 |
 MontagueMA.net Life in Turners Falls, Montague Center, Millers Falls, Montague City, Lake Pleasant and beyond!
|
 |
Montague Grange
Town Government
Montague Grange
Montague Grange
Montague Grange
Gill Montague School
Gill Montague School
PLEASE NOTE:
If you want to post a message to the corkboards PLEASE make sure that you post your message to the most appropriate group area / topic. Buy / Sell goes in the Buy / Sell area, etc. Also, you cannot delete posts once they are submitted. Do not ask the admin to delete them for you. He will not. Do not post if you are not comfortable with that policy.
If you are posting about an event you can also go to the Montague Central calendar and post it there. It will appear in date order on the right side of every page on the website. →
Showing 50 (Show 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, 2000) (Show Titles only, by Threads)
- Fri, Jul 3, 2009, 7:35 P
Independence Now And Forever!
On April 19 2009, on Lexington Green I William J. Bry took the oath to defend the Constitution officially for the first time. It was very natural for me as I was born in Concord, attended the Fenn school 100 yards from Minuteman National Park and have the history and that dream of liberty burning inside! For details see http://oathkeepers.org/ and a video of Stewart Rhodes the Oath Keepers Founder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf2K4-BQYAI
Independence Now And Forever
by Chuck Baldwin
July 1, 2009
As we approach Independence Day, it behooves us to recall the principles of America's founding, especially in light of the ongoing attempt by today's political and commercial leaders to merge the United States into a hemispheric government. In fact, the clarion call for independence is just as fundamental, just as revolutionary as it was 233 years ago.
Regarding the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams said, "[Independence Day] will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore."
Adams went on to say, "You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory; I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even though we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not."
FULL TEXT http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=150059
On April 19 2009, on Lexington Green I William J. Bry took the oath to defend the Constitution officially for the first time. It was very natural for me as I was born in Concord, attended the Fenn school 100 yards from Minuteman National Park and have the history and that dream of liberty burning inside! For details see http://oathkeepers.org/ and a video of Stewart Rhodes the Oath Keepers Founder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf2K4-BQYAI
EMERGENCY ALERT - Stop the NEW Real ID - S.1261 - The PASS Act
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kE8xDMokpM
www.billbry.com
- Fri, Jul 3, 2009, 3:26 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
From Jeoff Pooser, off the Wendell Chat listserv. -Mik
-------------------------------------
"I have heard quite a few people express concerns about the proposed biomass facility in Greenfield. The selectboard sent a letter to Governor Patrick last week expressing our concerns. Here is a link to that letter:
http://www.wendellmass.us/Docs/biomass.letter.doc
http://www.wendellmass.us/Docs/biomass.letter.pdf
"The letter was also sent to the mayor of Greenfield, various neighboring selectboards, as well as local media outlets. Other thoughts or ideas about how to proceed are welcome. For those interested in this issue, I would like to draw your attention to article 4 of the warrant for the upcoming Special Town Meeting, and encourage you to attend the meeting, and if the article passes, consider joining the Wendell Energy Task Force."
-JP
- Fri, Jul 3, 2009, 7:50 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
Those of you with cable can watch Mark talk about the issues with maps and diagrams on MCTV. Look for the schedule on this and the MCTV websites.
http://www.montaguema.net/corkboard.cfm?gpt=32&g=192
http://www.montaguetv.org/corkboard.cfm
- Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 9:16 P
BONFIRE
The Montague Center Firemen's Relief Association will light the
bonfire on Friday, July 3rd. It is located on the outer edge of the ball field on Station Street across from the Montague Center School. There is no rain date, it will be lit around dusk. Some refeshments might be sold, depends on the weather.
- Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 7:27 P
Summary of White House/Treasury Financial Terrorism
Flyby News
Editor - Jonathan Mark
02 July 2009 - Alert
Notes: Latest article by Christopher Story updated at Flyby News
Financial Analysis - World Reports - Global Intelligence
01 July 2009
Negotiated Settlements Deceit Sharply Rebuffed
Summary of White House/Treasury Financial Terrorism:
"..instead of facilitating the G-7-Approved Private Sector fully transparent taxable, revenue-generating US Dollar Refunding Programme, which requires ZERO Government input and yields a cascade of ongoing tax revenues which will be more than enough to finance all of Obama's programmes and to resolve all US financial issues, while at the same time reliquefying the banks ON THE BOOKS, the Obama White House prefers instead to pursue a flawed strategy of Fraudulent Finance based upon a Ponzi-model False Prospectus to revive the dead derivatives horse so that these people can continue indefinitely to control trading (as they see it). This is a flawed policy that is destined to fail and collapse, as well as representing a wanton act of Financial Terrorism."
For the complete article, see:
01 Jul 2009 NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENTS DECEIT SHARPLY REBUFFED
URL: http://worldreports.org/news/221_negotiated_settlements_deceit_sharply_rebuffed
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Flyby News is educational and nonviolent in focus,
and has supported critical campaigns for a healthy
environment, human rights, justice, and nonviolence,
since the launch of NASA's Cassini space probe in 1997.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
==News Fit to Transmit in the Post Cassini Flyby Era==>
<><><><><> www.FlybyNews.com <><><><><>
- Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 5:12 P
americas-effective-unemployment-rate
http://www.infowars.com/americas-effective-unemployment-rate-at-187/
Steve Clemons
The Washington Note
July 2, 2009
...
Hindery writes:
Here is a June 2009 version of the summary that calculates the Effective Unemployment Rate, which is now 18.70%, and the Effective Number of Unemployed, which is now 30,172,000.
There are currently 14,729,000 officially unemployed workers, as just announced. However, this figure does not include the combined 15,443,000 workers either (1) in the “labor force reserve” because they have abandoned their job searches (i.e., 4,278,000) or (2) underemployed because they are “part-time of necessity” (i.e., 8,989,000) or “otherwise marginally attached” (i.e., 2,176,000).
