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By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

The Northampton Family Fourth Celebration is stepping up its call for donors ahead of its annual Fourth of July celebration, with the committee saying the event faces a “significant funding shortfall.”

I don’t know where the “peace activist” who urged negotiations with Vladimir Putin in the March 14 Gazette got her facts about the Minsk accords [“Negotiate, don’t escalate,” letter]. She claims Ukraine broke the agreement, so the war is Ukraine’s fault.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — A coalition of leaders affiliated with the city and its major business associations have come together to advocate for the Picture Main Street project, currently on pace to begin construction next year to dramatically remake the city’s downtown.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Visitors from Lexington and Marblehead were among those who came to see “Generic Male,” the off-Broadway physical theater performed at Northampton’s Academy of Music in early March.

By ALEXA LEWIS

Northampton and Westhampton have been awarded Green Communities competitive grants that they plan to put toward enhancing the energy efficiency of school buildings.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL,EMILEE KLEIN and SCOTT MERZBACH

In a state that prides itself on its educational prowess, Massachusetts school districts across the commonwealth are facing a crisis of ability to adequately fund their schools. Hampshire County has proved to be no exception.

By SUZANNE STILLINGER

A recent guest column about Northampton’s Main Street project raises several concerns including the idea that without starting a new and “better process” residents will become less willing to engage and participate in the community [“Main Street: Place-making or unmaking place?” March 12]. As a resident who has been actively involved for several years in the Picture Main Street process, I strongly disagree.

By CAROLYN BROWN

K and E Theater Group’s upcoming production of the Tony Award-winning rock musical “Spring Awakening” will be at 33 Hawley in Northampton the weekends of March 28-30 and April 3-5.

By CAROLYN BROWN

“Sometimes,” as the Elton John song says, “sorry seems to be the hardest word.” An upcoming pop-up installation and workshop at Forbes Library wants to help change that, giving participants the opportunity to make their own apologies – even if they’re not yet ready to share them.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — Though Massachusetts is not one of at least six states that will lose out on $500 million in food deliveries promised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the leader of the region’s largest food bank remains concerned about future cuts.

At 4:30 in the morning, my husband was drinking his first cup of coffee, yes, really that early. He heard a sound that wasn’t part of the normal din of an old house. So he went down to the basement to investigate. He found water spraying all over from the outside water service line. It had a hole ahead of the shutoff valve, so there was nothing he could do except seek help.

I was glad to see Sen. Ed Markey visit Northampton, while many of his Republican peers avoid contentious town halls. While both Sens. Markey and Elizabeth Warren have been vocal in opposing the lawlessness of the Trump administration, there is more that can be done.

There is important background information explaining Elon Musk’s Nazi salute at a Trump inauguration party. Musk’s grandfather was born in Canada of South African parents and emigrated back to South Africa in the 1950s. According to reporter Chris McGreal, writing in The Guardian Jan. 26, “that’s when apartheid had just started to kick in. South Africa had had discriminatory laws before, but you see the specific apartheid laws, which are much more aggressive, and in many ways reminiscent of the Nazi Nuremberg laws against Jews in the 1930s.”

We were pleased to learn that Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra has announced plans to run for reelection. We believe that Mayor Sciarra is a competent and compassionate leader, and we feel lucky and blessed to have her at the helm here in our unique and wonderful city.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — On an early March weekend, as numerous musicians took the stage at venues across the city for the Back Porch Music Festival, some spent a portion of their downtime at Mill River Music and Guitars, relaxing on the store’s couches, surrounded by hundreds of acoustic and electric guitars displayed on the walls.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says: “Few budgetary concepts generate as much unintended confusion and deliberate misinformation as the Social Security trust funds. The trust funds are invested in Treasury securities that are just as sound as all other U.S. government securities, held by investors around the globe and regarded as being among the world’s safest investments.”

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ward 3 City Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg for her unwavering accessibility and dedication to vulnerable residents like myself.

As a resident of Ward 3 for a dozen years, I have had a number of City Council representatives and frequently watch the Thursday evening proceedings. In all of that time I have rarely met a public servant as dedicated to her constituents as Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg.

I want to thank Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra for hosting an exhibit of artwork by ServiceNet community artists at Northampton City Hall throughout February and March. Her support helps shine a light on the creativity and talent of these artists and underscores the importance of inclusion and visibility for all people, including those with disabilities.