Blogs
Can the can
From the Economist.com: "The idea that graffiti-spraying and other forms of low-level delinquency promote further bad behaviour has now been tested experimentallyA PLACE that is covered in graffiti and festooned with rubbish makes people feel uneasy. And with...Universal Human Rights Day
Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Universal Human Rights Day Saturday, December 13, 12 noon On the Steps of First Churches 129 Main Street, Northampton (In case of inclement weather, inside First Churches)Organized by the Pioneer Valley Coalition Against Secrecy...Notre Dame to return Dec. 13
Hello everyone, We're still hard at work here at Notre Dame, finishing up our designs for Northampton, but we want to remind you that our studio will soon be returning to Northampton to present the results of our work from this semester. We'll be giving our...Panhandling in Mattapan for more than a decade
From Milton J. Valencia of the Boston Globe:"Panhandlers come and go, moving on to the next street corner or the next fix, but Robbie Felder has claimed his own block on Morton Street in Mattapan, by his account and others, for more than a decade.With a...Channel 40 reports sewage backup at Meadowbrook Apartments in Florence
By Jim Cline NORTHAMPTON, Mass (abc40)– Seven families living at the Meadowbrook apartment complex in Florence had to evacuate Saturday when raw sewage started backing up in their bathrooms. Benjamin Warawka said he heard a loud noise, opened the bathroom door...Northampton's BPW Chair and UMass professor David Reckhow takes on polluted drinking water
From Umass.edu:"Scientists from UMass Amherst are finding solutions to the latest threat to drinking water—contamination from over-the-counter and prescription drugs.David Reckhow, a professor in environmental engineering, and Kathleen Arcaro, a faculty...Kohl condo hearing postponed by Planning Board, Conservation Commission hearing still on for tonight
Planning Board Hearing Deferred to January; Conservation Commission Hearing Still on for December 11 Posted by NorthAssocAdmin at 12/9/2008 11:54 AM and is filed under Infill,Neighborhood News,Wetlands,Kohl Construction Plans,What You Can Do Northampton's Planning...Northampton's Montessori, Bridge and Jackson Street Schools ranked high in the nation for bad air pollution
I happened upon a newer blog in the region Thursday evening known as Rich Pulasky's Blog. Mr. Pulasky covers an article he read in USA Today concerning toxic air near schools. I looked it up by following a link on his blog and found all of the schools in the...Valley Community Development's pilot Rescue Foreclosure Fund sits on a slippery slope
In response to the national subprime mortgage fiasco, the Valley Community Development Corporation is proposing a pilot Foreclosure Rescue Fund loan program (PDF) and is currently applying for $86 thousand in Community Preservation funds to provide grants to lower...The Valley CDC, housing and SROs; Mike Kirby weighs in too
The economist the late Edward Gramlich, who died in September, 2007 before the height of the subprime mortgage problems, penned the essay, "Boom and Busts: The Case of Subprime Mortgages" (PDF) for the "Economic Review" fourth quarter, 2007. This...Northampton City Council Public Comments December 18, 2008 on the Community Preservation Act
I oppose the use of CPA funds to create or deposit monies into existing reserve accounts. If you approve the CDC and Cons. Com. applications for reserve funds there may be pressure for you to approve other similar requests. In my view the discretion to expend CPA...PS22 Chorus sings Chanukah song with “L'il Eminem”
Winter Solstice Celebration
HoneyMooners Christmas Party 1954
Clay Shirky on institutions vs. collaboration
While watching this Ted Talk I kept thinking of the proposal to create a Business Improvement District in Northampton. Often actions speak as loudly as words so examining the current proposals for the downtown area is telling. There is the proposed solicitation...Northampton ironies in appointments and evaluation
Northampton conservation commission chairperson and Williamsburg resident Paul Wetzel (left) and conservation commission staff person Bruce Young work on breaching the Barrett Street Marsh beaver dam in December 2006. Northampton is a quaint city for the most part,...A class divided
The following link is to Frontline's, "A Class Divided." In 1968 after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jane Elliott segregated her Riceville, Iowa third grade class for two days, based on eye color. Elliott ran the exercise each year...Northampton sustainable
The following came out over the Paradise City Forum listserv the other day. Apparently Northampton is near the top of the heap when it comes to its sustainability efforts. It is not clear what the highest achievable score is, but Northampton efforts are outpacing the...VENUE CHANGE “Poverty is Not a Crime,” to host event Tuesday, January 6
The civic group, "Poverty is not a crime," is hosting an event Tuesday next regarding the proposed, "panhandling ordinance," and the proposed business improvement district for downtown Northampton. The following is from...Northampton Best Practices public forum tonight @ 7pm in City Council Chambers
The public is invited to comment on the draft recommendations of the Best Practices Committtee tonight. Click on the link to view the draft proposal. http://www.northamptonma.gov/bestpractices/ PUBLIC FORUM ON DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS Monday, January 5, 2009 7:00 PM City...Raining on the parade: political use of the Academy
Recently I received a press release stating that the Academy of Music Board of Trustees decided to use the Academy of Music for a screening of the presidential inauguration. The keynote speaker is to be current Northampton mayor Mary Clare Higgins, who is actively...Springfield Intruder blogger Bill Dusty covers Panhandling demonstration
The recent panhandling demonstration was met without an agenda item as apparently the Public Safety Committee was not ready with its revised draft, thus the demonstrators from Poverty is Not a Crime were left without an agenda item to protest. Blogger Bill Dusty of...Final Notre Dame Urban Design Studio presentation video
Many thanks to the Northampton Design Forum and Northampton Community Television Northampton, MA Notre Dame Design Forum Results from Northampton Community Television on Vimeo.Considering SPRAWL
Much has been written on how the introduction of the interstate highway system in America in the 1950s induces sprawl development. In fact the interstate highway system was constructed in part to secure the country's defense capacity. The city of Northampton has...Mr. Kunstler, is all infill good?
