Blarney Blowout Fallout Continues

 Did the "Blarney Blowout" downtown cause riot in North Amherst?

The normally staid Amherst Select Board became uncharacteristically animated this evening when discussing the events of last weekend where riotous behavior on the day of the now infamous "Blarney Blowout" pushed our first responders to the breaking point.

And with all our ambulances and police patrol personnel tied up dealing with drunken college aged youths, average citizens who fund both departments with their tax dollars would have been left waiting if an emergency had occurred.   

 

Vice Chancellor for University Relations John Kennedy

Select Board member Jim Wald seemed to think UMass was trying to blame the town for the riotous event at Townhouse apartments simply because the "Barney Blowout" bar promotion was allowed to occur downtown this year.  SB member Alisa Brewer went so far as to say it was "flat out ludicrous"  and she was "ashamed" of the Letter to the Editor penned by administrator John Kennedy making that association.



The always sedate town manager announced a set of initiatives to address the problem as we head into peak springtime weather:  Musante has asked UMass to keep Health Services open later on weekends to help deal with drunken students, and to provide two staffed ambulances.

He has also requested increased joint patrols between APD and UMPD around the problem areas such as Townhouse Apartments and has authorized AFD Chief Nelson to use overtime to add staffing during the problems weekends coming up.

Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe pointed out that even after her strong lobbying effort prior to the Blarney Blowout, the University did not send out a mass email to all students warning about bad behavior.  She said they were afraid it would serve to "advertise" the event.  

O'Keeffe said the charges and counter charges now ricocheting between the University and the Town demonstrate a "sign of frustration."

Well at least they are not throwing cans and bottles at each other ... yet.

The Republican Reports/Suggests

Fireground: East Hadley Road Command

 The Boulders, South Amherst

A fire broke out on the upper floor apartment of the The Boulders Apartment complex in South Amherst around 1:30 this afternoon.  The complex has been undergoing exterior renovations over the past few months but the apartment that caught fire was occupied.

Fortunately no injuries to tenants or firefighters.

AFD Chief Tim Nelson in command

AFD equipment on scene

 

 Muddy conditions and a construction container inhibited access

Firefighter mopping up

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A couple hours later AFD responds to a brush fire on Bay Road in deeper South Amherst. Careless disposal of ashes

DUI Dishonor Roll

U Drink, U Drive, U Need A Lawyer (or a Mortician)

While Mr. Sermeno was not charged with driving under the influence, he was arrested for driving in the heart of downtown Amherst after his license had been suspended for refusing to take a chemical test only the week before.  Yes, APD is sagacious when it comes to potentially impaired drivers.

Amherst police seized the license plates, had the vehicle towed, and escorted Eneida Aracelli Sermeno to jail.

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On March 13 at 1:00 a.m. Mr. Pavlenkov made a right turn on red where he should not have, and that turned up all sorts of other problems:

 

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And run of the mill speeding by Joshue Baldwin early on the morning of 3/14 led to a bevy of charges, including DUI:

On March 15 around 1:35 a.m. a lights violation brought added attention to Rob Orlando on South Pleasant Street, not far from town center. He was arrested for DUI:

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And at almost the exact same time in the heart of the North Amherst commercial center, a failure to stop/yield led to a bevy of more serious charges for Matthew Caliri:


 

There's A Place For Us

"Most Fabulous Story Ever Told"  has certainly stimulated "discussion"

A High School announces a play, adults are insulted, controversy rages: letters to the editor, editorials, the ACLU -- via Bill Newman -- enters the fray, and before the curtain rises folks form picket lines holding signs championing both side of the issue.

Sound familiar?

Well if you're from Amherst, the PC capital of the Happy Valley, all too familiar.  But what I find fascinating is the Amherst Regional High School principal in 1999, Scott Goldman, allowed "West Side Story" to be cancelled because of "racial stereotyping."   Really.

Yes, for the first and only time in history a production of "West Side Story" was censored.  In overly enlightened Amherst, of all places.  Although a few years later it went on without controversy at a high school in nearby Holyoke, which has a much higher Hispanic population.  

Whereas only five years later Amherst became the only high school in the nation to allow teenaged girls to perform "The Vagina Monologues."

But now 14 years later Mr. Goldman, principal of Pioneer Valley Performing Arts charter school, stands firm defending "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told."  I wish he had shown that kind of backbone 14 years ago.

Why is it okay to censor art as "sensitivity" to perceived racism but not to protect against perceived blasphemy?

What high school kid does not like to tweak adults, create controversy, and garner their 15 minutes of fame early in life?  

Of course "art" should stimulate discussion and challenge the status quo, but sometimes it seems high schools pick their plays simply for the side benefit of free advertising brought on by all the controversy.

A generation from now "The Vagina Monologues" and "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told" will be long forgotten.  "West Side Story" however, will still be dancing up a storm. 

Aerial Heirloom

Camperdown Elm at Pratt Field briefly slips the surly bonds of earth 

After spending pretty much the whole day yesterday preparing the precious Camperdown Elm for its brief but important journey of 30 yards, but then deciding to bring in a bigger 100 ton crane, today's effort went off perfectly.

A BIGGER 100 ton crane did the trick

About a dozen workers from Bartlett Tree Experts demonstrated why "experts" are part of their name and made the successful move this morning in a little less than two hours.

Only one branch from the top of the Camperdown Elm snapped off at the initial start of the launch, bringing an audible reaction from the small crowd who gathered to watch the spectacle.

 Relocation of the Camperdown Elm completed

Handle With Care

A bevy of workers prepare the Camperdown Elm for a safe move 

A large crew from Connecticut based Bartlett Tree Experts spent pretty much the whole day trying to move the stately Camperdown Elm from the center of harm's way at Amherst College Pratt Field, but in the end gave up for the day and sent out for a bigger crane.  Yes, I said a b-i-g-g-e-r crane.

Work is expected to resume tomorrow, if the crane arrives.

Crews abandoned the effort today to await a BIGGER crane

Camperdown Elm, all wrapped up and ready to go

Our Next US Senator Comes A Calling

Curt Shumway, owner of the Marriott Hotel talking to Dan Winslow on right/center

Good crowd turned out to welcome Winslow back to the Happy Valley

Dan Winslow center:   Hard to miss in a green tie

The Republican Reports