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‘INSTEAD, WE HAVE A YOUNG WOMAN WHO, IT APPEARS, CALLOUSLY ABANDONS A MAN TO A SOLITARY DEATH IN THE ROAD” … AS THE HEART BREAKS, WE PURSUE OUR RELENTLESS COVERAGE OF THE MEREDITH NILAN COVERUP … ALL THE WHILE, THE BB HASN’T PUBLISHED ONE, NOT ONE, LETTER TO THE EDITOR, ADDRESSING THIS SLIME … plus … PROBATION DEPARTMENT HAS HELP WANTED AD. WANT TO WRITE UP A JOB DESCRIPTION? WE’RE GAME

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By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25, 2012) — “Instead, we have a young woman who, it appears, callously abandons a man to a solitary death in the road.”

Instead, She Ran

And these, my dear friends, are to date the most eloquent words to encapsulate the tragic case of Peter Moore, and innocent pedestrian run down by a spoiled, entitled, 24-year-old female enfante terrible who did not have the human decency to stop, MAKE DAMN SURE SHE FOUND THE LIFE  SHE JUST NEARLY SNUFFED, tend to victim, call the police, and wait at the scene until they came.

Instead, she ran.

She said she searched the scene and found nothing.

Then, she ran.

Even now, 47 days after the crash and to the best of our knowledge, Meredith Nilan has not come forward to offer any explanation to the public or condolences to the victim and his family. From what we have seen, she has not owned up to the gravity of what she has done or taken responsibility in any meaningful and public way for her actions.

If her actions were an isolated example of a Favorite Daughter using her old man’s influence to receive a special dispensation denied to Us Common Folk, then — oh well. It’s bad, but these things happen. However, when the actions come to perfectly symbolize everything that’s wrong with the inbreeding, dysfunctional, and mutated nature of the poisoned Pittsfield political structure, we can’t let it pass.

What of Peter Moore? What of His Lifetime of Pain and Struggle?

The opening words of this column came from a long, heartfelt, and private message to THE PLANET by a citizen who asked that the full message and byline not be used. Our correspondent, whom we shall call Colossus, wrote from the heart on the multiple layers of the tragic in this case.

* Is is not a tragedy, that a 46-year-old son, husband, and father is left with injuries that will be, in one way, shape, or form, permanent? These include a broken neck, brain damage, and a broken leg.

* Isn’t it tragic that Peter Moore’s old life is dead. His new one, a life of rehab and pain, has just begun.

* Isn’t it tragic that a father, the All Important GOB Dad of the entitled driver of the car that nearly killed Mr. Moore, should have done such a poor job raising his daughter that the young woman would leave the scene of such a violent and obvious crash with, from the photographic evidence, what she had to know was a human life. The only way we can view her story of hitting a “dog or a deer” credible is if she was so impaired by drink and or drugs so as not to be able to determine this difference of startling contrast.

* Is it not tragic, the ultimate finding in this case? No, not what appears to be the rigged “verdict” from an important ringer, the first assistant clerk magistrate from Westfield.  Rather, tragic the finding so well expressed by Colossus:

“So, we are left with a corrupt court system, a man with almost gauranteed permanent brain damage – likely to become worse as he ages – and will now have to settle for less in lifestyle and comfort. And to cap it off, we have Meridith Nilan who would appear to now have a hardened understanding of the value of human life and morality.”

 

Reasonable Conclusions Based on the Evidence, Common Sense, and a Knowledge of How Things ‘Get Done’

Ladies and Genltlemen, we have inquired into many aspects of this story. We have done so not because it is a pleasant story. We have done so because in a democracy, We The People need to KNOW that their criminal justice system is on the level. We The People need to know that there aren’t two sets of laws, as President Obama referenced in his State of the Union speech.

We are convinced of a few things, based on the evidence, what officials are saying off the record, and on the simple observational powers that lie within all truth-seeking, decent human beings:

* The truth in this case has not come out.

* Justice has been deliberately thwarted.

* A coverup, as bad on some counts as the original crime, is in the works, held together largely by fear of those with pertinent information from telling what they know.

THE PLANET shall be contacting the members of the Berkshire legislative delegation. We shall ask them:

(1) Their view of the Nilan-Moore case. Are they satisfied that justice has been served? If so why?

