Same Flight!

Don and JK were on the same PHX-DIA flight on the way back from Spring Break - but didn't realize it until baggage claim!

Even though break was over - it was still a great day to see some '83!

Hey - it's just news...

Eric Suher owns 6 of 14 vacant storefronts in downtown Northampton, says he's waiting for 'right tenants'

http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2016/03/eric_suher_owns_5_of_14_vacant_storefron.html

NORTHAMPTON -- When business owners and community members talk about downtown's empty storefronts, one person's name comes up more than any other.

Eric Suher owns six of the 14 vacant spots on Main Street and the core roads that connect to it, city assessor's records show -- the most prominent of which is the former space of Spoleto at 15 Main St.

For many, the popular Italian restaurant's 4,000-square-foot location, with its faded burnt-orange awning and the Iron Horse Entertainment Group fliers in the windows, has become synonymous with Suher's perceived neglect of his downtown Northampton properties. It has been empty for nearly four years.

Contrary to rumor, Suher maintains, the space isn't vacant because the rent is too high.

"If I feel like someone is going to be great for the town, rent is secondary," Suher said in an interview with MassLive, adding that two "fairly substantial restaurant groups" are considering the property.

Suher said he's been waiting for the right tenants to fill the space. There's been a lot of interest in the property, he said, but from "unqualified retailers."

He said he won't consider tenants who don't have enough financial backing to "weather the ups and downs of the retailer-restaurant cycle."

"I don't think Northampton needs any more nail salons, tattoo parlors, tie-dye or T-shirt shops," he added. "I don't think adding more of these certain stores, just for the sake of filling the vacancies, is what's best for the city."

The Holyoke businessman said he's toyed with the idea of splitting the former Spoleto space in half, as it is so much larger than the typical storefront on Main and Pleasant streets.

"Every time we look at that, someone comes along who seems like a promising fit," he said.

Suher has three vacant properties on Center Street, two of which -- numbers 21 and 24 -- he says he expects to fill by the fall; A building he owns at 47 Center St. is also vacant.

Northampton pedestrians share thoughts on empty storefrontsWhen a few retailers left the city's core in late 2015 and early this year, residents and visitors alike began to question the financial well-being of this 28,000-person community that has made a name for itself as the Pioneer Valley's pillar of arts, culture and food. 

He has come under fire for holding onto liquor licenses for properties that have sat vacant for years, including those for the former First Baptist church at 298 Main St. and the Green Room at 26-28 Center St., which opened in the fall of 2014.

The Northampton License Commission stripped him of his Green Room license in summer 2014, expressing unhappiness with the progress of the then-unopened bar and church projects. But Suher opened the cocktail lounge soon after, and transferred his license there from the Baptist church.

There are about 38 liquor licenses in Northampton. But because the city has reached the quota set by the stated Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, bar and restaurant owners have to wait for one to become available.

Suher said the 15,000-square-foot Baptist church site, which is slated to become an event venue, should be completed by the end of 2016. 

Suher also owns the Pleasant Street building that houses Diva's Nightclub -- which announced last week that it will close in the fall -- as well as several local music venues including the Calvin Theatre, Pearl Street Nightclub, the Basement and Iron Horse.

Why so many empty Northampton storefronts? High rents, e-commerce part of equation

When a few businesses left Northampton's core in late 2015 and early this year, residents and visitors alike began to question the financial well-being of this 28,000-person community that has made a name for itself as a pillar of arts, culture and food.

Pat Goggins of Goggins Real Estate, which represents many downtown spaces, said Suher is, in many ways, an asset to the community.

"Most downtowns would be happy to have someone such as him, who is as active a participant in owning properties over the years," he said. "As a practical matter, it's real green dollars he's spent." 

But, Goggins said in a general statement on downtown Northampton businesses, "It's just not good to have vacant buildings."

Hank Ross, a local realtor, has a differing opinion. He explained that a storefront that sits vacant has a perceived rent potential, one that assessors base a property value on. But if a landlord lowers rent to fill a space as quickly as possible, the building's value will likely decrease.

"If everyone drops rent prices, the whole value of the downtown will go down," Ross said. "It's a downward spiral."

Members of the Northampton Arts Council, the Downtown Northampton Association and the Chamber of Commerce are looking at ways to make vacant spaces available for pop-up cultural exhibits.

The proposal comes after a rash of Main Street establishments closed -- including The Mercantile, Western Village Ski & Sport, The Hinge nightclub and restaurant and a Subway shop -- in the span of just a few months.

Northampton has already home to such a pop-up: "Play Like A Girl," a multimedia perspective on musician and Institute For the Musical Arts founder June Millington, was displayed in the former Hempest storefront in February.

Suher said he's not opposed to potentially lending his empty properties to the arts community, but added that many of his spaces are undergoing renovations and it's "not so easy to show sites when there's full art installations inside of them."

Guerra said he is galled by how long the former Spoleto spot has remained empty.

