Guest columnist Al Norman: The dirty details about clean energy siting in Massachusetts

By AL NORMAN

Solar facilities and battery storage have been protected in Massachusetts from local zoning bylaws since 1985. “In codifying solar energy as a protected use,” Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has written, “the Legislature determined...

Guest columnist Robin Goldstein: Listen to our restaurant workers and save their livelihoods by voting ‘no’ on Ballot Question 5

By ROBIN GOLDSTEIN

 Imagine this: a high-paid, Ivy League-educated lawyer and nonprofit executive from Los Angeles shows up in Massachusetts and claims that our restaurant workers are being paid a “sub-minimum wage” that’s below the state minimum wage. To solve this...

Ed Lambert: Weakening academic standards will result in fewer job opportunities for Mass. students

As an organization that represents employers across Massachusetts, we are deeply concerned about ballot Question 2, which would remove the requirement that students pass the 10th grade MCAS assessment to earn their diplomas. Lowering our educational...

Guest columnist David Sloviter: Believe what they say and do

By DAVID SLOVITER

 In the current climate, where it seems every issue is polarized and there is little appeal to reasoned dialogue, the views of the current conflict in the Middle East seems to be at the forefront. Facts that are not convenient to both sides are...

Guest columnist H. Patricia Hynes: Water and war in Gaza

By H. PATRICIA HYNES

 In late 2020, a report titled “Saving Gaza Begins with its Water” stated:“The water crisis in Gaza is a problem of daunting proportions, with grave implications for the more than 2 million inhabitants of the Palestinian enclave ... The aquifer from...

Jennifer E. James: Good leadership must welcome all voices

I’m writing in support of Richard Chu’s letter expressing concern for better transparency in Northampton’s city decision-making [“Collaboration, transparency missing in city government,” Sept. 30]. I also observed during the meetings held over school...

Lawrence Pareles: Why I support Kamala Harris for president

With the national elections coming in November, I’m writing to express my strong support for Kamala Harris to be our next president of the United States. There are many reasons to support her, but honestly I believe she is the leader that our nation...

John Kurty: Matthews-Kane for state representative

I’ll be voting for Bridget Matthews-Kane for state representative in the 4th Hampden District. A native of Westfield, Bridget is now in her third term on Westfield’s City Council. Bridget has shown herself to be a helpful, communicative and...

Karun Das Moss: Second Walk for Peace

On Sunday, Oct. 6, the Village of Light Ashram in Leverett is sponsoring its second Walk for Peace. This walk, beginning at the Leverett Elementary School and ending at the Village of Light Ashram, is meant to include everyone. It is a testimony of...

Joe Gannon: Story on spreading peace message ‘depressing’

How truly depressing to see on the front page another story [“‘Women of vision’ spread peace message,” Gazette, Sept. 27] about another group that cares deeply about something or someone, but refuses to engage in “politics” and instead goes all in on...

Courtney Cullen: Ditch trunk or treat

Trunk or treat ruins Halloween, and I’ve come prepared to back that up. As a child of the ‘80s, there was nothing more exciting than Halloween night. I grew up in a mid-size neighborhood in Appalachia full of a community of ghoulish enthusiasts. I’m...

Mary Patricia Daley: Help all who are pregnant

A Sept. 13 Gazette article reports that Gov. Maura Healey, in June, “launched a $1 million, taxpayer-funded initiative designed to discourage people seeking help from ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ … which the administration dubbed ‘anti-abortion’”...

Guest columnist Matt L. Barron: Western Mass. legislators toe the line against overdue audit

By MATT L. BARRON

 I was very disappointed to read the comments of some area lawmakers in the Sept. 30 Recorder opposing Question 1 on the November state ballot, which would allow our state auditor to audit the Legislature.Between 1987 and 1992, I served as a...

Guest columnist Ann Darling: Backroom deals and false climate solutions

By ANN DARLING

 Buried in Section 73 of Gov. Maura Healey’s supplemental 2024 budget is an interesting little tidbit, a new definition of “clean energy generation.” In this bill, clean energy now includes, among other things, “nuclear power generation that is...

Columnist J.M. Sorrell: Don’t take Goldilocks gamble

By J.M. SORRELL

One of the many memorable speeches at the Democratic National Convention was delivered by Michelle Obama. She spoke of hope making a comeback and the potential for good in our country. Ms. Obama also cautioned there are people who will do everything...

Norman Spier: Estate recovery reforms welcome

I’d like to thank state Sen. Jo Comerford for her work over several years, resulting in a provision recently signed into state law (H5033), limiting Massachusetts’ formerly excessive estate recovery to the federally required minimum. Although it’s a...

Lili Dwight: Deerfield — Finish housekeeping on senior housing

I write to urge my fellow Deerfield residents to vote “yes” on Article 6 at our Special Town Meeting on Oct. 7. This is the final housekeeping step to create senior housing in Deerfield. The vote is not for or against senior housing — we already...

David Arbeitman: Mass deportations means police state

Donald Trump promises to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, mostly Latinos who arrived from Mexico and Central America, if he were to return to the White House.No doubt, this will involve police and military stopping Latinos on the street or...

Columnist Joanna Buoniconti: Fueling the feeling I’m missing out

By JOANNA BUONICONTI

Last April, I went on my first successful date with a guy, and when I got home that night, I went on Instagram for a few minutes in an attempt to wind down. This was my first mistake, considering that going on Instagram and seeing everyone living...

Guest columnist Marietta Pritchard: Family papers — keep or toss?

By MARIETTA PRITCHARD

 My mother-in-law was a very disciplined person. That’s putting it mildly. A public school music supervisor, she would do a spring cleaning every year when school ended. And what a cleaning it was. She would start at the top of the house, taking up...