The effective unemployment rate is therefore 18.70%, instead of the official 9.51%.
Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of workers who are officially unemployed has increased by 7,188,000, while almost twice as many workers - 13,290,000 - have become effectively unemployed. And all the while, we should have been creating around 2,250,000 new jobs (i.e., 18 months times 125,000 jobs per month) just to keep up with population growth.
In June, the number of workers officially unemployed increased 218,000, while the number of workers effectively unemployed actually decreased 35,000.
It’s important to see the entire picture of America’s jobs profile — no matter how unpleasant.
http://www.infowars.com/americas-effective-unemployment-rate-at-187/
- Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 10:24 A
July 3 potluck
Staying in town this weekend? Come over to our place for a potluck tomorrow evening! We can hang out on the porch and then migrate to the bonfire across the street assuming it is lit!
Who: Dicksons'
What: Potluck
When: 7:00 - 10:00
Where: 15 Station St., Montague right across from the ballfield and playground
Bring something to share!
Laurie, Jemma, Jing, Peter and John visiting from California
- Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 10:13 A
bonfire?
The pile has been stacked.
The date is 7/3 unless rain.
The location is the town park in Montague Center, across from the old MC School.
Mark1
- Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 8:15 A
bonfire?
And if it's on, could someone say where it will be please?
Thanks!
- Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 6:47 A
bonfire?
anyone know where to find out if the bonfire is still on? it is usually on the 3rd of july...
thanks!
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 7:55 P
Greasecar! 1997 VW Jetta, 133,000 miles
Montague Greasecar for sale! $6,500 for my 1997 VW Jetta, 133,000 miles, Black, 4-door, with sunroof. New brakes, new timing belt, snow tires. Well-cared for car. Grease supply is in Montague Center, buyer might be able to join this situation. Contact Ken, 367-9907. If you want a greasecar, this is a good deal!
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 5:27 P
TFMA 7.1.09
Happy Independence Day! Check out this week's happenings. http://www.mainstreetmail.com/bwire/story.php?msg=1246481955&msgcheck=42woGehPfdxeY
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 2:34 P
The Beast is creeping towards us
ST,
I think I get what you are saying: we are going sailing on an illuminated cruise ship enjoying child entertainers, poker, sexy sights, martial arts, and Ataris. I should be sure to have my wallet and new sunglasses. It's a nice slow cruise, and there will be food. Yay!
Did I miss anything?
M1
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 11:33 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
Paul K,
Thanks for your reasoned and clear argument. I concur. What is needed is a comprehensive analysis that addresses regional and/or statewide needs, and not the project-by-project process currently happening that is based on the opportunity to make profit.
What are next steps for organizers opposed to this project?
Sarah
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 11:25 A
The Beast is creeping towards us
as almost a 40% increase in gasoline since I got to the East, I evacuated CA at the bottom of the current cycle. $4.00 gas was a price controlled Illuminati social conditioning. For learning in 1969 to watch what their main agents do, I've been known as psychic--and paranoid--since that time.
food creeps up and up in price, as hard assets like cars and houses creep down in value, as credit is selectively withdrawn, it is a "religeous" run hand of slight of hand fin'magesacs. Give nice silver coins for gifts, and buy a few bagged onces from Canada or Mexico, they cost less than US.
California is on the brink. Call it the bow of the Titanic for as it goes down, it takes down an economy larger than Canada's, and it's on the end of the food train--the important end of the other important food train to MA. If the lights go out, and the net crashes, California sex sites driving the computer economy will take ding ding dings. There is no ethical code being taught today, just death cult video gaming. Hide your guns folks, run for the hills. The Beast is creeping toward us.
Child slave singers die. Look behind the curtain at what the Shadows are doing, or you'll find a bill for calculated water intake tax, a collector at the door wanting to measure your carbon exhale tax, and the Bureau of Population Control poking a sterilizing chip in your genitalia with a side meter for your propagation tax and DNA based health pre-charges. And why would you think the NAACP wants Martial Law in Pennsylvania?
Join me, in the Darkalattes, send your wallet to Slow. Buy my special Illuminati Blockers. These special glasses give relief from staring at the glaring rampant corruption surrounding us at every turn.
Buy now, and I will include the Charlton Heston movie "El Cid."
very marginally employed dollarwise since November 2007, though always seeking.
I pray you all do as well when it becomes your turn, as it will.
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 9:38 A
Caloric Exchanges, Carbon, and cutting the forests clean to the floor
One prediction: people will take matters into their own hands when they see that electricity costs 5x what it does now, and begin buying and installing third-generation PVs on their roofs to run their homes and charge up their cars.
Another: Power companies will install more alternative generation stations, like biomass and wind farms and water turbines and solar arrays all over the place to reduce transmission costs and beef up local sources.
Lastly: When things start getting really bad, someone will invent something. Perhaps a mini hydrogen cell engine that runs on water and fits under the sink or in your car?
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 9:29 A
Caloric Exchanges, Carbon, and cutting the forests clean to the floor
" Peak oil is not a problem that can be solved."
"Alternatives to Oil
But aren’t there alternatives sources of energy to replace oil? There are stories every day in the media about solar, wind, geo-thermal, ocean tidal energy and other alternatives. This Peak oil problem is just a matter of us putting our clever minds to fixing this! Unfortunately, the truth is that there are no alternative energy sources that can easily replace the energy we get from crude oil. Remember that the world gets 60% of it’s energy from oil and natural gas? Well, in comparison, alternative sources of energy: Hydro, nuclear, and other (geothermal, solar, wind, and wood and waste) comprise just 2%. Alternatives won’t be able to replace the decline in easy, cheap to get energy from crude oil on the enormous scale that is needed to replace the inevitable decline of oil, let alone provide the added energy needed to fuel an expanding economy. Game over, folks.
