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: 34,477 (-326)
Last Week: 8798 (+810)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 16,391 (-958)
Last Week: 4013 (-432)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: Company Responsible For Williamsburg Solar Disaster Hired As Hickory Ridge Solar Developer by Jenny Kallick and Michael Lipinski
2. Town Plans Historically Large Tax Hike For New School. Tapping Reserves May Reduce It by Jeff Lee
3. Trust And Communication Issues Provide Impetus For Proposed Council Retreat by Maura Keene
4. Fun And Hot Cocoa As Winterfest Returns For 2023
5. Letter: The Case for Natural Turf At The Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools by Tom Fanning and 18 others.

WHAT”S IN THIS ISSUE?

ARTS
Meet The Director Of The Documentary “Turn Every Page” At The Amherst Cinema
Musical Celebration Of Black History Month, February 26

CAMPUS
Dr. Javier Reyes Appointed Chancellor At UMass Amherst
Hampshire College Achieves Carbon Neutrality
UMass Announces $2 Million Gift From Jim And Ellen Hunt For New Track/XC Performance Center
Acclaimed Poets And Authors Headline Amherst College’s Eighth Annual LitFest

CAPITAL PROJECTS
Library Tea Party Event Draws Fire by Jeff Lee
Group Forms To Encourage Passage Of Override For Elementary School by Maura Keene
Letter: The Jones Library Should Go To School by Ken Rosenthal
Opinion: Regional Athletic Fields: Invest in Resources To Create Assets by Tom Fanning
Opinion: Regional School District’s Inaction Speaks Louder Than Its Words by Maria Kopicki

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Hampshire College Achieves Carbon Neutrality
Amherst Climate Justice Alliance: Every Town Government Decision Must Be Viewed Through A Climate Lens by Art Keene
Opinion: White Supremacy Fuels Both Police Violence And Climate Destruction by Russ Vernon-Jones
From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst.  This Week – A Local News Roundup.  Also PFAS and Climate Justice. by Art Keene
Photos Of The Week. Reflections By Dave Madeloni

EVENTS
Meet The Director Of The Documentary “Turn Every Page” At The Amherst Cinema
Musical Celebration Of Black History Month, February 26
Activist Bill Fletcher Will Present Annual James Baldwin Lecture At UMass On February 23
Acclaimed Poets And Authors Headline Amherst College’s Eighth Annual LitFest
13^th Annual Daffodil Run For Big Brothers Big Sisters Will Be In-Person
What’s Happening In Amherst?

FEATURES
A Better World Is Possible: Help! Not Police! Crisis Responses That Avert Police Calls by Sandra Larson (for Shelterforce)
From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst.  This Week – A Local News Roundup.  Also PFAS and Climate Justice. by Art Keene
Photos Of The Week. Reflections By Dave Madeloni

GIFTS & GRANTS
UMass Announces $2 Million Gift From Jim And Ellen Hunt For New Track/XC Performance Center
Amherst’s Stavros Center Receives $100,000 Grant To Improve Community Based Approach To Mental Health

HISTORY
Musical Celebration Of Black History Month, February 26
Activist Bill Fletcher Will Present Annual James Baldwin Lecture At UMass On February 23

HOUSING
Community Resources Committee Debates Hanneke–DeAngelis Zoning Proposal by Kitty Axelson-Berry
Planning Board And Public Offer Critiques Of Proposal To Ease Permitting Of Multifamily Housing by Maura Keene
Letter: Too Many Unanswered Questions Concerning Proposed Zoning Bylaw by Ira Bryck
Opinion: Faulty Logic in Amherst’s Proposed Zoning Changes  by John Varner

LABOR
Amherst-Pelham Educators Vote To Work Rule

LIBRARY
Library Tea Party Event Draws Fire by Jeff Lee
Letter: The Jones Library Should Go To School by Ken Rosenthal

