March, 2008

Cabin Fever planning continues.
MMR plans for our annual Cabin Fever Party continue to move along. On Saturday night, March 22nd, MMR will hold its annual Cabin Fever Party, which is also our biggest fundraiser. . The solicitation letter has been presented to many Plymouth and surrounding area businesses by various members. Many donations have already been obtained. Please take a few letters at the March meeting, if you know of any businesses from which you may be able to obtain a donation to be raffled off at the party.

Please also make sure you purchase your ticket(s) at the March meeting and take extras for any family or friends who may want to attend. For those of you who are new to MMR, or have not attended in previous years, this is a night of fun and high expectations as we begin to gather in the funds we need for 2008 charitable giving and other MMR needs. We have a limit to the number of people we can have attend, so we will be calling or e-mailing all Gold Card members to see how many will be attending. Don’t forget that a Gold Card membership gets you into all of our annual events free 

Local families of motorcycle accident victims need motorcycle community support Plus other motorcycle activity related news
The following story was e-mailed to this editor by MMR member Ernie Vohnoutka and several other members.. It was also previously sent out via e-mail by Gail Quinn Three riders families are requesting various forms of help and assistance, and with Cabin Fever strong, please see the www.MassMSF.org for updates you might be interested in. Briefly, . . .

1. The killer of Larry Monahan (Haverhill), who plea bargained down to 2 years in prison last year, is scheduled for a Parole Board Hearing on 2/28/08, seeking early release after serving less than 1 year in prison for killing Larry. Jackie Monahan has requested riders pissed off at this, as she is considering she and her family signed off 'accepting' the 2 year sentence, . . . write the Parole Board before 2/25/08. Her message and a sample letter are on the www.MassMSF.org web site. Please consider writing your own letter within the next 11 days.

1. The criminal trial of the driver who killed Brian Mello, and seriously injured Tom Newhook and Wolfgang Decker, in Middleboro last year is scheduled to begin Feb. 26, 2008, at the Wareham District Court. Elisa Mello, Tom and Wolfgang are requesting area riders attend the trial with them in silent support as they and we seek 'justice for all.' A second printing of the "Friends of Brian Mello" t-shirts was done (in red as he was a New Bedford firefighter) and are available for purchase on the www.MassMSF.org web site. We'd like to see a 'sea of red Friends of Brian Mello' in the Courtroom 2/26/08 and maybe into 2/27/08.&nbs p; If you can attend, please email email Elisa Mello at elisadecker@gmail.com and Paul W. Cote at claimscote@aol.com, so we can notify you in the event the trial gets continued or a plea bargain is reached and the trial does not go forward.

1. Rider in need ! Cabin fever ? Need to get out and see your buddies ? A "Too poor for Dayton Beach Party" and MMSF "Friend's of Sue Hart" Fundraiser has been scheduled for Sunday, March 9, 2008, 1-4 p.m., at the Carousel Lounge and Uncle Eddies at Salisbury Beach, to benefit Sue Hart of Merrimac, MA, . . . who crashed in August 2007 and is recovering from some serious injuries. The MMSF, with your donations from the 2007 Nelson's Ride, has already provided some assistance - but the continued need is there and she is coming back strong! Come out of winter's hibernation, ride or drive to Salisbury Beach Sunday, 3/9/08, park on Ocean Front South near our Carousel and Uncle Eddie's s supporter locations, see everyone you missed during these winter months and have some biker fun while helping Sue. Requested donation, $15 a person. Includes entry into a Pool Tournament at the Carousel Lounge (sign up at 12:30 please), and live music and in-door biker games and fun at Uncle Eddie's and if you want, . . . do a polar bear jump into the Atlantic Ocean ! Bring your own towels and someone might rub you down ! Event Tickets are available on line or donations can be made at www.MassMSF.org, or donate at the doors 3/9/08.

1.  Raffle ! We are doing our quarterly raffle, with 1st prize one hundred $10 Lottery Scratch tickets. (Last Holiday Raffle winner admits to winning over $600 !); 2nd place prize, . . . 8 hour limo service for up to 6 people; and 3rd place prize, . . . your $10 back. Drawing on 3/9/08 at our "Too poor for Daytona Beach Party" and Fundraiser for Sue Hart. Need not be present to win.

