- Julian Hynes on League of Women Voters Seeks Respondents For Survey On Town Charter: “I would happily sign a petition to bring back town meeting, even with a smaller number of representatives. When could…” Mar 20, 20:14
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “Meanwhile, many employees who “work” beyond their scheduled 37.5 hours a week receive time and a half (some with a…” Mar 19, 19:55
- on Library Leaders Disagree On Aiding Schools, Viability Of Building Project: “I question the veracity of the continued assertion that the town is only on the hook for $15.8 million for…” Mar 19, 16:37
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “For those who are wondering how teacher salaries compare with what other employees of the town of Amherst receive, here…” Mar 19, 14:45
- on League of Women Voters Seeks Respondents For Survey On Town Charter: “Your rigorous legal analysis of the new Amherst Home Rule Charter’s dubious constitutionality makes a lot of sense, Sarah. What…” Mar 19, 11:28
- on Hanneke Continues To Seek Limits On Public Discussion: “It appears that the public may have a better grasp of the proper use of the consent agenda than this…” Mar 19, 11:07
- on Hanneke Continues To Seek Limits On Public Discussion: “In other words, the person most responsible for Council and Committee meetings running so long is outraged about Council and…” Mar 19, 06:23
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “Thank you, Toni, for explaining the distinction between the library and town budgets and pointing out how town government regularly…” Mar 19, 02:37
- on Indy Adopts New Policies On Attribution: “This sounds like an excellent policy. The Indy continues to implement the highest standards of integrity and transparency. Thanks! Meg…” Mar 18, 21:33
- on League of Women Voters Seeks Respondents For Survey On Town Charter: “Hilda, We would gladly sign that petition, and this time ensure that one of our signatures would not rejected for…” Mar 18, 19:40
- on League of Women Voters Seeks Respondents For Survey On Town Charter: “My comments on the questionnaire were strongly negative. I have been trying to find suitable candidates to run for the…” Mar 18, 18:23
- on Hampshire College Offers Admission To All Students At New College Of Florida: “To what Rob writes, absolutely! It is the most imaginative and practical help that the New College students could receive.…” Mar 18, 13:26
- on League of Women Voters Seeks Respondents For Survey On Town Charter: “Kudos to the League of Women Voters for requesting Amherst residents’ feedback on our current Home Rule Charter! Here’s the…” Mar 18, 12:33
- on Hanneke Continues To Seek Limits On Public Discussion: “Councilor Hanneke’s relentless efforts to curtail public comment, putatively over her concern that it is responsible for the unwieldy length…” Mar 18, 11:09
- on Letter: Police Chief’s Retirement Is A Moment Of Opportunity For Amherst: “In the last 50 years there have been only 3 Amherst police chiefs, each having been an understudy of the…” Mar 18, 11:02
- on Hampshire College Offers Admission To All Students At New College Of Florida: “Having just returned from a visit with my first PhD student — a Hampshire grad, who’s now a professor of…” Mar 18, 09:55
- on Letter: Police Chief’s Retirement Is A Moment Of Opportunity For Amherst: “Amherst will be fortunate to find a new police chief as capable as Scott Livingstone.” Mar 18, 09:52
- on Photo Of The Week: After The Nor’easter. A Gallery By Sara Barber-Just: “These are beautiful!” Mar 18, 09:49
- on GZA Study: One Third Of Land In Amherst Can Support Solar Development: “Developing the remaining forests and meadows with solar projects will compromise the “protected” (wetland and APR) areas in the same…” Mar 18, 09:36
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “I’m wanting to take a step back here to see the bigger picture. Let’s remember that investing in educators is…” Mar 17, 22:21
- on School Committee Hears Robust Public Comment On FY24 Budget. Strong Opposition To Staffing Cuts: “With all the controversy about limiting public comments at Town Council meeting, it was refreshing to see the patience with…” Mar 17, 21:30
- on Letter: Retired Teacher Questions The Integrity Of Hiring Processes In Amherst Public Schools: “Toni: The email answer you got is very disheartening. I did not put my name forward for the MS Principal…” Mar 17, 13:54
- on Letter: Retired Teacher Questions The Integrity Of Hiring Processes In Amherst Public Schools: “Does anyone know if this same hiring practice is in place right now for the Middle School and Wildwood Principal…” Mar 17, 10:38
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “The average salary of all school employees, teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, janitors, the superintendent, etc is $56,500. I would the highest…” Mar 17, 08:44
