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 finally have a months worth of data which we present below. Note that our readership has increased substantially since the summer.

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

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 64,174 (+22,682)*
Last Week: 15,250 (-2892)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 30, 780 (+11,524)*
Last Week: 6909 (-1270)

* the increase indicates difference between September readings and June which is the last time we had a full 30 days worth of data.

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
1. Massachusetts Bans Purchase of Single Use Plastic Bottles by Art Keene
2. Opinion: Dispatch from an Amherst Neighborhood under Siege by Alex Kent
3. Regional School Committee Failed To Address Earlier OML Concern, This One By Then Chair Herrington by Maria Kopicki
4. Social Justice Committee Voices Dismay At The State Of CRESS by Maura Keene
5. Letter: Saulsberry Withdraws From Consideration for School Committee Vacancy by Gaylord Saulsberry

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Opinion: Dispatch from an Amherst Neighborhood under Siege by Alex Kent
2. School District Acknowledges Missing Background Checks
3. Wallace, Weaver, and Lazdowski Selected for Interim School Committee Seats by Maura Keene
4. Opinion: With The Crisis in The Amherst Schools, The Listening Must Go Both Ways by Jena Schwartz
5. Public Comment: CRESS Must Remain an Alternative to the Police by Russ Vernon-Jones

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
Amherst’s Public Art Brings Delight by Hetty Startup

CAMPUS
UMass Updates List of Top Corporate Contributors to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Brutalist Architecture Walking Tour at UMass on October 13
Film Screening & Discussion: Inside Biden’s Cuba Policy

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Planning Board Considers Plans for Shutesbury Road Solar by Maura Keene
Council Passes Resolution for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care and Adopts Specialized Stretch Building Code by Maura Keene
Plenty of Room for Improvement in Fulfilling Town Manager’s Climate Action Goals
UMass Updates List of Top Corporate Contributors to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Opinion: Climate News from Four Continents by Russ Vernon-Jones

ELECTIONS
Area Organizations Announce Endorsements for Town’s Biennial Elections by Art Keene
Amherst Media Will Broadcast Campaign Messages from Town Election Candidates
Indy To Publish Candidate Statements and Questionnaire Responses by Art Keene
Amherst Forward’s Influence Extends To Election Results, Government Policy by Jeff Lee

EVENTS
Brutalist Architecture Walking Tour at UMass on October 13
Film Screening & Discussion: Inside Biden’s Cuba Policy
Fire Department Open House
Senior Center Health Fair Planned For October 17
What’s Happening In Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
Amherst’s Public Art Brings Delight by Hetty Startup
Photo Of The Week: International Walk, Ride, and Roll to School Day. A Gallery compiled by Art Keene

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Amherst Forward’s Influence Extends To Election Results, Government Policy by Jeff Lee

LIBRARY
Amherst Forward’s Influence Extends To Election Results, Government Policy by Jeff Lee

MEDIA
Amherst Media Will Broadcast Campaign Messages from Town Election Candidates
Indy To Publish Candidate Statements and Questionnaire Responses by Art Keene

OPINION
Public Comment: CRESS Must Remain an Alternative to the Police by Russ Vernon-Jones
Letter: Let’s Talk about Safer Infrastructure for Cycling and Walking in Amherst by Kurt Bahneman
Opinion: A Call for a Public Investigation of the Turmoil at CRESS and a Commitment to Preserve Its Original Mission by the former members of Community Safety Working Group: Tashina Bowman, Darius Cage, Debora Ferreira, Russ Vernon-Jones, Brianna Owen (Co-Chair), Pat Ononibaku, Ellisha Walker (Co-Chair)
Opinion: How and Why the Ad Hoc Caucuses Showed Up in Amherst by Ali Wicks-Lim for The ad hoc LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst, Lamikco Magee for The ad hoc Black Caucus of Amherst, Martha Toro for The ad hoc Latinx Caucus of Amherst
Opinion: Your Hands Are Not Tied! 29+ Questions District Leadership Could Address Now To Make Amherst’s Schools Safer by Art Keene
Opinion: Climate News from Four Continents by Russ Vernon-Jones

