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By JOHN H. THOMPSON

I was recently taken out to The Whistle Stop Cafe for breakfast on my birthday.

I lived in the Valley for 13 delightful years back in the 1970s to early 1980s. I have moved to Cambridge but still have family there, and visit often. I was happy to hear about the Last Ditch, a lesbian bar in Greenfield [”License transfers approved for new lesbian bar in Greenfield,” Recorder, Jan. 30]. Can’t wait to visit next time I am in town.

By MADDIE RAYMOND

Most of us can only dream of being in the top 1% of earners in this country. But with a little digging I found a way to almost get to breathe that rarefied air.

I want to congratulate Comrade Trump, General Bone Spurs, the Huckster-in-Chief, for working tirelessly to dismantle and degrade our government. With adroit aplomb and humor and a plethora of outright lies he has helped bring back racial distrust, religious acrimony, and sexual and gender hatred of differences. And let’s not forget misogyny.

If our president really wanted to make America great, he would act in a manner that demonstrates statesmanship, cooperation, clear direction, understanding, compassion, leadership, respect, an understanding of mutually beneficial objectives related to America and other nations, and the willingness and strength to engage as equals for the betterment of all.

Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green shouted at President Donald Trump during his joint address to Congress on March 4. This lunatic should have been arrested for waving his cane at the president. It was menacing and bizarre behavior.

The petitioners seeking changes to Greenfield’s bylaws have a weird obsession with so called ADUs (accessory dwelling units). One- through three-unit buildings are allowed by right in residential zones. Whether is it detached or within is irrelevant to the overall impact or zoning and setback regulation.

We would like to publicly thank the Greenfield Fire Department, and all the other town fire departments who fought the fire at 75 School St. on Sunday, March 2. We had a front row seat view of their bravery and skill, and also their kindness and thoughtfulness as they kept our house next door safe under very challenging conditions.

Just thinking: I see that the DPU wants the utility companies to slash costs by 5%. On a $300 bill that would be $15. Big deal. Almost the price of a dozen eggs.

As the chair of the Greenfield City Council Appointments & Ordinances Committee, I invite community members to share your thoughts about local lawmaking. Every five years, the Greenfield City Council is mandated to review the city’s ordinances (all city laws minus the charter), and 2025 is that year.

By ROB OKUN

Lost amidst the fire hose of lies uttered by Donald Trump at his address before Congress March 4, was a New Mexico Democratic congresswoman’s succinct description of the crisis facing the United States: Rep. Melanie Stansbury held a small sign that said, “This Is Not Normal” as Mr. Trump greeted lawmakers upon entering the chamber. That Texas Republican Rep. Lance Gooden ripped the sign from Ms. Stansbury’s hands was not surprising. What is remarkable was that more Democrats didn’t highlight Rep. Stansbury’s message.

By DON SIMMS

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States.”

By BILL FEINSTEIN

By PRISCILLA LYNCH

By DR. DAVID GOTTSEGEN

I’d like to request that the Recorder stop referring to the Department of Government Efficiency, as it did in the article about the potential closure of the Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Amherst [“Federal office on Trump hit list,” March 10]. There is no department of government efficiency, and the president is not authorized to create departments by executive order.

I am horrified that President Donald Trump may slash the Social Security Administration’s workforce by up to 50%; especially after he campaigned on the promise to not touch Social Security. This will severely limit the SSA’s ability to administer retirement and disability benefits to 72.5 million people.

By KURT HEIDINGER