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 almost a month’s worth of numbers for you and the reporting will become more comprehensive as we accumulate a full month’s worth of data. Next week, we’ll be able to provide a run down on most-read articles in the month of September and on October 6, we’ll have a full 30 days worth of datga.

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: 18, 142 (+1031)
Number of Unique Sessions
Month of June (the last time we had a full 30 days count): 19,256 (+185)
Last Week: 8,167 (-1971)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Massachusetts Bans Purchase of Single Use Plastic Bottles by Art Keene
2. Letter: Saulsberry Withdraws From Consideration for School Committee Vacancy by Gaylord Saulsberry
3. Opinion: Language! Live Should Perish. Curriculum’s Racist Content Conflicts with District’s Social Justice and Multicultural Mission by Katie Lazdowski
4. Opinion: Amherst School Officials Continue to Fail by Michael Burkart
5.. In Memoriam: Demetria “Dee” Shabazz by Amherst Indy


WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE
ARTS
Transformed: A Four-part Series Showcasing the Creativity of Trans Filmmakers

CAMPUS
UMass Graduate Students March for Liveable Wages by Kairo Serna
UMass Chancellor Reyes Speaks at White House about Strategies to Increase Diversity and Opportunity in Higher Education
UMass Political Science Students to Host Forum with Amherst Town Council Candidates
Letter: The Western Massachusetts Solar Forum and What We Thought We Knew by Jenny Kallick
Opinion: Dispatch from an Amherst Neighborhood under Siege by Alex Kent

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE

Letter: The Western Massachusetts Solar Forum and What We Thought We Knew by Jenny Kallick
Opinion: The Amherst Mortals’ Manifesto by Laura MacLeod
Photo Of The Week: A September Gallery compiled by Art Keene

EVENTS
UMass Political Science Students to Host Forum with Amherst Town Council Candidates
The Cure For Hate: Preventing Violent Extremism in Our Schools and Beyond
Transformed: A Four-part Series Showcasing the Creativity of Trans Filmmakers
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
From Other Sources: News for and about Amherst.  This Week: Local News Roundup, Government Shutdown and COVID-19 by Art Keene
Photo Of The Week: A September Gallery compiled by Art Keene

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
From Other Sources: News for and about Amherst.  This Week: Local News Roundup, Government Shutdown and COVID-19 by Art Keene

HOUSING
Planning Board Sees University Drive as Prime Area to Add Housing by Maura Keene
Applicant Withdraws Plans for Second Duplex on North Pleasant Street by Maura Keene
Letter: Multiple Duplexes On Single Lot Degrades Neighborhood by Denise Barberet
Opinion: Dispatch from an Amherst Neighborhood under Siege by Alex Kent

LIBRARY
Interior and Exterior Finishes For Jones Library Renovation Presented by Maura Keene
Opinion: Jones Library, Why All The Secrecy? by Jeff Lee

NEIGHBORHOODS
Opinion: Building a Better Community by Actually Working on It  by John Varner

OPINION
Letter: The Western Massachusetts Solar Forum and What We Thought We Knew by Jenny Kallick
Letter: Multiple Duplexes On Single Lot Degrades Neighborhood by Denise Barberet
Letter: Construction Around Rail Trail Underpass Requires Special Attention To Sight Lines by Rob Kusner
Letter: Superintendent’s Job Is to Protect Children in the District’s Care by Lamikco Magee for The ad hoc Black Caucus of Amherst, Martha Toro for The ad hoc Latinx Caucus of Amherst, and Ali Wicks-Lim for The ad hoc LGBTQIA+ Caucus  of Amherst 
Letter: Saulsberry Withdraws From Consideration for School Committee Vacancy by Gaylord Saulsberry
Opinion: With The Crisis in The Amherst Schools, The Listening Must Go Both Ways by Jena Schwartz
Opinion: Amherst School Officials Continue to Fail by Michael Burkart
Opinion: Former Superintendent Will Not Be Involved in Decisions Related to Title IX Report by Jennifer Shiao
Opinion: Jones Library, Why All The Secrecy? by Jeff Lee
Opinion: Dispatch from an Amherst Neighborhood under Siege by Alex Kent
Opinion: Building a Better Community by Actually Working on It  by John Varner
Opinion: The Amherst Mortals’ Manifesto by Laura MacLeod

PUBLIC HEALTH
From Other Sources: News for and about Amherst.  This Week: Local News Roundup, Government Shutdown and COVID-19 by Art Keene
Sewage Discharge Into Mill River.

