In The Matter Of ...

Anyone who has ever lost precious personal items in a sudden catastrophe knows that hollow feeling of helplessness that washes over you, along with guilty thoughts of what maybe you could have done to prevent it. 

Last April a dozen UMass students working on end-of-the-semester projects, or maybe just blowing off steam playing games (or wasting time on the Internet) suddenly felt that sick empty feeling that comes with first realizing your computer has vanished.  Stolen.

 UMass Du Bois Library

A serial thief, Christopher Desjardin age 30,  had staked out the W.E.B. Du Bois Library, making it his personal hunting preserve.  With Mac laptops his BIG game. The perp would stalk students with Macs (a fairly ubiquitous prey) and wait for a moment of inattention.  Then simply grab and go. 

Unlike a stolen bike, car or television -- which insurance (or parents) can quickly replace -- a laptop has untold hours of irreplaceable work invested within its hard drive.  Thus the devastation is squared.

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Wednesday, Desjardin, with a public defender who cited his "remorse, guilt, shame", pled guilty to all 13 charges, 12 of them larceny over $250 and one for larceny under $250 (tools stolen from Amherst College).

The Du Bois Library only has one main point of entry, which is monitored by surveillance cameras, and after a thorough review UMPD narrowed down Desjardin as a suspect.  Plus another victim had given chase and was able to give police a description and identify him on surveillance tapes.

During a police stake out at the library he struck again, was followed by a UMPD officer to his car and quickly arrested red handed. 

Drugs played into his less than sophisticated methodology, as police recovered two hypodermic needles with heroin residue inside his vehicle. At least two of the expensive laptops were hawked at "Family Pawn Shop" in Springfield for a total of $550, well below Ebay potential. 

After reading all the charges Judge Poelher asked him "Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?" to which he responded, barely above a whisper, "yes."

The prosecution had recommended a one year sentence in the House of Correction with 6 months served and 6 months suspended with mandatory "drug treatment." 

The Judge seemingly went beyond the prosecutor's request sentencing him on each charge to 18 months (rather than 12) six months served, twelve months suspended, two years probation, mandatory drug treatment, write a "letter of apology" to each victim and make restitution. 

But the sentences are all "concurrent" rather than front to back, meaning his total time served for all 13 sentences is only six months and even that could be reduced by the sheriff in charge at the jail. 

Not a lot of time considering all the heartache induced... and labor lost.

Tip Of The Spear

Amherst Police will be assigning more officers to problem areas around UMass for alcohol enforcement thanks to a $10,000 state grant.  Good news for beleaguered neighbors since the underage youth walking down a public street with an open container of beer can soon become a noisy worker bee in a party house hive.

On busy party weekends the first wave of arrests usually commences a couple hours before midnight with underage drinking or open container violations, so at the very least it gets those party minded individuals off the streets for the night.

And So It Begins ... Again

 

I don't pretend to understand all the intricacies of "Common Core," but I do know there are a goodly number of parents greatly concerned about its implementation in the Amherst Regional Public Schools.  

Anyone interested in staying informed on a grass roots roots level can send an email to: amherstforeducation@gmail.com

 #####

All,

I just wanted to say sorry for the delay in getting everyone’s email together.  I offered to put this together as it seemed there were many parents who needed help getting organized with other parents.

For those of you who don’t now me, I have served on two School Councils, helped various SC members run for election, volunteered on Playground rebuilds, was a member of the K-16 math council, served on a few teacher hiring committees, and various other informal groups working for better schools.

My kids are no longer in the Amherst school system but from my experience in working for change I learned a few things and from others who came before me working for change.

All that being said, I hope at a minimum, I am able to get like minded parents contact information to each other.   I hope this helps each of you reach a broader community concerned with education in general and specifically today, the MS math curriculum.

To start I will be sending out a group email so each of you can contact each other.  Depending on what the group wants I can set up a list serve (which is an email that goes out to the group each time it is responded to), possibly a web site or blog depending on time and group desires.

Many people have asked if there is a meeting with Rhonda Cohen.  To my knowledge no one has come forth telling me of a group meeting.  From my experience with Rhonda she has no problem meeting with parents in groups or one on one.  If someone on this list is so inclined they could set up that first initial meeting and share it with the group.

I would recommend that each person who is posting realize that with the number of people in this group you consider all documents public documents.  Emails are easily shared.  If you would not say it in public you probably don’t want to write it here.

Also I know several of you well or fairly well and there are is a wide range of satisfaction with the schools system.  Keeping comments respectful as well as having a thick skin to harsher comments that may happen from time to time is important when working with a group.  You all want the option for strong math curriculum and likely strong curriculum in general for those kids who need or desire it.  I am sure many of the people on this list feel the need for good education on social justice issues and quality special needs education as well.  If you feel the need to vent (and we all do at times) in a way that may that may offend others in the group please try to send you communication to those very aligned with your mind set.

This being said, let me know what I can do (from experience or technical aspects) to support you and we will go from there.

Good luck

Michael Jacques

We're #1,100! We're #1,100

 ARHS

Yeah, somehow being number 1,100 on Newsweek's list of top public schools in America doesn't provide a catchy cheer.  But that certainly is not much of a problem, since being number 1,100 is nothing to cheer about.

Amherst is founded on education and it remains our #1 economic driver; our revered town symbol is the book and the plow (although the new town flag managed to sneak in wheat which was never in much abundance around here). 

Amherst -- by at least one suspect survey -- is the #1 college town in America and our sister city UMass is in the top whatever -- depending on which PR flak you believe.

 Amherst College trades the #1 in America spot with arch rival Williams College every other year or so, but we have our Minor League team -- Amherst Regional High School -- ranked at 1,100.

