Blogs
Sunshine Week and City government
I’ve written here and elsewhere about the need for government transparency, and this week is Sunshine Week, which according to the Gazette is “sponsored by the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the American Library Association and other citizen groups...Municipal Discourse regarding Northampton's fiscal health
While watching the most recent Northampton City Council meeting on the local cable access channel the evening of March 15 I was interested in the lack of information provided regarding a $429 thousand financial transfer. Apparently there is a surplus of funds in the...Meadowbrook under siege?
The following exchange occurred on Gazette’s Talkback feature in response to an article, “City proclamation acknowledges mentally retarded.” Gazette Talkback: It’s amazing that the Mayor is proclaiming March to be mental retardation awareness...Energy Officer
While perusing the city’s personnel policy files Monday to determine if the new grant funded Energy Officer position will be eligible for city health and pension benefits, and it is, I noticed hanging on the wall of the Human Resources office a help-wanted ad...Academy less divided
Moderator Susan Kohler-Gray outlines discussion points(See gallery to left for forum photos) Attended the latest Academy of Music forum held at the Northampton Center for the Arts, Sunday March 25. The focal point of the conversation has drifted from the Academy...Meadowbrook's Fable
On March 17 accusatory statements were posted on Gazette’s online Talkback alleging abuse and discrimination of mentally retarded residents at Meadowbrook Apartments in Florence, Mass. and that Northampton’s Mayor Mary Clare Higgins has been made aware of...Higgins rights wrong on ambulance pact
The marriage of the local media with the establishment of our public policies. Daily I awaken and examine how the media is reporting of the world around me by scanning the morning print and online newspaper editions over coffee. On days of snowy weather I might tune...Green Street
"night" by Ken MitchellGreen StreetPhoto by Ken MitchellGreen Street demolitionGreen Street demolitionRubble as seen through Green Street Cafe window Rubble as seen through Green Street Cafe windowGreen Street demolitionPhoto by Jeff Massiminoa closer...Belmont Avenue
Image courtesy Joseph Krupczynskiabove, Ford HallImage courtesy Joseph Krupczysnkibelow, Belmont Avenue home being torn down 4-0-5-0-7With this logo would you guess construction company?Tomorrow is another day…Tomorrow is here!Next 6 photos by Jeff...Deval Patrick addresses Municipal Conference and Activists' concerns
Deval Patrick gestures as he delivers his opening remarks.The power of activism was demonstrated at the Hampshire-Franklin County Municipal Conference held Saturday April 7, 2007 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center on Atwood Drive in Northampton. Governor Deval...Preserving Northampton: the Changing Face of Affordable Housing, Chapters 40R and 40S, and Hospital Hill
Wednesday, April 4 the Northampton Chapter of the League of Women Voter’s sponsored a public forum on Affordable Housing and the Community Preservation Act (CPA). The latter is funded by mandated fees collected by all of the Registry of Deeds offices located...Friday the 13th: Smith College Demolishes Belmont Avenue home
Photos by Jeff Massiminowho’s paying for the water?feeling blue?a noble sentimentlast wall standingand so it goes…CBS 3 News Reporter Anne Ebeling on the joband then it was gone…Photo below by Jeff MassiminoClothesline Project Smith College Seelye Lawn April 9-13, 2007
Sexual Abuse Awareness Week: breaking the silenceSmith College Seniors Nikki Gagnon and Jen LaBarbera"The Clothesline Project (CLP) was first started on Cape Cod in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. It is a vehicle for women affected by...Municipal Conference notes from James Lowenthal
Smith College Astronomy Professor James Lowenthal granted me permission to relay his notes from Stan Rosenberg’s Hampshire-Franklin County Municipal Conference held April 7 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, Atwood Drive, Northampton. Thanks James, for...BioSUB-Sustainable Living
Scientist emerges from underwater boxHere’s a link to a Boston Globe article about a marine biologist that spent 13 days at the bottom of a lake in Australia to make a point about sustainable living.To learn more visit: BioSUBAccording to the article Lloyd...Media Reform with Bill Moyers
How far did mainstream media go to make the case for War in Iraq? On Wednesday, April 25, attend An Evening with Bill Moyers house party to watch his newest documentary, "Buying the War," and discuss the issue with the veteran television journalist. Just...Round House Parking Lot environmental cleanup updates Monday April 23
See gallery to the left for more pictures.The crisis in municipal health insurance adds up for someone
Since last year there has been whispered speculation in the Paradise City regarding Mayor Mary Clare Higgins’ future, as she was an early and rabid supporter of Deval Patrick during his successful campaign for the governor’s office. Some that follow...Smith College Demolishing 20 Belmont Avenue home
All photos courtesy Jeff Massiminogetting startedThe soon to be former 20 Belmont Avenue* Green water, and city water* ******************Smith College Demolishing 22 Belmont Avenue home
All photos courtesy Jeff MassiminoEnergy and the Pioneer Valley
Please click here to comment on the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan that has been developed over the last 2 years for the 69 towns in Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin Counties by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and by the Franklin Regional Council of...Conservation events starting today!
