Guest columnists Martha Hanner and Ash Hartwell: Amherst CRESS program vital for racial, social justice

By MARTHA HANNER and ASH HARTWELL

We are deeply concerned regarding the potential cutback of funding for CRESS in the proposed FY2026 town operating budget being presented to the Town Council. In the aftermath of the national reaction to George Floyd’s murder in 2020, the council passed a resolution, committing Amherst to ending structural racism and achieving racial equity.

Bob Cilman and Julia van IJken: Smith College’s response to plagiarism incident poorly handled

All of us at Young@Heart were so proud to hear that Evelyn Harris, one of our newest and youngest singers, was to receive an honorary degree at Smith College this spring. She has been such a great addition to our group, and such an inspiration to all of us — as she has been to many others. We were saddened by the way Smith College has chosen to humiliate Evelyn in public by accusing her of plagiarizing parts of her acceptance speech. Evelyn has informed us that her speech was submitted to Smith College in early May, and was edited by them for length. Surely the question of plagiarism could have been brought to her attention at that point, avoiding the drama and spectacle that has unfolded now?

Ellen Agard: Civil War tablets, gender-neutral bathrooms

In regards to the May 17 article (“Feds strip Jones of $1M grant), I read with dismay that an Amherst resident appealed to DOGE and federal officials to halt funding for the planned Humanities Center. Apparently this resident took exception to the Civil War tablets and gender neutral bathroom aspects of the project. This shows a chilling disregard for the history and people of Amherst. I sincerely hope that the Civil War tablets and exhibit will find their promised home in the new library. The tablets list the names of all 300 or more local residents who fought in the Civil War, regardless of “color.” The exhibit showcases and honors the 54th MA Volunteer Regiment and Calvary. Yes, these soldiers were Black. Yes, there have been people of many ethnic backgrounds in Amherst for hundreds of years — including the Bridges family whose efforts preserve and commemorate this part of our history. I am happy that the library will have climate-controlled space for our famous literary figures. They, too, are an important part of our history, but only a part. As for gender neutral bathrooms, please, this is 2025. We can do better, as I hope that the Jones Library will continue to demonstrate.

Guest columnist Al Norman: 50 ways to site your solar

By AL NORMAN

A year ago, state Sen. Jo Comerford sent a letter to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, regarding energy infrastructure siting and permitting.

Brooks Ballenger: State legislators, governor must stand up for our communities

As the Trump administration’s immigration authorities detain, imprison and transport residents of our communities, the silence and inaction of our state leaders is shameful. Worse still, Gov. Maura Healey is constantly repeating that “Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state.” Incredibly, she seems to have more sympathy for the ICE thugs than for their victims.

Columnist Carrie N. Baker: ‘War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.’ — 1984 in 2025

By CARRIE N. BAKER

As someone who has taught and fought for women’s rights for close to four decades, I find it intensely frustrating how the Trump administration is weaponizing feminist rhetoric and law to attack women’s rights. Claiming to defend women’s rights, they are eliminating hard-fought gains for women and twisting laws meant to protect women’s rights into tools to destroy them. We are plunging into a world eerily similar to George Orwell’s novel “1984.”

Alex Kent: A call for leadership

I have sent the following message to Congressman Jim McGovern and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and I would like to share it here: I am honored to have you as my representative in Congress, but I must ask you now to step outside of your comfort zone as a representative and a lawmaker. I am asking you to become a leader. Our country is now under the control of a man of the lowest, most dangerous character. In the Trump regime, as they say in Russian, “Dna ne sushchestvuet,” which means “there is no bottom.” I am asking you, imploring you, to join with other Democratic leaders in the House and Senate to call a general strike. It is time to shut the country down, even at risk that MAGA cult members will bring out their guns and shoot people in the streets, even at risk that the regime will declare martial law and order American troops to use violence to suppress protest by the American people. It is time for millions and millions of Americans to take to the streets and take down this vile and intolerably corrupt regime. At a recent town hall meeting in Northampton, a member of the audience shouted out a question to Jim McGovern: “How will you lead us?” Perhaps as your constituents, it is incumbent on all of us to rise up in massive protest. But the fact remains that we need we need leadership to make these protests happen. Without action now, our democracy will be permanently destroyed and the entire world put in jeopardy. Please lead us!

Guest columnist Ann Darling: Gov. Healey makes an undemocratic wrong turn

By ANN DARLING

I’ve gotta hand it to Gov. Maura Healey. She’s running a sharp strategy to get nuclear power back in the mix of Massachusetts power sources. Last legislative session, it was sneaking a provision that redefined nuclear power as “clean” into a high-stakes, last-minute bill that was also chock full of good things that lots of people wanted. In fact, nuclear power is filthy; the radioactive waste it creates contaminates and kills for generations.

My Turn: A year after UMass’ mass arrests, the damage lingers

By NANCY E. GROSSMAN

In the end, the dispute came down to about 15 tents and a fence loosely constructed of wooden pallets that had collectively been up for less than a day. But this small encampment was enough to trigger an ill-considered decision by first-year UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes that cost taxpayers more than half a million dollars and drove a likely permanent wedge between the administration and some of the UMass community.

