Geeze for a moment there I thought I was watching a Catherine Sanderson era School Committee meeting, where free expression reigned ... until the system crushed the rebellion.
For context sake: Regional School Committee members (those who wished to) responded to presentations by senior ARPS Admin staff regarding "School Improvement Plan." Some of them were ever so mildly critical. Mr. Fonsh, Committee Chair, took great offense. A tad too easily.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Fall Back In Civility
Saturday 11:50 PM APD and AFD @ 647 Main Street for large party and passed out drunk individual
For most of us the extra hour afforded by the demise of daylight savings time provided an opportunity for something too often short in supply: sleep. But for that tiny minority of college aged youth who tarnish the reputations of the overwhelming majority, it was an excuse to party even hardier.
Amherst police ricochet all over town trying to quell noisy parties -- especially during those "Bewitching Hours" just before and after midnight. At peak times responses to calls for service were delayed by as much as an hour.
Yes Dispatch knows how to prioritize response in a life-or-death situation, shifting officers from a routine noise complaint to the more serious call. But occasionally a deadly serious calls starts out routine, and the prompt presence of a police officer would prevent it from breaking bad.
Late Saturday into early Sunday was noticeably worse than late Friday into early Saturday, which alone was bad enough. In all, police busted four large party houses with arrests but made numerous calls to other party houses all around town that resulted in warnings.
The party at 338 Pine Street only generated one arrest -- as the young ladies in charge were very cooperative -- but it was a doozy. Jay Patel, age 20, was -- to say the least -- uncooperative. He was arrested around midnight for Assault and Battery on a police officer, Resisting Arrest, Disorder Conduct, and Minor in possession of alcohol.
In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday morning a not guilty plea was entered in his behalf and his case was continued to December 18. What a Merry Christmas his family is going to have.
219 E. Pleasant Street
219 E Pleasant Street, a usual suspect house, also only had one arrest for noise/nuisance and one summons for underage possession of alcohol, generating $600 in fines.
The four residents of 96 Bridge Street were somewhat more cooperative even if the party was "large and loud," so they were only arrested for noise violations, generating $1,200 in fines.
320 North Pleasant Street
The 2-family house (legally holding 8 tenants) at 320 North Pleasant Street, owned by Joel Greenbaum, tied for most arrests at one location, six, with the house at 240 Northampton Road Friday night that also had six arrested. Although according to assessor records only 4 tenants should be legally living there.
And since each of the houses went above and beyond the call for partying, all 12 perps were charged for both Noise and Nuisance violations. Although as is his routine Judge John Payne Jr. only enforced the $300 fine on the Noise complaint, thus forfeiting $3,600 in fine revenue.
But it's still a good thing for APD to use the Nuisance House bylaw as the Judge does find them "responsible" and files the charge, bringing with it a four month probation. While that may not quite bring them to the end of the semester I'm sure the DA's office would take note if they repeat the same offense anytime over the next year.
All of the students appeared contrite in Court, were all well dressed, and many had parents in tow. In fact the attorney for the boys at 240 Northampton Road told the Judge his clients had been "read the riot act" by their parents and had written a letter of apology to APD.
Two of the Party Houses that generated arrests on Saturday night are owned by Joel Greenbaum so hopefully he will take note. If not, on the third offense (per house) Mr. Greenbaum will be hit with a $300 fine.
Monday, November 4, 2013
A Clean Dozen
Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek tries to pitch Town Meeting the property deal
Amherst Town Meeting raced through articles tonight like a turtle on crack, completing 12 of 20 articles on the November Special Town Meeting warrant.
The only issue that generated controversy was Article 11, an Open Space $151,000 purchase of about 20 acres of undeveloped property in East Amherst for conservation purposes, normally a sacred cow in the town of Amherst.
The article was supported unanimously by the Select Board and Finance Committee, but after a 45 minute discussion failed rather miserably (90 No, to 72 Yes) considering it needed a two thirds majority to pass.
Town officials pushed the idea of a "community farm" pointing out how the All Things Local Cooperative Market movement was interested in using the property as a incubator for fledgling farmers.
Ironically the most devastating presentation against the proposal came from Sarah E. O'Brien Swartz the newest member of the Finance Committee, who was appointed to replace the current owner of the 20 acre property, Bob Saul, who suddenly resigned from the Finance Committee.
He had purchased the land, currently assessed at only $8,500, five years ago for $157,000.
Ms Swartz, who co-owns Swartz Family Farm in North Amherst, pointed out that farming is "hard". Her explanation of the rigors of full time farming as compared to recreational "community gardens" reminded me of someone who trained for an ascent of Mt Washington by cycling the perfectly flat bike path three or four times a week. (He didn't make it.)
Opponents questioned the high price for land that probably would never be developed anyway, and at most would only support one house.
Since $41,785 of the total amount was coming from "Community Preservation Funds", which can also be spent for "affordable housing," speakers pointed out the money would be better spent on possibly purchasing Echo Village Apartments or Rolling Green Apartments in order to preserve those affordable units.
