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: 23,553 (+140)
Last Week: 6610-(+870).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 11,240 (+78)
Last Week: 3047 (+176)

LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END SUMMARY STATS

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. “Major Equity Issue” May Not Be Resolved In New School Building Project by Toni Cunningham
2. Local Historic District Commission Approves Renovations At 77 McClellan. Continues Public Hearing For Town Houses At Sunset & Fearing by Hilda Greenbaum
3. Jones Library’s Overdue Historic Structure Report Identifies Irreplaceable Features To Preserve by Sarah McKee
4. Opinion: Photo Essay -The Jones Library Historic Structures Report, An Obit Or A Celebration? by Hilda Greenbaum
5. Board Of Health Adopts Substitute Motion In Support Of Trash Hauler Reform by Art Keene

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

NEW / BREAKING
Letter: Councilors Will Meet With District 1 Residents Sunday, January 30 by Michele Miller and Cathy Schoen

Opinion: Dreaming About An Elementary School: Spaces by Michael Greenebaum

Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. Amherst And Regional School Committee Meetings by Jennifer Shiao

COVID-19 Update For The Week Of January 26, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

Letter: Why Amherst Needs A Temporary Moratorium On The Permitting And Approval Of Large-Scale Ground Mounted Solar Installations by Gerry Weiss

ARTS
The Academy of Music Theatre Presents The Valley Letters Project: Letters of Love

Photo Of The Week: Winter Is Here By Alan Goodman

CAMPUS
Planning Board Approves Amherst College Lyceum For South Pleasant Street by Maura Keene

CAPITAL PROJECTS
Potential For Geothermal And Solar Power To Factor Into Site Selection For New School by Toni Cunningham

High School Track Replacement Vies For Funding With Other Projects by Toni Cunningham

Finance Committee Approves Funding For New Fire Truck And School Feasibility Study by Kitty Axelson-Berry

Trustee Finds Jones Library Historic Structures Report ‘Incredibly Restrictive’ by Jeff Lee

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Issues & Analyses: Ten Ways To Confront The Climate Crisis Without Losing Hope by Rebecca Solnit (for The Guardian)

Issues & Analyses: Reasons To Be Hopeful: The Climate Solutions Available Now by Damion Carrington and Guardian Reporters (for The Guardian)

Almanac: Zero by Stephen Braun

Speak Up About Climate Change by Jeff Lee

DOWNTOWN
Letter: Is There Really “No Room” For New Businesses In Downtown Amherst?  by Ira Bryck

EVENTS
Town Offers COVID Vaccine Clinic Every Thursday

Public Forum On Amherst’s Community Responder Program Planned For Saturday, January 22

Workshops On New Elementary School

Amherst Aims To Become An Age And Dementia Friendly Community. Seeks Residents To Join Working Group

The Academy of Music Theatre Presents The Valley Letters Project: Letters of Love

FEATURES
Almanac: Zero by Stephen Braun

A Better World Is Possible: Baking Homemade Bread Becomes A Public Good by Lynn Freehill-Maye (for Yes Magazine)

Speak Up About Climate Change by Jeff Lee

Photo Of The Week: Winter Is Here By Alan Goodman

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: Ten Ways To Confront The Climate Crisis Without Losing Hope by Rebecca Solnit (for The Guardian)

Issues & Analyses: Reasons To Be Hopeful: The Climate Solutions Available Now by Damion Carrington and Guardian Reporters (for The Guardian)

LIBRARY
Trustee Finds Jones Library Historic Structures Report ‘Incredibly Restrictive’ by Jeff Lee

NATIONAL POLITICS
Letter: Local Jewish Activists Call On Biden To Restore Decency and Fairness To Asylum And Immigration Process by Jewish Activists For Immigration Justice

Opinion: We Can’t Solve The Climate Crisis With A Broken Democracy by Mark Hertsgaard (for The Guardian)

OPINION
Letter: Councilors Will Meet With District 1 Residents Sunday, January 30 by Michele Miller and Cathy Schoen

Opinion: Dreaming About An Elementary School: Spaces by Michael Greenebaum

Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. Amherst And Regional School Committee Meetings by Jennifer Shiao

Letter: Why Amherst Needs A Temporary Moratorium On The Permitting And Approval Of Large-Scale Ground Mounted Solar Installations by Gerry Weiss

Letter: Is There Really “No Room” For New Businesses In Downtown Amherst?  by Ira Bryck

Letter: Local Jewish Activists Call On Biden To Restore Decency and Fairness To Asylum And Immigration Process by Jewish Activists For Immigration Justice

Opinion: Another Year, Another Steep Price Increase For Trash Pickup by Christina Platt

Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog: School Committee FAQ by Jennifer Shiao

Opinion: We Can’t Solve The Climate Crisis With A Broken Democracy by Mark Hertsgaard (for The Guardian)

PUBLIC HEALTH / PUBLIC SAFETY
COVID-19 Update For The Week Of January 26, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

Finance Committee Approves Funding For New Fire Truck And School Feasibility Study by Kitty Axelson-Berry

Town Urges Caution On Ice, Skate At Your Own Risk

COVID-19 Update For The Week Of January 19, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

Town Offers COVID Vaccine Clinic Every Thursday

SCHOOLS
Opinion: Dreaming About An Elementary School: Spaces by Michael Greenebaum

Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. Amherst And Regional School Committee Meetings by Jennifer Shiao

Potential For Geothermal And Solar Power To Factor Into Site Selection For New School by Toni Cunningham

High School Track Replacement Vies For Funding With Other Projects by Toni Cunningham

Workshops On New Elementary School

Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog: School Committee FAQ by Jennifer Shiao

SENIORS
Kick-off For Age And Dementia Friendly Community Attracts Large Crowd by Maura Keene

Amherst Aims To Become An Age And Dementia Friendly Community. Seeks Residents To Join Working Group

SOCIAL JUSTICE
African Heritage Reparation Assembly Requests Extension Until June 2023 by Maura Keene

Public Forum On Amherst’s Community Responder Program Planned For Saturday, January 22

SOLID WASTE
Opinion: Another Year, Another Steep Price Increase For Trash Pickup by Christina Platt

SOLAR
Letter: Why Amherst Needs A Temporary Moratorium On The Permitting And Approval Of Large-Scale Ground Mounted Solar Installations by Gerry Weiss


TOWN GOVERNMENT
Letter: Councilors Will Meet With District 1 Residents Sunday, January 30 by Michele Miller and Cathy Schoen

Finance Committee Approves Funding For New Fire Truck And School Feasibility Study by Kitty Axelson-Berry

African Heritage Reparation Assembly Requests Extension Until June 2023 by Maura Keene

Planning Board Approves Amherst College Lyceum For South Pleasant Street by Maura Keene

Public Forum On Amherst’s Community Responder Program Planned For Saturday, January 22