- Toni Cunningham on New Estimate Sees Library Construction $11.6M Over Budget. Trustees Consider Pledging Endowment To Cover Gap: “Ken Rosenthal is correct in that the total project cost (construction cost + soft costs) is estimated at around $50…” Aug 17, 10:03
- on Commemoration And Celebration Of Merry Maple Proposed: “At the Public Shade Tree Hearing on the Merry Maple, Britt Crow-Miller was clear that she would like the tree…” Aug 17, 09:47
- on Commemoration And Celebration Of Merry Maple Proposed: “If only people were as passionate about the the abhorrent working conditions of many town employees (e.g., walls of black…” Aug 15, 17:32
- on Opinion: When It Comes To Student Rentals, More Is Less: “I think it is wrong for landlords to charge per person, it drives the rent in town too high. I…” Aug 15, 12:18
- on Letter: Amherst’s Trash Handling System Is Too Costly And Harms The Environment: “Westfield population is 41,000 and its tax rate is lower than Amherst’s. Its DPW does its hauling. Of the 11…” Aug 15, 05:34
- on New Estimate Sees Library Construction $11.6M Over Budget. Trustees Consider Pledging Endowment To Cover Gap: “Let’s be clear that the project’s total increase is not $11.6 million. It’s $13.6 million. The official “Jones Library Building…” Aug 14, 22:46
- on Commemoration And Celebration Of Merry Maple Proposed: “Ditto Don! Thanks! We don’t need commemorations but salvation of dear Merry Maple now. Keep the tree! Save our MM,…” Aug 14, 18:58
- on Letter: Amherst’s Trash Handling System Is Too Costly And Harms The Environment: “Is the population of Westfield and its tax base higher than Amherst? This could have contributed to the lower cost.…” Aug 14, 16:18
- on Letter: Where Has This Worked? A Question For CRC As They Prepare To Deregulate The Number Of Unrelated People Who Can Live in One House: “The question that Ira asks here is a very pragmatic one, irrespective of ones views on development and housing. I…” Aug 14, 13:49
- on New Estimate Sees Library Construction $11.6M Over Budget. Trustees Consider Pledging Endowment To Cover Gap: “Perhaps a deep-pocketed “Brother” in the neighborhood “could spare a dime”? https://www.reachhighscholars.org/college_endowments.html” Aug 13, 21:25
- on Commemoration And Celebration Of Merry Maple Proposed: “OK, take the tree, but leave the parking lot!” Aug 13, 18:16
- on New Estimate Sees Library Construction $11.6M Over Budget. Trustees Consider Pledging Endowment To Cover Gap: ““Board President Austin Sarat instructed Library Director Sharon Sharry not to record the meeting.” This sentence leaped out at me.…” Aug 13, 09:44
- on New Estimate Sees Library Construction $11.6M Over Budget. Trustees Consider Pledging Endowment To Cover Gap: “The Jones project looks to be a “canary in the coal mine” for our town’s aggressive capital program. How much…” Aug 13, 09:28
- on Commemoration And Celebration Of Merry Maple Proposed: “The author’s good intentions miss the point that trees need ongoing care during their lifetime, not memorials after they are…” Aug 13, 09:20
- on New Estimate Sees Library Construction $11.6M Over Budget. Trustees Consider Pledging Endowment To Cover Gap: “Costs have risen and fund-raising is way below budget and the Library Board is considering spending the endowment to fill…” Aug 13, 09:06
- on Commemoration And Celebration Of Merry Maple Proposed: “I love the thoughts on ways to let the Merry Maple live on into the future. My suggestion is to…” Aug 13, 08:43
- on Opinion: When It Comes To Student Rentals, More Is Less: “Thank you for this insight, it is thought provoking.” Aug 11, 16:19
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Nuttingville: “Hetty, so enjoyed this article! It took me back to my copy of ‘W.H. Atkins, ‘Leave the Light Burning, South…” Aug 9, 15:01
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Nuttingville: “One correction – the “Greek Revival home, once the dwelling of Truman Nutting,” has a *detached* barn with a lantern.…” Aug 8, 19:33
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Nuttingville: “Thank you Hilda for the information about how the Nutting Apartments were named.” Aug 8, 19:29
