Opinion: In Beacon’s North Amherst Project, Community Engagement Did What It Was Supposed to Do
One concern I have about the Planning Board’s proposal to rezone the professional research park...
Robin Jaffin
Photo of the Week: Dogbane Beetle
Chrysochus auratus, more commonly known as the dogbane beetle, is a leaf beetle primarily found in the eastern United...
Letter: Bond Bill Amendments Weaken Local Environmental Bylaws
The following letter was sent to State Senator Jo Comerford and State Representative Mindy Domb...
Opinion: Democracy is Often Inconvenient. Public Process Can Be Messy
There is something increasingly troubling happening in public life, and Amherst is not immune to...
Opinion: Amherst Should Not Have to Trade Wetland Protections for Housing
The Mass Ready Act is being promoted as a major environmental and climate-resilience bill, and...
Letter: Here Are Some Key Questions for Beacon’s Proposed Housing Development
The following letter was sent to Darcy L. Jameson, Vice President of Development, Beacon Communities...
What Parental Control Apps Miss That Predators Exploit
The following article appeared in The Queen Zone on March 15, 2026. It is reposted...
Beacon Development Update: Process, Timeline, and Opportunities for Public Input
By Robin Jaffin The proposed Beacon development in North Amherst has generated significant discussion among...
Letter: A Long List of Questions About Proposed North Amherst Apartment Complex
The following letter was sent to Darcy Jameson, Vice President of Development for Beacon Communities...
Opinion: Out of the Ashes Let’s Build Back Better
The fire that consumed two buildings on Olympia Drive this past Friday was, by every...
Federal Shutdown: What to Know in Massachusetts
As we go to press, the federal government has been shut down for 31 days...
When “Show Your Badge” Fails: What Citizens Can Legally Do if a Plainclothes “Agent” Is Forcing Someone Into a Car
The following article appeared originally in the Queen Zone on September 26, 2025. It is...