Or what critics might point out is the bottom half. And it's not like they are underfunded at an average cost of $18,026 per child, or 25% over state average of $13,636.

DUI Dishonor Roll

One out of every five college students has admitted to drunk driving

Melissa Morrissey, age 22, must have thought she was trying out for a role in Fast & Furious.  Yeah, vodka will do that.  

And it was precisely her dangerous driving that garnered the attention of high ranking UMPD officer Lt. Jessica Moore.  Ms. Morrissey ignored those hard to ignore flashing blue lights and continued to recklessly retreat from the law, even ignoring a spotlight.

When finally blocked in and forced to stop by another marked cruiser Morrissey put up a fight, as did the other occupant of her scud missile, Anthony Haight, age 23.  

   Just another DUI arrest

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Tuesday both Perps pled "not guilty" and had their cases continued.  

#####

Also in District Court on Tuesday for a DUI offense, Arthur Copstein pled innocent and told the Judge he would hire an attorney (considering the car he was driving, no wonder), for a January 16 pre trial hearing.

   APD make DUI arrest

Party House of the Weekend

 858 E. Pleasant Street, Friday around midnight

As officers noted in their "Statement of Facts", 858 East Pleasant Street is located in a traditional residential neighborhood  -- albeit somewhat close to UMass --  made up of single family homes that a generation ago were actually occupied by your basic American nuclear family.

Although it really doesn't matter where you are located these days, since obviously somebody was bothered by all the noise.

And just as a generation ago, when a police officer tells you to shut down the loud party do not leave them standing in the cold as you continue to party.  Otherwise you will be arrested, like these four young ladies:

Elizabeth H. Galeucia, 22, 7 Gibbon Road, Hopkinton; Serena A. Seferian, 21, 10 Augustus Road, Lexington; Jillian Simmons, 22, 85 Glen Meadow Dr, Northford, CT;  and Julia S. Tomaszewski, 22, 217 May Street, Worcester.

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Tuesday before Judge John Payne Jr.,  all four women represented themselves, and had pleas of "not guilty" automatically entered in their behalf.

But they all turned down the prosecution's standard offer of a deal:  Criminal charge diverted to Civil charge with payment of the town's Noise Bylaw $300 fine.   Their cases were continued to January 23rd.

   APD Party House bust 11/9/13

In other Amherst related action this morning in Eastern Hampshire District Court, a noise/nuisance case settled by Judge Payne last month was heard by another magistrate (one defendant must have changed his mind), Judge Patricia Poelher.

John L. Tremblay now argued that the officers were dispatched to another Salem Place unit (#16) and then came upon his party (#17) and arrested him for noise and nuisance.

The prosecutor read the police report that stated the original complaint cited noise in the "area of apartment #16".  The Judge then said the caller could still have been referring to his party since the term "area" was used.  Mr. Tremblay then told the Judge that his apartment (#17) is in a "completely different apartment building" than #16, making it sound like it was far removed.

Judge Poelher bought it, and the original $300 fine was reduced to zero.  But she did say somewhat sternly:  "Your neighbors have lives ... they work for a living.  Someday you're going to be in their position."

Trembley responded politely "Yes your Honor," then left the courtroom wearing a Cheshire Cat smile.

#17 Salem Place

Of course I couldn't resist measuring the distance between apartment #16 and #17 located in adjacent cramped buildings.  About 25 yards, across an open paved lot. 

Public Safety Is Paramount

 Town Gown Steering Committee 

The second meeting of the UMass Amherst Town Gown Steering Committee, a dream team of top UMass and town officials charged with preparing a Request For Proposals to hire a town/gown consultant, got a tad testy this evening over the issue of public safety.

The  "discussion outline" had four main bullet points for the proposed consultant to consider:  Housing, Economic Development, Transportation and Public Safety.

But some were concerned it was an unreasonable amount to ask of a consultant on a $60,000 budget proposal and a tight timeline for completion.  So a little condensing was in order.

Amherst police Chief Scott Livingstone did not take kindly to Andy Churchill declaring, "Housing and Economic Development -- especially private taxable housing -- are most important."

To which Chief Livingstone replied, "I don't know if there is anything more important than public safety. I don’t want to see it completely dissed.  I was biting my tongue in the first meeting.  We can’t just ignore it.    It needs to be included in some form."

Demonstrating the seamless cooperation between their public safety departments of late, UMPD Chief John Horvath  jumped in with backup:  "I support Scott.  I don’t want public safety dissed either.  Quality of life is not necessarily criminal activity."

Chief Horvath went on to explain one of the major complaints he hears from impacted neighborhoods are problems of noise, unkempt conditions, and increased traffic -- nothing necessarily "criminal," but  they have a pervasive negative impact on everyday citizens.

Meeting was held at UMPD headquarters community room

Amherst Finance Director Sandy Pooler agreed:  "Public safety is a key ingredient of town/gown relations.  Building more housing may be the way to improve quality of life.  That is a solution to a problem, not an end in itself. "

Former town planner, now UMass planner, Niels la Cour stuck a conciliatory note saying public safety is "implicit" in any proposed housing projects.  Dave Ziomek used an even better term: "permeates".

The next key item on the short list now narrowed down to two, "Economic Development", also briefly generated sparks when Dennis Swinford, UMass Director of Planning suggested UMass has "excess capacity" during the summer, so tourism promotions could be a common goal.

To which Amherst Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe quickly shot back:  "Economic development is from the town side.  UMass is untaxed.  We are looking for Research & Development spinoffs off campus."

During the Public Comment period. at the end of the hour and forty five minute meeting, Walter Wolnik reminded the committee of the importance of modifying the "Pacheco Law" so the University could work with private developers to build student housing that would generate tax revenues to the town.