- Jeff Lee on Council Denies Funding For Artificial Turf At High School: “Some say that turf fields are fantastic — Fairly cheap, if a bit inelastic, No fuss in all weather though…” Nov 29, 13:58
- on Nantucket School Committee Undertakes Rigorous Evaluation Of PFAS Risks In Synthetic Turf Fields: “Thanks Toni, I wholeheartedly agree. The island of Nantucket demonstrated last winter how a town does proper due diligence in…” Nov 28, 19:41
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Native Lands Connected By Water: “Link here to an NEPM Connecting Point story: ” If you’ve been to the Native Hall at the Springfield Science…” Nov 28, 19:33
- on Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple: “Thank you, Rob, for your memories of Nonny. Yes, her devotion to trees was matched by her devotion to democracy…” Nov 28, 19:01
- on Nantucket School Committee Undertakes Rigorous Evaluation Of PFAS Risks In Synthetic Turf Fields: “This type of forum that Nantucket held is exactly what should have happened in Amherst before any decision to go…” Nov 28, 11:13
- on Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple: “Thank you, Josna, for your heartfelt remembrance of Nonny! I first got to know her as one of Wöden’s teachers/paras…” Nov 28, 10:36
- on Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple: “Thank you, for your comments, Don, and for your own earlier piece about the Merry Maple. Yes, as you say,…” Nov 27, 12:33
- on Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple: “Dear Elisa, Thank you for your comments and for the correction that the trees atop Mt. Pollux weren’t “twins”. I…” Nov 27, 12:28
- on Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple: “Thank you, Anne, for your loving remembrance of Nonny and for your encouragement. -J” Nov 26, 22:36
- on Citizens Advocate For Spending Priorities At Annual Budget Forum. Council Approves 4.4% Tax Hike: ““Mew has advised that split tax rates are generally only adopted in municipalities with at least 30% of properties being…” Nov 26, 20:41
- on Council Denies Funding For Artificial Turf At High School: “Just because we feared food sticking to our pots and pans, or too lazy to scrub them when we finished…” Nov 26, 20:20
- on Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple: “I wish this didn’t happen. Town Manager, councilors, tree arborist know my permanent environmental comments, suggestions and solutions for the…” Nov 26, 15:25
- on Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple: “In the photo of the Common from 1882 I see 2 trees on the North Common in the general area…” Nov 26, 12:57
- on Council Denies Funding For Artificial Turf At High School: “…”I feel like there’s been great attempts to manipulate emotion.” E.g., “He added that the Hurricane Boosters have made it…” Nov 26, 11:21
- on Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple: “Thanks for your thoughtful words about the utterly unnecessary destruction of a legacy tree. As I noted previously, “The Merry…” Nov 26, 10:41
- on COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of November 23, 2022: “Art is absolutely right that current measures understate the effect of Covid because people do not receive proper health care…” Nov 26, 09:18
- on Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple: “Dear Josna, I loved reading your tribute to Nonnie Burak. I knew her for years and learned so very much…” Nov 26, 07:29
- on Council Denies Funding For Artificial Turf At High School: “Watershed Tracy K. Smith – 1972- https://poets.org/poem/watershed 200 cows more than 600 hilly acres property would have been even larger…” Nov 25, 19:39
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: From Hope To Zion. Forward Onto Freedom: “One more resource for this subject, pertaining to the Valley is https://www.gazettenet.com/Digging-into-the-past-Historic-Northampton-researches-history-of-slavery-in-the-city-48630149?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The+Valley+Advocate&utm_campaign=GZ+Valley+Advocate+11%2F24” Nov 24, 17:11
- on Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog: The School Committee Failed To Discuss The Issue Of PFAS In Artificial Turf: “This field is adjacent to (or perhaps lies above?) the Tan Brook: Is there any remedy before the Amherst Conservation…” Nov 22, 21:55
