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: 54,023 (-7323)
Last Week: 12,689 (+426)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 23,019 (-1533)
Last Week: 5653 (+190)

TOP FIVE MOST READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: Oppose Library Profiteering and Cronyism by Jeff Lee
2. Opinion: The Selective Silencing of Campus Speech by Kevin Young
3. UMass Police Drop Public Arrest Records by Amherst Indy
4. Investigation Conducted by Former ARPS HR Director Kathy Mazur Found to Be “Highly Inadequate” by Art Keene
5. New Report Shows Library Project Contingency Funds Exhausted by Jeff Lee

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
CAMPUS
Mark the Winter Solstice on Dcember 21 at the UMass Sunwheel
Opinion: The Selective Silencing of Campus Speech by Kevin Young

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Mark the Winter Solstice on Dcember 21 at the UMass Sunwheel
Letter: Hickory Ridge Solar Project Delayed Yet Again by Michael Lipinski
Opinion: Let’s “Staff-up” and Prioritize Climate Goals in the Next Town Budget by Darcy DuMont
Opinion: Climate Activists and Their Nations Making a Difference at COP28 by Russ Vernon-Jones

EVENTS
Public Forums on Police Resident Oversight Board
Mark the Winter Solstice on Dcember 21 at the UMass Sunwheel
Community Kwanzaa Celebration December 31
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
Photo of the Week: Reflections by Dave Madeloni

HOUSING
Opinion: Landlords Objecting to Inspections.  Really? by John Varner

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: More Unnecessary Delays on Track and Field Project by Maria Kopicki
Issues & Analyses: Amended Agreement Leaves Town on the Hook by Toni Cunningham

LIBRARY
Issues & Analyses: Amended Agreement Leaves Town on the Hook by Toni Cunningham
Here is the Revised Memorandum of Agreement Between Town and Jones Trustees by Art Keene
Library, Historical Society At Odds Over Easement by Jeff Lee
Protections for Strong House Were Deleted in Latest Jones Library Permit by Maura Keene
New Report Shows Library Project Contingency Funds Exhausted by Jeff Lee
Letter: Vote No on Additional Borrowing for Jones Library Expansion by Kathleen Carroll
Letter: Councilors Promised “Not a Penny More of Town Money” for the Jones Library Expansion by Lou Conover
Letter: How About Funding the Jones Renovation with User Fees? by Robert Repetto

OPINION
Public Comment: We Have the Funds To Fix the Track Now by Maria Kopicki
Public Comment: School District Needs New Leadership by Ali Wicks-Lim
Public Comment: APEA Statements on Anti-racism Training, Support for LGBTQIA+ Students, Call for Redaction of Title IX Reports, and Support for Wrongly Fired Teacher by Amherst Pelham Education Assocation
Letters: Six Letters and Public Comments in Support of Fired ARMS Science Teacher Erin Lawler by Amherst Pelham Education Association, Greta Biagi, Jenny Franz and Aline Gubrium
Letter: Gallery Opening for Wildwood Students at Mead Art Museum by Allegra Clark
Letter: Vote No on Additional Borrowing for Jones Library Expansion by Kathleen Carroll
Letter: Councilors Promised “Not a Penny More of Town Money” for the Jones Library Expansion by Lou Conover
Letter: How About Funding the Jones Renovation with User Fees? by Robert Repetto
Letter: Hickory Ridge Solar Project Delayed Yet Again by Michael Lipimnski
Opinion: Setting Outselves Up for Success on the ARHS Track and Field Project by Jennifer Shiao
Opinion: Landlords Objecting to Inspections.  Really? by John Varner
Opinion: Let’s “Staff-up” and Prioritize Climate Goals in the Next Town Budget by Darcy DuMont
Opinion: Climate Activists and Their Nations Making a Difference at COP28 by Russ Vernon-Jones

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
CRESS Independence Debated by Finance Committee and Council by Maura Keene
Social Justice Committee and CRESS Interim Leadership Spar over Future of the Program by Art Keene
Conservation Commission Encourages Alternative to Rubber Product for Playground at New School by Art Keene
Public Forums on Police Resident Oversight Board

SCHOOLS
Issues & Analyses: More Unnecessary Delays on Track and Field Project by Maria Kopicki
Student Safety, HR Controversies, and Path Forward for Track and Field Restoration Challenge School Committee by Kairo Serna
Conservation Commission Encourages Alternative to Rubber Product for Playground at New School by Art Keene
Volunteers Needed for School Superintendent Search Committee
Public Comment: APEA Statements on Anti-racism Training, Support for LGBTQIA+ Students, Call for Redaction of Title IX Reports, and Support for Wrongly Fired Teacher by Amherst Pelham Education Assocation
Public Comment: We Have the Funds To Fix the Track Now by Maria Kopicki
Public Comment: School District Needs New Leadership by Ali Wicks-Lim
Letters: Six Letters and Public Comments in Support of Fired ARMS Science Teacher Erin Lawler by Amherst Pelham Education Association, Greta Biagi, Jenny Franz and Aline Gubrium
Letter: Gallery Opening for Wildwood Students at Mead Art Museum by Allegra Clark
Opinion: Setting Outselves Up for Success on the ARHS Track and Field Project by Jennifer Shiao

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Student Safety, HR Controversies, and Path Forward for Track and Field Restoration Challenge School Committee by Kairo Serna
CRESS Independence Debated by Finance Committee and Council by Maura Keene
Social Justice Committee and CRESS Interim Leadership Spar over Future of the Program by Art Keene
Public Comment: APEA Statements on Anti-racism Training, Support for LGBTQIA+ Students, Call for Redaction of Title IX Reports, and Support for Wrongly Fired Teacher by Amherst Pelham Education Assocation
Public Comment: School District Needs New Leadership by Ali Wicks-Lim
Letters: Six Letters and Public Comments in Support of Fired ARMS Science Teacher Erin Lawler by Amherst Pelham Education Association, Greta Biagi, Jenny Franz and Aline Gubrium
Opinion: The Selective Silencing of Campus Speech by Kevin Young

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Issues & Analyses: More Unnecessary Delays on Track and Field Project by Maria Kopicki
Issues & Analyses: Amended Agreement Leaves Town on the Hook by Toni Cunningham
Here is the Revised Memorandum of Agreement Between Town and Jones Trustees by Art Keene
Library, Historical Society At Odds Over Easement by Jeff Lee
Protections for Strong House Were Deleted in Latest Jones Library Permit by Maura Keene
New Report Shows Library Project Contingency Funds Exhausted by Jeff Lee
Student Safety, HR Controversies, and Path Forward for Track and Field Restoration Challenge School Committee by Kairo Serna
CRESS Independence Debated by Finance Committee and Council by Maura Keene
Social Justice Committee and CRESS Interim Leadership Spar over Future of the Program by Art Keene
Conservation Commission Encourages Alternative to Rubber Product for Playground at New School by Art Keene
Town Manager Given Two-year Contract Extension with Praise from Town Council by Maura Keene
Volunteers Needed for School Superintendent Search Committee
Public Comment: We Have the Funds To Fix the Track Now by Maria Kopicki
Letter: Vote No on Additional Borrowing for Jones Library Expansion by Kathleen Carroll
Letter: Councilors Promised “Not a Penny More of Town Money” for the Jones Library Expansion by Lou Conover
Opinion: Landlords Objecting to Inspections.  Really? by John Varner
Opinion: Let’s “Staff-up” and Prioritize Climate Goals in the Next Town Budget by Darcy DuMont