OPINION
Letter: Amherst’s Retroactive Tax Assessments An Unpleasant Surprise For Taxpayers by Sara McKee
Letter: The Jones Library Should Go To School by Ken Rosenthal
Letter: Too Many Unanswered Questions Concerning Proposed Zoning Bylaw by Ira Bryck
Opinion: Faulty Logic in Amherst’s Proposed Zoning Changes  by John Varner
Opinion: Regional Athletic Fields: Invest in Resources To Create Assets by Tom Fanning
Opinion: Regional School District’s Inaction Speaks Louder Than Its Words by Maria Kopicki
Opinion: Progressive Coalition Of Amherst Grieves The Murder Of Tyre Nichols by Progressive Coalition of Amherst
Opinion: Kindness And Fear Of The Unreported In Palestine by Hind Mari
Opinion: Moving Sixth Graders To The Middle School Delayed To Fall ’25 or ’26 by Jennifer Shiao
Opinion: White Supremacy Fuels Both Police Violence And Climate Destruction by Russ Vernon-Jones

PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of February 15, 2023 by Art and Maura Keene
Amherst’s Stavros Center Receives $100,000 Grant To Improve Community Based Approach To Mental Health
From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst.  This Week – A Local News Roundup.  Also PFAS and Climate Justice. b y Art Keene

PUBLIC SAFETY
A Better World Is Possible: Help! Not Police! Crisis Responses That Avert Police Calls by Sandra Larson (for Shelterforce)

SCHOOLS
Amherst-Pelham Educators Vote To Work Rule
Group Forms To Encourage Passage Of Override For Elementary School by Maura Keene
Opinion: Regional Athletic Fields: Invest in Resources To Create Assets by Tom Fanning
Opinion: Regional School District’s Inaction Speaks Louder Than Its Words by Maria Kopicki
Opinion: Moving Sixth Graders To The Middle School Delayed To Fall ’25 or ’26 by Jennifer Shiao

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Library Tea Party Event Draws Fire by Jeff Lee
Amherst Climate Justice Alliance: Every Town Government Decision Must Be Viewed Through A Climate Lens by Art Keene
Human Rights Commission Creates New Bylaw Subcommittee  by Shira Sadeh
Implementing Social Justice Programs In Amherst – Why The Delay? by Shira Sadeh
Activist Bill Fletcher Will Present Annual James Baldwin Lecture At UMass On February 23
Opinion: Progressive Coalition Of Amherst Grieves The Murder Of Tyre Nichols by Progressive Coalition of Amherst
Opinion: Kindness And Fear Of The Unreported In Palestine by Hind Mari
Opinion: White Supremacy Fuels Both Police Violence And Climate Destruction by Russ Vernon-Jones

SPORTS & RECREATION
UMass Announces $2 Million Gift From Jim And Ellen Hunt For New Track/XC Performance Center
13^th Annual Daffodil Run For Big Brothers Big Sisters Will Be In-Person
Opinion: Regional Athletic Fields: Invest in Resources To Create Assets by Tom Fanning

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Community Resources Committee Debates Hanneke–DeAngelis Zoning Proposal by Kitty Axelson-Berry
Planning Board And Public Offer Critiques Of Proposal To Ease Permitting Of Multifamily Housing by Maura Keene
Human Rights Commission Creates New Bylaw Subcommittee  by Shira Sadeh
Implementing Social Justice Programs In Amherst – Why The Delay? by Shira Sadeh
Letter: Amherst’s Retroactive Tax Assessments An Unpleasant Surprise For Taxpayers by Sara McKee
Letter: Too Many Unanswered Questions Concerning Proposed Zoning Bylaw by Ira Bryck
Opinion: Faulty Logic in Amherst’s Proposed Zoning Changes  by John Varner
Opinion: Regional School District’s Inaction Speaks Louder Than Its Words by Maria Kopicki
Opinion: Progressive Coalition Of Amherst Grieves The Murder Of Tyre Nichols by Progressive Coalition of Amherst