1. Mark your calendars for the 2008 AMA New England Road Riding Rally and 9th Annual Nelson's Ride, August 23-24, at Salisbury Beach. We'll be releasing some exciting news on a new exhibition booked for the Event shortly. And we are working on having the courtesy shuttle vans and security for bikes again for Saturday night so no riding impaired needed. Watch for details but if you want a hotel room or camping site, start booking now. See www.SalisburyChamber.com - Membership directory, look for accommodations. . . Tons of thanks – PC 

View from The Hawk’s Aerie (Nest) by Hawk
February 2nd, Saturday, temperatures are predicted to get close to 45, and heavy rain has washed away all remnants of snow and salt from the roads. The Road King calls me from her lair. I make a few calls around to see who might be up for riding, and we gather a few MMR friends for a ride down to Pocasset. New member Karen DiPietro is after a Heritage Soft-tail or a Road King, and we wants to see what they have down there. Off we go and our moods pick up immediately. It has been dull, gray and cold for the past few weeks, and riding is just what the doctor ordered.

The sun is out, we are all bundled up, and the riding is great. I have never ridden in February before and we are all amazed that we got this break in the weather. We spend about an hour looking at bikes, find nothing suitable, and head back home. We realize at about 2 p.m. that we won’t have the 45 degree warmth for much longer and se we hustle home. Who would ever have imagined, riding in New England in February without being plugged in. Amazing! 

A light-hearted article By Dennis Pierce
Bionic roosters
For the benefit of those who have never heard the term bionic, it was a word used extensively in the 1970’s TV series SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN. The show starred Lee Majors, who portrayed an astronaut who was involved in a crash. After the accident he was rebuilt using bionic parts ( bionic legs , bionic arm etc.) . These parts gave him superhuman capabilities , performing far above the norm. Anyway you get the picture.

With that being said , I’ll get on with my story. It’s a hurried up life we live, with all kinds of demands , deadlines and commitments. Sometimes it feels like a forced march , Go, Go, Go !!! Well, it’s not often I get sick but, every once in awhile something comes around that really knocks you on your ass. Which was the case this past January. After working with a fever for a few days , I finally went to the doctors , at my wife’s urging .

After the Doc identified the culprit as bronchitis, he prescribed some meds and rest. Lying in bed I couldn’t help thinking , when you get off the roller coaster ride and stop for awhile , you start noticing the rhythms of life around you , especially when your not moving with them. One such observance was the vocal abilities my neighbor’s roosters. These guys could easily register a nine on the Richter scale. I mean straight pipes minus the baffles.

From what I understand , you can have as many chickens as you want , the ladies all get along just fine. The problem comes in when, you have more than one rooster per barnyard , and my neighbor has three , which is two too many. They’re constantly trying to out crow each other to win over the ladies with their bionic voice boxes. I saw a pig calling contest once on TV and although the callers had some pretty powerful lungs , these roosters, with their bionic lungs , would send the winning contestant packing in shame. I’m usually not one to be overly critical about outward appearances . Granted , I’m no rooster , but I’ve seen these chicks prancing around the barnyard , strutting their stuff and getting their mojo on.

Now I’m sure they have wonderful personalities , but I couldn’t help but think , it looked more like a struggle than a wiggle. I’m telling you , I’ve seen better legs on tables and better heads on cabbages , but if you’re a rooster , I guess they’re all the rage. I guess you might say , they’re really something to crow about. There’s at least a dozen chickens over there , plenty you would think for just three measly roosters , BUT NO !!! , these guys are crowing their brains out , vying for the attention of the whole damn harem. I know what you gals are thinking out there ( typical males ).

Anyway, these guys would sound off at daybreak , lunch break , supper break , “give me a break and take a break”. It reminded me of the commercial on TV when the blind rooster wakes the couple from a dead sleep at midnight , not knowing it wasn’t morning. These bionic cocks would never give it a rest , they would go non-stop around the clock 24-7.