The bobolinks should be back in the fields soon, with their incredible colors and summer songs. This picture was taken at Mass Audubon’s Arcadia Sanctuary.________________________________________________________________ Its time to get out your calendars and put...WETLANDS MEETING TURNOUT
At its meeting last night (Thursday), the Conservation Commission voted to reattach the vernal pools provisions to the proposed wetlands ordinance, leave the replication requirement as it is (at 200 feet), and resubmit the ordinance to the City Council’s...Public Forum well attended
Thanks to David Kutcher we have some photos from the forum sponsored by the Paradise City Forum Wednesday, May 16, 2007 concerning the Interstate 91 Interchange 19 expansion.Northampton's landfill and Easthampton's water
On May 18 Gazette staff reporter Dan Crowley did a nice job of reporting on the city council deliberations regarding a new water-supply protection district and landfill expansion in Ward 6. He reported that 17 people spoke in general opposition to the Glendale Road...Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan continued…
Blogger’s note: Since I’ve been posting some of the discourse on the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan, here are several exchanges in their entirety on that point, between Lynn Benander and Jana Chicoine. 39% of 600 respondents have voted down the plan, 61%...Higgins blocks insurance coverage
Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins confirmed that eighteen months ago she retroactively removed from eligibility former city employees who had vested group health insurance benefits when they left the city’s employ. Interviewed May 30 Higgins said that for...Letter from Joseph Krupczynski on the Round House hotel to the Central Business Architecture Committee
Continuation of a public hearing on Pioneer Valley Hotel Group’s application to construct a new hotel and parking garage for the Round House parking lot. A letter from Joseph Krupczysnki, University of Massachusetts Assistant Professor, Architecture and Design....The new Hilton Garden Inn at the Round House
The air conditioning was on so the council chamber was a bit chilly at the outset of the public hearing sponsored by the Central Business Architecture Committee Tuesday evening May 29. About 15 people attended, a mix of city officials and private residents.a view from...occupancy and meals taxes in the city
The Patrick administration is placing a lot of emphasis on raising the hotel room occupancy tax limit and creating a local option meals tax to raise municipal revenues and shift local fiscal reliance away from property taxes. Communities across the commonwealth are...Higgins blocks health insurance coverage
Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins confirmed that eighteen months ago she retroactively removed from eligibility former city employees who had vested group health insurance benefits when they left the city’s employ. Interviewed May 30 Higgins said that for...Open letter to Mayor Mary Clare Higgins and the Northampton City Council concerning the Hilton Garden Inn
Michael Kusek delivers his remarks to the city council and mayor as three news crews and local cable access channel 15 record the proceedings._________________________________________________________________My name is Michael Kusek and I live at 26 Center Street in...Public hearing on the Hilton Garden Inn at the Round House lot continued until July 19 @ 8 PM
Many issues were raised but only a few were addressed due to time constraints. The hearing began at about 10:15 and ran until 12:45 AM Friday morning. Among the points of concern mentioned by the 19 public speakers or the board members:snow removalbike path and its...View Avenue and Northern Avenue, a new development off of North Street
Bordering adjacent wetlands, Douglas Kohl expects to demolish a home at the end of View Avenue in order to allow for access to the proposed development. Units are expected to sell in the $300,000 range. View Avenue-Northern Avenue townhouse development, 31 units...Bear Hill Estates in Florence taking the high ground
