What’s in This Issue?
Photo: Dreamtime. Creative commons
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ANALYTICS
As of early June, we have removed from our counts all visits to our site that didn’t result in meaningful engagement with the content. While total visits to our site continue to grow (over 105,000 in June), only about a third resulted in meaningful engagement, such as opening an article or clicking a menu. The other visits are likely bot traffic. From now on, we’ll only tally meaningful engagement. Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.
Number of Engaged Page Views Last 30 Days: 23,789 (-784)
Number of Engaged Page Views Last Week: 6257 (+51)
Number of Engaged Sessions Last 30 Days: 16,015 (- 289)
Number of Engaged Sessions Last Week: 4217 (+ 135)
Number of Engaged Users Last 30 Days: 10,753 (-33)
Number of Engaged Users Last Week: 3112 (+173)
TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Mystery Surrounds Jones Library Litigation by Jeff Lee
2. Opinion: Question 5 is an Attack on Our Public Services by Billionaires by Kevin Young
3. Opinion: Stop Chasing a Nuclear Fantasy by Rob Okun
4. Chronic Absenteeism and Discipline Disparities Persist in Regional Schools by Maura Keene
5. Overlay District Proposed for Neighborhoods South and East of UMass; Work on Rezoning East Amherst Proceeds by Maura Keene
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
- Amherst Arts Night Plus Returns on Nov. 5
- November PVFS Event will Feature Story Teller Andy Davis
- What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene
BUDGET
- Average Amherst Tax Bill to Top $10,000 by Jeff Lee
CAMPUS
CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
- Hickory Ridge Solar Project Nears Completion by Maura Keene
- Waste Hauler RFP Nears Completion as Local Landlords Voice Opposition by Darcy DuMont
- Letter: Vote No on Question 6 by Nick Shaw
- Photos of the Week: 2026 Fall Foliage Gallery
DEMOCRACY
- Good Day for Democracy: Lula’s Win in Brazil and Serbia Ousting Vučić Show Strength of People Power by Julia Conley (c/o Common Dreams)
- How to Buy Your Own Country, a Lecture by Steven Press
- How Serbian Students Toppled an Authoritarian by Breza Race Maksimovic and Jelena Trajčevski
ELECTIONS
- Good Day for Democracy: Lula’s Win in Brazil and Serbia Ousting Vučić Show Strength of People Power by Julia Conley (c/o Common Dreams)
- 2026 State Election: Information & Reminders from the Town of Amherst
- The Massachusetts Ballot Questions, Explained by CommonWealth Beacon
- Letter: Vote No on Question 6 by Nick Shaw
EVENTS
- Town of Amherst Launches Community Heart & Soul Initiative with Community Dinner on November 6
- Coronation Café Celebrates Expanded Space with Ribbon Cutting
- Amherst Arts Night Plus Returns on Nov. 5
- November PVFS Event will Feature Story Teller Andy Davis
- How to Buy Your Own Country, a Lecture by Steven Press
- What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene
FEATURES
- How Serbian Students Toppled an Authoritarian by Breza Race Maksimovic and Jelena Trajčevski
- Stone Soup Cafe: Building Solidarity and Cultivating a Beloved Community By Chloe Spurr and Rowan Faris
- Boosting the Creative Economy: Social Well-Being in the Hard Times of the Great Depression by Hetty Startup
- Photos of the Week: 2026 Fall Foliage Gallery
HISTORY / HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
- How to Buy Your Own Country, a Lecture by Steven Press
- Boosting the Creative Economy: Social Well-Being in the Hard Times of the Great Depression by Hetty Startup
HOUSING
- Letter: Vote No on Question 7 by Stacey McCollough
ISSUES & ANALYSES
- Average Amherst Tax Bill to Top $10,000 by Jeff Lee
OPINION
- Letter: Vote No on Question 6 by Nick Shaw
- Letter: Vote No on Question 7 by Stacey McCullough
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
RESOURCES
- 2026 State Election: Information & Reminders from the Town of Amherst
- The Massachusetts Ballot Questions, Explained by Commonwealth Beacon
SCHOOLS
- Remedy for School Transportation Woes in Process with Changes Coming November 30 by Maura Keene
- Several Steps Remain to Close Out Elementary School Building Project by Maria Kopicki
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
- Good Day for Democracy: Lula’s Win in Brazil and Serbia Ousting Vučić Show Strength of People Power by Julia Conley (c/o Common Dreams)
- Stone Soup Cafe: Building Solidarity and Cultivating a Beloved Community By Chloe Spurr and Rowan Faris
TOWN GOVERNMENT
- Average Amherst Tax Bill to Top $10,000 by Jeff Lee
- Remedy for School Transportation Woes in Process with Changes Coming November 30 by Maura Keene
- Several Steps Remain to Close Out Elementary School Building Project by Maria Kopicki
- DPW Building Project Budget Back on Track; Pulpit Hill Site Favored by Initial Assessment by Maria Kopicki
- Town of Amherst Presents Results of Recent Senior Services Survey
- Hickory Ridge Solar Project Nears Completion by Maura Keene
- Waste Hauler RFP Nears Completion as Local Landlords Voice Opposition by Darcy DuMont
- Town of Amherst Launches Community Heart & Soul Initiative with Community Dinner on November 6
TRANSPORTATION