A U.S. government report published November 2008 titled, “Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World” laid out the future of our energy supplies and freely admitted Peak oil as a fact, “liquid hydrocarbon production—crude oil, natural gas liquids, and unconventionals such as tar sands—will not grow commensurate with demand”. The more disturbing admission was that there are no alternatives to replace the declining sources of crude oil. The report states, “All current technologies are inadequate for replacing traditional energy architecture on the scale needed.” Thus, alternatives will replace some of the gap in production created by Peak oil, but never enough to fully fill it or provide for the old economic model of infinite economic growth.
"
http://education.wallstreetsurvivor.com/print/1603
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 7:50 A
Furlough/Community Ed Proposal
On a lighter note, below are the details of a proposal I made recently to help address this year's school budget funding gap. It is essentially a furlough program that reduces the regular school week by approximately three hours and "backfills" the lost time with community education. I believe this would save money, improve education and strengthen links between the school district and community. It might turn a negative into a positive.
To: School Committee, Superintendent, Business Manager
From: Jeff Singleton
Re: Furlough/Community Education Proposal
6-23-09
Attached is a spreadsheet calculating savings and costs for one version of a furlough program combined with “community education” to backfill for lost hours. It is only one way this might be done!!!
1. Savings estimate
I have simply added administrative and staff salaries for most positions and then calculated a 3% reduction. A number of positions are excluded, including kindergarten, art and music, athletics, food service and custodial. My assumption is these still be necessary for the full five days but other assumptions could also be made.
The total cost of these positions ($5,790,495) and multiplied by .03 (3%) to produce a savings of $173,715.
2. Community Education
The furlough program would essentially reduce one day by an estimated 3 hours.( The implementation would obviously vary depending on the position) I proposal to fill the weekly three hours with “community education”: course offerings from members of the local community, community -based organizations, colleges etc. There are a wide range of possibilities here.
a. Stipends?
I believe participants should be paid stipends to encourage proposals and to show that we value their work. (See New Deal precedents like CWA, WPA, CCC etc). The spreadsheet shows one way this might work.
If 50 courses were solicited ( grades 1-12 since K and pre-K are excluded in this scenario). 50 times 3 hours times 40 weeks = 6,000 hours X $12 per hour = $72,000 cost. If $40,000 came from Montague’s educational stabilization fund (An ideal use for that fund in my opinion!). Then the net savings against the current budget gap would be $141,715.
If the teaching and supervision were all done on a volunteer basis the savings might be as high as $173,715.
montaguema: a spreadsheet with these calculations is available on email request
3. Obstacles
I recognize there are many potential problems with this scenario. We would need the approval and support of staff given current contractual obligations, schedules currently in place would need to be altered, time is short to solicit 50 course, etc etc etc.
Shouldn’t we view these be seen as obstacles to be overcome, not reasons to take a new idea off the table? This is a way to break out of the rut we are in, not just ask the towns for more money but call on the local community to help us solve our crisis (and maybe to be more invested in the GMRSD), make a positive out of a negative. The New Deal put four million unemployed women and men to work on the Civil Works Administration in two months. It was messy but it was beautiful.
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 7:14 A
fireworks
UMass has a big event planned, with festivities starting at 5 on the 4th
Beacon Field in Greenfield has their fireworks set up for the 5th, not sure of starting time
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 1:17 A
fireworks
Does anyone know when the Fireworks will be held at Beacon Field? or where else they will be this year?
I think I read of Amherst having some. [I'm old, lol, I forget nowadays.]
I've enjoyed the ones set off around the Ave as long as they don't hit my car.
Night-
- Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 1:03 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
Jeff, you could just as easily accuse the developers and proponents of the biomass plant of "throwing out misleading statistics, completely ignoring potential downsides of this project and cluttering up the debate" with pie-in-the-sky salesmanship. This is a flawed proposal, but proponents are touting it as the solution to all our energy problems.
I believe there is a much better way for projects like this to be proposed, examined independently, and thoroughly discussed than what is taking place. For starters, this type of infrastructure development, in the 21st century, should be part of a regional long-range proposal for energy production and conservation. Part of a plan that moves us away from dependence on carbon-releasing technologies. Instead we see overlapping proposals for biomass plants in New England cropping up faster than the slugs and mushrooms in my gardens this month, and this because of ill-advised financial incentives and subsidies built into recent legislation. This is about developers scrambling to make money, not about a sound plan for our energy future.
It's quite a leap from "reasonable environmentalists think biomass should be part of the energy puzzle" to the Greenfield ZBA signing off on this particular project. I haven't seen any indication that this plant is part of any well-conceived puzzle. Instead they're selling it as "green" energy and promising jobs, jobs, jobs and property tax income for Gfld and downplaying the inevitable degradation of our air, water, quietude, and roads. I just don't buy it.
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 9:42 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
Jeff, what qualifies as a believable fact?
How do you take two facts - or rather, let's call the assertions - and weigh them against each other? One way is to try to determine who is more qualified to address the matter.
Mark B designs and creating machines that study atmospheric pollutants. His company applies for and wins government contracts to provide them with these sophisticated devices.
Matt W is a developer who wants to get a biomass plant permitted so he can package and sell it to investors.
When Mark B notices in Matt's own documents that they are planning to be out of compliance with air quality regulations at times, then I believe Mark B when he says that's a problem that the ZBA should address.
And unless my memory is totally shot, the ZBA's own written policies state that it can evaluate a project on its overall effect on the community's environment. So the fact - and I believe this is not in dispute - that Roy Cowdrey said they would not address that is troubling.
And I am telling you that the ZBA is not qualified to evaluate this project - both intellectually and emotionally. I think their attitude and behavior illustrates this. Two and a half poorly scheduled and managed comment sessions? No hiring of outside evaluators? No time for deliberation and research?
I'm still on the fence about biomass technology. I am definitely off the fence regarding this process. It was flawed.