Town Meeting had no problem supporting Article 10, spending $180,000 in tax money (contingent on a matching state grant of $180,000) for 12 acres of property around the Atkins Reservoir.
That property was more easily developable and is currently owned by the largest private landowner in the state, W.D. Cowls, Inc.
Tellers prepare for a recorded Tally Vote on Article 11
Hot Time For AFD
5 ambulances at Cooley Dickinson Hospital Halloween night/morning, all for ETOH
These (now) public documents speak for themselves (scroll down to UMass). Volumes.
Halloween was pretty scary:
Yes, it's getting worse:
Graph by Tom Valle, Firefighters Local 1764
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Sweet Spot
Sweet kids promoting a sweet cause
Downtown Amherst transformed into a sugarholics paradise on Saturday afternoon with 20 businesses participating in the first annual "Amherst Mega Dessert Crawl". The event was a town/gown affair jointly sponsored by Phi Sigma Pi, a co-ed national honor fraternity, and the Amherst Business Improvement District.
Bertucci's reported an overwhelming response. Perfect location across from start at Kendrick Park
Over three hundred participants paid the bargain price of $20 for 20 coupons to exchange for a tasty treat. The event attracted a bevy of UMass students -- some with their parents in tow -- local families and bargain conscious foodies.
All proceeds benefit Reader To Reader program, a nonprofit agency that brings a magical gift to the underprivileged world wide: books.
David Mazor: Founding Executive Director of Reader to Reader and BID Board of Directors member
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Frisky Friday
AFD and APD respond to report of car vs pedestrian town center 1:10 AM
Unfortunately rowdy behavior in the jurisdictional area of the Amherst Police Department ratcheted up a notch or two last night -- at least compared to Wednesday, where the rowdy "celebration" after the Red Sox win was limited to the UMass campus, and a surprisingly quiet Halloween on a drizzly Thursday.
Most of the huge crowds undulating around town last night were dressed in costumes, however.
Amherst police had a powerful presence fielding at least seven vehicles including the Personal Transport Vehicle (not to be confused with Paddy Wagon) and UMass cruisers were also highly visible in areas immediately adjacent to the UMass campus
Like last night Amherst Fire Department was pushed almost to the breaking point having once again the need to call Northampton FD for assistance. Naturally that NFD ambulance was in response to an intoxicated male.
Around midnight police swooped in to break up loud parties at 240 Northampton Road (Rt 9) and 165 College Street, making over a half dozen arrests. While on site officers took note of a lack of working smoke detectors at the Northampton Road address which resulted in an attempted inspection visit by AFD Chief Tim Nelson.
The Personal Transport Vehicle loading up at 165 College Street around midnight
The remaining inhabitants (who had not been arrested) refused to allow the Chief to enter the premises.
Other byproducts of alcohol abuse also were overly evident as well: fighting, injuries via falls, and -- most disturbing -- a young woman assaulted on Sunset Court, dead in the center of all the youthful revelry.
Sunset Court, immediately adjacent to Umass
At 1:10 AM a coordinated swift response from both police and fire converged on the intersection of Kellogg Avenue and North Pleasant Street for the report of a car vs pedestrian collision. Turns out the pedestrian, a youth dressed as a cowboy, jumped on the car.
Dispatch relayed a call for help around 1:15 AM from a male Reporting Party saying he's "bleeding from every orifice" after an altercation with another young man near Rao's Coffee. The first officer on the scene confirmed a head gash from a punch but added dryly, "most of his orifices are just fine."
AFD loading up an intoxicated student at the Visitors Center, Mass Ave
And to top of the evening/early morning (1:57 AM) an intoxicated college age female in a 4th floor bathroom of Pierpont Dorm, throwing up; and a brief fist fight on North Pleasant Street near Butterfield Terrace that attracted a swarm of police cars.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Halloween Histrionics
Cooley Dickinson Hospital 1:15 AM. All five ambulances (2 from Hamp) for Amherst patients
The scourge of rowdy student behavior seems to be turning inwardly as once again the medical side of pubic safety response bore the brunt of collage aged youth acting to excess. In this case, drinking.
Although busy, mostly with crowd control on streets near UMass, Amherst Police Department only made three arrests last night, all for "minors in possession of alcohol."
Amherst Fire Department, on the other hand, was once again OVERWHELMED with ETOH (passed out drunk) young "adults". In fact during those awful Bewitching Hours (midnight to 2:00 AM) all five Amherst ambulances were tied up (mostly with drunks) and Northampton had to provide two ambulances via mutual aid -- both of them for drunk college aged youth.
Last night into early this morning a total of ten college aged youth required transport for being dangerously intoxicated -- nine of them from UMass and one from Amherst College.
AFD fire engines had to be pressed into medical service, this one at UMass for ETOH male
The excuse of course will be a tired one: Amherst is a "college town" and all of this is simply a time honored "Rite of Passage." Especially during a pagan ritual like Halloween.
But you don't check manners at the door like an oversized backpack. Your right to be an uncivilized heathen slob ends when that bad behavior endangers innocent members of the general public, which includes families and senior citizens.
And yes, MY two children.
Ambulance again required at 45 Phillips Street for female who fell down stairs
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