Daily Hampshire Gazette - Opinion (2024)

Guest column: Valley Green Energy flowing soon to three towns

08-30-2024 5:47 PM

By RUSS VERNON-JONES,DARCY DUMONT, DENISE LELLOand TONY ROGERS

Those of us who live in Northampton, Amherst or Pelham will soon experience the benefits of community bulk purchasing of electricity.More than 150 other municipalities in Massachusetts are already participating in the type of “community choice...

David Arbeitman: Is Trump the new McCarthy?

08-30-2024 5:45 PM

As Kamala Harris’ numbers rise and as Donald Trump bemoans the fact that he is not running against Joe Biden, the former president has become desperate to redefine her. Freaked out by her large rallies, enormous fundraising, and powerful acceptance...

Tzivia Gover: Joy — It’s not a political liability, it’s a superpower

08-30-2024 5:45 PM

Just a few short weeks ago, when the country was reeling from the sudden change of candidates at the top of the Democratic ticket, Kamala Harris received a phone call of support and endorsem*nt from Michele and Barack Obama. She signed off by...

Matthew Spurlock: Apartheid-free River Valley Co-op

08-30-2024 5:45 PM

I was heartened to see so many speaking up for an Apartheid Free River Valley Co-op by asking the co-op to stop selling Israeli-made products [“Pushing for an ‘apartheid-free’ store, Gazette, Aug. 23]. As prominent Israeli human rights group B’Tselem...

Guest columnist Lynne M. Latham: Hadley Library roof needs assessment

08-29-2024 5:46 PM

By LYNNE M. LATHAM

Trustees of the Hadley Public Library met with the Select Board last week to share the findings of a report prepared by Gale Associates about the library’s roof. The report is based on a visual inspection of the roof, and it identifies several...

Gastón de los Reyes: Thank you, Interfaith Housing Association

08-29-2024 5:45 PM

On behalf of the Amherst Affordable Housing Trust, I write to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Interfaith Housing Association of Amherst for their generous decision to donate the association’s remaining funds to the Trust Fund as they prepare to...

Brian Cooper: Boycotting Israeli ice cream isn’t going to get it done

08-29-2024 5:45 PM

I am writing to express my admiration of the sheer bravery on display by the people protesting at River Valley Co-op to demand that they remove a handful of Israeli products from the shelves [“Pushing for an ‘apartheid-free’ store,” Aug. 27].These...

Emmett Barcalow: A vote against the planet

08-29-2024 5:45 PM

A vote for Donald Trump is a vote to make Earth much less habitable for humanity. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a vote that will seriously harm human beings.Almost all climate scientists agree that their research over the past four decades...

Ina Porth: Appalled by article promoting Israel as ‘apartheid’ state

08-29-2024 5:45 PM

I love the local news but was a bit astonished by the Gazette’s decision to publish the story [“Pushing for an ‘apartheid-free’ store,” Aug. 27] on the top half of the front page. This is news? No, this is more redefining of what “apartheid” and what...

Guest columnist Farah Ameen: Bring back hope to Amherst

08-28-2024 5:22 PM

By FARAH AMEEN

A few weeks ago, I watched with horror as political unrest unfolded in Bangladesh. It started with college students protesting job reservations for families of our 1971 war heroes, but escalated over poverty, the economic situation, and the...

Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina: Dressing for the DNC occasion

08-28-2024 5:21 PM

I’m glad that guest columnist Paul Taylor had a chance to visit Chicago, a wonderful city [“Hanging around the DNC,” Aug. 24]. However, I had to read his column twice to make sure that I understood his point.Was it that most of the people near the...

Rich Geidel: Gaza and Ukraine — Stop both wars now

08-28-2024 5:21 PM

Two tragic wars are continuing unabated as I write this. In Gaza, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, many more have been wounded and their homes destroyed. In Ukraine, tens of thousands have been killed and the infrastructure laid...

Chuck Horn: Hope for our new generations

08-28-2024 5:21 PM

I will be 80 in November. My life experiences give me some wisdom, but they can also stilt my views. So, I increasingly lean on the wisdom of younger generations. They are the future, as I fade. With the rise of Kamala Harris, recent Mideast peace...

Johanna Andreoli: Thank you, Easthampton Parks and Rec

08-28-2024 5:21 PM

I would like to thank Easthampton Parks and and Recreation and all the pool staff and lifeguards for a wonderful summer spent at the Nonotuck Park Pool.Thank you for your kindness and patience, for keeping the pool clean, and for keeping everyone...

John Howard: Helping Vice President Harris

08-28-2024 5:21 PM

Vice President Kamala Harris has given new energy to the Democratic Party. Harris supports democracy instead of destroying it.Harris supports the poor and middle classes instead of the rich 1 percent. Harris supports women instead of abusing them,...

Guest columnist Sara Elkins: Hold on to the former Registry of Deeds building

08-27-2024 6:11 PM

By SARA ELKINS

It is worth the city of Northampton to reconsider selling the former Registry of Deeds building. I am very familiar with the building having spent many years in its hallways, offices and courtrooms. It has a working elevator, at least four bathrooms...

Guest columnist Terrence McCarthy: Has Vance found his father figure?

08-27-2024 6:11 PM

By TERRENCE MCCARTHY

I’ve been reading Donald Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance’s memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” The book, published in 2016, made The New York Times best seller list then, and since Vance was chosen by the former president the book has sold tens of thousands...

Guest columnist Mariel E. Addis: No idea why city was so keen on old church for Resilience Hub

08-27-2024 6:11 PM

By MARIEL E. ADDIS

In the early 2000s, while living in Kennebunk, Maine, I took a real estate class and got my associate Realtors’ license. I was hoping to parlay real estate into a new career, but I was too nervous to give up a good-paying engineering job for a job...

Tina Sanchez: Resilience Hub questions

08-27-2024 6:08 PM

As an Aug. 16 Gazette article noted, the city of Northampton appears to have overpaid by as much as $1.5 million for the former First Baptist Church on Main Street, according to Colliers International, a large global real estate brokerage [“Appraisal...