Taste of Freedom

Now that the 20th annual Taste of Amherst is safely stowed under under a bulging beltline, it's time to start thinking about the next B-I-G thing in Amherst town center. And just so folks will be reminded, the red white and blue July 4 Parade banner went up this morning for a week of flight in that prime location.

Both Senator Scott Brown and Governor Deval Patrick have been invited and their offices return called to inquire about the particulars. After the devastating tornadoes that ripped their way through western Massachusetts it sure would be nice if our top political leaders showed their faces out this way to celebrate the birth of freedom and power of resilience.

No easy money

Maybe because of the tough economy people are more prone to this nonsense, or maybe because greed has been around since man (and woman in heels) first started to walk uprite it will always be around.

These days scamers have embraced the Internet, since email fishing is free.

Amherst PD witnessed two instances over the weekend of this pernicious, prevalent crime--the first where a reporting party simply came into the station to report receiving a fictitious check via the (snail)mail where the unknown party asked him to cash it, send back half and keep half for his trouble. The individual was smart enough to know it was a hoax.

The second incident went a tad further: A bank manager at Northampton Cooperative Bank wanted to have an officer investigate a "possible larceny of funds". A gullible customer had deposited a $4,000 check that proved fraudulent and then withdrew $1,500 cash after responding to a Craigslist job ad for shipping packages.

The individual is returning the cash today, having learned a valuable lesson for free: If it sounds to good to be true, then it's almost certainly a scam.

My previous report

Solar in South Amherst

Looking east towards new storage facility (in red)

While not nearly as ambitious as the controversial 4.75 megawatt Solar Farm proposed for the towns' old landfill, the solar facility west of the new storage shed at Atkins Farm Market will provide all the power needs of the bustling business and with state and federal governments falling all over themselves to provide tax breaks and grants, probably a cost effective installation as well.

Since no homeowners are within sitelines of the modest installation and it is being constructed on private land not currently used for jogging, dog walking or nesting by a threatened species of tweety bird chances are, unlike the town Solar Farm, it will fly through the permitting process.

Atkins (founded 1887) is one of those rare private sector, for profit, businesses that is Politically Correct enough to easily negotiate the deadly Amherst permitting process, having recently won a coveted beer and wine license from the Amherst Select Board and property tax breaks from Town Meeting.

After all, farms have relied on sunlight forever.



 

One year later it was completed (June, 2012)

Et tu, Pelham?

Union 26, where Amherst pays 94% of overhead (Pelham 6%) provides 90% of the costumers but only has a 50% say in governance was one of the more fascinating kerfuffles over the past year and, as always, anything school related--especially if it involved Catherine Sanderson--brought out the worst in people.

Yes, almost 150 years later, another Civil War was fought over (Amherst) attempting to leave a Union.

The entrenched good-old-boy establishment reared up to protect the status quo, where Amherst subsidizes our predominantly white affluent neighbors to the east; and one of their complaints was how the Amherst School Committee (at Sanderson's urging) was daring to consider leaving Union 26, but had not officially notified Pelham.

"Unfortunately, we the Pelham Elementary School Committee were not formally notified about the Amherst School Committee's decision to review it's participation in the Union 26, the governance structure that articulates the partnership between Pelham and Amherst elementary schools which has functioned successfully for years. Nor are we fully aware of what prompted the decision to review the partnership at this time. Naturally , it would be our hope that the spirit of fair and balanced partnership with which the Union was created, rather than the politics of the day, would inform any discussion of the Union and its continued success."

An email to which Amherst Regional School interim Superintendent (later strongly supported by Pelham School Committee and Union 26 for her permanent hiring) replied:

From: Maria Geryk
To: Tracy Farnham, Kathy Weilerstein, Nora Maroulis (Pelham School Committee)
Date: 4/9/2010 11:13 AM

perfect!
#########################################

But last night the Amherst Regional High School website advertised a meeting for Pelham residents (Amherst folks need not apply) at their library to talk about a reorganization that will sever the current partnership with Amherst and create a competing entity.

And on May 3 the Shutesbury School Committee also discussed joining this regional operation (at the expense of their current involvement with Union 28). "Endorsement of preferred option. Motion by Michael DeChiara: I move that SESC approve the concept of further exploring the Outer Ring Region (K-6 Elementary) with Leverett and Pelham as our preferred model. Patrick seconded. Passed unanimously."

