What’s In This Issue?

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ANALYTICS 
(numbers in parentheses reflect the + or – change since last week)
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 19,194 (+1353)
Last Week: 6090 (+1612)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 9351 (+1231)
Last Week: 3292 (+1123)

Numbers of note: Last week we had our “busiest weekend” ever with 3412 page views and 1946 unique sessions for Saturday and Sunday combined.
A letter by Sheilah Jones et.al. in appreciation of teachers received 613 hits in six days, an Indy record.

MOST READ: TOP FIVE MOST READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: Appreciation For Educators And Community – Sheilah Jones et. al.
2. Parents Voice Concerns Over Prolonged Remote Learning As Effort Is Launched For Partial School Reopening In March – by Marla Goldberg Jamate
3. COVID-19 Cases Increase At UMass – by Amherst Indy
4. Letter: A Multitude of Questions About Proposed Zoning Changes In Amherst – by Gerry Weiss
5. Zoning Subcommittee Considers Increased Density In Neighborhoods Near Downtown – by Maura Keene

WHAT”S IN THIS ISSUE?

ARTS
Amherst Art For Clean Energy Seeks Creative Work For New Anthology by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz

Culture Club: Notes On Miles Davis’ Double Image by William Kaizen

Photo Of The Week: Winter Leaf by Annique Boomsma

BUSINESSES (LOCAL)
Amherst Chamber Announces Winter Pivot Grant Awards In Support of Area Businesses

CAMPUS
Active COVID-19 Cases At UMass Climb Past 600 by Marla Goldberg Jamate

UMass Profs Design App for Tracking Area COVID-19 Cases by William Kaizen

UMass-Amherst Logs Over 400 Active COVID-19 Cases Within Days Of Reopening, Imposes New Restrictions by Marla Goldberg Jamate

UMass COVID-19 Risk Level Raised From “Elevated” To “High” Risk

Letter: I Hope Your Party Was Worth It by Emma Garber

Opinion: UMass Amherst Evicts Graduate Student Workers Amid COVID19 Spike on Campus by Ian Rhodewalt

Opinion: UMass Amherst Student Trustee Calls For An End To UMass Layoffs And Furloughs by Timothy Scalona

CAPITAL PROJECTS
Elementary School Project Cleared For Next Phase by Maria Kopicki

Water Treatment Plant Replacement Costs Rise From $11 Million to $13.2 Million by Toni Cunningham

Letter: No New Capital Projects Until We Can Assess Impacts Of COVID-19 by Carol Dick

Opinion: Proposed Jones Library Demolition/Construction Project: More Costly, More Confused Than You Think by Sarah McKee

Opinion: Local And Green: Town Must Reprioritize Capital Spending To Meet Needs In The “New Normal” by Darcy DuMont

COVID-19
Active COVID-19 Cases At UMass Climb Past 600 by Marla Goldberg Jamate

Unions Propose Rapid Vaccination Plan For School Employees

Council Supports Prioritizing Teachers For Covid-19 Vaccine by Maura Keene

Campus And Community Respond To COVID-19 Outbreak by Maura Keene

UMass Profs Design App for Tracking Area COVID-19 Cases by William Kaizen

Amherst Board Of Health Issues Emergency Order In Response To Local COVID-19 Surge

UMass-Amherst Logs Over 400 Active COVID-19 Cases Within Days Of Reopening, Imposes New Restrictions by Marla Goldberg Jamate

UMass COVID-19 Risk Level Raised From “Elevated” To “High” Risk

Letter: I Hope Your Party Was Worth It by Emma Garber

Letter: Appreciation For Educators And Community by Sheilah Jones et. al.

COVID-19 Daily Update by Art and Maura Keene

DEMOCRACY
Calling The Question: Town Council Considers New Rules To Cut Off Debate by Maura Keene

Opinion: Five Reasons We Might Succeed by Russ Vernon-Jones

From Other Sources (#31). News For And About Amherst. A Special Focus On Democracy After The Insurrection by Art Keene

EVENTS
Virtual Celebration Of Black History Month Slated For Tuesday

FEATURES
Culture Club: Notes On Miles Davis’ Double Image by William Kaizen

From Other Sources (#31). News For And About Amherst. A Special Focus On Democracy After The Insurrection by Art Keene

Town Manager Report For February 8, 2021

Photo Of The Week: Winter Leaf by Annique Boomsma

COVID-19 Daily Update by Art and Maura Keene

LETTERS / OPINION
Letter: I Hope Your Party Was Worth It by Emma Garber

Letter: No New Capital Projects Until We Can Assess Impacts Of COVID-19 by Carol Dick

Letter: Appreciation For Educators And Community by Sheilah Jones et.al.

Opinion: Proposed Jones Library Demolition/Construction Project: More Costly, More Confused Than You Think by Sarah McKee

Opinion: Local And Green: Town Must Reprioritize Capital Spending To Meet Needs In The “New Normal” by Darcy DuMont

Opinion: UMass Amherst Evicts Graduate Student Workers Amid COVID19 Spike on Campus by Ian Rhodewalt

Opinion: UMass Amherst Student Trustee Calls For An End To UMass Layoffs And Furloughs by Timothy Scalona

Opinion: Five Reasons We Might Succeed by Russ Vernon-Jones

LIBRARY
Opinion: Proposed Jones Library Demolition/Construction Project: More Costly, More Confused Than You Think by Sarah McKee

Opinion: Local And Green: Town Must Reprioritize Capital Spending To Meet Needs In The “New Normal” by Darcy DuMont

SCHOOLS
Elementary School Project Cleared For Next Phase by Maria Kopicki

Unions Propose Rapid Vaccination Plan For School Employees

Council Supports Prioritizing Teachers For Covid-19 Vaccine by Maura Keene

Amherst Art For Clean Energy Seeks Creative Work For New Anthology by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz

Letter: Appreciation For Educators And Community by Sheilah Jones et.al.

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Elementary School Project Cleared For Next Phase by Maria Kopicki

Water Treatment Plant Replacement Costs Rise From $11 Million to $13.2 Million by Toni Cunningham

Council Supports Prioritizing Teachers For Covid-19 Vaccine by Maura Keene

Calling The Question: Town Council Considers New Rules To Cut Off Debate by Maura Keene

Campus And Community Respond To COVID-19 Outbreak by Maura Keene

Virtual Celebration Of Black History Month Slated For Tuesday

Amherst Board Of Health Issues Emergency Order In Response To Local COVID-19 Surge

Town Manager Report For February 8, 2021