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By U.S. SEN. EDWARD J. MARKEY

Western Massachusetts farmers are used to facing and overcoming challenges — from late frosts and damaging storms to droughts and soil erosion, and more. What they’re not accustomed to is the president of the United States standing in their way of earning a living and bolstering our local economies.

By DRS. MATTHEW KANE and ANN MARKES

As most people are aware, USAID has been one of the agencies that have been most impacted by the cuts of President Donald Trump. Trump said that USAID was run by “radical lunatics.” Elon Musk, the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, called USAID “a criminal and evil organization” whose “time to die” has arrived. Although USAID is not perfect (no organization is), this is at a minimum a huge distortion of their work. USAID’s contribution to easing suffering and helping the needy has been amazing and recognized around the world.

When I was five and got my own library card, I enjoyed being entrusted with grown-up responsibility as much as I enjoyed the “kerchunk” sound of the machine checking out my book. I didn’t know this was my introduction to civic engagement.

I gave this speech to a gathering of over 300 citizens at Memorial Park in Orange this past Saturday. People of all ages, veterans, teachers, workers, retirees, disabled and the able, gather each Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon to stand out against tyranny and for the American people.

By SUSAN WORGAFTIK

In Al Norman’s April 2 column [”The growing crowd next door”], the politics of fear were in full display. His discussion of the changes in zoning to accommodate the state’s ADU law, presented some truly alarming statements and assumptions.

Congratulations to columnist Jon Huer (”How liberty itself killed liberalism in America,” Recorder, March 5), who has once again shown us all how smart he is, and how the America we now find ourselves in is an expected outcome given our history. If we had only listened to him all these years, then … what?

To my fellow working people of Franklin County who voted for and have been supporting President Donald Trump — please take a moment and reflect on what is happening to our country. Trump just enacted a massive tax increase on working Americans. Tariffs are not paid by countries, they are paid by consumers with the money going directly to the U.S. Treasury. At the same time, the president is allowing a billionaire to make equally massive and destructive cuts to programs that we all rely on. I’m talking about farms, schools, health care, necessities for a functioning society that are available to all Americans, not just the wealthy, because of our tax dollars.

By DAVID PARRELLA

It was 1969 and a lot of us who were college freshmen that year spent a lot of time listening to the White Album by the Beatles. That one song in two versions kept replaying in my head.

By TRYSTAN GREIST

I hope the City Council passes their draft ordinance protecting gender-affirming care for transgender people and a related trans sanctuary resolution as quickly as possible. Why? Because the situation for trans folks in parts of the country is dire. Texas is creating a registry of transgender individuals. We fear that camps are next. They’ve already banned gender-affirming care for youth and made it illegal for parents to raise trans kids. It’s very scary, and trans parents are looking for safe places to move. Other states are following suit with similar forms of persecution.

Chip Ainsworth is correct in his March 22 “Keeping Score” column that pickleball is a sport that “even a rhinoceros could play.” But one of its positives is that it’s a great participatory sport that can be, and is, played by many different species.

Picture a state. Any state. Now picture the state having endured a weather disaster. A tornado, flooding, fires, earthquake. Now picture the state asking for federal assistance in the tone of Ben Stein from Ferris Bueller: FEMA? FEMA? FEMA? Anyone?

In response to Nelson Schiffrett’s April 2 letter, “Lead and we will follow,” go to Jessica Craven’s “Chop Wood, Carry Water” website, which is published every day with a list of things that one can do to counteract the Trump administration’s antics. The list includes letters to write, people to call and what to say, petitions to sign and information about public demonstrations. It is very uplifting and inspiring to read these posts and take some small action. It has improved my mental health. And today’s news gives me heart that Schiffett and I are not alone. The tide is just beginning to turn!

By MICHELLE SCHUTT

April is National Community College Month and a great time to reflect on what makes GCC and all community colleges so special.

By ANDREW MOREHOUSE and CHARLOTTE BONEY

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts recently received troubling news: the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has canceled a portion of its food deliveries through August — an estimated $440,000 worth of food we were counting on. While this represents only 1% of our total distribution last year, it’s a serious shortfall that will force us to draw on emergency reserves to purchase food. Even more concerning are the proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These cuts would deepen food insecurity across western Massachusetts and further strain our already overburdened food assistance network.

By JON HUER

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry, a political hothead from Virginia, declared: “Give me liberty or give me death!” and history gave America its liberty and death. One could not be given without the other.

By MIKE HANNIGAN

I am stunned at the potential losses for library services throughout Massachusetts with the proposed elimination or reductions in federal IMLS funding.

The wanton destructiveness of unelected, unconfirmed Elon Musk and his dodgy minions will result in no savings to the federal government, only long-term damage. Firing Pentagon employees so more can be spent on drones doesn’t make our country safer; it merely enriches certain favored defense contractors at the expense of veterans and other workers.

By PAM HARTY

By LIZ BROWN