By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, FEB. 6, 2012) — THE PLANET continues — along with the Pittsfield Police Department and all the good, honest, decent citizens of Pittsfield — the Hadley Watch in the Nilan-Moore Case. Appellate Judge William P. Hadley of Greenfield (NOT Springfield, as the Boring Broadsheet incorrectly reports) has the case, and until he rules, things pretty much remain at a standstill. Except …

… The Peter Moore REAL Pittsfield Benefit. The gala, under the direction of impresario supreme Andy Poncherello and a host of volunteer help, takes place Sunday, 12:30-5 p.m., Feb. 26, 2012, at Chameleon’s at 1350 East Street, Pittsfield. Acts are being booked, donations from area merchants and businesses are being collected for auction and raffling, and the intention is to fill both performance rooms at Chameleon’s to bursting. There’s a Facebook page for this event. You can access it at this link. http://www.facebook.com/events/272198382845242/

The Peter Moore REAL Pittsfield Benefit event has a dual purpose. First, we aim this event to be a morale and resource booster for Peter Moore and his wonderful family. Second, we want to show the GOBs, the county, and the rest of the world that Pittsfield, Mass., can best be characterized by its honorable and good citizens — the 99% — not a tiny handful of corrupt GOBs.

You can help by posting the word of THE REAL PITTSFIELD event for Peter Moore and Family. Get it on your social networks, tell everyone you know, post flyers, talk it up at the water cooler at work. Filling Chameleon’s from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 26 will make a huge statement, that the good people of Pittsfield have a heart of gold AND that they are “mad as hell and aren’t going to take it any more!”

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PHONE TAG? NOT CONFIRMED, BUT IF SO …

THE PLANET also heard from a well-placed source requesting anonymity — THE STOOLEY —who shares this information: “The Nilan phone records from the night of the incident show a phone call made to Atty. [Tim] Shugrue [Meredith Nilan’s defense attorney] PRIOR to the call to the police. Interesting, considering Meredith only hit a dog or a deer, eh?”

The source has provided inside information in the past that has proven accurate. On that basis, we pass this latest along, in the interest of total transparency. We have not independently confirmed this information about the phone calls, but we shall continue to try. If anyone has information that would confirm or contradict this, we invite them to send it along to THE PLANET by e-mail. You must include valid contact information.

If what THE STOOLEY reports is factual, it would indicate a high level of concern on the part of the caller. It would be hard to imagine this sequence of calls (first the lawyer, then the police) if a driver had just had a serious impact with a living being and honestly believed it was either “a dog or a deer.” We have heard from several people who have hit deer or dogs with vehicles. Not one called a lawyer before calling police. In fact, not one mentioned even calling a lawyer.

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PHONE TAG Pt. II: HOW THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S ASHLEY SULOCK MORPHS INTO MIKE SUPRANOWICZ, JUST LIKE THAT!

We shall also share an interesting, and in some ways funny, phone call THE PLANET made last week to the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. We called asking for Ashley Sulock, the CC director of marketing and communications.

The most friendliest and pleasant receptionist took my call (what a relief to get a human being and not a machine) and transferred it to Ms. Sulock. THE PLANET identified ourselves and asked of Ms. Sulock had been present at the Berkshire Young Professionals gathering at Allium’s restaurant in Great Barrington on the night of Dec. 8. We have been contacting various members of BYP with the same question: Were you there? What did you see?

It’s amazing how many weren’t there (even a couple who can be seen in one of the Chamber’s own photos from that night!!), don’t remember, or who are “in a meeting” as soon as they know THE PLANET is on the line. Glad to see our young professionals so busy and dedicated to their work.

Before we could say another word, Ms. Sulock said with the rapidity of a Gattlin’ Gun words to the effect of, “I didn’t go to the meeting that night.” She immediately asked if I could hold. After a pause of about 20 seconds, another human being came back on the line. It was not a dog, a deer … nor was it Ashley Sulock. Magically, we were speaking with the Big Guy himself, Chamber CEO and president Mike Supranowicz. Here’s an approximate transcript:

MS: “This is Mike Supranowicz, can I help you?”

PLANET: “I was speaking with Ashley Sulock. Where did she go.”

MS: “She’s not available. Can I help you?”

PLANET: “No, you can’t. I was speaking with Ashley Sulock, and I want her back on the phone.”

It was getting a bit awkward and testy … in other words, just the way we like it … just as it usually gets when THE PLANET is on to something good.

MS: “She’s in a meeting with a client right now.” Wow. That sure was a sudden meeting. We asked MS is the typical BYP “networking” event includes drinking and, sometimes, excessive drinking. “Uh, no, I mean that’s not what happens …” We didn’t quite get all of it, since he sounded as garbled as Neil Armstrong telling us about that “one small step for man” from the Land of the Green Cheese.

Anyway, we took advantage of our time with the Prez to ask him about BYP. We learned that not all of the monthly “networking socials” serve alcohol. Only the ones at restaurants. The Dec. 8 meeting was held at a restaurant. LEt’s see: 2+2 = 4, doesn’t it?

We learned that the BYP membership list runs to about 700. We learned that the BYP is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chamber. We also learned (this didn’t come from MS but from THE STOOLEY) that the BYP “networkers” have been instructed not to be photographed with drinks in their hand. 

