Northampton Media

Smash, Crash, Pop

2010-03-11T00:13:37Z

Wild skateboarder goes on a glass-breaking spree downtown. Is quickly restrained and arrested by the NPD. Photos by Sky Sutton, call to the scene by Hamp Scanner’s Jason Vanasse.

“Mistakes were made, and I made them”—Parking Commissioner Bill Letendre

2010-03-10T16:19:52Z

Bucket loader appropriation fails to gather necessary 2/3 support of City Council

A resolution before Council last Thursday to transfer $134,000 from the Parking Meter Reserve Fund to pay for a John Deere bucket loader for the Parking Division ended in a stalemate.

[Video clip courtesy of Northampton Community Television]

Public Session, Thursday March 4 at Council Chambers

2010-03-09T20:29:48Z

Speakers at public comment session at Council Chambers on March 4 spoke on the bucket loader appropriation, the landfill resolution, the maverick subcommittee sex ads and drugs discussion, and other topics. We know you don’t have anything better to do! About 53 minutes long.

Video clip courtesy of Northampton Community Television.

City Council gives preliminary OK to Coca Cola Tax Break

2010-03-07T13:25:58Z

A similar, much larger tax deal fizzled in 1997 when Coke missed promised hiring goals.

NORTHAMPTON – A small but significant property tax break for the Coca-Cola proposed plant expansion here is one giant step closer to reality after the City Council voted 8-0 on a first reading for the measure March 4. A second vote is expected March 18.

“Committee on Public Morals” criticized at public session; LaBarge issues statement

2010-03-05T20:53:13Z

Citizen Mary Kasper, speaking at public session at the March 4 meeting of the Northampton City Council, issued a fiery rebuke to the Committee on Social Services and Veterans Affairs. (NCTV video) (Related story on MassLive.)

Residents meet with Republican newspaper rep over unwanted Extra

2010-03-05T19:31:45Z

Area residents had banded together on Facebook against the unpopular purple-bagged advertising supplement

(Sandra Rubin of ACI (left) and Ed Gaiser (right) of the Springfield Republican meet with Cindy Bow, Jean-Pierre Pasche, Lynzi Wildheart and Heather McLean)

Council to BPW: “terminate” action on landfill expansion and make closure plan

2010-03-05T12:57:50Z

Landfill foes prevailed last night in their bid to amend one key word in an order, introduced by Councilors Narkewicz and Schwartz, that addresses the topic of Northampton’s waste management future. The resolution, as passed on first reading, now calls for the Board of Public Works to “terminate” rather than “suspend” landfill expansion activity in order to engage in a public planning process about Northampton’s waste future.

Landfill resolution before City Council

2010-03-04T15:40:04Z

City Council President David Narkewicz (photo) and Ward 4 Councilor Pamela Schwartz will introduce a resolution at Council tonight which advises the Board of Public Works (BPW) to suspend further action on expanding the city’s regional landfill. The resolution calls for a public planning planning process to determine how Northampton will manage its solid waste when the current landfill cells will be closed and capped, which DPW staffers estimate will happen sometime in 2011 or 2012.

Ward 3 Councilor Angela Plassmann defends her anti-pot crusade

2010-03-01T19:19:31Z

Ward 3 City Councilor Angela Plassmann has asked Northampton Media to publish an entry from her website where she defends her bid to raise fines for public marijuana use in the Paradise City. A video clip of a Social Services and Veterans Affairs committee meeting where Councilors Plassmann, Tacy, and LaBarge discuss not only pot fines but a smorgasbord of law-and-order issues is making the rounds on the web, and has drawn a lot of criticism and commentary.

Here’s Plassman’s response:

Hot EMTs spotted at Serio’s

2010-02-28T23:28:35Z

Northampton’s Finest, at Serio’s Market for lunch. ‘Cause everybody’s got to eat.