Northampton Redoubt
Caught on a hot tin roof…Narkewicz and Reckman take to the friendly air waves
"What’s that smell in this room?" The late great Burl Ives referring to mendacity in his performance as cancer stricken Harvey "Big Daddy" Pollitt in Tennessee Williams’ Oscar nominated 1958 movie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Apparently...Tour the Pleasant Street Theater courtesy Jeff Massimino
Jeff took these pictures recently and agreed to share them with Redoubt readers. Thanks Jeff. The Pleasant Street Theater blockWelcome to the Pleasant Street Theater The Main EntranceThe Concession standThe lobby archEmpty movie poster casesLittle Theater entranceDown...Northampton's Urban Planning, Public Policies, and Urban Ecology: Douglas Kohl's North Street area Condominium proposal spurs lively discussion on Paradise City Forum
It’s great to read everyone’s posts on the Paradise City Forum listserv regarding the North Street Condominium proposal and Smart Growth. In my view it would help to integrate the three different though not necessarily exclusive components I’ve been...Northampton's 2008 Inaugural ceremony and first meeting of the new city council
Mary Serreze of the Community Radio Hour on Valley Free Radio attended the first meeting of the new Northampton City Council held a few hours after the inauguration and provides podcast coverage of the meeting as recorded by volunteers from local Cable Access Channel...Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Monday January 21, 2008
“A true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order and say of war: ‘This way of settling differences is not just.’ This business of sending men (and women) home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically...Northampton and the Open Meeting Law
Pepyne prepares Powerpoint presentationAt an Open Meeting Law primer held Thursday evening January 10, 2008 during the Planning Board meeting, Northwestern District Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Pepyne provided a Powerpoint presentation. The purpose of the law...Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Cynthia Pepyne rules Reckman not guilty
According to a letter dated January 11, 2008, Assistant Northwestern DA Pepyne has ruled that there is no evidence that Northampton Ward Three City Councilor Robert Reckman is guilty of serving as an, "intermediary for communication amongst city council members...Northampton Ward 7 City Councilor Ray LaBarge alleges discrimination in council appointments
Councilor LaBarge said in a recent telephone interview that he believes he has been discriminated against with regards to his removal from appointment to the city’s Ordinance Committee. According to LaBarge, newly sworn in City Council President Jim Dostal told...To appeal or to not appeal…
Let’s examine what we do know regarding the leaked Reckman email of December 6, 2007:The following is a quote from the first letter of inquiry Pepyne sent to Reckman:"Deliberation outside of an open meeting, including deliberation in serial fashion or...Pioneer Valley Guildhouse announces general public forum for residents of Northampton and the valley on Monday January 21 @ 4 PM @ Florence Civic Center
If you could tell 100 residents of Northampton one thing, what would it be?Monday January 21, 4pm, Florence Civic CenterPark St. Florence (near the Lilly Library) Doors open at 4pm, when people can come in and help themselves to food,sit down and talk. After about...Amherst's Twenty-Fourth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast, Northampton resident Michael Bardsley recipient Citizen's Award
Amherst Regional Jazz WorkshopTommy Benfey, Nick Adolph, Nicholas Reyes, and Sarah Horowitz8th Grade Art I have a dream… Martin Luther King, Jr. Citizen’s Award recipient Michael Bardsley with State Representative Ellen Story Dr. Thomas W. Cole, Jr.,...Upcoming meetings of Citizens United for a Healthy Future regarding Northampton's landfill expansion
Hannum Brook Press Release: Monday, February 4th, 2008 from 7 – 8 PM Wednesday, March 12th2008 from 7 – 8 PM SAVE THE AQUIFER – PROTECT DRINKING WATER – STOP THE NORTHAMPTON LANDFILL EXPANSION WHO: Citizens United for a Healthy Future...Ethics breaches a significant problem in government that might worsen, Northampton is no exception
Recent events in Northampton regarding best practices and possible open meeting law violations have caused some members of the community to question local government ethics. This issue is not confined to Northampton, but is widespread and common. Today’s edition...Academy of Music looking up
Recent media coverage extols the resurgence of Northampton’s Academy of Music. Let’s review how it’s going.The municipally owned Academy’s self perpetuating Board of Trustee’s is not answerable to the general public in a significant way....Best Practices committee appointees and how members of the city council voted
Committee appointees and votesBelow are listed the citizen appointees for Northampton’s ad hoc Best Practices Committee and the number of votes they received. The two councilors LaBarge and Bardsley had identical ballots. Councilors Carney and Murphy voted...Interstate 91 Interchange 19 update
Survey area Proposed Interchange 19Dear Property Owner,Concerning our preliminary studies for the subject project in the City of Northampton, it will be necessary for our engineers or representatives to enter upon your property at …………. for the...Term limits in Northampton
Newly elected city council president Jim Dostal has proposed term limits for the position he recently acquired. That is a decision for the council to take up and decide upon. For what it’s worth, why stop there?As Mary Clare Higgins begins her fifth term as...Truth and Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds of Racism-activist Naomi Tutu to speak at at Mount Holyoke College
On behalf of the Weissman Center for Leadership and the Liberal Arts at Mount Holyoke College, I write to share with you information on two upcoming public events featuring visionary activist and global educator Naomi Tutu. She will deliver the first spring lecture in...Pulaski Park Request for Proposals
The Northampton Board of Public Works (BPW) is soliciting schematicdesign proposals for Pulaski Park. During construction of the proposedhotel, the rear section of the park will be significantly altered.These changes include filling in the slope leading down to the...The Risks of Revitalization, are Convention Centers all that they're made out to be?
