Wild Women Weekend

51 Phillips Street

Three 21-year-old women, all UMass students, became the first "Party House" arrests of the Fall  semester.  And seven of nine (one of my favorite Star Trek characters) UMass ETOH drunk runs over the weekend were women, as were both Amherst College drunk runs.

Click to enlarge/read

Ain't equality great?

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday none of the three women jumped at the Commonwealth's usual plea deal offer (which has about a 98% acceptance rate):  Criminal case is "diverted" to civil with payment of $300 town bylaw noise fine, and if they stay out of trouble for four months the case is dismissed.

All the young women wished to consult with a private attorney so their cases were continued until next month.

And all the ETOH women recovered and will be paying (or their parents will) around $1,000 each for their ride to Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

   AFD Runs Mid-September

Party House of the Weekend

7 Willow Lane, Amherst

Very early Sunday morning (1:56 AM) Amherst police broke up a large party at 7 Willow Lane and arrested the party host Dery Jesus Aldeano, age 22, a UMass student. 

As the officer noted, Willow Lane is a densely populated neighborhood not  known (yet anyway) for being predominantly a student zone.

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday he took the deal suggested by the DA, known as "conversion".  The criminal charges (Noise and Nuisance House) are converted to civil charges and he pays $300 out of the $600 in tickets issued by APD.

The other $300 ticked is "filed" for a year, so he probably does not want to repeat this behavior.

   Party House of the Weekend

Fall Back In Civility

 Saturday 11:50 PM APD and AFD @ 647 Main Street for large party and passed out drunk individual

For most of us the extra hour afforded by the demise of daylight savings time provided an opportunity for something too often short in supply:  sleep.  But for that tiny minority of college aged youth who tarnish the reputations of the overwhelming majority, it was an excuse to party even hardier.

Amherst police ricochet all over town trying to quell noisy parties -- especially during those "Bewitching Hours" just before and after midnight.  At peak times responses to calls for service were delayed by as much as an hour.

Yes Dispatch knows how to prioritize response in a life-or-death situation, shifting officers from a routine noise complaint to the more serious call.  But occasionally a deadly serious calls starts out routine, and the prompt presence of a police officer would prevent it from breaking bad.

Late Saturday into early Sunday was noticeably worse than late Friday into early Saturday, which alone was bad enough.   In all, police busted four large party houses with arrests but made numerous calls to other party houses all around town that resulted in warnings.

The party at 338 Pine Street only generated one arrest -- as the young ladies in charge were very cooperative -- but it was a doozy.  Jay Patel, age 20, was  -- to say the least -- uncooperative.  He was arrested around midnight for Assault and Battery on a police officer, Resisting Arrest, Disorder Conduct, and Minor in possession of alcohol.

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday morning a not guilty plea was entered in his behalf and his case was continued to December 18.  What a Merry Christmas his family is going to have.

219 E. Pleasant Street

219 E Pleasant Street, a usual suspect house, also only had one arrest for noise/nuisance and one summons for underage possession of alcohol, generating $600 in fines.  

The four residents of 96 Bridge Street were somewhat more cooperative even if the party was "large and loud," so they were only arrested for noise violations, generating $1,200 in fines.

320 North Pleasant Street

The 2-family house (legally holding 8 tenants) at 320 North Pleasant Street, owned by Joel Greenbaum, tied for most arrests at one location, six, with the house at 240 Northampton Road Friday night that also had six arrested.  Although according to assessor records only 4 tenants should be legally living there.

And since each of the houses went above and beyond the call for partying, all 12 perps were charged  for both Noise and Nuisance violations.  Although as is his routine Judge John Payne Jr. only enforced the $300 fine on the Noise complaint, thus forfeiting $3,600 in fine revenue.

But it's still a good thing for APD to use the Nuisance House bylaw as the Judge does find them "responsible" and files the charge, bringing with it a four month probation.  While that may not quite bring them to the end of the semester I'm sure the DA's office would take note if they repeat the same offense anytime over the next year.  

All of the students appeared contrite in Court, were all well dressed, and many had parents in tow.  In fact the attorney for the boys at 240 Northampton Road told the Judge his clients had been "read the riot act" by their parents and had written a letter of apology to APD.

Two of the Party Houses that generated arrests on Saturday night are owned by Joel Greenbaum so hopefully he will take note.  If not, on the third offense (per house) Mr. Greenbaum will be hit with a $300 fine.  

Battle of the sexes, continued...

Jeff Bagg, town planner/liaison. ZBA: Hilda Greenbaum, Barbara Ford, Eric Beal

Last night the Amherst Zoning Board of Appeals heard testimony concerning the appeal of a "cease and desist" order by the Amherst Building inspector for a conversion from Sorority to Fraternity at 38 Nutting Avenue on the outskirts of UMass, close to the notorious former Frat Row.

The board made no decision, continuing the public hearing to November 3, as new materials had arrived just that afternoon from opposing attorneys.

