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 or better yet, just drop us a note with your contact information at amherstindy@gmail.com. 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 indicate change from the previous week.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 28,201 (+1516)
Last Week: 8064 (-711)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 14,381 (+432)
Last Week: 3879 (-991)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: New UMass Pavillion A Flawed Undertaking by Robin Jaffin
2. A Better World Is Possible: Houston Helps 25,000 People Exit Homelessness by Ingo Geiger
3. More Steel, Less Wood Proposed For New Library Design. Campaign Pivots From Gifts To Pledges by Jeff Lee
4. Letter: Response To Tony Maroulis On The Proposed Workers Pavilion by Robin Jaffin
5. Letter: University Staff Association Was Not Consulted On Proposed Workers’ Pavilion by Leslie Marsland
5. Letter: UMass Responds To Concerns About Proposed Pavilion Honoring Service Workers by Tony Maroulis

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

CAMPUS
Neighbors, Conservationists, Seek Dialogue With University On Proposed Pavilion At Renaissance Center by Art Keene
UMass Amherst Online Programs Place Near Top Of U.S. News Rankings For 2023 
Renowned Activist And Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg Awarded Honorary Degree By UMass Amherst In Special Ceremony Conducted In San Francisco 
Letter: There Are Better Ways To Honor UMass Front Line Service Workers Than A Remote Pavilion by John Varner

CAPITAL PROJECTS
Griesemer Failed To Share Information On Proposed State PFAS Ban With Town Council by Art Keene
Design For New K-5 Elementary School Features Improved Energy Efficiency by Maura Keene
Designers Defend Mostly Steel Library Structure. Kinsey Garden Oak To Be Removed by Jeff Lee
Construction Bids Due For Centennial Water Treatment Plant Replacement by Toni Cunningham

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Design For New K-5 Elementary School Features Improved Energy Efficiency by Maura Keene
Designers Defend Mostly Steel Library Structure. Kinsey Garden Oak To Be Removed by Jeff Lee
Almanac: Show & Tell by Stephen Braun

EVENTS
Truth School Announces New Lineup Of Classes For Spring 2023 by Renee Moss
Black History Month Kickoff, February 1
Fun And Hot Cocoa As Winterfest Returns For 2023
What’s Happening In Amherst? by Art Keene

FEATURES
Amherst History Month By Month: Barn For Today by Hetty Startup
Almanac: Show & Tell by Stephen Braun
Becoming Human: Recent Developments Among Worker Coops In Massachusetts Signal Growth Of Movement by Boone Shear
Co-Chairs Of Human Rights Commission Envision A Year Of Action In 2023 by Shira Sadeh
From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst.  This Week: A Local News Roundup by Art Keene
Photo Of The Week: A January 2023 Gallery compiled by Art Keene

HISTORY / HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
Black History Month Kickoff, February 1
Amherst History Month By Month: Barn For Today by Hetty Startup

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Mode Shift #3: Supporting Sustainable, Equitable Transportation. It’s Time To Finish Amherst’s Bicycle And Pedestrian Network Map And Plan by Eve Vogel

OPINION
Letter: There Are Better Ways To Honor UMass Front Line Service Workers Than A Remote Pavilion by John Varner
Letter: Use of Jones Library Has Declined Steadily Since 2006 by Rita Burke
Opinion: We Are All Playing Covid Roulette. Without Clean Air, The Next Infection Could Permanently Disable You by George Monbiot (for the Guardian)

LIBRARY
Designers Defend Mostly Steel Library Structure. Kinsey Garden Oak To Be Removed by Jeff Lee
Letter: Use of Jones Library Has Declined Steadily Since 2006 by Rita Burke

PUBLIC HEALTH
Griesemer Failed To Share Information On Proposed State PFAS Ban With Town Council by Art Keene
COVID-19 Weekly Update For the Week of January 25, 2023 by Art anbd Maura Keene
Opinion: We Are All Playing Covid Roulette. Without Clean Air, The Next Infection Could Permanently Disable You by George Monbiot (for the Guardian)

PUBLIC SAFETY
CRESS Program Nearing Capacity by Maura Keene

SCHOOLS
Griesemer Failed To Share Information On Proposed State PFAS Ban With Town Council by Art Keene
Design For New K-5 Elementary School Features Improved Energy Efficiency by Maura Keene
School Budget “Frost” Likely by Toni Cunningham
Superintendent Recommends Delaying Move of Sixth Grade By Three Years. Space Crunch Anticipated At Fort River by Toni Cunningham
What Will The Town Do With Its Surplus Property? by Art Keene

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
CRESS Program Nearing Capacity by Maura Keene
Reparations Assembly Again Challenged By Outside Activists by Maura Keene
Truth School Announces New Lineup Of Classes For Spring 2023 by Renee Moss
Renowned Activist And Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg Awarded Honorary Degree By UMass Amherst In Special Ceremony Conducted In San Francisco 
Letter: There Are Better Ways To Honor UMass Front Line Service Workers Than A Remote Pavilion by John Varner
Becoming Human: Recent Developments Among Worker Coops In Massachusetts Signal Growth Of Movement by Boone Shear
Co-Chairs Of Human Rights Commission Envision A Year Of Action In 2023 by Shira Sadeh

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Griesemer Failed To Share Information On Proposed State PFAS Ban With Town Council by Art Keene
Design For New K-5 Elementary School Features Improved Energy Efficiency by Maura Keene
School Budget “Frost” Likely by Toni Cunningham
Superintendent Recommends Delaying Move of Sixth Grade By Three Years. Space Crunch Anticipated At Fort River by Toni Cunningham
Designers Defend Mostly Steel Library Structure. Kinsey Garden Oak To Be Removed by Jeff Lee
What Will The Town Do With Its Surplus Property? by Art Keene
CRESS Program Nearing Capacity by Maura Keene
Construction Bids Due For Centennial Water Treatment Plant Replacement by Toni Cunningham
Reparations Assembly Again Challenged By Outside Activists by Maura Keene
Plan For Real Estate Transfer Fee Submitted To Legislature by Maura Keene
Black History Month Kickoff, February 1
Mode Shift #3: Supporting Sustainable, Equitable Transportation. It’s Time To Finish Amherst’s Bicycle And Pedestrian Network Map And Plan by Eve Vogel
Co-Chairs Of Human Rights Commission Envision A Year Of Action In 2023 by Shira Sadeh