DUI Dishonor Roll

Early Friday morning was not a particularly safe time to be driving in Amherst, although APD made it safer by taking two drunk drivers off the road, both of them female UMass students, and both incidents close to the flagship campus jam packed with potential accident victims. 

Stopped originally for speeding and "marked lanes violation" (swerving) at 1:17 AM on North Pleasant Street near infamous Hobart Lane, police arrested 21-year-old Hannah David, 58 Mt Vernon St, Fitchburg, MA, for Driving Under the Influence.

And a couple hours later at 2:58 AM on Phillips Street, the other infamous street in town, police stopped 20-year-old Meghan Fleming, 10 Valentine Road, Hopkinton, MA for "marked lanes violation".  The officer then noticed a "strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot glassy eyes, and slurred speech."

Ms Fleming took the Portable Breathalyzer Test and failed with a PBT of .173% -- more than twice the legal limit.  She was, however, smart enough to refuse the more sophisticated, fixed/stationary breathalyzer back at the station -- the one that provides results that are admissible in court.

So, theoretically, she loses her license for 180 days, unless of course she beats the DUI charge, which is now made harder to prove without the more sophisticated breathalyzer results.  And the fact she refused to take it cannot be used in court as evidence.

Although police also found a marijuana pipe and a small amount of the drug in the vehicle, so that will provide evidence to back up the DUI charge.  

Yeah, great system we have here in Massachusetts.  

Earlier in the week two other young ladies -- both UMass students -- were also taken off the road, handcuffed, and escorted back to APD headquarters under arrest.

Sunday, January 20 at 6:10 PM police stopped 22-year-old Lauren Derouin, 196 Triangle St, Amherst, and arrested her after she failed a Field Sobriety Test.  She did, however,  refuse to take the breathalyzer. 

Wednesday, January 23 at 1:09 AM police stopped 21-year-old Emily Rookwood, 3 Madison Rd, Marblehead, MA, for speeding (estimated 45 in a 30 MPH zone).  She failed the Field Sobriety Test and was transported back to the station, where she refused to take the breathalyzer test.

Sashiburi, Mr. President

The Kennedy Room, Hotel Boston Plaza Kusatsu 

After an entertaining, comfortable, two hour ride on the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto we took another 20 minute ride on a  crowded commuter train to Kusatsu and then walked about 100 yards to the Boston Plaza Hotel.  It was an old world hotel modeled on -- you guessed it -- elegant Boston hotels.

 Commuter Train, Kyoto Station

Apparently the owner is big on Boston, and at one point wanted the entire block around his hotel modeled on a Boston street scape; but even he was not rich enough to pull that off.  And I suppose if you're a big fan of Boston it makes sense to also be captivated by the Kennedy mystique.

The Kennedy Room had wall-to-wall framed photos of our former President (although none of them aboard PT 109 or the Dallas motorcade) and Mrs Kennedy looking like the fashionable First Lady she was.

And just to show how elegant the rooms were: heated toilet seats. 

Toto Washlet

Strategic Withdrawal?

Burned out remains at Rolling Green Apartments, Amherst

Against the tragic backdrop of a deadly fire at Rolling Green Apartments, I'm not surprised Grandonico Properties, LLC -- AKA Lincoln Reality -- is attempting to quit their foolish appeal of Amherst Building Commissioner Rob Morra's December 17, 2012 citation carrying a $100/day fine for violation of the towns 20+ year old zoning bylaw forbidding more than four unrelated housemates in a one-family unit.

But I hope the ZBA does not  allow them (requires a unanimous vote) to simply surrender and slink away under cover of darkness. I hope they take up discussion of this important issue and vote unanimously to reaffirm it.

By taking up this health and safety issue that Grandonico sought to circumvent, and now wish to pull a Roseanne Roseannadanna "never mind",  the ZBA can send a stern message to a minority of unscrupulous landlords who put profits over public safety.

Even more evidence Grandonico knew what they knew

A sad cover up that needs to be told

 

Proud Symbol of Efficiency

Shinkansen, AKA "Bullet Train"

We took the Shinkansen, or Bullet Train, from Tokyo to Kyoto.  The ride was super smooth, wicked fast, and the train looks like something out of a science fiction movie.

