What’s in This Issue?

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ANALYTICS
Analytics are back!
Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.
Note: Indy was on vacation 7/9-7/16 with no new content posted in that interval.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 36,326 (+510)
Last Week: 10,148 (-1090)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 18,376 (+133)
Last Week:5111 (-78)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES IN THE MONTH OF JULY
1. Jones Library Consultant Amps Up the Vitriol by Jeff Lee
2. Letter: Understaffing Amherst Fire Department Endangers Community by Sarah Forsaith
3. Jones Library Director Suppresses Bad News About Expansion Project by Maria Kopicki
4. Failure to Preserve Library Historic Features Leads to $2M Fundraising Setback by Jeff Lee
5.. Puffer’s Pond Closed to Swimming by Amherst Indy

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Jones Library Consultant Amps Up the Vitriol by Jeff Lee
2. Philip Avila Named New Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by Art Keene
3. Petition Urges Town Council To Pivot to Affordable Alternative to Costly Jones Library Demolition/Expansion Project by Maura Keene
4. North Whitney Street Duplex a No-go for Now by Maura Keene
5. Amherst Mourns Death Of High School Junior by Maura Keene

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

ARTS
Annual Sound and Vision Music Series at Amherst Cinema

BUDGET
Another $800,000 Requested for Track and Field Project by Maura Keene
Letter: Town and Schools Must Collaborate to Preserve Quality Education in Amherst by Amherst Sunrise Movement

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Letter: If You Care About Climate Change, Please Tell Town Council to Adopt the Waste Hauler Proposal by Zero Waste Amherst
Almanac: Strange Carnivores by Stephen Braun

CONSERVATION
Amherst Awarded $1.2 Million Action Grant for Fort River Watershed

EVENTS
Annual Sound and Vision Music Series at Amherst Cinema
Sojourner Truth School Offering Large Slate of Free Classes This Fall
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
Almanac: Strange Carnivores by Stephen Braun
Amherst’s Neighboring Towns: Pelham, Massachusetts, (1 of 10) by Hetty Startup
Photos of the Week: New Reflections from Dave Madeloni

HISTORY / HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
Planning Board Approves Most Value Engineering Changes to Library Project, With Conditions by Maura Keene
Town Postpones Historical Commission’s Public Hearings on Jones Library Project by Art Keene
Opinion: Failing to Protect Historic Character of Jones Library Casts Doubt on Legitimacy of Entire Project by Mickey Rathbun
Amherst’s Neighboring Towns: Pelham, Massachusetts, (1 of 10) by Hetty Startup

ISSUES & ANALYSES
The Selling of the Jones Library Project in 12 Quotes by Jeff Lee

LIBRARY
Petition Urges Town Council To Pivot to Affordable Alternative to Costly Jones Library Demolition/Expansion Project by Maura Keene
Planning Board Approves Most Value Engineering Changes to Library Project, With Conditions by Maura Keene
Town Postpones Historical Commission’s Public Hearings on Jones Library Project by Art Keene
The Selling of the Jones Library Project in 12 Quotes by Jeff Lee
Letter: Several Procedural Errors in Historical Commission’s Public Hearings Notice by Jeff Lee
Letter: Improper Notice For Public Hearings on Jones Library Requires Postponement by Mickey Rathbun
Opinion: Failing to Protect Historic Character of Jones Library Casts Doubt on Legitimacy of Entire Project by Mickey Rathbun

OPINION
Letter: Town and Schools Must Collaborate to Preserve Quality Education in Amherst by Amherst Sunrise Movement
Letter: If You Care About Climate Change, Please Tell Town Council to Adopt the Waste Hauler Proposal by Zero Waste Amherst
Letter: Several Procedural Errors in Historical Commission’s Public Hearings Notice by Jeff Lee
Letter: Improper Notice For Public Hearings on Jones Library Requires Postponement by Mickey Rathbun
Letter: Baystate Noble Nurses Seek Public Support for Fair Contract by Lauren D. Reingold
Opinion: Failing to Protect Historic Character of Jones Library Casts Doubt on Legitimacy of Entire Project by Mickey Rathbun
Opinion: For Profit Medicine Is Ruining Massachusetts Health Care by John E. McDonough

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
Puffer’s Pond Remains Closed to Swimming. Here’s a FAQ on the Status of the Pond.
Ways to Stay Cool During Extreme Heat in Amherst
Letter: Baystate Noble Nurses Seek Public Support for Fair Contract by Lauren D. Reingold
Opinion: For Profit Medicine Is Ruining Massachusetts Health Care by John E. McDonough

RECREATION
Another $800,000 Requested for Track and Field Project by Maura Keene
Puffer’s Pond Remains Closed to Swimming. Here’s a FAQ on the Status of the Pond

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Sojourner Truth School Offering Large Slate of Free Classes This Fall
Letter: Baystate Noble Nurses Seek Public Support for Fair Contract by Lauren D. Reingold
Opinion: For Profit Medicine Is Ruining Massachusetts Health Care by John E. McDonough

SOLID WASTE
Letter: If You Care About Climate Change, Please Tell Town Council to Adopt the Waste Hauler Proposal by Zero Waste Amherst

SCHOOLS
Another $800,000 Requested for Track and Field Project by Maura Keene
Letter: Town and Schools Must Collaborate to Preserve Quality Education in Amherst by Amherst Sunrise Movement

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Petition Urges Town Council To Pivot to Affordable Alternative to Costly Jones Library Demolition/Expansion Project by Maura Keene
Planning Board Approves Most Value Engineering Changes to Library Project, With Conditions by Maura Keene
Town Postpones Historical Commission’s Public Hearings on Jones Library Project by Art Keene
Another $800,000 Requested for Track and Field Project by Maura Keene
Planning Director Christine Brestrup Will Retire in September
Amherst Awarded $1.2 Million Action Grant for Fort River Watershed
The Selling of the Jones Library Project in 12 Quotes by Jeff Lee
Letter: Town and Schools Must Collaborate to Preserve Quality Education in Amherst by Amherst Sunrise Movement
Letter: If You Care About Climate Change, Please Tell Town Council to Adopt the Waste Hauler Proposal by Zero Waste Amherst
Letter: Several Procedural Errors in Historical Commission’s Public Hearings Notice by Jeff Lee
Letter: Improper Notice For Public Hearings on Jones Library Requires Postponement by Mickey Rathbun