(2) If not, will they step to the front and call for a thorough, independent, honest, and fearless investigation into the sordid affair?

No Time for Equivocation of Fancy Dancing

This is not the time to equivocate. This is not the time to fancy dance. This is not the time to be politic, polite, or patronizing. It is a time for those who act in our name to step forward and stand for goodness. It is time for people of good will to force this slimy case from out under the rocks and into the sunlight. It is time for the foul antics to be exposed.

The Nilan-Moore case has assumed symbolic importance for many. The apparent mechanisms that were quickly enacted to see that Meredith Nilan would not be held responsible for what looks like a wanton and willful near-taking of a human life via hit-and-run give evidence to a well-organized enclave of what we call the GOB to squash justice, establish the immunity from law, and usurp the very basis of democratic rule in Pittsfield and Berkshire County.

Today, THE PLANET did the full hour on Good Morning, Pittsfield, hosted by my Right Honorable Good Friend John Krol. Krol asked me to define “GOB.” We said a GOB is someone who uses a position of power and influence for selfish, immoral, and sometimes illegal purposes. The Nilan-Moore case gets to the heart of We The People‘s immense frustration that the local government that acts in their name and that taxes them to death is rotten to the core. We know the GOBs in number are a tiny minority. Most in public life are good, decent people. But they’ve been silenced. We also know that this small cadre of arrogant Big Shots wields an undue influence — an undertow and riptide of force — on the righteous functioning of community life.

The GOB must be stopped, or Pittsfield is dead in its tracks — economically, politically, morally, and from every other point of view.

We do not dramatize. We do not speak hyperbolically. We are telling it like it is.

—————————————————–

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: THE PEOPLE ARE HOT

Letters, messages, reactions, and feedback continue to pour into THE PLANET expressing outrage at the handling by authorities of the Nilan-Moore case. Miraculously, NOT ONE letter about this case has appeared in the moth-eaten pages of the Boring Broadsheet.

We run now a selected sample of feedback:

Dan, there are many more people (the whole of Pittsfield!) who ARE happy with what you are saying & doing. Every morning I look for the letters page of the Eagle and see not a single letter about this, and I wonder whether the Eagle has a pile of letters coming in re: Peter Moore and the Nilans, etc. a foot deep and just aren’t publishing them. 

I wrote a letter to Mr. Moore & family asking about his dog among other things, and got your email yesterday with the good news of the dog just before I sealed the envelope! What you told me just now, about the dog staying in one place to warm his owner’s body, makes me cry.

This whole thing — this whole episode — is so important, and so appalling. Quite aside from the wider corruption issues, it is appalling that any father would WANT to do this to a daughter, bring them up this way. Of course accidents happen in life, people make bad mistakes, and any good parent would help their child accept responsibility for such a thing and bear the consequences.

It is criminal to teach and demonstrate to your child that deception, cover-up, saving one’s own skin and to hell with anybody else, is the way to be in life.


I think — as you said —  this case may be the defining case that will blow things wide open and make visible a whole network of corruption, and maybe bring some of it to an end. 

Just on a human level (which is the level that matters) it is pretty depressing that some people are willing to treat other people like trash. Kick them aside.

Please know that 99.9 % of Pittsfield is behind you right now, intensely grateful. This MATTERS. I am intensely grateful. You are articulate and say what needs to be said. 
’nuff for tonight. thanks,
— J

We thank J for her note. She captures well the feelings expressed by many others, and we have published her letter to stand in for many.

Not everyone was thrilled with our coverage. THE PLANET received this message from one of the people who attended the BYP party on Dec. 8 at Allium’s in Great Barrington.

Clarifying The Planet’s ‘Misrepresentations’

This email is in response to your blog of today’s date re:  The Berkshire Chamber BYP//planetvalenti.com/2012/01/planet-exclusive-barbalunga-issues-statement-in-nilan-moore-case-why-are-the-bypers-scared-and-who-are-they-afraid-of-who-if-anybody-is-nathan-byrnes-plus-letters-to-the-edito/.

 

My response is intended to clarify your misrepresentations where I am concerned.

 

First, I did want to confirm that I made a short appearance at the BYP event at Allium.  I was at the event in my capacity as the President of the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.  Allium is a member business of the SBCC and I was hoping my attendance would show support for collaboration amongst like organization within Berkshire County.  Neither my firm, McCormick, Murtagh & Marcus, nor I are members of the Berkshire Chamber or the BYP. 