We conducted a cordial interview in which MS said nothing in many words, and we ended asking that Ms. Sulock call us back as soon as she got out of her “meeting.” Needless to say, she didn’t call back. When the phone didn’t ring, I knew it was her.

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EXTRA! EXTRA! BYP:  NETWORKING BASH ON FEB. 1 RESULTS IN NO JEWEL HEISTS

FYI, BYP had their latest “networking” bash at a local jewelers. The Feb. 1 issue of Berkshire Business News, a Chamber publication that hasn’t mentioned a word about Nilan-Moore, advertised it as “an elegant evening of networking.” Elegant? Was Fred Astaire present? Anyway, there were no reports of alcohol being consumed. Of course, we didn’t ask anyone, so there were no reports of alcohol NOT being consumed. We also didn’t receive any reports of jewel theft, but, again, we didn’t ask.

FYI, on Feb. 28, BYP gathers at Brulee’s Restaurant on North Street for a “Power Hour.” The topic is “Personal Finances.” Sounds like a topic that should interest Meredith Nilan.

If you’re a BYP member, the Power Hour is free. If you’re not, it will cost you $10. They will be on their best behavior that night because — full disclosure and be forewarned! — THE PLANET will be coughing up the ten bucks to send a ringer there and do a little schmoozing (and reporting back later).

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Speaking of the Feb. 1 edition of Berkshire Business News, page 10 features photographs taken at the Thursday Jan. 12, BYP “networking” social. It’s amazing: There are eight photos taken involving 24 people, and not one is holding a drink. They aren’t taking any chances: Most of the pictures do not include hands! No hands, no drinks, right?

FACT: Meredith Nilan is not in any of the eight photos. We do see Drew Ritter, Danielle Giulian, Pete White, Michelle Lillie, Ryan Belanger, Heather McDermott, Joe McCauly, Laura Wolf, Amanda Hale, Sarah Weyer, Kristy Livingston, Betsy Stickley, Gina Wagner, Kerry Ryan, Joe Ryan III, Matt Martin, Allison Cook, Jen Bushika, Ron Kelly, Andy Naranjo, Yury Seagull, Victoria Wickles, Lauren Cimini, and Carrie Saldo. Not one drink can be seen! We are so proud of these young people, so high and dry.

Incidentally, the Chamber’s website still has posted photos taken at the Dec. 8 bash at Allium’s, including one with Meredith Nilan. On the BYP site, we read that the group, a “program” of the Berkshire Chamber, is “Designed to address the challenges of forming connections for the next generation.” It certainly worked in the case of Ms. Nilan, who “formed a connection” later that evening with the innocent pedestrian, Peter Moore.

Here’s the BYP Steering Committee as listed on the site:

2012 BYP Steering Committee

Christina Barrett, Berkshire Community College
Ryan Belanger, Ascentek
Erin Carlotto, Legacy Banks
Lauren Cimini, Country Curtains
Jackie Dolan, Michael Wainwright Inc. (Vice Chair)
Brad Felix, Greylock Federal Credit Union (Chair)
Christine Hoyt, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce
Ronald Kelly
Michelle Lillie, Legacy Banks

Incidentally, BYP is open to anyone, of any age, for a mere $25 a year. Visit the Chamber website if you want to join. You can meet the up-and-comers in the area and even, on occasion, famous newsmakers such as Ms. Nilan.

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HIT AND RUN: THE MASSACHUSETTS LAW MUST BE TIGHT

Let us remember that the Massachusetts law on hit-and-run needs to be changed. Here’s what typically happens elsewhere:

Hit and Run

Notice the part that says “felony charges can be filed if a hit and run results in serious bodily injury …” This does not appear to be the case in Massachusetts, as others have noted. In Massachusetts, the victim has to die.  It seems an unreasonable threshold, and we urge our state legislators to go to bat for future Peter Moores.

We also found this in the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

Section 26. Every person operating a motor vehicle which is involved in an accident in which any person is killed or injured or in which there is damage in excess of one thousand dollars to any one vehicle or other property shall, within five days after such accident, report in writing to the registrar on a form approved by him and send a copy thereof to the police department having jurisdiction on the way where such accident occurred; provided, however, that such police department shall accept a report filed by an owner or operator whose vehicle has been damaged in an accident in which another person has unlawfully left the scene of such accident. Such report shall not be required during the period of incapacity of any person who is physically incapable of making a report. If the operator is not the owner of the vehicle and is physically incapable of making such written report, the owner shall within five days after the accident make such report based on such knowledge as he may have and such information as he can obtain regarding the accident.

The registrar may require any such operator or owner to file a supplementary written report whenever in the opinion of the registrar the original report is insufficient.

The registrar may revoke or suspend the license of any person violating any provision of this section.

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Has such a report been filed? Is it a public record? Just more questions in this important case.

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ON THIS SUPER MONDAY, MAY EVERY TRIP DOWNFIELD RESULT IN A SCORE, BUT EVEN IF IT DOESN’T, PLAY THE GAME AS BEST AND AS HARD AS YOU CAN. THE PLANET SHALL HAVE OUR SPIES AT WORK THIS WEEK.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.