- on Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog: The School Committee Failed To Discuss The Issue Of PFAS In Artificial Turf: “Thank you, Jennifer. The dedication, the thought, and the effort that goes into these decisions and deliberations is underappreciated. Please…” Nov 22, 19:27
- on President of Trustees Defends Jones Library Space Planning Efforts: “In the scores of Jones’ meetings which I attended between 2016 and 2021, I at no time heard any reference…” Nov 22, 16:09
- on Opinion: Why Is The Town Of Amherst Still Called Amherst?: “Why not a name that indigenous people used? How, in our enlightened and progressive community, can we continue to label…” Nov 21, 18:13
- on Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog: The School Committee Failed To Discuss The Issue Of PFAS In Artificial Turf: “How refreshing Jennifer! Putting aside the sad state that decisions regarding the health and safety of others (even in the,…” Nov 21, 17:03
- on Issue & Analyses: There Is A Safe And More Affordable Alternative To Toxic Synthetic Turf: “Williamstown MA school committee recently went through the same decision making process. After years of investigation and discussion, the school…” Nov 21, 11:51
- on Issue & Analyses: There Is A Safe And More Affordable Alternative To Toxic Synthetic Turf: “Two members of the Regional School Committee (Margaret Stancer of Pelham and Jennifer Shiao of Amherst) said at their meeting…” Nov 21, 11:30
- on Issue & Analyses: There Is A Safe And More Affordable Alternative To Toxic Synthetic Turf: “What did they know and when did they know it? The question needs to be asked of the Amherst Schools…” Nov 21, 09:56
- on Opinion: Felling Of Merry Maple Was Premature, Lamentable: “It’s a shameful day for this community that we put to death a living thing in order to rebuild with…” Nov 21, 09:31
- on Opinion: Why Is The Town Of Amherst Still Called Amherst?: ““Norwottuck” is a close approximation to what this area was called by its residents 400 years ago. And much of…” Nov 21, 00:34
- on Textiles and Mattresses Banned From Massachusetts Trash Disposal Sites: “If I’m not mistaken, the collections at the schools also raise money for the schools!” Nov 20, 19:03
- on Textiles and Mattresses Banned From Massachusetts Trash Disposal Sites: “There are textile drop off bins in every public school in Amherst” Nov 20, 11:35
- on Opinion: Why Is The Town Of Amherst Still Called Amherst?: “There have been at least three efforts in recent years to change the name of the Town of Amherst to…” Nov 20, 09:52
- on Opinion: Felling Of Merry Maple Was Premature, Lamentable: “Thanks Don, and John. You’re so right and I always agree with wise and smart opinions for the common good.…” Nov 20, 00:54
- on Opinion: Felling Of Merry Maple Was Premature, Lamentable: “We could have stopped this execution from happening. There was no need for us to lose the Merry Maple. Many…” Nov 20, 00:02
- on Issues & Analyses: Mode Shift: Supporting Sustainable Equitable Transportation: “Good start: looking forward to more — words and action — in the future! P.S. My comment on the upcoming…” Nov 19, 22:28
- on Ride Free On PVTA, 11/25 to 12/25: “While it’s good to try this for a month, it’s even better to do this for several years! That’s because…” Nov 19, 22:14
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Native Lands Connected By Water: “Thanks so much, Hetty, for expanding our understanding!” Nov 19, 21:35
- on President of Trustees Defends Jones Library Space Planning Efforts: “This week Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced by a federal judge in California to more than 11 years in federal prison…” Nov 19, 21:15
- on New Book Explores Historic Stained Glass Windows At Grace Episcopal Church: “This is wonderful additional local history to have at our fingertips. Thank you!” Nov 19, 11:31
- on Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Celebrates Solar Array On Capped Landfill: “Bravo. But why do energy projects in the USA (and especially Amherst) take so long to do? The Chinese would…” Nov 19, 10:40
