot was not allowed? How many customers (taxpayers) would be unhappy if there was no market?

Larry Kelley said...

Not sure what point you are trying to make. (Maybe because it's Sunday morning and I have not yet had my second cup of coffee).

The town, bending over backwards, relocated ever so slightly the Farmers Market to accommodate them.

The Farmers Market was a tad grumpy about that and actually wanted the town to nix the construction project in the Spring Street Parking lot that will, once completed, benefit the entire town--including them.

Anonymous said...

"a prized, protected demographic."

Because farmers have been around far longer than Boy Scouts.

Larry Kelley said...

True enough. And, like newspapers, they are an endangered species.

Ed said...

Another anonymous schmuck with head buried in cesspool can't see how the goose that lays golden eggs is being strangled again bashes me.

Whatever. The US debt crisis in a microcosm, thy name is Amherst. Land where students borrow vast sums to pay for useless educations and rich leftists hang out in farmer's markets.

Sorry, I couldn't resist....

Anonymous said...

Huh? Because a parking lot is being used for a few hours as a catalyst to spark business?

Ed said...

Because a parking lot is being used for a few hours as a catalyst to spark business?

No, because people have money that others borrowed, and are able to use it to spend inflated prices for undervalued items.

UMass students and their parents borrow money in hopes of a better future. They won't get it, but they still borrow -- and that money goes to folk in Amherst who are living lifestyles they otherwise wouldn't be able to live.

Anonymous said...

Huh? The tuition and fees you pay are not going to people in Amherst. UMass doesn't even pay property tax. It does pay the salaries of people who live in Amherst, Pelham, New Salem, Orange, Ware, etc. These are the people who among other things replace the toilet paper rolls in the buildings so you can wipe your spoiled tush.

Anonymous said...

Sheesh, Ed. You really gotta get a grip. Do you really think anyone takes you seriously? Your rants are getting more bizarre every day. Ever consider meds?

Anonymous said...

Ed,

You seem really stressed. Please seek out the support services that they have at UMass. They can be a life saver.