The marvelous machine can hit pretty close to 200 MPH when at full throttle, although the tracks usually straddle big open space which mitigates somewhat the feel of high speed, so it's not like the thrill you get from an amusement park roller coaster ride.

The price, however, is expensive.  Our tickets were $240 round trip but Jada, my six year old, was free. 

The inside of the train is clean and spacious, and the seats are comfortable with plenty of leg room (after 14 hours cramped in an economy airplane seat that alone is reason to celebrate).  Uniformed employees bow respectfully whenever they enter or leave a car.

The train seats around 1,300 passengers, runs on schedule and, unlike China, has never had an accident. 

All We Are Saying ...

Rt 9, East Amherst (under a full moon)

Last Call (for tipsy transit)

UMass Hagis Mall drop off 2:08 AM early Sunday morning 

The UMass "Sober Shuttle", an after hours bus run from downtown Amherst back to campus, kicked off this weekend and by the looks of things -- a packed bus -- seemed successful.

But then, maiden voyages often are.

 A crowd of around 30 waits for 1:20 bus at Post Office town center 1:17 AM early Sunday

 
According to Student Government Association President Akshay Kapoor, “The truth is that there is only a very small segment of students who cause some, if any, disruptive behavior in our community, and it is my hope that this initiative will be another step by the university and its students to help reduce that problem and extend an olive branch to the town.”

Agreed.  Well, mostly.  Except the part about "if any" disruptive behavior.  If Mr. Kapoor is uncertain that any disruptive behavior can be traced to UMass students then he certainly has not been paying attention these past few years.  Or maybe just not reading this blog.  Or both.

My only fear is that the buses running late will encourage students to drink more. 

The other major problem we have with a minority of UMass students is ETOH calls (alcohol poisoning) tying up our ambulances, making them unavailable for other life threatening emergencies.

So making it safer and more comfortable for students to stay out even later, drinking, when just one more can put someone over the edge is certainly not going to help solve that part of the problem.

Sober Shuttle (Rt) bumps up against Sunderland Bus (left) 1:20 AM Sunday Town Center

Serenity

Japanese Garden. Tokyo, Japan

This mini waterfall was part of a larger Japanese Garden not far from our Sheraton Hotel in pretty much the heart of Tokyo -- kind of like New York's Central Park, only a lot quieter.

On Saturday we observed a couple of wedding receptions using the gardens as a backdrop.

On Golden Pond

Golden Palace. Kyoto, Japan

The Golden Palace is one of the most historic and popular sites in Japan. Standing out all the more against a backdrop of what appears to be the unofficial dress code of Japanese citizenry:  dark colors, usually black.

And of course the ubiquitous surgical masks used to ward off germs worn by almost a third of the population when out in public.

Typical dress: dark suit, white mask

School children both public and private wear school uniforms

Tokyo High

Tokyo Japan, as seen from Tokyo Tower

Observations From Afar

 Osaka Japan

As an apartment complex back home was being ravaged by an inferno,  I was happily touring a fire department sub station in Tokyo, Japan. 

Tokyo FD. Mini ladder truck 

Not that I'm superstitious -- even though 25 years ago my Amherst apartment burned down on a Friday the 13th -- but my intuition radar probably should have been buzzing after checking in to our plush hotel room a couple hours earlier:  Room 911.

Even with the restart of UMass and our other institutes of higher education, considering Monday was a holiday, I figured it would be a slow news week in Amherst.  Guess I was wrong.

#####

Once you have experienced a major structure fire up close and personal -- smelled and tasted the acrid stench, listened as the crackling grows deafeningly loud while your field of vision narrows to nothing because of thick black smoke -- not much else in life scares you.

So you simply hope to never meet again. Ever.

The beast paid a call on Rolling Green Apartments early Monday morning.  As with all encounters, it was both uninvited and unexpected. 

 Rolling Green fire. Photo courtesy of Steven O'Toole

And a young man who was majoring in hospitality and tourism management at UMass will never get to put those service skills to use.  Ever.

The investigation will be as thorough as the fire was destructive, maybe more so.  I will be surprised if it turns out the cause can be traced to irresponsible management, as the complex is owned by one of those big corporations with too much to lose.

With Section 8 housing, HUD loans, a large insurance carrier and all the other private sector bureaucracy involved,  safe to say Rolling Green Apartments have been inspected more times than the Town could possibly afford to if rental registration bylaw passes town meeting this spring.

