tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284974482011-12-02T07:31:00.363-05:00A blog of random thoughts and reactions emanating from the bank of a mountain stream in the farthest reaches of the bluest of blue states.Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.comBlogger6961100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-52842379672061343192011-10-02T23:20:00.000-04:002011-10-02T23:20:18.466-04:00

October 2011To the voters of North Adams,Two years ago over 1200 of you gave me your vote when I ran for City Council. To say that I am honored that so many of my neighbors thought that I had something to offer the city is an understatement. Thank you.This year I am humbly asking for your vote again. I still believe that the core issues that make up North Adams’ challenges relate directly to

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-82646417831494533622011-10-01T22:36:00.001-04:002011-10-01T22:37:54.383-04:00

In case my last post was a bit cryptic (and frankly I never followed up) I am playing around every few days over at the Times Union.Feel free to leave comments on either site.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-75836029105662437222011-07-17T21:26:00.002-04:002011-07-17T21:29:50.922-04:00

In a few days I should have some interesting news about a situation that will help motivate my blogging juices. It's not what you think. The election question remains up in the air. Nope, this is purely a writing thing, and it will hopefully be a done deal shortly.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-78318312643103885592011-07-15T10:24:00.001-04:002011-07-15T10:24:17.769-04:00

I just confirmed that Ron Boucher has pulled papers for mayor. Will he return them?

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-78908798844257939182011-07-02T22:24:00.004-04:002011-07-06T17:57:34.341-04:00

It's getting to be time to decide whether I should run for city council again or sit this one out. Until very recently I was pretty sure I was going to toss my hat in the ring. I had begun to map out a strategy and refine a platform. Just like the last time all of my emphasis would be on how to make North Adams a more appealing place for those who might move here to start a business or be moving

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-47415683006018570042011-06-09T23:55:00.002-04:002011-06-10T00:11:46.567-04:00

In the late fall of 1992, after spending the previous 6 months trying to find appropriate employment after college graduation, and during a tough post-recession job market, I packed up my 1984 Chevy Cavalier with my personal belongings and left the city I had spent the first 23 years of my life in. Detroit and the first-ring suburbs were dying a slow death. At the time it seemed like a temporary

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-86572600048460725292011-05-26T12:56:00.001-04:002011-05-26T12:57:25.331-04:00

I was told that North Adams Transcript editor Glenn Drohan passed away this morning. Rest in peace.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-72594031580196866692011-05-25T20:57:00.001-04:002011-05-25T20:57:19.603-04:00

This is depressing. Krugman might be a bogeyman to conservatives, but his econ skills are better than most. NYTimes: Third Depression Watch http://nyti.ms/ivjVQG

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-83819659499839327132011-05-25T16:18:00.001-04:002011-05-25T16:18:20.595-04:00

Just a note to ask those who read this blog to keep Transcript Editor Glenn Drohan in your thoughts. His multi year battle with oral cancer has taken a turn for the worse.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-25023217210526913702011-05-24T23:09:00.002-04:002011-05-24T23:21:17.569-04:00

Just one quick thought among many about tonight's City Council meeting. A former elected official who tries to settle old scores in a public meeting while blaming others out of one side of his mouth and claiming to be accountable out of the other is not doing his considerable legacy any favors.I have my own thoughts on the budget and the proposed override and will get those into writing in the

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-77126595662013424972011-05-18T22:19:00.004-04:002011-05-18T23:10:02.461-04:00

It figures that it would take something as wonky as a municipal budget to get me to sit down an write something longer than a Facebook status. I guess it boils down to the fact that I find the conversations surrounding the fiscal situation in North Adams to be grossly over-simplistic and generally full of rumor and ill will towards civil servants. Tonight I sat through a three hour line-item

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-21011593976395390082011-01-31T00:11:00.001-05:002011-01-31T00:12:37.479-05:00

Answer: Neither wants you to watch the most comprehensive coverage of the revolt in Egypt on Al Jazeera.Al Jazeera English: Live Stream - Watch Now - Al Jazeera English

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-42119458617830540242011-01-30T22:50:00.002-05:002011-01-30T23:24:58.905-05:00

It's been about 8 months, since I last posted. Does anybody still read this thing?Like many, I've started using Facebook to post all the quick hits and passing thoughts that used to make it onto the blog. But what I've noticed is that I no longer write anything longer than a paragraph, and when I post a story to Facebook about anything controversial or political, hardly anybody comments. I tend

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-32024533593809697772010-05-05T22:26:00.002-04:002010-05-05T22:38:13.200-04:00

