Photos and Tornado Related Stories

Bill Dusty's
Springfield Intruder Blog
Path of Destruction: Tornado Cuts through Central Street Corridor in Springfield

Boston.com Photo Essay

Boston Globe Story, A Woman, her little dog, and a twister by Kevin Cullen. The story is about Katie Orellana and Maureen Lessard and what happened to them during the tornado.

Boston Globe Panoramas

MassLive's Stories:
Aerials of tornado destruction
by John Suchocki

Red Cross volunteers bring aid to tornado ravaged sections of Western Massachusetts by Georger Graham

NASA satellite image shows trail of tornado devastation by S.P. Sullivan

Monday tornado resource roundup: Food distribution at 2:30 p.m., Dakin offers animal care and more by Greg Saulmon

Farmer's Market in Forest Park Starts on Tuesday, May 3rd
12:30 - 6PM.

For more info go to the Farmer's Market at the 'X' website. Cyr Arena, Forest Park, Springfield, MA.

9 Washington Street Backyard as of June 13th. Photo was taken as a new family was seen moving into the house

Dave Cotter, the Deputy Director of Code Enforcement's Housing Division was informed. He wrote in an email, "on May 11th the property was written up and no referral was needed at that time. There was a small amount of demo materials and siding in the yard which was cleaned up and the case was closed this morning upon re inspection. In addition there was a small amount of over growth and a notice was sent and I instructed the inspector to give them 30 days because we just can’t prioritize this to get it re inspected any sooner. I also tried to explain the priority order in the office at this time and apologized for any delay. The notices have worked well with this owner and he has responded to our orders."

Tom Walsh from the Mayor's office who has been extremely helpful with this matter, responded, "The complainant forwarded to me photos of the property that were taken this past Sunday. To categorize it as a small amount of demo materials is an understatement. The pictures show a large pile of building debris in the yard and what appears to be a large quantity of dry wood which to surrounding homeowners would give concerns about a fire starting. ...Can you confirm whether the stuff is still there today? "

On Tuesday, June 15th, two pickup trucks appeared and hauled the rest of the debris away. Thank you, Tom Walsh.

....Jeremy Cole

Forest Park Library Update:

HOURS:
Tuesday: 10 am - 5 pm
Thursday: 1 - 8 pm
Saturday: 11 am - 3 pm

Whats New:

- A ramp to the Community Room

- Inside of the building has been repainted

- A unisex universal access bathroom with a baby changing station.

- A water fountain on the lower level.

- The public restrooms have been renovated.

- The building now has a lift

More info and pictures

FPCA Board Votes to Request that the City Council Revoke the Special Permit Given to Palmer Renewable Resources for the Biomass Plant

At its March Board Meeting, the FPCA Board voted to request that the City Council revoke the Special Permit granted to Palmer renewable Energy for the Biomass Plant in Springfield as they are gchnaging the sopurce of their fuel from Building debree to green wood chips.

Here are some links to information on this issue:

- The Conservation Law Foundation’s letter describes the City Council’s grounds and legal rights to revoke the Special Zoning Permit that was issued to the biomass plant in 2008.

- The second file is the Valley Advocate’s investigative article that outlines the issues with this development, and how we got to this point.

License Commission Approves Petition for Liquor License for Racing Mart Gas Station/Convenience Store Located at 685 Sumner Avenue

Petitioner, Rizk Abiassaf, who wants to use a 20 by 30 foot space inside the store to sell beer and wine had his petition approved at the August 12th Licence Commission meeting. Only Chairman, Pete Sygnator voted against it.

Residents who live near or across from the Racing Mart attended the meeting and spoke of the noise and litter that the current gas station / convenience store generates and were extremely concerned about the additional problems that a liquor store would bring to the neighborhood. The liquor store will be open for normal liquor store hours from 8 AM to 11 PM six days a week along with Sunday hours. It was noted by many of the attendees that we already have a large number of stores that sell liquor in the neighborhood and do not need another one. Tom Rooke, the petitioner's lawyer, asserted that there is only one, Forest Park liquors. Chairman Sygnator countered by displaying a map of the neighborhood and then explained to the other commission members that there are seven liquor stores within a mile and a half radius; more than enough to serve Forest Park residents.

The License Commission voted to approve the petition, even though the FPCA board and the Planning Commission voted to oppose it. No reason was given for the approval. It was obvious to this participant that the members are now business oriented and not neighborhood friendly. The new appointees made no effort to hear and work with the neighborhood on this issue.

....FPCA Web Editor

Listen to the FPCA Special Board Meeting

(The meeting is in progress for about 30 seconds prior to the start of the recording. The primary petitioner's voice heard
is that of lawyer, Tom Rooke)
(mp3 file)

Beat Management Team meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm
Sinai Temple, 1100 Dickinson Street

Our new Sector H (Forest Park/East Forest Park) deputy is : Robert McFarlin Rmcfarlin@springfieldpolice.net

How to Go to Housing Court Against
Offensive Neighbors (And Win)
by John Kontekakis.
View file
(pdf file)

Short Version for people who are fed up with an unruly neighbor, and have decided to do something about it.

Form to Request an Emergency Order from Housing Court.

The how-to book that even seasoned landlords use as their best reference is now available. This practical guide covers all aspects of property law and practice, including:

For those who have used the HAP manual before, this new edition has extensive updates, ranging from lead compliance laws, lease clauses and new regulations to ready-to-use forms in print and on CD. It also includes the complete text of important rental housing regulations and a chapter-by-chapter study guide.

Copies cost $34.95 each.
Email landlordbook@haphousing.org
or call 413-233-1612.

