Dennis Swinford, center back row (blue shirt) His headache has only just begunSpringfield Republican reports
No wonder Umass PR folks stayed out of the Lincoln Avenue blockade fiasco.
Obviously they knew what a major inconvenience it would be for their employees (and to some extent, students) and probably received an earfull, or inbox full, of comments 18 months ago when the town first attempted the closure; however they probably figured it would look hypocritical to oppose the idea when they knew the concept of closing off North Pleasant street was soon coming up...again.
Lousy timing Mr. Swinford.
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32 comments:
It'll never happen. The Town of Amherst wouldn't be that stupid. Look at all the ruckus closing a small street like Lincoln Avenue caused. North Pleasant Street is a MAJOR street!!! They just spent how much money constructing the round-about to handle all he traffic going through that intersection. Now they want to close the street?????
Never happen!
"The main purpose of the master plan for the University is to meet the needs of the facilities to accommodate a growing staff and student population."
Growing? Haven't they talked to Ed? He's predicted a vast abandoned post-apocolyptic wasteland due to the parents from the eastern part of the state all refusing to send their kids to UMass because it supports the town's economy. Just because applications are at a record level doesn't mean Ed isn't right. He's always right. In his own mind.
Hey Larry,
So donors donated over $8,000 to save the Amherst Typewriter owner. Guess there was a story there after all. Maybe, because it was a positive one, that's why you had no interest.
The key question is what happens five or six months down the road.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Soooo, where are the donors going to get the money for next month's rent? Are you so nieve to think that a typewriter business on main street in Amherst is going to generate enough business to thrive? If he hasn't already done so he better think about diversing into some new tech. stuff as well, or move to a more affordable location. Now, don't get excited I do hope his business survives as I hear he is a wonderful person. But the fact of the matter is unless there is a annual fundraiser for this shop he will continual to struggle financially. The long term fix in my opinion is to find a nice place close by that has very little overhead. So that this specialised service can continue on.
It's called Amherst Typewriter and Computer. He fixes computers, which last I heard are here to stay. He's done fine financially until this past year when he had a stroke. He got behind because he could not work for a period when he was recovering. He's a hard working guy that fiexes computers, sells computer supplies, changes watch batteries, and provides other things that people want. Like refurbished antique typewriters, which he's got the market on and has quite a demand for.
These days folks do not fix their computers, they simply upgrade to a new one (Moore's law).
And for the vast majority of Americans (even in quaint Amherst), computers have replaced typewriters.
Larry, people get their computers fixed all the time. I happen to use Amherst Computerworks (who by the way do excellent work -have brought my laptop in three times to have work done on it. It's alot cheaper to get your computer fixed then to replace it every time something goes wrong with it.
Well, since you use Amherst Computerworks that doesn't help out Mr. Green very much now does it?
You just love to rain on people's parades (except July 4, I guess). People get their computers fixed because when their hard drive crashes upgrading to a new computer doesn't do you any good if you don't have your files from your old computer.
I don't recall Mr. Green calling people stupid every other minute. He got some good fortune because he treats people well.
Larry,
My point was not that I was interested in helping Mr. Green or not. My point is what a ridiculous statement that people don't get their computers fixed anymore... they just buy new ones.
People get their computers fixed all the time and Mr. Green could very well make a living out of that.
Actually I have never on this blog called someone "stupid".
Maybe "Cowardly Anon Nitwit." And in your particular case, the term most certainly applies.
Yeah, Anon 2:59 PM: as long as he keeps up with the RAPIDLY changing field of computer technology.
Interesting. Perhaps you are not smart enough to know the definition of the very word you use.
Merriam-Webster
Definition of NITWIT
: a scatterbrained or stupid person
A guilty mind speaks out.
You got it. And no one speaks out more than you.
Perhaps Mr. Green will hit the "big one" on one of his compulsive scratch tickets and all will be well in Amherst.
And that of course attracts folks like you, who don't have the balls to speak out.
I'm assuming they're talking about closing N. Pleasant from Mass Ave to the round about, no? That wouldn't have anywhere near as detrimental an effect on Amherst or commuters as the closure of Lincoln. Especially if they cluster parking around the perimeter of campus rather than the middle. Might add to the appeal of the Gateway Project too, if there is already a pedestrian emphasis on campus. Sounds like an interesting idea.
Yep!
