And who pays???!!!

The cell tower in the background pays Amherst $1,697/month and actually serves a purpose.

Soooooo…. this portable office trailer has been sitting here at the town owned Ruxton Gravel Pit unused since around Thanksgiving. The town received $1,200 total from the contractor to rent the land but according to Mass Highway budget book the state pays the contractor $2,400/month rent on the trailer itself—and in all probability is still paying it now six months later.

And you wonder why the state has to defund the Quinn Bill (so police officers will have no incentive now to pursue higher education), or nix entirely social programs aimed at poor/at-risk kids or increase the state sales tax that will probably cost thousands of retail jobs from the lowest end paid workers.

But my favorite is the Meadow Street Bridge--the other North Amherst renovation completed two years ago, where state taxpayers paid a Umass Professor $15,000 to perform an “endangered species” study in the river (i.e. clams) that was accomplished on a Saturday morning and turned up only one clam (that he either relocated or had as an appetizer that night.)

Only in Massachusetts!


Mass Highway reports:

Project Description: AMHERST- BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, A-08-020,
EAST LEVERETT ROAD OVER MOUNTAIN BROOK
The existing bridge will be replaced with a single span prestressed concrete deck beam structure on new abutments. Location: Town of Amherst

Construction Begins: Autumn 2007
Resident Engineer: Scott Pellerin
Construction Contract Value: $667,940.50
Construction Bid Price: $629,940.50
Initial Construction Estimate: $548,644.00
MassHighway District: District 2
Current Status: Bridge under construction (as of 03/28/2008)
Additional Info: Bridge closed for the duration of the project. Traffic detoured to Leverett Rd., Amherst Rd., Depot Rd., Shutesbury Rd., to Cushman Rd. (as of 04/24/2008)


Hey, what do you want for $630-K?

Not bad for Amherst

They even lowered the UN Flag. Kind of ironic in that the UN was its useless self in Iraq.

Rest In Peace Explosive Ordnance Disposalman Petty Officer Second Class Tyler John Trahan--you did your job and only God knows how many civilians and fellow soldiers you saved.
###################################################

Al Anbar Province, Iraq-Explosive Ordnance Disposalman Petty Officer Second Class Tyler John Trahan age 22 years died Thursday April 30th just two days short of his 23rd birthday. He was killed while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Tyler was the son of Jean-Pierre and Maureen Anne (O’Malley) Trahan of East Freetown. Brother of Molly Jean Trahan of East Freetown, Tyler was also the grandson of Claudette Mae (Allain) O’Malley of New Bedford and the late John J. O’Malley Jr., Antoinette (Gaudette) Trahan and Roger Trahan. Tyler leaves many Uncles, Aunts and Cousins and Loving Friends.

He was born in New Bedford and lived on Long Pond in East Freetown all his life, until he started his military career. He graduated from Freetown Elementary, Freetown-Lakeville Middle School, Old Colony Regional Vocational High School in 2004 and also attended Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He entered the United States Navy in May 2006. Tyler was a member of the National Honor Society during his school years. He was the quarterback of the Old Colony ”Cougars” football team.

Tyler enlisted in the U.S. Navy May 16, 2006 and graduated from boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL., in July 2006 He then attended the Center for Naval Engineering in Great Lakes before reporting to the Naval Dive and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, FL.

Tyler continued his training at the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School at Eglin Air Force Base in FL. from November 2006 to October 2007.

In service to his country Tyler continued his training at his next duty station that was Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit ONE in San Diego from November to December 2007, and then on to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit TWELVE in Norfolk, VA. In December 2007. Tyler would then join on deployment with an East Coast based SEAL Team.

Tyler’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”(Valor) Distinguishing Device, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

EOD Petty Officer 2nd Class Trahan’s Funeral will be Wednesday May 13th. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint John Neumann Church East Freetown at 11 A.M. At the families request everyone is invited to meet at church. Visiting hours will be Tuesday May 12th from 3-8 P.M. at the Perry Funeral Home 111 Dartmouth St. New Bedford, MA. Following the Mass the funeral cortège will be traveling to Massachusetts National Cemetery at Otis Air Force Base in Bourne where EOD Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler John Trahan will be buried with full Military Honors.

