Judge agrees: No it is!

M.N. Spear Library, Shutesbury

After hearing two hours of testimony on Monday, April 23 from both sides of the contentious Shutesbury Library Override debate , Judge Mary-Lou Rup decided in favor of the two challenged no votes but threw out two yes votes thus changing the original January 10 tie vote to 522-520, meaning the $3.5 million renovation Override failure is upheld.

"Friends of the Library" filed suit to have two "No" votes voided, those of Richard and Joan Paczkowski, who winter in Florida but spend nine months annually in Shutesbury in a home they have owned there for thirty five years.

Attorney Alan Seewald represented the NO side, and he argued that if the Paczkowski's votes are ruled out then the judge should also throw out Jessica Buck (wife of Chris Buck, who already had his vote ruled out by the Board of Registrars on January 25 because he signed a legal document in Kentucky a month before the Shutesbury vote giving up his right to vote anywhere else) and attorney Michael Pill's grown children Shoshana Holzberg-Pill  and Jacob Holzberg-Pill who live and reside in New York and California respectively.

The Judge's decision to uphold Richard and Joan Paczkowski's right to vote in their hometown combined with agreeing with Attorney Seewald's argument for nixing the yes votes of Shoshana Holzberg-Pill  and Jacob Holzberg-Pill brings the final vote tally to 522-520.

Judge Rup's Decision

Town Meeting "Shame"

 

Cherry Hill Golf Course:  Whistling in the rain

Last night after more than an hour of discussion Amherst Town Meeting turned down an amendment to add $67,000 to the "Human Services Budget" for non profit agencies performing vital safety net functions for those most in need.  As the 111-67 tally vote was announced, a disgruntled supporter said--loud enough for the Moderator to hear--"Shame!"

Within minutes Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to approve the municipal Cherry Hill Golf Course budget with almost no discussion.  Last year Cherry Hill lost $40,000 and this year (which ends June 30) revenues thus far are down 17% so safe bet they will lose at least that much once again.

And in 2014 they have $135,000 in equipment replacement scheduled, meaning they go back to the good ol' days of annual six-digit losses.  Meanwhile the hungry in Amherst, stay hungry.  "Shame" indeed.

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Posted to the privately owned Town Meeting Listserve:

I feel I have to write this to my fellow Town Meeting Members. I was ashamed by
the way some of my fellow members acted the other night upon the defeat of
adding $66,000 to the budget. The boos and yells of shame is not why I joined
Town Meeting. I believe we need to respect one another opinions and respect
each others as adults. I felt those people yelling what they did was immature
and child-like because they did not get their way. (that is my interpretation) .
Respecting others views is what a democracy is about, by doing what you did is a
way of intimidation. I hope this does not ever happen again.
Thank you for reading and I hope respecting what I wrote
Barry Federman
Precinct 5

House Poet

The Dickinson Homestead's green grounds have transitioned from a Civil War encampment site to a  giant monopoly board with "little white houses" springing up everywhere, bringing three dimensional aliveness to the words of Amherst's most famous resident, The Belle of Amherst, our own beloved reclusive genius, Miss Emily Dickinson.

"Little White Houses" meets "A Poetic Dialogue" in Sweetser Park

The topographical art project--40 little houses with Miss Emily's evocative words stenciled all around--encompasses the entire  museum grounds as well as Sweetser Park, joining a previous art installation, silhouettes of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost. 

Also included in the sprawling display are a trio of historic neighbors:  The Evergreens, Woman's Club and Hills House, all of which occupy the proposed Local Historic District, a controversial zoning article Amherst Town Meeting will discuss and vote later this month.


The Little White House Project opens Thursday, May 10 and runs through Saturday, June 30. Opening Reception May 12 at the Emily Dickinson Museum. Admission is free.

What you lookin at?

No trip to Vermont is complete without a moose sighting (my 5-year-old wanted to ride him)

Occupy Miss Emily

So in addition to a throng of outsiders who descended on Amherst for the Extravaganja pot festival or UMass Soccerfest on Saturday, a small group of historic Civil War reenactors also set up camp on the Dickinson Homestead east lawn, less than a musket shot from town center.