The problem in Amherst with substandard, dangerous rental housing comes not from large professionally managed complexes like Rolling Green, Puffton Village, Mill Valley Estates, or any of the other three complexes on East Hadley Road.  It's largely the lone houses transformed into (illegal) rooming houses that are accidents waiting to happen.

Except of course for Gilreath Manor,  the 14 unit complex out on Hobart Lane,  a sort of white crow that disproves the theory all multi-unit complexes are well run.  A very good reason why all responsible landlords in town should cheer public officials' new found ambition to actually enforce safety and zoning ordinances that have been too long ignored. 

With the same basic design as the Rolling Green complex (with an attic unprotected by fireproof flooring) but made far more dangerous with faulty fire detection and too many students packed into each unit, the Gilreath Manor fire could have been far more murderous had the blaze broken out in the early morning hours rather than high noon.

Town Manager Musante's proposed 2014 budget fortunately includes funding for a "full time fire prevention inspector position;"  but, unfortunately,  no added positions for front line responders like those brave men and women who descended on a killer conflagration early Monday morning.

The Town Manager also touts the weekend "joint patrols" between UMPD and APD which is of course a good thing.  But AFD can't very well partner with UMFD as UMass does not have a fire department.

As I've mentioned before, UMass needs to hire an off campus RA to deal with nuisance party houses before they require APD response, and they should pick up the tab for an additional two AFD first responder positions.

The beast will come calling again.  Because fire is never completely eradicated.  Ever.


Fire victim relief efforts for Rolling Green

Relief efforts for Peshkov family

Celebrate & Mourn

 Odd juxtaposition: Commemorative flag, Christmas decoration, main flag at half staff

No, the seldom seen 20 some-odd commemorative American flags are not up in town center to commemorative Martin Luther King Day.  They are flying to herald Inauguration Day.

On the night of September 10, 2001 -- The Eve of Destruction -- the Amherst Select Board voted 4-1 to allow 29 commemorative flags to fly on six "holidays" and once every four years for Inauguration Day (and yes, amazingly, they even flew for President Bush's two terms).

9/11 has become a seventh infrequent occasion for the commemorative flags to fly, only once every five years.  As some of you may remember, this past 9/11 the town received international notoriety for not flying the flags to remember the most historic day of our lifetime.

The main flag is currently at half-staff to mourn the passing of Pfc. Antonio Syrakos of Lynn, who died January 10, 2013 in an off base accident near Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Governor Patrick routinely lowers the flag for any state resident in the military who dies, be it in combat on foreign soil, or an accident back here in America.

Another even more sobering statistic of the casualties caused by war:  This past year Army suicides outpaced military combat casualties in Afghanistan.

Sport & Fair Play Takes A Huge Hit

Amherst Regional High School sports teams nicknamed "Hurricanes"

UPDATE 3:30 PM  Amherst Schools fire assistant coach Eric Wheeler, who "suggested" the hit

With all the endless talk about bullying in our schools and adults in charge stepping up to take responsibility to do the right thing, especially in Amherst, Ground Zero for all things touchy-feely, you would think Monday night's high school basketball incident would be about as likely as a UFO landing in town center.

According to published reports, ARHS player Tyrell Jackson purposely crashed into South Hadley coach Jeff Guiel. Twice! Even worse, Jackson claims he was ordered by assistant coach Eric Wheeler to perform the mugging, and soon thereafter was put in the game by head coach Jim Matuszko.

Sure it's fairly common practice in team sports to have one or two players who act as "enforcers". They are not known for their advanced skills at the game but more for their brawn. And their job is usually to protect the gifted star who may be targeted by their goon counterpart on the opposing team.

But this incident goes laps beyond that shady practice, and borders on criminal assault. Let's not forget that a District Attorney broke new legal ground charging South Hadley High School students for their repugnant actions that lead to the death of Phoebe Prince.

Or Penn State harboring a pedophile to protect the image of their sacred football program. Or Lance Armstrong, hero to so very many, repeatedly lying about using performance enhancing drugs.

Athletes are supposed to be role models, as are their coaches! This shameful incident brings into disrepute the players and staff, the sport of basketball, Amherst Regional High School, and our entire town.

There's an ill wind blowing, and it's only going to get worse ...