This image from Google Earth shows how the Bear Hill area once appeared. To the lower right is the JFK Middle School parking lot.Another development under way in Northampton is called Bear Hill Estates. Located on Bridge Road in Florence near the Look Park entrance...Mass. AFL-CIO & IBEW organize to address Smith College Construction
Massachusetts AFL-CIOTell Smith College President to do the right thing with campusconstruction!Smith College put a significant construction product out to bidrecently. After having promised to be responsible with its biddingprocess, Smith College has re-opened the...Public Forum on Hilton Garden Inn and urban design Wednesday, June 27 @ 7 PM Unitarian Church, 220 Main Street, Northampton
Click here to examine the Round House parking lot and the Mill River restoration documents. They can also be found at http://www.paradisecityforum.net on the home page. Joseph Krupczynski Letter to Central Business Architecture Review Committee.pdf Mill River Phase II...Mayor Mary Clare Higgins off on pension and health insurance policies
On May 28 and June 7 I reported on this web log that Mayor Higgins had altered Northampton’s group health insurance eligibility requirements in November 2005 and again in January 2006. This change retroactively removed from health insurance eligibility former...Hilton Garden Inn at the Round House public forum June 27, 2007
It wasn’t looking good, holding a public forum on a hot and muggy evening. Mary Serreze and I arrived at 6:20 PM to set up chairs and the doors to the Unitarian Society were locked. Yikes! I would have been perspiring even without the humidity. Dozens of people...Out of order? Northampton site plan methodology up for debate
Which comes first, the site plan approval or the special permit? Besides already signing a contract with the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, the city has also granted a special permit for the Hilton Garden Inn. However, a Paradise City Forum contributor pointed out that...Local architect Tris Metcalfe responds to hotel design
These might be notes to the Planning Board for the "FINAL" review ofNorthampton’s biggest change to downtown.At the forum last night (PCF-June 27) some important issues never came up that our finalreview board truly needs to consider and hopefully will...See Smith College Demolishing 22 Belmont Avenue home
This was the final home that needed to be removed in order to make way for Smith College’s new monolithic Science building. Images courtesy Jeff Massimino. A previous entry had incorrectly labeled 22 Arnold Ave. as 22 Belmont Ave. I have corrected the gallery to...Urban Planner and Attorney Joel Russell on the Hilton Garden Inn
I have been asked informally for some advice by a group of citizens concerned about certain aspects of the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group’s proposed hotel at Pulaski Park. I share their support of the basic concept of the hotel and parking garage, as well as their...Northampton Housing Partnership resolution on the Hilton Garden Inn at the Round House
The Northampton Housing Partnership, at its meeting of June 27, 2007, voted unanimously in support of the following Resolution:Given the City’s long term commitment to affordable housing, the difficulty of creating and preserving such housing, and the particular...North Street Neighborhood Association Barbecue Saturday July 21 from 5-7 PM @ 134 North Street
There’s a new neighborhood group in Northampton based on North Street. For more background on what spurred this turn of events see my June 15 entry. Here is a note from Adam Cohen.Friends,I wanted to let you know about a new community organization, North Street...Northampton officials sign contract before hotel details examined
Northampton City Hall, fall 2006The community conversation had wafted away from the Smith College Educational Use Overlay District fiasco in the fall of 2006. Evidently with the electorate distracted by Sustainability Plan activities, a porn shop, a statewide race for...Pan Am Railways raiload ties in Northampton a hazardous waste, pictures and article by Paolo Mastrangelo
Recently I read an account in the local newspaper detailing a fine levied against Pan Am Railways, $74,747, for mishandling chemically-treated and toxic railroad ties and failing to satisfy environmental management requirements in Franklin County, MA.The fine was...Urban Planner and Attorney Joel Russell to the Northampton Planning Board
