Opportunity Lost?

Last year at the 8/27 Amherst Select Board meeting Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe did not even allow the board, our executive branch, to vote on the request to fly the 29 commemorative flags in the downtown on 9/11.

The town routinely flies the flags, purchased in the summer of 2001,  on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Flag Day, July 4th, Patriots Day and yes, even Labor Day (coming soon).

But in her closing remarks she was "sure Mr Kelley would bring this back next year, and he should do that."



And even Select Board member Aaron Hayden (who always votes "No") also remarked that night "This is an opportunity for us to really sort of put our heads together and be thoughtful, out loud, about important issues -- clearly important issues -- so I do appreciate that opportunity."



Now it's beginning to look like the issue will not even be allowed on the agenda for the SB 8/26 meeting, the last meeting prior to that awful anniversary. The old ignore it and hope it goes away routine.

So much for appreciating "that opportunity." 

Back story told in emails (click this link)

A Tragic Reminder

Tip of the North Tower, after the fall

Memo: Amherst Select Board
Re: Annual Request to remember/honor 3,000 murdered Americans

Since the Select Board will not have a "Public Comment/Question" period on Monday, August 19 and since the SB only meets one more time prior to that stunningly sad anniversary, please consider this a formal request to place on the August 26 agenda for public discussion the unresolved issue of allowing the 29 commemorative flags to fly in the downtown on 9/11/13, the 12th anniversary of the most heinous attack on American soil in our entire history.

Furthermore I would request 9/11 be added to current list of six days the commemorative flags fly annually.

I would also point out that one of those approved occasions is Memorial Day, not exactly "celebratory" -- but a national day of mourning and remembrance for those who perished protecting our most cherished freedoms.  

One of which is to "petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Thank you,

Larry Kelley

#####

From: Stephanie O'Keeffe
To: Larry Kelley
Cc: Select Board ; John Musante ; David Ziomek
Sent: Sat, Aug 17, 2013 2:07 pm
Subject: Re: 9/11
Larry --

If any Select Board member supports the request that this be put on the 8/26 agenda, I will schedule it and let you know.

Take care.

Stephanie

#####

From: Larry Kelley
To: stephanie
Cc: selectboard ; MusanteJ ; ZiomekD
Sent: Mon, Aug 19, 2013 7:41 am
Subject: Re: 9/11

Stephanie,

Since I am now getting numerous inquiries could you please announce at tonight's SB meeting one way or the other whether flying the flags on 9/11 will be placed on the 8/26 agenda? I know tonight's meeting is only a single issue affair concerning the Town Manager's evaluation but I did note the item "Calendar Preview:Upcoming Meeting Plans" on the agenda.And 9/11 is upcoming.
Thanks, Larry

#####

 Somewhat stunning reaction on Facebook, ghost of Jennie Traschen

MassLive reported last year's fiasco

9/10/01

9/10/12

DUI Dishonor Roll

Only two Amherst DUI arrests last week.  I say "only" because that number will start to go up to the usual four or five as our sleepy little college town awakens to a massive population bulge brought on by returning staff and students to our #1 employer, UMass/Amherst. 

In this particular batch -- Nicholas Coelho, age 22 and Christopher R Getchell, age 30 -- only one of the two arrested is UMass associated; let's hope he doesn't actually drive a bus. 

Drive Hammered, Get Slammered
Click link above
 #####

The North Will Rise Again

Trolley Barn:  12,000 square feet 3 floors, mixed use (Kuhn Riddle Architects)

North Amherst is on economic roll these days with The Retreat a high end 190 or so unit student housing enclave finally starting to move forward, and last night's unveiling before the Conservation Commission of the new-and-improved Trolley Barn, a three story, 12,000 square foot, mixed use commercial building set where a trolley barn once stood.

Original Trolley Barn Cowles Road North Amherst, built 1897

And yes, a trolley barn is where you store a trolley (or two), long since vanished from the Amherst landscape. Well, except for those imitation ones in the downtown.

The 4,000 square foot first floor will be commercial/retail, and management is hoping to sign up a breakfast or coffee shop,  or Atkins Farm type operation -- something that helps to build community.

The other two floors will be residential although since Town Meeting shot down a zoning density tweak, the individual units will each be 2,000 square feet, fit for a Donald Trump.

Location, location, location

Since Town Meeting did pass zoning allowing for greater height the building was redesigned, removing dormers along the roof thus saving costs and providing more usable space.

North Amherst, because of its industrial past, was once dubbed the "Dirty hands district."

Cleaning up quite well in the modern era.  

 

Previous design with stricter height limits (Kuhn Riddle Architects)

 New banner Rt. 116 North Amherst

All In A Name (Or Place)

Google just announced the top 50 "digital capitals" of all 50 states, and by gosh Amherst is #1 in the state!  Well, not our Amherst ... the one in New Hampshire.

Except Google sort of confused them with us via the Emily Dickinson hometown reference.  Umm ... and you guys made fun of Apple Maps?

But you're right about one thing:  Amherst, Massachusetts, Miss Emily's hometown, is indeed a gem.

MassLive reports

Homeland Security Returns

APD briefly assisted with 2 cruisers, but then left

Six cars, a pick up truck and a heck of a lot of officers -- local, state and federal --  are currently on site at #632 South Pleasant Street, presumably looking for bad guys.

Since we ruled out terrorism a couple days ago I would assume that somewhat narrows it down to drugs.

UPDATE:

Northwestern District Attorney's office confirms yesterday's Federal & State PD raid on #AmherstMA rental house was "drug related."
— Larry Kelley (@amherstac) August 15, 2013

 

Gotta love Twitter

Can You See Me Now?

Amherst Town Website

Amherst's award winning town website had some technical difficulties this morning leaving us addicts to suffer withdrawal symptoms.  Turns out if was a firewall issue, but only for folks using Comcast.  Of course in Amherst, that's nearly 10,000 people.