Backstory in emails

The media is the message:

Bloodless Budget

 SB Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe, John Musante, Sandy Pooler, FinCom Chair Andy Steinberg

Unlike the venerable Amherst Schools the Town Manager today presented to the Select Board and Finance Committee a level services budget that stayed within their suggested cap of 3%, so residents will see no deterioration in services and little extra money coming out of their household budget.

Unless of course the Schools request an Override to cover their projected $737,000 deficit at the elementary level.  In last year's budget the schools were given an extra $218,200 from Free Cash cash for instance.

If the Town Manger should find extra money coming into the municipal side of the budget (besides the $6,200,894 held in reserves) he would use $61,000 to fund an additional police officer for a department that is down five sworn officers over the past six years, while UMass has continued to grow over those same years.

$100,000 to add an Economic Development office to help stimulate the business/commercial side of the property tax equation, which is seriously out of balance, with residential property shouldering 90% of the property tax burden.

And the Safe & Healthy Neighborhood initiative would benefit by the addition of a building inspector ($63,608).  Town Meeting will vote this spring on requiring rental registration, and inspections will be a vital component for enforcement.

On an even more optimistic note Town Manager Musante reports: "In FY14 the town hopes to see the installation by a private company of one of the largest solar arrays in Massachusetts at the old landfill on Belchertown Road and to promote other solar development in town."

Either way, the immediate future seems bright.

Bales of hay on the old landfill that will be used this spring for regrading

A Long Shot?

 Mohegan Sun CEO Mitchell Etess

Mohegan Sun CEO Mitchell Etess pitched his $600 million Western Mass casino proposal to a crowd of about 100 business leaders and town officials this afternoon at the Amherst Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting held at the Lord Jeffery Inn.

Touting his four years of work on the project, having opened an office in Palmer in 2009 and pouring $15 million to date into the project, Mr Etess also highlighted his company's recent strategic partnership with Brigade Capital Management, a $12 billion dollar investment fund.

His biggest selling point?  Regional development.  Not just for Palmer, the host community, but places as far away as Amherst, home to our favorite institute of higher education. 

Etess pointed out Umass hosts the well known Isenberg School of Management Hospitality & Tourism Management program.  

Amherst Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe cited the predominance of students in Amherst and asked if the casino will tempt them to make "bad decisions"?  Etess responded that they are "very careful" about underage drinking and underage gambling. 

And he also pointed out it "it's easier to make a bet today in your college dorm room than it is in a casino."

With three other major players -- Penn National Gaming, MGM and Hard Rock International -- vigorously pursuing a casino licenses for Western Massachusetts, it's a safe bet that Amherst cannot avoid being impacted by "casino mania". 

Only question is, will it be a winner ... or craps?

Wanna Bet

Lord Jeffery Inn, Wednesday morning

So I'm half thinking Amherst Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tony Maroulis ordered up this picturesque weather as a backdrop for today's luncheon presentation at Amherst 's iconic Lord Jeffery Inn for a hot topic more centered on Springfield, but certainly casting ripples that will be felt in our little town:  Casino gambling.

Mohegan Sun CEO Mitchell Etess, representing one of the four major players who ponied up $400,000 to vie for a lone gambling license reserved for Western Mass will be giving the keynote address. 

The public is invited and Mr. Etess is expected to approach the podium around 12:30 PM.

Those Who Fail To Learn ...

Chief Nelson, Chief Livingstone, Nancy Buffone, Jonathan Tucker, Stephanie O'Keeffe

"It's only a matter of time before somebody dies because of things we have let get out of hand," said Phil Jackson, member of the Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods Working Group and a resident of Lincoln Avenue,  a street described as being at the "tipping point" for proud old single family (four unrelated tenants) homes being converted by real estate speculators into two family (eight unrelated tenants) Party Houses.

Phil Jackson (3rd from left) makes a point 

Things have been "out of hand" for a very long time.

Take this entry from the front page of the 11/21/1990 Amherst Bulletin describing Amherst Town Meeting's reaction to the Planning Board asking if they should draft a rental registration bylaw:

 "Town Meeting instead asked the Planning Board to find ways to enforce existing zoning regulations more effectively. The substitute motion was made by Nancy Gordon. Both the Planning Board's approach and Gordon's were intended to cut down the problems of noise, unkempt property and general neighborhood disruption that sometimes occur when a number of students rent an apartment or a house that is too small for them."

