Northampton Redoubt
Engineer Michael Pritchard on safe drinking water
Those who can afford to reside in the Northampton area enjoy a fine quality of life for the most part. With natural resources abounding people flock here to live and enjoy the amenities which include ample drinking water and convenient trash disposal. But what if a...When summer's gone, where will we be? … The Doors
Ho hum, we see that public records were indeed destroyed by Northampton's clerk of the city council, apparently at the behest of Northampton's former city solicitor Janet Sheppard or at least with her knowledge. In a moment that could be classified as...Alleged Am B Care employee comments anonymously on Masslive
Ran across this the other day on Masslive's anonymous Northampton forum regarding the city's contract with Am B Care. Whoever you are, thanks for sharing. In the interest of being honest and open, let me first disclose that I am an employee of Am B Care...Shall the city dump 2.8 billion pounds of trash over the Barnes Aquifer?
That's what 50,000 tons per year equals after 28 years, the projected life of the proposed expansion. Below the BPW + City Council joint conference committee discuss city landfill question.Video courtesy North Street Neighborhood Association As of Monday citizen...Ground Zero, NYC, August 2009
Took a day trip recently to New York City. Toward the end of the day we visited Ground Zero. It was the first time I've been there after the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. The site is pretty well cleaned up and reconstruction is well under way. You...Fear of what?
Fear is an intersting thing. Fear can make people act irrationally or heroically and in some cases maybe both. When it comes to politics, fear is no less an influence than money or ego. When it comes to the Michael Bardsley mayoral campaign I've noticed fear...Ward 7 candidates to square off tonight
The three candidates for the Ward 7 City Councilor position, Gene Tacy, Deb Jacobs and George Russell, will participate in a forum to be held at the Leeds Grammar School on Wednesday September 9 at 7:00 p.m. The Florence Business and Civic Association and the Leeds...From Benjamin Spencer
HOLYOKE RANGE MEMORIAL When: Sunday, September 13th from 6-8PM. Where: Village Hill Northampton, Route 66 Sidewalk Come see the sunlight shine on the Holyoke Range as the sunset glows to the west. Take one last look at the magnificent view of the entire Holyoke Range....Public process/records errors continue
The Menino administration of Boston is under fire regarding the deletion of public records in the form of emails reports the Boston Globe. Apparently this is a routine practice in that city. Several challengers to Menino in the upcoming election are calling for an...CITIZENS' LANDFILL QUESTION MAKES BALLOT-Bardsley and Tacy win primaries
With a week to spare Mimi Odgers of Water Not Waste reports that Northampton City Clerk Wendy Mazza has certified 1,993 signatures to date for the citizen initiated landfill question. This means the question will appear on the municipal ballot November 3. Odgers said...Landfill question letter submitted to Gazette by Andrew Woodland
To the Editor (submitted Sept. 15 via email): Ward 3 City Councilor Bob Reckman today submitted a proposed amendment to the landfill expansion referendum language. While I applaud the council’s effort to put this issue in front of the citizens of Northampton,...Residents file protest petition
About 27 property owners in the Glendale Road area of the city filed the following protest petition (PDF) last Thursday to the City Council. It is their belief that the petition will require a 3/4s vote of the City Council in order to alter the heavy public use zoning...Unflinching, Susco is mad as Hell
Well, Northampton resident Steve Susco (below) let Mayor Higgins and the City Council, as well as the public, know how he feels. He is tired of raw sewage bubbling up in his home. The story did not garner much media attention until the squeaky wheel amplified its...Higgins' tagteam Dwight and Baskin come out swinging in cyber attack on Bardsley-rated XXX
Here are excerpts from recent email exchanges between Northampton Mayoral frontrunner Michael Bardsley and incumbent Mary Clare Higgins. It concerns a Bill Dwight email Lisa Baskin and Paul Spector circulated to an unknown number of email recipients the day after...Ward One race, it's Carney vs. Vidal-McNair
Maureen Carney is not new to the Ward One voters of Northampton. She has served as the Ward One City Councilor since WHMP radio talk show host Bill Dwight hand-picked her as his successor several years ago. According to her website she feels she has the experience to...Northampton Ward 3 challenger Plassman issues press release
Ward 3 Forum for City Councilor Candidates, October 19, 7-9pm, Bridge Street School I would like to state I am and always have been willing and very interested in discussing the issues that face the residents of Ward 3. Accordingly, I wanted to take some time to...Tragedy twice strikes South Street
This past week was a tough one for two pet owners along busy South Street in Northampton. On Wednesday, September 30 about mid-day I saw my neighbor Jean walking slowly and gingerly along the concrete sidewalk adjacent to her house. In tow behind her was a women...Did Higgins disremember Dwight email?
Fred Contrada reports Sunday in the Springfield Republican on the Bill Dwight email in which WHMP radio show host Dwight engaged in Ad hominem attacks on the Bardsley for Mayor campaign the day after Bardsley won the preliminary election September 15 by 475...On the lighter side
200+ Monarch butterflies released in Deerfield.Does Dwight email defame those named?
