What’s In This Issue?

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ANALYTICS
Good News!!! Our analytics plug in is up and counting again after going down in a malware attack on July 6. We now have a full week’s worth of numbers for you and the reporting will become more comprehensive as we accumulate a full month’s worth of data.

Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week/month.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Month of June (the last time we had a full 30 days count) : 41,492 (+732)
Last Week: 13,091
Number of Unique Sessions
Month of June (the last time we had a full 30 days count): 19,256 (+185)
Last Week: 5752

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Regional School Committee Failed To Address Earlier OML Concern, This One By Then Chair Herrington by Maria Kopicki
2. Letter:  They Paved Paradise And Put Up Solar? by Rob Kusner
3. Design Review Board Finds D. P. Dough Sign “Jarring,” New Library Addition “Exciting” by Jeff Lee
4.. Opinion: Some Suggestions For Town Council Candidates About The Town’s Real Estate Woes by John Varner
5. Plans For 2024 Charter Review Committee Take Shape  by Maura Keene

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

BUDGET / FINANCE
Jones Library Plans Celebrity Fundraising Event While Measuring Capital Campaign Progress by Jeff Lee
Clerk Of Council Athena O’Keefe To Take Leadership Role In Developing FY25 Budget by Maura Keene

CAMPUS
UMass Economist Isabella Weber Named to ‘TIME100 Next’ 
UMass Chancellor Reyes Named ‘ALX100 Amplifier’ By Amplify LatinX
From Other Sources. News For And About Amherst: Catching Up On Local News, The Crisis In Higher Education, And World On Fire by Art Keene

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT/ NATURE
Stalled Hickory Ridge Solar Project September Update by Michael Lipinski
California Energy Democracy Organizer To Address Local Energy Advocates by Darcy DuMont
Amherst March To End Fossil Fuels
Fort River Watershed Cleanup
Letter:  They Paved Paradise And Put Up Solar? by Rob Kusner
Opinion: Stop Idling Your Car!  by Jesse Warrne and Alex Franz
From Other Sources. News For And About Amherst: Catching Up On Local News, The Crisis In Higher Education, And World On Fire by Art Keene
Indy Rewind: Got Invasive Jumping Worms In Your Garden? UMass Extension Has Solutions

ELECTIONS
League of Women Voters Voting Rights Talk

EVENTS
California Energy Democracy Organizer To Address Local Energy Advocates by Darcy DuMont
Amherst March To End Fossil Fuels
Fort River Watershed Cleanup
League of Women Voters Voting Rights Talk
Latinx Heritage Month Celebration
What’s Happening In Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
California Energy Democracy Organizer To Address Local Energy Advocates by Darcy DuMont
From Other Sources. News For And About Amherst: Catching Up On Local News, The Crisis In Higher Education, And World On Fire by Art Keene
Town Manager Report For September 11, 2023
Verbatim: Choosing Questions For Interim School Committee Candidates by Kitty Axelson-Berry
How A Strip Mall In Hadley Became The Center Of The Modern Day Labor Movement by Diti Kohli (for the Boston Globe, reposted in Portside)
Indy Rewind: Got Invasive Jumping Worms In Your Garden? UMass Extension Has Solutions
Photo Of The Week: Little Amal Visits The Valley by Sally Waisbrot

HISTORY / HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Letter: Law Mandates Protection Of Jones Library’s Invaluable Historic Features by Sarah McKee
Letter: Valuable Historic Assets Are Threatened By The Proposed Demolition Of Portions Of The Jones Library by Jeff Lee

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: Some Answers To Title IX Questions by Megan D. Lambert St. Marie

LIBRARY
Jones Library Plans Celebrity Fundraising Event While Measuring Capital Campaign Progress by Jeff Lee
Letter: Law Mandates Protection Of Jones Library’s Invaluable Historic Features by Sarah McKee
Letter: Valuable Historic Assets Are Threatened By The Proposed Demolition Of Portions Of The Jones Library by Jeff Lee

