DUI Dishonor Roll

Should marijuana be legalized in our progressive state these kinds of dangerous driving incidents will no doubt increase.  Interesting that a Breathalyzer is used to rule out alcohol as a factor for impaired driving.

 Lenno Carter, age 40, stands before Judge Thomas Estes

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In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday the Commonwealth requested $2,000 bail for Mr. Carter but it was denied by Judge Estes.  He was released on his own personal recognizance and will return next month for a pre-trial hearing. 

Charter Commission: All Ears

Amherst Town Meeting is 258 years old (and showing its age)

Charter Commissioners have an astonishingly powerful potential:  To help change our local form of governance, to declare our independence from an unwieldy, inefficient, unrepresentative legislative body otherwise know as "Representative" Town Meeting.

But of course the blueprint they craft over the next year will be subject to voter approval.  And this time I have a feeling they will get it right -- both the Charter Commission and the voters.

Click to enlarge/read (and then show up for the meeting)

I hope the state mandated 1st public forum of our 9 member Charter Commission gets better results than their predecessors did 15 years ago, when only a dozen citizens took the initiative to speak truth to power.

   Amherst Charter Hearing 5/15/01

Party House of the Weekend

902 East Pleasant Street

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Let's hope this is the last Party House incident until our beloved college aged youth return in late August, but I doubt it.  High School graduations are coming up ...

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday all four perps had their criminal cases converted to civil and paid the $300 Noise By-Law fine.

The four were arraigned individually before Judge Thomas Estes (minus the kegs on their heads)

Fallout Continues

Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee last night

The Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee went into executive session at the start of their regularly scheduled 6:00 PM meeting last night, presumably to discuss the situation surrounding embattled School Superintendent Maria Geryk who was present, as was an attorney from Gini Tate's law firm, Tom Colomb.

 Former Select Board member and retired teacher Judy Brooks asks about bullying programs

The agenda called for only one hour but the committee stayed in seclusion for twice that, coming back into open session at 8:14 PM.

The agenda also called for a discussion of "stay away orders" but that was put off to a later date.

 Patient audience who waited out the 2 hour executive session

The current controversy started when Maria Geryk issued a stay away order to single mom Aisha Hiza, banning her from all Regional school property for advocating on behalf of her bullied child who attends Pelham Elementary School.

The Pelham School Committee also went into executive session last week to discuss the matter.

Fool Me Three times?

Townehouse Apartments, Mid April

Third time was the charm for couch burning out at everybody's favorite outdoor play area, the west quad of Townehouse Apartments on Meadow Street in North Amherst. 

Last month, with a couple thousand college aged youth crammed into the quad, the firebugs escaped capture.

As did a couch torching this past Friday night.  But Sunday was a different story.  Private security caught the perp, who was charged with burning personal property. 

He was arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday before Judge Thomas Estes, and had his case continued until 5/31/16 for pre-trial.

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Real Money

Amherst School Committee in front of Town Meeting

Once again Amherst Town Meeting spent relatively little time on the BIG ticket item -- the town's share of a $31 million Regional School Budget -- and too much time on a $20,000 item to hire a consultant to rewrite our zoning bylaw governing signage, something the business community would welcome.

The #1 problem faced by the Region (grades 7-12) is pretty much the same as the Elementary Schools:  those darn competing Charter Schools attracting away our students at a penalty cost of around $18,000 per student.

For the upcoming year that's 103 students to Charters and 57 to Vocational Schools, or an eventual cost of almost $3 million.

Total enrollment in the Region is projected to be 1,382 students, which is down 495 from ten years ago.  And the majority of that loss in not simply due to declining school age population since a total of 299 of our students have chosen to opt out of our public schools: Choice, Charter, Private, Vocation, Home Schooled.

In response to a suggestion from Town Meeting member Julie Rueschemeyer School Superintendent Maria Geryk said she would be happy to create a committee to discuss the impact of Charter Schools and how to better compete with them.

She candidly admitted, "It's a struggle.  We are losing a substantial number of students.  And if the state lifts the cap on Charters, it will get worse."

After a total of only 45 minutes Town Meeting overwhelmingly passed the $31 million Regional Budget.

Amherst Town Meeting is not overly fond of consultants and has never been known for being pro business.   So it was hardly surprising the $20,000 line item for a consultant to rewrite the sign bylaw stimulated a half hour discussion leading to its defeat -- probably the only cut we will see in a $86.6 million budget.

Ironically enough the #1 rule of business is the answer to the great challenge our public schools face from Charter and Vocational competition:  Customer satisfaction. 

Got Wood?

Wood On The Plaza

No, aliens have not landed on the plaza near the Fine Arts Center.

Just a cool combination of Art and Education designed to draw attention to the nifty new UMass Design Building going up nearby, using the same old fashioned but updated wood construction method.

