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By JOHANNA NEUMANN
On Monday night, my husband Nick and my sister-in-law, Cecilia and I headed out for a bundled-up run through the fields behind our house. Unexpectedly, what started as a visit and some cardio became a reflection on the importance of seizing opportunities to say goodbye to the old in order to make room for the new when Cecilia started reflecting on her recent tour of the Jones Library.
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
Holiday time is nearly here. I’m so excited about filling my home with the smell of balsam fir and baking cookies and the sounds of my boys singing along to Chipmunks Christmas carols.I am not, however, looking forward to the crescendo of holiday...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
For the past two decades, America has accomplished a minor miracle. Despite a growing population, ballooning home sizes, a spike in the number of electronic devices we own, and more, electricity demand has remained largely stable. That’s a testament...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
Networked geothermal systems, like one being piloted in central Massachusetts, have the makings of a scalable energy solutionIt can sometimes be challenging to find clean energy solutions that all stakeholders support. For example, California utility...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
Another summer, another season of seeking out swimming holes to cool down.In the Pioneer Valley and beyond, millions of Americans are flocking to rivers, lakes and beaches to beat the heat. Whether stream walking, wading, swimming, surfing, tubing,...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
The North Atlantic right whale is one of the rarest whale species in the world. Will we drive them to extinction or save them?Those of us lucky enough to have taken a whale-watching trip in the Gulf of Maine may have glimpsed the majesty of humpback...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
This week my boys and I are visiting my mom and stepdad for April break. Shortly after we arrived, they proudly gave us a tour of their new PV solar array, which they had installed on the south face of their home earlier this year. My stepdad, Rick,...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
Happy 2024. After my last column, I got feedback from a reader who pointed out that I missed a topic in my round-up of environmental progress in 2023. She mentioned that I had completely failed to mention Amherst voters overwhelmingly approving plans...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
This summer, our family’s gasoline-powered lawn mower, which had come with the house when we bought it 12 years ago, finally bit the dust. After taking it into Boyden & Perron as well as our neighborhood small-engine repair guy, it became clear it was...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
Rapid access to hot water is a hallmark of modern society and has made our lives a lot easier. With the turn of a faucet handle, we have hot showers as well as water to wash our dishes and clean our clothes.Now, the Biden administration is positioning...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
Many of us have an ocean, river or lake that holds a special place in our recollections of summers past. However, too often when we revisit these waters, they’re marred by pollution. This widespread problem should send a clarion call to...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
From the Norwottuck Rail Trail here at home to the Grand Canyon in the West, beauty abounds in the natural world. It’s found in places big and small — some well-known, others our secret respites from the modern world. Almost all are well-loved, and...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
In the wee hours of the morning of April 14, when it was forecast to be a record-crushing 95 degrees, I met my intern Erica in the parking lot of the Big Y in Palmer. Together, we carpooled to Somerset, on Massachusetts’ south coast for a 9 a.m....
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
On May 2, Amherst voters will decide whether to fund a new elementary school building. If you’re an Amherst voter still making up your mind, I urge you to consider a “yes” vote for the following reasons.First is the need. Both Fort River and Wildwood...
By JOHANNA NEUMANN
Halting logging of older trees in our national forests should be a key piece of President Biden’s legacy of climate action.The Biden administration has done more than any other presidency to reduce the emissions warming our planet. At the president’s...
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