Mark1
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 9:13 P
Weather report
Does anyone have the latest on weather? I have heard of possible flooding although I do not know as I am at work and will not be traveling through Montague until later tonight. Any info would be greatful.
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 7:53 P
Parallel universus
The caucus is grassroots collaboration of the School Committees in Franklin County (not JUST the districts...) This collaboration is independent of, but was (and will be) thoroughly active in the FC Public School Study Group. It was formed as a pragmatic "next step" to the work of the FCPSSG and the ongoing collaborations between the Superintndents of Franklin Count; The Business directors of Franklin County's school districts; and the SPED Directors of Franklin County's School Districts.
In a nutshell: the products of any successful efforts by the groups listed above must pass through their respective/combined School Committees before implementation, so let's anticipate and streamline the potential for that success- and assert the School Committees (as the ultimate authority in all things "Public School") rightful place in the process.
The FCSCC is currently planning a session/discussion with our legislative delegation and ED representatives from the executive branch; and a county-wide Education Summit to develop (a) regional response(s) to the greatest challenges to local, public education.
Below, please find the inaugural statement of purpose, etc., etc. of the FCSCC
FCSCC Mission:
1. Leverage strengths and goals of individual schools and school committees for the betterment of
K-12 education across Franklin County
a. Foster a cooperative approach to create a mutually beneficial outcome when dealing with
challenges such as school choice, funding constraints, etc.
b. Leverage resources and investments county-wide (e.g., information technologies,
specialized instruction, etc.)
2. Create a unified political voice for Franklin County school committee members
a. Assert primary political leadership role of school committees in determining the future of
local elementary/secondary education
b. Provide platform for communications, outreach, and lobbying on behalf of high-quality
education, community-based schools, and empowered school committees
c. Protect school committees from encroachment of their statutory authority
3. Support, oversee, and strategically guide the establishment of a county-wide educational
collaborative. (See details below)
FCSCC Organizational Structure
Membership:
? One designated representative and one alternate from each Franklin school committee
? Open membership (all school committee members are welcome to attend/participate, including
from other counties)
Leadership:
? Acting meeting chair/facilitator (currently Mary Kociela, Gill-Montague)
? Ad-Hoc Steering Committee (informal structure/volunteer-based)
? Sub-committees established as needed (e.g., communications/lobbying sub-committee)
? Guidance/support from Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC)
o E.g., closed list serve, information sharing, lobbying and support for participation in
legislative hearings
Meeting Schedule
? Monthly meetings for overall Caucus during startup phase; then quarterly or other schedule as
appropriate
? Subcommittee meetings as appropriate
2
Next Steps for FCSCC
1. Revise/approve organizational structure.
2. Send to individual school committees for participation via election/appointment of
representatives.
3. Seek seed money (grants) to fund development of caucus and/or collaborative efforts.
4. Evaluate and provide feedback to Franklin County Educational Study Project and NESDEC
report.
5. Conduct county-wide goals, assets, and needs inventory of schools and school committees.
6. Ad hoc FCSCC steering committee meeting for program planning.
7. First meeting of full caucus Monday, May 11, 2009 5-7 p.m. at Turners Falls High School
A. Main agenda item: Franklin County Educational Collaborative – with request for
Kevin Courtney and FC superintendents to attend
Franklin County Educational Collaborative (FCEC)
FCEC Mission:
To develop and provide leading-edge services to increase the availability, quality, and cost-effectiveness
not only of operational support services (e.g. joint purchasing of fuel, common records administration and
reporting infrastructure, etc.) but also educational programs and services – e.g., distance learning, shared
instructional resources, special education, county-wide information technology infrastructure, etc.
Governance:
We propose that FCEC have a two-tiered governance structure:
1. A Board of Directors composed of representatives from each participating school committee.
2. An Executive Committee composed of superintendents
The relationship between the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee will mirror the relationship
between a school committee and its superintendent. The Board of Directors will be responsible for
setting the budget, setting overall policy, and approving the hiring of senior staff. The Executive
Committee will be responsible for all other operational aspects.
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 6:41 P
MCTV Program Schedule 7/3/09 thru 7/9/09
Friday, July 3 Program
8:00 AM 9/11 Blueprint For Truth
10:00 AM An Inside Look into Iran
12:00 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
1:00 PM My Man Godfrey
3:00 PM Road to Recovery September 2009
4:30 PM Senior Center:Ruth Harcovitz
5:30 PM Seneka Falls
6:00 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
7:00 PM GMRSD 6/23/09
10:30 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
Saturday, July 4
8:00 AM Senses of Place
9:30 AM Biomass Plant Q&A
12:00 PM The Reflecting Pool Interview with filmaker
1:00 PM The Secret Government
3:00 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
4:00 PM Coffee House:Katie Clarke 09
5:00 PM White House Chronicle#1021-1022
6:00 PM Zero
8:00 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
9:00 PM MCTV Video Camp 2007
9:30 PM Michael Nix
11:00 PM Montague Machine
Sunday, July 5
8:00 AM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
9:00 AM TWB Sky Awareness
10:00 AM Underground Railway Concert 07
11:30 AM Beneath the 12 Mile Reef
1:30 PM Block Party Parade 08
1:35 PM Block Party 08
3:30 PM Both Sides of the Bridge
4:30 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
5:30 PM The Secret Government
7:30 PM The Spirit of Lake Pleasant
9:30 PM The Western MASS Democrat Senator Stan Rosenberg
10:00 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
11:00 PM Living Along The River
Monday, July 6
8:00 AM Wisdom Way Solar Village Documentary
9:00 AM Wisdom Way Solar Village Studio Panel Talk
9:30 AM Valley Idol Finals
12:00 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
1:00 PM TWB Ergonomics
2:00 PM A funny thing happened on the way to the moon
