How would Miss Emily vote?

The Amherst of old (before UMass/Amherst became the giganormous flagship of higher education) was a L-O-T more conservative than we are today.  So I would have to imagine our beloved reclusive poet Emily Dickinson -- never able to vote in her lifetime -- would have supported our current Senator, Scott Brown and Republican challenger, and former Governor of our liberal state, Mitt Romney for President.

And since she was brilliant, Miss Emily would also have been smart enough not to tell anyone in the Amherst of today how she voted.

Bye-Bye Party Boys

Peter Clark: “As long as I’m here, there will always be a party to go to.”

So it looks like UMass finally took the hint and took out rowdy ringleader Party Boys Peter Clark and Emerson Rutkowski.  No, not with a predator drone strike, as our military does with terrorist hierarchy in Pakistan.

But whatever means they used, the less than dynamic duo no longer show up in the official UMass People finder database.

And they most certainly did on the morning I published this two weeks ago.  Now if only UMass would do the same with Paul Markham, we could really open a bottle of sparkling cider to celebrate.

Considering she misspelled my surname, I hope Chelsea was not in a Journo class

Party Apartment of the Weekend

Presidential Apartments, half-mile from UMass

In case you think the almost zero tolerance displayed by Amherst Police Department for noise/nuisance dwellings is not working I offer the following, normally not newsworthy events, occurring late Saturday night: Police received a call from Phi Sigma Kappa, a Frat located at 510 N Pleasant Street for help clearing a large throng of college aged youth who had showed up looking for a party and were now lingering in their parking lot.

APD and UMPD were happy to oblige and the potential party goers were quickly sent on their way.

And just before midnight a young woman on South East Street (far from the UMass campus) called for help dealing with hundreds of young adults who had showed up to her party "uninvited" and would not leave.  Amherst police convinced them to vacate and the cooperative party host was not ticketed.

Presidential Apartments (#82), on the other hand, was a less than cooperative scenario.  Police were called early Sunday morning (1:09 AM) for "loud noise coming from the basement."  A party of 25 was cleared out but the party goers belligerence, resulting in three arrests.

Louis Zachery Jacobson, 115 Converse St, Longmeadow, Ma, age 21 arrested for Noise and Nuisance violations
Austin J. Seabury, 130 Westmoreland Ave, Longmeadow, Ma, age 20 arrested for under 21 possession alcohol
Lucas Manzi, 148 Grassy Gatter Rd, Springfield, Ma, age 19 arrested for Disorderly conduct, Resisting arrest

On Sunday around noon in a follow up report concerning 11 noise complaints over the weekend an officer, in response to "ongoing problems with parties being held in the basement of Presidential Apartments", sent an email to property manager Kamins Real Estate, putting them on notice.  

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Police also arrested a perp for doing something stupid on Amherst Police Department headquarters (which I assume has 24/7 security cameras EVERYWHERE).  Last week three nitwits leaving their cell threw debris in the front entryway and were ticketed for littering, and this weekend at 1:50 AM Dax Tucker was arrested for "disorderly conduct" for peeing on the station's brick wall. 

Fire: A Dangerous Joke!

 Toy Box N. Pleasant Street, Amherst (my childrens favorite store)

Amherst police are investigating back-to-back incidents of arson that occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday (3:28 AM), striking two businesses close to downtown Amherst. 

Smoke was coming from the door of The Toy Box on the northern end of town center, possibly from a pizza box used as kindling, and only moments later police responded to the eastern end of town center for reports of two individuals "lighting a table on fire" at The Lumberyard restaurant on Main Street.  When police arrived, a wicker table was ablaze.  AFD quickly extinguished the fire.

 Lumberyard Restaurant (left) Main Street, Amherst

One of the perps is described as "Asian with glasses" and the other was wearing white green sweatshirt.

In late December 2009 a one night, 15 fires arson spree left two individuals -- an elderly father and his mentally disabled son -- dead, and the entire city of Northampton terrorized.  Anthony Baye was arrested for arson and murder but his taped confession to State Police investigators was later thrown out by the courts.

Message for Troubled Times

Homeless Person, Kendrick Park, Sunday morning

UPDATE: Monday morning
 A few hours after this photo was taken Amherst Police arrested Michael Chayet after receiving reports of a male party "possibly homeless" yelling at people and urinating in public. When the officer approached Mr. Chayet he threatened to "punch him in the face."

When Bad Things Happen

American spirit in action 

Once again we are reminded of the common bond that ties us all:  life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  And common decency.

Today for hours on end, Western Mass residents of all ages, race, creed and color descended on a parking lot in Amherst bringing desperately needed  supplies for our friends in New York devastated by a natural disaster.

 Truck #1 around noon

The first 17-foot truck filled up just after high noon taking only two hours to complete, and a second 15-foot truck was full by 2:00 PM the scheduled close of the event.  Both trucks left together for the trip into the city where they will go to a staging area for unloading.

 2nd truck done at 2:00 PM.  A tired Sydne Didier on left

Event coordinator Sydne Didier expressed concern over the availability of gasoline, so everybody keep your fingers crossed.  Although when she filled up over in Northampton a woman noticed the signage on the sides of the trucks and gave them $100 cash.

Lots of dog and cat food. Even some for rabbits

My view from inside the truck

  UPDATE: 7:30 PM SUCCESS! Truck being unloaded in NYC 

TV Ch 22 Reports (TV reporters get such cool jackets)

Wounded Again: New York, NY

My Facebook and corporeal friend and neighbor Sydne Didier is spearheading a drive to pack up a 17-foot truck loaded (we hope) with relief supplies for New York City, leaving Amherst tomorrow afternoon.  If you can spare any of the materials you stocked up on for storm Sandy, please drop them off Saturday between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM at the Amherst Common School, 521 South Pleasant Street.

Because truly, there but for the grace of God ...

Donation List:

Blankets, candles, flashlights, batteries, water, food, socks, towels, printer paper, baby items: diapers etc. pet food, Propane grille or camping style oven, plates, cups, forks, bowls, spoons, etc jackets, gloves, hats, anything to keep folks warm, cleaning supplies - buckets, squeegies, mops, bleach masks, gloves for cleaning tarps garbage bags

Boxes of 12" candles left over from 10 years ago when Yankee Candle donated over 3,000 for the 1st anniversary of 9/11 candlelight vigil on the Amherst Town Common will be on their way to New York.