Erica Avery: Column on gender care for children opens discussion

Thank you for publishing Karen Bercovici’s guest column on gender care for children [“We need to rethink ‘gender-affirming care’ for our children,” Nov. 14], and the responses to it, many of which amount to “Don’t talk about this.” But anyone who...

Leah Hastings: Sheriffs have the right to refuse ICE requests

In “Hampshire County sheriff: Not heeding ICE detainer requests is the law” [Dec. 18], Sheriff Patrick Cahillane underestimates his office’s authority to protect immigrants from federal immigration enforcement under the impending Trump...

Guest columnist William Lambers: The world needs the peace of Christmas Eve

By WILLIAM LAMBERS

 With so many wars taking place, the world needs the gift of peace more than anything this holiday season. The world needs the peace of Christmas Eve. It has happened before.On Christmas Eve in 1814, thousands of American, British and Canadian...

Columnist Susan Wozniak: Christmas memories suffuse the season

By SUSAN WOZNIAK

Presents have been on my mind. Of course they are. It is the end of the year, the turning to the deepest dark. It is the time of Advent and the time of Hanukkah.When I was very young, all of the descendants of my mother’s mother gathered at her home...

Iris L. Broudy: Where were the salt trucks?

On Friday, Dec. 20, about 5:30 p.m., I was driving home east on Route 9 from South East Street in Amherst. It was terrifying. My good snow tires had zero traction on the icy surface. Vehicles were going 10 mph yet still skidding.At one point I saw a...

Nadine Gallo: Two cures for cancer

For two years I have had cancer treatments at Dana Farber in Boston. Their treatments primarily are not what you normally would infuse into your body. These poisons are regularly infused into cancer patients. They cause hair loss and nausea.CT scans...

Chris Rohmann: In the mind's eye

When reading Raymond Fontaine’s guest column ”Memories of public radio past still glow” [Dec. 21], I was reminded of a story Garrison Keillor once told, of the little boy who, in the early days of television, was asked which he preferred, radio or TV?...

Catherine K. Riessman: Joys of public radio

Thoroughly enjoyed Raymond Fontaine’s Dec. 21 guest column about his memories of public radio [”Memories of public radio past still glow”]. I also appreciated Robert J. Lurtsema, who hosted Morning Pro Musica for many decades; one summer in 1976 when...

Columnist Richard Fein: Ukraine, Russia and a potential ceasefire

By RICHARD FEIN

This column is about the possibility of a cease-fire in the war between Russia and Ukraine, what the terms might be and what would motivate the antagonists to reach an agreement.Background1991: Ukraine gained its independence upon the collapse of the...

Guest columnist Allen Woods: Enduring the darkness, welcoming the light

By ALLEN WOODS

 Judging by the number of cultures and religions that celebrate the winter solstice, I guess my yearly November-into-December slump isn’t just about me. Nearly every group has a holiday associated with the pivotal day, although the celebrated event...

Barry De Jasu: Where are the Democrats?

As the lame duck Biden administration enters its last month, I ask: Where are the Democrats?Biden just pardoned a “cash for kids” judge. Biden, and way too many Dems, are continuing to send endless weapons and funds to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin...

Mickey Rathbun: Misconstrued name-calling

Letter writer Laetitia La Follette’s Dec. 13 letter to the editor [“Historic preservation and the Jones Library”] entirely misconstrued my recent column in the Gazette. My only point was that the town had disregarded its statutory obligations under...

Columnist Rev. Andrea Ayvazian: A blessing while weeding a cemetery in the desert

By THE REV. ANDREA AYVAZIAN

This is the 15th December that I have written my monthly column for the Gazette. But this year feels different — with wars dragging on, frightening news swirling in the press, and an angry, unpredictable Donald Trump about to take the reins (again) at...

Guest columnist Raymond Fontaine: Memories of public radio past still glow

By RAYMOND FONTAINE

 Every year at New Year’s, my wife and I watch Woody Allen’s wistful and loving tribute to the golden age of radio, “Radio Days.” The narrator of the film, Mr. Allen, reminisces about the fleeting sounds of his youth through a somewhat...

Guest columnist Donald Joralemon: The true cost of concentrating wealth away from the people

By DONALD JORALEMON

 The social media response to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan on Dec. 4 was both deplorable and understandable. He quickly became a symbol for the anger and frustration of millions of Americans who have been...

Columnist Russ Vernon-Jones: Winning hearts and minds in the battle against authoritarianism

By RUSS VERNON-JONES

Many of us are wondering how we can be most effective in blocking authoritarianism from completely taking over the United States now that Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans are about to assume political power. This is not an easy question, but it’s...

Amherst students: We want our own space in the library

Some people think that we teens don’t need our own space in our new library, but we do. One reason is when you are at home and you have a younger sibling it is very hard to get work done, so this space would be very helpful for that. Another reason...

Letter: McGovern Wants Blinken to Obey Our Laws and So Should We

Rep. Jim McGovern deserves credit for expressing, on Dec. 17 to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, his disapproval of their continued support for what Amnesty International concludes is genocide. In a letter,...

Guest columnist Grant Donta-Venman: Fuel, farms and the future

By GRANT DONTA-VENMAN

 Growing up in Hadley, I know just as well as any other Pioneer Valley resident that farm towns across the country are in dire need of environmental support. Because of their amplified use of fossil fuels, they experience increased effects of climate...

Abbie Jensen: RFK Jr. is a danger to public health

The recent column by Olin Rose-Bardawil is one of the most appalling pieces I’ve read in the Gazette [“RFK Jr. could bring change to health woes,” Dec. 13].RFK Jr. is a grifter and a nepo baby with no health and managerial expertise, but with an...