All kinds of prizes and surprises await you at the Annual LCA Pizza Party.
Whose lucky tickets will be drawn from each little brown prize bag? Nibble on appetizers, eat hot pizza, break your New Year’s resolutions and enjoy delicious desserts! There will be free juice drinks for kids and a cash bar for adults. All parents are reminded to mind their kids. Hope you can make it to the party and have fun with your Leeds neighbors! Contact Heidi to arrange for prize donation pick-ups and drop-offs, 585-9923 or email heidi@heidistevens.com.
00justinhttps://leedscivic.org/leeds2/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCAlogotrans2.pngjustin2016-02-23 19:48:342016-02-23 19:48:34Beat The Winter Blues Pizza Party
LCA board members Earl Meuniur, myself, Leeds-Mill River Greenway Chair Jason Johnson and Ward 7 City Councilor Alisa Klein met with Mayor Narkewicz on October 13th. Northampton Fire Chief Duane Nichols, Wayne Feiden of the Planning Department, and Ned Huntley of the DPW were also at the meeting. Below are the issues we have been hearing the most about from Leeds folks and were presented at the meeting:
Water Street evacuation
The first concern presented was an alternate evacuation route for Water Street residents if a situation arose where Water Street was cut off due to a storm event or other emergency. The City’s current emergency route is through Roberts Hill Conservation area. Earl Munier and Red Greene have long thought that Old Newco Road (the first driveway on the west side of Water Street after the brook) to be a good alternative and this option was presented at the meeting. Since the meeting, Fire Chief Nichols has looked at and walked the proposed route and agrees it is a viable option if needed. Chief Nichols is having the DPW check and see if the city has any utility rights of way in this area. They are aware that a tree would need to be cleaned up for access. If the city has a right of way the DPW could cut up the tree to clear the path. If not they will need to work with the landowner to make it passable. Fire Chief Nichols also said in his email response to Councilor Klein “that the residents who we met with were great. I always appreciate when someone offers solutions and not just problems.”
Mill River Conservation area
The second concern brought up was the abusive use, excessive garbage dumping and day camping that occurs along the Mill River on and upstream from Chartpak Dam.The Northampton Police have made extra efforts regarding this activity since early in the summer of 2015. Now, the Planning Department is onboard to try and help address the problem. Next week Wayne Feiden from the Planning Department will walk the site with LCA board members and Mill River Greenway chair, Jason Johnson to determine what can be done in advance of summer 2016 to help the situation. Our goal is to encourage respectful use of the river front and maintenace along the new bike path extension.
Hotel Bridge
The third concern addressed at the Mayor’s meeeting was the status of the Hotel Bridge. In the short term the LCA requested help from the DPW to keep the entrances looking better, even if they are closed to pedestrians. The bridge is a stop on the Mill River Greenway’s historical walking tour. Guard rails and invasives need attention. In the long term, the LCA offered our continued support to find a way to open the bridge to pedestrain traffic. The Mayor will be discussing options with DPW, and the planning department will be helping to locate grant funding for restoration. Restoration will be expensive and the process will take time.
https://leedscivic.org/leeds2/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCAlogotrans2.png00justinhttps://leedscivic.org/leeds2/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCAlogotrans2.pngjustin2015-12-30 19:52:142015-12-30 19:52:14Group brings Leeds’ concerns to Mayor Narkewicz
Officer Jared LaValle has been with the Northampton Police department since late 2014. He previously worked at a correction center in Worcester. He was brought up with a grandfather in the military and studied Law Enforcement at Springfield Technical Community College after exploring other possible career ideas and studies. While he started off his employment here “walking the beat” downtown in the cold winter months, he aspired to connect more with the community at large. When Chief Kasper initiated three responsibility expansions of duty to include “Community Outreach Officers,” he immediately applied for one of the roles. When spring rolled around and the bicycle patrols starting rolling again downtown, he was given the assignment of “Area 4” which includes downtown Florence and Leeds.
The Belchertown “towny” loves working for the city of Northampton. “It’s exciting, interesting, and always different” says LaValle, whose favorite part of the job is connecting with people. “Being a police officer is certainly about helping people, but I really enjoy the interactions and meeting new people, making friends, and connecting deeper with the community.” LaValle comments that it is not just about fighting crime, but showing that law enforcement is out to make people feel safe, cared for, and develop a “community feel” and not be viewed as “us versus them”.
After I spent some time chatting with him, I can attest that it is a pleasure and gift that we have Officer LaValle to help look after our Village of Leeds. Following a meeting with the LCA, Chief Kasper and others concerning graffiti on Orange dam, LaValle’s responsibilities expanded to include patrols by the river and along the bike path to help address the lack of respect that some individuals have for our Village’s communal resources. Along with his patrol duties, he plans to attend as many Leeds Civic Association meetings and events as possible as he even enjoyed doing before the actual assignment. In the mean time, you can often see him working the day shift from 3-11. Keep an eye out for Officer LaValle and say hello and thanks when you see him around the ‘hood!
https://leedscivic.org/leeds2/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCAlogotrans2.png00justinhttps://leedscivic.org/leeds2/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCAlogotrans2.pngjustin2015-12-30 19:45:092015-12-30 19:45:09New guy in town to give some attention to Leeds residents!
