- Jeff Lee on Town Manager to Explore Moving $53M Library Project Forward: “Rob, your comparison of the library project to Pete Seeger’s Waist Deep in the Big Muddy couldn’t be more apt.” May 9, 21:11
- Town Manager to Explore Moving $53M Library Project Forward: “The FAA contract for the bid phase was for $81,750. According to documents shown on the screen at this meeting…” May 9, 11:11on
- Updated: Many Arrested at UMass as Police Dismantle Second Pro-Palestinian Encampment: “Solidarity Statements have been put out by the following organizations: UMass Asian American Student Association Bengali Student Association Arab Cultural…” May 9, 10:42on
- Opinion: I Was Present at the UMass Police Action and It Was Disgraceful: “i believe some of the state police had body cams turned on- and i believe their badge numbers were on…” May 9, 10:08on
- Town Manager to Explore Moving $53M Library Project Forward: “When the sole donor for wonderful North Amherst Library accessibility/enhancement/improvement project — a project whose cost doubled, and then doubled…” May 9, 08:30on
- Opinion: I Was Present at the UMass Police Action and It Was Disgraceful: “Thank you for writing this, Amber. I was with you and confirm every word of what you have written. I…” May 9, 00:46on
- Opinion: Town Leaders Need to Get Real: “What do you mean? I was sure for months the project would come in at least $75,000,000 given all the…” May 8, 21:53on
- Opinion: I Was Present at the UMass Police Action and It Was Disgraceful: “As a parent of a student at UMass Amherst, I was aghast at the images of police in riot gear…” May 8, 19:36on
- Public Restroom Proposed for Kendrick Park: “I like that the blue light inside The Portland Loo discourages illicit activity.” May 8, 17:31on
- Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library: “Congratulations on the opening. And thank you to Hilda and the Greenbaum family for their extraordinary generosity and public spiritedness.…” May 8, 17:16on
- Opinion: I Was Present at the UMass Police Action and It Was Disgraceful: “they called her sweetheart? how authoritarian.” May 8, 17:08on
- Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library: “I couldn’t help but think of Louis and how pleased he would be. I always thought of you as quite…” May 8, 14:19on
- Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library: “You were missed, Hilda but your son Joel and family did a very nice job in your absence. Hetty” May 8, 11:52on
- Opinion: Sunrise Amherst Finds Proposed Town Budget Errors Topping $2 Million : “Amazing, important work. Local watch dogs! The heart of democracy.” May 8, 11:43on
- Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate: “The town’s $2+ million costs to date have been paid from the $2.7 million allotment of grant money that the…” May 7, 11:01on
- Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate: “Janet, the Town is paying the bills of the Jones Library project out of the Board of Library Commissioners Grant…” May 7, 09:15on
- Reservations Remain about Shutesbury Road Solar Project: “Ed makes a good point here, and that very point is what lies behind the push for a smart-grid: electric…” May 7, 08:45on
- Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate: “One more question (I think): where did the $2 million that’s been spent already come from? ? The town, Jones…” May 6, 19:32on
- Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library: “Thank you Hilda!!! What a phenomenal, thoughtful contribution to our community that will last forever!!!!” May 6, 17:38on
- Opinion: Sunrise Amherst Finds Proposed Town Budget Errors Topping $2 Million : “Thanks for your efforts to shine a bright light on this, Sunrise Amherst!” May 6, 12:39on
- Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library: “I’m overwhelmed by these gracious comments. I knew of the Holden window factory but did not know they made Deerfield…” May 6, 09:34on
- Regional School Committee Will Pursue Eight Lane Track with Grass Infield for High School: “East-west orientation should be part of the plan or we lose some usable playing time due to visibility problems. Now…” May 6, 08:37on
- Opinion: Sunrise Amherst Finds Proposed Town Budget Errors Topping $2 Million : “I think this illustrates so beautifully why we should be investing in our schools- the youth are our future!” May 6, 07:28on
- Opinion: Sunrise Amherst Finds Proposed Town Budget Errors Topping $2 Million : “I would venture that there’s a fairly simple explanation for the error in the Capital Improvement budget: Cut-and-paste, and a…” May 5, 23:56on
- Reservations Remain about Shutesbury Road Solar Project: “It’s a hot summer day, and this place is producing 9.3 MW, which is being used. Thunderstorm arrives and it…” May 5, 23:36on
- Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library: “Thank you so much Mrs. Greenbaum! I was first introduced to the library in the 1950’s when I was in…” May 5, 18:38on
- Public Restroom Proposed for Kendrick Park: “The Portland Loo website says the units are over $150,000 plus another 45K for transport and install costs. Unit in…” May 5, 17:05on
- Amherst College Wayfinding Sign Approved for Amherst Center: “Beneath the sign, the Town could install an electronic LED board which could keep track of the current market value…” May 4, 22:26on
- Planning Board Reviews Carriage House Plans for Emily Dickinson Museum. Hears Criticism of Triplex for Fearing Street: “Many thanks for this article! A couple of corrections should be noted: ~ the proposed plan shows a parking lot…” May 4, 20:47on
- Amherst College Wayfinding Sign Approved for Amherst Center: “Hetty, the sign itself is 2 ft 10 inches. The granite base is 2 ft tall.” May 4, 14:51on
- Regional School Committee Will Pursue Eight Lane Track with Grass Infield for High School: “How is the proposed solution going to address the perennial problem that games can become unplayable until the sun drops…” May 4, 14:15on
- Amherst College Wayfinding Sign Approved for Amherst Center: “Those ‘Mammoth purple’ cut outs of passers by seem a little too large or out of scale to my eyes.…” May 4, 11:58on
- Letter: Too Many Irregularities in Oversight of Jones Library Expansion: “That’s a serious question, Rob. Presumably you mean a federal criminal investigation. I know nothing about any federal agency-specific regulations…” May 4, 11:46on
- Reservations Remain about Shutesbury Road Solar Project: “I’m one of those neighbors cited in the article. My concerns go far beyond pervious flooding in my basement as…” May 4, 11:08on
- Regional School Committee Will Pursue Eight Lane Track with Grass Infield for High School: “It’s great to see this Regional School Committee working collaboratively and reaching consensus based on common sense and reason. My…” May 4, 10:44on
- Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate: “Downtown Amherst has become more than a little rundown, and in recent years increasingly “generic” with 5-story dorms looming over…” May 4, 09:42on
- Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate: “I am hoping that the Town Council and Town Manager will see the path forward for the Jones Library is…” May 4, 09:23on
- Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library: “I’m glad that we can publicly acknowledge Hilda’s great gift to Amherst, and North Amherst in particular. And thanks to…” May 4, 08:22on
- Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate: “The Town faces several long overdue capital projects and while it cannot build them at the same time there should…” May 4, 08:10on
- Letter: Too Many Irregularities in Oversight of Jones Library Expansion: “Thank you, Sarah: your comments are phrased in the most gentle manner possible, so it’s tempting — in the spirit…” May 4, 08:03on
- Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate: “It’s a little unclear, reading the first paragraph that starts with a quote, but it appears that in general that…” May 3, 23:22on
- Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library: “Thank you, Hilda! Such an generous and impactful contribution. Amherst is SO fortunate to have you as a community member.…” May 3, 19:06on
- Reservations Remain about Shutesbury Road Solar Project: ““I don’t see anything sinister going on here” someone said. “Define your terms”, Voltaire said. The definition of sinister is…” May 3, 16:53on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “Rob, I am not deeply involved in the Library project to throw shade at anyone. Something discouraged bidders and subbidders…” May 3, 13:21on
- Letter: Repairs To Jones Library Could Cost Less Than You Think: “Thank you very much, Craig, for recommending ground source energy for heating and cooling the Jones Library building! In 2010,…” May 3, 10:13on
- Public Restroom Proposed for Kendrick Park: “It seems unaffordable not to construct something like this in this location. Truly public restrooms are in short supply in…” May 2, 20:35on
- Letter: Repairs To Jones Library Could Cost Less Than You Think: “Thank you, Craig. In addition, repairs to the historic Jones Library would be eligible for CPA funds, and since the…” May 2, 12:38on
- Public Restroom Proposed for Kendrick Park: “How does an open-air unit like this function in very cold winter weather (assuming “very cold” is still a thing)?” May 1, 23:14on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “Interesting assessment, Joe if there were such a thing as “architectural malpractice” would it go to far to suggest the…” May 1, 23:07on