The recent email circulated by WHMP radio host Bill Dwight and Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins' campaign co-manager Lisa Baskin to hundreds if not thousands of people in the city of Northampton, and maybe beyond, describes numerous persons as, "angry...New local political initiative from David Pakman
This is a little dated but is an interesting initiative undertaken by David Pakman, Valley Free Radio host of Midweek Politics. You can sign up at the link or via text message. Full disclosure, I have not recieved free software in exhange for this blog entry, but...PVPC online bus survey
Subject: PVTA Bus Rider Survey – Now Online! The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission is conducting a customer satisfaction survey of PVTA bus riders who use the routes in the Northampton/UMass Amherst/Five College area (all routes in Hampshire County). Paper...Noam Chomsky speaks on polyarchy; Higgins-Bardsley square off later
I don't know much about controversial Prof. Noam Chomsky (above). I'm only vaguely familiar with his writings and have not studied his various theories. But I did run across this YouTube video of him discussing U.S. politics and found in it interesting...Social Justice Mayoral Forum a draw
Attended the Unitarian Society's Social Justice Forum Saturday. Each candidate for mayor, incumbent Mary Clare Higgins and challenger Michael Bardsley, listed off their respective resumes in the Social Justice sphere. Many of Higgins' statements concerned her...GrassRoots Recycling Network organizes Zero Waste Conference
The GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN) has organized the National Recycling & Zero Waste Conference in Devens, MA from October 18-21, 2009. We hope you join us in Devens. ********************************************************************** Register now for...“Buying Green Can Be License For Bad Behavior, Study Finds”
Here's something to think about. New York Times columnist Charles Blow posted an interesting link to his facebook page regarding, "buying green," and how this can lead to poor behavior on the part of the consumer. The link is from an October 9 Science...Local activists and Noam Chomsky on Health Care reform
Recently Health Care reform supporters took to the steps of Northampton's City Hall. Below Noam Chomsky speaks on United States Health Care reform.Green Street Neighborhood Block Party
Photo courtesy Ken Mitchell Friday, Oct. 16 from 5-7 pm in the Green Street Cafe Parking Lot which can be accessed via Arnold Avenue. Rain date is Saturday, Oct. 17 from 1-3 pm. Plans call for art, poetry, music, food, drink, politicians and bells. The following is a...Hamp Progressives and Mass. UAW endorse Bardsley for Mayor
Former Mayor Mary Ford and activist Frances Crowe have endorsed Michael Bardsley for Mayor of Northampton the Bardsley campaign is reporting on its website. In addition Bardsley has picked up the endorsement of the Massachusetts United Auto Workers Union. Read the...New Ward 4 Neighborhood Association forming
Ward 4 Northampton Neighborhood Association Monday – October 26 – 6:00 to 9:00 Forbes Library – Community Room Drop by for as long as you like. Arrive early for a slice of pizza and a beverage. Meet your neighbors. Meet the City Council candidates....Nicaragua and clean drinking water
Former Northampton resident Emily Mew is now living in Camoapa, Nicaragua. She recently sent this request for help. Monetary donations can be made at the Sunrise Foundation link below. They are also looking for donations of specific materials which can be viewed at...Ancestors' Nite In at Forbes Library
Find the keys to solving your family history questions at the Forbes Library's Genealogy "lock-in" Thursday October 22, 2009 6-9 PM In honor of Family History Month, join Forbes Library staff for an exclusive after hours opportunity to access the...Mimi Odgers speaks out on landfill politics
From the North Street Neighborhood Association. Partial transcript of Mimi Odgers addressing the Northampton City Council during public comment period:"[On] the mayor's website, in her issues column, it states about the landfill expansion… 'We have...Ward 2 City Councilor Paul Spector issues mea culpa on Dwight email
On Monday October 19 I discovered a message on my answering machine from Northampton's Ward 2 City Councilor Paul Spector. In his message he asked me to give him a call, so I did.Our conversation lasted but a few minutes. He said he reads Redoubt and generally...City buys Fedora property by landfill for $600,000
According to the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, the City of Northampton has purchased another property abutting the Glendale Road landfill. Recorded Tuesday, October 20, the property was transferred from Michael and Lillian Fedora to the city for the amount of...Higgins to appear on VFR today @ 4pm, Governor Patrick weighs in
Press Release:Northampton Mayoral Candidate Mary Clare Higgins to be interviewed this Friday (Oct. 23) on the Bread & Roses Show. For a lively, provocative interview with candidate Clare Higgins with challenging questions on her mayoral record as she runs a...Wanted: Director of Community and Economic Development
With the public’s attention diverted this past spring by the Proposition 2 ½ override initiative, Northampton’s Mayor Mary Clare Higgins successfully proposed creating a new Office of Community and Economic Development and has nominated her Economic...Vidal-McNair responds to another Dwight slight
~ On his show Friday, October 23 WHMP radio show host Bill Dwight takes issue with another local political candidate. If you recall in a scathing email he attacked among others At-Large City Council Candidate Kathy Silva on September 16. This time Ward 1 challenger...Bardsley campaign releases Report on Environmental Issues
Mayoral candidate Michael Bardsley has released the following: Report on Environmental Issues PDFRacism at NHA properties alleged
~Above is a video of the Daily Hampshire Gazette sponsored Northampton Mayoral debate held recently at JFK Middle School in Florence courtesy North Street Neighborhood Association.A new front was opened by Mayoral Candidate Michael Bardsley when he was given an...W6NA & WNW City Council At-Large Candidates Debate
The Ward 6 Neighborhood Association and Water Not Waste sponsored a City Councilor At-Large debate this week at Finn-Ryan Road School. Video courtesy North Street Neighborhood Association. See more campaign videos and coverage at North Street Neighborhood Association...Shall the city of Northampton Expand the Landfill?