Had it occurred during her lifetime Miss Emily probably would not have noticed, since her upstairs windows faced south towards Amherst College and west towards downtown.

But she certainly took note of the great fire that devastated "merchants row"--most of the downtown--in the dead of night, July 4, 1879.   Her reclusive room became a front row seat:  "We were waked by the ticking of the bells--the bells tick in Amherst for a fire, to tell the firemen.  I sprang to the window, and each side of the curtain saw that awful sun.  The moon was shining  high at the time and the birds singing like trumpets."

Her ever protective younger sister told her it was only fireworks celebrating the July 4th holiday.   "Vinnie's only the 4th of July I shall always remember.  I think she will tell us so when we die, to keep us from being afraid."

Less than seven years later, set against a rising fog, Miss Emily was called back.  As always, loyal Lavinia was near at hand--perhaps whispering reassuringly that everything would be okay. 

Civil War camp, east lawn Dickinson Homestead

Party Houses of the Weekend

1. 

26 Allen Street, Amherst (Gateway to UMass/Amherst)

So yes, you would have to go some in order to win the ignominious Party House prize over the past weekend when Amherst was about as busy as it could possibly get with many of those folks in a party mood.  Although Extravaganja attracted the usual thousands to town center it was also--as usual--a well behaved event.  Well, except for a numerous tickets handed out for pot consumption.

Our Party House winners, on the other hand, stood out from the crowd precisely because everybody around them was NOT making obnoxiously loud noise very late at night or throwing bottles.  And as a result offenders received $300 noise tickets (as opposed to pot possession tickets that only carry a $100 fine) and were arrested and thrown in jail, as opposed to the pot rally where nobody was arrested.

According to APD logs (2:00 AM early Saturday)

Report of loud party, loud music, and people throwing bottles at the house across the street
Loud voices on porch from gathering of individuals.  No cooperation received from tenants or guests.  Brad Sloan attempted to close door on officer and then refused to leave when asked to do so.  Sloan begins to resist arrest when I attempted to place him under arrest.  

Brad Thomas Sloan, 33 Allston Brighton, MA, age 25  Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest
Lauren C. Mark, 25 Sunset Trail, New Fairfield, CT, age 21, noise violation
Laura Kristin Moynihan, 151 18th St, Lowell, MA, age 20, noise violation

Ownership card for 26 Allen Street

 

50 High Street, Amherst (my immediate neighbor 50 years ago)

 1:30 AM early Sunday morning

Loud party with music and voices upon arrival . Ms Simpson was asked to clear the party and she did not.  She was advised of consequences and still would not clear the party.  She was placed under arrest for noise violation.

Apparently officers gave her three chances to comply and at one point she shut off the music and lights saying to her friends police had "no right to be here and no right to shut down the party."  And when she did turn the lights on after failing to clear the guests, that she described as too drunk to leave, officers noted one of them standing in the window striking a pose with his middle finger prominently up in the air.  

Arrested for noise:
Anna Francis Simpson, 50 High Street, Amherst, age 32

Ownership card for 48/50 High Street

And just so the apartment complexes get almost equal representation, we have Puffton Village. Unit #398  to be exact.  Also very early Sunday morning, or very late depending on your viewpoint.  6:48 AM to be exact.

According to police logs:

A loud stereo was blaring coupled with yelling and laughter.  Guests of the residence were also on the roof rolling full cans of beer down the tin roofs while jumping up and down causing a thumping noise.  The resident was placed under arrest.

Joseph Hebard Barry, 109 Oakton Ave, Boston, MA, age 20 Noise violation

You don't bring me flowers

A swarm of runners heads towards the flowers in Amherst's 2nd annual Daffodil Fun Run

While maybe not quite as large as the throng who attended the Extravaganja pot festival in town center yesterday, it was good to see such a large turnout for a healthier endeavor like the Daffodil Fun Run, a 3.1 mile run/walk past scenic spots in Amherst that attracted over 1,000 participants with all the proceeds going to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, an iconic local social service agency.

An almost equally large swarm of walkers headed up the rear of the pack