At the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee meeting this afternoon tree warden Alan Snow made it perfectly clear that his main priority is not to work with Western Mass Electric Company to "blue sky" power lines so that we citizens stay warm, comfortable and plugged in should inclement weather disrupt our urban canopy this fall or winter, potentially sending us all back into the dark ages.
And it's not to maintain the aesthetic beauty or practical environmental benefits provided by our tall friends either.
No, it's simply to try to make sure large limbs or entire trunks do not crash down on innocent bystanders, their cars or homes. In other words, risk aversion.
Committee Chair Hope Crolius reiterated how "surprised" the entire committee was when viewing the "trimming" in South Amherst, which at the previous meeting she described as the "slaughter on South East Street."
The Tree Warden responded that the electric utility calls it "enhanced trimming" and he did veto half of what WMECO wanted to whack. Half!
Maybe they were going to hire the Air Force for a napalm strike.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Hope to Hopeless
E Pleasant Street Sugar Maple in the Public Way
Yes, in the arbor genocide currently taking place throughout Amherst the victims are marked with a yellow ribbon--in some cases resembling the ribbon-like tie that was so popular as a car magnet to support our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Corner Triangle Street and Kellogg Avenue: Red Maple in the Public Way
South East Street Friday
South East Street Saturday
South East Street Friday
South East Street Saturday
The Grim Reaper
UPDATE 7/13/12 Looks like they found some different colored ribbon:
Shays Street
We know where you are
According to APD logs:
While doing area search a passing motorist stated he just observed suspicious white male in back yard on Henry Street who fled to railroad tracks. Jacobsen observed walking down tracks where he was taken into custody. Turned over at the scene to Massachusetts State Police.
Phillip Jacobsen, 78 Pelham Hill Rd, Shutesbury, MA, age 24, Arrested for Assault to Murder, domestic A&B
Some of you may remember Mr. Jacobsen as he was a test case in a public documents fight two years ago between the Daily Hampshire Gazette (when they were a tad less arthritic) and Northampton Police Department.
The Gazette requested his mug shot after he was arrested for--you guessed it--beating and attempting to murder his former girlfriend. NPD denied the request claiming the photo was protected because of Criminal Offender Record Information.
State Supervisor of Public Records Alan Cote sided with the Gazette and the photo was released. But the decision was appealed and another ruling simply left it up to individual police departments as to whether mug shots could be released.
In this morning's Gazette police log article, no mug shot or previous background accompanies the brief of Mr. Jacobsen's most recent exploits.
Phillip Huckleberry Jacobsen
Monday, July 9, 2012
Road Hazard
So for the second time this year a drunk driver ended up in front of my house, with the accompanying APD blue lights awakening my wife. I suppose if you have to be inconvenienced by a drunk driver, sleep interruption is far preferable to some of the other alternatives.
According to APD logs (3:16 AM early Sunday morning):
Pursuit initiated after suspect vehicle struck and heavily damaged a car in traffic. Vehicle failed to stop and continued on after patrol car activated emergency blue lights. Operator continued to speed away as his car disintegrated posing a significant public safety threat to any vehicles that would venture out as well as to himself. Pursuit continued for a little over one mile. Vehicle finally stopped adjacent to the DPW. The operator was ordered from the vehicle, and upon exiting still had not secured his vehicle. The car rolled several feet but stopped due to significant damage. Party placed in custody for "failure to submit" to a police officer and additional charges.
According to an additional officer:
Front passenger tire was so heavily damaged it fell off during pursuit. During interaction at scene clear signs of impairment were detected. Montenegro refused field sobriety test and was combative and highly uncooperative. Bail set at $2,5000.
Joseph T. Montenegro, 8 Kim Circle, Toland, CT, age 21:
Arrested for OUI liquor--2nd offense, operating to endanger, leaving scene of accident, failure to stop for police, speeding, marijuana possession.
You Can Beat City Hall
Well in this case, Amherst Town Hall.
So I had my 10:00 AM appeals hearing with Town Collector Claire McGinnis and gave her my story: No signs at the behind Town Hall hidden parking lot to inform us hapless motorists that parking enforcement is until 8:00 PM rather than 6:00 PM as it is in the more prominently located lots in front of Town Hall, with accompanying large signs prominently displaying those 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM hours.
So she voided my ticket received on a gorgeous Friday night 6:05 PM on my way to the truly tasteful Taste of Amherst. Guess now I do not have to create a "I hate parking in Amherst" website....
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Sizzling Sunday
Kid safe shallow end of the pool
Mother Nature must feel guilty about the pounding she gave us last October 29 with that freak once in a lifetime snowstorm, because all the milestone outdoor events since then--town fair, Taste of Amherst, and now the grand opening of the long awaited War Memorial Pool--have been blessed with perfect weather.
WGGB Channel 40 TV shows up to interview acting town manager Dave Ziomek and happy participants.
New England Youth Lacrosse All Star Tournament increased car traffic dramatically
Kira poised to plunge
Jada the jet ready to launch
5:45 PM All's well that ends well
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Google Stain
Lately I've been getting a slew of hits from a site called "something awful" (about one quarter way down page 7). Yeah, the name--with a hand grenade for an avatar--definitely got my attention.
Fortunately my sitemeters act like informative high-tech sensors on the Starship Enterprise, letting me know how readers come to me, what search terms they use, and where they are from. When someone posts a link to me on another website, like a message board or Facebook, it is especially noticeable.
Apparently a Cowardly Anon Nitwit who can't spell my name correctly tried to link me with an amoral idiot who founded "Blabermouth," a for-profit website that posts mug shots and arrest records--all public documents of course--but then goes a tad beyond the pale by blackmailing those individuals posted with threats of added exposure if they do not pay $100- $200 to have their names and photos removed from his website.
As usual the law has a hard time keeping up with new technology, so it may actually be legal...at the moment. Either way, peer pressure and public shaming seems to have torpedoed the nefarious enterprise. Fortunate for the founder because--considering the demographic he was hustling--a safe bet termination of the physical kind was just around the corner.
Since starting my "Party House of the Weekend" series almost two years ago, I've had numerous requests (by email, Facebook messages, phone calls and in one case a knock at the door) to delete published names and in a (very) few cases have actually complied: When offenders verify they have paid the fines and actually seem remorseful about their irresponsible, obnoxious, illegal activities.
Growing up in Amherst fifty years ago I vividly recall my mother, a public school teacher, worrying about anything negative that could forever stain your "permanent record." I was never quite sure if she was talking about school files, which only cover K-12 activity, or police logs...or both.
These days, with the mighty all-powerful Google, it really doesn't matter--especially when you join forces with the First Amendment and Massachusetts Division of Open Government.
For better or worse, public exposure is only a click away.
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