OPINION
Public Comment: Toward Building Trust In The Police Chief Search Process by Ali Wicks-Lim, Lamikco Magee, and Martha Toro for the Ad Hoc LGBTQIA+, Black ,and Latinx Caucuses of Amherst.
Public Comment: New School Committee Appointees Must Honor The Concerns Of Educators, Staff, Students, And Family Members by Jena Schwartz
Letter: An Open Letter To The Amherst, Pelham, And Regional School Committees by Jena Schwartz
Letter: Law Mandates Protection Of Jones Library’s Invaluable Historic Features by Sarah McKee
Letter: Valuable Historic Assets Are Threatened By The Proposed Demolition Of Portions Of The Jones Library by Jeff Lee
Letter:  They Paved Paradise And Put Up Solar? by Rob Kusner
Opinion: Stop Idling Your Car!  by Jesse Warren and Alex Franz

PUBLIC SAFETY
Social Justice Committee Voices Dismay At The State Of CRESS by Maura Keene
Police Chief Listening Sessions Emphasize Need For Change In Agency Culture by Art Keene
Public Comment: Toward Building Trust In The Police Chief Search Process by Ali Wicks-Lim, Lamikco Magee, and Martha Toro for the Ad Hoc LGBTQIA+, Black ,and Latinx Caucuses of Amherst.

SCHOOLS
School Committee And Town Council Continue To Mull Interview Questions For Candidates To Fill Three School Committee Vacancies by Maura Keene
Issues & Analyses: Some Answers To Title IX Questions by Megan D. Lambert St. Marie
Public Comment: New School Committee Appointees Must Honor The Concerns Of Educators, Staff, Students, And Family Members by Jena Schwartz
Letter: An Open Letter To The Amherst, Pelham, And Regional School Committees by Jena Schwartz
Verbatim: Choosing Questions For Interim School Committee Candidates by Kitty Axelson-Berry

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Social Justice Committee Voices Dismay At The State Of CRESS by Maura Keene
League of Women Voters Voting Rights Talk
Public Comment: Toward Building Trust In The Police Chief Search Process by Ali Wicks-Lim, Lamikco Magee, and Martha Toro for the Ad Hoc LGBTQIA+, Black ,and Latinx Caucuses of Amherst.
Public Comment: New School Committee Appointees Must Honor The Concerns Of Educators, Staff, Students, And Family Members by Jena Schwartz
Letter: An Open Letter To The Amherst, Pelham, And Regional School Committees by Jena Scwartz
How A Strip Mall In Hadley Became The Center Of The Modern Day Labor Movement by Diti Kohli (for the Boston Globe, reposted in Portside)
Photo Of The Week: Little Amal Visits The Valley by Sally Waisbrot

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Social Justice Committee Voices Dismay At The State Of CRESS by Maura Keene
Police Chief Listening Sessions Emphasize Need For Change In Agency Culture by Art Keene
Jones Library Plans Celebrity Fundraising Event While Measuring Capital Campaign Progress by Jeff Lee
Bahl-Milne Introduces Outreach Tool For New Legislation. Hauler Reform And Safety Zone Proposals Move Forward by Maura Keene
School Committee And Town Council Continue To Mull Interview Questions For Candidates To Fill Three School Committee Vacancies by Maura Keene
Clerk Of Council Athena O’Keefe To Take Leadership Role In Developing FY25 Budget by Maura Keene
New Appointments To CPA Committee And Design Review Board by Art Keene
Public Comment: New School Committee Appointees Must Honor The Concerns Of Educators, Staff, Students, And Family Members by Jena Schwartz
Letter: An Open Letter To The Amherst, Pelham, And Regional School Committees by Jena Scwartz
Letter: Law Mandates Protection Of Jones Library’s Invaluable Historic Features by Sarah McKee
Town Manager Report For September 11, 2023
Verbatim: Choosing Questions For Interim School Committee Candidates by Kitty Axelsons-Berry