Please Omit Flowers a Donation may be made in his memory to: EOD2 Tyler John Trahan Memorial Fund Navy Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 3000 Merrifield, VA. 22119-3000 on the check please put for Acct # 3017793997

Let's try to get this right

Subject:Half-Staff Notification for May 13, 2009
Date: May 11, 2009 4:39:41 PM EDT
Good Afternoon Everyone,

Governor Patrick has requested both the Commonwealth and American Flags be lowered to half-staff on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 from sunrise to sunset in honor of Petty Officer Second Class Tyler John Trahan who was killed in action in Iraq

Pursuant to gubernatorial protocol which states,

"The U.S. flag shall be flown at half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on the day of interment of any service member from Massachusetts who is killed in action in a war zone while on active duty,”

Please be advised that Governor Patrick has ordered that the United States flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, in honor of Explosive Ordnance Disposalman Petty Officer Second Class Tyler John Trahan of East Freetown, Massachusetts who was killed in action in Iraq on April 30, 2009.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you,

Suzzette
State House Event Coordinator

Sometimes a Stand Up Guy

Left to right: Shaffer, SB Princess Stephanie O'Keeffe and rookie Aaron Hayden.

So on some things Town Manager Larry Shaffer is a Stand Up Guy.

Certainly not when it comes to basic American values like a good old fashioned Rockwellian July 4’th Parade, or allowing the Boy Scouts of America unfettered access to property they have used for sixty years to sell Christmas trees, or even flying American flags in town center to commemorate the victims of 9/11.

But he did stand in support of the $20,000 in Article 18 of Community Preservation Act money to improve the landscape of the West Cemetery (you know, the final resting place of the Dickinson family including of course Miss Emily.) The article passed fairly handily 108-51.

And I assume when the recorded Tally Vote (a step up from a standing vote) is released for full-funding of the Civil War Memorial Tablets (a much closer vote at 91 to 84) he will also have voted in favor.

Town Manager Barry Del Castilho (now South Hadley’s acting Town Manager) never once voted on the floor of Town Meeting in his twenty-year tenure. And the Moderator, Harrison Gregg can--but never has--voted. I even think State Senator Stan Rosenberg could show up and vote if he wanted, but never has.

If you construct a budget, as Town Managers are supposed to do, then why would you not support individual items within that budget?

Escape from Oz

Amherst Town Meeting (that also runs on hot air) is on hiatus until June 15. I will be in Korea (the good side). Double yea!

A captain without a ship

So the July 4'th Parade Committee was put on notice last year that no town vehicles would be allowed in the procession unless the private committee acquiesced and allowed war protesters in the line of march.

Of course almost simultaneously the Town Manager announced town government would run (take over) the July 4'th Parade in 2009 and the private committee would just have to pick another day. Then that pesky ACLU changed his mind about shutting down the private committee's July 4'th Parade (always held--you know--on JULY 4'th)

AND--that was well before both the long-time Police and Fire Chief's announced their retirements from the Public Safety organizations they helped build, and are proud to serve.

The July 4'th Parade Committee (tried to) bestow the honor of Parade Co-Grand Marshal's on AFD Chief Keith Hoyle and APD Chief Charles Scherpa. When Chief Hoyle asked the Town Manager if he could have a fire vehicle for escort he was told "No!"

As a result, he will not march.

Sooooo...we can use the Ladder Truck--the biggest most expensive piece of equipment in the AFD arsenal to escort Santa Claus to the Merry Maple (not to be confused with a Christmas Tree) festivities in December, but will not allow any vehicle to escort the outgoing Fire Chief in a Parade celebrating the birth of our great nation?

Only in Amherst!

Gross indeed!

So yeah, this is after all the People’s Republic of Amherst form of governance: give these Uber-Libs any opportunity, any microscopic opening to climb up on their soapbox and they will fire off that tired 'Holier than Thou' philosophy.

Hmmm…by all means, abolish jails and prisons (somebody please cue the soundtrack to “Born Free”) eject all the murderers, rapists, and muggers to roam free.

And while we’re at it, tell those overpaid, lazy-ass sheepherders to surrender their weapons and cage their border collies in case a hungry coyote or wolf should come calling.



Mr. Grosscup of course voted against flying the American flags in the downtown on 9/11 to commemorate the 3,000 Americans slaughtered that day.

Amherst's Uber-Lib "Hall of Shame"