Now I wonder, where's the outrage?
#########################################

UPDATE: 6/20 Monday morning (quarterback):

From: Maria Geryk
To: amherstac@aol.com
Sent: Mon, Jun 20, 2011 10:30 am
Subject: Re: What's up with Pelham?

Hi Larry,
Pelham began an educational study group September 2010. Amherst has been aware of these meetings all along. All the meetings are public and notes are posted.

Maria

Trailer for sale or rent...

Springfield is in need of modular classrooms after taking a direct hit by an F3 tornado. Amherst just happens to have surplus modular classrooms in like new condition, never used as actual classrooms, purchased at the recommendation of the old guard school committee for an elementary school the soon thereafter closed to save over a half million dollars annually.

It's not like they are doing Amherst any good, so why not donate them to a good cause?

Yes, the cost to move them is probably in the tens of thousands but considering the plight of Springfield school kids it would not be hard to enlist civic minded plumbers, electricians, carpenters and a freight hauler who would donate their skills.

Is Amherst burning?

brianjeffrey.wordpress.com

No, in spite of a dramatic turn around and a decisive win in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, all was quiet in Amherst last night as all our potential hellions have gone home for the summer and it appears that even in Boston the celebrations were kept under control.

Although the same cannot be said of fans in Vancouver, some of whom demonstrated a distinct lack of class in handling defeat: turning over cars, setting fires and making lots of noise.

But in Amherst, where riots previously occurred over Boston teams winning big, all was quiet...well, except for one "disorderly conduct" arrest--a disgruntled Vancouver fan.

And why is that? Obviously because the usual suspects have left town for the summer (or at least that small minority of which cause B-I-G trouble). But I also notice nothing in the Boston Globe about disorderly crowds or party houses, something Amherst had to endure all year.

Since the "solution to pollution is dilution" perhaps spreading out the young hellions over a very large Boston area reduces the likelihood of a bad crowd reaching critical mass. Or perhaps living at home or in a neighborhood near fellow family members--or where those members would read of bad behavior in the local paper--increases accountability.

This September UMass will start enforcing the Student Code of Conduct rules for off campus behavior. Let's hope they read the Amherst police logs.

Recreation Roundup

On right: Stan Ziomek, Alisa Brewer Selectboard liaison to Rec commission

At tonight's Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Commission meeting the board discussed all things recreational as they prepare for the peak summer season. The War Memorial Pool repairs will be voted on this Fall by Town Meeting and the commission passed a motion requesting Town Manager John Musante implement an "early bidding process" so they can be accurate with Town Meeting money requests and then get an immediate start.

Without a fall start on the extensive renovation project there would not be enough time to get it done for reopening in the summer of 2012.

The Middle School Pool reopening to the general public in a joint effort between the town and the Regional Schools may not sound like a lot of hours (Mon-Fri 5-8 PM) but they correspond to the hours Mill River (outdoor) Pool is used for swim lessons and not available for general use. And the weekend hours 1-6 PM Saturday and Sunday are an extensive enough block for a family to make a day of it.

The total cost for the two months (July 1 opening, August 26 closing) is about $20,000 with three quarters of that expended for certified lifeguards and $4,500 payment to the School for electricity and chemicals.

Commission Chair Stan Ziomek questioned LSSE Director Linda Chalfant about whether it was true the night Town Meeting was told War Memorial Pool could not reopen because competent lifeguards could not be easily found (May 9). She responded that it's "never easy" but this tough economy made it easier and the reduced hours at the indoor pool requires less lifeguards.

The Middle School pool is a turn-key operation and requires no time consuming advance maintenance.

Families will be happy to hear the wading pools at Mill River and Groff Park will open 6/25 and the War Memorial Wading Pool will be open but not until July 2 because of a lack of electricity and water due to construction for the "comfort station" (bathroom). Mr Ziomek pointed out that the power line to the scoreboard was accidentally cut and the doner who paid for the scoreboard happened to be attending a game and was not happy about it.

A permanent electrical pole has been delayed because WMECO is busy with tornado related repairs in the region.

The 4th of July fireworks (a few hours after the 4th of July Parade) suffered a setback when a major sponsor pulled out leaving a $5,000 hole to fill. Mr. Ziomek asked if in place of the fireworks could the $10,000 pyrotechnic costs be donated to tornado relief efforts? Ms. Chalfant said vendors have been lined up who rely on crowds coming to see the show and sponsors have donated money for that particular event.

The fireworks will go on.