- on
- Public Restroom Proposed for Kendrick Park: “And the 7 days a week labor and supplies to make a heavily used public restroom work will come from…” May 1, 20:59on
- E. Xiomara Herman Selected as New School Superintendent: “Interesting that no white men were even in the running.” May 1, 19:34on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “In 35 rears of supervising construction bidding for the City of Northampton I never saw a project do such a…” May 1, 12:56on
- UMass Anti-war Encampment Dismantled: “This is quite the authoritarian response. We spent time at the encampment on Monday and what we witnessed was not…” May 1, 10:49on
- E. Xiomara Herman Selected as New School Superintendent: “Prediction: After 3-4 years, she will be no more popular than her 3 predecessors. It’s not her, it’s the district….” May 1, 10:26on
- UMass Students Establish Encampment in Support of Palestine: “This encampment was dismantled by law enforcement this morning, April 30.” Apr 30, 12:30on
- on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “To try to answer some of Janet’s questions. The new school is 105,750 square feet. The library addition would add…” Apr 30, 10:33on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “I think it is clear, now more than ever, that the Library project is not in interests of the town.…” Apr 30, 08:23on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “Question: Does the $42.7 million amount received from the only general contractor to bid on this project include the $3.3…” Apr 29, 20:56on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “At many steps along the way, there was an opportunity to stop this project and pivot to a plan B.…” Apr 29, 16:29on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “A few questions come to mind. The rose colored glasses the planners used to examine this projected may need a…” Apr 29, 12:28on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “I would encourage people to reach out to the Town Council to let their feelings about the library project be…” Apr 29, 07:27on
- Town Paying Library Project Bills Without Public Oversight: “Over at my house, we think the current school budget (never mind building) needs ‘it’ more than the future library.…” Apr 28, 19:57on
- Opinion: Amherst To Seek DOER Climate Leader Designation, Funding, and Benefits: “Thank you Darcy for this great news! If Amherst can get funding this way (and through IRA funds for schools,…” Apr 28, 19:31on
- Amherst 6th Graders to Attend “6th Grade Academy” at ARMS Beginning in Fall 26: “With this policy in place, might one expect increased applications to enroll in area charter schools, leading to adverse sequelae…” Apr 28, 15:06on
- Library Fundraisers Woo Wealthy Prospects while Awaiting ‘Shovels in the Ground’: “”Nice Work if You Can Get It” was a theater production at ARHS just a few weeks ago! Its message…” Apr 28, 14:51on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “It’s time! Residents need to awake. Our town is overspending. Insist that this stops. As you pay your May 1…” Apr 28, 14:44on
- Library Fundraisers Woo Wealthy Prospects while Awaiting ‘Shovels in the Ground’: “Gerald, a suggestion was once made at a library trustees meeting that Capital Campaign personnel cost may represent not only…” Apr 28, 12:16on
- North Amherst Library Grand Opening May 2: “What a joy to know that thousands of Amherst children and adults will now have this sensitive, splendid, properly equipped…” Apr 28, 11:34on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “It’s hard to imagine how this can be justifiable in a town where the schools are facing staff cuts.” Apr 28, 09:07on
- Library Fundraisers Woo Wealthy Prospects while Awaiting ‘Shovels in the Ground’: “There’s a song about this too: Nice work if you can get it… And if you can get it… Nice…” Apr 27, 20:03on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “I wonder if all the numbers can be summarized easily for the lay reader. Here’s what I think at the…” Apr 27, 16:48on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “also, when the town allowed the 5 story dorms on East Pleasant, they said we should be glad about the…” Apr 27, 13:49on
- Search for ARMS Principal Curtailed. Finalist Charges Discrimination: “Not knowing all the history, it makes sense to me to allow the new superintendent the opportunity to hire staff…” Apr 27, 12:17on
- Library Construction Docs in Disarray as Town Payments Pass $2M: “Getting this lone bid, which would entail at least an additional $10M in principal and interest financing if it were…” Apr 27, 12:00on
- Amherst Looks To Library For Building Project Reimbursement Payment: “Rob – you are correct that there are additional cost increases beyond the $7M higher bid for construction. First is…” Apr 27, 11:28on