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “Yes Jeff, if there were any savings on utility costs at the Jones then they would go to the library…” Mar 16, 15:16
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “True, Laura, that the Jones Library would benefit from sustainability improvements. But much better to avoid adding 15,000 sq. ft.…” Mar 16, 11:03
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “The library is a failing building that will cost more than 15 million to repair at a minimal level -…” Mar 15, 22:10
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “Yes, Jeff Lee! 100% agree!!!! “The School Committee should urge the Town Council to rescind the $35.3 million borrowing authorization…” Mar 13, 14:04
- on Letter: Too Many Unanswered Questions Concerning Proposed Zoning Bylaw: “At one meeting …Town Council Council members were stating that UMASS needed to provide housing for its students. Now about…” Mar 13, 00:19
- on Letter: The Jones Library Should Go To School: “As I commented in a reponse to an earlier issue, it appears the trustees did not pay attention to the…” Mar 12, 23:57
- on ZBA Approves Construction Of Two Family Home On West Street: “I absolutely agree with the 3 comments above. Why, if the petitioner has not abided by his permit stipulations, is…” Mar 12, 23:16
- on Regional Schools Facing A Difficult Budget Year: “Great question, John. Many, many towns across the state are facing this same challenge, and many are facing even larger…” Mar 12, 14:21
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “The figures about “Average Salary” for teachers do come from the DESE website (profiles.doe.mass.edu), and it is a straight calculation…” Mar 12, 13:59
- on Letter: The Jones Library Should Go To School: “David, you have touched on the root of the Jones Library demolition-expansion debacle — Amherst College “only the best” values…” Mar 12, 12:56
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “I can confirm where this “average $85,000” number comes from, and why it is false. This “average salary” statistic comes…” Mar 12, 12:51
- on Regional Schools Facing A Difficult Budget Year: “Thanks, Maura, for excellent, detailed reporting on the School Committee meetings, as well as the Town positions on their school…” Mar 12, 12:33
- on ZBA Approves Construction Of Two Family Home On West Street: “This is another reason why permitting should not be eased for development of non-owner occupied multifamily housing. Even the current…” Mar 12, 12:29
- on ZBA Approves Construction Of Two Family Home On West Street: “Second! James Murphy” Mar 12, 10:50
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “You need to stop saying that Amherst teachers average $85,000 a year. I don’t know where you found that statistic,…” Mar 11, 20:46
- on Photo Of The Week: Two Moonlit Views From Bare Mountain by Vira Douangmany Cage: “Beautiful!! Thanks for sharing. Tracy Zafian” Mar 11, 17:15
- on Letter: The Jones Library Should Go To School: “Yesterday, the NYTs wrote a long article about how Valaparaiso University in Indiana has decided to sell off a painting…” Mar 11, 14:41
- on Opinion: Amherst/Pelham Educators And Staff Are Valued: “I don’t envy your position, Ben, but there is a simple step that the School Committee can take. Join the…” Mar 11, 12:16
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “The Town has been discussing a South Amherst fire station since the North station was built in 1976! How is…” Mar 11, 11:45
- on Regional Schools Facing A Difficult Budget Year: “Thank you for this detailed account of the Amherst and Regional School Committee meetings. There are a couple of points…” Mar 11, 09:12
- on ZBA Approves Construction Of Two Family Home On West Street: “I make a motion that if a student landlord wants a special permit, but when granted one previously: • conditions…” Mar 11, 08:40
- on Age & Dementia-friendly Community Survey Produces Recommendations For Community Action Plan: “Seniors need money to keep their homes up and help with chores—and college students need affordable housing. What about a…” Mar 10, 18:34
- on Hitchcock Center Guide To Annual Spotted Salamander Migration: “This brings back such wonderful memories! When we first moved to Cushman there were no tunnels, but there were a…” Mar 10, 16:34
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Amherst’s Green Places: “The wonderful (but rather low res) photograph used as a thumbnail for this article of town common in c. 1903…” Mar 10, 10:19
- on Amherst History Month-by-Month: Amherst’s Green Places: “Here is more about Central Park and its significance as the place of the Lenape homelands and Seneca Village https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/central-park-came-seneca-village-black-community-hidden-heart-manhattan?fbclid=IwAR3Y6GyO3U-36Y_QX6JRYOo6MVrxDMahWk09FxjPDuO3ptwXBeQgyit6qTs” Mar 9, 11:26