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Nuttingville: “Hello to Rob – My advice is to start with this document by Shannon Walsh, who spoke recently with the…” Aug 8, 10:01
- on Opinion: Town Councilors Blatantly Misrepresent My Views While Rejecting My Application To Serve On ZBA: “Advocates of a town-council form of government promised to free the citizens of Amherst from the tyranny of Town Meeting,…” Aug 7, 16:30
- on Opinion: Volunteer In Amherst – If You Dare: “Huzzah, huzzah, Sarah! The (relatively superficial) “oxymoronic situation” mentioned above indeed stems from this (much deeper) inconsistency with the Massachusetts…” Aug 6, 17:25
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Nuttingville: “Thanks, Hetty Startup (hey, is that a nom d’plume?! ;-)! After giving a short talk last weekend (at the Mass…” Aug 6, 17:11
- on Second Private Dorm Proposed For Olympia Drive: “As proponents of the expanded Olympia Drive project seek waivers from the Amherst Planning Board other aspects of the zoning…” Aug 6, 15:50
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Nuttingville: “Brava, Hetty! The John Nutting for whom the apartments are named lived on Pine Street In North Amherst. He was…” Aug 6, 14:07
- on Issues & Analyses: Public Libraries Are Shedding Books And Losing Visitors – So Why Do We Make Them Bigger?: “Thank you, Jeff Lee, and Michael Greenbaum, for persisting in writing about why the current library plan is a monumental…” Aug 6, 13:23
- on Issues & Analyses: Public Libraries Are Shedding Books And Losing Visitors – So Why Do We Make Them Bigger?: “Thank you. I have wondered what evidence there is that supports library use growth as opposed to the decline which…” Aug 6, 12:26
- on Opinion: Volunteer In Amherst – If You Dare: “Thanks, Michael, for your lucid analysis. You point to a critical deficiency in this Charter that I think has so…” Aug 6, 11:05
- on Issues & Analyses: Public Libraries Are Shedding Books And Losing Visitors – So Why Do We Make Them Bigger?: “Jeff’s question is somewhat rhetorical, but the new circumstances raised by escalating costs make it reasonable to ask even now.…” Aug 6, 09:52
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Nuttingville: “Many thanks to Hetty Startup for this exciting new series of explorations of Amherst’s buildings and neighborhoods. This is not…” Aug 6, 09:18
- on Town Manager Will Decide On Fate Of Merry Maple: “It’s beyond me why there is zero discussion of the value of older trees in natural carbon capture in the…” Aug 6, 08:04
- on Planning Department Suggests Making Covid Measures For Restaurants Permanent. Residents Of The Meadows Close To Resolution Of Road Dispute With Developer: “Please supply periodic updates on the structural analysis of the Boltwood garage and its ability to support additional floors for…” Aug 6, 08:01
- on Town Council Scuttles Varner Appointment To ZBA, Approves CPA Borrowing For High School Track, Hears Complaint About Amherst Police Engagement With BIPOC Youth: “I’ve considered several times the argument made by an Amherst town councilor, why to not vote for a certain Amherst…” Aug 3, 16:43
- on School Building Committee Reviews HVAC Options: “UPDATE REGARDING EVERSOURCE INCENTIVE FOR GSHP A document was recently posted to the Net Zero SubComittee’s packet for this coming…” Aug 2, 13:46
- on Planning Department Suggests Making Covid Measures For Restaurants Permanent. Residents Of The Meadows Close To Resolution Of Road Dispute With Developer: “Will the “uncollected $10,000 per lot” be collected now from the remaining lot owners? Some neighborhoods of “lesser-means” have been…” Aug 1, 20:25
- on Opinion: Volunteer In Amherst – If You Dare: “Wasn’t one of the abstainers also a framer of the charter)? Surely she can explain this seemingly oxymoronic situation….” Aug 1, 20:13
- on Viability Of Four Building Projects Called Into Question As Library Awaits Cost Estimates: “Is the Jones Library, Inc., eligible to float (tax exempt) bonds on its own? If so, the broader bond market…” Aug 1, 20:04
- on School Building Committee Reviews HVAC Options: “The many benefits enumerated here for a ground source heat pump system are further enhanced by the quality of the…” Aug 1, 19:07