 

Second, I am very displeased with your misrepresentations and accusatory tone regarding my Facebook status.  If you actually investigated or merely Googled my name, you would not only find that I have a visible online presence but I am very active on Facebook.  I have never removed my profile for any reason.  I find it a very bad practice as a journalist to write a story without checking you facts.  I am very reachable and would have liked the opportunity to respond to your statements prior to you publishing them.

 

Sincerely,

Kate McCormick

Kathleen M. McCormick, Esq.

Partner

McCormick, Murtagh & Marcus

390 Main Street, Suite 2

Great Barrington, MA 01230

— 0 —


THE PLANET sent this reply:

KATHLEEN
Thank you. I shall correct the facts on THE PLANET tomorrow.
While I “have you on the line” may I ask you if you noticed anything about Meredith Nilan’s behavior that night that would seem to indicate she was drinking alcohol, excessively?
Would you care to characterize the amount of drinking that occurred at the restaurant? Low, moderate, high, or excessive?
I appreciate your feedback, and, as I said, we shall correct the record.
I must say, though, that when I Google you, or look for you on FB, I cannot find you. There are other KMs, but not you. Can you explain this?
Cordially,
DAN
— 0 —
Kate McCormick responded:
I do not know Meredith and have never met her. When I googled myself today I was the 2nd result. After that I also appeared in multiple listings. I have 723 friends on Facebook and I am linked to my firm page as well as the Southern Berkshire Chamber pages.  I have no idea why you cannot find me.  If you did not know who I was, any small amount of research would have told you that I am a partner in a Great Barrington Law Firm as well as the SBCC President.
As I said, I was only at the event for a short time. I did not notice anything out of the ordinary. While I was there, the event was focus on picking names of children at Hilcrest who were in need of Christmas presents. I was impressed by the charitable nature of the group. So much so I also too part in this initiative.Sent from my iPad
— 0 —
TO WHICH THE PLANET RETURNED:

KATHLEEN

Many thanks. I assure you I did try to confirm the accuracy of what I wrote, and wrote with the best intentions.
I apologize for the error. I shall correct this on THE PLANET tomorrow.
Cordially,
DAN
—————————————
Interesting, all.
McCormick reports she “saw nothing out of the ordinary.” THE PLANET is not sure how to qualify this statement, since we have other sources telling us that the BYP gatherings are mostly drinking and little networking. Does “nothing out of the ordinary” mean there was the usual amount of excessive drinking?
————————————————
NOT ONE LETTER ON THE CASE, BB? REALLY?
Has anyone noticed that since this story broke, a full 47 days after the Meredith Nilan almost killed Peter Moore, that the Boring Broadsheet has not published one letter on the case, pro or con? Is that believable?
Is that credible?
It appears obvious that the BB has been doing its best to comply with orders from the GOB, who control the paper, that the story be spiked. It worked for more than six weeks. Thanks, however, to cyberspace, the story got out.
C’mon, BB: Not one letter, questioning the handling of this case? Not one? Not a single, solitary, lonely one?
————————————————————-
Finally, we present this Help Wanted ad from the Massachusetts Court System:

JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER – Training Available


  • Category: Criminal Justice
  • Location: SPRINGFIELD, MA
  • Type: FT

Job Description:

As a Juvenile Probation Officer, you will observe and counsel youths, who have been convicted of crimes, to ensure they no longer break the law. You will also evaluate cases and make recommendations to the court to determine appropriate case disposition.

Juvenile Probation Officer Duties Include:

  • Meet with family, and school on a regular basis
  • Schedule drug testing and searches of juveniles room regularly
  • Prepare and deliver reports to the court
  • Update the judicial system on the youth’s progress

Due to the volume of applications received, CourtCareers.com is unable to comment on the status of an individual application. Your application will be reviewed and you will be contacted if you are chosen to move forward in our hiring process.