Sorry for not keeping up. Life has been throwing curveballs lately - Nothing bad, just really, really busy. (OK, there was that little trip to the ER, but when all was said and done, they concluded I had simply pulled a muscle. I did get to check out NARH's new food program. It's pretty good.) Actually I've been contemplating some big things over the past few weeks. I will tell you more if good

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-10348931232472589842010-04-10T12:25:00.001-04:002010-04-10T12:25:49.456-04:00

Jason Linkins gets it just about right: Hey! Let's find people to defend the practice of celebrating traitors, and maybe have some pointless left-versus-right debates over it! Look. I understand the concepts of heritage and history. My family fought for the South, for pete’s sake. I think a certain amount of regional pride is healthy. But this whole States-Rights-B.S. that propagates the white

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-56862294705137144342010-04-07T22:45:00.003-04:002010-04-07T23:02:12.834-04:00

While I am not on either side of the argument over whether Wal Mart should open a brand new Super Wal Mart in North Adams (I could really care less), I find it odd that people keep talking about the jobs that this new store will bring. Aside from several dozen temporary construction jobs and some money flowing to the developer's pockets, I don't see a net gain in jobs.Wal Mart is no longer a

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-42957829577701286732010-04-07T22:34:00.001-04:002010-04-07T22:34:34.325-04:00

OK. It’s official now. Wilco is coming to Mass MoCA along with a lot of other cool stuff for three days in August. Estimates put ticket sales for Wilco’s only east coast event of the summer at around 10,000 people. That’s right. 10,000 people, almost all of whom are driving in from somewhere else will be coming to North Adams for a weekend in August. Many of them will have money and time to burn

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-87411170265752447952010-04-07T21:52:00.001-04:002010-04-07T21:52:16.232-04:00

Nate Silver spanks Jonah Goldberg for parroting the conservative myth that America gives massive amounts of tax revenue to the poor: The post is definitely written for statistics geeks (who? me?) but Silver makes abundantly clear that the U.S. is the least redistributive country of the 26  largest economies. And his four frustrations with conservative views of American Taxation and Spending are

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-89141408488012946882010-04-02T06:40:00.002-04:002010-04-02T06:46:42.225-04:00

Jen H. has been doing great work for the past couple days on the proposed WalMart site: The state Department of Environmental Protection is investigating the illegal dumping of demolition debris, including an unknown amount of asbestos, at the site of the proposed Walmart Supercenter off Curran Highway, city officials confirmed this week.Norman Dellaghelfa Jr., owner of Della Concrete, has been

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-17429791312326539032010-03-31T22:58:00.001-04:002010-03-31T23:00:10.447-04:00

One of the cooler PSA's I've seen on the census, equal marriage, or anything geeky...

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-39763325618964764262010-03-31T22:16:00.000-04:002010-03-31T22:17:08.402-04:00

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-17307649557554856452010-03-31T07:05:00.002-04:002010-03-31T07:12:12.209-04:00

In a rather stunning show of incompetency, work to prepared the site of the proposed Super Walmart has been stopped by poor erosion control. Jen Huberdeau reports in today's Transcript:The Conservation Commission issued a "stop-work" order to Della Concrete and Ceruzzi Properties -- doing business as BVS 5401 Investors LLC -- on Feb. 22 for failing to use erosion control measures required by the

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-5712435220544744242010-03-27T12:32:00.003-04:002010-03-27T12:42:50.004-04:00

These two stories blow my mind regarding people who think that they are disenfranchised:IowaMillam looked across the street at the students and shook his head. "They don't understand that our government doesn't listen," he said. He had spent the past week calling congressional offices and the White House to tell them about his feelings on health-care reform, waiting through hold times only to

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-81181696038801964872010-03-25T23:38:00.003-04:002010-03-25T23:41:31.616-04:00

I have now heard from a few different very credible sources that a well known musical group will be playing in the vicinity this summer at an event that sounds very cool. I don't want to jinx anything, so, no, I won't say anything more.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-10632268564366786382010-03-25T22:57:00.004-04:002010-03-26T07:24:49.208-04:00

Blackington Mill has a legitimate developer! From iBerkshires:The brothers, operating as MAZS Realty, have been in the real estate business for more than 35 years, particularly in finding new uses to preserve old buildings. They started with developing lofts in Manhattan and restored or built single- and multi-family homes along with commercial. The Magids say they keep their properties to assure

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-56131699819857512112010-03-23T21:04:00.003-04:002010-03-23T21:19:17.713-04:00