"If I were a landlord of a nice piece of property downtown that's empty, I would lower my price to a point where I would get somebody in there," he said. "If the price isn't something I can live with in the long run, I'd give a short-term lease."

"Some of these buildings that have been sitting empty for this long, it's almost criminal," Guerra later added.

Guerra moved from the 15 Main St. spot to 1 Bridge in 2012. He said his mortgage for the new building is less than what his rent was at the former.

Adam Dunetz, owner of Green Bean and the Roost said "some really prime, beautiful locations are decaying visually and spiritually" in Northampton.

"Spaces that once felt vibrant and were part of Northampton's rich character are sitting vacant for years," he said. "It's very disheartening."

Suher said it's easy to point fingers at his choice to keep some buildings empty.

"As the building owner, I'm the most qualified to make that decision for the long haul," he said.

University material...

More good advice from Denison University President Adam Weinberg: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-weinberg/five-tips-for-choosing-a-_b_9369730.html

What is the best way to choose a college? And what do we know about the connection between what matters in college and who succeeds in the job market? And more importantly, how does the choice of a college lead to a more fulfilling life? 

Let's start with some observations on trends in the college search process. 

• Selecting a college has become a family decision. For most families today, choosing a college is considered among the most important decisions they will make. Parents often are involved in every phase of the process.
• Families are searching for value. For parents, this often will be one of the biggest expenses they will have, along with the purchase of a home. Parents also are looking at a rapidly changing job market and believe this decision will impact their child's earning potential (and, hence, everything else) for the rest of their lives. Parents are trying to figure out what they can afford and what will open up the most doors for their children.
• The college search process often is being driven by anxiety, which can lead to panic. Anxiety comes from the lack of information about admissions (can my son or daughter get in?), and value (what will it cost, and what will it do for my child?). That panic is leading to a lot of pressure early in high school to focus on the search process. And during senior year, it can increase to a level that is both unwarranted and unhealthy. 

Let me suggest a different way of thinking. 

There are more than 4,000 colleges in this country, and there are, at the very least, 1,000 colleges where students can get a great education and go on to do great things with their lives. 

Rather than starting by asking about value--which often leads to unwarranted anxiety, the wrong questions guiding the process, and bad choices--start by asking about fit. 

What does that mean? It means asking questions that help you to determine which college will meet the needs of a particular student. 

In his recent book, Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni argues that our anxieties allow the college search process to be driven by an industry composed of test prep companies, tutors, and numerous and conflicting rankings. Among his best pieces of advice is simply that college is less about where you go, and more about doing the right things once you are there. He dedicates his book as follows:

"To all of the high school kids in this country who are dreading the crossroads of college admissions and to all the young adults who felt ravaged by it. We owe you and the whole country a better, more constructive way."

So what do we know about what matters in college? In How College Works, Dan Chambliss and Christopher Takacs argue that students benefit most from going to a college where they quickly form friendships with peers and develop a close mentoring relationship with a faculty member. Students who go to a college where relationships don't form quickly and don't sustain and deepen over time, get very little out of college. The authors write:

"Without the motivating presence of friends, teachers, and mentors even the best-designed, potentially most valuable academic programs will fail. So students who want to both enjoy college and get the most from it in the long run must find at least a few good friends, and a couple of great teachers. A great mentor--a trusted adult advisor, if one can be found, adds a tremendous advantage." 

Chambliss and Takacs are picking up on two central points. The first is the critical importance of mentorship (which I will come back to). The second is a point made by Andrew Delbanco in his book, College: What It Was, Is, and Should Be, about what he calls "lateral learning." The simple idea is that students learn a lot from one another. So it is important to go to a school with motivated students who bring a diversity of views, experiences, and life perspectives. And it is important that students take advantage of it. Relationships form the core of the college experience. 

The Gallup Organization and Purdue University have done extensive research to create The Gallup-Purdue Index, which measures what matters in college. Two important findings are clear:

• Faculty mentorship is crucial. Students who have a great mentor have double the odds of thriving personally and professionally. In other words, having a faculty member who cares, who connects with you and catalyzes you, is the key to academic engagement. This is profoundly important and happens far less often then it should. The Gallup research suggests that as few as 14 percent of all graduates have that experience. Simply put, it makes no sense to go to college if you are not going to become academically engaged. 
• The second part is getting involved in a co-curricular activity. Students who had experiences such as a job/internship, long-term school project, and/or were extremely involved in co-curricular activity had double the odds of being successful. Yet, sadly, only 6 percent of graduates had this kind of college experience. 

Notice I did not say a dozen co-curricular activities, which is one of the many bad habits we are encouraging in high school students in preparation for the college admissions process. Students are better off doing one or two things really well, especially in college. Bring a passion, and find a passion. 

The question is, how do you find a college where your son or daughter is likely to become immersed quickly, develop a close mentoring relationship with a faculty member, and get involved in sustained co-curricular activities that allow them to find good friends and develop strong life skills? 