Can anyone suggest a more accurate job description of a Probation Officer, based on the actions of Cliffy Nilan in the Angelo Stracuzzi and  Meredith Nilan cases? THE PLANET offers a free dinner to the winning entry.
————————————————-
MY DEAR FRIENDS, AS WE WRITE FROM OUR FORTRESS, LOOK UP THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IF YOU WISH A CODE OF BEHAVIOR. BETTER YET, SIMPLY ADOPT THE HIGHEST AND NOBLEST MORAN/ETHICAL STATEMENT OF ALL TIME: “DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.”
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE!”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Irvin Corey
Irvin Corey
12 years ago
Pat
Pat
12 years ago

I long ago stopped writing letters to the Berkshire Eagle because they didn’t print ones that might have put the city or its politics in a bad light.

Pittsfield has a reputation for being a place where your politics and economic worth are all that matters. You are either one of them meaning Democrat and preferably well to do or you hold a position of importance in the City or you are an outsider and will be snubbed accordingly. Hence it has the perfect environment for creating the GOB’s. By the way I think it should be GOB’s and GOG’s (Good Old Girls) because it isn’t just males who are a member of this elite group. There are females in this city who also feel themselves to be equally entitled to do as they please and create a separate set of laws for themselves that doesn’t apply to the rest of the lesser people residing here in Pittsfield.

The Nilan/Moore accident is unsettling not only for the horrific injuries that Mr. Moore suffered, but because of what could have happened if Mr. Moore did not find the strength that night to make it back to his house. Supposedly the Nilans came back to look to see if anyone or any animal had been hit, but that is their word only. Police were never called to the scene when the accident first occurred so nobody can verify with certainty if anyone even bothered to go back to the scene of the accident. Proper accident procedure was not followed that night. Peter Moore could have died at the sight of the accident from exposure to the cold combined with his injuries had he remained at the accident site. Too many people have complained that he shouldn’t have left the scene of the accident, but considering that the police never made it to the accident scene and nobody knows for sure if the Nilans actually went back to the scene, it’s a really good thing that Mr. Moore was able to leave the scene on his own since nobody came back for him that can be definitely proven. Fortunately he seems like a very physically strong person from the pictures I have seen of him in the hospital and which is thankfully what saved him, but I think that anyone else who was hit with such force that night would have died on the side of the road.

This is a clear case of two sets of laws depending on who you are in Berkshire County. We should all do whatever we can to bring about justice for Peter Moore.

Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
Reply to  Pat
12 years ago

@Pat Could not agree with you more about the Berkshire Eagle one sided views about everything.Also about the injustice with this hit &run regarding Mr. Moore,my prayers go out to him and his family.We will not give up on justice,that is the least we can do for him.

GMHeller
GMHeller
12 years ago

Mr. Valenti, Silence Dogood indeed nailed it the other day suggesting that Nilan was in no condition to drive home to Pittsfield from GB and that she likely got a ride from Allium back to Pittsfield and her Winesap Road residence.

Now according to Alf Barbalunga, he “worked the check-in table the first half of the evening” and that “at the height of the event, there were approximately 60 byp guests attending.”
So, why, out of all those 60 alleged ‘professionals’ hasn’t even one dad the personal integrity to come forward and speak truthfully about what they observed in re: Meredith Nilan’s behavior at Allium that evening? Are we left to believe that the public behavior of an attractive 24-year-old blonde babe goes unnoticed at one of these ‘networking’ Happy Hours?

Based on Silence Dogood’s common-sense suggestion, here’s a proposed scenario that’s as good as any:
Meredith Nilan was plainly in no condition to drive home that night from the Two Hours of Happy Time at Allium.
A friend drives her home.
She gets in the door at the Nilan’s Winesap Road residence and thinks, “Hell, there’s a party going on over at Patrick’s Pub; it’s still early; I’m heading over there.”
She freshens up at home for the next five/ten/fifteen minutes (after all, the lady’s about to burst after being in transit from GB to Pittsfield for 40 minutes), then heads out the door figuring she’s sober enough to drive (don’t all boozers when drunk think they’re sober enough to drive?).
She jumps in Cliff Nilan’s SUV in the driveway, backs out, and, heading north on Winesap, punches the accelerator hitting about 45-50 MPH (thinking she doesn’t want to be late for the Patrick’s Pub party), when a few seconds later she strikes head-on Peter Moore.
Now Mr. Valenti, I’m not saying this is the way events absolutely positively transpired, but it sure would explain how Meredith Nilan got home in one piece from GB that evening in the state she likely was in, and why she might have thought she was sober enough to drive on her own to Patrick’s Pub, and her mindset upon leaving the house and getting behind the wheel.

