Have tree will travel

Groff Park 10:00 AM (two more are comin)

Slow news day

So my Amherst “Institutional Memory” is like a point-and-shoot digital camera. There’s rock solid “optical zoom” and beyond that (pushing the envelope) enhanced, slightly blurry, “digital zoom”.

I realized this when I stretched my older Kodak camera to the limit to get a recognizable photo of former Select Board Czar Ann Awad (at the time an AMHERST town official) w-a-y off in her South Hadley garden, and it came out blurry.

Fortunately she has an oversized distinctive body, instantly recognizable (even from a good distance) and yeah; you don’t even want to see the few I did not publish.

My “institutional memory” (‘optical zoom’) dates back to 1982 the year I opened my small business in what was then called “The Dead Mall” in bucolic Hadley, the next town over.

Wal Mart moved in a dozen years or years ago after I relocated to my hometown ‘The People’s Republic of Amherst’ and these days that “dead mall” is about as lively as you can get.

But for pre-1982 events I rely on “old timers” I trust and—God forbid—the Gazette, and sister publication Amherst Bulletin. And of course the Amherst Record (a 200+ year old publication killed by the Amherst Bulletin)

Got an email this afternoon from a fellow Town Meeting member about a water outage at Puffton Village, the second one this year. But by the time I got there on my bike it was already repaired. The joys of dealing with the private sector.


My slightly foggy (“digital zoom”) memory reminds me that Puffton Village was constructed in the late 1960's early 1970’s in response to the dramatic growth of Umass/Amherst and received a pass from the Zoning Board of Appeals or Planning Board.

BUT, the Zoning Variance was only good for 25 or 30 years and the complex was originally envisioned as “temporary housing” and upon expiration the buildings would be terminated. So you can imagine the original infrastructure was not exactly constructed to the highest standards.

WELL of course once the vital housing owned by Steve Puffer, a famous long-time Town Meeting member, came into being and served a purpose (not to mention generated lots of money) …

Just a little respect

And let's remember Army Maj. Steven Hutchison as well



-----Original Message-----
From: amherstac@aol.com
To: marx@amherst.edu; sh.events@state.ma.us
Sent: Fri, 15 May 2009 3:09 pm
Subject: Your majestic American flag on Chapel Hill

Hey Tony,

So Wednesday was one of those state-wide local edicts issued by our Governor to fly the flag at half-staff, commemorating the ultimate sacrifice of Massachusetts resident Explosive Ordinance Disposalman John Trahan, age 22--and with that "job description" you can imagine how he died (at least it was quick .)

But today is Peace Officers' Day--and the President of the United States has ordered all flags to half-staff to commemorate those men and women in blue who have also given up their "last measure of devotion" to keep us safe.

Your flag on Chapel Hill is the most prominent in Amherst. Could you maybe please (since the College tends to bring it down to half-staff for employees) subscribe to the Mass state listserve for those rare occasions when the Governor orders it down, and also observe the Federal ones as well (also rare) for flag protocol? Memorial Day is coming up.

Top be perfectly honest, it's kind of embarrassing.

Larry Kelley


Previous Amherst College observances

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?