Now here we are, twenty two years later, still dealing with noise, nuisance, and all the dangerous byproducts of drunken behavior by too many young adults packed into too small surroundings owned by speculators who simply don't give a damn.

Like the current controversy with gun ownership, it only takes the actions of a microscopically small minority to ruin it for the very large majority of responsible gun owners.  Just as one or two slumlords ruin it for all the legitimate, professional, honest, caring owners who make up the vast majority of rental property providers.

Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe described Safe & Healthy Neighborhood's charge:  "Trying to establish what all reasonable people would agree is a minimum baseline of safety ... including reasonable parking, compliant with occupancy limit, local property upkeep laws, as well as alcohol and nuisance laws."

And she closes with a key point:  "Inspectors need to be able to access property."

The committee will host an open public forum next week, January 22, in the Town Room, Town Hall (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM) to hear from all concerned stakeholders:  neighbors, property owners, town officials and civilized citizens who care about their town.

Safe bet the rowdy tenants causing the problems (or the slumlords who rent to them) will not show up.

Phil Jackson's Powerpoint slide

Better safe ...

District Attorney Dave Sullivan 

We all remember the good old days when you didn't have to take off your shoes while going through security to board an airplane and you could bring along your bottle of water or tube of sun tan lotion and yes, even a nail clipper with that swing out little file attached.

Or when you could walk right through the main door of your daughters' elementary school without having to await being buzzed in, and then sign in at the office, and wear a visitor ID sticker while doing a one minute chore with your child.

But times have changed.  Nineteen zealots turned civilian airliners into guided missiles, and one deranged young man with a lot of firepower and the single-minded determination to use it against innocent children, changed everything. 

So I"m not bothered in the least by the actions of Northampton police, endorsed by Northwestern District Attorney Dave Sullivan, to acquire handwriting samples of Northampton High School students for possibly identification of the perp who left a threatening (hand written) note in the school.

Less than a week after the unthinkable happened at an elementary school not all that far away.

When I first heard that a written "pledge" was used as a response to the incident I was reminded (cue rolling of eyes) of town and UMass officials and DA Dave Sullivan handing out oatmeal cookies to UMass students in the southern section of campus while the northern end exploded in a riot.

But then it became clear the pledge was simply a cover to get handwriting samples.  Kind of like something you might see in a Hollywood movie.  Only this movie did not have a Hollywood ending, as the perp is apparently still at large.

When lives are stake -- as in this case they most certainly could have been -- extraordinary measures need to be taken.  Terrorism, drunk driving, domestic abuse or child abuse: The offenders certainly don't play by any set of rules.

And they must be stopped.

Another pledge worth taking

A Lot Off The Top

 Asplundh Tree Service on the top of The Notch

The l-o-n-g promised realignment of the The Notch (Route 116/West Street) seems to be finally underway as contractors have clear cut sections near the top in preparation for the $3.1 million road straightening project, thanks to earmarks secured by outgoing Congressman John Olver, D-Mass.

The project is contiguous with the $6 million Atkins Corner double roundabout project completed this past summer.

South Hadley side of The Notch 

West side of Route 116 going up The Notch

 1333 West Street, bottom of The Notch.  Congressman John Olver's 15 acre estate

West side bottom of The Notch

Mt Holyoke State Park (cream color)

Fire & Mist

75 Chmura Road, Hadley

The second major structure fire in nine days struck this home at 75 Chmura Road, Hadley, doing serious damage ... although of the kind that can be repaired, as no injuries were reported.

Amherst Fire Department along with Deerfield, Northampton, and South Hadley assisted Hadley Fire Department in snuffing out the flames.

AFD on scene Hadley fire (photo courtesy Amherst Firefighters local 1764)

Say it ain't so, Jackie

Jackie Chan 

I have never been a huge fan of Jackie Chan, having been spoiled by seeing the greatest martial artist of all time, Bruce Lee, up on the silver screen first.  And nothing compares to the speed, grace and animal magnitism of Bruce Lee taking a physical stand. Nothing.

But I always found Mr. Chan entertaining enough in a lighthearted way, although not nearly as much as my younger daughter.  Not any more.  

Last month in a Chinese TV interview only now seeing wider circulation Chan called the United States "the most corrupt (country) in the world."

Although statistics tell a different story:  The Corruption Perception Index ranks China 80th with the US coming in far better at #19 among 174 countries (with No. #1 being the country with the least perception of corruption.)