Mr. Valenti, does anyone within the Berkshire Young Professionals group have the integrity or stones at this point to come forward with facts?
If Silence Dogood’s supposition is right, who drove Meredith Nilan home from Allium the evening of December 8th?

levitan
levitan
Reply to  GMHeller
12 years ago

Well, I don’t see why you would assume she didn’t home drunk from GB. Most accidents happen near to home where you tend to let your guard down.

The road from GB to Pittsfield is straight and simple with enough police presence to make a clever girl careful.

Steve Wade
Steve Wade
Reply to  GMHeller
12 years ago

GM Heller.. Didnt Mel Gibson play you in the movie Conspiracy Theory? Its almost like you where there.

GMHeller
GMHeller
Reply to  Steve Wade
12 years ago

Steve Wade,
The only conspiracy here is that involved in a nameless court official bringing in a shill magistrate to close a hearing which should have been wide open to the public; in preventing the hit-and-run victim’s lawyer from attending that hearing wherein he should at least have been allowed to observe the proceedings; and in allowing an incompetent or crooked (take your pick) boob of a magistrate to arbitrarily and capriciously make a ruling which should have been left up to a jury to decide — and this conspiracy is apparently all to protect the kid of the Pittsfield’s Probation Chief.
Steve Wade, you don’t think there is a conspiracy here to help Meredith Nilan avoid felony criminal prosecution for hit-and-run and a possible DUI?
Who contacted Westfield District Court Assistant Magistrate Nathan Byrnes and requested that he come to Pittsfield to preside at the Nilan show-cause hearing?
What was DA David Capeless’ specific advice in re: holding an open hearing in the Nilan matter?
Why are 60 Berkshire Young Professionals who attended the Allium party Dec. 8 clamming-up and refusing even to discuss the subject of Meredith Nilan’s sobriety at the party and who, if anyone, may have given her a lift back to Pittsfield that evening?
Maybe this stuff doesn’t amount to the level of conspiracy in your book, but then again you don’t even have the stones to use your real name here so who are you to be claiming there is no conspiracy?

Steve wade
Steve wade
Reply to  GMHeller
12 years ago

Heller. Was there media in court when you where fined thousands of dollars when you screwed your gas customers? You are one to talk about justice not being served. Have you ever paid your fine? If not not you should shut the hell up until your a law abiding citizen! Oh yea I forgot your also a concerned stalker. PS. I still think Cliff is a big A Hole !

GMHeller
GMHeller
Reply to  Steve wade
12 years ago

Off-topic

Steve wade
Steve wade
Reply to  Steve wade
12 years ago

Heller this has a lot to do on topix. Why are you the only one above the law? PS I still think Cliff is a BIG A HOLE.

GMHeller
GMHeller
Reply to  Steve wade
12 years ago

Steve Wade,
If there’s no copnspiracy to enable the kid of Pittsfield’s powerful Probation Chief to get off the hook for felony hit-and-run and possible DUI, then who contacted Westfield District Court Assistant Magistrate Nathan Byrnes and requested that he come to Pittsfield to preside at the Nilan show-cause hearing?
And what was DA David Capeless’ specific advice in re: whether or not to hold an open hearing in the Meredith Nilan show-cause?
And why are 60 Berkshire Young Professionals who attended the Allium party Dec. 8 clamming-up and refusing even to discuss the subject of Meredith Nilan’s sobriety at the party and who, if anyone, may have given her a lift back to Pittsfield that evening?
No conspiracy?
Then what do you call it, a bunch of odd coincidences that just happened to allow Nilan to escape legal responsibility for what she did?

GMHeller
GMHeller
12 years ago

CORRECTION: So, why, out of all those 60 alleged ‘professionals’ hasn’t even one had the personal integrity to come forward and speak truthfully about what they observed in re: Meredith Nilan’s behavior at Allium that evening?

Molly
Molly
Reply to  GMHeller
12 years ago

Because they were told by the DA’s Office to NOTdiscuss it with ANYONE, with a threat of some sort of charge against them if they did…

Scott
Scott
Reply to  Molly
12 years ago

Do you have proof of this statement?

Steve wade
Steve wade
Reply to  Molly
12 years ago

Molly. Just another irrational statement from you.

