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: 52,552 (+ 1331)
Last Week: 15,455 (-795)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 24,677 (+ 932)
Last Week: 7072 (+242)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. School Superintendent Search Committee That Prioritized Diversity Chooses White Co-Chairs by Maura Keene
2. Opinion: Resolution in Support of Ceasefire in Gaza en Route to Amherst Town Council [updated] by Josna Rege
3. Trustees Downplay Library Payment Shortfall by Jeff Lee
4. Letter: An Alternative Ceasefire Resolution by Ken Rosenthal
5. Amherst’s Historic Trolley System: Our Gains and Losses [revised] by Hetty Startup

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

ARTS
School Committee to Superintendent: No Cuts to Elementary School Instrumental Music Program by Maura Keene
March at Gallery A3.  PAIRINGS by Martha Braun and Rochelle Shicoff

CAMPUS
UMass National Poll Finds One Third of Republicans Believe Immigrants Are “Poisoning the Blood of the Country”

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Letter: Berkshire Gas is Not an Appropriate Sponsor for Town Sustainability Festival by Violet Nolan and Julian Hynes
Letter: Speak Out for the Connecticut River! by Sarah Matthews
Letter: Western Mass Rights of Nature Annouces Two Upcoming Community Events by Sarah Matthews
Opinion: The New Denialism. What’s That? by Russ Vernon-Jones
Almanac: Woody Fruit by Stephen Braun
The Wetlands of University Drive: A Photo Essay by Janet Keller

DOWNTOWN
Proprietors of Two New Amherst Restaurants Fined More Than $500,000 for Violations in Plymouth by Art Keene
In Praise of Dinosaurs and ”Third Places”  by Hetty Startup

EVENTS
Town Will Commemorate Tibetan Uprising on March 10
March at Gallery A3.  PAIRINGS by Martha Braun and Rochelle Shicoff
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene
Letter: Western Mass Rights of Nature Annouces Two Upcoming Community Events by Sarah Matthews

FEATURES
Almanac: Woody Fruit by Stephen Braun
In Praise of Dinosaurs and ”Third Places”  by Hetty Startup
The Wetlands of University Drive: A Photo Essay by Janet Keller

GAZA
Letter: An Alternative Ceasefire Resolution by Ken Rosenthal
Town Council Postpones Vote on Resolution for Ceasefire in Gaza. Community Supporters Top 550 by Josna Rege

HISTORY
Town Will Commemorate Tibetan Uprising on March 10
In Praise of Dinosaurs and ”Third Places”  by Hetty Startup
Photo of the Week: Connecticut Valley Electric Transit Map

HOUSING
Planning Board Recommends That Council Accept Amherst Hills Roads. Plans for University Drive Overlay District Move Forward by Maura Keene

IMMIGRATION
UMass National Poll Finds One Third of Republicans Believe Immigrants Are “Poisoning the Blood of the Country”

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Opinion: The Jones Library is Eating the Schools’ Lunch by Jeff Lee

LIBRARY
Opinion: The Jones Library is Eating the Schools’ Lunch by Jeff Lee

LOCAL BUSINESS
Proprietors of Two New Amherst Restaurants Fined More Than $500,000 for Violations in Plymouth by Art Keene

OPINION
Opinion: The Jones Library is Eating the Schools’ Lunch by Jeff Lee
Letter: An Alternative Ceasefire Resolution by Ken Rosenthal
Letter: Berkshire Gas is Not an Appropriate Sponsor for Town Sustainability Festival by Violet Nolan and Julian Hynes
Letter: Speak Out for the Connecticut River! by Sarah Matthews
Letter: Western Mass Rights of Nature Annouces Two Upcoming Community Events by Sarah Matthews
Opinion:  Who Is Present on Zoom at Amherst Municipal Meetings?  The Public Has a Right to Know. by Lydia Vernon-Jones
Opinion: The New Denialism. What’s That? by Russ Vernon-Jones

SCHOOLS
School Committee to Superintendent: No Cuts to Elementary School Instrumental Music Program by Maura Keene
Update on Track and Field Project by Art Keene
Construction of New Elementary School Set to Begin
Opinion: The Jones Library is Eating the Schools’ Lunch by Jeff Lee

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Town Council Postpones Vote on Resolution for Ceasefire in Gaza. Community Supporters Top 550 by Josna Rege
UMass National Poll Finds One Third of Republicans Believe Immigrants Are “Poisoning the Blood of the Country”
Town Will Commemorate Tibetan Uprising on March 10

TOWN GOVERNMENT
School Committee to Superintendent: No Cuts to Elementary School Instrumental Music Program by Maura Keene
Town Council Postpones Vote on Resolution for Ceasefire in Gaza. Community Supporters Top 550 by Josna Rege
Town Council Meeting on February 26 to Be Rescheduled to Accommodate All Who Wish to Attend.
Update on Track and Field Project by Art Keene
Planning Board Recommends That Council Accept Amherst Hills Roads. Plans for University Drive Overlay District Move Forward by Maura Keene
Applicants Sought For Finance Committee and Charter Review Commission by Maura Keene
Construction of New Elementary School Set to Begin
Letter: An Alternative Ceasefire Resolution by Ken Rosenthal
Opinion:  Who Is Present on Zoom at Amherst Municipal Meetings?  The Public Has a Right to Know. by Lydia Vernon-Jones

TRANSPORTATION
Photo of the Week: Connecticut Valley Electric Transit Map