What’s In This Issue?

Welcome to our Table of Contents. You can also receive a listing of all new items in the Indy each week by signing up here. The subscription is free and will deliver to your inbox a listing of all new content, each Saturday at 6 a.m. We can assure you that we will not share your email address, nor will we send you any additional emails to clog up your inbox (except in the case of truly urgent breaking news, in which case we’ll send out a special dispatch).

ANALYTICS  .
(numbers in parentheses reflect the + or – change compared with the previous week.
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 23,697 (-1,057)
Last Week: 5837 (+612).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 12,458 (-444)
Last Week: 3245 (+249)

LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END 2021 SUMMARY STATS

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES IN THE MONTH OF JUNE
1. AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst by Art Keene
2. Photo Essay: Maintaining Continuity With The Past. Groundbreaking For The North Amherst Library Expansion And Renovation by Art Keene
3. Library Committee Considers Metal Exterior On New Addition. Space For Civil War Tablets In Limbo by Jeff Lee
4. Letter: On Amherst Forward’s Curious Notion Of Democracy by Michael Greenebaum
5. Affordable Housing Lottery Applications For One University Drive South Due August 12

TOP FIVE MOST- READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. AJ Hastings To Close After Over 100 Years In Downtown Amherst by Art Keene
2. Library Grants Room To Civil War Tablets. Volunteer Librarians Nixed by Jeff Lee
3. Finance Committee Reaches Compromise On Funding For Reparations by Maura Keene
4. Actions Planned Over SCOTUS Decision To Overturn Roe v Wade Beginning Friday Night On Amherst Town Common by Art Keene
5. Elementary School Building Committee Approves Schematic Report. Project Moves Forward by Maria Kopicki

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
NEW / BREAKING
New Town Dog Park Will Open On Wednesday, July 27
Opinion: Town Councilors Blatantly Misrepresent My Views While Rejecting My Application To Serve On ZBA by John Varner
Town Council Scuttles Varner Appointment To ZBA, Approves CPA Borrowing For High School Track, Hears Complaint About Amherst Police Engagement With BIPOC Youth by Maura Keene
Opinion:  Change Is Needed In Police Treatment Of BIPOC Youth by The Community Safety Working Group

CAMPUS
UMass Receives $10 Million Grant From CDC To Establish Center To Reduce Risk Of Vector-Borne Diseases
New UMass Poll: Broad Majorities, Including Firearm Owners, Support Gun Control Measures in Massachusetts 

DEMOCRACY
Letter: It’s Time To Step Up And Save Democracy by Dinah Kudatsky
Opinion: Fight Back! by Art Keene

EVENTS
Town Of Amherst Public Pool Update
Donations Sought For League of Women Voters Annual Book Sale
Updated: Free Summer Meals For Kids In Amherst by Art Keene
What’s Happening In Amherst? by Art Keene

FEATURES
A Better World Is Possible: The 1975 Icelandic Women’s Strike
Watch: “Going Deeper With Marcie Sclove” An Interview With Earl Miller, The Director Of CRESS, Amherst’s New Community Responder Program by Marcie Sclove
Photo Of The Week: Steve Braun Is Traveling But He Left Us These Wonderful, Local Nature Photos by Stephen Braun

FOOD
Updated: Free Summer Meals For Kids In Amherst by Art Keene

GUNS
New UMass Poll: Broad Majorities, Including Firearm Owners, Support Gun Control Measures in Massachusetts 
Opinion: Women’s Rights, Guns, and Reforming the Supreme Court by Russ Vernon-Jones

THE INDY
The Indy Is Going On Vacation by Art Keene

LIBRARY
Building Committee Learns From Three Library Visits by Jeff Lee

NATURE
Photo Of The Week: Steve Braun Is Traveling But He Left Us These Wonderful, Local Nature Photos by Stephen Braun

OPINION
Public Comment: Proposal For Trash Hauler Reform Gains Public Support, Deserves Thorough Consideration By Town Council by Darcy DuMont
Letter:  There’s A Better Way To Collect Trash That Can Save Residents Money While Helping To Save The Planet by Darcy DuMont
Letter: It’s Time To Step Up And Save Democracy by Dinah Kudatsky
Letter: A New Downtown Parking Garage Is Still A Bad Idea by Jay Silverstein
Letter: Amherst’s Residential Taxes Are Too High by Jay Silverstein
Opinion: Fight Back! by Art Keene
Opinion: Women’s Rights, Guns, and Reforming the Supreme Court by Russ Vernon-Jones

PARKING
TSO: Town Should Cover Costs Of Water Line Repairs From Main To Property Line.  Parking On Lincoln Avenue Still Under Study by Maura Keene
Letter: A New Downtown Parking Garage Is Still A Bad Idea by Jay Silverstein

PROTEST / RESISTANCE
Letter: It’s Time To Step Up And Save Democracy by Dinah Kudatsky
Opinion: Fight Back! by Art Keene
Opinion: Women’s Rights, Guns, and Reforming the Supreme Court by Russ Vernon-Jones
A Better World Is Possible: The 1975 Icelandic Women’s Strike

PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of July 1, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
UMass Receives $10 Million Grant From CDC To Establish Center To Reduce Risk Of Vector-Borne Diseases

RECREATION
Town Of Amherst Public Pool Update

SOLID WASTE
Public Comment: Proposal For Trash Hauler Reform Gains Public Support, Deserves Thorough Consideration By Town Council by Darcy DuMont
Letter:  There’s A Better Way To Collect Trash That Can Save Residents Money While Helping To Save The Planet by Darcy DuMont

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Town Council Allocates $2 Million For Reparations by Maura Keene
Opinion: Fight Back! by Art Keene
Opinion: Women’s Rights, Guns, and Reforming the Supreme Court by Russ Vernon-Jones
Watch: “Going Deeper With Marcie Sclove” An Interview With Earl Miller, The Director Of CRESS, Amherst’s New Community Responder Program by Marcie Sclove

TOWN GOVERNMENT
TSO: Town Should Cover Costs Of Water Line Repairs From Main To Property Line.  Parking On Lincoln Avenue Still Under Study by Maura Keene
Planning Board Approves Changes To Dog Park Plans And New Mixed-use Building At 446 Main Street  by Maura Keene
Town Council Allocates $2 Million For Reparations by Maura Keene
Controversy Continues To Plague Town Council Appointments by Maura Keene
Letter: Amherst’s Residential Taxes Are Too High by Jay Silverstein