3:00 PM All About Bats
3:30 PM Beat The Devil
5:00 PM Both Sides of the Bridge
6:00 PM Carlos W. Anderson "Big Fat Lie"
7:00 PM Select Board (Live)
10:30 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
Tuesday, July 7
8:00 AM Independent Voices
8:30 AM Inside The Artists Studio: Ted Graveline
9:00 AM Journey to Wissatinnewag
9:30 AM Into the Way of Peace
10:30 AM Franklin County Matters Center for Self Reliance
11:30 AM Francis Doughty
12:30 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
1:30 PM Loose Change
4:00 PM Living Along The River
6:00 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
7:00 PM GMRSD (Live)
11:30 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
Wednesday July 8
8:00 AM Living in the Shadow of VT Yankee
9:30 AM Luke Massery Live Piano Recital
11:00 AM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
12:00 PM My Man Godfrey
2:00 PM Naturalist Laurie Sanders
3:00 PM White House Chronicle#1021-1022
4:00 PM Road to Recovery September 2009
5:30 PM Senior Center:Ruth Harcovitz
6:30 PM Rosner Car Show
7:30 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
8:30 PM Beneath the 12 Mile Reef
10:30 PM Carlos W. Anderson "Big Fat Lie"
Thursday, July 9
8:00 AM Chemtrails the Movie
10:30 AM Pat & Tex LaMountain & Russ Thomas & Joe Graveline
12:30 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
1:30 PM Mind Control
2:00 PM Mohawk High School Performs at Disney_title1
3:30 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
4:30 PM Zero
6:30 PM Women Girls & HIV:Services
7:00 PM Select Board 7/6/09
10:00 PM Mark Beaubian: Biomass Plant
11:00 PM Night of The Living Dead
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 4:49 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
PaulK and Mark1
Mark1 writes
"According to environmental scientist and Montague resident Mark Beaubien (heard on the River this morning) the Greenfield ZBA decided to not apply ALL the criteria to evaluating the proposed plant. The ZBA is charged with taking into account the proposed plant's overall effect on the environment. Chairman Roy Cowdrey stated that they would only base their decision on things like truck traffic, plant design and so on."
I like Mark Beaubien but just because he says something on the radio does not make it fact. Are you really telling me that the Greenfield ZBA is qualified or capable of evaluating "the proposed plant's overall effect on the environment"? That's a rather ambitious mandate for a group like the ZBA, which is why it would be good to have the ZBA opinion in writing.
Paul K writes:
"Often the grassroots movements have no money, no organization, not enough expertise. What they need in order to succeed is to motivate large numbers of citizens to get off their asses and pay attention."
So that means they should throw out misleading statistics, completely ignore potential benefits of this project and clutter up the debate so it is hard to know what to think? I believe there is a much better way to raise concerns, mobilize people and come up with a solution that meets energy needs in an environmentally sound way.
Reasonable environmentalists I know (most of whom have criticisms of this project) think biomass should be part of the energy puzzle "if it's done right." That seems to mean a better state regulatory regime to make sure that it is sustainable and perhaps a more efficient plant (producing heat as well as power). To me, achieving that seems doable but some hard work to make it work. But hard work to make it work is not the goal or style of the anti-biomass movement. Let's not make excuses for a counter-productive style of political action.
By the way, GGarrison is probably right: the ZBA opinion may be small potatoes. The anti movement can probably nix this thing by throwing up massive flak, legal and otherwise, making the project not viable from a business standpoint. How constructive!!!
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 3:40 P
rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain
Wow... Ok. *NOW* it's raining. What was happening before was piddly-squat. THIS, my friend, is REAL rain.
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 2:41 P
Caloric Exchanges, Carbon, and cutting the forests clean to the floor
Thanks for the explanation. I've known about this tactic, but didn't know Amherst was involved in it. Did he distribute such blankets to local natives here?
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 1:54 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
The simple way to stop the plant is to make it non-viable. The zoning boards "OK" is a very small step in this group finding a buyer for the permitted plant. He still has to get timber contracts and more leniency on the tonnage requirements.
He is not looking to run this plant himself only sell the permitted plant. If the numbers don't work he will not get the brass ring...
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 1:11 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
From the Greenfield Planning Board webpage, regarding the mission of the ZBA:
"The Zoning Board of Appeals issues special permits, special permits for signage and variances under the Zoning Ordinance. It also hears petitions for administrative appeals from decisions made by the Building Inspector and Planning Board."
Here are Greenfield's Zoning Ordinances:
http://townofgreenfield.org/1planoffic/pdfs_planoffice/Zoning%20Ordinance_11-19-08.pdf
Taken from this page:
http://townofgreenfield.org/1planoffic/pdfs_planoffice.php
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 12:51 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
Paul makes a lot of good points, though I admit I have visions of the environmental police knocking on my door as we turn on the Sox game in HD to cart our plasma TV away in favor of a 13" CRT monitor.
I've also talked to Mark Beaubien at length about this and respect his views and knowledge. (Geez, though, Monte makes a second home of the bookmill yet had no idea who Mark was and forgot his name half way through the interview...).
My concern is that language like "a travesty of responsible leadership and sound judgment" does little to advance the topic. Are we sure that the ZBA is completely irresponsible and working against the interests of the local people? In my experience, most town officials have thankless jobs and wrestle with difficult issues as honestly as they can. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think they ought to be given at least a bit of benefit of the doubt. If they're all charlatans, I'd be interested in hearing other irresponsible decisions they've made.
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 11:10 A
Caloric Exchanges, Carbon, and cutting the forests clean to the floor
Col. Jeffery Amherst, namesake of the town and many around, famously and shamelessly distributed small pox (swine flu?) infected blankets to the Indians.