Watching tonight's City Council meeting, in particular the discussions regarding the city's underfunding of the health insurance trust fund, I am struck by that only a couple of councilors seem to even grasp what the controversy is. Oy.Of the ones who I listened to, only Blackmer, Bloom, Bond and Marden seemed to get that the issue is one of law regarding how to fund the trust. I especially

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-22977824543720900712010-03-21T20:54:00.004-04:002010-03-21T21:05:29.995-04:00

When I go to work tomorrow, a little before 5 am, I will glance at the headlines. I expect to see that the first major national social legislation of my 41 years will have passed the House. According to some people, guaranteeing affordable access to healthcare for almost everyone means we are no longer the "the land of the free." Some folks are even threatening civil war.Strange days.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-32641498308338540692010-03-19T21:32:00.002-04:002010-03-19T22:13:55.150-04:00

About a year and a half ago, the North Adams Teacher's Association became suspicious that the city was underpaying its share of the premiums for health insurance. Yesterday it was independently confirmed that their accusations were 100% true. The city did not pay its share, and in doing so, grossly underfunded the Health Insurance Trust Fund to the tune of $1.1 million over just the past two

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-73566752157925548312010-03-18T19:20:00.008-04:002010-03-19T09:11:31.346-04:00

The long awaited audit of the North Adams' self funded health insurance plan is in, and preliminary reports are that the city owes its employees the insurance trust fund a BIG chunk of change.I have no hard figures yet, but I will post them as soon as I get them.If you have no idea what I am typing about, look through these prior posts and look for the related ones.UPDATE!!!OK, a solid source

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-23959153264554369182010-03-11T18:13:00.002-05:002010-03-11T18:16:26.441-05:00

While I think that Cambridge/Somerville Congressman Capuano is generally a good legislator, I really dislike his move into Kucinich Territory.The perfect is certainly the enemy of good in this case.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-60905451555826239712010-03-10T15:12:00.002-05:002010-03-10T15:18:04.007-05:00

The rumors were true. From his web-site: The short version of a long story is that several weeks ago, when Dan Bosley announced that he wasn’t going to seek re-election, I started to consider making this run. As many of you know, I have never run for or held a political office and have had a wonderful career in the business world between CPDC Insurance Agency and the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-52690982740486776802010-03-05T22:12:00.002-05:002010-03-05T22:17:34.644-05:00

The Farm Film Feast is next week at Images and a few other local venues. If you think that the subject of food entails more than what you eat, I highly recommend attending a couple of the films and talks.All proceeds go to the REACH Community Gardens in North Adams - a very good cause.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-80464276616769002052010-03-05T21:38:00.002-05:002010-03-05T21:48:43.895-05:00

I now can personally recommend the Saigon Restaurant on Curran Highway tucked in the Valley Park Bowl. As someone who desperately misses the west coast's amazing Asian food scene, the simple existence of this place in North Adams makes me happy.The food was surprisingly accurate and very tasty. It's also a pretty good deal!Give it a try, although you will have to buy your adult beverages from the

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-55963352956879628852010-03-03T20:30:00.002-05:002010-03-03T20:43:25.933-05:00

It sounds like things are heating up in the race to fill Dan Bosley's seat when he leaves the legislature. So far we have three people who have publicly made their intentions clear:Gailanne Cariddi, Margie Ware and Ed McDonald.Now I am hearing rumblings that former Berkshire Chamber President, David Bissaillion, is serious about tossing his hat in the ring. So far, that's a pretty formidable

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-67442804854406476222010-03-02T16:44:00.002-05:002010-03-02T16:47:58.223-05:00

Liz Cheney and company have no shame.I guess it is a now a crime in the right wing's eye's to be civil liberties lawyer. Disgusting.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-21999993019862970032010-03-01T14:38:00.002-05:002010-03-01T14:48:21.053-05:00

Does anyone else see the parallels between David Patterson's phone calls and Sarah Palin's Troopergate?IOKIYAR.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-59225352476082174622010-02-25T21:34:00.001-05:002010-02-25T21:35:42.138-05:00

The former chef of the Inn at Putney:

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-4303432756046419382010-02-25T20:18:00.002-05:002010-02-25T20:27:26.691-05:00

There is a major national energy policy debate brewing in our own backyard. While I think it is a mistake to smear the more modern designs of nuke plants with the obvious failings and dishonesty of the Vermont Yankee Rowe plant, the Vermont Senate has made the prospect of new 21st century American nuclear plants a little less likely. Investigators recently discovered that plant officials covered

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-55312341708446056422010-02-24T19:56:00.003-05:002010-02-24T20:40:41.932-05:00

