Daily Hampshire Gazette - Established 1786
M/sunny
59°
M/sunny
Hi 76° | Lo 43°

Opinion

Photo illistration

Editorial: Best cure for Lyme disease is prevention

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Several public forums about Lyme disease have been held in local communities in recent weeks. The fact that these public discussions were held at all is testament to the widespread concerns, confusion and controversy that surround Lyme. Nearly everything about this tick-borne ailment — from its symptoms, to diagnosis, to treatment — is subject to dispute. Medical professionals disagree among … 0

Bruce Watson on ‘intelligence’ and the phone bill

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

LEVERETT — Last week, Americans were outraged to learn that the government is scooping up all our phone records and giving them to intelligence agencies. I, however, was grateful. In an ongoing struggle to decipher my phone bill, I have devoted countless hours, support calls, and the first stages of a Ph.D. program. I’m not looking for “total information awareness.” I don’t expect … 0

Michael and Judy Ryan: Help make Forbes accessible to all

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — As children of Northampton, we grew up as card-carrying members of Forbes Library, and for over 60 years we have continued to use Forbes for myriad purposes on countless occasions. We borrow books, record albums, movie videos, books on tape and DVDs; we attend lectures, public meetings, art exhibits, poetry readings, debates, seminars and forums. We often visit exhibits in the … 0

About Letters
The Gazette welcomes letters to the editor which should not exceed 300 words, be of general interest and in good taste and meet legal standards. They may be emailed to opinion@gazettenet.com with "Letter to the Gazette in the subject line or sent via U.S. mail to Letters, Daily Hampshire Gazette, P.O. Box 299, Northampton, MA 01061. For more information, visit our Help Center.
Gazetteer Blog »

Larry Parnass, the editor of the Gazette, has been on the newspaper's staff since 1988 as an editor, reporter and columnist.

Cue the snow globe for New Yorker writer's visit to Northampton
Jun 12, 2013 06:47PM
The making of our ‘The Cost of Choice’ series
May 23, 2013 04:20PM
Living off the woody fat of the land
Dec 26, 2012 11:57AM
Northampton's MEF seeks to expand educational reach with 'Exploded View' website
Oct 1, 2012 06:37PM
Talkback »
fralashik wrote:
08:30 AM EST

Excellent letter. I am so tired of the ads advising me to vote for Russo because he's an ex-Navy Seal & has...(full comment)

Dave King: Here’s some reasons to vote for Markey
forflor wrote:
07:59 AM EST

why is there no mention of the elephant in the room...Smith College and their inability to step up to the plate here?...(full comment)

Northampton override vote is up against rising cost of living, higher taxes, fees 
Other Local News
A letter from John Hancock, Sophia Smith's ear trumpet and a half-pound key: Finds from the Hatfield Historical Museum
From News »
Federal budget cuts result in fewer Pioneer Valley Head Start slots
From News »
LaBron James helps Heat stave off elimination in Game 6
From Sports »
Clippers, Celtics end talks on Doc Rivers deal, at least for now
From Sports »
Cancer patients take fight to the gym
From Living »
Meditation: a new kind of family time
From Living »
Michelle Chamuel of Amherst sings for the title on ‘The Voice’
From Arts & Entertainment »
CBS ends national broadcast of Pops concert
From Arts & Entertainment »

Jeffery Bubar: Consider pool in Northampton override vote

Sunday, June 16, 2013

To the editor: While much of the concern is over cuts to the performing arts in our schools, if the Proposition 2½ override fails, voters should be concerned over the closing on weekends of the Aquatic & Family Center at JFK Middle School, which means the pool, gym … 1

Sara Weinberger: On the hunt for economic injustice inside a closet

Sunday, June 16, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — I’ve caught the travel bug. Recently, however, I took a different kind of trip. I journeyed through Asia, South America and even some places I had never heard of, like South Africa’s neighbor, Lesotho. This was not a pleasure trip. There were no luxurious accommodations or … 0

Editorial: Court ruling puts Fourth Amendment under assault

Friday, June 14, 2013

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was significantly weakened by a recent Supreme Court decision. The court, in a 5-4 ruling, allows police to collect people’s DNA after an arrest. Without just cause. Without a warrant. The … 0

Marietta Pritchard: The fate of a field in Amherst

Friday, June 14, 2013

AMHERST — When we bought our house on Orchard Street in Amherst in 1961, we were not thinking much about the future. We needed a place to live with our 1-year-old son, and this small saltbox-type structure was available within easy walking distance from my husband’s office at … 0

Rob Okun: Brave stand taken by future fathers to change male athletic culture

Friday, June 14, 2013

AMHERST — In a world where too many men stay silent in the face of discrimination against women — from sexual harassment to domestic and sexual violence — the public statement of a chorus of young Massachusetts male athletes not long before Father’s Day offers a sliver of … 0

Kipp Armstrong: We must work together to improve school funding

Friday, June 14, 2013

EDITOR’S NOTE: The writer is responding to a second guest column by Deborah Keisch Polin and Tim Scott (“Let’s improve all public schools,” May 31) that challenged aspects of the charter school and school choice systems. To the editor: I disagree with the notion that charters and school … 1

Editorial: Town Meeting breaks logjam on creative zoning

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Most Town Meeting members in Amherst long ago accepted the value of zoning changes that guide development into settled neighborhoods to preserve open space. This month, the body was finally able, after years of trying, to reach the two-thirds majority needed to adopt several — but not all … 0

John Paradis: The frugal ‘yes’ voter on Northampton override

Thursday, June 13, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — When I retired from the Air Force in 2009, my family could choose any place to live. We elected to return to New England, where I was born and raised and where I was proud to tell people I went to a great public school. We … 13

Olivia Bernstein: Disagrees with CDH vending machine change

Thursday, June 13, 2013

To the editor: In this day in age, the American public is constantly inundated with choices when it comes to food selection. Healthy versus unhealthy, store bought versus homemade, and in reference to soda, diet versus regular. Although remarkably higher in calorie and sugar content, regular soda lacks … 3

CORRECTIONS

Friday, June 14, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — A caption for a photograph of guitarist Adrien Moignard incorrectly stated the date of his performance. Moignard will perform June 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy of Music in Northampton as part of the Django in June festival. NORTHAMPTON — A story Wednesday incorrectly stated … 0

Don't Miss This