Kelsey Flynn: Heartily endorse Laurie Loisel for Ward 3 city councilor

I am writing to heartily endorse Laurie Loisel as a candidate for Ward 3 city councilor. I’m a fan of Laurie’s work from her days as a Daily Hampshire Gazette reporter. Her stories were thoroughly researched, covering all angles of a particular issue and asking questions of multiple sources to get to the heart of the matter. Ward 3 will gain a lot with this kind of dedication to seeking the truth and understanding of an issue; now more than ever, we need this kind of effective representation. I’m excited to vote for her this fall and hope my Ward 3 neighbors will join me!

Cynthia Chamberland: Comprehensive health care in Massachusetts

The recent letter, ”Medicare hooey” [Gazette, May 6] is correct about Medicare’s woefully inadequate coverage, however is mistaken about Medicare for All. Medicare for All is very different. It is comprehensive health care coverage for everyone in Massachusetts, including employees, unemployed, employers, government workers, poor individuals, families, and anyone living in the state. There would be no premiums, deductibles, co-payments, and denials of coverage; Medicare for All would cover primary care, hospitalization, specialists, dental, behavioral health, addiction, hearing, and eye care. It will eliminate the insurance companies which not only profit substantially but add 30% percent in administrative costs for their role of middleman.

Steve Gigliotti: There is still kindness around

Thursday evening a small crowd of mostly senior music fans were waiting for the doors to open at the Parlor Room for singer-songwriter John Gorka. The forecast had said no rain. So, of course it decided to rain. Light, then heavy. Some had brought their umbrellas, many had not. My wife was trying to stay a little bit dry under the scant cover of a tree. A gentleman came walking by, with his umbrella. He paused, then walked over and handed his umbrella to my wife. And then walked away on down the street. Simply donating his umbrella to my wife. After the show, I left his umbrella on the front porch of the Parlor Room, hoping he might walk by and see it. Thank you sir. Your act fit perfectly with Gorka’s music.

Columnist Johanna Neumann: Let Americans choose clean energy

It makes no sense to dial back clean energy tax credits for solar and energy-saving tech

Guest columnist Jillian Duclos: Northampton must strengthen foundation, invest in tomorrow — together

By JILLIAN DUCLOS

Dear Northampton: My life here began at 19 working the counter at Sylvester’s, where I got to know the people that bring this city to life. It was there that, over at least a million cups of coffee, I learned about Northampton through the eyes of the people who live here, where I learned that Northampton is a community where people take care of one another, because this community took care of me.

Alexander Leger-Small: Rainy spring can't stop community food drive

There’s a saying here in New England that if you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes. On May 10, the staff and volunteers at the Northampton Survival Center were crossing our fingers and hoping that a week of downpours wouldn’t hinder the flow of food arriving at the center through the Annual Post Office Food Drive. The letter carriers and community of the greater Northampton area didn’t let us down. By noon or so the sun was high and the donations were rolling in. The postal trucks delivered bag after bag of grocery items that will excite and delight our clients. Volunteers arrived with smiles and ready hands. Excitement, dedication, and community flowed through our pantry on the 10th as people worked together to bring what good they could into the world.

Greg Saulmon: Local radio matters more than ever

This morning I turned on the radio and a familiar thing happened: I heard the voice of someone I know singing a song they wrote, and feelings of comfort and wonder washed over me. In this case the voice belonged to my friend and bandmate Brandi Ediss, singing a song from her excellent solo record “Bees and Bees and Bees.” It’s an experience that has played out over and over as I’ve cooked meals and run errands and driven to work and explored the back roads and odd corners of this place we call home. While the voices have been many, the source is always the same: radio station WRSI FM, The River.

Columnist Sara Weinberger: Giving up is not an option

By SARA WEINBERGER

Many of us are navigating a daunting landscape. Since Jan. 20, barraged by a deluge of disastrous news that threatens to undo us, some have devised their own exit strategy, leaving for other countries, in search of a new home. Others try to adjust by turning the unthinkable into a new normal. Some, however, remain undaunted, refusing to be ruled by fear or to give in to cynicism. Their numbers are growing. I am, of course, referring to the ever-growing lines of protesters winding their way past Tesla dealerships, showing up at town squares, parks, and city halls. Their voices demand, “Hands off” of a laundry list of everything that matters. They make their way to bridges over highways, unfurling upside down American flags to signal distress. An enormous quilt of humanity spreads itself across the country, reaching out to others who join them along the way. This intrepid band of nonviolent protesters knows that giving up is not an option.

Guest columnist Justin Taylor: Amherst in The Revolution

By JUSTIN TAYLOR

The recent commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord begins the celebration of the nation’s Semiquincentennial. At first glance, the struggle of eighteenth-century America may seem unrelated to the issues we face today and for many, the American Revolution can seem like a distant event, completely removed from the modern American, and therefore easy to ignore. This is a mistake: the American Revolution should not be treated like a relic or merely a holiday to be celebrated. It is an ongoing experiment, and the people of Amherst and of the United States today are as much a part of it as the early patriots of 1776.

Scott Brown: Time to flouridate the water

Like many towns in Massachusetts, we don’t fluoridate our water in Northampton. This policy (or lack-of-policy, really) is a holdover from the charming crankdom of yesteryear and naive misunderstandings (as well as willful misunderstandings) of the health science behind fluoridation dating from the 1940s. Every polity has its quirks, of course, and for decades, the resulting damage from fluoride inaction has been limited by the availability of prescription fluoride pills for children.