What’s In This Issue?

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ANALYTICS
Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 39,901 (-4405)
Last Week: 6889 (-1225)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 25,031 (-2267)
Last Week: 3704 (-881)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
1.Don’t Throw Away This Letter! by Jeff Lee
2. Letter: Retired Teacher Questions The Integrity Of Hiring Processes In Amherst Public Schools by Martha Toro
3. Opinion: Why Is The Town Of Amherst Still Called Amherst? by John Gerber
4. Textiles and Mattresses Banned From Massachusetts Trash Disposal Sites by Art Keene
5. A Few Questions For Sean Mangano And Kim Mew About Property Taxes And The Possibility Of A Reduction For Owner-occupied Residences by Kitty Axelson-Berry

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Council Denies Funding For Artificial Turf At High School by Maura Keene
2. Nantucket School Committee Undertakes Rigorous Evaluation Of PFAS Risks In Synthetic Turf Fields by Art Keene
3. Almanac: Falling Water by Stephen Braun
4. Don’t Throw Away This Letter! by Jeff Lee
5. Opinion: Remembering Nonny Burack And The Merry Maple by Josna Rege

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
New Photo Exhibit At The Jones: The South Amherst Rail Trail And Swamp Through the Seasons by Sally Greenebaum
Photo Of The Week: Quilts From The Stitching Time Exhibit At August Savage Gallery by Art Keene

DEMOCRACY
Public Comment: Jennifer Shiao Commended For Calling Attention To Synthetic Turf Risks by Michael Burkart
Letter: School Committee’s Attempt To Silence Critic Sets Poor Example For Our Students by Michael Greenebaum
Opinion: A Special Town Meeting For A Periodic Review Of Amherst’s Home Rule Charter by Michael Greenebaum

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
New Protocols For Setting Town Manager Goals Would Remove Specific Mandates for Action On Climate, Solid Waste, CRESS,And Racial Equity by Art Keene
Public Comment: Recommended Climate Action Goals For Town Manager by Lydia Vernon-Jones and Julian Hynes
Almanac: Jellies by Stephen Braun

DOWNTOWN
Free Saturday Parking Downtown Through December 24

EVENTS
New Play Spotlights Emily Dickinson’s Complex Views Toward The Irishby Jeff Lee
New Photo Exhibit At The Jones: The South Amherst Rail Trail And Swamp Through the Seasons by Sally Greenebaum
What’s Happening In Amherst? by Art Keene

FEATURES
Almanac: Jellies by Stephen Braun
Photo Of The Week: Quilts From The Stitching Time Exhibit At August Savage Gallery by Art Keene

HISTORY / HISTORIC PRESERVATION
New Play Spotlights Emily Dickinson’s Complex Views Toward The Irishby Jeff Lee
Issues & Analyses: A Primer On Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits For Income Producing Buildings by Kitty Axelson-Berry

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: A Primer On Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits For Income Producing Buildings by Kitty Axelson-Berry

LIBRARY
Jones Building Project Enters Hurry Up Mode As Deadlines Loom by Jeff Lee
New Photo Exhibit At The Jones: The South Amherst Rail Trail And Swamp Through the Seasons by Sally Greenebaum
Issues & Analyses: A Primer On Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits For Income Producing Buildings by Kitty Axelson-Berry
Letter: The Jones Library Has A Plan B.  Now What?by Ken Rosenthal

OPINION
Public Comment: Recommended Climate Action Goals For Town Manager by Lydia Vernon-Jones and Julian Hynes
Public Comment: Jennifer Shiao Commended For Calling Attention To Synthetic Turf Risks by Michael Burkart
Letter: School Committee’s Attempt To Silence Critic Sets Poor Example For Our Students by Michael Greenebaum
Letter: The Jones Library Has A Plan B.  Now What? by Ken Rosenthal
Letter: Town Needs Better Trash Policies by Anne Burton
Letter: Misleading And False Statements Abound Regarding Track/Field Redesign by Maura Keene
Opinion: Pediatricians Warn That Synthetic Turf Is Especially Dangerous For Children And Teens by Maura and Art Keene
Opinion: A Special Town Meeting For A Periodic Review Of Amherst’s Home Rule Charter by Michael Greenebaum
Opinion: A Possible Double Whammy To Major Policy Goals In Amherst by Darcy DuMont

PARKING
Free Saturday Parking Downtown Through December 24

PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of November 30, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
Letter: Misleading And False Statements Abound Regarding Track/Field Redesign by Maura Keene
Opinion: Pediatricians Warn That Synthetic Turf Is Especially Dangerous For Children And Teens by Maura and Art Keene

PUBLIC SAFETY
Amherst Media Honors Community Safety Working Group With Jean Haggerty Award by Art Keene
Community Responder Department Receives Crisis Systems Learning Grant

MEDIA
Amherst Media Honors Community Safety Working Group With Jean Haggerty Award by Art Keene

SCHOOLS
Contentious School Committee Meeting Ends Without Reprimand Of Shiao by Maura Keene
Public Comment: Jennifer Shiao Commended For Calling Attention To Synthetic Turf Risks by Michael Burkart
Letter: School Committee’s Attempt To Silence Critic Sets Poor Example For Our Students by Michael Greenebaum
Letter: Misleading And False Statements Abound Regarding Track/Field Redesign by Maura Keene
Opinion: Pediatricians Warn That Synthetic Turf Is Especially Dangerous For Children And Teens by Maura and Art Keene

SENIORS
Amherst Senior Services Receives Donation Of Para-transport Van From PVTA

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Amherst Media Honors Community Safety Working Group With Jean Haggerty Award by Art Keene
Photo Of The Week: Quilts From The Stitching Time Exhibit At August Savage Gallery by Art Keene

SOLID WASTE
Letter: Town Needs Better Trash Policies by Anne Burton
New Protocols For Setting Town Manager Goals Would Remove Specific Mandates for Action On Climate, Solid Waste, CRESS,And Racial Equity by Art Keene

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Jones Building Project Enters Hurry Up Mode As Deadlines Loom by Jeff Lee
Contentious School Committee Meeting Ends Without Reprimand Of Shiao by Maura Keene
New Protocols For Setting Town Manager Goals Would Remove Specific Mandates for Action On Climate, Solid Waste, CRESS,And Racial Equity by Art Keene
Community Responder Department Receives Crisis Systems Learning Grant
Assistance Available To Help Amherst Residents With Overdue Rent, Mortgage, And Utility Bills
Amherst Senior Services Receives Donation Of Para-transport Van From PVTA
Public Comment: Recommended Climate Action Goals For Town Manager by Lydia Vernon-Jones and Julian Hynes
Letter: The Jones Library Has A Plan B.  Now What? by Ken Rosenthal
Letter: Town Needs Better Trash Policies by Anne Burton
Opinion: A Special Town Meeting For A Periodic Review Of Amherst’s Home Rule Charter by Michael Greenebaum
Opinion: A Possible Double Whammy To Major Policy Goals In Amherst by Darcy DuMont