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 10:58 A
Caloric Exchanges, Carbon, and cutting the forests clean to the floor
"Despite his fame, Jeffrey Amherst's name became tarnished by stories of smallpox-infected blankets used as germ warfare against American Indians. These stories are reported, for example, in Carl Waldman's Atlas of the North American Indian [NY: Facts on File, 1985]. Waldman writes, in reference to a siege of Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) by Chief Pontiac's forces during the summer of 1763:
" '... Captain Simeon Ecuyer had bought time by sending smallpox-infected blankets and handkerchiefs to the Indians surrounding the fort -- an early example of biological warfare -- which started an epidemic among them. Amherst himself had encouraged this tactic in a letter to Ecuyer.' "
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 10:35 A
Caloric Exchanges, Carbon, and cutting the forests clean to the floor
Slow Turtle,
Thanks for naming the truth that we need to step out of the paradigm of consumption.
What does "Amherst the Indians" mean?
Peace, Sarah
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 10:02 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
So, all they say about global warming, when the earth is actually cooling from within, and especially data about CO2, is distorted intentionally. That's point one of this report: I believe there has been 'testimony' about ambient CO2 from the BioMessers as being 230 parts per million. I have a most accurate CO2 meter and it has been measuring ambient CO2 at 423 ppm for months. They build a lot on this false data and you must suspect everything about this government in secret that is trying to get us all under martial law, starting with forced innoculation for 'swine flu' that hasn't any way rivaled a regular flu found around the neighborhood every year. In new regs you can always sell or trade your bad emissions with some farmer or small business that has managed to survive Monsanto's total bioengineering dominance made requirement by regulation.
Next, I need to emote about who will benefit from BioMess. Early on, Cinda Jones and Elisa Campbell, Forestry promotion somebody, suggested in 2 letters eagerly printed by the papers that this would be a good thing for the forests. Now, Cinda has become president of Cowls, reappearing on task after years in DC working for forestry lobbying, I believe. I also believe that Cowls is the largest private land owner in Western Mass - way back they bought the vast Diamond Match tracts stretching into VT and NH. If she showed signs of husbanding and stewarding this enormous holding with respect and the awareness of native americans that people cannot (and should not) OWN land, my concern would be less. BUT she wouldn't let the M & M trail, being put into some official designation, cross miles of Cowls land in Leverett, giving liability issues as the basis of its rejection - roads and paths, cellar holes and long stone walls, passage ways since the Lancaster Cartway went through Leverett to get to shipping on the Connecticut. Clear eminent domain pathways - ingrained in the centuries - that she is "saving for the grandchildren". I believe this is where most of the slash will come from. And you ought to see the only two tracked machines they now have that several years ago lumbered clean square miles between my house on Long Plain Rd over towards Leverett School - two guys in business suits running the one that grasps the giant trunks, strips off the branches and shreds, and readies the cut to length logs for the second transport hauler to delicately pick them up and place them on its flatbed to track out of there. Cowls will benefit in spades from BioMess. Just don't walk on THEIR land.
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 9:35 A
Caloric Exchanges, Carbon, and cutting the forests clean to the floor
Did you know, that the smoke/gases from a wood stove can be further burned in a specially fitted gasoline type engine? The most successful use of the local brush and tree waste, is to burn AT HOME, with a new technology. Of course, the continuing Hegelian paradigm demands concentration of wealth extracted from local resources for local use, and must feed the tapeworm stretching out of goldmon sucks nyc and the ferette reserve; as country people you may know that a ferett will kill all the chickens just to eat one.
An aside: the ferett might actually be thinking, kille all this meat; hang around and see who else shows up, might get some rat!
Okay, back to my point. The engine can then make local electricity at home, you be off grid. UH OH! I have commited sacrealidge! You must be part of the BORG. In any event, the BORG demands an industrial centralized approach to creating power plants. The truth hurts, but the truth is we must POWER DOWN. And that can only be done with home conservation; OUCH! Massachusetts has a fine history of Puritan Industrialism. Unfortunately 1899 is gone. Fortunately the economy changed and the trees came back. We--we creatures of the beast and Angel--are not free from tending the garden. Go forth and be fruitful demands good management. We are rushing completely headlong into "solve the energy problems," direct from denial of our impact of world tapeworm suckism. Cold turkey is coming folks. The plant will flop because the wires won't deliver. And for a multitude of other obvious reasons. I bet on govment grants, the very few benefitting, and we pay, we pay, we pay, generationally.
Think of this. There was an operating biomass plant on Rt 9 where Home Depot is. If it were profitable, don't you think it would still be there incorporated into the corporation beast of technology sweep? And think of the vast underused potential of asphault parking lots. I believe we are smart enough, handy enough with materials, that we could absorb all that summer heat that burns your feet, convert it to passive storage, heat the stores, melt the ice with out plows, and beat the caloric energy return of any plant that will ever be built.
Now, as to culture. First let's look at the Indians of the area. The only book deeply addressing that I have read, is "Manitou." In it were descriptions of methods used by the locals to attepmt to be in harmony with nature. Somewhere before the Norman Materialism (swords for rape and plunder) is an European seeking to be in balance with nature. The rape and plunder crowd, willing to Amherst the Indians, began the Puritan Industrialism. Then at one point, they eliminated the gold watch and now we just fade away, and if we don't, it's cheaper to rent a cop than to buy us a watch and dinner. There's no point in trying to hang sainthood on Indians (those in my family peeled skin of unfavorables), or deminish the American Indian's survival in the face of Amherstian disease, torch bearing Puritans, Buffalo Soldiers, and sterilizations compliments of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. At least they were attempting to be harmonically tuned to their environment so as to mix wisdom with life. Once Euros got on the materialism jag, the Earth be damned, better make a good showing of it, our material God wants our outward sign of prosperity.
Other obvious reasons why we are heading for cold turkey--trucks transport the chips, which run on deisel, and MA can't possibly supply it's own bio liqiuds. This stae is constitutionally incapable of feeding itself, let alone raise all that oil out of the dirt. James Howard Kunstler is right. We need light rail and I say reinvigorated waterways FAST. Fark the Greenfield plant. The message is clear, no one is coming to save us, just a new version of rape all the natural wealth and plunder the people, driven by the insanity of addiction.
Citizen! Power Down! Harvest your lawn for humus.
