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Witnesses to difficult journeysNORTHAMPTON — As Passover takes place, local Jewish activists are working with a New Hampshire photographer and the New England Visionary Artists Museum (Anchor House of Artists) to stage an exhibit drawing links between...

By RICHARD FEIN

This is an update on a column I wrote last year about a threat to our future well-being: the national debt. To summarize, unless the debt crisis is brought under control soon the future will be much more difficult for you, your children, grandchildren...

We need grassroots democracyThe current emphasis on federal politics over state politics is slowly killing the nation and its people. The Founding Fathers believed in a union of states, each with its own governing body and unified by a shared...

By MARIEL E. ADDIS

 When I first heard John Lennon’s masterpiece “Imagine,” and heard the line “imagine no religion,” I thought, “How awful is that; religion is a good thing!” Probably in junior high at the time, I couldn’t understand the significance of the line. I do...

Political will needed to benefit from new power line technologyRecent news articles about upgrading power lines with new, lighter, higher-capacity wiring have us feeling hopeful. We’d like the Gazette to report on this process, called advanced...

It is mind-boggling that in a region that holds some of the finest and affluent colleges in our nation, our public schools are in such dire financial shape. Clearly, we in western Massachusetts value education, yet we are on the brink of decimating...

Nearly everyone turns to the arts in times of joy and times of sorrow: the song you danced to at your wedding; the poem that helped you through the loss of a friend; the film or play or book that made you laugh or cry or think. Nearly everyone turns...

While I certainly appreciate coverage of the local fire departments, as well as of the changes we're seeing towards EVs in the transportation sector, the article about firefighters prepping to deal with potential fires in EVs was oddly inflammatory...

By STEVE PFARRER

Just days after former folk and Americana performer turned indie-pop singer Caroline Rose played in Florence, Cloudbelly, the Valley indie folk band led by singer-songwriter Corey Laitman, is set to showcase songs from a new album that has a...

I am writing to share an uplifting story of community generosity and support. In 2021, I introduced donation containers at the checkout registers of my two stores, Cooper’s Corner in Florence and State Street Fruit Store in Northampton, urging...

As the Gazette covered on March 23, activists calling for a cease-fire in Gaza are pressuring leading pro-peace Congressman Jim McGovern to return contributions from Jewish peace organization JStreetPac. This is odd as JStreet has called for a...

By STEVE PFARRER

Can the arts help us reexamine our past and come to terms with injustice? Can music, film and other mediums become instruments for social change by helping us look differently at our history and our beliefs?Those are questions the Power of Truths Arts...

Hot tickets at BombyxFLORENCE — Indie pop singer and songwriter Caroline Rose, who’s gained increased attention and acclaim from the national music press in the last several years, is coming to the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity for two shows, April...

If you’re as horrified as I am that Donald Trump could become our next president, I urge you to work now to ensure that never happens. Instead of being paralyzed by feelings of dread, I recommend acting together to protect our freedoms, including...

I am responding to the March 21 letter to the editor titled “City trees, city responsibility.” I agree with the writer, but perhaps the solution lies with the City Council rather than just the Department of Public Works. When I purchased my house in...

By RICHARD FEIN

This column is about Israel, especially in the context of its war against Hamas in Gaza. I am an ardent supporter of Israel who believes that it is necessary to look at all the facts, not just those that make me comfortable.Some facts: Israel has been...

In July of 2023, outgoing UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswammy committed to pay $5.5 million to the town of Amherst over the next five years to help support its infrastructure, including the public schools. Similarly, Amherst College has...

By STEVE PFARRER

Mardi Gras took place last month, but you can catch some of its flavor at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity on March 24 at 4 p.m. when Jon Cleary & The Monster Gentlemen come to the Florence venue — with the Soggy Po Boys opening the show.Cleary has...

To those of us commuting to work in SUVs daydreaming of a warming future where Northampton resembles West Palm Beach, you’d better think again.The March 8 Living on Earth podcast details new science showing that the Gulf Stream will collapse within...

There are now two major party candidates for the U.S. presidency in 2024. One candidate is running for president. The other candidate is running for king.Alan KannerAmherst

Amid all the world strife, playing can be a stress-buster. Whether it’s participation in an outdoor game like ultimate or baseball, or an indoor game like cards or a board game, usually you need to find someone to play with you. You can be a spectator...