For Whom the Road Tolls

Drivers through Western MA will begin paying tolls between Exits 1-6 starting October 15, reports MassLive, after the House approved a compromise bill that was also passed by the Senate.  The total to drive the Pike between these exits will be $1.75.  Don't be caught by surprise when October arrives!

For more on tolls, see this page.

Public Discussion: Rt 47+

On Wednesday, September 14, there will a public discussion at the Senior Center (46 Middle Street) concerning Rt 47, which is part of the Connecticut River Scenic Byway.  According to the notice written by Nick Grabbe in the Sept 9 edition of the Amherst Bulletin, the meeting will be moderated by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and will invite Hadley residents and business owners to identify distinguishing characteristics of the region, other possible uses (i.e. recreation, tourism) for the area, and land protection.

Update 9/17:  MassLive published an article about the meeting.  Read it here.

Irene?

If you look down the street in our neighbourhood, you would never know that a supposed hurricane passed close by.  The street is dry and clean, yards are mostly free of debris, and the sun is shining brightly.  There are a few scattered leaves and small sticks and garden soil is still moist, but overall things are clear -- we didn't even lose electricity. 
However, nearby towns were not so lucky -- there are overflowing rivers, closed roads, flooded dams, and outages throughout the area, so be wary and be mindful!

Turkey Crossing

Rocky Hill Road residents have started a "slow down, save the turkeys" campaign.  If you've driven, walked, or ridden up Rocky Hill Road recently, you may have noticed the signs:

(Click on pictures to get a fuller view of the signs.)

I think the message is pretty clear -- slow down on Rocky Hill -- and always be on the lookout for kids, pets, and turkeys (and cyclists).  And it's a worthwhile message.  I know people zip up and down that road, and I have frequently seen this local flock of turkeys feeding on someone's front lawn, one member of which I recently saw dead along the side of the road. 
Please -- be mindful, be cognizant, be considerate.  Help keep our children, our friends, our pets, and our local wildlife alive and safe.
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Update:
5/18: If you've driven on Rocky Hill recently, you may have noticed that the "turkey" signs are missing. Nick Grabbe reports in today's Daily Hampshire Gazette that the signs were vandalized last week and that Police Chief Hukowicz is ordering and paying for two replacement "turkey crossing" signs.

5/20: Here's the article about the Police Chief replacing the signs:
http://www.amherstbulletin.com/story/id/207722/

Pothole Watch

After a winter like this (and I'm not sure it's over yet), the roads get sloppy -- and not just in an "ice is melting" kind of way -- more like a "who tried to eat the road and spit it out?" kind of way.  Asphalt gravel litters the ground whe

Recently I discovered a pothole that almost ate my car: eastbound on Bay Road in Amherst, just across from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, there is a pothole that is nearly the width of the lane and twice as deep (just kidding on the deep part, but it is significantly sharp and deep). On the same stretch of road, on both sides there are multiple holes and jags and crumbling asphalt.

Do you have a pothole that you drive out of your way to avoid, a car eater or a tire smasher?  Add a comment below and let people know where it is.