My Turn: The climate bill: A big ‘F’ for legislators

By LAURA ROJO MACLEOD

 After a pitiful performance by our elected representatives, this legislative session was a missed opportunity to make the commonwealth a climate leader. Our lawmakers had a chance to make significant progress slowing the expansion of our dirty and...

Guest columnist William Lambers: Fight hunger and poverty to reduce migration

By WILLIAM LAMBERS

 Recently, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley and her son Huck traveled with CARE to see poverty-fighting projects in Honduras. As Williams-Paisley posted on Instagram, “We got to see what happens when we invest in women and climate resilience, and...

Greg Parody: The left should look within

Who else is tired of all the lies from the left? They keep preaching that the biggest danger to the country is far-right extremists. Maybe the left should look within. Wasn’t it the left who told police to stand down during all the violent protests...

Letter: "You are not done"

In response to the article “You’re not done: Shutesbury resident saves life of good friend by performing CPR at remote camp,” [Recorder, Aug. 12], if it wasn’t for Frank Grindrod being at the right place at the right time, Michael Haynack potentially...

Lew La Chance: You don’t have to go to Paris

This past Tuesday, my son, Tom and his wife drove us to Williamstown to The Clark Art Institute. Later referred to as “The Clark.” It’s only an hour drive west on Route 2 from Greenfield.With a Greenfield Public Library card, one can borrow one free...

Marsha Sessions: Kamala Harris and the ‘party of lawlessness’

Three weeks have passed since Kamala was anointed as the Democratic candidate for president, receiving zero primary votes. Since then, no press conferences. Like Joe, unless the questions are scripted, she is at a loss. The more she talks proves she...

Warren Rice: Says writers have declared presidential winner

There has been a lot of comments about how the Republican candidate for president has been trying to convince voters that the election system is rigged in favor of opponent, causing mistrust of the system, yet in less than a week there have been two...

Jim Bates: Real environmental disaster from wind

“The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind” Bob Dylan, 1962.Climate activists, ol’ hippies don’t like the answer the wind provided to the turbines in Nantucket Sound.A more than 300-foot-long turbine blade broke off, sending shards of fiberglass to...

My Turn: Greenfield housing discussion must start

By SUSAN WORGAFTIK

 I would like to thank Mary Sirum for her recent column on affordable housing [“Careful about impact of more affordable housing,” Aug. 3]. We have not had a real discussion about this issue in Greenfield. What we have had is commentary about zoning...

My Turn: Republican Party is in trouble

By EDWARD M. DOWD

 Life is full of surprises. Not that many days ago most American voters were feeling quite discouraged as they faced the prospect of choosing between two elderly men for our nation’s highest office.For many, the prospect of Donald Trump returning to...

Thomas Newton: People in politics

Have we lost respect for our fellow man? The current atmosphere of the upcoming election is nothing short of morally reprehensible. How words have been thrown at candidate Kamala Harris. I am not saying I am in her corner, just stating facts.Take for...

Susan Malley: Trump just getting reluctant voters to vote

Regarding Donald Trump’s July 27 speech at the Believers’ Summit in Florida. If you read the transcript of the speech, and not just Al Sharpton’s soundbite, you will understand that Trump was chiding Christians for being reluctant to vote. Speaking to...

Joe Major: A Jazz Shares season's greeting

Expression springs eternal in the Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares breast. This feisty little creative engine punches way above its weight in delivering next-level music performances to western Massachusetts. And just as in other disciplines where it’s not...

Mike Naughton: Wondering about Unitarian reference

Richie Davis’ remembrance of Randy Kehler (“Randy Kehler — A life devoted to peace,” July 29) reported that Kehler “was injured while defending a roommate who was … harassed for being Jewish, even though he was a Unitarian.” Davis is an experienced...

Connecting the Dots: You want regulated or unregulated capitalism?

Nobody likes regulations that impinge on their freedom to live in way they want to live.But what are regulations? Depends upon who you talk to. Overall, I see “regulations” encompassing a wide range of rules, standards and laws that govern behavior...

My Turn: Walz a fine addition to ticket — but Trump lurks

By BILL NEWMAN

Let me confess. Until a week ago, I knew nothing about the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz. And until Kamala Harris picked him as her veep, I had no idea how to pronounce his name. You, too? Political pundits disagree about the importance of a...

Rorie Woods: Stolen home equity must be returned

The celebration by Gov. Maura Healey and state Sen. Jo Comerford for reprimanding municipalities against controverting the U.S. Constitution by stealing equity in property tax seizures is like commending a thief for agreeing to stop stealing, but not...

As I See It: Oft-reviled social critic still on about our peril

By JON HUER

During the early part of the Roman Empire, triumphant rulers and heroes had an accompanying slave whose job it was to whisper “Memento mori” (“Remember mortality”) to the great men of the hour. In ancient Korea, kings appointed the realm’s most...

My Turn: Why boomers should vote for RFK Jr.

By DANIELLE DELLAQUILA

 I wanted to take a second to explain why I’m so passionate about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. becoming our next president. I know the news media tries to discount him, but I also know how much your generation cares about our country, so please hear me out.I...

Ed Gregory: For the record

Regarding the July 31 article [“Indigenous celebration helps change the energy of historic area”], the article implies that the Turner raid on the Indian gathering at the “falls”— on Connecticut River — took place on the south shoreline above the...