Beat The Winter Blues Pizza Party
All kinds of prizes and surprises await you at the Annual LCA Pizza Party.
Whose lucky tickets will be drawn from each little brown prize bag? Nibble on appetizers, eat hot pizza, break your New Year’s resolutions and enjoy delicious desserts! There will be free juice drinks for kids and a cash bar for adults. All parents are reminded to mind their kids. Hope you can make it to the party and have fun with your Leeds neighbors! Contact Heidi to arrange for prize donation pick-ups and drop-offs, 585-9923 or email heidi@heidistevens.com.
Group brings Leeds’ concerns to Mayor Narkewicz
by Heidi Stevens
LCA board members Earl Meuniur, myself, Leeds-Mill River Greenway Chair Jason Johnson and Ward 7 City Councilor Alisa Klein met with Mayor Narkewicz on October 13th. Northampton Fire Chief Duane Nichols, Wayne Feiden of the Planning Department, and Ned Huntley of the DPW were also at the meeting. Below are the issues we have been hearing the most about from Leeds folks and were presented at the meeting:
Water Street evacuation
The first concern presented was an alternate evacuation route for Water Street residents if a situation arose where Water Street was cut off due to a storm event or other emergency. The City’s current emergency route is through Roberts Hill Conservation area. Earl Munier and Red Greene have long thought that Old Newco Road (the first driveway on the west side of Water Street after the brook) to be a good alternative and this option was presented at the meeting. Since the meeting, Fire Chief Nichols has looked at and walked the proposed route and agrees it is a viable option if needed. Chief Nichols is having the DPW check and see if the city has any utility rights of way in this area. They are aware that a tree would need to be cleaned up for access. If the city has a right of way the DPW could cut up the tree to clear the path. If not they will need to work with the landowner to make it passable. Fire Chief Nichols also said in his email response to Councilor Klein “that the residents who we met with were great. I always appreciate when someone offers solutions and not just problems.”
Mill River Conservation area
The second concern brought up was the abusive use, excessive garbage dumping and day camping that occurs along the Mill River on and upstream from Chartpak Dam.The Northampton Police have made extra efforts regarding this activity since early in the summer of 2015. Now, the Planning Department is onboard to try and help address the problem. Next week Wayne Feiden from the Planning Department will walk the site with LCA board members and Mill River Greenway chair, Jason Johnson to determine what can be done in advance of summer 2016 to help the situation. Our goal is to encourage respectful use of the river front and maintenace along the new bike path extension.
Hotel Bridge
The third concern addressed at the Mayor’s meeeting was the status of the Hotel Bridge. In the short term the LCA requested help from the DPW to keep the entrances looking better, even if they are closed to pedestrians. The bridge is a stop on the Mill River Greenway’s historical walking tour. Guard rails and invasives need attention. In the long term, the LCA offered our continued support to find a way to open the bridge to pedestrain traffic. The Mayor will be discussing options with DPW, and the planning department will be helping to locate grant funding for restoration. Restoration will be expensive and the process will take time.
New guy in town to give some attention to Leeds residents!
by David Rondina
Officer Jared LaValle has been with the Northampton Police department since late 2014. He previously worked at a correction center in Worcester. He was brought up with a grandfather in the military and studied Law Enforcement at Springfield Technical Community College after exploring other possible career ideas and studies. While he started off his employment here “walking the beat” downtown in the cold winter months, he aspired to connect more with the community at large. When Chief Kasper initiated three responsibility expansions of duty to include “Community Outreach Officers,” he immediately applied for one of the roles. When spring rolled around and the bicycle patrols starting rolling again downtown, he was given the assignment of “Area 4” which includes downtown Florence and Leeds.
The Belchertown “towny” loves working for the city of Northampton. “It’s exciting, interesting, and always different” says LaValle, whose favorite part of the job is connecting with people. “Being a police officer is certainly about helping people, but I really enjoy the interactions and meeting new people, making friends, and connecting deeper with the community.” LaValle comments that it is not just about fighting crime, but showing that law enforcement is out to make people feel safe, cared for, and develop a “community feel” and not be viewed as “us versus them”.
After I spent some time chatting with him, I can attest that it is a pleasure and gift that we have Officer LaValle to help look after our Village of Leeds. Following a meeting with the LCA, Chief Kasper and others concerning graffiti on Orange dam, LaValle’s responsibilities expanded to include patrols by the river and along the bike path to help address the lack of respect that some individuals have for our Village’s communal resources. Along with his patrol duties, he plans to attend as many Leeds Civic Association meetings and events as possible as he even enjoyed doing before the actual assignment. In the mean time, you can often see him working the day shift from 3-11. Keep an eye out for Officer LaValle and say hello and thanks when you see him around the ‘hood!