- on Opinion: Felling Of Merry Maple Was Premature, Lamentable: “Those in power in Amherst are using it to sell out the town’s New England appeal for short term gain…” Nov 19, 00:13
- on President of Trustees Defends Jones Library Space Planning Efforts: “I would very much like to hear from individuals mentioned by Austin Sarat as having been members of the Board…” Nov 18, 22:29
- on Town Manager Apologizes About July 5 Incident And Lack Of Town Response. Council Divided On Steps To Take: “Thank you very much for this careful report, Maura. As a former federal prosecutor, I remain appalled that any sworn…” Nov 17, 16:17
- on Opinion: Why Is The Town Of Amherst Still Called Amherst?: “it’s an abomination that any city, town, county, or street etc. be named after this man. ni it’s a tangible…” Nov 15, 22:42
- on Letter: It’s Time To Fund Town’s Climate Action Goals: “Tree planting is good…..but how about the preservation & protection of existing trees?? If the coming ill-conceived demise of the…” Nov 15, 17:14
- on Opinion: Why Is The Town Of Amherst Still Called Amherst?: “You might be onto something, Ira. If Amherst were to inherit Hadley’s tax rate, the annual tax bill for the…” Nov 15, 15:56
- on Opinion: Why Is The Town Of Amherst Still Called Amherst?: “I’m only half kidding in suggesting we explore reuniting with Hadley, so not only might we collaborate on such things…” Nov 15, 13:17
- on Questions Surround Planned Building Project Tax Override: “While this post questions the use of the word “temporary” to describe debt exclusions that may affect the tax levy…” Nov 15, 11:57
- on Finally! Council Votes For Parking Changes On Lincoln Avenue.: “The document also states that: (3) All products used in public spaces should have minimum contamination by PFAS and toxic…” Nov 14, 11:56
- on Finally! Council Votes For Parking Changes On Lincoln Avenue.: “Paul Bockelman misspoke when he said that the safety of synthetic turf was not a priority for the Amherst Board…” Nov 14, 10:57
- on Opinion: Minimize Financial Pain To Residents In Order To Maximize The Chance Of Success Of The School Building Project: “You make a lot of sense, Maria. I believe that expecting the citizens of Amherst to voluntarily agree to roughly…” Nov 13, 23:25
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Native Lands Connected By Water: “Hello Indy readers: Some follow up comments about this article: first, thank you to John Gerber and Rita Burke for…” Nov 13, 20:36
- on A Few Questions For Sean Mangano And Kim Mew About Property Taxes And The Possibility Of A Reduction For Owner-occupied Residences: “An increase in property expenses certainly won’t lead to lower rent prices. All properties are different and it will be…” Nov 13, 15:21
- on A Few Questions For Sean Mangano And Kim Mew About Property Taxes And The Possibility Of A Reduction For Owner-occupied Residences: “And, again, perhaps start by creating a priority list. Put this issue near the top while moving comparatively less urgent…” Nov 12, 16:24
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Native Lands Connected By Water: “Dear Hetty Startup, You are a treasure. Thank you for your contributions-always a highlight of any “Indy” issue making us…” Nov 12, 11:33
- on A Few Questions For Sean Mangano And Kim Mew About Property Taxes And The Possibility Of A Reduction For Owner-occupied Residences: “It seems that rents for students are based on what the traffic will bear, with prices anchored by what outside…” Nov 12, 11:09
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Native Lands Connected By Water: “Thanks so much for Hetty Startup’s article on Native Lands and especially for the recognition that “Indian ‘wars’ are still…” Nov 12, 08:19
- on A Few Questions For Sean Mangano And Kim Mew About Property Taxes And The Possibility Of A Reduction For Owner-occupied Residences: “The explanation of the exemption is very helpful. Thanks. The main effect of the exemption is a generally progressive shift…” Nov 12, 08:18
- on CSSJC Raises Concerns About Cameras In New Elementary School And Failure Of Town To Resolve July 5 Incident: “Aren’t 2 of the committee members employees/ former employees of the University of Massachusetts where over 1,600 cameras have been…” Nov 11, 19:05