Guest Editorial from Water Not Waste: The following was submitted to the Daily Hampshire Gazette as a Guest Editorial on October 23rd. As of October 31st, they have chosen not to include it in their election coverage of the Opinion section of the paper. Shall the City...Northampton voters to choose leader on Nov. 3
I've been following Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins' campaign print ads in the Gazette with interest. First there is self deprecating irony in referring to Higgins as a crummy mayor in a great city. Then fear is used in appealing to Anybody But Clare...Viable Alternatives to the Landfill
And why the public policy of expanding the landfill does not deal with our waste problem Guest Editorial by Jesus Leyva First I want the people reading this article to have a context for understanding where this piece of writing comes from and why I wrote it. I...From Dee Boyle-Clapp: Save the Chesterfield Road Dam
Dear Friends, Please help save an important part of our community and our landscape. The Upper Roberts Meadow Reservoir and the Dam located on Chesterfield Road in Florence are slated for removal. This nearly 130-year old dam may be removed as early as the SUMMER of...Wishful thinking; Higgins claims no city divisions
As I wrote a few entries ago, about 5,000 voters determined the direction this city of 28,000+ should take for the next two years. A little more than fifty percent of Northampton's voters turned out for the Tuesday election, about the same number as the spring...Bokashicycle composting
Here's an idea for our organic waste. Not that this is right for Northampton, but it is something to think about. Compost with a KickBokashi is a centuries-old Japanese method of recycling household food waste into all-natural compost. By employing a special...Nurses to picket Cooley Dickinson Hosp. Monday
From the Western Mass. Jobs With Justice listserv: NO LAYOFFS! NO TAKEAWAYS! INFORMATIONAL PICKET AT COOLEY DICKINSON HOSPITAL 4-6pm, 30 Locust Street (Rte 9), Northampton. Nurses at Cooley Dickinson hospital–proud members of the Massachusetts Nurses...9C cuts to decimate Homeless Programs across the state
The Boston Globe reports Nov. 7 on Governor Deval Patrick's cuts to homeless programs which have raised the ire of homeless advocates across the state. It is not yet clear how these cuts will impact services in Northampton, if at all, but it is estimated that 500...Smart Design by Tim Brown
~Infill and design standards were factors in this year's political campaigns. Above Tim Brown speaks on the importance of design.Where have all the flowers gone? M. Dietrich
Northampton Survival Center turns 30
With the holiday season upon us visit the Northampton Survival Center online to learn more about how you can help society's neediest to survive. http://www.thensc.org/Local online media moving on from election
The North Street Neighborhood Association (html) has a wealth of coverage regarding local issues. From the proposed Bean Farm purchase by the city for playing fields to the recent Meadowbrook fire to to reclassification of the city's floodplains to the...Northampton Housing Needs Study
Public Input MeetingsSaturday, November 21, 2009, 10:00 am – NoonMonday, November 23, 2009, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm At the Northampton Senior Center67 Conz Street,Northampton, MA The Housing Partnership and consultant Karen Sunnarborg will present the DRAFT...Grow Food in Northampton sponsors Bean Farm petition
Jennifer Hartley sent the following to the Paradise City Forum listserv regarding the potential purchase by the City of Northampton of about forty acres of the Bean Farm in Florence. As of now only three options have been put forth for the land if purchased by the...Garbage Audits
Press Release:GREEN Northampton is starting a free service available immediately to all businessesand residents in Northampton, GARBAGE AUDITS. GREEN Northampton has formedteams of auditors to visit homes and offices and give informational and sometimesexcavation-al...Council votes on Green Street Cafe-Smith College impasse
Among the robust commentary offered on issues before the City Council ranging from a Living Wage Resolution to the city's impending purchase of a portion of the Bean Farm property in Florence, numerous city residents spoke during the public comment portion of...John F. Kennedy assassination, 46 years later
Walter Cronkite announces the news Zapruder filmPatrick's Evergreen Solar goes to China
On Saturday the Gazette covered a story regarding the Green Street Cafe and Smith College. Unfortunately I am misquoted in the article, but no matter. In response to the article, "dwight," posted the following comment on Gazette's Talkback. I don't...E-Edition
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