Opinion
Steve Smith: Rose for Worthington Selectboard
I am writing to support the re-election of Charley Rose to the Worthington Selectboard.This endorsement will no doubt surprise some of you who are aware our recent public disagreement over a matter of substantial importance to our town. Although the...
Sidney Moss: Trial showing that no one is above the law
On reading the article “Tabloid publisher says that he was Trump’s ‘eyes and ears’” [Gazette, April 24], I was encouraged that Donald Trump will be getting the punishment that he deserves. Trump has shown great cleverness in protecting himself from...
Karen Rowe: Support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act
I grew up in an era when there were no limits on what people could dump into rivers and lakes. I remember magazine photos of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland on fire in 1970, flames shooting high up into the air.It was a time when there also were no...
Arlene and Doug Tierney: Vote for Blake Gilmore on May 6
Blake Gilmore, a resident of South Deerfield, is seeking a position as a member of the Deerfield Selectboard. It is with great enthusiasm that we endorse his candidacy. We have known Blake for 60-plus years, early on as a co-worker at the Tri-Town...
Araceli Katalin McCoy: Why we should change the voting age to 16
Speaking as a Frontier student, if I think of a perfect political voting system, I think of everyone having a voice and fighting for what they believe in. I have a strong feeling that most of you feel the same way.With many people having the choice...
Guest columnist Marietta Pritchard: Landlines and more in our parallel universe
By MARIETTA PRITCHARD
Recent news reports and events have reminded me that my husband and I are living in a parallel universe. We use a landline and we read print newspapers, which are delivered to our house daily.I have and use a cellphone, but my husband does not. He...
Guest columnist Lawrence Pareles: Make completing FAFSA form a high school graduation requirement
By LAWRENCE PARELES
I’m writing to recommend that Massachusetts make a new requirement for high school graduation — completion of the FAFSA student aid form. This simple rule would encourage and help more young people go to college.In Massachusetts, where the demand for...
Guest columnist Dr. Meghan Gump: Dear Patients — We hear you!
By DR. MEGHAN GUMP
As a family practitioner and the medical director of Valley Medical Group, I care deeply about my patients and our community. During my 20 years of practicing full-spectrum primary care in Franklin County, I have come to value the relationships I...
Jenny Fleming-Ives and Peter Ives: Community must come together to fairly fund schools, city services
We commend Bill Dwight for the historical perspective he provides in his guest column “How to make sense of Northampton’s school budget,” [Gazette, April 20].We are huge supporters of the Northampton Public Schools. Our four daughters all graduated...
Daniel Barker: Time for peace in Ukraine
Like the letter of April 16 [“More fuding for Ukraine not the answer”] about the war in Ukraine, I too think we must stop prolonging this conflict and carnage with more and more weapons, and urge Ukraine to negotiate a cease-fire and a political...
Charlene Galenski: Blake Gilmore, a strong candidate for Deerfield’s Selectboard
On May 6, Deerfield will have its annual election for local positions. Blake Gilmore is running as a candidate for Selectboard.Deerfield is facing some financially challenging times. Over the past few years, the town has voted to finance several...
Annette Pfannebecker: Vote yes for Shores Ness and for Deerfield
It’s a fact: Carolyn Shores Ness is committed to enhancing all aspects of life in Deerfield. Through her eagle eye on fiscal responsibility, she has supported businesses, farms, education, health and safety, seniors, roads and infrastructure,...
Columnist Susan Wozniak: Rising costs long ago swamped hippie ideal
By SUSAN WOZNIAK
I have never been a high wage earner. Thirty thousand dollars was my ceiling, although it was never my choice.More to the point, I strongly believed in the “how to balance family and work” plan popular among baby boomers during the late ’60s and into...
Guest columnist Rudy Perkins: Dangerous resolution pins ‘aggression’ on Iran
By RUDY PERKINS
Both the Iranian government’s bombing of Israel and the Israeli government’s bombing of Iran are extremely perilous for the Middle East and the United States. That is why the dangerously one-sided U.S. congressional resolution, H.Res. 1143,...
David Kirk: Northampton schools spending beyond means
Many thanks to Bill Dwight for his guest column providing background info about the school budget [“How to make sense of Northampton’s school budget dilemma,” Gazette, April 20].We now all know the school has added 99 positions since 2014 (including...
Richard Clifford: We all need to look in a mirror first
No matter a person’s bias against another due to gender, religion, race, sexuality or politics, not one person has the right in our truly free country to wound, impair or abuse another. We all put on our socks the same way. No matter your wealth,...
Columnist Carrie N. Baker: A moral justification for civil disobedience to abortion bans
By CARRIE N. BAKER
Over the last several years, in response to abortion bans and restrictions, advocates around the country have developed an alternative supply network for abortion pills outside of the medical system and the law. As a lawyer and law-abiding citizen, I...
Guest columnists Ellen Attaliades and Lynn Ireland: Housing crisis is fueling the human services crisis
By ELLEN ATTALIADES and LYNN IRELAND
Vacancies at programs operated by human services providers — despite some progress over the last two years — are still much too high. More than one in four direct support professional positions in adult residential and day programs for people with...
Lora Sandhusen: Discourage ultra-wealthy consumption habits with carbon tax
In Russ Vernon-Jones’ column “Solving humanity’s shared climate crisis” [Gazette, March 14], he advocates funding green projects for the Global South by taxing the ultra-wealthy. Why? Because “that’s where the money is.” In response, guest columnist...
Guest columnist Jena Schwartz: Things I have not said
By JENA SCHWARTZ
I continue to be consumed by the Israel-Hamas war. I read, watch, write, pray, dream, agonize, and do my best to engage in intentional and nuanced conversations about it. And yet there remain things I have not said.Or things I have said by...