- on Opinion: Town Councilors Blatantly Misrepresent My Views While Rejecting My Application To Serve On ZBA: “If a person abstains from voting then he or she is not voting. So it’s unreasonable to interpret an abstention…” Jul 31, 16:14
- on Opinion: Town Councilors Blatantly Misrepresent My Views While Rejecting My Application To Serve On ZBA: “I, too, found the discussion about Mr. Varner’s application appalling and disturbing. It is no wonder that vacancies continue unfilled.…” Jul 30, 17:33
- on Community Safety Committee Calls On Town Council To Respond To Police Harassment Of BIPOC Youth, Address Full Slate Of CSWG Recommendations: “Thanks to the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) for its measured response to this disturbing incident. It must…” Jul 30, 13:17
- on Opinion: Town Councilors Blatantly Misrepresent My Views While Rejecting My Application To Serve On ZBA: “I watched the tape of the Council meeting in question over again last night, spurred by the coverage both here…” Jul 28, 21:14
- on Changing Economic Conditions Result In Revision Of Capital Plan : “Don’t forget the black mold at the DPW Headquarters Petunia Clarke” Jul 28, 11:12
- on Opinion: Town Councilors Blatantly Misrepresent My Views While Rejecting My Application To Serve On ZBA: “I realize TC came into being at a difficult time (the beginning of Covid), and figuring out how it should…” Jul 27, 08:58
- on Opinion: Town Councilors Blatantly Misrepresent My Views While Rejecting My Application To Serve On ZBA: “What is gained by this clumsy maneuver to yet again keep certain views off the planning board, zoning board of…” Jul 26, 17:27
- on AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst: “Oh the Memories!! Thank you AJ Hasitings! Looking back over the span of over fifty years to my time at…” Jul 20, 17:01
- on Jo Comerford, ACLU Push For Permanent Remote Access To Public Meetings: “After a one-day lapse, Town government meetings may once again be remote: On July 16, 2022, Governor Baker signed into…” Jul 18, 04:02
- on AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst: “It is hard to sum up my thoughts about Hastings. Mary and Sharon gave me a job, and let me…” Jul 14, 13:46
- on Planning Board Approves Changes To Dog Park Plans And New Mixed-use Building At 446 Main Street : “Regarding the idea of one town employee making decisions on granting building and demolition permits and waivers, without any abutter…” Jul 13, 16:41
- on Building Committee Learns From Three Library Visits: “Thanks, Matt, for pointing out your involvement in the Stockbridge Library renovation. In a description of the project, Allegrone Construction…” Jul 10, 17:18
- on Building Committee Learns From Three Library Visits: “Stockbridge was an expansion and rehabilitation. Significant space was added to the rear of the building. And for disclosure purposes,…” Jul 9, 12:03
- on Opinion: Women’s Rights, Guns, and Reforming the Supreme Court: “The Judiciary Procedures Reform Act of 1937 would have let the President appoint as many as 6 additional Associate Supreme…” Jul 2, 19:46
- on Town Council Allocates $2 Million For Reparations: “I have a question about the logic used by the National Park Service in deciding the $827,000 Federal Land and…” Jul 2, 17:46
- on Letter: There’s A Better Way To Collect Trash That Can Save Residents Money While Helping To Save The Planet: “I second Laura’s thanks! Here’s what I just sent to the Town Council: I enthusiastically support the Zero Waste Amherst…” Jul 2, 13:58
- on Controversy Continues To Plague Town Council Appointments: “I agree that boards like the zba should not have members that are rigid and uncooperative, but I sense neither…” Jul 2, 12:47
- on Letter: It’s Time To Step Up And Save Democracy: “Thank you, Dinah! I have been so discouraged that my Vote Forward letters encouraging folks to use the ballot box…” Jul 2, 12:41
- on Controversy Continues To Plague Town Council Appointments: “Hanneke self-deprecatingly bemoans the lack of effective recruitment of volunteers for town positions, claims the well-qualified John Varner will not…” Jul 2, 12:30
