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: 25,445 (+72)
Last Week: 7583 (+2074)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 13,125 (-89)
Last Week: 3712 (+953)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: New UMass Pavillion A Flawed Undertaking by Robin Jaffin
2. Letter: Large Earmark For Jones Library Ignores Pressing Community Needs by Rita Burke
3. Webinar On Artificial Turf Confirms Public Health Worries by Art Keene
4. Planning Board Delays Approval Of Belchertown Road Transitional Housing by Maura Keene
5. Opinion: Distribution Of ARPA Funds In Amherst Was Not Equitable by Black Business Association of Amherst

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
Full Gallery Change Over At Local Art Gallery In The Mill District by Maura and Art Keene

CAMPUSES
Hampshire College Receives $1 Million Gift From Co-Founder Of Stonyfield Organic
UMass Amherst National Poll Surveys Americans’ Views On Reparations, Antisemitism, And The ‘Great Replacement Theory’
UMass Will Host National Day Of Racial Healing Brunch
Letter: New UMass Pavillion A Flawed Undertaking by Robin Jaffin

CAPITAL PROJECTS
School Building Committee Works To Minimize Higher Cost Estimates by Maria Kopicki
TSO And Finance Committee Recommend Removing Town Ownership Of Sewer And Water Lines From New Regulations by Art Keene
Fundraising Deadline Looms For High School Track And Field Project by Maria Kopicki
Community Forum On The Elementary School Building Project
National Day Of Racial Healing January 17
Opinion: Regional School Committee Shirks Fiscal Responsibility And Defies Boards Of Health by Maria Kopicki

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Opinion: Local & Green. Climate Action In The New Year. A Tale Of Two Cities. by Darcy DuMont
Almanac: The Mystery Of Marcescence by Stephen Braun

EVENTS
Full Gallery Change Over At Local Art Gallery In The Mill District by Maura and Art Keene
Community Forum On The Elementary School Building Project
UMass Will Host National Day Of Racial Healing Brunch
What’s Happening In Amherst?

FEATURES
Almanac: The Mystery Of Marcescence by Stephen Braun
Amherst History Month By Month: The Bowker Auditorium At UMass Amherst by Hetty Startup
Photo Of The Week: Mt. Pollux At Dusk By Peggy Matthews-Nilsen

HISTORY / HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
Amherst History Month By Month: The Bowker Auditorium At UMass Amherst by Hetty Startup

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Ever Upward — A Modern History of Amherst Tax Bills by Jeff Lee

OPINION
Letter: New UMass Pavillion A Flawed Undertaking by Robbin Jaffin
Letter: Commercial Developments Should Be Held To The Same Aesthetic Standards As Non-Profits by Elizabeth Vierling
Opinion: Regional School Committee Shirks Fiscal Responsibility And Defies Boards Of Health by Maria Kopicki
Opinion: Local & Green. Climate Action In The New Year. A Tale Of Two Cities. by Darcy DuMont
Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog: Moving Sixth Graders To Middle School May Be Delayed Until 2026 by Jennifer Shiao

PUBLIC HEALTH
Board of Health: COVID Situation In Amherst Much Improved. High Level Of Gun Safety In Town by Art Keene
COVID-19 Weekly Update For the Week of January 11, 2023 by Art and Maura Keene

PUBLIC SAFETY
Council Defends Private Meetings With Police. Griesemer Re-elected As Council President by Maura Keene
Board of Health: COVID Situation In Amherst Much Improved. High Level Of Gun Safety In Town by Art Keene

SCHOOLS
School Building Committee Works To Minimize Higher Cost Estimates by Maria Kopicki
Superintendent Proposes Deferring Sixth Grade Move To Middle School by Toni Cunningham
Amherst Educators Walk Out For A Fair Contact
Fundraising Deadline Looms For High School Track And Field Project by Maria Kopicki
Community Forum On The Elementary School Building Project
Opinion: Regional School Committee Shirks Fiscal Responsibility And Defies Boards Of Health by Maria Kopicki
Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog: Moving Sixth Graders To Middle School May Be Delayed Until 2026 by Jennifer Shiao

SOCIAL JUSTICE
More Than 100 People Attend Reparations Listening Session Featuring Congressman McGovern by Maura Keene
UMass Amherst National Poll Surveys Americans’ Views On Reparations, Antisemitism, And The ‘Great Replacement Theory’
National Day Of Racial Healing January 17
UMass Will Host National Day Of Racial Healing Brunch

TAXES
How Is Property In Amherst Assessed? Report On A Special Meeting With Assessor Kim Mew by Maura Keene
Ever Upward — A Modern History of Amherst Tax Bills by Jeff Lee

TOWN GOVERNMENT
School Building Committee Works To Minimize Higher Cost Estimates by Maria Kopicki
TSO And Finance Committee Recommend Removing Town Ownership Of Sewer And Water Lines From New Regulations by Art Keene
More Than 100 People Attend Reparations Listening Session Featuring Congressman McGovern by Maura Keene
Council Defends Private Meetings With Police. Griesemer Re-elected As Council President by Maura Keene
How Is Property In Amherst Assessed? Report On A Special Meeting With Assessor Kim Mew by Maura Keene
Smith Charities Offers Gifts To Widows, Nurses, Tradespeople, And Brides As Well As Competitive Mortgages by Carol Gray
National Day Of Racial Healing January 17
Letter: Commercial Developments Should Be Held To The Same Aesthetic Standards As Non-Profits by Elizabeth Vierling
Opinion: Regional School Committee Shirks Fiscal Responsibility And Defies Boards Of Health by Maria Kopicki
Opinion: Local & Green. Climate Action In The New Year. A Tale Of Two Cities. by Darcy DuMont

US POLITICS
UMass Amherst National Poll Surveys Americans’ Views On Reparations, Antisemitism, And The ‘Great Replacement Theory’