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 over 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.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 60,210 (-3056)
Last Week: 15,635 (+1912)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 26,705 (-2822)
Last Week: 7019 (+881)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. High Vacancy Rate at Housing Authority Units While Amherst Residents Search for Apartments by Maura Keene
2. Do You Want Your Neighborhood to Remain a Family Neighborhood?  by Darcy Dumont
3. Assistant School Superintendent Doreen Cunningham Is No Longer Employed by District by Art Keene
4. Opinion: Why We Can’t Trust Amherst Forward to Choose Our Leaders by Ali Wicks-Lim, Lamikco Magee, and Martha Toro
5. How Do the Votes of Town Council Leadership Align with Their Campaign Promises? by Amherst Sunrise Movement

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
New at Gallery A3: Expressions from Nature, Past and Present by Janet W. Winston

BUDGET
Good News For School Project: State Funding To Increase by Toni Cunningham
Library Seeks Costly Book Sorter Despite Declining Book Circulation by Jeff Lee

CAMPUS
UMass Officials Say University Is “About Average” in Housing Its Students by Maura Keene
UMass Amherst Generates $2.9 Billion in Economic Impact for Massachusetts
UMass Forum to Address Ongoing Youth Mental Health Crisis 

ELECTION
The Indy’s Election Central by Art Keene
How Do the Votes of Town Council Leadership Align with Their Campaign Promises? by Amherst Sunrise Movement
Letter: We Need More Details from Candidates on Where They Stand on Jones Library Expansion by Lou Conover
Opinion: The Change We Need In Amherst by Art and Maura Keene
Opinion: Why You Should Vote by Philip Avila
Opinion: Why We Can’t Trust Amherst Forward to Choose Our Leaders 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: Another Question for Town Council Candidates by MIchael Greenebaum
Opinion: Another Question for School Committee Candidates by Michaelk Greenebaum

EVENTS
Grace Church to Host New Program to Bring the Benefits of Meditation to Everyone
Fall Harvest Health Fair on the Town Common Saturday, October 28
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Saturday October 28
UMass Forum to Address Ongoing Youth Mental Health Crisis 
New at Gallery A3: Expressions from Nature, Past and Present by Janet W. Winston
What’s Happening In Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
From Other Sources:  This Week: Local News Roundup and More Commentary on the Gaza War by Art Keene
Photo of the Week: Indy’s Annual Fall Foliage Gallery compiled by Art Keene

HOUSING
What Is the Meaning of Complementary Use? by Maura Keene
UMass Officials Say University Is “About Average” in Housing Its Students by Maura Keene
Opinion: Ball Lane Affordable Housing Is an Important Addition to North Amherst by Stephen King and Meg Gage

ISSUES & ANALYSES
How Do the Votes of Town Council Leadership Align with Their Campaign Promises? by Amherst Sunirse Movement

LIBRARY
Library Seeks Costly Book Sorter Despite Declining Book Circulation by Jeff Lee
Letter: We Need More Details from Candidates on Where They Stand on Jones Library Expansion by Lou Conover

OPINION
Letter: We Need More Details from Candidates on Where They Stand on Jones Library Expansion by Lou Conover
Opinion: The Change We Need In Amherst by Art and Maura Keene
Opinion: Why You Should Vote by Philip Avila
Opinion: Why We Can’t Trust Amherst Forward to Choose Our Leaders 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: Another Question for Town Council Candidates by MIchael Greenebaum
Opinion: Another Question for School Committee Candidates by Michael Greenebaum
Opinion: Ball Lane Affordable Housing Is an Important Addition to North Amherst by Stephen King and Meg Gage

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
Town Services Committee Refers Proposed Streetlighting Regulations to Town Manager. Trash Hauler Reform Still on Pause by Art Keene
Fall Harvest Health Fair on the Town Common Saturday, October 28
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Saturday October 28
UMass Forum to Address Ongoing Youth Mental Health Crisis 

SCHOOLS
Good News For School Project: State Funding To Increase by Toni Cunningham
School District Responds to Concerns About Language !Live Curriculum by Art Keene
Opinion: Another Question for School Committee Candidates by Michael Greenebaum

SOCiAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
School District Responds to Concerns About Language !Live Curriculum by Art Keene
Opinion: Why You Should Vote by Philip Avila
Opinion: Why We Can’t Trust Amherst Forward to Choose Our Leaders 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

TOWN GOVERNMENT
The Indy’s Election Central by Art Keene
Good News For School Project: State Funding To Increase by Toni Cunningham
Library Seeks Costly Book Sorter Despite Declining Book Circulation by Jeff Lee
Town Services Committee Refers Proposed Streetlighting Regulations to Town Manager. Trash Hauler Reform Still on Pause by Art Keene
What Is the Meaning of Complementary Use? by Maura Keene
UMass Officials Say University Is “About Average” in Housing Its Students by Maura Keene
How Do the Votes of Town Council Leadership Align with Their Campaign Promises? by Amherst Sunrise Movement
Opinion: The Change We Need In Amherst by Art and Maura Keene
Opinion: Why You Should Vote by Philip Avila
Opinion: Why We Can’t Trust Amherst Forward to Choose Our Leaders 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: Another Question for Town Council Candidates by MIchael Greenebaum
Opinion: Another Question for School Committee Candidates by Michael Greenebaum

WAR AND PEACE
From Other Sources:  This Week: Local News Roundup and More Commentary on the Gaza War by Art Keene