 Design Building:  built with wood on what was once a parking lot

Both Art project and Design Building blend in well to their surroundings

Design Building scheduled for completion Spring, 2017

Let's go down to the Sunset Grill

Sunset Grill & Pizza , ye old creamery building 150 Fearing Street

Just in time for today's UMass graduation the completely transformed Sunset Grill debuts with a new menu, sit down service and cleanliness that would rival a NASA laboratory.

Long time area resident Rebecca Casagrande is fulfilling her lifelong dream.  And who doesn't like burgers, pizza and deli sandwiches?

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, providing over half the jobs in our state.  Even more vital in Amherst where residential property provides 90% of the tax base and commercial land like this a pathetic 10%.

Running a small business is epically hard -- especially a restaurant.  But the rewards can outweigh the risks: being your own boss, while providing a product that makes people smile.

A Growing Storm

Maria Geryk at 3/31 Finance Committee meeting with Mike Morris, Sean Mangano

Embattled School Superintendent Maria Geryk is apparently on the agenda for an executive session with the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee next week, presumably to discuss a charge lodged against her by single-mom parent Aisha Hiza who was trespassed from all Regional School property by the Superintendent on March 15th after advocating for her bullied child.

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Last night the Pelham School Committee went into executive session to discuss the matter.  Maria Geryk did show up for that but only after the Committee had gone into the protective cocoon of an executives session.

 Pelham School Committee went into executive session.  Chair Tara Luce recused herself

The last time Maria Geryk appeared in a public meeting was back on March 31st at the Finance Committee meeting with Assistant Superintendent Mike Morris and Finance Director Sean Mangano to speak against Article 38.

That citizens petition article requests $40K to fund cost estimates for renovating two elementary schools rather than blindly supporting one new mega school.

Two weeks later the Finance Committee continued discussion of Article 38 with Morris and Mangano present, but not Geryk.

And on Wednesday night for the first time in her five-year tenure as Superintendent she was MIA on the floor of Town Meeting when the Elementary School budget was presented and voted on.

   Maria Geryk ARPS Superintendent contract by Larry Kelley

A Generational Divide

Maria Capriola

After over two hours of tedious discussion, where our five member Select Board (called Selectmen in every other municipality in Massachusetts) tried to keep the analysis of the two candidates positive, they voted 3-2 in favor of the best fit for Amherst ... who just happens to be a woman.

Maria Capriola, at age 36, is neither a "millennial" (although  pretty close) and certainly not a "baby boomer" but she has the vital experience of living and legislating in a University Town where UConn casts a shadow as enormous as the one UMass does over Amherst.

 UMass Amherst is our #1 industry, err, employer

At the proposed salary of $155,000 she will be, like her predecessor John Musante,  the second highest paid employee behind School Superintendent Maria Geryk.

And will probably interact most often with the Select Board Chair, Alisa Brewer.  Maybe have lunch with the President of Amherst College, Biddy Martin; or Business Improvement District Director Sarah la Cour; or the Donald Trump of North Amherst developers, Cinda Jones.

Amherst has a strong team of upper management already in place and the Select Board made it clear from the get go the new Town Manager is not expected to "clean house."

We need someone with enough experience to carry out a vision with vigor.

And I think we found her.

"Narcissistic and Self-aggrandizing"?

Regional School Committee Chair Trevor Baptiste (rt) Maria Geryk (left)

The past 25 years of requesting Public Documents has illuminated some interesting written exchanges, but none quite compare to this one, which takes the cake -- icing, candles and all.

Did Superintendent Maria Geryk overreact by banning single-mom Aisha Hiza from all Regional School property back in March for advocating for her bullied elementary school aged child?   Well, yes.

Is it wise to threaten the Regional School Committee Chair for allowing public comment to take place during the "public comment" period?  Probably not.

As my Chinese friends would say with a tinge of snark:  "May you live in interesting times."

   Legal Threat to RSC Chair

The Little Things

Assistant Superintendent Mike Morris presented to Town Meeting for Superintendent Maria Geryk who was sick

Amherst Town Meeting spent over an hour discussing the $22 million Elementary School Budget before overwhelmingly approving it, which is better attention than usual.  But a little over half that time was spent on a last minute motion adding $30,000 (.00136%) for three library paraprofessionals. 

Almost makes you wonder if the School Committee and administration does that on purpose as kind of a false flag operation to distract Town Meeting from talking about the real problems with our schools:  declining enrollments due to Charter Schools and one of the highest average costs per student in the region.

Not to mention the Holy Grail issue of expanding the four-town Region all the way down to K-6th grade and the not terribly bright prospects of a $66 million new mega school replacing two aging elementary schools and majorly impacting a third.

Wag the dog anyone?

DUI Dishonor Roll

MADD:  In 2014 three times as many males arrested for DUI vs females

Unfortunately we're back to around average for number of drivers arrested for drunk driving over the weekend.