ST
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 9:20 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
PaulK is right on. People are quick to judge the 'anti' crowd as they like to call it. "They're too strident. They're exaggerating to make their point."
Well as the dust settles and this decision can be reviewed, we'll begin to see just how badly the ZBA did it's job.
According to environmental scientist and Montague resident Mark Beaubien (heard on the River this morning) the Greenfield ZBA decided to not apply ALL the criteria to evaluating the proposed plant. The ZBA is charged with taking into account the proposed plant's overall effect on the environment. Chairman Roy Cowdrey stated that they would only base their decision on things like truck traffic, plant design and so on.
Again, this underscores the danger in the unplanned system we have - what recourse does a community have when the government body charged with evaluating the effect on the environment decides to ignore it instead?
This alone will likely put this whole matter in the court system, where opponents will no doubt be characterized again as hysterical 'complainers' looking for 'technicalities' to stop the plant.
Mark1
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 9:06 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
Thanks for your post, PaulK. I agree 100% !!!
- Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 12:04 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
"Then we can make a better judgment free from all the flak the more vocal biomass critics have been throwing around." quoted from JS post
Jeff, opponents of so-called 'development' projects have always had to be more vocal and create more flak than proponents. For one thing, developers have the money and political pull to get what they want. Often the grassroots movements have no money, no organization, not enough expertise. What they need in order to succeed is to motivate large numbers of citizens to get off their asses and pay attention. That is where the noise and flak become invaluable. Say what you will about this proposal, the big money and the state and local pols are all pushing pretty hard to get it done, which makes even slowing it down enough for folks to notice what's going on really difficult, and stopping it is not a possibility at all unless you can motivate very large numbers to take action.
Personally, I am not at all convinced that this project makes sense except for the investors, Greenfield's tax rolls, and the lucky few people who might end up with decent jobs. For the rest of us, our air will be dirtier and smellier, our rivers and streams will be more acidic, our valley will be noisier with the sounds of chipping and trucking, and our forests will be over-harvested. j
By far the cheapest source of power, penny for penny, is conservation. That's the best solution to our future energy needs. Not burning up our forests, releasing thousands of tons of carbon and greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. I don't see the plus side of this project at all.
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 9:16 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
"Indigenous people did not live for thousands of years without polluting the planet."
An English friend of mine once remarked, apropos of an environmental group over there that was trying to save the moors as "unspoiled" nature, that the moors were in fact, as he put it, "a monument to the poor agricultural practices of early man". What had once been fertile ground had become almost barren; hence its abandonment by later generations, leading to its status as a "natural" landscape.
Food for thought, anyway ...
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 7:49 P
park?????????????????
Watching the SB meeting... No money for schools,laying off DPW, NEW TAJ MAHAL police station, so lets get more in the hole. WAKE UP PLEASE . Watch them overides fly now. 600thou for the skate park WOW it just doesn't end does it.
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 3:54 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
Montague's own Mark Beaubien called in to Monte's show on WRSI (93.9 the River) this morning and the two initiated an impromptu interview on the air.
Here's the MP3 file of the interview, streaming from the WRSI website:
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 2:24 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
Why is goverment cramming things up peoples asses! I would think if the majority was to rule on this there wouln't be a biomass plant? Maybe its the socialist way of thinking? Maybe j-man came from some foreign planet??? Am I weird....
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 1:23 P
Amherst Cinema & Pleasant Street Theater Show Times 7/3-7/9
Show times Friday 7/3 – Thursday 7/9 at Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity
Street, Amherst MA 01002, (413) 253-2547 www.amherstcinema.org
HELD OVER:
AWAY WE GO, 97min.
Fri 7/3-Thurs 7/9 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00
PLUS Fri 7/3, Sat 7/4 & Sun 7/5 12:00
FOOD INC., 94min.
Fri 7/3-Thurs 7/9 2:15, 4:15, 7:00, 9:15
PLUS Fri 7/3, Sat 7/4 & Sun 7/5 11:45am
OPENS WEDNESDAY:
CHERI, 100min.
Wed 7/1-Thurs 7/9 1:45, 4:00, 7:15, 9:30
PLUS Fri 7/3, Sat 7/4 & Sun 7/5 11:30
Baby Friendly Show
AWAY WE GO
Tuesday 7/7 2:30
Show times Fri 7/3 – Thursday 7/9 at Pleasant Street Theater, 27
Pleasant Street, Northampton MA 01060, (413) 584-5848
www.pleasantsttheater.org
ENDS THURSDAY:
ENLIGHTEN UP! 82min.
Thurs 7/2 5:30, 7:30, 9:30
EASY VIRTUE, 93min.
Thurs 7/1 5:00, 7:00, 9:00
OPENS FRIDAY:
WHATEVER WORKS, 92min.
Fri 7/3-Thurs 7/9 5:30, 7:30, 9:30
PLUS Fri 7/3, Sat 7/4 & Sun 7/5 2:30
PLUS Wed 7/8 10:30am
ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL, 90min.
Fri 7/3-Thurs 7/9 5:00, 7:00, 9:00*
Tues 7/7 9:45
PLUS Fri 7/3, Sat 7/4 & Sun 7/5 2:00
PLUS Wed 7/8 10:00am
SPECIAL EVENT
Tues 7/7 7:00pm
ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL Introduced by
GUEST SPEAKER Professor Steve Waksman
With Question & Answer afterward
Baby Friendly Show
WHATEVER WORKS
Wed 7/8 2:30
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 1:17 P
community garden benefit thursday
Benefit for Great Falls Community Gardens
*
This Thursday, July 2nd, from 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at the Rendezvous*, 78 Third Street, in Turners Falls there will be a benefit performance for the Great Falls Community Gardens, featuring 4th Street's own Lin Preston Band.
There will be a $5.00 cover charge, and donations above that amount are welcome.
