Fireground: Hampshire Mall Hadley

 Hadley FD Ladder Truck at Cafe Square entrance

Smoke in the food court reported by Hampshire Mall security around 9:30 PM emanating from Fuji Chen Chinese restaurant. Hadley Police and mall security have evacuated the mall. Fire crews up on the roof. Ladder truck deployed at main entrance.

(11:05 PM)  Found the source: a burned out coil in the restaurant air conditioning unit.

Boltwood Place: View From Above

St Brigid's Church, UMass Library looking northwest from Boltwood Place

Boltwood Place tweeted yesterday that the elevator was fully operational, so I couldn't resist hitching a ride to the top floor and then climbing a very secure, ladder-like metal stairway up onto the roof for a breathtaking view on this most gorgeous day of the year.  Amherst could not have looked better.

First Congregational Church, center, Amherst Police Department on right, southeast view

The all-steel frame building is mummified in insulation and heavily soundproofed, so late night downtown noise, or the fire station emergency sirens will not be a problem. The five story, mixed use building, expected to have full occupancy by September, will be LEED certified.

Amherst Fire Department on right, looking west

All 12 apartments have lots of glass for viewing pleasure. Exterior will be finished in red cedar




 

Boltwood Place sits on 3,500 square foot footprint, but upper floors are almost 4,000 square feet

Looking southwest Amherst town center

Like a brewery, Boltwood Place owners are proud enough of their intricate mechanicals to put them on ground floor display. Gas heated water boilers are 96% efficient.  650 square feet of commercial space also located on ground floor along  with main entryway and storage area.

A Fitting Tribute

 A cutting edge building

Since he was unique, I find it fitting that the George N Parks Minuteman Marching Band Building at UMass is the first of its kind on the Amherst campus to acquire LEED gold certification.  Perhaps if George had paced himself a little more over the years, conserving psychic energy, he would still be with us today.

 George N Parks leads his beloved band on the site of his new building

But he always put everything he had into each and every performance, leading the Power and Class and Class of New England...until there was nothing left to give.

Shine on George N Parks

A Vitriolic Debate

The debate over article #25, Form Based Zoning for North Amherst Village Center, veered towards testy a couple times and in both cases from opponents who would eventually rule the day--but only because, in zoning, a minority can obstruct the will of the majority.


Nathan Turowsky, a rare UMass student member of Town Meeting, described by another youthful rookie member as  "an adorable dorky kid" came close to being escorted from the podium by the constable.  Not so adorable.

And over on the privately owned Amherst Town Meeting listserve a vociferous opponent came back to a positive post from Nancy Buffone, UMass Executive Director of External Relations and fairly long-time Amherst resident, by calling her a "buffoon"-- although he quickly apologized:

 "Today I realized that no matter which side ends up winning tonight, I will have lost. I get no pleasure out of this kind of strife and nastiness that's been going back and forth. I'm probably one of the more guilty folk but I am not alone. The bottom line is that I feel drained and depressed. I probably will not watch Town Meeting tonight because I really can't win win no matter what  the vote is. This has taken a lot out of me."

After article #25 failed to garner a two-thirds super-majority, losing 137-73, there are indeed no winners.

It is what it is

 AFD Chief Tim Nelson

Maybe it's a Holyoke thing, as former Police Chief Anthony Scott was widely known and respected for his "call them as he sees them" soundbites the local media thrived on.  Maybe Fire Chief Tim Nelson picked it up from Scott, or maybe--since Nelson served that rough and tumble city for 29 years--the other way around.

While calling a group of Hampshire College kids "idiots" for climbing up on a high roof, in the rain, late at night, may upset the genteel lily white Wimbledon sense of protocol so prevalent in our little town, it certainly was accurate...and succinct.

As the Chief pointed out three months ago when AFD responded to rescue another idiot, "The guy on the mountain made a bad choice but he had a choice. Those people who truly need our help don't have a choice."

Besides, the Chief had just endured almost three hours of Amherst Town Meeting (waiting to defend fire department equipment requests contained in an upcoming capital article), which would put any sane person in a surly mood.

Cost for the 48 minute rescue:  $550

Guess who's coming to town?

Fanelli Amusements returns to Amherst Town Common

Nothing says small town (village center) feel better than the traveling carnival, sponsored by the Amherst Rotary Club, setting up for  a weekend of good old fashioned fun.  Rides, games, fried food, flashing lights, and a throng of teenagers just learning to strut.  What more could you ask for?  (Besides sunny weather).

Zoning Deja Vu (all over again)

 Amherst Town Meeting

Despite a last minute compromise motion half heartedly supported by the Amherst Select Board, the North Amherst Village Center form based rezoning failed to clear that high hurdle of a two thirds vote, as Amherst Town Meeting once again turned down a badly needed pro-business measure by a 137 "no" to 73 "yes" vote, close to last weeks rejection of the same zoning change for Atkins Corner in South Amherst, which failed 130-78.

Once again the stigma of rowdy student undergrad housing takes its toll on progress.  Hey UMass, you listening?