According to town attorney Joel Bard, "If the board were to uphold the Building Inspector's determination that a change from a sorority to a fraternity constitutes a change in use under Section 9.22, the Board would need to identify some non-subjective, quantifiable differences between these two institutions. For example, testimony from police and fire departments, or from other Town official documenting the fact that fraternities are a more consistent drain than sororities on the resources of emergency responders or other officials could be a basis for specific findings that the two are different uses."

Maybe they should use my "Party House of Weekend" series, which clearly shows young men are many times more likely to engage in rowdy behavior. Or just go back five or six years when Frat Row was still active. Of course the Frat on the other end of the street--374 North Pleasant--is still active and shows up periodically in the police logs.

Another B-I-G difference between the two is sororities ban alcohol on the premises, obviously frats do not.

Attorney James Heffernan closed his presentation with a thinly veiled threat, pointing out to the three member board that municipal officers who violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment could be sanctioned on a "civil rights" violation.

Attorney James Heffernan

Attorney Bard counters in writing: "There would be no equal protection violation in upholding the Building Inspector's decision unless the Board based its decision solely on subjective, gender-based impressions or opinions instead of identifying quantifiable differences between the two institution."

The sorority had approximately 40 women living together and the frat currently has 30. While the case is under appeal they can continue to call 38 Nutting Avenue home. Last year the building generated $179,000 in rental income and was assessed by the town at $1,087,400.

If the ZBA does not overturn the Building Inspector's order--and it takes a unanimous vote to overturn--the ongoing rowdy student behavior will have chalked up yet another innocent victim.

About 30 people showed for the Public Hearing. Opponents on left, supporters on right

Party House of the Weekend

694 Main Street, Amherst

There was a time in Amherst history when I could walk from the house I grew up at on High Street down Main street all the way to the Pelham line and never once pass a house only occupied by students. Now I would be hard pressed to find any of the former.

Take this house for instance at 694 Main Street. Cut to the police report:

12:14 AM (early Saturday morning)

RP (reporting party) Reports loud noise coming from listed location

Upon arrival, approximately 30-40 people on front porch talking loudly and consuming alcohol. When advised of the noise complaint, one party indicated that his neighbors needed to learn that this is a college town.

Citation issued to that party.

Party cleared out. All residents were advised of consequences if APD need respond this evening

Summons issued:
Elan Katz, 9 Ridgewood Drive, Wantagh, NY age 21
##################################

Yes folks it gets better. Honestly, I can't make this up:

2:36 AM

RP reports loud voices at listed location

Loud music upon arrival. Listed parties taken into custody.

Refer to Arrest:

Elan Katz, 9 Ridgewood Drive, Wantagh, NY age 21
Daniel Schiatta, 32 Eastern Drive, Kendall Park, NJ, age 21
##################################

So I guess the moral of this story is, if you are being a Nitwit don't defend your uncivil behavior, and after the cops give you a ticket for being a Nitwit--don't go continuing the activity into the very early hours of the morning.

Property ownership card for 694 Main Street, Amherst

Give 'em enough rope...

Click to enlarge read, especially pull quote mid right

UPDATE Friday morning:
Make that really BIG time as the Bulletin's sister publication The Daily Hampshire Gazette also published the article today on the front page above the fold using the perfect pull quote (sub headline) that closes the article and will probably close out the UMass academic career of one Peter Clark.

UMass is having a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new $12.5 million police station this morning which will be well attended by UMass and town officials. I hope one of the higher ranking Amherst public officials brings a copy of the newspaper for the Chancellor.

####################

So my Party Poster Boys from last week have now made the B-I-G time: Above the fold cover story on this week's venerable Amherst Bulletin. Yes, now they have their 15 minutes of famous notoriety.

And for what? Fighting for the right to party! Somebody ought to write a song.

Of course the Bulletin is a family newspaper so they could not mention the childish "F_ck The Fines" Facebook group the boys founded last winter after earning $1,200 in fines for rowdy behavior in a South Amherst neighborhood, and another $1,800 after the second incident.

Since Peter Clark is an aspiring DJ, he will probably see this PR bonanza as a good thing for business. That is of course assuming he is not expelled from UMass under the new Code of Conduct extension to cover off campus behavior.

All the Chancellor need do is read the closing quote.

#####################################

In FY11 (ended June 30) town bylaw fines brought in: Noise, $24,735; Nuisance, $10,200; and Open Container, $20,235. Or a combined amount large enough to fund an additional police officer.

Party House(s) of the Weekend

53 Meadow Street, North Amherst

So as I expected, APD busted #53 Meadow Street for noise violations late Saturday night (see yesterday's report) but they also hit them with the more serious charge of "nuisance house." Rather than simply being handed $300 tickets--times each charge--the responsible parties were arrested, hands cuffed behind their backs and then transported to the police station where the bail bondsman usually shows up in the early AM to process at $40 each all those netted during the long night.