After a week on the Gulf Coast and little time in New Orleans it's good to be back. But did the Weather Gods have to make our return quite so messy?It seems there was a lot of news while I was gone - Scott Brown is not totally neutered (credit when credit is due) but he sure is back-peddling fast to try and keep the Tea Party crowd from going apoplectic. We are getting a new restaurant on Main St

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-36809037497596116972010-02-13T14:00:00.002-05:002010-02-13T14:19:30.182-05:00

Of all the legal trades surrounding financial stuff, Debt Collectors can be about as scummy as they come. In our modern consumer driven economy these are the bottom feeders that follow around the predatory lenders, credit card bankruptcies, uninsured sick people, etc...So I hope Senator Brown is proud of their work. They are bragging about their role in his success:ACA International and its

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-76100509239583521822010-02-11T21:34:00.003-05:002010-02-11T21:47:37.100-05:00

I blame the profits-uber-alles mindset put forth by this jerk.His management style sounds very familiar:

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-27817811266410671392010-02-11T08:43:00.002-05:002010-02-11T08:47:08.837-05:00

Big accusations being thrown around in Pittsfield.Monahan, now 46, has told The Eagle in four face-to-face interviews over the past three months that he was fondled by [current Sheriff] Massimiano as a 7-year-old in 1971 and then again in 1976. Monahan also brought up the 1971 allegation during a live radio broadcast last month.Not pretty.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-971499677287940132010-02-10T08:53:00.002-05:002010-02-10T09:07:06.268-05:00

It seems that Senator Brown's supposed independence has evaporated already. He voted party line to continue the filibuster of a rather non-controversial nominee to the National Labor Relations Board (The guy was once counsel to the AFL-CIO. God forbid that organized labor have a seat at the table of the NLRB) .... just because that's what Republicans do in 2010. (And since when does a 52-33 vote

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-33118332109456766872010-02-10T07:35:00.004-05:002010-02-10T07:51:03.762-05:00

The fact that this is even a story that requires comment by the Council President and the Mayor tells me that there are some really bitter people out there. $40K for 9 years experience? Absolutely and perfectly reasonable.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-53653252901803827562010-02-10T01:33:00.003-05:002010-02-10T01:51:48.595-05:00

Both Jennifer and Tammy have good articles on what will be the final stretch of the city's insurance premium debacle. The Mayor has procured the services of an independent auditor to look into the unions' claims that the administration of John Barrett underpaid their share of premium, and hence, owes the city's employees many hundreds of thousands of dollars.While I am not an accountant, it

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-50500284642967854162010-02-07T09:24:00.004-05:002010-02-08T14:38:05.830-05:00

There was a rumor kicking around the Topix threads that former mayor, John Barrett III, is being hired by the North Adams Public Schools. This morning I confirmed with a source high up in the schools that some sort of hire is currently under legal review.What is not clear is if this is John Barrett's attempt to return from a 26 year leave of absence that he took when he first won the mayor's

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-10998771116226998412010-02-05T00:11:00.004-05:002010-02-05T07:13:05.133-05:00

Chris Marcisz writes the polite, grown-up version of the ramifications to MoCA and to the art world at-large from the tantrum that is the artist formerly known as Buchel: I think a depressing majority of Americans would agree contemporary art is a small and increasingly irrelevant group of rich people and their hangers-on amusing themselves. This is why insitutions like Mass MoCA, with its

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-17621883701754218432010-01-29T08:45:00.001-05:002010-01-29T08:45:36.863-05:00

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-14005936388313774482010-01-28T11:01:00.001-05:002010-01-28T11:03:44.713-05:00

This recession is starting to piss me off:On Sunday, January 24, the Alley closed its doors… for the last time. This was after one of our most amazing nights ever. We had a great dinner crowd and a rockin’ night of karaoke. If you had known then, it would have only detracted from the evening and the fun we were having and that is the last thing I wanted.My father and I are proud to have been a

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-68175388705141128512010-01-28T07:55:00.002-05:002010-01-28T08:05:12.902-05:00

The artist formerly known as Buchel had part of the court case that Mass MoCA won against him three year ago overturned upon appeal. The judgement via Chris Marcisz.The poor little prima dona is worried that MoCA's actions hurt his reputation. I think he did that all by himself.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-59518615599068895672010-01-28T04:41:00.002-05:002010-01-28T04:51:10.871-05:00

Getting kids involved in the process is a huge step.In other business Tuesday, a group of 20 teenagers from the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition’s UNITY program appeared to champion youth involvement in the city and to voice support for a local skateboard park. Prior to the meeting, the group, led by facilitator Kate Merrigan, had met with Alcombright and Councilor Michael Boland for two