After a few days of listening to these guys as a captive audience, I won’t say I was ready for counseling or therapy sessions, but, I was concerned when I went to sleep one night counting chopping blocks and hatchets. Well, I love thy neighbors and I’ll always shoot for a peaceful resolution, so tonight when I lay my head to rest , after I put my earplugs in, I’ll put an extra pillow over my head. Just maybe I’ll forget about these moronic bionic roosters for a little while. Lights out ….one chopping block…two hatchets…three chopping blocks…four….ZZZZZZ. 

Update on Hanrahan/Mello Case Submitted by Ernie Vohnoutka
Date: February 26, 2008 (Wareham District Court) "You will never drive again," Judge Rosemary B. Minehan told 74-year John Hanrahan of Weymouth, who turned left in front of three oncoming motorcycles last March in Middleboro, killing one and seriously injured two others, as he changed his not guilty plea just before his scheduled trial today at the Wareham District Court. His defense attorney asked for the least possible sentence and the Plymouth County's D.A., Timothy Cruz, through his assistant District Attorney handling the case, asked for the stiffest possible sentence, two and a half years in jail.

Hanrahan admitted, on March 24, 2007, in broad daylight on a dry road, he slowed down his vehicle to make the left hand turn onto Route 495, and upon seeing the three oncoming motorcycle riders, he "thought" he could "make it" but accelerated right into Brian Mello while the other two motorcyclists behind Mello braked but could not avoid impact. He was wrong. Dead wrong. And the family of Brian Mello suffer with Hanrahan's 'mistake' in judgment. Victim Tom Newhook, several family members and the Firefighters Union President read victim impact statements before Judge Minehan handed down her sentence, before a courtroom filled with 35 or more family, riders and New Bedford firefighters present. Some of those present felt the Judge didn't believe any immediate jail sentence would serve justice, and she said, "No one here is going to be happy." She then handed out what most considered a "stiff" sentence to Hanrahan for one year in prison, suspended for three years; three years probation, LOSS of LICENSE for the REMAINDER of his life, and 1,500 hours of community service, to be completed in those three years, going to speak at Drivers' Education telling students the value of "Good Judgment and consequences of their actions." He was also ordered to visit Hospital Trauma Centers to help people severely injured in accidents or otherwise experienced head trauma by reading to them and helping with their care.

 Irv Evans of Franklin, the Secretary of the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA), said it was "obvious as soon as the Judge began talking about accepting his guilty plea, that no jail time would be handed down." If he does not complete the 3 year probationary terms, he'll serve some time. "It's a tight, short leash for a period of time," said Evans. Rick Gleason of South Dennis, Treasurer of the American Bikers Acting to Educate Political Action Committee was more angered asking, "Where is the justice? If a 74-year old holds up a bank does he get a pass too ? If they run over a kid or an older American, do they get a pass too?

Elisa Mello of Middleboro, Brian's widow read her impact statement to a hushed Courtroom filled with over 35 friends, riders and firefighters. Everyone fought back the tears but few could hold them back. She asked for a minimum 4 nights in jail, symbolic of the time her husband "spent on a cold slab before being put into a coffin," to the maximum 2 1/2 years in jail.

After sentencing, Ms. Mello was distraught. "The sentencing he received is so unfair. He basically gets to go home tonight, have a celebratory dinner, gets to be chauffeured around to do his community service, and write off the expenses." In her statement, she said one saving grace was that one day she "would again be reunited with Brian," and then looked at Hanrahan and told him, "And so will you." "This sentencing has reinforced our energy for enactment of House Bill 1464, to increase the civil and criminal penalties of those who violate the right of way of other road users, bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and other road users causing serious bodily injury of death," claimed Paul W. Cote of Amesbury, the MMA's Director of Government Relations. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, March 18th before the Judiciary Committee at the State House.

Victims who wish to testify are encouraged to contact Cote at claimscote@ aol.com. Cote praised Plymouth County D.A. Tim Cruz and his staff. "They were willing and ready to try this case to a conclusion. And throughout the pass year Mr. Cruz's Victim Advocate office was very helpful to Ms. Mello, Tom (Newhook) and Wolfgang (Decker). We appreciate the compassion and tenacity of he and his staff." "The DA's hands were tied once Hanrahan plead guilty," Cote claimed. "It was up to the Judge.