- on Opinion: What It Means When Amherst Teachers Work To Rule: “When I think back on the richness of education I was afforded at Amherst back in the 1990’s, I know…” Mar 8, 22:52
- on Councilors And Residents Pan Proposal To Limit Public Comment: “I served on a town council for 10 years in a small Westchester County community. Every town council meeting opened…” Mar 8, 20:48
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “Janet, library construction bids are scheduled to be received by mid-February 2024. At that time the newly seated Town Council…” Mar 8, 08:05
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “Actually, Gerry, capital planning reports prior to 2019 list both the library and school being funded by a debt exclusion…” Mar 7, 23:27
- on Letter: Proposed Cuts Of Paraeducators Will Hurt School Libraries: “What a touching story, Allegra, about your son. And I think it is smart to make our K-12 libraries robust…” Mar 7, 13:11
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “Is there a date for the $16+ million to be raised for the Jones Library before the town borrows money…” Mar 7, 12:39
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “Thank you Jeff and Rob. I’ve always believed the strategy was to do the Library first without an override and…” Mar 7, 11:20
- on Letter: Please Support The Amherst Elementary School Project: “Being facetious here (I hope), but why build a new school if there will be no teachers to staff it?” Mar 7, 10:11
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “Seán & Rita raise an important question (about timing, and how that the Jones Library “jumped the line”). And perhaps…” Mar 7, 04:18
- on Opinion: What It Means When Amherst Teachers Work To Rule: “Cicero would be proud of Sara’s efforts here, and we should all be proud of the efforts Sara and her…” Mar 7, 03:38
- on Opinion: Hanneke’s Bid To Constrain Public Comment Is An Assault On Democracy: “As much as I admire Ira’s efforts to condense his own thoughts into an “elevator pitch” of at most 90-seconds,…” Mar 7, 03:17
- on Letter: Town’s Housing Policies Will Drive Away Small Local Landlords And Favor Big Companies: “Hear, hear, Renata — thank you!” Mar 7, 02:57
- on Opinion: Hanneke’s Bid To Constrain Public Comment Is An Assault On Democracy: “Ira , perfect! Make your ideas known. Very simple and easy to implement.” Mar 6, 21:18
- on Opinion: Hanneke’s Bid To Constrain Public Comment Is An Assault On Democracy: “My letter sent to Amherst Town Councilors, 3/6/23 I can understand wanting to limit the length of meetings, to do…” Mar 6, 14:00
- on Opinion: Hanneke’s Bid To Constrain Public Comment Is An Assault On Democracy: “Councilor Hanneke is responsible for this proposal. But Lynn Griesmer, as the President, created the agenda (Sec. 2.2(b) of the…” Mar 6, 13:13
- on Opinion: Hanneke’s Bid To Constrain Public Comment Is An Assault On Democracy: “How bitterly ironic that the Amherst Forward PAC that used the slogan “more democracy” to bring this new form of…” Mar 6, 11:50
- on Opinion: What It Means When Amherst Teachers Work To Rule: “This was spot on. I’ve been a part of contract negotiations since 2006 and have never felt as disrespected as…” Mar 6, 08:02
- on Opinion: What It Means When Amherst Teachers Work To Rule: “This was beautifully written. I am also a former student of yours, an Amherst parent, the daughter and sister of…” Mar 5, 13:14
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “Gerry, in 2021 the Town Council authorized (FY21-06C) borrowing $35.3 million, of which $13.9 million would eventually be repaid by…” Mar 5, 12:52
- on Opinion: What It Means When Amherst Teachers Work To Rule: “As a children’s librarian for 27 years, I have many teacher friends whose plight I know well. This makes perfect…” Mar 5, 10:03
- on Letter: The Jones Library Should Go To School: “Bravo, Ken. What seems to get lost in discussions of the Jones Library Project is that everyone agrees that the…” Mar 5, 09:52
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “Can anyone tell me what the funding plan is for the library? I know I should already know this.” Mar 5, 09:26
- on Letter: Town’s Housing Policies Will Drive Away Small Local Landlords And Favor Big Companies: “Thank you Renata. This is so well said and so needed. Let’s hope members of the Council read it.” Mar 5, 09:21
- on Opinion: What It Means When Amherst Teachers Work To Rule: “YES! As a former student of yours back in the early 2000s who absolutely loved Gay & Lesbian Lit, I…” Mar 5, 00:58
- on Photo Of The Week: Stream Ice Never Ceases To Amaze. A Gallery by John Root: “Awesome! Keep ’em comin’!!” Mar 4, 18:55