Last August Northampton Redoubt interviewed James Howard Kunstler, noted author, social critic and a leading proponent of New Urbanism. He spoke on infill development, specifically as it pertains to the thirty-one unit Kohl condominium proposal off of North Street in...Your vote counts
PLEASE vote for The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens, Northampton, MA as your choice to receive donations from a local food co-op! Voting ends on Sunday, February 1st. ONE vote per computer. The Garden provides support to children and families who have...Ode to a wheelchair, an open letter from Jim Brooks
Daryl, Another winter ice and snow storm has just deposited 6-8 inches on the parking lot at McDonald House. The maintenance crew is cleaning the lot again, they worked through tough weather yesterday so people (handicapped and elderly) might get out in the storm. I...A mayor's gambit
I've written here before about the political activity that transpires in Northampton's public school system. Northampton mayor Mary Clare Higgins, a former day care teacher with the defunct Hampshire Community Action Commission, makes regular forays into the...NEAT meeting tonight @ JFK
Can you say, blackball?Below is a letter sent to me by a neighbor via email regarding tonight's NEAT meeting at JFK Middle School. I've registered myself twice at the NEAT website for email updates, but strangely none have been forthcoming. Okay, so perhaps I...Smith College opposes inclusion in Elm Street Historic District
College Hall, photo by Ken Mitchell. Included in tonight's city council packet is a memo dated December 8, 2008 from Smith College attorney Ed Etheredge to the city's ordinance committee and by name councilors Michael Bardsley, David Narkewicz and Robert...A tale of two Main Streets, reflections on a BID proposal
As I watched the city council meeting last night, riveted by the public hearing on the proposed Business Improvement District which brought out some of the city's heavy hitters, I couldn't help but wonder.The opponents argue that the BID is too costly, not...Appeal to friends of the Green Street Cafe
"night" photo by Ken Mitchell.The Green Street Cafe is offering its friends and supporters a special offer of a 10% discount by subscribing to a pre-paid dinner plan or add funds to existing accounts. John and Jim need your help to stay in business and want...Forbes Library edible book contest!
Hi all, The Friends of Forbes and Lilly Libraries will once again be having their edible book contest fundraiser! This year's event is Sunday April 5, 2009 2-4 pm at Forbes Library in Northampton. If you need inspiration to create a book, here is a link to photos...Northampton's new landfill flare
New landfill flare. On September 22, 2008 the Mass. DEP sent to Stantec a Notice of Noncompliance: NON-WE_08_4018 (PDF). Apparently, Stantec signed off on the "complete" installation of the new methane gas flare even though it was not fully installed because...Best Practices draft recommendations meeting TONIGHT
The Ad Hoc Committee on Best Practices in Northampton Decision-Making presented its draft recommendations to the Northampton City Council in December. The draft recommendations are now subject to a 90-day public comment period and must be finalized no later than March...Poverty Is Not A Crime continues BID resistance
To host protest & Smith College teach-in/call-in. The following is from their facebook group in its entirety: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49727836129&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=30901936261 email contact: poverty-is-not-a-crime@googlegroups.com ***EVEN...Kirkland Avenue (AKA Spray Can Alley) subject of Art-In TODAY!
In June 2008 I posted a blog entry entitled, "Spray Can Alley," the topic of which was the graffiti in an alley behind some Main Street buildings in downtown Northampton. The entry contained 12 pictures. I neglected to cite the proper name of the alley which...To create a BID or not to, that is the question
In reaction to information posted here on Northampton Redoubt and some of the articles in the Valley Advocate related to Northampton's proposed Business Improvement District I received an email correspondence from Jeff Keck, executive director of Springfield's...Valley Art Share
Valley Art Share is a new website created to help you stay connected to the arts in the Pioneer Valley. It is designed for local artists, organizations, galleries and art lovers alike. As a member of Valley Art Share you can: upload your work, connect with other...Best Practices & Conservation Commission vimeos
Adam Cohen and the North Street Neighborhood Association and cameraman Ken Mitchell bring you the latest Best Practices Public Forum of Feb. 11, 2009. Learn more at northamptonma.gov/bestpractices/Best Practices Forum of 2/11/09 from Adam Cohen on Vimeo. Below Adam...Agricultural Commission Public Forum
Tuesday February 24, 2009 7:00-9:00 PM Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Library Main Building, 80 Locust Street, Northampton AGENDA 7:00-7:10 Introduction to the City of Northampton Agricultural Commission by John Omasta, Chair 7:10-7:30 Overview of the...Legal services wink-blink
There was another moment during Northampton's last city council meeting where if you'd blinked you would have missed something important. Let's see if you caught it. With the council's focus on the proposed Business Improvement District, the BID, it...WANTED: Gilbert Allen Smith, dead-beat dad
The news about Massachusetts top ten dead-beat dads is spreading across the state. As part of the state's poster campaign, Northampton resident Mary Likins delivered her personal testimonial yesterday in Boston, a testimony which is a sad but inspiring story of a...Zero lot line-huh? What is it?
