Bigger Is Better

UPDATE:  What a cowardly, cowardly act of terrorism unleashed on our country once again.  Thoughts and prayers to all those impacted.  And may the Perp who did it burn in Hell.

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ORIGINAL POST (pre bombing)

The town has broken out the really b-i-g flag that flies on special days the 29 commemorative flags are allowed to fly in the downtown.  Those of us here in Massachusetts (or any long distance runner) needs no reminder about the importance of today.

As military battles go Lexington and Concord was hardly a crippling blow to the enemy, but it set in motion an unstoppable force:  the power of freedom.

Patriotic Weekend

 UMPD Deathstar, errr, Incident Command Center deployed

So once again beefed up Amherst and UMass police patrols seemed to keep the peace in our little college town over the long weekend, although officials also put into play the "Walk This Way" campaign late Saturday night into early Sunday morning to keep roving bands of college aged youths from disturbing neighborhoods immediately adjacent to southern UMass.

 She told me to ...

A sagacious neighbor on Fearing Street, however, reports about 1,700 passers by that night, a little higher foot traffic than usual. 

Stephanie O'Keeffe, Chair Amherst Select Board turned traffic cop

Unfortunately another large roving band of youth 300 strong, walking from deep North Amherst back to campus Saturday night, trashed signs along the eastern side of Sunderland Road.  

 

Cowls Building Supply sign down and out

  ProSensing sign down but not out

Town Sign near Watroba's

Amherst police broke up a number of party houses but no major incidents requiring outside reinforcements.  

 

APD shut down a party house at 327 Lincoln Avenue without incident

 

Residents at 78 Northampton Road got off with a warning

2 young ladies arrested at 117 Northampton Road 1:15 AM

A Tree Grows in South Amherst

 Viridian Energy also helped organize the tree planting

Yesterday the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee, Tree Warden Alan Snow and friends and family of Michael Cann gathered to plant a maple tree in his honor at Groff Park not far from his long time home on Mill Lane.

We are losing an entire generation of solid citizens like Mr. Cann, so adequately dubbed "The Greatest Generation".  In a transient town like Amherst all the more irreplaceable.

After 20 years in Amherst Town Meeting -- nowhere near Michael Cann's 37 year tenure -- very few people attracted my undivided attention when they rose to speak.

Stephen Puffer, Homer Cowles, Howard Ziff and Michael Cann were all on my shortlist.  And now they're all gone.  His strong spirit survived the rise of Hitler in his native land.  He became an American, and then volunteered to fight the monstrous evil that nearly conquered the world.

And Mr Cann never forgot, that freedom is not to be taken for granted.

I will think of him -- and all the good he represents -- whenever we visit Groff Park and look upon his living monument.

As should we all. 

Alan Snow hugs root ball

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.