Sure Jackie has a First Amendment right to say whatever he wants.  Well, in the United States anyway.  In China, branding that nation as "most corrupt" will get you jail time -- or run over by a tank.  

No Escape

 Equinox crossover with town seal

Since Ford discontinued the more politically correct hybrid Escape the town had to search elsewhere for a new set of wheels.  This crossover Chevy Equinox, with good gas mileage, fit the bill.  Either way, American made cars for our little all American town.

The Equinox looks a lot nicer as well than the more boxy Escape;  and the town seal -- a book and plow -- really radiates off a pristine white background.

Amherst town seal: a book and a plow

Although, the new town flag logo would also look nice.

Amherst Town Flag

Major Player Expands Empire

30 Gatehouse Road, Echo Village Apartments (24 units)

Jamie Cherewatti, aka Eagle Crest Management, branched out in a B-I-G way this week by purchasing #10 and #30 Gatehouse Road commercial complexes (business and residential) for $3 million using a new LLC, Echo Gatehouse Partners and $1.85 million in financing.

The price was well above their combined assessed value of $2.1 million, with the lions share being the 24 units of housing, a frequent destination for the Amherst Police Department.

James Cherewatti on left

 10 Gatehouse Road, commercial business condos

Cherewatti purchased the multi-use property from the original developer Gerry Gates, who with his long time business partner Dick Johnson (now deceased) built the sprawling development in the mid-1970s. 

Amherst Insurance Agency, #20 Gatehouse, is not included in the deal, although coincidentally enough that property was sold just sold last week by Ron Nathan for $700,000 to RAG Associates, aka Glenn Allan, a long time executive with the insurance business.

Amherst Insurance Agency: still your independent, locally owned full service insurance agency

At the Mercy of the Media

 Old Amherst Landfill, Belchertown Road, Planet Earth

The problem with involving the main stream media early on with an "unusual" story like a UFO sighting is that they don't really take it seriously.

It's soooo much easier to go with the cheap, quick, extraterrestrial angle; thus opening the door to sniping from the legions of anonymous critics Amherst has accumulated over the years.

There's no question something was spotted in the air over the old landfill early on Tuesday night.  The question is, was it indeed something unusual?  And if so, what are the possibilities?

I saw the twitter breaking news report almost immediately and went outside to take a look.  Both a C5A and a helicopter soon ambled overhead, but that is certainly not all that unusual considering the close proximity of Westover, Barnes and Bradley airfields, all of which host the military.

And we did have a Chinook helicopter drop in unexpectedly last June.

Which brings up an obvious question.  If the modus operandi  of the object (mainly the part about "silent") did not fit those usual suspects, could it have been something else military related, like a drone? 

These days drone technology is seeping its way into non military uses as well.  The Occupy folks used one as an eye in the sky to monitor police while police departments nationwide are also starting to use them for surveillance, although raising concerns about privacy.  And safety.

And no, Amherst Police Department does not have a drone.  Although ... that would be a convenient way to keep an eye on Party Houses this coming spring.   

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What's wrong with this close?  (Umm, maybe the wrong month):

CBS3 "reports"

New video surfaces on, where else, Youtube

(Sad) Sign of The Times

Crocker Farm School Staff participated in a security drill this afternoon

Amherst schools have continued to tweak security protocols in the wake of the Newtown tragedy. But nothing radical, as they are not exactly reinventing the wheel.

According to ARPS Superintendent Maria Geryk, "We are fortunate that we have spent lots of time creating our safety plans over the years, so that we are not making major adjustments at the moment. We are just really tightening up some of our procedures."

She continues, "I expect that there will be additional changes over time as we spend more time updating our plans."

Today's exercise was a "school level drill" vs the more expansive district level "table top drills" orchestrated in conjunction with Amherst police and fire departments. Superintendent Geryk reports "Things are going well with these brief drills."

According to a pundit the Newtown massacre will do for school security what 9/11 did for airport security.  True enough.

Just as a gorgeous September morning with perfect temperatures under a deep blue cloudless sky, can never again be innocently enjoyed quite the same; neither will the sights and sounds of a room full of happy, chatty, first graders.

Schools talk safety

How Many Does It Take?

Workers adjust the BoA lighted sign on the most unrevered building in downtown Amherst