All three of these individuals took and failed the legally admissible breath test, two of them crashed their vehicles and one, Matthew Burns from Connecticut, failed to show for his arraignment Monday morning so a warrant was issued for his arrest.

APD arrests Matthew Burns, in town center after crashing his vehicle

District Court intake sheet reported this as a "2nd offense DUI" for 53 year old Matthew Burns

Conor Doherty, age 23

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Alexander Booth, age 22

Marijuana Deluge

Rafters Restaurant & Sports Bar 422 Amity Street

The success of the 25th Extravaganja, that necessitated they move from Amherst Town Common to the sprawling 3 County Fair grounds in Northampton to accommodate a crowd of 12,000, underscores the popularity of pot.

As if we needed any more examples:

Amherst just received a 4th proposal to locate a medical marijuana facility in town and it too is on (the corner of) University Drive where two others are already proposed.  Anyone who has lived in town for more than a month will recognize the address.

Rafters has been a mainstay of the responsible sports bar scene in Amherst for 25 years, catering to students/faculty, blue collar workers and families ... all with equal aplomb.

They sponsor sports teams, the Rafters College Towne Classik road race to raise money for the Jimmy Fund and Amherst Police Relief Association.

And for many years they hosted the St. Baldrick's head-shaving event to raise money for researching a cure for children's cancer.

Plus they employ dozens of workers who live and spend their paychecks in our local community.  The quintessential mom-and-pop owned by long time restaurateur Jerry Jolly, who also managed The Pub over 40 years ago and an original founder of the Amherst Business Improvement District.

Unfortunately he owns the business, but not the building.  With a selling price of $2 million -- more than twice its assessed value -- an offer impossible to match I would imagine, even if he did have a 1st right of refusal clause in his lease.

The new owners are betting an awful lot of money they will acquire a state RMD license, especially since they need Select Board approval via a Letter of Support/Non Opposition.

Since the Select Board has already issued three of them they could very well say, "No, enough."

   Rafters Sell Out

University Drive: Pot alley? 

The Intruder Never Rings Twice

One of the downsides of living on a party street is you have to deal with the occasional fallout induced by an alcohol haze, like a complete stranger staggering into your home as though it were his own.

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In Eastern Hampshire District Court yesterday Mr. Abi-Saad had criminal charges converted to civil and he paid $150 on count one and another $100 for count two. 

Probably many times more than he paid for the alcohol that made him act so stupid.

Smooth Sailing (So Far)

258th Annual Town Meeting

In spite of the enthusiasm exhibited by Moderator Jim Pistrang the new $26,000 electronic voting devices did not see official use last night other than a 20 minute practice session with only a minor glitch or two.

At one point it looked like they would be fired up for official use, but a member made a "point of order" to remind Mr. Pistrang that a voice vote will always go first.  That vote was so overwhelmingly one sided he decided not to waste another minute or two to confirm it via the clickers.

 Town Moderator Jim Pistrang demonstrating new electronic voting devices

At this rate the batteries should last quite a while.

But it certainly indicates Town Meeting members were all on the same page with the votes thus far.  Even the $10 million Pubic Safety Budget was approved unanimously without any naysayers questioning authority, something this town seems to specialize in.

Of course the long winded advisory articles that have nothing to do with operating our $80+ million enterprise have yet to come up, although a procedural motion moved article 45 to tomorrow night first thing.

Amherst College students want their $2 billion institution to divest from fossil fuels and apparently don't want to get arrested via sit ins like UMass students recently did. 

And since they will be gone in a week,  it's far more convenient to have the article come up sooner rather than dead last.

Town Meeting, at your service.

Taking Responsibility

Panda East will remain open but cannot serve alcohol 5/4 through 6/27

Panda East restaurant will NOT appeal the decision of the Amherst Select Board who, acting as the town's Liquor Commissioners, voted unanimously to suspend their all alcohol permit from May 4th through June 27 for the second offense this year of serving alcohol to underage patrons.  

   Panda Garden East Liquor Suspension

According to Panda East's attorney Kristi Bodin, "The decision (not to appeal) is based on consideration of what is best for the business and what is best for the community."

Don't Do The Crime ...

Three perps arrested for UMass incident await arraignment in Courtroom 1

UMass has had a few somewhat dramatic incidents over the past year, all of them involving weapons (and most likely drugs or alcohol).

In this most recent early morning incident the three masked suspects, armed with knives, tried to break into dorm rooms at the Washington tower at 4:45 AM early Sunday morning.

UMPD arrested them, but not before they put up a fight.

Safe to say the two who are UMass students -- Damien Earp and Garrett Johnston -- will never graduate (from UMass/Amherst).

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Bright Lights, Small Town

May is one of the most exciting months of all in our little college town.  The weather becomes more user friendly, our institutes of higher education go on hiatus, and -- best of all -- a 50+ year tradition returns to our bucolic Town Common.

The Amherst Rotary Town Fair is coming to town! 

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