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-87729935014778324042010-01-26T20:23:00.003-05:002010-01-26T20:28:49.488-05:00

More like this!Students who take general biology and chemistry, courses in laboratory techniques and biotechnology in BCC's new biotech degree will be able to continue their education at MCLA in biochemistry, microbiology, cell biology and technical laboratory skills.The course also aligns with the STEM Pipeline (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) to encourage and excite youngsters about

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-29533138234867833892010-01-22T17:41:00.005-05:002010-01-22T21:10:27.487-05:00

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-50809863161579938562010-01-21T21:03:00.002-05:002010-01-21T21:12:51.837-05:00

Good News first - The Transcript, Eagle, Advocate, Banner and Reformer are not cutting back right now.The Bad News - Their parent company has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and has turned over 80% of its stock to its creditors who very well might want to squeeze the operations if profits don't materialize:ffiliated Media Inc. said it has worked out a deal with lenders to restructure its debt and

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-52385829430665749212010-01-21T12:23:00.002-05:002010-01-21T12:30:00.084-05:00

Well, at least the right wing dolts on the Supreme Court acknowledge that we are only servants to those who can buy us. The logic suggests that there should be no limits on contributions because the government has no business limiting political speech. We are so screwed. "We the people" should read, "We the shareholders."Congrats! You got what you paid for!

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-426280158708285382010-01-20T19:50:00.002-05:002010-01-20T19:54:31.043-05:00

Once again Dr. Westen hits the nail on the head:The President's steadfast refusal to acknowledge that we have a two-party system, his insistence on making destructive concessions to the same party voters he had sent packing twice in a row in the name of "bipartisanship," and his refusal ever to utter the words "I am a Democrat" and to articulate what that means, are not among his virtues. We have

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-58965641996621612002010-01-20T18:36:00.001-05:002010-01-20T18:37:16.233-05:00

U.S. Senator Benjamin Downing has a nice ring to it.See you in 2012.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-31039712440001941672010-01-20T09:09:00.002-05:002010-01-20T09:40:21.737-05:00

.... This is the best post mortem I've seen so far.(Link fixed. Thanks Ali!)

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-72417134227610168532010-01-19T21:26:00.003-05:002010-01-19T21:31:16.932-05:00

Well that Coakley thing did not go as planned. The Boston 'burbs showed up and the city did not. Most of rural Mass went Brown except for the Berkshires.But what I think that all the pundits on my TV fail to grasp is that the "conventional wisdom" about what this means for the November mid-terms is most assuredly just a silly wild ass guess and probably wrong.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-37782112787742868162010-01-18T19:11:00.002-05:002010-01-18T19:33:48.119-05:00

Today I witnessed a completely anecdotal event that lends credence to my notion that Coakley will stun the pollsters tomorrow. One of my employees, who had not voted in several cycles, received a phone call from her mother "ordering" her to cast a ballot tomorrow for Martha Coakley. Mind you that this woman last voted with Bill Clinton in office, but tomorrow will vote for Martha.What I suspect,

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-12561118681915522222010-01-18T06:53:00.002-05:002010-01-18T07:00:44.641-05:00

What the heck?Why does the BRTA think that bank holidays are good days to suspend bus service?It's not even 7 am and I have two employees whose lives are completely disrupted because the buses are not running. Grrrrr. One had to catch a ride two hours early and the other has informed me she has to leave an hour early to get a ride home to Adams.For the second time, the people who get holidays

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-31227889019858159642010-01-17T21:53:00.003-05:002010-01-17T22:08:07.280-05:00

Coakley wins by more than expected.Brown runs for Governor this fall and possibly pulls it off.Then again, I've been waaay off before. My gut feeling is that there has been way too much loosey goosey polling for me to believe that Brown's surge is deep enough to carry him past 45%. Also, Brown's surge has mobilized the get-out-the-vote for Coakley in a way that Coakley never could have by herself

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-43773722755237700462010-01-15T18:44:00.004-05:002010-01-15T18:54:52.907-05:00

The right wing web is "outraged" that in a DSCC there is a stock photo used where you can see one of the World Trade Center towers off to the left. Rudy Guilliani is freaking out.Nevermind that Scott Brown actually voted to deny actual Red Cross 9/11 volunteers financial assistance.No, in the crazy world that is Tea Bag Land, this mock-up passes as political satire.This is perhaps the most

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-74307005044524608252010-01-14T04:55:00.003-05:002010-01-14T16:12:59.468-05:00