- on Public Comment: Proposal For Trash Hauler Reform Gains Public Support, Deserves Thorough Consideration By Town Council: “I was so happy to see Darcy Dumont’s letter in the Amherst Bulletin. I had spoken to Pam Rooney several…” Jul 2, 11:50
- on Letter: There’s A Better Way To Collect Trash That Can Save Residents Money While Helping To Save The Planet: “Love it! Thanks for doing the work to give this a shot.” Jul 2, 11:36
- on Public Comment: Proposal For Trash Hauler Reform Gains Public Support, Deserves Thorough Consideration By Town Council: “I fully support this plan. The town should do a single negotiation with the hauler. Efficiencies will increase, recycling improve,…” Jul 2, 10:35
- on Letter: Amherst’s Residential Taxes Are Too High: “Dear Mr. Silverstein, I sympathize with your personal property tax situation, and I’m sorry that you find yourself caught in…” Jul 2, 09:39
- on Controversy Continues To Plague Town Council Appointments: “It should be noted that Special Permits approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals are for projects that are not…” Jul 2, 09:18
- on Opinion: Women’s Rights, Guns, and Reforming the Supreme Court: “Russ– Great commentary. Summarizes situaltion perfectly. Jeff Lee got me reading Amherst Indy– a terrific contribution to the town. Best…” Jul 2, 07:02
- on AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst: “When I had a store, the nicest thing any customer said to me was “you know why I shop here…” Jun 28, 17:48
- on AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst: “For over 50 years, Hastings has held a special place in my heart. When I moved to Amherst in 1970,…” Jun 28, 09:30
- on Letter: A Letter To America: “Thank you, Amy Sophia Marashinsky, Shel Horowitz, and Rob Kusner, for the support. We and our allies ARE the posse!…” Jun 27, 23:23
- on Almanac: The Planets Align: “Thanks for that report Rob! I’ve been missing my chances to see the moon as part of the line-up. Next…” Jun 27, 09:57
- on Elementary School Building Committee Approves Schematic Report. Project Moves Forward: “Thanks for reading and commenting, Rob. As we move into the Schematic Design phase, the decisions about the building design…” Jun 27, 09:35
- on Almanac: The Planets Align: “I went out around 4:30 this morning: the waning crescent Moon with bright Venus about 2° to the west (like…” Jun 26, 23:45
- on Elementary School Building Committee Approves Schematic Report. Project Moves Forward: “Thanks for the update, Maria. One nice thing about the Fort River site is it substantial size, which would allow…” Jun 25, 21:53
- on Letter: A Letter To America: “I was thinking of Aristophanes’s Lysistrata yesterday (starting about 10:30AM EDT), but now I’m thinking about joining Dinah Kudatsky’s posse!…” Jun 25, 20:00
- on AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst: “Hastings is a gathering place for the community. It is also one of the few stores in town where one…” Jun 25, 12:33
- on AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst: “Hastings is how I think of Amherst. The identity of the town will surely change. I am very sorry to…” Jun 25, 10:02
- on Photo Of The Week: Reflections At Buffam Falls By Annique Boomsma: “Thank you Art! Nature is such a refuge, we are truly blessed being able to live in this lovely area!…” Jun 25, 09:27
- on AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst: “My husband had always told his kids, grandkids and great grandkids how as a kid, he used to sit on…” Jun 25, 09:24
- on AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst: “This is so sad. Hastings has always been like a rock of normalcy to us. With the town undergoing so…” Jun 25, 07:32
- on Opinion: Watch – Emily Tells It Straight And Slant About Housing In Amherst: “The “… unkempt/… verklemmt” rhyme is worthy of W.S. Gilbert, and D. Stander belts it out beautifully, albeit a cappella…” Jun 19, 11:18
- on Letter: Town Policies Need To Value Year-round Permanent Residents: “I am one of the older readers whom Ken Rosenthal mentions in his letter, and I do indeed remember the…” Jun 19, 09:36
