Nicholas Wo: Slow down in Montague

Dear Community: I want to address a troubling incident that recently occurred: a child was hit by a car driving recklessly, and it was only due to the quick actions of local Samaritans that the driver didn’t flee the scene. This has sparked anger and...

My Turn: Newcomers will become part of fabric of country

By SUSAN WOZNIAK

A week or two ago, I overheard an interesting recommendation. A man told his friend that the food at a local restaurant was “really good.” I found myself at 8 p.m., near the restaurant at six hours past my last meal.The place was empty but the hostess...

My Turn: Do you know your human rights?

By CARRIE N. BAKERand CARRIE CUTHBERT

J.D. Vance’s comments devaluing childless women, Donald Trump’s lies about Haitian immigrants and the Project 2025 agenda to dismantle U.S. civil rights laws show that many current-day Republicans do not believe all people deserve to be treated with...

Laurie Boosahda: Imagine peace, and pursue it

Imagine there’s no weapons. It isn’t hard to do. Imagine there is peace. It’s easy if you try. I just returned from a performance in Greenfield by Women of Vision, two Arab and two Jewish residents of Israel, touring the area sharing their passion for...

Gary Seldon: Water is life, speak up for the Connecticut River

Come to the Shea Theater in Great Falls (aka Turners Falls) on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. Speak up for the Connecticut River. She needs you to speak her truth! Call for the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) to deny the Northfield Mountain Pumped...

Lynne Page: Neighbors a lifeline

When my beloved husband, Rolley, died in 2019, I was devastated. However, a circle of neighbors embraced me and kept me from feeling alone. They sent cards, called, took me out to lunch, invited me to activities, and even cleared my driveway after a...

Scott Reed: Shout out to Northeast Biodiesel workers

Northeast Biodiesel’s recent closing is disappointing for many reasons. One is that our region’s used cooking oil will continue to be exported to other countries that have the infrastructure to recycle it into heating and transportation fuel. Another...

My Turn: President Bush — You must not remain silent in this election

By ROB OKUN

“In our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump … I will be casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.” — Dick Cheney, former Republican vice presidentPresident...

Judy Pozar: Auditing the Legislature a ‘waste of time and money’

Ballot Question 1 — to allow the state auditor to audit the Legislature — sounded simple and reasonable enough at first. Then I read the Majority Report in the red “Information for Voters” booklet — a real eye-opener. While the current state auditor...

Julie Caswell: Vote ‘yes’ on CPA funding to restore, upgrade 1888 Building

I am writing to encourage all Deerfield residents to vote “yes”at the Oct. 7 Town Meeting at 6 p.m. to approve spending Community Preservation Act funds to restore and rehabilitate the historic 1888 Building (the old Grammar School on the corner of...

Pixie Holbrook: Vote ‘yes’ on Question 2

To parents, grandparents, neighbors and more, please vote “yes” on Question 2 this November! It will mean that passing the MCAS will no longer be required for a high school diploma.Great idea, right? To begin with, too much time is spent every spring...

Garth Shaneyfelt: City needs more housing to grow, survive

It was pretty amazing to hear the pushback at Greenfield’s most recent presentation about the need for more housing at the Sept. 12 housing study community meeting. Despite the incredibly low vacancy rate (0.5% or so; ideally there would be 3-7%),...

My Turn: How Jeanne and Jack lift up our neighborhood

By TIM WALTER

Editor’s note: The Recorder is publishing short essays over the next several weeks to mark National Good Neighbor Day on Sept. 28. Have a story about good neighbors in your lives? Send your submission of 500 words or less to letters@recorder.com. It...

My Turn: It’s not easy being green

By AMHAD ESFAHANI

 In recent weeks, following a random board meeting in Buckland, a man stopped me on my way out and asked, “are you the guy who wrote that obnoxious article in the Recorder?” This inquiry left me in a state of confusion for several hours, as I honestly...

Dan Allie: Inflation robs us of prosperity, makes life harder for Americans

In a normal economy, inflation is caused by supply and demand. Today’s inflation is caused by printing $2 trillion to pay for government spending, which devalued the dollar. If our money is worthless, it matters not how much you have. Anything times...

Tom Travis: On Trump, veterans and voting

With the presidential election about to take place this year, I would like to bring up some factual events that took place this year featuring candidate Donald Trump: one being him calling all us veterans “suckers” and “losers”; another other smiling...

Michael D. Joyce: Having thrown off the shackles of monarchy, we shall endure

Hi everybody! Long time no talk to! It’s not that I don’t care, or haven’t been listening, it’s just that I’ve been, well, preoccupied.Since we are all shareholders, stakeholders if you will, in this great company of ours (yes, company, even I don’t...

My Turn: Gaza War — Victories for Hamas, tragedy for Palestinians

By RICHARD FEIN

 Hamas, the Palestinian terror organization, started the current Gaza war with its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. It killed about 1,200 unarmed people, raped women, killed children in the presence of their parents. Given that Hamas’ goal is to...

Kathy Sylvester: Preserve Deerfield history, upgrade town offices

I am writing to encourage all Deerfield residents to attend the Oct. 7 Town Meeting at 6 p.m. and vote “yes” to approve spending CPA funding to restore and rehabilitate the historic 1888 Building into town offices. As chair of the Community...

Sherry Cowdrey: Ears hurt when Harris talks

It doesn’t bother me one iota that Donald Trump refers to Kamala Harris as “a low-I.Q. individual” and “dumb as a rock” [“Anti-Harris theme still elusive,” Washington Post commentary, Sept. 17]. Trump is just saying what everyone is thinking. He’s not...