State Senator Brown really thinks we are stupid:On Wednesday, Republican senate candidate Scott Brown told reporters in Massachusetts that he was "unfamiliar" with the "Tea Party movement," despite receiving the endorsement of a key national Tea Party group which is currently raising money for his campaign to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.But Brown's claim to be unfamiliar with the Tea Party

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-52096652106883854862010-01-13T20:42:00.002-05:002010-01-13T20:58:24.122-05:00

I don't want to have a discussion about pro-life versus pro-choice. I do want to point out that Scott Brown's position is inconsistent with his tantrum over Martha Coakley's commercial that points out that an amendment he offered to a bill would have potentially allowed a hospital to deny Plan B birth control to rape victims is absolutely 100% disingenuous. Here is the actual language in question

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-10243186809402433412010-01-12T22:52:00.003-05:002010-01-12T22:55:49.125-05:00

This makes me very happy, but I've got to admit it is an odd mix of cultures:A Vietnamese restaurant will open in the former Branning's on Curran Highway.John and Nancy Nguyen of North Adams will open the Saigon-Vietnamese restuarant, Pho, at 1280 Curran Highway at Valley Park Lanes. This type of pairing is something that you would regularly see on the west coast, but not so much around here. If

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-78360911042272758702010-01-12T06:12:00.003-05:002010-01-12T06:24:23.107-05:00

It's hard to fathom that the police believe they can arrest someone for recording them in public, whether they know they are being "taped" or not:Jon Surmacz, 34, experienced a similar situation. Thinking that Boston police officers were unnecessarily rough while breaking up a holiday party in Brighton he was attending in December 2008, he took out his cellphone and began recording.Police

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-12204906938082694862010-01-11T21:41:00.002-05:002010-01-11T21:44:40.001-05:00

I came across this on friend's Facebook page as she reminisced about her childhood in Detroit. What made me smile is that the Producer of this early '70s gem was my father.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-18694717490794698472010-01-11T18:29:00.003-05:002010-01-11T18:36:28.260-05:00

My former employer (2003-2007), Helen's Place, has closed its doors. From what I understand Helen decided that times were tough and she was ready to retire. My personal connection to the restaurant and to Helen make this very sad news. Helen, I wish you well in your retirement and I hope that you get to spend lot's of time with your grandkids!

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-57489705263460029432010-01-09T21:45:00.002-05:002010-01-09T21:55:26.940-05:00

What if Martha Coakley had posed nude for a major magazine while in Law School. I can assure you she would not be running for Senate. But if a guy does it....The Scott Brown's naked photo doesn't bother me, but knowing that the same thing would forever hamper the career of a professional woman bothers the hell out of me.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-12851872246598990432010-01-05T21:42:00.002-05:002010-01-05T21:49:53.534-05:00

Sometimes all you have to do is ask. According to Mayor Alcombright (that's something my fingers will have to get used to typing!), John Barrett has, indeed, returned the two city vehicles. The Lumina will now become the city vehicle for the water meter reader and the Explorer is in the shop. It will become the "pool" vehicle for city officials who travel out of town.Now to get the Topix crowd to

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-73127066633665877942009-12-23T12:08:00.003-05:002009-12-23T12:14:09.987-05:00

They had to wait until the end of December, but the New York Times' review of La Grenouille is a masterpiece. All aspiring food writers should remember that in a review the words matter as much as the food:The crowd is amazing. There are city patricians, upscale travelers, romantics celebrating anniversaries, cads with escort-service friends, priests drinking Burgundy and spooning soup past their

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-26959491492835907852009-12-22T18:20:00.002-05:002009-12-22T18:35:25.005-05:00

The most brilliant professor I ever had the pleasure of studying with is getting a more than a little annoyed:Obama, like so many Democrats in Congress, has fallen prey to the conventional Democratic strategic wisdom: that the way to win the center is to tack to the center.But it doesn't work that way.You want to win the center? Emanate strength. Emanate conviction. Lead like you know where

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-50956519767672986622009-12-16T20:53:00.002-05:002009-12-16T20:57:32.580-05:00

Jae's is going buh bye:NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Boston restaurateur Jae Chung's venture into North County is coming to a halt on Sunday as Jae's Inn closes its doors.Crap.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-11876190832159318032009-12-15T22:02:00.002-05:002009-12-15T22:13:07.656-05:00

It's been very light blogging of late due to my current workload. For some crazy reason I decided that I would not only manage the bakery at the store, but I would assume the duties of the head baker. Now I wake at 4 a.m. and often still work late into the evening. Hopefully this will all calm down after the New Year.When it does, I've got a lot to say -The new mayor and all the great ideas that