Overturned potty on Meadow Street

Arrested for Noise and Nuisance House violations:

Ryan Casey, 10 Cabot Rd, North Andover, MA, age 22
Brian Bartolucci, 103 Blueberry Pond Dr, Brewster, MA, age 22
Jeffrey Rigney, 13 Harlow Rd, Marshfield, MA, age 23
Salvatore Cacciatore, 653 Beaver St, Waltham, MA, age 22

Assessor Property Card for 53 Meadow Street

Rivaling the party at Meadow Street but with double the number arrested on the same charges of noise and nuisance house violations, the tenants of 62 Summer Street also merit a note of dubious achievement.

Arrested for Noise and Nuisance House violations:

Timothy Higgins, 7 Norwich Lane, Methuen, MA, age 20
John Coschigano, 7 Apple Tree Road, Bethel, CT, age 20
Adam Dorfman, 65 Wilkeshire Blvd, Randolph, NJ, age 21
Steven Pesapane, 8 Shadetree Ct, Stoney Brook, NY, age 20
Philip Taberner, 1 Bramble Hill Rd, Methuen, MA, age 21
Kevin Miller, 68 Temple Dr, Methuen, MA, age 20
Marc Jesi, 27 Castle Circle, Peabody, MA, age 20
Nicholas Fabrizio, 342 Pelham St, Methuen, MA, age 21

Property Card for 62 Summer Street

Another hectic weekend for APD

1057 North Pleasant Street, Amherst @ 6:45 AM Sunday

Saturday night as the witching hour fast approached, a half dozen squad cars and the large transport van (referred to as a "paddy wagon" way back in the day) converged on the center of Meadow Street directly in front of the main entry to Townhouse Apartments, where students had been congregating all night long--fueled by warm humid air and beer.

Like Old West cowboys, APD herded the massive crowd of students away from Meadow Street--which by then had become impassable to cars--back into the confines of the sprawling apartment complexes that consists almost entirely of UMass students.

Then they turned their attention to the large house on the slummy side of Meadow Street with all the cars parked on the lawn, which had been attracting overloaded taxis for most of the night--contributing to the gridlock on Meadow Street.

As the officers moved as a unit towards a side entrance where a few residents were still milling about I heard the clang of an empty beer can ricochet off the road at their feet.

This congested, claustrophobic--dangerous--scene of too many students and too few cops was replayed on Phillips Street, Hobart Lane, and upper North Pleasant Street between 10:00 PM and 1:00 AM. With students crossing those roads freely back-and-forth in droves, I'm amazed there were no people vs car incidents.

Meanwhile, back in Amherst center McMurphy's and Stackers had lines of young people waiting to get to the bar, while next door a friendly crowd formed in front of Antonio's Pizza, happily chowing down. Cell phones chirped, a street musician played the xylophone and an incessant car alarm was almost drown out by the cacophony of loud conversations coming from consumers all along the busy street, looking for something to do.

Just another late Saturday night in our little (college) town.

374 North Pleasant Street, Amherst @ 6:40 AM Sunday

Party Boys Return

Aspiring DJ Peter Clark, 41 Davis Neck Road, East Falmouth, Mass, age 21, and his sidekick Emerson Rutkowski, 36 Puritan Park, Swampscott, MA, age 20, were arrested last Friday for violating the town noise bylaw. Again.

Apparently they made like the Israelites bringing down the walls of Jericho, only this time with amplified music at their large apartment complex in North Amherst, situated only a beer can throw from the riot that occurred last weekend at 121 Meadow Street.

Both boys you may remember from last winter/spring when they unabashedly partied at 23 Tracy Circle in South Amherst, garnering repeated noise citations. In fact the boys were so upset with Amherst Police response to neighbors complaints by enforcing Town Meeting approved fines, that they founded a feeble Facebook group--now gone underground--called "F_ck the Fines."


Since UMass just recently extended the "Code of Conduct" to cover off-campus behavior, perhaps Peter Clark and Emerson Rutkowski can become the Poster Boys for how UMass can effectively deal with this scourge upon our town: Expulsion.

A bad apple here and a rotten apple there, stinks up the whole bunch.

#25 Town House Condos

According to Amherst Police Department narrative:

"Upon arrival I could hear very loud music throughout the complex. Upon entering the east quad, I observed approximately 150 college students, many underage drinking. The music was extremely loud and I observed girls dancing on tables. Upon seeing APD most parties fled. There were massive speakers and DJ equipment on the patio. The residents of #25, where the people were centered and the DJ equipment was located, were ID'd and placed under arrest for violating the noise bylaw."

Party house of the weekend

FACEBOOK UPDATE: April 12, 2011 (click here)


So my source material is getting slimmer and slimmer. Not a bad thing of course, since our our highly-trained police officers have better things to do than to act as babysitters. This past weekend officers issued only a few (three locations) $300 tickets for violating the Amherst noise bylaw and not a single one for a "nuisance house."

But a little one bedroom house, #23 Tracy Circle, gets the prize because it generated 4 tickets ($1,200 total) and it is getting close to my neighborhood. I figure if Mother Mary Streeter can cash in her political capital and use the power of the Web for NIMBY self interest, so can I.