What’s In This Issue?

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ANALYTICS  .(note: The Indy was on vacation for the month of July). Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 25,023 (+1523)
Last Week: 6727 (+586)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 12,786 (+578)
Last Week: 3184 (-140)

LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END 2021 SUMMARY STATS

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST
1. Planning Board Wants Removal Of Cement Blocks At Marijuana Cultivating Facility by Maura Keene
2. Amherst History Month-by-Month: Nuttingville by Hetty Startup
3. Opinion: Burgeoning Cost Of Jones Library Demolition/Expansion Requires Serious Community Discussions by Art Keene
4. Trustees To Decide On Risking Library Endowment To Cover Rising Building Project Costs by Jeff Lee
5. New Estimate Sees Library Construction $11.6M Over Budget. Trustees Consider Pledging Endowment To Cover Gap by Jeff Lee

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Trustees Bet The Farm On Troubled Library Project. Building Committee Approves by Jeff Lee
2. Opinion: But What Will It Cost Amherst Residents? Jones Trustees Vote To Move Forward With No Discussion Of Fiscal Risks by Art Keene
3. Opinion: Burgeoning Cost Of Jones Library Demolition/Expansion Requires Serious Community Discussions by Art Keene
4. Social Justice Committee /DEI Director Clarify Differences About Police Engagement With BIPOC Youth by Maura Keene
5.Letter: Let’s Work Together To Come Up With A Sensible, Affordable Plan For The Jones Library by Ira Bryck

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

CAMPUS
UMass Amherst Welcomes Approximately 5,550 First-Year Students To Campus
UMass Move-in Begins Thursday, Sept. 1
New UMass/ WCVB Poll Finds Down-ballot Races Tightening As Primary Election Day Approaches

CLIMATE /ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Letter:  Common Share Food Coop Supports Hauler Reform In Amherst by Madeleine Charney
Opinion: It’s Hot!  Extreme Heat, Race,  Recommendations, And Hope by Russ Vernon-Jones
Almanac: Golden Herald by Stephen Braun
Photo Of The Week: Busy Bees After The Rain by Annique Boomsma

ELECTIONS
New UMass/ WCVB Poll Finds Down-ballot Races Tightening As Primary Election Day Approaches
Opinion:  Vote Yes On Question 1 In November To Make Amherst and Massachusetts More Livable by Ian Rhodewalt

EVENTS
North Amherst Community BBQ and Potluck
Housing Trust Will Offer Online Forum On Affordable Housing In Amherst
Amherst Block Party Is Back On September 15
What’s Happening In Amherst? by Art Keene

FEATURES
Becoming Human: Modeling Food Cooperatives by Boone Shear
Amherst History Month-by-Month: Mrs. Musante by Hetty Startup
Almanac: Golden Herald by Stephen Braun
From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst. Local News Roundup For The Month Of August 2022 by Art Keene
Photo Of The Week: Busy Bees After The Rain by Annique Boomsma

FOOD COOPS
Letter:  Common Share Food Coop Supports Hauler Reform In Amherst by Madeleine Charney
Becoming Human: Modeling Food Cooperatives by Boone Shear

HISTORY / HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Amherst History Month-by-Month: Mrs. Musante by Hetty Startup

HOUSING
Housing Trust Will Offer Online Forum On Affordable Housing In Amherst

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: Throwing Good Money After Bad: Why Every Expensive Project Needs An Exit Strategy by Art Keene

LIBRARY
Jones Design Subcommittee Eyes Library Cost Cuts. List Of Libraries Turning Down Grants Grows by Jeff Lee
Issues & Analyses: Throwing Good Money After Bad: Why Every Expensive Project Needs An Exit Strategy by Art Keene
Letter: Please Halt The Jones Library Expansion Project by Maria Kopicki
Letter: Town Council, Read The Signs And Correct Our Course by Jeff Lee
Letter: Let’s Work Together To Come Up With A Sensible, Affordable Plan For The Jones Library by Ira Bryck
Letter: Living Within A Budget by Terence Masterson

NEIGHBORHOODS
North Amherst Community BBQ and Potluck
Letter: Why Banning Parking On Lincoln, Sunset Is A Good Idea by Ken Rosenthal

OPINION
Letter: Please Halt The Jones Library Expansion Project by Maria Kopicki
Letter: Town Council, Read The Signs And Correct Our Course by Jeff Lee
Letter: Let’s Work Together To Come Up With A Sensible, Affordable Plan For The Jones Library by Ira Bryck
Letter: Living Within A Budget by Terence Masterson
Letter:  Common Share Food Coop Supports Hauler Reform In Amherst by Madeleine Charney
Letter: Ren’s Mobil On Brink Of Foreclosure.  Go Fund Me Campaign Launched To Help by Robin Jaffin
Letter: Why Banning Parking On Lincoln, Sunset Is A Good Idea by Ken Rosenthal
Letter: We Must See July 5 Police Stop Of BIPOC Youth Through The Eyes Of Teens Who Were Detained by Rani Parker
Opinion:  Vote Yes On Question 1 In November To Make Amherst and Massachusetts More Livable by Ian Rhodewalt
Opinion: It’s Hot!  Extreme Heat, Race,  Recommendations, And Hope by Russ Vernon-Jones
Opinion: The US Has A Ruling Class – And Americans Must Stand Up To It by Bernie Sanders (for The Guardian)

PARKING
Letter: Why Banning Parking On Lincoln, Sunset Is A Good Idea by Ken Rosenthal

PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of August 31, 2022. Now With The Latest News On Monkeypox by Art and Maura Keene
Letter:  Common Share Food Coop Supports Hauler Reform In Amherst by Madeleine Charney
Grease Blocks Town Sewer Line

PUBLIC SAFETY
Letter: We Must See July 5 Police Stop Of BIPOC Youth Through The Eyes Of Teens Who Were Detained by Rani Parker

SCHOOLS
MSBA Board Votes Amherst Fort River Elementary School Into Schematic Design

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Letter: We Must See July 5 Police Stop Of BIPOC Youth Through The Eyes Of Teens Who Were Detained by Rani Parker
Opinion: It’s Hot!  Extreme Heat, Race,  Recommendations, And Hope by Russ Vernon-Jones
Opinion: The US Has A Ruling Class – And Americans Must Stand Up To It by Bernie Sanders (for The Guardian)

SOLID WASTE
Letter:  Common Share Food Coop Supports Hauler Reform In Amherst by Madeleine Charney

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Jones Design Subcommittee Eyes Library Cost Cuts. List Of Libraries Turning Down Grants Grows by Jeff Lee
Community Development Block Grants Will Prioritize Social Services, Transportation and Infrastructure by Maura Keene
Letter: Please Halt The Jones Library Expansion Project by Maria Kopicki
Letter: Town Council, Read The Signs And Correct Our Course by Jeff Lee
Letter: Let’s Work Together To Come Up With A Sensible, Affordable Plan For The Jones Library by Ira Bryck
Letter: Living Within A Budget by Terence Masterson

US POLITICS
Opinion: The US Has A Ruling Class – And Americans Must Stand Up To It by Bernie Sanders (for The Guardian)