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-91274542994668587372009-12-13T20:29:00.002-05:002009-12-13T20:42:16.763-05:00

Why does Joe Lieberman still hold any seniority in the Democratic Caucus? In a surprise setback for Democratic leaders, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, said on Sunday that he would vote against the health care legislation in its current form.Seriously. If he insists on making the healthcare debate "all about what Joe wants" he needs to find a new political home. It's time

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-19695363966526303072009-11-29T20:13:00.002-05:002009-11-29T20:25:42.625-05:00

The Boston Globe endorses Alan Khazei for Senate:The 48-year-old Khazei offers a strong vision for success in the Senate, channeling the energy of activist groups and private-sector policy incubators while dedicating himself to the laborious task of building legislative coalitions.He offers a time-tested and relevant example of this approach: his two decades of work bringing together politicians

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-34246283199901530232009-11-28T21:44:00.006-05:002009-11-29T11:05:50.938-05:00

Per the comment section of the post below, Mr. Floyd Brown has asked for a retraction:You tread on thin ice. Unless you have proof for this blog posting you may be sued for defamation and slander. Your posting is factually wrong and highly inflammatory, Retract and apologize or I may take action against you. -Floyd BrownOK, the fact was that I saw Mr. Brown's name in my small town's newspaper and

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-89726023871885526912009-11-27T06:21:00.002-05:002009-11-27T06:30:39.852-05:00

Oops. I was so wound up with friends and family yesterday that I forgot to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving.But never being one to pass up a little media criticism, what I want to know is how Floyd Brown, one of the slimiest right wing smear mongers of our generation, has gotten a national syndication deal and ends up with a column published in the Transcript. I would have thought that his

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-91187271579526417412009-11-25T04:50:00.003-05:002009-11-25T04:56:52.523-05:00

Wal-Mart Super Store a-comin'.Basically what this means is that the existing building will go vacant for the forseeable future and at least one of the chain grocery stores will pull up stakes. My guess is that the Adams Big Y and North Adams' Price Chopper are the most vulnerable.I don't see it being that much different than the status quo.John Barrett's quote:"There's just not that many small

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-82556959240110576472009-11-19T05:37:00.004-05:002009-11-20T11:51:35.695-05:00

In a classic jumping the shark moment, the far right is claiming that the thugs from ACORN stole the election a couple of districts over in NY-23:“As evidence surfaces, we find out that reported results from election night were far from accurate. ACORN and the unions did their best to try and sway the results to Obamacare supporter Bill Owens," Hoffman wrote on his campaign site. "Rest assured,

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-32084414217892318582009-11-18T15:26:00.002-05:002009-11-18T15:32:28.337-05:00

The current leader in the "Caption the Photo Contest" -How to spot a Minnesota guy with a DUI convictionWhat's yours?

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-32365872831629712782009-11-13T07:18:00.002-05:002009-11-13T07:37:41.081-05:00

Williams has suspended the guy:An assistant professor at Williams College and visiting researcher at Yale University admitted in the District's federal court this week that he defrauded banks, the federal government and credit card companies out of $800,000 in the past decade.The big question is whether his entire early career is fabricated. No one seems to know yet.I've long said that the

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-19300064868717554182009-11-11T19:39:00.002-05:002009-11-11T19:42:58.648-05:00

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-39850089738952867322009-11-09T19:17:00.004-05:002009-11-09T20:10:31.172-05:00

In one of my Forrest Gump moments, I spent much of the summer of 1989 travelling around the German Democratic Republic (a.k.a. East Germany) as part of a Bach festival that performed in all the churches that J.S. Bach had worked in during his lifetime. It was a very strange time, indeed. The wall was still up and we were among the first Americans that had been officially allowed to spend much

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-71635915213866825512009-11-05T19:35:00.001-05:002009-11-05T19:37:02.592-05:00

From Tammy at iBerkshires:NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Crane & Co. is consolidating its stationary division closer to its Dalton headquarters and moving 200 jobs out of the city.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-9880915312688411802009-11-04T19:54:00.002-05:002009-11-04T21:03:24.190-05:00

Alcombright versus BarrettIt was very clear to me from the beginning of this campaign season that the race for Mayor of North Adams was Dick Alcombright's to lose. It was a very simple calculation on my part that came to that conclusion and I stand by it.Since the last truly contested mayoral election, there has been a swing of approximately 1600 registered voters. To come to that number I took

