David Sloviter: Town must stand up for its residents

Another outrageous Blarney Blowout should finally, after many years, be the final evidence to get the town of Amherst to do more about it than just talk to UMass and hope something improves. The town spoke glowingly about the police showing...

David Ball: Arts Council apology

After reading the “apology” from the Northampton Arts Council and thinking about their past statements, I concluded that they are sincerely interested in social and racial justice, which is fine. [“Arts Council apologizes for canceling 2021 Biennial,”...

Michael J. Wozniak: Scytkowksi right candidate for Fire District 1

I am writing this letter in support of Kari Scytkowski who is running for clerk/treasurer for Fire District 1 in South Hadley on April 11. I worked with Kari when I was chairman of the Prudential Committee and I found her to be very knowledgeable,...

Sarah Blum: Can Republican Party count on Trump’s 74 million voters?

Today, the Republican Party knows it can no longer count on the unquestioning loyalty of those 74 million voters to win a Trump victory in 2024. Viewing their candidate continually escorted by armed police, in and out of state and federal court rooms,...

John Howard: EVs the way to go 

We in South Hadley are blessed by a municipal electric company that produces 90% non-emitting, highly reliable and relatively cheap electricity. At the same time we are using gasoline to power our cars. The oil from which gasoline is made is a...

Guest columnist Alan Kanner: Another state of the union address: Democracy in danger 

By ALAN KANNER

Two months after Biden’s State of the Union address here is another address and it is evident that another State of the Union be heard.Ladies and gentlemen, I want to inform you that the State of the Union has weakened. Not since the time of the Civil...

Guest columnist Jim Thornley: A history of old growth forest loss

By JIM THORNLEY

Johanna Newman’s March 22 column in the Gazette [“White House must take older trees off cut list”], a call to protect older trees from logging nationally, was a commendable piece; however, I would like to point out that some of the worst cutting of...

Stephen Petegorsky: Arts Council apology lacking

Steve Pfarrer’s recent article about the Northampton Arts Council’s apology for its cancellation of the Biennial Exhibit in 2021 brings up a number of points that need to be addressed [“Arts Council apologizes for canceling 2021 Biennial,” Gazette,...

Guest Column: Time to reflect on the roots of Eventide

By JOHN BOS

‘Let music charm me last on earth, and greet me first in heaven.”One book I am reading right now is “Staring at the Sun” by Irvin D. Yalom. He affirms that self-awareness is a supreme gift, a “treasure as precious as life. This is what makes us...

Suzanne Farrington: Dept. of Justice investigation

I’m writing to share something I learned recently: the Department of Justice is investigating allegations made by three Democratic senators regarding price-fixing and collusion by an AI software company RealPage and various large multi-family rental...

Sidney Moss: Jimmy Carter an inspiration

As President Carter enters his final days, I am inspired by his success in living a life of meaning that has made a difference. His life did indeed "count for something" as he had wished. It's remarkable that so much of what he was able to contribute...

Thomas Newton: Ninja Turtles?

Reading the article regarding manhole covers to be custom made with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles painted on them makes one wonder [Shelter, food, art funded through $4 million ARPA grant,” Gazette, Feb. 24].It is the opinion of this writer that the...

Linda Roney: Dark side of Deerfield

Congratulations to Deerfield on its 350th anniversary and thank you to all the people through the centuries who helped preserve the history and material culture of the town. Deerfield has been my home for many years and I have a deep love and...

Christine White-Ziegler: NFD pros in trail rescue

I am yet another reader to send in my heartfelt thanks to the Northampton Fire Department. It has been several weeks since my spectacular fall (well, the fall was not spectacular, but the fractures were!) on a trail at Fitzgerald Lake. My husband and...

Maria José Botelho: Finland sets example for nutrition in schools 

I greatly appreciate U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern’s recent bill, “Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act,” that will fund nutritious lunches to all children in U.S. public schools. I laud his efforts to end hunger and improve nutrition in the United States as...

Guest columnist Mariel E. Addis: Tying up loose ends

By MARIEL E. ADDIS

The brief bio that has graced the end of most of my Gazette essays mentions how I left the area for 16 years and returned in 2013. Some may wonder where I was during those 16 years.After brief stints in Wakefield, Rhode Island and Olean, New York, my...

Guest columnists Madeleine Para and Linda Butler: A lot to love about the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate solutions

By MADELEINE PARA and LINDA BUTLER

The long slog of lawmaking in Congress isn’t exactly riveting to the average American.But once those laws take effect? People start paying attention and getting excited as they see the benefits show up in their lives.That’s especially true with the...

Abraham Buchholtz: Dietary changes needed for environment

On March 20, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its latest assessment on climate change, drawing on the findings of hundreds of scientists throughout the world. The assessment details the devastating impacts of rising...

Hayley Wood: EconoLodge vote disappointing, zoning review needed

On March 20, the Hadley Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny a comprehensive permit to Valley Community Development that would have allowed that organization to develop the now-empty EconoLodge Hotel into 51 units of permanent housing, much of it...

Guest columnist Karl Meyer: FirstLight’s river pumping station down to secret confab

By KARL MEYER

A secrecy-shrouded deadline looms for the future of the Connecticut River ecosystem here in Massachusetts and the three-state impacts implicit in relicensing the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project. After 51 years of unbridled disruption on the...