Joel Russell addresses the planning board and about 135 attendees at the July 19, 2007 planning board public hearing on the Hilton Garden Inn.To the Northampton Planning Board: Thank you for your patience in listening to so much public comment last night. As you...Hail Mary! Former Mayor Mary Ford clarifies the history of the Round House parking lot cleanup process during her tenure
Former Northampton Mayor Mary Ford addresses the planning board and about 135 members of the audience July 19, 2007. In my view the most compelling five-minute testimony delivered among the 40 or so public comment speakers the evening of Thursday, July 19 was that of...North Street area citizens join together
More than sixty people attended the North Street Neighborhood Association Barbecue Sunday, July 21 to learn about Douglas Kohl’s 31-unit condominium project proposed for their area. The project is billed as an infill project that will supposedly lessen the need...Corporate privatization of Montague Plain water meeting: Sunday, August 5, Look Park, Route 9 Florence, Mass. site 32A-D@ 2PM
PUBLIC HEARING ON NESTLE WATER REQUESTTuesday July 31 @ 1pmU S Fish & Wildlife Service Regional Office300 Westgate Drive, off Rt 9 at Rt 116 & Staples, HadleyNestle is seeking permission tosink a test well on the Montague Plains (public land) for a potential...Metcalfe Hilton Garden Inn design alternatives
To the Northampton Planning Board:First I apologize for being a "bad cop" at the last meeting and hope theseattached drawings are a "good" help. They are 3 site plans and 4section/elevations. They show the sections at the neighboring buildingswhich...Shays 2 and water privatization threats in the Pioneer Valley
Reminder: Information and Strategizing Meeting Wed. Aug. 8th 7 p.m. on two imminent water privatization threats looming in the Pioneer Valley:a proposed Nestles water bottling operation on the Montague Plains and a proposed state bill that would fast-track water...Open letter to Northampton Planning Board on behalf of Round House owner Robert Curran
July 30, 2007 BY HANDMembers of the Planning Board City of Northampton Office of Planning & Development 210 Main Street, Room 11, City Hall Northampton, MA 01060 Re: Roundhouse/Development of Hotel and Parking Garage Dear Planning Board Members: I write on behalf...Are Northampton's trees and wetlands worth saving?
The North Street Neighborhood Association thinks so and is sponsoring a petition drive to save trees and wetlands in Northampton, Massachusetts. The drive, which has already garnered hundreds of signatures in this Western Massachusetts city of 29,000, calls on the...Northampton's wetland ordinance and vernal pools: letters from Robert Bissell and Rick Feldman plus a members list of the Chamber of Commerce's sub-committee for wetlands
An open letter from Robert Bissell: In a major disappointment for conservationists, theVernal Pool provisions were deleted from the WetlandsOrdinance Tuesday night (July 24) at the Ordinance Committeemeeting.The Northampton Chamber of Commerce is responsible for this...Hilton Garden Inn at the Round House site plan approved by a 6-1 vote of the Northampton Planning Board.
Francis Johnson, Stephen Gilson, Keith Wilson, Kenneth Jodrie, Jenifer Dieringer and Paul Voss all voted to approve the site plan as amended for the Hilton Garden Inn at the Round House. The lone no vote was cast by George Kohout.Planning Board chair Francis Johnson...Online Community Tool Box from the University of Kansas
This website is a great resource for community organizers: http://ctb.ku.edu Based at the University of Kansas, the mission of Community Toolbox is promoting community health and development by connecting people, ideas and resources. The following is from their...Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives celebrates second anniversay
This Saturday, Join Worker-Owners Up and Down the Valley!The Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives (VAWC) celebrates its secondanniversary! VAWC is a local network of worker-owned cooperatives and theirallies who organize to promote the worker-cooperative model in...E-Edition
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