Northampton Redoubt

Academy of Music

During a recent Northampton City Council discussion regarding the Academy of Music crisis few queries were posed by Councilors to Mayor Higgins, the only Academy Trustee among them. I find this lack of discourse disappointing when considering the acute media coverage,...

Trustees in Northampton

Excerpts from Ed Shanahan’s recent article. For complete text click on the link below: http://www.downstreet.net/ Academy, Look Park, Lilly Library Time to Introduce DemocracyIn the Selection of TrusteesWho Govern Some City Institutions By Edward Shanahan...

Academy Divided

Academy Divided There was a public forum held Saturday, February 17, 2007, at the Academy of Music concerning Academy affairs. The event was co-sponsored by the Academy’s Board of Trustees, the Northampton Center for the Arts, the City Council’s Cultural...

Net Impact

New UMass Graduate Business Chapter Positively Impacts Community Six members from the University of Massachusetts’ new Net Impact chapter volunteered through most of January, consulting for non-profit trendsetter ServiceNet Inc, one of the largest human service...

Interstate 91 Interchange 19

Below is the text from a letter standing in opposition to the Interchange 19 expansion. If you’d like to sign on to the letter reply to email@paradisecityforum.net and your name will be added. Documents related to the project have been posted here including the...

Figures don't lie…

“It’s not that figures lie, but that liars sometimes figure.” -Karl Pearson, Mathematician On February 26, 2007 the Daily Hampshire Gazette published an array of charts and statistics in a special business newspaper insert, Business 2007: Data...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Energy 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...

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...

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...