Molly
Molly
Reply to  Steve wade
12 years ago

Aren’t ALL prosecution witnesses told to not discuss a case? I believe so…

Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
12 years ago

Caught the end of Mr.Krols show.Liked your prediction for the Patriots,hope you didn’t jink Green Ellis.Just not sure how a dress code is going to make kids learn more.

Scott
Scott
Reply to  Joetaxpayer
12 years ago

Because it takes their focus off of fashion and instead of a popularity contest they learn to view each other for the people they are not the clothes and accessories their family can afford.

Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
Reply to  Scott
12 years ago

Dress codes take away the students individuality,that they will need long after school. Students also need flexibility and expression.But if they are on Chershire Rd. they will have to have a dress code.I think getting rid of the open campus at PHS would help more.

Scott
Scott
Reply to  Joetaxpayer
12 years ago

I do not agree I would make the argument that it allows them to be more of an individual and less superficial. They still have 16 other hours to express their personality through fashion outside of school plus the weekend. I send my kids to private school where they wear a uniform (except on Fri.) but seeing how I pay tax in Pittsfield I still get a vote.

ambrose
ambrose
Reply to  Joetaxpayer
12 years ago

and if they’re working at mcdonalds, home depot, wall mart orany of the rest of the big stores they’ll be told what to wear. – agree with getting rid of the open campus

PITTSFIELD BELIEVER
PITTSFIELD BELIEVER
12 years ago

VALENTI Stick to football, baseball, and Mitt Romney. You’re beating a dead horse with a broken record on your sensationalistic coverage of the accident. Accident: That’s what a legal, proper court hearing determined. NO CAUSE FOR THE CASE TO MOVE FORWARD. For once forget your ratings and accept justice, for it has already spoken.

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
Reply to  PITTSFIELD BELIEVER
12 years ago

Driving on the wrong side of the road is not an accident. Hitting a pedestrian and causing severe injuries and then leaving the scene is not an accident. If you think the magistrate’s hearing was a “legal, proper court hearing,” your schooling was obviously lacking in quality. The reason Dan has to keep hitting this as hard as he is? Because no one else is. The Eagle is ignoring it, and we all know why. If they went after this the way they should, the GOB network would use its tentacles to yank a lot of ad dollars away, and if that happened, Mr. Singleton in Denver would lay the hammer down in Pittsfield.

joe blow
joe blow
Reply to  PITTSFIELD BELIEVER
12 years ago

bullshit!

Steve Wade
Steve Wade
Reply to  PITTSFIELD BELIEVER
12 years ago

PB I kinda like the term Non Factual Observation myself.

Dave
Dave
Reply to  PITTSFIELD BELIEVER
12 years ago

PB

Get some help.

Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
12 years ago

@PB We have had a few very serious traffic accidents recently in Berkshire County involving pedestrains.One of them on Williams St. in Pittsfield.This ACCIDENT was reported at the point of impact,thank god because the woman was severly injured and had to be flown to Albany.With gods blessing she will survive,who knows what would have happened if the person who struck her had drove off.There has not been any justice in this case to date.Bringing in some Ast.schmuck from Westfield to determine this case and only hearing one side of the events,of that evening is bull shit.You my friend are full of it.

dusty
dusty
12 years ago

The Berkshire Eagle is purposely doing a major disservice to its own customers. Why in the hell anyone pays for this excuse for a newspaper is beyond me. I use to think I could not get through the day without important information that might be in the Eagle but low and behold, after five years without it, I do not feel I have been blindsided by missing anything they might have printed.

Every customer in the county should reevaluate the worth or lack thereof, of this bird cage flooring.

Someone suggested that the reason they bow before the GOB is because the GOB can influence major advertisers to pull their ads. Makes sense to me. If no one buys the paper for a year no one would advertise and that link might be neutered.

Unchy
Unchy
12 years ago

Maybe you don’t know Mr. Valenti. He has integrity, but most of all, don’t piss him off, you’ll lose.

Concern
Concern
12 years ago

PB. Your very wrong, there was all can of evidence for this case to go forward. Accept Justice you say. That’s what the public wants JUSTICE for Mr. Moore. We are still waiting to see if there is an appeal. We the people will not move on, until we see JUSTICE So Dan and the good citizens keep digging for JUSTICE. Pittsfield Believer you can tell your friend Cliffy that!!!!!!!!!