David Devine had an interesting article recently in the Tucson Weekly entitled, "The Risks of Revitalization." You can read the article here. It relates to the inherent risks involved when developing convention centers, and I found similarities to the...Landfill odor meeting Thursday, February 28 @ Finn-Ryan Road School @ 7 PM
From Citizens United for a Healthy Future:The chronic noxious odors are caused by chemical gas emissions at the Northampton Regional landfill. The DPW will be discussing work to be done at the landfill to try to address some of the noxious odors. The DPW is conducting...House passes bill by wide margin: Kocot and Story sign onto House bill 2840, which is now bill 4534. Bill exempts senior citizens earning $60K or less from Prop. 2 1/2 overrides
The Boston Globe is reporting that the bill passed in the House, Thursday, February 28 by a wide margin. To my knowledge there has been no mention in the local press of the bill, until today. Why this wasn’t news BEFORE the House vote is beyond me as the bill...CANCELLED TO BE RESCHEDULED Raise your voice about the future of the internet
Western Massachusetts Broadband Forum From Save the internet.com:Raise Your Voice About the Future of the Internet in Western Massachusetts. One-third of the towns in Western Massachusetts have no access to high-speed internet, while many other communities have...Northampton landfill odor forum draws musicians
Appalachian Still perform, "You don’t put a Landfill on top of an Aquifer" at the landfill forum held last Thursday at Finn-Ryan Road School. The above video was recorded by Mary Serreze of the Community Radio Hour and Northamptonmedia.com. Mary has...Desperate times call for innovative measures…
Detroit Free Press has an interesting article today regarding the merger of police departments as a cost cutting measure. With Northampton facing a budget shortfall in the upcoming year, perhaps it is time for local leaders to begin thinking about joining some of our...Watch Youtube videos of site preparation at Smith College for their new Science and Engineering Center in the Green Street/Belmont Ave. area of Northampton
Jeff Massimino lives adjacent to the building site and contributed these 15-second videos to Northampton Redoubt. There’s more to follow…REPRISE: Round House, the past, present, and future
undated photo Round House and proximity circa 1960(see more in gallery to the left)I attended the recent Round House parking lot environmental cleanup update meeting held at 5:30 PM Monday April 23, 2007 at the MacDonald House at 49 Old South Street in Northampton.Of...Save the Barnes aquifer meeting covered by Kelsey Flynn of Paradise City Blog
Kelsey covered last night’s meeting. You can read her write-up here Citizens United Meeting: Wednesday, March 12th , 2008 from 7 – 8 PM SAVE THE AQUIFER – PROTECT DRINKING WATER – STOP THE LANDFILL EXPANSION You are invited to a Meeting to help...REPRISE: OSHA levies fines over the Round House site cleanup
Dan Crowley of the Daily Hampshire Gazette is reporting on OSHA violations that occurred at the Round House parking lot cleanup. I first covered the issue in the spring and summer of 2007 and reprise those posts today, in this new context. Also, I have moved the photo...Videos and photographs of a walking tour of North Street Northampton's Mill Yard Brook and vernal pools
Douglas Kohl granted me permission to revisit his North Street area property from time to time, so March 5 I toured the area as the rain was letting up, and recorded some video clips. Doug is planning to construct 26-31 market rate housing units in the area and is...Northampton mayor Higgins says Community Development Block Grant funds, “cannot be used for schools,” but can they?