- on Defund413 Amherst Hosts Forum On Imagining “Amherst Without Cops”: “I don’t want want to live in a town without police. Amherst has good police officers. Living in a college…” Nov 9, 16:02
- on A Few Questions For Sean Mangano And Kim Mew About Property Taxes And The Possibility Of A Reduction For Owner-occupied Residences: “I hear a lot about owners of rental properties passing tax increases along to tenants, but much less about rent…” Nov 8, 08:37
- on A Few Questions For Sean Mangano And Kim Mew About Property Taxes And The Possibility Of A Reduction For Owner-occupied Residences: “After this interview (and after being contacted by some worried Amherst residents), I learned that according to some law firms…” Nov 8, 07:01
- on “Mojuba” Event Honoring African Ancestors Will Feature Discussion Of Amherst’s Reparations Efforts: “Please allow me to clarify that Ancestral Bridges has held public events in Amherst that honor Black ancestors. This Mojuba…” Nov 7, 23:48
- on Plans For Private Dorm On Olympia Drive Progress. Changes To Flood Plain Maps Accepted.: “You are indeed remembering correctly. See the attached amherstma.gov document for 50 years of parking history and plans in downtown…” Nov 7, 19:16
- on A Few Questions For Sean Mangano And Kim Mew About Property Taxes And The Possibility Of A Reduction For Owner-occupied Residences: “With regards to the residential exemption, the presentation from Kim Mew and Sean Mangano indicated that residential properties that are…” Nov 7, 06:49
- on Letter: Retired Teacher Questions The Integrity Of Hiring Processes In Amherst Public Schools: “I understand the Superintendent had the letter scrubbed from the schools’ site.” Nov 6, 09:28
- on Historical Commission Ponders Former Library Trustee Letter. MBLC Nets Small Gain In New Bill: “Is the Amherst Historical Commission empowered to act based on the perceived intentions of critics? or should it evaluate the…” Nov 6, 09:09
- on Town Awarded $75,000 To Develop Downtown Streetscape Standards: “I hope the Amherst Planning Department Staff notices that according to the picture of Traverse City, Mich., published with this…” Nov 6, 09:05
- on UMass Amherst Makes Princeton Review’s Top ‘Green Colleges’ List For Seventh Consecutive Year: “Given UMass Amherst’s embrace of Mass Timber and woody biomass, both spelling disaster for our natural carbon capturing forests in…” Nov 6, 06:51
- on Letter: Retired Teacher Questions The Integrity Of Hiring Processes In Amherst Public Schools: “Really? Interviewers on school hiring committees do not see a candidate’s resume before, or apparently, even after the interview? This…” Nov 5, 16:26
- on Historical Commission Ponders Former Library Trustee Letter. MBLC Nets Small Gain In New Bill: “One might also think it appropriate for the Amherst Historical Commission (AHC) to evaluate the Jones Library’s demolition/construction designs now,…” Nov 5, 13:31
- on Plans For Private Dorm On Olympia Drive Progress. Changes To Flood Plain Maps Accepted.: “My recollection of the Boltwood garage is that it was designed to be expanded with upper stories…..am I misremembering? If…” Nov 5, 09:38
- on Historical Commission Ponders Former Library Trustee Letter. MBLC Nets Small Gain In New Bill: “In reference to the Jones library Oct 31 news highlights, it is ironic that J. Marquardt characterizes S. McKee as…” Nov 5, 09:17
- on Letter: Retired Teacher Questions The Integrity Of Hiring Processes In Amherst Public Schools: “Thank you for bringing this to the community. It seems to me that transparency and integrity is lacking within the…” Nov 5, 08:24
- on Marathon Session Of Town Council Produces No Action On July 5 Police Incident: “This is a quote from a column by an Amherst resident, published in the Gazette in March of 2018: “I…” Nov 5, 00:07
- on Letter: Retired Teacher Questions The Integrity Of Hiring Processes In Amherst Public Schools: “Thank you. Finally someone is sparking up.” Nov 4, 21:39
- on Town Awarded $75,000 To Develop Downtown Streetscape Standards: “I noted the reference to Amherst’s “growing tourism industry”. Is this just fluff, or is there in fact some evidence…” Nov 4, 20:43