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-79380204962679591682009-11-03T21:25:00.003-05:002009-11-03T21:30:14.078-05:00

In case you have been under a rock tonight, or do not live in North Adams, Dick Alcombright is the Mayor Elect of North Adams by about 20% of the vote.He defeated 26 year incumbent John Barrett III.I will have analysis of this and the council races when I have had a day or two to digest the numbers. (Although I will say that I predicted the Mayor's race within a point, when most observers

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-67540054053073141292009-11-03T21:16:00.004-05:002009-11-03T21:25:03.168-05:00

I went into this year's city council election with the knowledge that it would probably take two or three attempts to have a clear shot at winning a seat. It looks like I was right. I got thumped pretty soundly today, but I accomplished what I originally set out to do - Build the base that will be needed to gain credibility in a town that does not easily elect those who were not born and raised

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-31348076098391655212009-10-31T08:32:00.003-04:002009-10-31T08:37:08.916-04:00

I am pleased to announce that The North Adams Transcript has endorsed me for City Council.Just remember, endorsements and lawns signs don't vote - people do! Get to the polls on Tuesday!

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-10616650305118455182009-10-28T20:40:00.004-04:002009-10-28T20:50:42.820-04:00

I just had my first conversation with a concerned voter about my positions on everything from G-d given rights, separation of church and state to Gay Marriage and abortion. She was considerably more conservative than me. I tried to find common ground on issues surrounding individual liberties and inalienable rights, but I don't think I won her over.Oh well. I could have talked for an hour about

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-65904503593550695712009-10-27T08:41:00.003-04:002009-10-27T13:00:21.232-04:00

My candidate's column appears in today's Transcript. I will link to it when it gets on the site.[UPDATE - The column is up now]I suspect things are running behind at the Transcript because Glenn Drohan's elderly father is reportedly near death. Keep Glenn and his family in your thoughts.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-32663068167237301872009-10-25T23:19:00.003-04:002009-10-25T23:41:01.235-04:00

Last Thursday my phone rang and I noticed the Caller ID said "Freedman DeRosa." I answered thinking it was a business call, but was surprised to hear a volunteer calling on behalf of the Barrett Campaign asking if they "could count on [my] vote on November 3rd?"It struck me as not-quite-kosher that the city solicitor's firm's office was being used by the sitting mayor's re-election campaign. But

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-46346484550708122472009-10-24T21:41:00.002-04:002009-10-24T21:44:11.709-04:00

I have arrived. I had a few of my campaign lawn signs stolen last (Friday) night along State Rd.Granted it was probably some kids who thought having a sign that says "ROACH" would look good on their dorm room wall, but still, it's more fun to pretend that nefarious forces think that I am threat.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-12013820578368267532009-10-23T11:57:00.002-04:002009-10-23T12:02:52.196-04:00

Senator Downing gets it:BOSTON – Today the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation streamlining the organizational structure of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (CETC). Included in An Act Relative to Clean Energy is an initiative sponsored by State Senator Benjamin B. Downing (D- Pittsfield) to make permanent the Pathways out of Poverty (Pathways) grant program within the Center.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-37258239516598772782009-10-17T17:23:00.001-04:002009-10-17T17:26:38.120-04:00

Bill Donovan's ironic nonsense:The important question, however, is why would these Williamstown money people with such deep pockets have so much interest in the mayor's race in North Adams. Maybe for the same reason as you, Bill.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-7762155552299054202009-10-17T07:49:00.001-04:002009-10-17T07:50:56.834-04:00

Wes has retired from the blogosphere. Bon Voyage.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-4868819825013437422009-10-16T07:12:00.000-04:002009-10-16T07:13:07.441-04:00

.... falling outside my window this morning.

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-14379143121365851402009-10-16T07:03:00.002-04:002009-10-16T07:08:49.682-04:00

From Jen at the Transcript:NORTH ADAMS -- The newly established state Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advisory Council, headed by Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, called on local education leaders Thursday, as it culls a list of the "best practices" and programs from around the state."It is amazing how quickly our economy has changed," Murray told a group of educators at

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28497448.post-63604334121231034082009-10-13T20:28:00.002-04:002009-10-13T20:33:15.564-04:00

Tammy gets the scoop on the Movie Theaters closing:The parent corporation of Movieplex 8 abruptly closed the city cinemas and eight others on Tuesday and plans to declare bankruptcy.Although I find the second-hand quotes from Neil Ellis puzzling. I can't say I've ever heard of a real estate developer operating theaters themselves. Maybe... but it sounds like happy talk.There are lots of other

Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10205947584004601426noreply@blogger.com2