My Turn: 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...

Linda Clark: FYI Greenfield taxpayers

The Greenfield school budget every year asks for more money, and this year was no different. The only difference is approximately 36 more students enrolled than last school year. The public (taxpayers) are told the school system doesn’t have enough...

My Turn: 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...

Russell Pirkot: It’s simply crap

Donald Trump says a lot of crap, or nonsense. People in the news media say that he lies, or that he makes false statements, and I agree with those assessments. But usually what it comes down to is, simply, crap!I don’t watch much TV, and I get most of...

My Turn: Celebrating moments of grace, joy

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

 Autumn is in full swing, yet before I head out to rake leaves, I want to reflect on some of the best moments of the summer. It was a hot and humid season, but two events in mid-July cooled my mind and nourished my spirit despite scorching temps.On a...

Jeremy Williams: ‘Concept of a plan’

Donald Trump was recently asked what he would do about health care. Even after 11 years, he has nothing. His response was, “Well, I have a concept of a plan.” Really, after all these years this is all you’ve got. This shows exactly what kind of person...

Joyce Palmer-Fortune: In gratitude to local and regional investors

I would like to add my voice to the chorus of people who are grateful to the folks at Northeast Biodiesel for their hard work trying to establish a local non-fossil-fuel source for transportation fuel and heating oil.I am especially grateful to local...

Pushback: 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 by-laws since 1985. “In codifying solar energy as a protected use,” Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has written, “the Legislature determined...

Becca King: Disheartened by City Council incident

I was disheartened to read in the Recorder City Council President John Bottomley’s sharing his experience at a council meeting of being accosted by a member of the GCET board in a way that was hostile, intending to shame by name-calling, and outright...

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...

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...

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...

My Turn: Ways to confront the polycrisis before us

By EMILY KOESTER

There is clear scientific evidence that the world is experiencing a climate crisis. At the same time, many of us are dealing with a cost of living crisis, whether it’s being unable to find affordable housing, skyrocketing food prices, or child care...

My Turn: Context matters as much as words

By RICHARD WEDEGARTNER

 In his letter to the editor [“Words matter,” Sept. 28], Greenfield City Council President John Bottomley accuses Timothy Farrell of “accosting” him at a recent City Council meeting. Mr. Bottomley says Farrell “called me over, raised his voice at me...

Columnist Daniel Cantor Yalowitz: How do we relate to others?

Essentially, there are two fundamental ways of pursuing one’s life and livelihood. In order to fulfill the goals of today’s column, it’s critical first to imagine a continuum or scale, a long straight and flat line running horizontally from left to...

My Turn: What is rock bottom for health care?

By DR. CHRISTOPHER FLORY

At a recent gathering, I had on my “Medicare-For-All” (MFA) button and I was asked whether I thought it would ever pass. I found myself answering that I felt that the problems with our health care “non-system” were so deep that a fundamental change in...

Lew La Chance: Crosswalks are important

It appears that more drivers are stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks. Walkers now should seek crosswalks to get from one side of the street to the other. Traffic control is taking turns. Motorists should slow down at crosswalks as many of us age 70...

Bill Lafley: Questions

Just sitting and wondering …What model year did car manufacturers make directional signals optional equipment on cars?When the law passed that after a traffic light turns red three cars can go through and the fourth one has to stop?If we all buy...

Letter: Thanks to many for Colrain Fix-it Day

On Sept. 7, the trustees of the Griswold Memorial Library held their annual Colrain Fix-it Day, a free event that brings the community together for the New England tradition of helping each other repair and mend. Many commented on the unintended...