Doctor, Doctor, Give Me The News

The parking lot at 17 Research Drive, Amherst was overflowing all late afternoon yesterday -- ironically enough, just the thing a well-connected NIMBY was concerned about -- but this was for a special one-off occasion:  the gala grand opening celebration of the Atkinson Family Practice medical building.

Dr Kate was her usual smiling self as was husband Steve.  Kate announced to the exuberant crowd the building was named in his honor for being such a rock of support in the multi-year project that at times mimicked the sentencing of Sisyphus to push a large boulder up a steep hillside.

But all's well that ends well, and for the thousands of patients who rely on Dr. Kate for good health, it could not have culminated any better. 

Steve and Kate Atkinson

Media Shake Up

 Larry Parnass

One of the most recognizable names still left at the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Editor in Chief Larry Parnass, was apparently fired today ... however, after swift heated reaction directed at publisher Jim Foudy and Aaron Julien, President CEO of Newspapers of New England, the decision was reversed.

Parnass started with the paper in 1988, back when print was in its prime. And even though the Gazette was quick to expand to the Internet w-a-y back in 1996, their use of social media is pretty much phoned in.  And it shows.

Interestingly the sudden, surprising news broke via competitors, Northampton Media and WHMP radio, which underscores one of the problems with the Gazette:  lack of immediacy.

Although Gazette reporter Bob Dunn did tweet the news about the decision reversal.

More on Monday.  Maybe.

BREAKING: NNE reverses prior decision: Larry Parnass remains on board as DHG Editor in Chief (and there was much rejoicing)
— Bob Dunn (@BDGazette) April 12, 2013

Larry Parnass is as good and smart a man as I know. Glad to hear Northampton would not stand for his sacking.
— Ben Storrow (@bstorrow) April 12, 2013

Bob Dunn is a Gazette reporter, Ben Storrow is a former Gazette reporter

An Extensive List

So you know that private meeting held on public property between high-ranking UMass bureaucrats, town officials and a few landlords that I complained to the Attorney General about for barring my presence?

Well guess how many local landlords were invited?

2,500 -- give or take.

And since only 11 showed up that's a response rate of .0044%.  Reminds me of  the voter turnout for the local election Amherst just held.

The only landlord I was curious about was Stephan Gharabegian, King of the Decadent street (Phillips Street).  Strikes me as kind of inept that he was not even invited. 

As he is the Poster Boy for Bad Boy landlords.

Back story via emails

And In This Corner ...

This weekend-- and perhaps more so for Rusko next weekend -- the beefed up Amherst Fire Department will be put to the test as the Mullins Center hosts back-to-back techno music concerts, well know providers of ETOH calls (alcohol poisoning).

And in the other corner: AFD A3 

With 13 professional full-time firefighters on duty, the plan is to staff all six ambulances thus leaving only one firefighter for "station coverage."  

And when five ambulances are all tied up carting drunks to Cooley Dickinson Hospital and a call comes in for a 9 month old baby choking or a 92 year old grandmother having a stroke we will all be thankful for that sixth ambulance -- especially if it's your loved one they rescue.

Standing orders are that last ambulance would go to the scene of the emergency without hesitation, and who could argue with that?

The problem is that leaves only one firefighter left to protect the town, who can't do a heck of a lot.  Then what happens when the dreadful call come in:  "Box Alarm. Three story wood structure. Fully involved".  

And, even worse, it's located in deep South Amherst.

Yes, the Student Force based at North Station would respond, as would mutual aid from South Hadley, Belchertown, Hadley and Northampton, but that would take extra time.  

And in a major structure fire, time is on the side of the demon.

Sophie's Choice

 

Pin Oak marked for death

If nothing changes over the next few weeks Alan Snow -- recently voted "Tree Warden of the year" by the Massachusetts Tree Wardens & Foresters Association -- will sign a death warrant for one of the majestic, towering, healthy pin oak's that has stood guard over Kellogg Avenue for 113 years.

Even when the Shade Tree Committee votes to save the tree, the tree warden can overrule them.  And even if he agrees to their recommendation of mercy, the final authority rests with the Amherst Select Board.

Click to read (and then show up)

Dr. George Stone, Professor of Botany at Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst (now know to all as UMass/Amherst) and our town's very first tree warden and founder of the Massachusetts Tree Wardens & Foresters Association planted them with his very own hands, only a few years before he died.

That rumbling sound you will hear next month will be Dr. Stone rolling over in his grave (or his ghost chasing Mr. Snow with a chain saw).

Like most targeted tree strikes the big beautiful oak is in the right place at the wrong time, standing in a spot the Unitarian Universalist Society wishes to occupy with an expansion of their downtown church.

Yes the same church that is requesting $106,250 from Amherst Town Meeting next month in Community Preservation Act Historical Preservations funds to restore their equally beautiful Tiffany stained glass window, "The Angel of the Lilies."

According to their CPA proposal (which the town committee unanimously approved): "An addition on the east side of the meetinghouse and upgrades to the existing structure are to commence in May 2013. Because the Angel of the Lilies must be removed for its own protection during this work, this is an ideal time to undertake the critically needed steps to preserve it for the benefit of future generations."

So in order to preserve one priceless treasure another must be sacrificed? Amherst College recently spent $100,000 moving their stately Camperdown Elm a few yards to protect it from a major renovation of Pratt Field.

As a newly minted member of Amherst Town Meeting (having already served for 20 years) I'm proud to say I have never voted against a historical preservation article, but if the church puts this towering treasure to death I will have trouble voting to support the restoration of their other gem.

Angel of the Lilies 

One of the problems in a college town like Amherst is first generation public officials have no institutional memory. And there's a lot more to understanding the culture of Amherst than simply knowing the h is silent.

Oh what a story this mighty oak could tell after 113 years of life. Someone call the Governor. A stay of execution is in order.

Pin Oak nearest building will soon come down

(Click here) Sign the PETITION! (Click here)

 

View from Rao's

Scarlet Letters

 Town center this morning

So I kind of hope whoever was responsible for these signs leaves them up for a while just as a reminder of how pathetic the turnout was for the People's Republic of Amherst local election yesterday:

6.6% vs 69% last November for the Presidential election.

And yes, no contests for town wide offices but every one of our ten precincts had town meeting seats to fill.  And Amherst is renowned as a champion of Democracy because we still maintain such an antiquated form of government.

Yet when it comes time to elect folks to this bastion of participatory Democracy ...

"Blanks" did very well.  Coming in 3rd for Select Board and 1st for School Committee

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Kelley
To: amhersttownmeetingsubscribe
Sent: Wed, Apr 10, 2013 2:07 pm
Subject: Town Meeting List serve

Now that I am a duly elected member of Precinct 5 I would like to join this private, quasi-public list serve for Amherst Town Meeting members.


Larry Kelley
Precinct 5

Long May She Wave

American flag, Town flag, UN flag

Yes the town that refuses to fly commemorative American flags in the downtown (well, four out of every five years anyway) to commemorate and remember the slaughter of 9/11 now has a flag of their own, which presumably will fly from the Town Hall turret this coming 9/11. 

Although I'm a tad concerned about security.