Well, sort of. There are certain school related activities where it is permissible to access Community Development Block Grant funds. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), activities include, "all improvements and facilities that are...Public Hearing with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women March 26, 2008 from 7-9 PM @ UMass Campus Center 904-908
In Honor of International Women’s Month, Everywoman’s Center invites allinterested individuals and organizations to provide truth and testimonyregarding the status of women’s lives in Massachusetts!Public Hearing with the Massachusetts Commission on...Northampton residents sue developer Douglas Kohl to resolve questions of title and rights-of-way
Press ReleaseContact: Brad Shimel, Esq., 413-586-3480Northampton Residents Sue Developer Douglas Kohl to Resolve Questions of Title and Rights-of-WayNorthampton, MA, March 13, 2008: A group of neighbors living near a proposed 26-unit condominium project on undeveloped...Landfill discussion on Masslive.com brings with it relevant information
Someone was busy last night over at the Masslive.com Northampton Forum at http://www.masslive.com/forums/northampton/. The information from a couple of posts seemed important so here it is: "1. The existing landfill DOES leak and HAS contaminated area ground...Former Northampton City Councilor enters the blogosphere with “Crack is Back,” but did it ever leave?
Local activist Mike Kirby’s new blog endeavors to shed light on the goings’on in the Paradise City. Check it out… http://kirbyontheloose.blogspot.com/Press Release: 42 Northampton citizens seek enforcement of zoning regulations pertaining to the landfill, allege city not following its own rules
Citizens United for a Healthy FutureNorthampton/Easthamptonwww.savingparadise.infoFor questions contact:Dr. Jo-Anne Bessette at 413-584-5284jsophie@comcast.netNorthampton, Massachusetts – 42 citizens of Northampton, in a formal zoning enforcement request...Public comments delivered to the Northampton City Council regarding Northampton Landfill public forums
Tonight I represent the Advisory Committee of the Paradise City Forum, as well as myself as a private resident of Northampton. I don’t envy the position that you are in as a legislative body, over the proposed landfill expansion in Florence. You have been given...Northampton High School Amnesty International Club & Amnesty International Local Group #76 present: Facing the Death Penalty
Sunday, March 30, 2008, 3:00 pmLittle Theater, Northampton High SchoolSpeakersSHUJAA GRAHAMExonerated Survivor of 3 Years on California’s Death RowDeath Penalty Abolition ActivistProject Board Member:Witness to InnocenceJourney of HopeSCOTT LANGLEYHuman Rights...Northampton Community Preservation Committee funding recommendations
Funding Recommendations from the Community Preservation Committee– Feb 1, 2008 Funding Cycle HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECT: Preserving the Elm Street Historic District in the 21st Century – comprehensive update of design standards and update of historic...“How is this green?”-Mike Fedora on the status of Hannum Brook and the aquifer tributary. Join us for a walking tour of leachate!
Glendale Road property owner (and keeper of horses), Mike Fedora, toured me around his land which happens to sit adjacent to the Northampton landfill. Mike said that when he bought his parcel thirty years ago that the aquifer tributary which feeds into Hannum Brook...Hey Northampton, here is all you ever wanted to know about why landfill liners are likely to fail
Environmental Justice has a great website with many fun to know facts on landfills. http://www.ejnet.org/landfills/Zero Waste America also has a great website. Contained therein is a wealth of information on landfills, including videos, photos, reports and links to...What others are doing: Seattle, WA's strategy for handling waste
Zero Waste StrategyNEW RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE SERVICES Latest Updates from the Seattle City Council: On July 16, 2007, after eighteen months of work led by Council member Richard Conlin, chair of the Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities (EEMU)...A year in the life of a vernal pool from the Northampton Wildlife Committee and the Nonotuck Land Fund
From John Body:Hello Everyone, Well, even though it doesn’t look like spring out there today, things are happening! Ducks are migrating back, chipmunks are yelling at hikers from off the trails, and it seems some salamanders have moved to the vernal pools. As...Resolution regarding Northampton City Council responsibility for holding public meetings on proposed landfill expansion passes first reading
April 3, 2008 Upon the recommendation Councilor M. LaBarge & Councilor Bardsley RESOLUTION REGARDING CITY COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOLDING PUBLIC MEETINGS ON PROPOSED LANDFILL EXPANSION WHEREAS, the Northampton City Council will act as the granting authority...Minutes from EDHLU on Chapter 43D and expedited permitting
Below are excerpts from the most recent sets of minutes available of Northampton’s Economic Development, Housing, and Land Use committee. They outline the thought process that has gone on regarding steam-lining the permitting process for commercial development...See the USS New York warship as forged from the steel of the former World Trade Center buildings
