As I See It: America’s mighty power explained

By JON HUER

During the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, President Joe Biden was making his farewell speech. In part, he said, “Years ago everybody was talking about how China would overtake America as the world’s superpower, but today, nobody talks...

My Turn: Tis’ the season for a liberal meltdown

By WALT GORMAN

Well, the season is winding down. As I look forward to not going to the Franklin County Fair and tossing my cookies on the Tilt-A-Whirl, I hope to be less cranky as the nights become cooler and the days grow shorter. And since this newspaper...

My Turn: Waking up and fed up with the chaos

By ALAN HARRIS

 All signs point to Rome. With the Democratic Party resurrection, lifted by the joy and excitement of Kamala Harris, the gloom was gone. We have to be grateful for the fact that in the face of trailing polls, it dawned on them that the existential...

My Turn: Japanese knotweed is the problem, not the solution

By SARAH MANTEIGA

A question for Shutesbury Rights of Wetlands Initiative: Why try to reinvent the wheel? European countries have battled Japanese knotweed for decades longer; why stand in the way by not learning from their mistakes? Shutesbury Rights of Wetlands...

Doug Selwyn: Calling out Question 2 ‘lies’

There have been ads running on television by those against Ballot Question 2 that are out and out lies. It is disheartening, disappointing, and infuriating that the people creating the ads are choosing to tell deliberate lies to try and get their...

Robert (Chip) Wood: Vote ‘yes’ on Question 2 in November

Voting “yes” on Question 2 on the Nov. 5 ballot will make it possible for voters to support teachers in their frontline work to maximize student success and and raise graduation rates statewide. It will not eliminate the MCAS, which will continue to...

Margo Jones: Demolition delay ordinance clear

As a member of the Greenfield Historical Commission, I would like to clarify certain aspects of our meeting on Aug. 29.The city of Greenfield enacted a demolition delay ordinance in 2007. The Historical Commission is the enforcement body of that...

Todd Damon: ‘Lightweight’ candidate

I’m beginning to wonder if the powerful Democratic machine is fine with a second Trump presidency. Why else would they install such a lightweight as their candidate? It wasn’t that long ago that she was considered a liability by many in the party and...

My Turn: 50-year-old ‘new’ masculinity challenging brutish archetype

By ROB OKUN

 Since the presidential campaign shake-up in July, the national conversation about manhood is abuzz with talk of a “new” masculinity, embodied by good, decent men like Tim Walz and Doug Emhoff. What’s actually new, though, is what’s now coming into...

Marty Glaser: Concerns about a Trump presidency

I am worried that if Trump wins a second term, the following actions will be put into place.There will be no abortions throughout our country.There will be no contraception sold throughout the U.S., thereby criminalizing uses of all types of birth...

From Global to Local: Discovering intelligence growing all around us

​​​​​​By H. PATRICIA HYNES

From the largest to the smallest and the oldest to the youngest creatures on Earth — Antarctic blue whales and coastal redwood trees, minute bacteria and human beings — we are all enmeshed in layers of relationships. We need each other, though some...

Letter: Project Shema criticisms unfounded

We are disheartened by the disinformation campaign regarding the upcoming training offered by Project Shema for faculty at Northampton High School. In this tense political climate, in particular around Israel and Palestine, Project Shema was vetted...

My Turn: A vote for Harris/Walz is a vote for all

By BETH SHEPARD

 Reading the recent opinion letters in this local paper is quite disturbing. Moving to Massachusetts almost 38 years ago was one of the best decisions I have ever made. A place where we live our lives without government intervention with respect to...

Pushback: Three battery storage projects quietly charge ahead

The town of Wendell spent four years loudly fighting a lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS). By contrast, the city of Greenfield has quietly approved three large solar installations, coupled with battery storage systems. The difference?...

Joann Carol Lutz: Please honor Juanita and Wally Nelson

I attended the wonderful Stone Soup Cafe-sponsored Harvest Supper on Aug. 24, and learned that it was initiated by the late Juanita Nelson, an advocate for local foods and farming. While at the event, I also noticed life-size likenesses of Juanita...

Jessica Farwell: What’s the point?

This past week, I’ve made several observations that make me genuinely curious to know a bit more about what’s the intent behind another’s actions. Twice this week, vehicles (maybe the same one) drove past my house and men shouted “Trump!” out the...

My Turn: Occam’s razor and the mystery of the stranded sturgeon

By KARL MEYER

 On July 31, I watched from the Turners Falls bridge as a teen stood over an isolated pool in an emptied riverbed, 30 feet from FirstLight’s stoppered dam. He clutched a bent rod with something on his line. I had an idea what it might be. The Recorder...

My Turn: About these ‘traditional Christian values

By DANIEL A. BROWN

 I’ve always believed that any politician who uses their faith in God as a campaign tactic should have a bucket of fresh cow manure poured over their heads. There’s something particularly disingenuous, if not outright hypocritical, about sucking votes...

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

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 endorsement from Michele and Barack Obama. She signed off by...