Patriotic Double Dose

 

BIG flag flies in Amherst  (MA) town center for first time in over a year

As you have probably heard by now -- since the town thought it important enough to use the reverse 911 emergency phone system alert -- the July 4th fireworks are postponed until tomorrow.  And since we don't have a July 4th Parade anymore, no rescheduling required.

Although Amherst, N.H. managed to have one this morning. 

Enjoying our first parade of the day in Amherst to celebrate the 4th of July! #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/jb9DNTGOLG
— Scott P. Brown (@SenScottBrown) July 4, 2014

Mother Nature provided her own fireworks last night taking down trees and wires all around town.  A transformer fire near the Dunkin' Donuts took out the power to College Street, South East Street and Belchertown Road.

 Tree down on access road connecting beleaguered High School with embattled Middle School

Even the Cumberland Farms was without power briefly.  Yes, they were about the only operation in Amherst open the morning after the 2011 Halloween Nor'easter killed power to the entire town.  This time however their generator failed to kick in. 

Things could have been far, FAR worse.  Apparently a funnel cloud was spotted near Barnes Airport heading our way and there were reports of a microburst in nearby Sunderland.

U/D Sunderland, Ma, MEMA now reporting it could be the microburst people are reporting, not a tornado. Multiple trees down in that area
— Matthew Gregoire (@BreakngNewsPhtg) July 4, 2014

 
And now it looks like Hurricane Arthur will not wreak havoc on the Happy Valley.

So celebrate today the birthday of the greatest country the world has ever known.  And come tomorrow, celebrate it again.  And the next day, and the one after that, and ...