SCHOOLS
Wallace, Weaver, and Lazdowski Selected for Interim School Committee Seats by Maura Keene
School District Acknowledges Missing Background Checks
The Cure For Hate: Preventing Violent Extremism in Our Schools and Beyond
Letter: Superintendent’s Job Is to Protect Children in the District’s Care by Lamikco Magee for The ad hoc Black Caucus of Amherst, Martha Toro for The ad hoc Latinx Caucus of Amherst, and Ali Wicks-Lim for The ad hoc LGBTQIA+ Caucus  of Amherst 
Letter: Saulsberry Withdraws From Consideration for School Committee Vacancy by Gaylord Saulsberry
Opinion: With The Crisis in The Amherst Schools, The Listening Must Go Both Ways by Jena Schwartz
Opinion: Amherst School Officials Continue to Fail by Michael Burkart
Opinion: Former Superintendent Will Not Be Involved in Decisions Related to Title IX Report by Jennifer Shiao

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
African Heritage Reparations Assembly Final Report Prioritizes Youth Services, Affordable Housing, and Aid to Black-Owned Businesses by Maura Keene
African Heritage Reparations Assembly Issues Final Report
UMass Graduate Students March for Liveable Wages by Kairo Serna
UMass Chancellor Reyes Speaks at White House about Strategies to Increase Diversity and Opportunity in Higher Education
The Cure For Hate: Preventing Violent Extremism in Our Schools and Beyond
Letter: Superintendent’s Job Is to Protect Children in the District’s Care by Lamikco Magee for The ad hoc Black Caucus of Amherst, Martha Toro for The ad hoc Latinx Caucus of Amherst, and Ali Wicks-Lim for The ad hoc LGBTQIA+ Caucus  of Amherst 
Opinion: With The Crisis in The Amherst Schools, The Listening Must Go Both Ways by Jena Schwartz
Opinion: Amherst School Officials Continue to Fail by Michael Burkart

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Wallace, Weaver, and Lazdowski Selected for Interim School Committee Seats by Maura Keene
School District Acknowledges Missing Background Checks
African Heritage Reparations Assembly Final Report Prioritizes Youth Services, Affordable Housing, and Aid to Black-Owned Businesses by Maura Keene
African Heritage Reparations Assembly Issues Final Report
Planning Board Sees University Drive as Prime Area to Add Housing by Maura Keene
Applicant Withdraws Plans for Second Duplex on North Pleasant Street by Maura Keene
UMass Political Science Students to Host Forum with Amherst Town Council Candidates
Letter: Multiple Duplexes On Single Lot Degrades Neighborhood by Denise Barberet
Letter: Superintendent’s Job Is to Protect Children in the District’s Care by Lamikco Magee for The ad hoc Black Caucus of Amherst, Martha Toro for The ad hoc Latinx Caucus of Amherst, and Ali Wicks-Lim for The ad hoc LGBTQIA+ Caucus  of Amherst 
Letter: Saulsberry Withdraws From Consideration for School Committee Vacancy by Gaylord Saulsberry
Opinion: Amherst School Officials Continue to Fail by Michael Burkart
Opinion: Former Superintendent Will Not Be Involved in Decisions Related to Title IX Report by Jennifer Shiao
Opinion: Jones Library, Why All The Secrecy? by Jeff Lee

TRANSPORTATION
Letter: Construction Around Rail Trail Underpass Requires Special Attention To Sight Lines by Rob Kusner