Amherst (Selectively) Remembers

First Congregational Church 1:00 PM

In addition to the usual 40+ year Sunday Peace Vigil in town center Amherst's oldest established house of worship, the First Congregational Church, put on their own public display for peace this afternoon by remembering the devastation unleashed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki 70 years ago.

Of course they don't anything special to remember December 7,  "A date which will live in infamy."

And thus far, 70 years later, has probably only been exceeded in infamy, by that Tuesday morning almost 14 years ago when death rained down from a crystal clear blue sky ...

Torch Run: A Fitting Tribute

Lining up at APD HQ 111 Main Street,  Saturday 6:55 PM

The spectacular Saturday weather continued into the early evening making the three mile jaunt from Amherst Police Department HQ to Kennedy dorm at Southwest UMass ever so bearable -- especially with 50 other friends, family and co-workers along for the run.

Umass roundabout was no problem for the pack

Pack escorted along University Drive 

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is more than just a special benefit to raise money for Special Olympics -- it's a concrete example of how cops care about their community.

And the power of camaraderie.

 Final stretch: University Drive up Fearing Street to Southwest Kennedy dorm

This Blessed Day

Bikes line up in front of McGuirk Stadium

The weather this morning could not be any more blessed for a long motorcycle ride.   And with AFD Chaplain Bruce Arbour's official blessing under their belts the 19 riders who left from UMass McGuirk Stadium are sure to have a blessed ride over the 100+ mile course.
 

The blessing of the bikes

Jackass 3 -- named for David Bennett Sr.'s propensity to use it as a term of endearment with his many friends and family and not for the hijinks of the movie franchise -- raises money ($1,487) for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in his memory.

 Riders exited onto University Drive

If today is any indication, memories of David Bennett Sr. will live on for a very long time. 

Living Building Taking Shape

 

Foundation and parking lot of new building at Hampshire College 

 

The Hitchcock Center's new super efficient 9,000 square foot "Living Building" on the grounds of Hampshire College seems to be coming along just fine.  The facility is expected to open in the Fall of 2016.

Hitchcock Center current building is too small

The Hitchcock Center has been leading the charge on environmental education since 1962, and currently operate out of the town owned building a few miles up the road at 525 South Pleasant Street.

They have a lease there until 2020.

Hitchcock Center current building according to new town Building Inventory 

 Town DPW is installing road/driveway over on the left as part of a previous deal relating to Atkins Corner roundabout construction a couple years ago

Another Metamorphosis

Hess Express now Speedway 486 West Street, South Amherst

Just when I get used to calling the long time,  always busy, convenience store in South Amherst by its new name they go and get bought out and change their name again.

When I first opened my business next door over 30 years ago it was a Dairy Mart, then DB Mart, then Volaro, then Hess Express and now Speedway.

The most recent metamorphosis is pretty much like all the rest: Speedway purchased 1,200 Hess Express stores for $2.8 billion dollars and simply changed the signage.  Although I'm sure the one over the front entry will get a better, more permanent one soon.

With the perfect location, location, location of this store on Rt 116 (West Street) it has never gone out of business due to a lack of business. Probably the only other store in Amherst with the same daily volume is the Cumberland Farms on Rt 9  (College Street), East Amherst.

Interestingly in the past couple years both of these locations tried to acquire a beer/wine permit, but the Select Board (acting as Liquor Commissioners) turned them down.

Concerns centered on nearby mom-and-pop liquor stores being negatively impacted and -- because they do such convenient high volume sales -- it could put liquor in the wrong hands at the wrong time, like just before getting behind the wheel of a car.

Having an even larger player now in place at that prime location can only benefit the South Amherst Village Center.   

Well I Love That Dirty Water

Umass Campus Center Pond this morning

Students returning to our beloved UMass campus over the next few weeks will find a (hopefully) cleaner Campus Center Pond, as contractors are now performing "hydro-raking" at the behest of the Physical Plant as part of their pond maintenance program.

Although, safe to say, the Campus Center Pond will never rival Puffer's Pond as a swimming hole.

Hot Run/Ride In The City

Torch Run starts at APD headquarters 111 Main Street Saturday at 7:00 PM

To heck with running with the bulls, running with the cops is a lot safer. And for a good cause:  The Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics.

On Saturday evening at 7:00 PM a joint production of Amherst Police Department, UMass PD and the Hampden County Sheriff's Department kicks off in front of the station for a 3 mile jaunt through our picturesque downtown to UMass Southwest, which is being used as the Athlete Village for Special Olympics.

U3 Advisers Town Gown Report (Yeah, they borrowed my photo)

This Torch Run was cited by U3 advisers in their $60,000 consulting report on town/gown issues as an example of cooperation between the town and our flagship University.   Just one of many examples of "community policing" that makes our local departments shine, like a torch in the night.

Torch is fired up (2011)

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is not the only memorable benefit happening on Saturday.  Amherst Fire Department personnel will be taking part in a motorcycle ride, aka "Jackass 3," to benefit National Fallen Firefighter Foundation and honor/remember beloved AFD fallen member David Bennett Sr.

The ride starts at UMass McGuirk Stadium Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.  The weather on Saturday for both events is expected to be perfect!