USS New York Built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the former World Trade Center, it is the fifth in a new class of warship – designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready...Easthampton council to hear Dr. Robert Newton regarding Northampton's proposed landfill expansion, Northampton Ordinance Committee and DPW to discuss landfill this week
Movement of leachate plume (above) Barnes Aquifer "X" at top center denotes landfillFor questions, please contact City Councilor J.P. Kwiecinski:Home/Office (413) 527-0010Cell (413) 575-6009 JP@realtor.comOr jpcouncilor@verizon.netOn April 16th 2008 –...Debra J'Anthony hired as new executive director of the Academy of Music in Northampton
With no fanfare, the board of trustees of the Academy of Music Theatre have hired a new executive director, Debra J’Anthony, who resigned from the Shea Theater in Turners Falls earlier this year after sixteen years of service as its executive director. In a...Residents brainstorm ways to save money in Northampton
The Northampton Education Action Team has published a preliminary school closure assessment report on their website, neatonline.net. You can read the full report by clicking here (PDF). The report examines perceived errors in the enrollment and class size premises as...Robes for the council? Mike Kirby weighs in on Monday's Ordinance Committee meeting in Northampton
On Monday, April 14, the Northampton city council’s ordinancecommittee met. The committee is beginning to developrules for itself in anticipation of an application by thedepartment of public works (DPW) and mayor Higgins for a heavy public usespecial permit that...Easthampton city councilors hear more on Northampton's landfill expansion proposal
Smith College geology professor Dr. Robert Newton addressed the Easthampton city council on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. (I suggest clicking on Google Video so you can view the presentation on a larger screen.) Video courtesy of Mary Serreze of...No new roads? How about this one!
Would you be apprehensive about driving across this bridge? A reader sent me these photos and even in the small scale they are breathtaking. There’s been talk in past years of building a through-way from Williamsburg to the University of Massachusetts. How about...Jesus Leyva and the Pioneer Valley Guildhouse to sponsor General Public Forum @ Jackson Street School on April 29. Forum co-sponsored by City Councilor Michael Bardsley
Guildhouse founders Jesus Leyva, Rafi Kurts, and Kenny Jean-Babets If you could tell 100 residents of Northampton one thing, what would it be? General Public Forum For residents of Northampton and the Pioneer ValleySponsored by the Pioneer Valley Guildhouse and City...The dispostion of Northampton's James House-Is Higgins' proposed adult literacy program the best use for the municipal building?
Recent Minutes from the Economic Development, Housing, and Land Use Committee on the James House (December 2007 & February 2008) Mayor Higgins said the building was bought by the City in 1994 for a new police station, then rented to the court system. The court...A view from above…
Watch a PowerPoint presentation of images of earth from above. It’s a great look at the planet. There are rumors that astronaut Sunita Williams took these, but that is unconfirmed. See if you can locate Northampton. (PowerPoint viewer needed-click on the arrows...Tonight's the night the council will decide on how it will proceed regarding public meetings, hearings, or forums on Northampton's proposed regional landfill expansion-Was Stantec report sloppy?
On tonight’s Northampton city council agenda is the resolution for holding public forums on the proposed landfill expansion, as well as the amendment as put forth by Councilors Carney and Reckman, to hold public hearings with as of now undetermined rules. In my...Emails concerning the proposed landfill expansion distributed among members of the Northampton City Council
It appears that communications regarding the proposed landfill expansion have been taking place between members of the Northampton City Council. Click here to download in PDF format a series of emails between City Councilor Robert Reckman and other councilors, Mayor...Three County Fair to host open house Wednesday, May 7 @ 7PM to discuss future use of its grounds
From the Ward Three Neighborhood Association listserv:Open House:WHEN : WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008 7 PMWHERE: FAIR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING ON FAIR ST.THE THREE COUNTY FAIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS HIRED BULLOCK, SMITH AND PARTNERS TO PREPARE A MASTER PLAN FOR REDEVELOPMENT...Local mainstream media catching up to story of former Northampton cafeteria worker losing health insurance benefits retroactively
A staff writer at one of the local papers of record, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, finally picked up the story of a former long-time Northampton cafeteria worker who was told by Northampton Mayor Higgins that she had lost her health insurance eligibility retroactively....E-Edition
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