Opinion
Five College scholars join 1,000-plus educators to push New England senators for permanent cease-fire in Gaza
By SCOTT MERZBACH
More than 100 scholars from the region’s Five Colleges have signed onto a letter sent to the New England’s 12 U.S. senators demanding a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, the peaceful release of Israeli hostages and arbitrarily detained...
UMass ends practice of posting arrestees’ names after outcry
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — An Oct. 25 protest calling for University of Massachusetts administrators to cut ties with the defense industry and condemn Israel’s military actions in Gaza concluded with 56 students and one employee remaining in the Whitmore...
Deerfield voters shoot down road repair borrowing authority
By CHRIS LARABEE
DEERFIELD — In a narrow vote with light turnout on Tuesday, residents rejected the authorization of up to $5 million for road repairs around Deerfield, 195-191.The rejected Proposition 2½ debt exclusion would have authorized the town to borrow money...
Amherst working group delivers draft solar bylaw to council
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Restrictions on how much forestland could be cut to make way for large-scale solar projects and potential mitigation measures for the loss of trees are not included in a draft solar bylaw for Amherst.But the Solar Bylaw Working Group’s...
Amherst planners move Jones Library project along
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — As a Town Council decision looms on increasing the borrowing authorization for the $46.1 million expansion and renovation of the Jones Library, the site plans and special permits needed for the project have been approved by the Planning...
State attorney general’s office rejects parts of Pelham’s solar bylaws
By SCOTT MERZBACH
PELHAM — The state attorney general’s office is rejecting portions of an amended solar electric bylaw adopted by voters at annual Town Meeting in May, including requiring mitigation for loss of carbon sequestration and forest habitat and prohibiting...
Amherst’s interim superintendent defends HR consultant after union calls for resignation
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — The regional school district’s interim superintendent is defending the work of a human resources consultant as critical for the district during a tumultuous time, responding to a demand from the school union that she resign.Last Thursday,...
Amherst Regional School Committee restarting middle school principal search
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A search process for a permanent Amherst Regional Middle School principal that failed last spring when both finalists withdrew, including a candidate who had completed a public interview and was invited for a site visit, will resume in the...
Deerfield promotes Northampton resident Kathlene Sanderell to town clerk
By CHRIS LARABEE
DEERFIELD — After putting out a search for a town clerk earlier this year, it turns out the Select Board’s preferred candidate was in Town Hall all along.After nearly a year of service, the board appointed Assistant Town Clerk Kathlene “Cassie”...
Leverett moves to discontinue Rattlesnake Gutter Road
By SCOTT MERZBACH
LEVERETT — Despite an appeal from the town’s fire and police chiefs to reopen a section of a long-closed gravel road, the Select Board is moving forward with permanently discontinuing much of Rattlesnake Gutter Road as a public way.Acting on a request...
Anna and Ladimer S. Nagurney: In United States’ national interest to support Ukraine
While John Berkowitz's commentary, "End Ukraine war before it ends us," [Gazette, Dec. 4], makes some interesting points, it is not "Ukraine war" but Russia's war on Ukraine. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign, democratic nation, and...
Anne Gage: Elementary school libraries need support
Seems not a day goes by without another chapter to the Jones Library saga. They have again been able to gain access to more funding in the quest to improve and expand the library. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for our elementary school...
Richard Fein’s recent column “Is Hamas winning the long war?” [Gazette, Nov. 27] states that “in response (to Hamas’ crimes) Israel and Egypt have blockaded Gaza.”.He neglects to mention that this blockade denies food, medicine and water to several...
Guest columnist Susie Mosher: Disability activists also oppose aid in dying
By SUSIE MOSHER
The article “Bill seeks to give terminally ill options” published in the Gazette on Oct. 23 gave a slanted report on the public hearing held at the State House on Oct. 20. From reading the article one would be led to believe opponents of the Medical...
Columnist Darcy Dumont: Amherst must reprioritize budget for climate action
The inner workings of Amherst’s town budget are a mystery to most in town. I would venture to say they are a mystery even to many town councilors who are not on the Finance Committee. That being said, the budget process is going on right now, with the...
Peter Demling: Leave decision on track to next board
A vote to abandon the current high school track and field project by rescinding the debt authorization for it is scheduled for the Dec. 12 meeting of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee. I’d ask the committee to consider that it would be best...
Nina M. Scott: Witness to history: Rosalynn Carter, JFK
Two events occurred this past week that reminded me of where I was when they happened.Nov. 22, 1963, the day JFK was assassinated, my husband Jim and I were in Lugano, working at the American School in Switzerland. It was already evening there when we...
Elissa Rubinstein: Columnists’ language did them no favors
In their Oct. 23 guest column, Katherine Appy and Adi Heller of Amherst Forward called for “optimism and collaboration” as local elections approach [“Let’s vote for optimism and collaboration”]. They correctly state “there’s a lot of divisiveness in...
Leslie Nyman: Save Medicare from corporate profiteers
More than half of Medicare beneficiaries now have for-profit corporations in charge of their care through Medicare Advantage plans. Insurance companies are well paid for these plans and much of that taxpayer money does not find its way to patient...
Michael Lawrence Levine: Need a new DPW, not a building
Regrettably, a major priority for everyone running for Amherst Town Council appears to be spending $30 million-plus on a new DPW building. With a DPW whose major credentials are destroying curbs while plowing and destroying neighborhoods with infinite...