First, prospective students and families need to start with some self-reflection. Spend less time focused on finding the right college, for that is the easier part, and spend more time up front reflecting on your son or daughter and where they are in their own personal development. 

Second, know your family finances and understand how much colleges really cost. The sticker price, meaning the listed tuition, is not helpful. Here is what you need to know: 

• How many years does it take the average student to graduate? At Denison, like most private colleges, it is four years. At some public universities, it often takes five or even six years (hence, an extra year or two of tuition).
• You also need to understand the discount rate, which is the average percent of tuition students receive in financial aid. For example, at Denison tuition is listed at $46,250, but we have an $800 million endowment and use our resources to invest heavily in our students. Our 59 percent discount rate means the average student pays less than half of the listed tuition.
• And you need to know if the financial aid is for need or merit. Need-based aid will generally be given to families with a household income of less than $150,000. Merit aid is awarded without regard for income; it is based on a student's profile, GPA, and other special attributes. 

In other words, when you are visiting colleges, ask questions not about the list price, but what families with students like yours actually pay. 

Third, find a place that matches your son's or daughter's interests. One of the mistakes prospective families make is selecting a college because of very small differences in price. Fit is most important. It does not make sense to go to a college that is slightly cheaper if the fit is not right. A number of studies have been done on student debt. My own view is that debt of less than $30,000 after four years (which is about the price of a car) does not negatively impact a student. It is worth it to get an education that is the right one for an individual student.

If your son or daughter plays a sport or has a passion for an artistic endeavor, choose a college where he or she will be able to pursue that passion. Don't go someplace where they only will be able to watch others perform. Choose a college where they will be likely to make the team, be cast in a play, join a music ensemble, and have a chance to pursue their passion.

This is also true for students who want to major in the sciences. So much of the value of undergraduate work in the sciences comes from hands-on research. Choose a college where undergraduates get to conduct their own research and where it is built into courses. Be wary of places where graduate students replace professors in classrooms and knock undergraduates out of the labs.

Fourth, the college tour matters. Visit a range of different kinds of colleges. Try not to be strident with your views. Ask your son or daughter questions, as opposed to offering observations. Where do they feel comfortable? 

Ask an admissions counselor about the size of the endowment per student. Endowment translates into the financial resources a college can spend on providing student experiences. On the tour, ask about the mood on campus. You want to be someplace where faculty, staff and students are proud of the college. And get off the beaten path by going to the student union and asking students for their views on their experiences. Finally, once you get accepted, go back to campus if at all possible and take advantage of April visit days. Let your son or daughter spend the night at their top two or three colleges, and tell them to go with their gut. 

Focus on your son or daughter. Encourage him or her to reflect on the type of college that will create the kind of experience outlined by Chambliss and the Gallup-Purdue Index, a place where they are most likely to make good friends, find a faculty mentor, and become engaged academically and in co-curricular activities.

And make sure you, as a parent, understand the finances of what it will cost for your child to go to that particular college. It is more complicated than it appears. Denison has a $46,250 price tag for tuition, but most families pay far less. In many cases, Denison may be less expensive than a public university. 

And lastly, remember that getting into college is the easy part. Making the most of it is the hard part. Parents and students expend way too much energy worrying about getting in and selecting the right college, and not nearly enough focusing on how to transition into college and how to take full advantage of the amazing colleges we have in this country.

Follow Adam Weinberg on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AdamAtDenison

Sign up for Service April 9...

Come join us!

SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016 Join alumni, families and friends on our Day of Service in 11 different locations. Time: 2-4 hours of service (depending on the project) This year's partnering organizations include: Chicago, IL: DRW College Prep Concord, MA: Gaining Ground Denver, CO: Food Bank of the Rockies Greenwich, CT: Boys & Girls Club  New York (Brooklyn): BloomAgainBklyn New York (Manhattan): The Bowery Mission Los Angeles: OPCC Providence, RI: Southside Community Land Trust Shelburne Falls, MA: Mary Lyon Foundation Worcester, MA: Boys & Girls Club Washington D.C.: A Wider Circle Learn more about the project near you and sign up today! Space is limited.

Hey, Hey RJ!

RJ Harrington continues to work on his new company: NationalCarCharging and likes to wear branded clothing when in public.  Can't begrudge him that!  He also won a raffle for subscribers to the DA Club of the Rockies blog and was able to take his son to his first college lax game at defending national champs Denver Univ! Big wins all around.

At the same time he was sad to have missed Nate Nourse during his last minute ski trip to Colorado...Hope it was fun, Nate!
(Update from Nate: "My friend and I skied 7 mountains in 11 days, driving from central Pennsylvania and back. We logged 5,000 miles driving and almost 100,000 vertical. Next year our goal is 10 mountains in 14 days. Hopefully we’ll catch up with you then.")

Must be Spring...

It's the time of year when Hardie Jackson and the gang at EvoShield drive all over Florida and Arizona to outfit the MLB teams at Spring Training. Lots of fun pics and videos on their FB and Twitter feeds!