- on Marathon Session Of Town Council Produces No Action On July 5 Police Incident: “I dozed off about four hours into the proceedings and had to cover the final two hours from the recording.…” Nov 4, 17:18
- on Marathon Session Of Town Council Produces No Action On July 5 Police Incident: “…”councilors began to complain about the late hour and about no longer being able to think straight”… One has to…” Nov 4, 16:57
- on Zero Waste Amherst Encourages The Town To Not Install Synthetic Turf On High School Athletic Fields: “I hope we are also as equally concerned about non-stick cookware in town (both residentially and commercially): https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2022/10/31/not-so-tough-teflon/ Marcus Smith” Nov 3, 10:07
- on Zero Waste Amherst Encourages The Town To Not Install Synthetic Turf On High School Athletic Fields: “In addition to the issue of PFAS chemicals and toxicity, a number of studies have shown that players are at…” Oct 31, 21:28
- on Zero Waste Amherst Encourages The Town To Not Install Synthetic Turf On High School Athletic Fields: “I agree that athletic fields (as well as buildings) have a poor history of maintenance in Amherst. However, this is…” Oct 31, 08:10
- on Zero Waste Amherst Encourages The Town To Not Install Synthetic Turf On High School Athletic Fields: “Forever Chemicals are to be avoided of course but I can assure you that a natural turf investment at ARPS…” Oct 30, 16:24
- on Opinion: The Shoulders We Stand On: “I am curious why Councilor Lopes and Dr. Whitaker would not rebuke the germane topic of police misconduct raised by…” Oct 30, 09:28
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “When convinced of the righteousness and correctness of one’s cause, the temptation to selectively edit out those aspects of reality…” Oct 29, 16:25
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “Nina, We were just about to submit the same request. Not only is the too costly and destructive (on so…” Oct 29, 11:58
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “Thank you, Jeff Lee! Can we get this published in the Gazette, the Amherst Bulletin? In this age of wanton…” Oct 29, 10:59
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “Good question, Rob, about how to bring some public responsibility to the Jones Library Trustees and Director. The library zealots…” Oct 29, 10:42
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “The Jones Trustees objected to a requirement in the first draft MOA with the town that they create a committee…” Oct 29, 10:04
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “Wow, imagine if this 2015 professional space study outlining ways the Jones Library could reorganize its existing space to meet…” Oct 29, 09:39
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “The suppression of this report by the Jones Library Trustees and Director is at best a dereliction of duty. How…” Oct 29, 09:14
- on Amherst Alum Michael Elliot Named 20th President Of Amherst College: “Bio. at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-elliott-5054305 says “Assistant Professor, Emory University, Aug 1998 – Aug 2004.”” Oct 29, 06:35
- on Amherst Alum Michael Elliot Named 20th President Of Amherst College: “What did he do from 1998 to 2004?” Oct 28, 21:52
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “Holy moly, the investigative journalism to find the truth in the, perhaps intentionally deceptive, workings of JLT and JL Director…” Oct 28, 19:30
- on Letter: The Point Of Financial Models Is To Answer “What If” Questions. That’s Not What We’re Getting: “thank you Maria.” Oct 28, 17:59
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “This reminds me of a friend who runs a successful machine shop in greater Springfield. They were so successful they…” Oct 28, 17:56
- on Unpublished Jones Library Space Plan Proposes Alternatives To Costly Expansion: “thank you Jeff.” Oct 28, 17:41
- on Letter: Councilors Hanneke And Griesemer Need To Reflect On Their Role In Upholding White Supremacy: “Thank you Maria, Joanna, and Jennifer” Oct 27, 08:08
- on Assumptions About Major Building Projects Need To Be Revisited, Say Town Councilors: “Forgot to address Janet’s point. The model has been used so far by the town’s leaders with the goal of…” Oct 26, 19:44