Deerfield Mobile App released

Yesterday, Deerfield Academy release its mobile application, created by EverTrue (a couple of Andover alums).  It will be a go to location for FB & TWITTER FEEDS, PHOTOS, NEWS, EVENTS and IN-APP CLASS NOTES.  It also has a DIRECTORY and directory mapping called LOCAL for verified alumni/parents/grandparents. It is an opt-out tool FYI...Here's the link to download the app: http://deerfield.edu/alumni/daconnections/.  HINT: use the email address that received an announcement email yesterday as your verification email address...

Send any great stories using the app - finding old friends, or neighbors who went to DA etc...

Gamblin' man...

In November 2011, MA Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a casino bill allowing for three casinos and a slot parlor in the state.  Three zones were set up to spread out the casinos.  Projected cost of each casino is around $600 million.

Casino operators began searching for potential sites in Western, MA, including some which have already changed their plan and/or location due to community push back. Five to seven appear to still be interested in the idea with three looking at locations in Springfield, one in Palmer and up to three in Holyoke. As you might imagine, our classmate Eric Suher, as a significant land owner in this part of the state, drew a lot of attention from these operators.

In January 2012.  Alex Morse, age 22, was sworn in as mayor of Holyoke, MA after having run on an anti-casino platform.

In June 2012 One Holyoke casino project led by Paper City Development decided to shutter efforts after meeting with the mayor and his reaffirmation of his anti-casino stance.

November 2012 Mayor Morse announces he has changed his mind on a casino in Holyoke and he supports a new development put forward by The Iron Horse Entertainment Group led by Eric Suher as his choice for Holyoke!

The only part of the back-story I think I know involves three things.  First, I don't think Eric has any particular affinity for casinos or gambling.  Second, as one of the largest landowners in western, ma Eric was certainly a target for other developers who wanted to buy land from him in order to develop a project which forced his hand to decide if he wanted to develop a plan himself. Third, the mayor of Holyoke seems to have determined that if a casino is going to come to western, ma then it might as well benefit his city rather than nearby Springfield.

A $400,000 deposit to the state is required by January 15, 2013 to formally participate in the developer selection process, with a $25,000 fee required by the city of Holyoke due this week. 

Eric was born and raised in Holyoke FYI...

Two great men...

Had the chance to catch up with two classmates recently and my abbreviated reports will only give you a glimpse of the excellence that is DA83.  The full versions are only available at our 30th reunion, so register today!

Pete Townsend is in Boston handling dry-wall projects for a commercial retrofitting operation.  When a client moves out of an office building his team reworks all the walls for the new client etc.
Both of his sons are at Carrabassett Valley Academy at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, (offering a unique balance of college preparatory academics and competitive ski and snowboard training).  He looked good and had his usual smile when we connected at the DA reception in Boston at the MIT Museum (very cool).

John Kikoski and I connected in NYC recently and this is the view from his office on the 51st floor looking NW.  John has been spearheading an effort to develop GTL technology for development in the US. Gas to liquids technology might be a game changer, especially for the air travel industry and interestingly Sasol announced the first GTL plant in the US to be started soon in Louisiana on the very day John and I met. I hadn't talked to John for an hour straight for years, but I guarantee it will not be as long before I make a point to do it again. John is especially proud, as he should be, of his six week old son...

We are a solid bunch of citizens...30 years later!  Please remember Deerfield in your annual philanthropy, with many options for recurring credit card giving now available at www.deerfield.edu/give.