- on Opinion: What It Means When Amherst Teachers Work To Rule: “Thank you for taking the (surely more unpaid) time to write this and share with our community. Everyone with a…” Mar 4, 18:06
- on Opinion: What It Means When Amherst Teachers Work To Rule: “Beautiful!!!Thank you for publishing this important piece. We need the community to understand what we do and why we feel…” Mar 4, 16:18
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “Councilor Ellisha Walker made a noble but ultimately futile attempt to reduce the debt exclusion tax hike by using available…” Mar 4, 16:17
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: ““Griesemer then lectured Walker on all of the planning that went into how to pay for the four major capital…” Mar 4, 14:39
- on Historic Commission Seeks To Preserve North Amherst Home: “Hetty Startup provided the background historical and archaeological information in this text. I am grateful for her help and valuable…” Mar 4, 13:28
- on FY24 Local Aid Package: Boon For Library, Beans For Schools: “So the painting cost (that would not be necessary with the original proposal) is now to be shifted to Amherst…” Mar 4, 10:23
- on What’s Happening In Amherst?: “Thank you for compiling this list each week – its a great community resource. Hetty” Mar 4, 10:11
- on Opinion: Climate Action – Move Your Money And Switch Your Credit Card: “Russ, thanks for this article explaining that the simple act of switching our credit card can have a significant impact…” Mar 4, 09:46
- on Planning Board Offers Suggestions For Achieving More Housing In Amherst: ““UMass needs to builds thousands more beds for it students to reduce student housing demand.” Janet McGowan has stated the…” Mar 4, 08:23
- on Amherst’s Long-serving Police Chief Announces Retirement: “Congratulations Chief Livingston, Dave Keenan former Selectman!!!” Mar 4, 08:01
- on Finance Committee Wary Of Using Reserves To Reduce Amount Of Debt Exclusion Override: “Well, road repair is certainly very important, but clearly not nearly as important as building roundabouts wherever and whenever possible.…” Mar 2, 22:50
- on Planning Board Offers Suggestions For Achieving More Housing In Amherst: “Renata, The Master Plan calls for greater density in housing and shops in Amherst Center and the village centers (which…” Mar 1, 09:26
- on Planning Board Offers Suggestions For Achieving More Housing In Amherst: “The discussion started out on the right path, then it took a turn… Let me see if I understand these…” Feb 28, 12:21
- on Planning Board And Public Offer Critiques Of Proposal To Ease Permitting Of Multifamily Housing: “The last couple of times my wife and I tried to eat dinner in an Amherst restaurant on a Saturday…” Feb 27, 09:18
- on Opinion: It’s Time To Let Go Of The Jones Library Building Project: “You can find the language here but the amount that you will be asked to approve is still being debated.…” Feb 27, 08:24
- on Opinion: It’s Time To Let Go Of The Jones Library Building Project: “Hello! Does anyone know where I can find more information about the May 2 town-wide election? I googled it and…” Feb 26, 23:24
- on Letter: A Call To Defend The Connecticut River: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention!!” Feb 26, 17:19
- on Opinion: It’s Time To Let Go Of The Jones Library Building Project: “Let me add a footnote of sorts to address Judith’s concern (and Jim’s and Jeff’s responses) about deferred maintenance: During…” Feb 26, 16:54
- on Opinion: It’s Time To Let Go Of The Jones Library Building Project: “Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Judith and others. I agree that public libraries are essential and that the Jones Library…” Feb 26, 09:33
- on Opinion: It’s Time To Let Go Of The Jones Library Building Project: “My “good enough” comment is a polite way of saying,I am tired of deficit thinking that affects policy and has…” Feb 26, 09:29
- on Opinion: It’s Time To Let Go Of The Jones Library Building Project: “I wholeheartedly AGREE with what Jeff Lee has written in his well-expressed article! I have lived and worked in Amherst…” Feb 26, 07:17
- on Finance Committee Approves CPAC Projects And Override Ballot Language. Chair Delays Consideration Of Motions To Use Reserves To Decrease Impact Of Tax Increase : “Any motion that benefits Amherst homeowners (like Ms Walker’s) , especially low income homeowners who will suffer with another tax…” Feb 25, 17:22
- on Opinion: It’s Time To Let Go Of The Jones Library Building Project: “I generally agree with Jeff Lee and I appreciate the reporting he has done for the Amherst Indy. I also…” Feb 25, 17:06
- on Letter: A Call To Defend The Connecticut River: “Amazing article with critically important information for all of us who care for the future of life in our region…” Feb 25, 15:22