Diana
Diana
Reply to  Concern
12 years ago

Agree wholeheartedly Concern.

Jeff
Jeff
12 years ago

It is absolutely unfathomable that the Berkshire Eagle has yet to recieve a single letter to the editor on this outragious travesty of justice! I can-not in good conscience continue to advertise in a newspaper that is so out of touch with the vast majority of Berkshire County residents. Or at least the residents WHO ARE AWARE of this massive miscarriage of justice! Just what are the people over at The Eagle trying to hide? Are they not looking like fools trying to protect the GOB network?

Is The Berkshire Eagle a newspaper FOR THE PEOPLE…. Or is it just a plain old piece of garbage for the elitest folk??? It would certainly be refreshing to see someone there grow a set of cahunas!

luxor Rex
luxor Rex
12 years ago

THE boring broadhseet (a.k.a berkshire beagle eagle*) is good for lining the litty litter box. What a sorry excuse for a “newspaper.” Valenti is beating their pants off not just on this story but in practically everything he writes and everything they ignore.

Rick
Rick
12 years ago

One question no one has asked….How did Ms. Nilan get to Great Barrington? Where was her personal vehicle the night of the incident? I can’t believe an up and comming BYP drives an older suv. Find her car and you might find something interesting.

Jeff
Jeff
12 years ago

I say paste this link on your facebook and any other social media to get the information out there. Many are not even aware this is going on. I have posted them on all my blogs, facebook and twitter account. Educate the good people of Pittsfield

Dave
Dave
12 years ago

There have been those on this blog that have gone out of their way to catagorize Merideth Nilan as a “wonderful young woman”.

Because this subject has received so much attention, people are hearing about it and talking on the street, in the coffee shops etc. Those of you that think she is a “wonderful young woman” must be close friends or in her circle. There are those outside that circle whom apparently know her and have little positive to say about her morals and actions.

Cliff Nilan should really be ashamed. ONE: If any of what people are saying is true about Merideth. TWO: What standards he is teaching his children and the example he has set.

If the Nilans had done the right thing on that evening in December, this kind of gossip would never be heard.

Concern
Concern
12 years ago

Dave you are so right about if they did the right thing. However as far as Cliffy goes the right thing is what he wants. He cares about no one but himself, his close friends etc.

DV. have not got any answers on some key questions here. Who brought the idiot in from Westfield? Any connection to him and the GOB here? What’s happening with the appeal? Why hasn’t Mr. Moore’s lawyer spoke up about this case? He should be all over the news, and demanding answers!!!!! There are many many more but Let’s start here.

Dave
Dave
12 years ago

I think we should post a reward for information on this case that will stand up in court. I myself would kick in a few dollars to see this case resolved fairly for all involved.

Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree
12 years ago

I applaud all of you here (esp. DV) who are trying to right what appears to be a definite wrong. But I can’t help but feel that anyone who is guilty of any wrongdoing here is just going to get off scott free. It’s just been that way too long here in Pittsfield. Sad, but true.

Susan Moore
Susan Moore
12 years ago

As Peter Moore’s step mother, I have to thank you for keeping his case from being swept in the gutter where nobody can see what is happening. I have had similar neck surgeries that were not nearly as traumatic as Peter’s and I know what that injury alone will do to his long term quality of life. That the driver of the vehicle is getting off without even a traffic ticket boggles the mind. My husband flew up immediately upon hearing that his son was in the hospital and he located his son’s blood in the street and spoke to neighbors who heard the crash. After 23 years of being a cop in Hartford and retiring as a Captain, some years as head of the Traffic Division doing tons of accident reconstructions, I can tell you how angry we are that the system we both worked in has let down one of our own. It is not the Justice System, not today in Pittsfield, not for Peter Moore. A system that would allow for a closed hearing for only the defendant to present information is outrageous and is ripe for legislative changes. Peter, or any victim, should have been allowed to be present along with their legal representative.
Thank you Dan for keeping their feet to the fire! We read you every day here in Florida and post links to Facebook so all our friends can follow along. As for Peter, he says if this is his 15 minutes of fame, he wants a do over! His 10 year old daughter summed it up best when she said “it is like a giant game of Tug of War only one side gets to wear cleats!”