I went to Easthampton the other evening to meet friends and acquaintances and wish a happy birthday. We met at a local pub and wandered to a few more before calling it a night. Something was different.
Living in Northampton, I tend to stay local. Amherst seems familiar and local, so what was it that made Easthampton seem different, I wondered? Then the light shown upon me and I saw the truth: No parking meters. No machines where you pump in change for a “get out of a parking ticket” card, no kiosk to stick your plastic into wirelessly reserve your parking space. No garage with endless ramps and dark corners.
Free parking. Downtown! How do they do it? I guess different is good.
John Ferriter
Northampton