How will it effect your neighborhood?Workshop on proposed zoning changes in the URB and URC districts regarding zero-lot line single family homes.Bridge Street School cafeteriaMonday, March 2, 20097-9 pmFor more information contact Carolyn Misch at Northampton's...As Northampton BIDs Farewell by Ken Mitchell
I support the Valley Advocate's criticism of the Northampton BID over the last few weeks. If the Chamber of Commerce had looked for best solutions to redress their failures to raise money for Holiday lighting, flower boxes, and whatever else business owners could...BID meeting Wednesday/Zero lot line workshop tonight postponed
Former mayoral candidate Gene Tacy is organizing an independent BID informational meeting.Wednesday, March 4 @ 6 PM at the American Legion, Riverside Drive in the Bay State section of Northampton (by the high school.)All are welcome. The zero lot line workshop...Free Econ. Stimulus Webinar/State Hospital CAC meeting Wednesday
Economic Stimulus & Powering Through the Recession When: Tuesday, March 10th at 1pm Eastern time. Free registration is now open at: http://edweek.org/go/economic-stimulus What will President Obama's stimulus package mean for K-12 budgets? How can you make...Cast your vote on Northampton's shovel ready Economic Stimulus proposals
Image from Wikimedia Commons page. Click: >>>>>>> Economic stimulus Northampton Click on the link above to cast your vote for or against the shovel ready projects as put forth by the city of Northampton for the federal economic stimulus plan. You...Why Northampton's BID is sure to pass
Tonight the city council could take its first vote on the proposed Business Improvement District for downtown. If it does it will likely pass due to overwhelming support from Mayor Mary Clare Higgins who has her fingers on the levers for some significant players in...Legal services correction
In watching Mayor Higgins' recent budget meeting with the Finance Committee she took issue with a recent, "tabloid article" regarding the amount of money paid for legal services and she was right. Only it was a blog posting on Northampton Redoubt. In...Northampton Design Forum…forum
Dear Northampton Citizens: The Northampton Design Forum is a local citizen group which invited the Notre Dame Urban Design Studio to Northampton last fall. This was funded entirely by private donations. We have planned a public forum to discuss the intersection of...Kirkland Avenue Project: Art-Out
Friday, March 13, 2009 from 4pm to 8pmLocation: Kirkland Ave, NorthamptonBe sure to check out the Kirkland Avenue website for some great new pictures: http://www.kirklandave.blog…Contact Info: 413.522.1319Organized By: storefrontARTAlso visit Valley Art Share...Tea Party, March at 6 O'clock by Kenneth Mitchell
All in a golden afternoon, I slid into downtown thinking about the letter I just got explaining that Arnold Ave. must now be repaved. Mayor Higgins decided to permanently cut off all parking to street residents because Smith College needed two wide sidewalks to get to...Charles Moore: Sailing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Here's something to think about the next time you bite into a tuna salad sandwich. A yachting competition across the Pacific led veteran seafarer Charles Moore to discover what some have since deemed the world's largest "landfill" — actually a...Kunstler on the future of planning…really James-no foolin'?
Planetizen, the planning, design and development network, publishes a weekly newswire. This week there is a link to an article on the, "Whistling past the Graveyard," blog (WPTG) regarding cemeteries and planning. I have not thought much about planning and...Northampton BID protest, PINAC pushed back-2 arrested
The media reported Friday evening on the television (Channel 22) news and Saturday morning in the print media (Gazette, subscription required) on the BID protest held Friday, March 13, 2009 in Northampton. Poverty is Not a Crime has released the following video...Mayor's magical mystery tour leads to a Schwartz candidacy
Mayor Mary Clare Higgins continues her magical mystery budget tour through the city's seven wards. Strong allies in her tour are some of the parents in the public school system. Note the turnout as reported in the Gazette at the Finn-Ryan Road School briefing of...A visit at Smith College's Ford Hall
Kenneth Mitchell posted an article here on Redoubt a few days ago concerning the reconstruction of Arnold Avenue, and the installation of new sidewalks and granite curbing. This means, apparently, that on-street parking is to become a thing of the past in the area....Dear Andrew, thanks for writing
Ah, if I only had a brain, but no I was not attempting to create a straw man argument in my last post. Rather, I am describing, from my point of view, the less than shocking intertwining of the city's partisan political system and power infrastructure with its...E-Edition
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