Public vs Private Documents

The Sony Entertainment hack has led to some salacious materials meant to be private suddenly making it into the bright limelight provided by media bandwidth, which many readers probably find entertaining.

Over the past few years I have published more local public documents than all the media outlets combined who cover Amherst. 

And as someone who relishes that role of being first I have to say, I would not publish the Sony trove, even if contained mentions of Amherst (My "Only in Amherst" movie deal is still a few years away).

Sony is a private sector organizer, not some government agency doing harm to the American people.

The materials were stolen via a criminal illegal act.

They are being used to bribe a private company into scuttling a movie that makes fun of the whacko despot of evil empire, and since the hackers probably work for that goofball government, a clear violation of Sony's First Amendment rights.

Do journalists who ethically have their own version of the Hippocratic Oath to live by, really want to be used as pawns by a chubby little North Korean killer?

DUI Dishonor Roll

This post is a tad late as both these DUI arrests (or OUIs) occurred last weekend.  I'm still working out an efficient (i.e. quicker) line of communication with my friends at UMPD for these public documents.

APD had no drunk driving arrests last weekend, when UMass was still in session and of course one of these UMPD arrests, Calvin Wynder,  is not a student.  Both Wynder and Kravchenko appeared before Judge Payne in Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday, 12/8 and had their cases continued to next month.

Sergey Kravchenko stands before Judge John Payne

   UMPD OUI arrest

#####

UMass Amherst police also arrested Calvin Wynder, age 36, in his second brush with the law on this serious charge. 

When Duty Calls

Flags are flying at half staff in Connecticut today, not that anybody in that state needs reminding of the horrific event that once again stunned our nation with its raw savagery.

 Sandy Hook Elementary School, 12/14/12

We expect to occasionally hear the unfortunate news that a first responder is suddenly cut down in the line of duty. However, all first responders know death is in their job description.

It takes an extraordinary event like the Worcester fire tragedy or 9/11 to grab us by the throat so we suddenly pay attention again.

Teachers on the other, are not expected to die in the routine performance of their daily duty.  Columbine changed that.  Sandy Hook moved the bar a little higher.

And since not much has changed, the next one will be even more unspeakable.

Shouldn't they call this "Shelter in Place"?

One Hand Clapping

Just don't use the other hand to smoke a cigarette

Massachusetts motorists by the millions will want to applaud the Board of Fire Prevention Regulators come January 1st as multi-tasking while filling up at your local self-serve gas station will get a whole lot more comfortable. 

For the first time in a generation, drivers will be allowed to use hold open clips so you don't have to keep one hand on the squeeze handle to keep the gas flowing.

Self-serve gas stations were also banned in Massachusetts until the mid-1970s and the ban on hold open clips coincided with the relaxing of regulations allowing such stations.

So for some of us, this could be our first time using them.  Hence this instructional video:

I asked AFD Assistant Chief Lindsay Stromgren if he had any concerns about this new development and he said he brought it up at a recent Hampshire County Chiefs meeting and nobody seemed alarmed.

Although he was quick to add, "But I'm sure we'll see some unique cases in the next year or so."

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

School Meeting Confirmed (We Hope)

Amherst Regional School Committee

Anyone remember that episode of the The Flintstones where Fred was fired for the umpteenth time by Mr. Slate but because he had modified over the years the operational controls of the big old front end loader at the rock quarry to where only he could run it, his boss pretty much had to rehire him?

Apparently long-time secretary Debbie Westmoreland fits into that unique category as she does all the intricate interactions with the town clerks for both the Amherst School Committee and Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee ... and she's on leave until early January.

Hence the reason for recent scheduling snafus: Two RSC meetings canceled for not being posted in Pelham (one of the four towns in the Region) in time, and the mislabeling of the 12/16 meeting.

The mysterious, is it a Regional or just an Amherst School Committee meeting on 12/16 has been solved:  It is an Amherst School Committee meeting, not a Regional School Committee meeting.

Since the 5 member Amherst School Committee makes up more than half of the 9-member Regional SC it's easy to be confused.  And since Amherst comprises 88% of the Region, you also have to wonder why it's only 5-of-9 and not more like 8-of-9?

But then math was never my strong point.

So the simple take away is rookie RSC chair Trevor Baptiste is not to blame.  Although if I were him I would hand deliver a meeting notice to the part-time Pelham (his hometown) Town Clerk in plenty of time to be properly posted for the next RSC meeting.

And the simple solution of voting the "alternative method" of posting to the regional ARPS website (an option open to them for many years) should be endorsed forthwith. 

Merry Once More

Merry Maple last night

Some of you more sagacious types may have noticed the Merry Maple went dark soon after the unveiling last week, but as of last night it's back for the duration of the Christmas, err, holiday season.

Apparently the problem was an "amateur hour repair on the cut wires performed by the contractor in charge of stringing the lights."  According to town electrician Fred Hartwell, "The Merry Maple should now function properly for the remainder of the holiday season."

Hallelujah. 

Box Alarm UMass

 AFD Engine 1 on scene near UMass Southwest towers

The  still alarm -- automatic response due to tripped smoke detectors -- first came in around 10:30 PM last night but then within minutes became a box alarm as UMass first responders reported "smoke in the building."

 AFD Engine 2 (the quint) gets in close to Berkshire Dining Commons

The Quint has a 75' aerial ladder 

The tone sent out to all on and off duty firefighters brings a massive response to the UMass Berkshire Dining Commons, in this case Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Ladder 1, an ambulance, AFD Chief Nelson and assistant Chief Stromgren.

Off duty firefighters and Call Force are automatically mobilized

 AFD Ladder 1 with a 102' aerial platform standing by

Two firefighters went up on the roof and headed down into the building searching for the source of the smoke, which turned out to be electrical: Burned out motor on a HVAC system.

By midnight all AFD assets had packed up and returned to quarters, waiting for the next tone.

E2 taps into Fire Dept Connection to supplement building's sprinkler system