What’s In This Issue?
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ANALYTICS
(numbers in parentheses reflect the + or – change compared with the previous week.
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 23,229 (+1032)
Last Week: 6103 (+2267).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 10,893 (+616)
Last Week: 2841 (+927)
LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END SUMMARY STATS
TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Board Of Health Hears Wild Claims From Anti-Vaxxers Amidst Omicron Surge by Maura Keene
2. Opinion: Petition Seeks To Force Revote On Parking Lot Rezoning by Ira Bryck
3. Opinion: Inaugural Council Concludes With Shameful Vote by Maura Keene
4. Letter: The Sounds of Silence by Denise Barberet
5. Zoning Amendments Pass Easily Despite Pleas From Public by Maura Keene
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
NEW / BREAKING
Public Voices Enthusiasm For A Temporary Moratorium On Large Solar Arrays by Mayra Keene
Amherst Plans Virtual Celebration Of Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation Calls On President Biden to Cancel All Student Debt
Letter: New District 4 Councilors Encourage Constituents To Be In Touch by Pamela Rooney and Anika Lopes
A Better World Is Possible: How To Build An Attractive City by School of Life
Workshops On New Elementary School
ARTS
Sue Katz Exhibit Coming To Gallery A3
Photo Of The Week: Look West by Joan Epstein
CAMPUS
Hampshire College Receives $5 Million Gift Honoring Alum Ken Burns
Amherst College Donates $200,000 For Downtown Initiatives
UMass-Amherst Poll Shows Ongoing Support For Voting Rights
UMass Resumes Public COVID Testing
CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Letter: New Council Must Prioritize Climate Justice And Racial Equity by Amherst Sunrise Movement
Letter: Residents Continue To Seek Temporary Moratorium On Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Installations by Eric Bachrach and Renee Moss
Speak Up! Climate Action How? by Jeff Lee
Almanac: An Ode To Ice by Stephen Braun
DEMOCRACY
UMass-Amherst Poll Shows Ongoing Support For Voting Rights
Letter: The Sounds of Silence by Denise Barberet
Opinion: The Next US Civil War Is Already Here – We Just Refuse To See It by Stephen Marche (for The Guardian)
DOWNTOWN
Amherst College Donates $200,000 For Downtown Initiatives
Letter: Why Not Sustainable Planning For Downtown? by Ira Bryck
EVENTS
Amherst Plans Virtual Celebration Of Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Town Offers COVID Vaccine Clinic Every Thursday
How Single Payer Health Care Combats Racial Disparities: A Virtual Brown Bag
Sue Katz Exhibit Coming To Gallery A3
FEATURES
A Better World Is Possible: How To Build An Attractive City by School of Life
Dear Reader by Art Keene
Speak Up! Climate Action How? by Jeff Lee
Almanac: An Ode To Ice by Stephen Braun
A Better World Is Possible: How Norway’s Economy Puts People First by Isabella Breda (for Yes Magazine)
Photo Of The Week: Look West by Joan Epstein
OPINION
Letter: New District 4 Councilors Encourage Constituents To Be In Touch by Pamela Rooney and Anika Lopes
Letter: Residents Continue To Seek Temporary Moratorium On Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Installations by Eric Bachrach and Renee Moss
Letter: Why Not Sustainable Planning For Downtown? by Ira Bryck
Letter: New Council Must Prioritize Climate Justice And Racial Equity by Amherst Sunrise Movement
Letter: The Sounds of Silence by Denise Barberet
Opinion: A Perplexing Start. With Omicron Peaking, New Council Votes To Resume Face-To-Face Meetings Immediately by Art Keene
Opinion: I Feel Lucky To Be In Amherst by Jennifer Shiao
Opinion: The Next US Civil War Is Already Here – We Just Refuse To See It by Stephen Marche (for The Guardian)
PUBLIC HEALTH
Amherst Schools To Require KN95 Masks
COVID-19 Update For The Week Of January 5, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
UMass Resumes Public COVID Testing
Town Offers COVID Vaccine Clinic Every Thursday
How Single Payer Health Care Combats Racial Disparities: A Virtual Brown Bag
Opinion: A Perplexing Start. With Omicron Peaking, New Council Votes To Resume Face-To-Face Meetings Immediately by Art Keene
MEDIA
Dear Reader by Art Keene
SCHOOLS
Workshops On New Elementary School
Amherst Schools To Require KN95 Masks
Opinion: I Feel Lucky To Be In Amherst by Jennifer Shiao
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation Calls On President Biden to Cancel All Student Debt
How Single Payer Health Care Combats Racial Disparities: A Virtual Brown Bag
Letter: New Council Must Prioritize Climate Justice And Racial Equity by Amherst Sunrise Movement
A Better World Is Possible: How Norway’s Economy Puts People First by Isabella Breda (for Yes Magazine)
SOLAR
Public Voices Enthusiasm For A Temporary Moratorium On Large Solar Arrays by Maura Keene
Planning Board Begins Consideration Of Solar Bylaw by Maura Keene
Letter: Residents Continue To Seek Temporary Moratorium On Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Installations by Eric Bachrach and Renee Moss
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Letter: New District 4 Councilors Encourage Constituents To Be In Touch by Pamela Rooney and Anika Lopes
Planning Board Begins Consideration Of Solar Bylaw by Maura Keene
New Town Council Elects Officers, Votes To Meet In-Person Henceforth. Hanneke Proposes Changes To Council’s Rules by Maura Keene
Opinion: A Perplexing Start. With Omicron Peaking, New Council Votes To Resume Face-To-Face Meetings Immediately by Art Keene