The Empire Strikes Back

Amherst Media is main beneficiary of Comcast ten year contract

Comcast, the mega media giant who owns the sole cable franchise for Amherst, responded to the town's 10 year renewal RFP with an in-your-face comeback.

While the 5% cut of $6.2 million in annual revenues ($317,000 to Amherst Media for local access this year) is pretty much a given, the only real negotiation will be over the one-time equipment upgrades.

The town requested $2.2 million and Comcast responded with $450,000 -- the exact same amount they provided ten years ago.  Ouch!

And they hired their own consultant to counter the two "ascertainment hearings" the town held to get feedback on Comcast services.

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So yes, this is going to get interesting.

And if not resolved by mid-October, the town's 7,000 subscribers could see their televisions go dark.

Although our Temporary Town Manager assured the state oversight authority that the town expects to come to a deal before deadline.

DUI Dishonor Roll

Amherst -- at least the part not under UMass -- was pretty safe over the long weekend with APD not taking a single impaired driver off the road.  Maybe everybody is using Uber these days.

 Luke O'Malley, age 20, stands before Judge O'Grady

UMass police did arrest one student for impaired driving, in a parking lot.  One that was loaded with a couple thousand tailgaters.  O'Malley had his case continued until next month so he could hire his own private attorney.

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UMass Stadium 6:45 PM  More at parking lot tailgate than in the stadium

Party House of the Weekend

287 Grantwood Drive

In spite of the perfect weather that prompted large outdoor gatherings of alcohol fueled events over the long holiday weekend the individual party house scene was pretty tame, only one.  Although APD had a total of 20 arraignments in Eastern Hampshire District Court on Tuesday, mostly alcohol related.

 5 young ladies stand before Judge O'Grady but are not arraigned

Judge O'Grady insisted the Assistant District Attorney deal with all the students who did not have a record prior to arraignment in order to keep their records squeaky clean.  But the deals he made for all five residents who were arrested at 287 Grantwood Drive was the usual plea deal:

Pay the town's $300 Noise Bylaw fine, take the UMass "Brains at Risk" program, and stay out of trouble for the next four months and the original arraignment will not even take place although all of them have to return to District Court on August 19th. 

When Products Compete

William Fraser long time City Manager Montpelier Vermont

While it has now become somewhat of a joke the correct pronunciation of Amherst minus the h actually served a purpose a generation or so ago before social media and a t-shirt slogan let the cat out of the bag.

My Irish mother pointed out to me that it was a simple way of telling townies from outsiders, from folks who had roots in our little town (even back then a "college town") and folks who may not care as deeply as we do.

Last night the Select Board held an interesting public discussion of questions they will ask the three Town Manger wannabes next week.

 Amherst Select Board reading interview questions for 3 Town Manager finalists

Interesting because they were in open public session and did not want to divulge the actual questions since the three candidates could simply watch the Select Board meeting over the next few days on Amherst Media and prepare themselves for the questions.

But one word from one question was divulged --"outsider" -- because Connie Kruger wanted it changed to "newcomer."  Fair enough.  All three candidates are on level ground because, unlike Assistant Town Manager Dave Ziomek, none of them are townies.

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Mr. Fraser will by carrying additional baggage, however, since some people will see his recent actions as playing one community -- that he has served for 21 years -- against another.

Others will simply note he would be coming to our awesome community with a 50% raise, so more power to him.

Vermont Times Argus reports

High Tech By The Slice

Iconic Bank building bottom right adjacent to Jones Library

The stunning former First National Bank building located in the heart of downtown will soon be a beehive of entrepreneurial activity, as Boston based WorkBar is expanding to our little college town.

The bank building, owned by Barry Roberts, has been empty since last summer when TD Bank consolidated into their Triangle Street building in the north end of downtown.

WorkBar is kind of like a health club for entrepreneurs whereby you pay a membership fee to come in and use the facility whenever you need it.  They offer full and part time memberships payable by the month and will be featuring high speed wireless gigabit service.

The center of town is about to get a much needed shot in the arm!

Strike Two!

Panda East, in the heart of downtown

For the second time this year Panda East Restaurant will be hauled before the Amherst Select Board acting as Liquor Commissioners on Thursday evening, for the serious charge of serving underage patrons.

Made even more serious since this is the 2nd offense in only three months and the underage minor was only 17 years old!

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Back in January the Select Board voted unanimously to suspend their liquor license for two days -- January 25 and January 26 -- for the 17 counts of serving minors brought by Amherst Police.

But they also gave them an additional 5 days worth of license suspensions if the infraction should happen again within two years.

Apparently, it did.

Downtown Gains A New Business

 35 South Pleasant Street, heart of downtown Amherst

Londonwest, which will be selling "specialty food products, sports memorabilia, gift-ware" and house a small cafe that serves coffee, tea, and soft drinks goes before the Select Board tomorrow night for approval to serve beer and wine.

In addition to being the town's Sewer Commissioners, Select Board members are also Liquor Commissioners.  The "Wine and Malt on premises" permit costs $1,000 annually, but since there are none available they will seek an "all alcohol license" that costs $3,500.  

The location, in the heart of downtown Amherst, has been vacant since September when Art Alive died and prior to that it was 35 South Cycle, a spin class studio.

Amherst has seen in increase in empty storefronts over the past few years, so it's nice to now see one coming alive.

UPDATE:  Tuesday night.  

 The Select Board continued the Hearing to May 11th due to concerns about how the retail portion of the store would be kept separate from where the alcohol is served, training of staff, and where the alcohol would be stored.

Chair Alisa Brewer was particularly concerned and at one point chastised the rest of the Select Board for not sharing that concern.