- on Opinion: Watch – Emily Tells It Straight And Slant About Housing In Amherst: “right on! you tell it straight. You are also a fantastic poet.” Jun 18, 18:17
- on Photo Essay: Maintaining Continuity With The Past. Groundbreaking For The North Amherst Library Expansion And Renovation: “Three cheers for the anonymous donor! And three cheers for the designers who recognize the importance of historic preservation! And…” Jun 18, 10:09
- on Photo Essay: Maintaining Continuity With The Past. Groundbreaking For The North Amherst Library Expansion And Renovation: “It was truly a joyous community event much appreciated by all who attended. I felt it duly honored the generous…” Jun 17, 18:06
- on Photo Essay: Maintaining Continuity With The Past. Groundbreaking For The North Amherst Library Expansion And Renovation: “This is a beautiful project, sensitively done to the original library’s look. Many thanks to the donor’s generosity and thoughtfulness.…” Jun 17, 15:06
- on Opinion: Watch – Emily Tells It Straight And Slant About Housing In Amherst: “you can email the planning board at planning@amherstma.gov and the town council, post a public comment at https://www.amherstma.gov/councilcomments and the…” Jun 16, 14:03
- on New Documentary: ‘There’s Always Something To Be Done’: How The Janes Provided Illegal Abortions Before Roe: “We watched this last night and heartily recommend it. For those who were around in the 60’s it offers a…” Jun 15, 19:55
- on Participants At School Building Forum Appear To Favor Fort River Site: “Have the architects read their maps wrong? The illustration of the buildings with rooftop PV shows them sloping to the…” Jun 14, 22:08
- on Library Committee Considers Metal Exterior On New Addition. Space For Civil War Tablets In Limbo: “Pardon my bad ears, Anika. You said “committee” and I heard “community.” It’s great that we have online broadcasts and…” Jun 13, 12:41
- on Library Committee Considers Metal Exterior On New Addition. Space For Civil War Tablets In Limbo: “Thank you for the clarification, Jeff Lee. The Civil War Tablets have been included in the building design for years,…” Jun 13, 08:14
- on Library Committee Considers Metal Exterior On New Addition. Space For Civil War Tablets In Limbo: “Metal siding will add to the Quonset hut-like appearance of the new additions. Ugh.” Jun 12, 18:23
- on Library Committee Considers Metal Exterior On New Addition. Space For Civil War Tablets In Limbo: “CORRECTION/UPDATE: I missed seeing that the Civil War Tablets are in fact depicted in the most recent schematic design document,…” Jun 12, 13:22
- on Almanac: The Planets Align: “Wow! There are few opportunities for naked-eye celestial observation that reveal the deep sky, shifting our perspective from the 2-dimensional…” Jun 11, 18:26
- on Library Committee Considers Metal Exterior On New Addition. Space For Civil War Tablets In Limbo: “The designs for the Jones addition continue from bad to worse!! As to the Civil War Tablets being located there,…” Jun 11, 09:06
- on The Food Desert That Is Amherst: “To give you an idea of the modest pricing at Amherst’s Mobile Market, at last week’s Groff Park marketplace those…” Jun 11, 08:10
- on Opinion: Local and Green. Introducing The Amherst Climate Alliance: “It’s good to learn about the formation of ACA and the effort to help the town reach its ambitious goals…” Jun 11, 07:30
- on Opinion: Council Needs To Step In On Conversion Of Homes To Student Housing: “To Simon Peter Alciere: If your remarks were directed toward me, I take exception. I do not have a ‘nasty…” Jun 11, 07:21
- on Opinion: Council Needs To Step In On Conversion Of Homes To Student Housing: “How refreshing. Instead of hiding the nasty attitude and prejudice against college students, somebody comes right out says what they…” Jun 10, 21:50
- on Opinion: Council Needs To Step In On Conversion Of Homes To Student Housing: “As someone looking for a home in the town of Amherst because our kids already go to the schools, we…” Jun 10, 20:37
- on Hornik Ends Term As Chair Of Affordable Housing Trust: “John did an amazing job-no surprise to anyone who knows. All of Amherst benefitted. Many thanks!” Jun 10, 18:47