PUBLIC HEALTH
West Nile Virus Detected In Amherst
Council Passes Resolution for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care and Adopts Specialized Stretch Building Code by Maura Keene
Senior Center Health Fair Planned For October 17


PUBLIC SAFETY
Town Manager Responds To Questions About CRESS
Alarm About CRESS Program Grows by Maura Keene
Fire Department Open House
Public Comment: CRESS Must Remain an Alternative to the Police by Russ Vernon-Jones
Letter: Let’s Talk about Safer Infrastructure for Cycling and Walking in Amherst by Kurt Bahneman
Opinion: A Call for a Public Investigation of the Turmoil at CRESS and a Commitment to Preserve Its Original Mission by the former members of Community Safety Working Group: Tashina Bowman, Darius Cage, Debora Ferreira, Russ Vernon-Jones, Brianna Owen (Co-Chair), Pat Ononibaku, Ellisha Walker (Co-Chair)

SCHOOLS
Search For New School Superintendent Begins by Maura Keene
Title IX Report Not Forthcoming by M.J. Schwartz
APEA Calls for More Transparency from School Disrtrict
Former School Superintendent Mike Morris Hired As Westfield HR Director by Art Keene
Amherst Schools Celebrate International Walk, Ride and Roll to School Day
Letter: Let’s Talk about Safer Infrastructure for Cycling and Walking in Amherst by Kurt Bahneman
Opinion: How and Why the Ad Hoc Caucuses Showed Up in Amherst by Ali Wicks-Lim for The ad hoc LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst, Lamikco Magee for The ad hoc Black Caucus of Amherst, Martha Toro for The ad hoc Latinx Caucus of Amherst
Opinion: Your Hands Are Not Tied! 29+ Questions District Leadership Could Address Now To Make Amherst’s Schools Safer by Art Keene
Photo Of The Week: International Walk, Ride, and Roll to School Day. A Gallery compiled by Art Keene

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Title IX Report Not Forthcoming by M.J. Schwartz
Opinion: A Call for a Public Investigation of the Turmoil at CRESS and a Commitment to Preserve Its Original Mission by the former members of Community Safety Working Group: Tashina Bowman, Darius Cage, Debora Ferreira, Russ Vernon-Jones, Brianna Owen (Co-Chair), Pat Ononibaku, Ellisha Walker (Co-Chair)
Opinion: How and Why the Ad Hoc Caucuses Showed Up in Amherst by Ali Wicks-Lim for The ad hoc LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst, Lamikco Magee for The ad hoc Black Caucus of Amherst, Martha Toro for The ad hoc Latinx Caucus of Amherst
Opinion: Your Hands Are Not Tied! 29+ Questions District Leadership Could Address Now To Make Amherst’s Schools Safer by Art Keene

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Town Manager Responds To Questions About CRESS
Alarm About CRESS Program Grows by Maura Keene
Search For New School Superintendent Begins by Maura Keene
Area Organizations Announce Endorsements for Town’s Biennial Elections by Art Keene
APEA Calls for More Transparency from School Disrtrict
Planning Board Considers Plans for Shutesbury Road Solar by Maura Keene
Council Passes Resolution for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care and Adopts Specialized Stretch Building Code by Maura Keene
Plenty of Room for Improvement in Fulfilling Town Manager’s Climate Action Goals
Amherst Forward’s Influence Extends To Election Results, Government Policy by Jeff Lee
Public Comment: CRESS Must Remain an Alternative to the Police by Russ Vernon-Jones
Opinion: A Call for a Public Investigation of the Turmoil at CRESS and a Commitment to Preserve Its Original Mission by the former members of Community Safety Working Group: Tashina Bowman, Darius Cage, Debora Ferreira, Russ Vernon-Jones, Brianna Owen (Co-Chair), Pat Ononibaku, Ellisha Walker (Co-Chair)