Rehab of the Colonial Revival Mansion at 115 Sumner Avenue by Concerned Citizens for Springfield (CCS)

This house stands proudly in the center of the Forest Park Heights Historic District. The Oak paneled front door features a beautiful stained glass window. The interior is spectacular with a leaded glass inner door, oak and cherry paneling, and mahogany fireplace mantels, stairs banisters and crown molding. Spacious rooms and fine details invoke the pride in homeownership and prosperity at the time it was built in 1898.

A sad and complex series of events converged to bring this house to a deteriorated condition. The sole owner of the house passed away suddenly in August, 2008 in New York State. The heirs essentially abandoned the property and the bank which holds the mortgage waited a year to initiate foreclosure. During this period two people who had broken into the house, lived as squatters and used the house as a stash house were arrested and the house continued to deteriorate.

After a year of neglect, neighbors unhappy with the overgrowth put in a day of clean up. When a foreclosure auction was set for November 12, 2009, Concerned Citizens for Springfield, Inc. (CCS) contacted the bank’s attorneys to inquire about purchase. The bank’s attorneys were unaware that the owner had passed away, a circumstance which requires that a different foreclosure process be followed.

While the bank’s attorneys searched for a death certificate and heirs, both legally required to hold a valid foreclosure auction, little was done to secure or care for the house. CCS filed complaints with the Springfield Code Enforcement Department. Orders to correct code violations were ignored. The City filed for a Receivership in Housing Court. This too was delayed by this same lack of a death certificate and notification of heirs.

Finally a hearing to review the appointment of a Receiver, a person with legal authority to correct the code violations, was set for November 18, 2010. The attorney for the bank opposed the receivership and committed to make the necessary repairs to comply with the code enforcement orders. They did not complete the work.

The bank’s attorney did not appear at the January court hearing but informed the City’s Law Department that the bank was “writing off” the loan which would relieve the bank of any responsibility for the property. The Receiver was authorized to bring the property into code compliance. The large task of securing the house, repairing plumbing, the roof, much less clearing the sidewalk of snow started.

A dangerous Silver Maple was removed from a side yard along with other overgrown trees and bushes.

On July 22, 2011, CCS took ownership of the property. Painting the house, removing excessive macadam from the driveway, and extensive landscaping has been done to the exterior. .

CCS‘s goal is to return this grand home to owner occupancy.

On Sunday October 23rd, CCS held an open house so the public could see the house and over 500 people came out for the event, a terrific turnout.

The City Council also honored CCS for their good works in the City with a tribute at their Monday, October 24th Meeting.

....Bill Malloy

Information For People Interested in the Leete Street / Forest Park Avenue Traffic Issue

There is a lot of information on the web about traffic claming techniques and what other communities have done to make their neighborhoods more pedestrian friendly.

On the issue of traffic calming liability issues.

Here is a link to the basics of traffic calming.

Effectiveness of traffic calming vs cost.

Here is how Northampton is dealing with the issue.

Here is a brochure from the City of Cambridge on the issue.

A plan on traffic calming for Berkshire street in Cambridge.

Document published by the PVPC.

FOREST PARK APARTMENTS
RIBBON CUTTING!

LOCATION:
Forest Park Apartments Community Room, 89 Longhill Street, Springfield

DATE/TIME:
12pm on Wednesday, July 28th.

We are pleased to inform you that construction at Forest Park Apartments (fka “Longhill Gardens”) is complete and the property has achieved full occupancy ahead of schedule. The Project looks terrific and is a perfect example of how a troubled property can be turned around into a community asset. We truly appreciate the City’s and the Community’s support to help convert this site from boarded up, blighted, inhabitable units to quality, attractive, safe mixed-income housing.

Forest Park Heights was selected as
One of the Best
This Old House Neighborhoods
for 2010
by This Old House Magazine

Read their
Award Letter

Going Green in Forest Park

Paul & Margaret Martin's Solar Addition
...Photo by Bill Devlin

Oxford Street neighbor, and former FPCA President, Paul Martin and his wife Margaret have taken going green to a new level. They have done over their garage and installed solar panels on the garage roof to provide them with electricity and hot water. They are producing enough power to sell some back to the power company. Of course, they must sell it back at the wholesale rate, not at the rate user's pay, but every little bit helps and some of the time they are off-the-grid. The Martins are working hard to lower their carbon footprint.

For the technically inclined, their electricity generating system consists of 16 Evergreen (a Marlborough, Massachusetts company) photovoltaic panels rated at 180 watts each for a total max output of 2,880 watts (newer ones are now available at over 200 watts each). This is direct current, so there is an inverter which converts that to alternating current at the correct voltage and frequency to match the current from WMECO. Paul says that he has "a net-meter which means that when the system is producing more than the house is using, the excess goes out to the street and is delivered to other houses in the neighborhood and I get credit on my bill; at night or on a cloudy day, I draw from WMECO. "

...Photo by Bill Devlin

The hot water system has three flat panel collectors and a 105 gallon tank. The tank and controls are German, Stiebel-Eltron, and their subsidiary in Hadley, MA manufacturers the panels and distributes the complete systems. Ethelyne-glycol (anti-freeze same as in a car) circulates through tubing in the panels back to a coil in the bottom of the tank to heat the water. Water from the tank passes through an electric on-demand water heater that will heat the water from whatever temperature it is up to the setting for use in kitchen and bath.

"Electric production for the year has been 3,480 KWH", Paul said, "over half my annual average. The hot water system provides most requirements about 80% of the time. A sunny day even this time of year gets the water in the tank over 100 degrees F, requiring only another 10 or 15 degrees of heating for use. May through October was almost 100% of hot water use. It still needs a backup system since a couple of cloudy days in a row will drop the temperature significantly. "

The Martins installed 16 electric panels and three hotwater panels. Take a look at the specs and photos for his new green addition done with the help of architect, Bill Devlin. You could do one too! Read Bill's write-up on the project.

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