And like the sane solution to Lincoln Avenue--simply install "speed tables" when the major $4.5 million road construction/overhaul occurs this spring/summer townwide--it would make a lot of sense to tie in the upcoming Gateway Project to this ambitious idea.
I just hope Umass does not NOW use the donation of Frat Row to the ARA (previously put on the table),as a bargaining chip with the town who, after all, owns North Pleasant Street.
First of all, I don't think anyone feels Mr. Green is deserving of the plight that has been bestowed upon him.
But,,,How many people here beating their drums and circling the wagons, actually bring thier computer equipment to him for their upgrades, and general maintanence? The computer repair business is aggresive and you need to be on top of everything from power supplies to operating systems. Simply getting old files off a crashed computer is elementry for computer repair. As for changing watch batteries $5.00 for batteries and $5.00 for the install = $10.00 total that's alot of watches to to stay in business.
I think we all would like to see him recover and prosper, but come on, it's a college town if he were repairing alot of computers which he should be in this town he would be doing great. The fact of the matter is not many people are going to bring there high tech. equipment to some one who adornes the outside of his shop with bunch of turn of the century letter punchers, not gonna happen. Time to update the store front and re-invent himself.
My best wishes go out to Mr. Green and I hope he has had a complete recovering.
seems simple. green in business for decades. got sick and good folks helped him out. you don't stay in business for decades without a good business model. you other fucks who are slamming him are blind to that. no ones plan includes a stroke contigency. that people would rally says slot about him as a person.
now shut up.
Save your breath. This blog is full of negative losers that love to rail against all the perceived injustices in Amherst but are impervious to good news or acts of kindness.
Feel free to start your own "Happy Days Are Here Again" blog.
Any business that has been open for decades should be able to survive on their own even through an illness. Apparently his business was not that financially stable that it could survive on it's own through this. This has nothing to do with negativity. What you dopes don't seem to get is his business model is struggling and this was a definite sign of that. Has anyone considered that maybe he had a stroke due to the stresses of his business. Yes, he has been in business for decades he also could be living pay check to pay check praying that nothing like this situation happens. Just because he's not telling you of his problems it doesn't mean they don't exist. Or as the dopes of Amherst like to do, let's ignore the problems and maybe they will go away.
Thanks doctor for your long distance diagnosis on why he had a stroke. It doesn't get stupider than this.
"They just spent how much money constructing the round-about to handle all he traffic going through that intersection."
Larry -- check it out -- I think that UMass and not Amherst paid for the rotary -- it was part of a steam line replacement job and I saw a lot of UM equipment/guys there working on it.
Number of pedestrians hit on Lincoln Avenue in the past 1/3/5/10 years?
Number of pedestrians hit on No Pleasant street in same time period?
Number of auto accidents on North Pleasant when first car stopped for pedestrian and second car hit it? Number on Lincoln Avenue?
Name of road built to replace North Pleasant Street? (East Pleasant Street.) Name of road built to replace Lincoln Avenue???
I am not a fan of this plan -- my version would be to depress North Pleasant into a four-lane divided road with bridges and buildings on top -- not unlike the MassPike and the Star Market in toward Boston -- but you do have to ask which road is more dangerous....
He's predicted a vast abandoned post-apocolyptic wasteland due to the parents from the eastern part of the state all refusing to send their kids to UMass
Ed controls the Boston Globe?
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/02/23/make_umass_affordable/
because it supports the town's economy.
My point on that is a bit different -- Amherst needs to understand that it has done really well by the state for the past 40 years or so, but won't always...
Just because applications are at a record level doesn't mean Ed isn't right.
Just because the number of people discussing a certain typewriter shop doesn't mean they are spending any money there.
If you have access to the right people (and I do) and you ask the right questions (and I have), you will quickly come to the same conclusions that I have. Applications are irrelevant, it is how many can and will pay....
Ed you should check your facts before you spout. East Pleasant St was laid out in 1703 and North Pleasant was laid out in 1758.
What we are seeing here is the fact that a UMass employee/student is more important than a general Amherst resident.
What we are seeing here is the fact that a UMass employee/student is more important than a general Amherst resident.
No, but if you really want to look at it that way, the largest employer in Western Massachusetts is more important than a crybaby looser trying to recoup on a bad investment.
And I am NOT in favor of closing either street. Just pointing out that there are 6000 people who have jobs because of UMass and how many people do the schmucks on Lincoln hire?
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