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: 24,566 (-822)
Last Week: 4885 (-846).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 12,639 (-208)
Last Week: 2659 (-387)

LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END 2021 SUMMARY STATS

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES IN THE MONTH OF MARCH
1.  Update On Amherst’s Family Of Bears by Art Keene
2. Sunset–Fearing Townhouse Project Moves Forward by Maura Keene
3.Public Comment: Personal Testimony On Growing Up Black In Amherst by Alexis Reed
4. Building Committee Receives Preliminary Cost Estimates For New Elementary School by Maura Keene
5 Earl Miller Appointed As Director Of Amherst’s Community Responder Program by Art Keene

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Update On Amherst’s Family Of Bears by Art Keene
2. Library Looks To Add New Department. Building Committee To Seek Ideas From Public by Jeff Lee
3. Net Zero Aspects of School Project To Be Discussed March 29 by Toni Cunningham
4. Letter: A Plea To Save Amherst’s Old Trees by Rani Paker
5. Councilors Consider Revising Rental Permit Regulations by Maura Keene

WHAT”S IN THIS ISSUE?
NEW / BREAKING
Town Council OK’s Increased Parking Permit Fees, Changes To North Pleasant Street, And Revised Plan For Polling Places by Maura Keene
Affordable Housing Units Still Available At Aspen Heights In Amherst
Opinion: Love, Justice and Climate Change. A Useful Idea With Practical Implications by Russ Vernon-Jones
IPCC Report: ‘Now Or Never’ If World Is To Stave Off Climate Disaster by Fiona Harvey (for The Guardian)
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of April 6, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
Letter: Amherst’s Reparations Story Shared At National Conference by Michele Miller

ARTS
Pioneer Valley Virtual Passover Film Festival
A Few Questions For Jazz Guitarist Freddie Bryant by Kitty Axelson-Berry

BUDGET
School Budget Vote Leaves Art and Technology Teachers In Limbo by Toni Cunningham
Library Building Committee Works To Bring Designer Costs Within Budget by Jeff Lee
Opinion: Amherst School Committee Restores Art And Technology Specials Teachers For FY23 Budget – But How?  by Jennifer Shiao

CAMPUS
UMass Receives $330,000 Grant For Early College Program In Massachusetts
UMass Panel To Explore “Telling The Truth About History”
UMass Gamble Memorial Lecture Will Focus On Economic Development In An Era Of Health Pandemics And Climate Change

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Letter: A Plea To Save Amherst’s Old Trees by Rani Parker
Almanac: Warm Blood In A Cold Swamp by Stephen Braun

EVENTS
UMass Panel To Explore “Telling The Truth About History”
Cuppa’ Joe With Paul Bockelman And CRESS Director Earl Miller
UMass Gamble Memorial Lecture Will Focus On Economic Development In An Era Of Health Pandemics And Climate Change
Pioneer Valley Virtual Passover Film Festival
Amherst Community Clean Up Day Planned For April 30

FEATURES
Dear Reader by Art Keene
A Few Questions For Jazz Guitarist Freddie Bryant by Kitty Axelson-Berry
Almanac: Warm Blood In A Cold Swamp by Stephen Braun
Photo Of The Week: Our Second Gallery On The War In Ukraine by Art Keene

HISTORY
UMass Panel To Explore “Telling The Truth About History”

LIBRARY
Library Building Committee Works To Bring Designer Costs Within Budget by Jeff Lee
Letter: Proposed Head Of Young Adult Services Position At Jones Library Is Unjustifiable by Natalie Barber

OPINION
Public Comment: Budget Should Prioritize Educational Programs and Educators’ Salaries by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz, Julian Hynes, Amrita Rutter, Sitta Rutter, Claire Lindsey, and Lucy Thompson
Letter: Proposed Head Of Young Adult Services Position At Jones Library Is Unjustifiable by Natalie Barber
Letter: Expand Worker Coops In Massachusetts For A More Secure Financial Future by Mary Hoyer and Rand Wilson
Letter: A Plea To Save Amherst’s Old Trees by Rani Parker
Opinion: A Fork in the Road – Whither Amherst? by Jennifer Taub
Opinion: Christopher Alexander And A Vision For Amherst by Michael Greenebaum
Opinion: Amherst School Committee Restores Art And Technology Specials Teachers For FY23 Budget – But How?  by Jennifer Shiao

PLANNING
CRC Discusses Zoning Priorities by Maura Keene
Opinion: A Fork in the Road – Whither Amherst? by Jennifer Taub
Opinion: Christopher Alexander And A Vision For Amherst by Michael Greenebaum

PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of March 30, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

SCHOOLS
School Budget Vote Leaves Art and Technology Teachers In Limbo by Toni Cunningham
UMass Panel To Explore “Telling The Truth About History”
Public Comment: Budget Should Prioritize Educational Programs and Educators’ Salaries by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz, Julian Hynes, Amrita Rutter, Sitta Rutter, Claire Lindsey, and Lucy Thompson
Opinion: Amherst School Committee Restores Art And Technology Specials Teachers For FY23 Budget – But How?  by Jennifer Shiao

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
UMass Panel To Explore “Telling The Truth About History”
Cuppa’ Joe With Paul Bockelman And CRESS Director Earl Miller
Letter: Expand Worker Coops In Massachusetts For A More Secure Financial Future by Mary Hoyer and Rand Wilson

TOWN GOVERNMENT
CRC Discusses Zoning Priorities by Maura Keene
Town Clerk Announces Revised Recommendations For Voting Locations by Art Keene
Town Seeks Nominations For 2022 Human Rights Youth Hero Awards
Cuppa’ Joe With Paul Bockelman And CRESS Director Earl Miller
Amherst Community Clean Up Day Planned For April 30
Public Comment: Budget Should Prioritize Educational Programs and Educators’ Salaries by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz, Julian Hynes, Amrita Rutter, Sitta Rutter, Claire Lindsey, and Lucy Thompson
Letter: Proposed Head Of Young Adult Services Position At Jones Library Is Unjustifiable by Natalie Barber
Opinion: Christopher Alexander And A Vision For Amherst by Michael Greenebaum

WORLD EVENTS
Photo Of The Week: Our Second Gallery On The War In Ukraine by Art Keene