The Community Gardens are located on the corner of Third Street and L Street in Turners Falls. They provide a vital green space for community members from downtown (and elsewhere) who lack yards or garden space of their own. They are fully subscribed this year, with a multi-ethnic group of gardeners learning organic growing methods from one another, supplementing tight food budgets for their families with fresh produce, and cheering up the downtown with flowers, birds, and butterflies. The gardens provide a way for tenants and downtown homeowners to get to know one another, support one another's lives, and work on other neighborhood initiatives. Their importance to the solidarity of our neighborhood cannot be overstated, yet at root, they are simply beautiful, nourishing gardens, and deserve our support for no other reason than that.
You've heard of rent parties. Thursday's performance will be sort of a garden party, to help the garden pay off back property taxes, and to afford tools and other necessities for the growing season. Please spread, the word, bring friends, and support community gardens in Great Falls! -david detmold and don clegg, for the 3rd and 4th Street community gardens
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 1:04 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
Yahara -
Indigenous people did not live for thousands of years without polluting the planet. In fact, pre-history is full of examples of "advanced" indigenous civilizations collapsing due in part to environmental stress. See for example Cahokia and the Anasazi. Even less "complex" indigenous societies impacted the environment. To idealize these cultures is "old school."
All of which is not to say that we should or should not build this power plant. There are legitimate concerns. However, biomass, whatever you may think of it, is in part an honest attempt by a so-called "advanced" civilization to meet energy needs with less environmental impact. As Patrick points out, there are pluses and minuses to everything we do (and in fact to everything indigenous peoples did).
In trying to sort this out, it does no go to make extreme claims for or against biomass, which is what has been happening.
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 12:15 P
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
The thinking that there is always a catastrophic cost to getting one's needs met is a paradigm only. Indigenous peoples lived for thousands of years on the planet without polluting it, driving other species to extinction and without intentionally poisoning its people.
This paradigm is old school and must be retired before human life perishes.
This paradigm is a choice.
"Do what you will and harm none" is a spiritual consciousness. "One for all and all for one" is a sustainable consciousness. Living "Mitakuye Oyasin", that all beings are my relations is humankind's next evolutionary step and is livable.
We choose our level of civilization.
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 11:54 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
I think part of the problem with this set of hearings was that the ZBA is pretty limited in what it can decide on. And some of the issues presented by the opponents, while perfectly valid and of concern, were not under the ZBA's purview.
To me the problem with this process is that the state essentially green lighted this technology without adequate studies on sustainable forestry - studies which, only now, after the process has begun, are they agreeing to undertake. That's back-asswards. As is the largely uncoordinated effort to 'green' the state's energy supply, which leads plant proponents and developers to find locations where the local boards are willing to accept a project like this.
And in the case of the Greenfield ZBA, this decision was well in hand before the public hearings even started.
Mark1
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 11:52 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
The decision was jeered by a crowd of more than 100 residents who had gathered to witness the vote at the Greenfield High School cafeteria.
The ZBA placed restrictions on the special permit, limiting Matt Wolfe, of Madera Energy, the applicant, from accepting deliveries of wood chips at the plant on Sundays.
Wolfe had requested permission to ship wood chips to the plant seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., but the board limited deliveries to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Mondays - Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays.
Wood chipping at the site must be limited to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Shipments of wood chips must be made in covered loads, and are prohibited from traveling through on West Gill Road, Lovers Lane, High Street, or the north end of Adams Road.
The ZBA considered imposing a maximum limit of 60 truck trips a day to the plant, but bowed to pressure from Wolfe's attorney, who called that limit "problematic". The ZBA emended that requirement to limit shipments to an average of 60 truck trips per day.
The ZBA made all restrictions on the special permit transferable to any future owner of the plant. The board required Wolfe to post a $400,000 bond payable to the city of Greenfield in the event the plant was abandoned or went bankrupt, and had to be cleaned up.
Other restrictions included the stipulation that no painted or treated wood, construction debris, or biohazards be included in the fuel stream, and only diesel fuel be allowed as an alternate fuel source for start-up and flame stabilization.
The Greenfield board of health wrote a letter to the ZBA decrying the lack of local regulatory control of plant emissions, which "denies the citizens of Greenfield's fundamental rights." The health board cited regulatory work in progress by the EPA which is likely to place a lower safety level on ultrafine particulate emissions than the level proposed by Wolfe's company for the Greenfield plant.
But other Greenfield boards supported the proposal, with city planner Eric Twarog recommending approval, since the site is zoned for industry, power plants are allowed there, high power transmission lines run by the site, which is in close proximity to I-91 and Route 2, and because the current use of the site - as a gravel pit - already produces noise, dust, and truck traffic.
Greenfield stands to gain up to $1.3 million a year from the proposed plant in property taxes, sewer and water fees.
Wolfe must now seek state and federal permits and $250 million in financing for the proposed plant.
Tom McClellan, ZBA member, said the board had looked at all aspects of the plant's operation, including air quality, traffic, hours of operation, noise, impact on rare and endangered species, sewer and water use, and visibility and determined the plant could operate acceptably, with all impacts mitigated, "except for truck traffic," which the ZBA then sought to limit. But McClellan said anyone owning property as an abutter to the industrial park must expect to have truck traffic passing to and from the park.
Before the board voted, Greenfield resident Ann Hassett stood up and called out, "Is it the consensus of this room and the surrounding community that we do not want this biomass plant?
The crowd cheered loudly and affirmatively.
The board then voted without dissent to allow the plant to exceed Greenfield's zoning requirements for noise, height (of the 250 foot smoke stack) and to approve the plant itself.
- Mon, Jun 29, 2009, 11:51 A
Greenfield Zoning Board Approves BioMass plant
I agree, Jeff, and I think the latest post is indicative of what you are talking about. I honestly don't know whether to support this or not, but I do know that we need energy and that all of it comes at a cost, be it financial, environmental or both.
The Montague Grange is looking for donations.
