Commemorative flag and state flag on Amherst Town Hall
Despite the Amherst Select Board ignoring my plea last night to allow the 25 remaining commemorative flags to fly today in the downtown, at least two of the original 29 flags that ended up returning to their perch eleven years ago on a brilliant day much like today, will indeed fly.
After a slew of negative publicity eleven years ago the town commandeered one of the flags and started flying it 24/7, 365 days a year (like the big flag on the town common and police and fire stations) attached to a turrent in Town Hall.
Last week that American flag was joined by a state flag.
And I will be standing in town center with one of the original commemorative flags given to me by the Veterans Agent eleven years ago, the one I flew over Ground Zero on December 1, 2001 and later had flown over the capital building in Boston and Capital Dome in Washington, DC -- one of the targets of the hijackers that awful morning.
However you grieve, grieve for the 2,977 innocent citizens slaughtered that horrible, horrible day.
Threats of a tornado on Saturday night with high winds, rain and generally darker cooler conditions predominating, combined with an urgent sounding "stay indoors" alert from the Amherst Health Department became a "cops best friend" to help somewhat mitigate riotous partying on prime time Saturday night.
Thank God!
It was sooooo quiet, at one point just before midnight, I had to check my scanner to make sure it was on.
Based on Friday night's activity, had Saturday presented the same fair weather party conditions this past weekend could have set a new record, perhaps even exceeding the debauchery of the "Blarney Blowout" weekend last spring.
Even so, the party house of the weekend goes to a late Saturday night "storm-be-damned" usual suspect at 186 College Street, scene of an infamous incident only last winter that resulted in the temporary condemning of the building for safety reasons.
According to Amherst Police logs (1:50 AM):
Loud techno music with lights coming from 186 College Street. Uncooperative party goers verbally abusive to officers.
Arrested for noise:
Newman Galati, 1 old main Rd, N Falmouth, MA, age 20
Alan Momprousse, 237 Cummings Hgw, Roslindale, MA, age 19
Hali Cataldo, 109 Fairmount Ave, Saugus, MA, age 20
Juan Charry-Steevens, 22 Dale St, Peabody, MA, age 21
#####
Sean Micheli, 21 Park St, Malden, MA, age 21 arrested for noise and resisting arrest
And yes folks, that makes five of them cited for noise. APD usually only cites residents of the household which means the town's unrelated housemates bylaw (limit of four) is also being violated.
On Friday night just before midnight in front of 175 College Street (busy route 9), traffic was brought to
a standstill as taxis unloaded students to join other "uninvited guests" by the hundreds crashing a
party, broken up by APD, who had to dodge thrown bottles and cans, soon after this photo was taken (wonder what's
in the backpack?).
According to Detective Dave Foster, who was on the scene, it required 11 cops a half hour to quell the disturbance. One of the tenants was issued noise and nuisance house tickets ($600 total).
The historic old North Amherst trolley barn, compatriot to my next door neighbor, the Amherst DPW and their beloved "barn", did not survive the attempt to offset a recent major tilt and came crashing down like the Flying Wallendas circus pyramid act gone wrong.
Distorted like a giant alien Halloween mask
Conspiracy theorist instantly set to wonder, however, since the owner, Cinda Jones, wished to demolish it a couple years ago but was prevented by a one year "demolition delay" order of the Amherst Historical Commission.
All that remains is the view
The public safety hazard it presented was the main reason she cited for the demolition, as it could suddenly fall and do collateral damage. Like this for instance:
That demolition order expired July 28th, thus Ms. Jones was free to demolish it that very day, kind of like what Amherst College did with an old fence around one of their historic houses on college street. Now it will cost even more to dispose of the remaining rubble.
Historic preservation is a worthy, noble endeavor that dates back almost to the founding of our great nation (plus fifty years of course). But property rights -- "A man's home is his castle"-- dates back to the very day of our founding.
Once the pile is cleared and the area zoning changed, a new mixed use development (commercial and residential), one with a great view, will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of the old trolley barn. All aboard!
Original Trolley Barn Cowles Road North Amherst, built 1897. File Photo July, 2011
On Monday September the 10th, Massachusetts House of Representatives will vote on a bill to automatically require the American and state flag be flown at half staff to commemorate a police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty. The measure has already passed the state Senate.
On the day before 9/11, the anniversary of first responders great triumph and greater tragedy, I can't imagine it will have any problem passing. My only question is can someone get to the Governor for his signature by the morning of 9/11?
I can't think of a more fitting gesture to remember and honor those 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and 13 EMTs who gave so unselfishly to save thousands, setting a proud example for generations to come.
And so it begins...Well actually last week at this time it began, so I guess it should read, "Here we go again."
Amherst Police Department arrested ten "college aged" youth for open container or underage drinking violations, all within a beer can throw of UMass. APD also shut down a usual suspect party house (managed by Kendrick Management) at 80 Belchertown Road (busy Route 9) last night between 10:41 PM and 11:28 PM that required three patrol units to quell.
Because of the nature of the noise, litter, and number of under aged youth present at the party, the responsible tenants were arrested for Noise and Nuisance House violations ($600 total in fines for each).
Sean Behrendt, 99 Valley View, Sparten, NJ, age 21 (UMass student) Kurt Boyd, 7 Buckboard Dr, Westford, MA, age 21 (UMass student) Michael Couillard, 460 Mammoth Rd, Dracut, MA, age 20 (UMass student) Zachery Tucker, 1 Bittern Rd, Quincy, MA, age 20 (the exception)
So the accusations are starting to fly faster than quail frantically fleeing the hunter's birdshot.
The venerable Amherst Bulletin in today's editorial has strongly suggested I am an "extremist" for wishing to fly commemorative flags in the downtown to remember, commemorate, honor the 2,997 citizens slaughtered that awful day.
Well I suppose if I'm in the same camp as the Amherst firefighters, who issued a strong statement of support for flying the flags every 9/11, that's okay with me.
And Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe borderline resorts to libel/slander in the same Amherst Bulletin front page article by strongly suggesting I purposely, willfully "exploited people's misunderstanding and oversimplification of this issue."
Interestingly the article closes with an exchange between O'Keeffe and an ardent flag supporter who thanked her for clarifying the complications, but even so, still thought the commemorative flags should fly on 9/11. Sounds pretty reasonable to me.
Last night around 10:30 PM WWLP Ch 22 News put up another flag flap story stating unequivocally that I "questioned the patriotism" of Amherst and town manager John Musante on my Fox & Friends live appearance on Sunday morning.
They even interviewed an Amherst resident who was aghast that I would dare to question their patriotism. Only thing is I never even remotely suggested that. The interviewee probably got it from the Gazette coverage where Ms. O'Keeffe is complaining about uninformed viewers questioning her patriotism.
Bu you would think the reporter could have at least watched the five-minute-30-second Fox interview, or maybe contacted me for comment/fact checking. She had been stalking me on Twitter for the past two weeks, so it's not like it would have been hard for her to reach me.
I notice this morning the story has been pulled from wwlp.com
Busy Snell Street reopened to normal traffic yesterday, after being closed since August 13 during business hours Monday through Friday for the Snell Street (bike path) Bridge replacement.
According to Victoria Sheehan, DOT program manager, "The project is on schedule with an anticipated completion date of October 12, 2012. The bridge is being raised from 10’-1” to 11’-1” (12 inches).
