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: 23,625 (-139)
Last Week: 5610 (+523).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 11,310 (-100)
Last Week: 2771 (+318)

LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END 2021 SUMMARY STATS

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. An Urgent Peace Rally Outside Congressman McGovern’s Office in Northampton -No War With Russia! Abolish NATO! by Yoav Elinevsky
2. Issues and Analyses: Are Amenities Frivolous Or Essential For Successful Economic Development? by Gerald Friedman
3.Letter: Library Trustees’ Failure To Comply With State Preservation Law Threatens Construction Grant by Molly Turner and Sarah McKee
4. Opinion: Just Because You Say It Does Not Make It So by Maura Keene
5. Issues & Analyses: What’s Up With All Those Empty Commercial Storefronts In New Mixed-use Developments? by Rachel Quednau (for Strong Towns)

WHAT”S IN THIS ISSUE

NEW / BREAKING
COVID-19 Update For The Week Of February 16, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
Senior Surveys Are In The Mail by Maura Keene
Kestrel Trust To Transplant Portion Of Jones Library Kinsey Garden by Jeff Lee
Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. Amherst’s School Building Project: We Need To Set Ourselves Up For Success by Jennifer Shiao

CAPITAL PROJECTS
Library Committees Confront Missing Director Goals, Seek Better Accounting Software by Jeff Lee
Siting Of Geothermal Wells Easier At Fort River by Toni Cunningham

CAMPUS
Manning Family Foundation Provides $3 Million Gift to UMass Amherst To Expand Commercialization Pipeline
UMass Labor Center Finds Deep Flaws With Corporate Diversity Rankings

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Opinion: Local and Green – Amherst And The Circular Ecnonomy (#30)  by Darcy DuMont
Opinion: Love Justice and Climate Change. Tips for Stepping Up Our Action On Climate Change by Russ Vernon-Jones
Opinion: Why Every Job Is A Climate Job by Sarah Lazarovic (for Yes Magazine)
Almanac: Diamonds and Pearls by Stephen Braun

EVENTS
Debora Bridges And Anika Lopes To Receive Conch Shell Award From Amherst Historical Society on Saturday, February 12 by Maura Keene
League of Women Voters Annual Birthday Luncheon Will Be Virtual
Amherst Community Chat: Elementary School Building Project

FEATURES
Almanac: Diamonds and Pearls by Stephen Braun
Speak Up! Should Amherst Declare A Temporary Moratorium On Large Scale Solar? by Jeff Lee
A Better World Is Possible: The Circular Economy by Art Keene
Photo Of The Week: UMass Unions United By Max Page.
Town Manager Report For February 7, 2022

HISTORY
Pickleball, Historic Preservation, And Other Recommendations From CPAC by Kitty Axelson-Berry
Debora Bridges And Anika Lopes To Receive Conch Shell Award From Amherst Historical Society on Saturday, February 12 by Maura Keene

LABOR
UMass Labor Center Finds Deep Flaws With Corporate Diversity Rankings
Photo Of The Week: UMass Unions United By Max Page.

LIBRARY
Kestrel Trust To Transplant Portion Of Jones Library Kinsey Garden by Jeff Lee
Library Committees Confront Missing Director Goals, Seek Better Accounting Software by Jeff Lee

OPINION
Public Comment: In Support Of A Temporary Solar Moratorium by Janet McGowan
Public Comment:  Amherst’s Required “Share” Of Ground-Mounted Solar Is Not 300 Acres by Michael Lipinski
Public Comment:  Hauler Reform Will Produce Savings For Town And Its Residents by Darcy Dumont
Letter: Residents Invited To District 4 Community Forum by Pamela Rooney and Anika Lopes
Letter: Public Urged To Speak Out Against Harmful Aerial Mosquito Spraying by John Root
Opinion: Local and Green – Amherst And The Circular Ecnonomy (#30)  by Darcy DuMont
Opinion: Love Justice and Climate Change. Tips for Stepping Up Our Action On Climate Change by Russ Vernon-Jones
Opinion: Why Every Job Is A Climate Job by Sarah Lazarovic (for Yes Magazine)

PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 Update For The Week Of February 16, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
Senior Surveys Are In The Mail by Maura Keene
Amherst Residents Demand End To Local Mask Mandates by Art Keene
COVID-19 Update For The Week Of February 9, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
Town Offers COVID Vaccine Clinic Every Thursday
Letter: Public Urged To Speak Out Against Harmful Aerial Mosquito Spraying by John Root

SOLAR
Councilors Hanneke And Bahl-Milne Reverse Their Support Of Temporary Moratorium For Large Ground-mounted Solar Arrays by Maura Keene
Public Comment: In Support Of A Temporary Solar Moratorium by Janet McGowan
Public Comment:  Amherst’s Required “Share” Of Ground-Mounted Solar Is Not 300 Acres by Michael Lipinski
Speak Up! Should Amherst Declare A Temporary Moratorium On Large Scale Solar? by Jeff Lee

SOLID WASTE
Public Comment:  Hauler Reform Will Produce Savings For Town And Its Residents by Darcy Dumont
Opinion: Local and Green – Amherst And The Circular Ecnonomy (#30)  by Darcy DuMont
A Better World Is Possible: The Circular Economy by Art Keene

SCHOOLS
Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. Amherst’s School Building Project: We Need To Set Ourselves Up For Success by Jennifer Shiao
Siting Of Geothermal Wells Easier At Fort River by Toni Cunningham
Council Approves Extra Funding For A Pumper Truck And A Feasibility Study For A New Elementary School by Maura Keene
Amherst Community Chat: Elementary School Building Project

SOCIAL JUSTICE
An Urgent Peace Rally Outside Congressman McGovern’s Office in Northampton -No War With Russia! Abolish NATO! by Yoav Elinevsky
UMass Labor Center Finds Deep Flaws With Corporate Diversity Rankings
League of Women Voters Annual Birthday Luncheon Will Be Virtual

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Senior Surveys Are In The Mail by Maura Keene
Amherst Residents Demand End To Local Mask Mandates by Art Keene
Library Committees Confront Missing Director Goals, Seek Better Accounting Software by Jeff Lee
Pickleball, Historic Preservation, And Other Recommendations From CPAC by Kitty Axelson-Berry
Councilors Hanneke And Bahl-Milne Reverse Their Support Of Temporary Moratorium For Large Ground-mounted Solar Arrays by Maura Keene
Council Approves Extra Funding For A Pumper Truck And A Feasibility Study For A New Elementary School by Maura Keene
COVID-19 Update For The Week Of February 9, 2022 by Art Keene
Amherst Community Chat: Elementary School Building Project
Letter: Residents Invited To District 4 Community Forum by Pamela Rooney and Anika Lopes
Town Manager Report For February 7, 2022