- Library Fundraisers Woo Wealthy Prospects while Awaiting ‘Shovels in the Ground’: “$27000 spent in salaries and other costs to raise $44000. The library fundraising sounds more and something that the better…” Apr 27, 11:26on
- Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget: “Assuming the library is able to raise the money that they have promised, the extra 7 million dollars in course…” Apr 27, 11:23on
- Town Paying Library Project Bills Without Public Oversight: “When trustees of a library trying to launch an expensive new building project show who they are, believe them. They…” Apr 27, 11:20on
- Photo of the Week: Jeffery Amherst Bookstore Is No More by Rob Kusner and Ira Bryck: “The reward is the work itself — happy to split that with you! 😉 By the way, Art edited my…” Apr 27, 11:06on
- School Committee Interviews Superintendent Candidate E. Xiomara Herman: “I guess it comes down to what you call ‘fully licensed’. There are three levels of superintendent/assistant superintendent licence: provisional,…” Apr 27, 10:41on
- Library Construction Docs in Disarray as Town Payments Pass $2M: “This Week at the Jones Library: April 28 – May 4, 2024 “Library Tours Cancelled Saturday, April 27 at 11:00…” Apr 27, 09:52on
- Photo of the Week: Jeffery Amherst Bookstore Is No More by Rob Kusner and Ira Bryck: “Do we need to split the prize money?!” Apr 27, 08:44on
- Amherst Looks To Library For Building Project Reimbursement Payment: “Look at Greenfield they just opened their library couldn’t have been more than 25 million. Look at so many other…” Apr 27, 08:10on
- Amherst Looks To Library For Building Project Reimbursement Payment: “If the additional principal required to fund the Jones Library demolition/expansion is over $7M, then the additional financing costs (at…” Apr 27, 08:04on
- Amherst Looks To Library For Building Project Reimbursement Payment: “submitted 4/27/24 To the Town Council and Town Manager of Amherst, Mass, Now that the library project has received its…” Apr 27, 05:49on
- Amherst Looks To Library For Building Project Reimbursement Payment: “Toni, more recent records show that there were actually nine firms offering general contractor services that expressed interest in the…” Apr 26, 20:35on
- School Committee Interviews Superintendent Candidate E. Xiomara Herman: “I liked the part where she said she looked for a central office org chart and couldn’t find one. Same.” Apr 26, 19:02on
- Amherst Looks To Library For Building Project Reimbursement Payment: “Of the six general contractors who replied to a pre-qualification solicitation in December 2023, only one submitted a bid today…” Apr 26, 17:37on
- Search for ARMS Principal Curtailed. Finalist Charges Discrimination: “Retaliation and discrimination indeed! Mika Magee is the middle school principal we need – a highly qualified, caring, dedicated member…” Apr 25, 15:16on
- Amherst 6th Graders to Attend “6th Grade Academy” at ARMS Beginning in Fall 26: “I have always been against separating 6th grade from our elementary schools. Even if they were part of the regional…” Apr 25, 15:11on
- Letter: Operations of the Friends of the Jones Library Should Be Publicly Disclosed: “Michael and Rob, You are right to call attention to the failure of the Friends of the Jones leadership to…” Apr 24, 21:03on
- Library Construction Docs in Disarray as Town Payments Pass $2M: “Regarding those 16 payments that the Town made in February, March, and up to mid April, without getting votes of…” Apr 24, 17:21on
- The Railways in Amherst: “https://www.gazettenet.com/Railroad-Connected-Pioneer-Valley-to-World-51013261 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight,_Massachusetts Look for Dwight Day June 15, 2024!” Apr 22, 22:24on
- Library Construction Docs in Disarray as Town Payments Pass $2M: “It is very hard to read all of this when there is no visible progress on the Fire House or…” Apr 20, 07:33on
- Library Construction Docs in Disarray as Town Payments Pass $2M: “A close look at that expense report reveals yet another problem. 16 payments, totaling over $300,000, were made in February,…” Apr 19, 22:40on
- Public Comment: Who’s Watching the Books?: “Make that 22 addenda. Two more were posted today 4/19/24 – one of which yet again pushes back the bid…” Apr 19, 15:05on
- Hate Speech Invades Town Meetings: “Bastewell and colleagues just hijacked the zoom of the Lawrence, Kansas City Commission meeting so it appears they are targeting…” Apr 17, 10:46on
- Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit Filed Against Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools: “Someone recently asked me what the hell is going on in Amherst’s schools. I am not sure, and I trust…” Apr 14, 11:30on