Opinion

Ferd Wulkan: Green schools are possible

Massachusetts has 1,840 schools with 186 million square feet of building area responsible for an estimated 880,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually. Decarbonizing schools could go a long way toward meeting the state’s ambitious targets for the...

Josie Silva: Voting age impacts voter turnout

I am a student at Frontier Regional School. One reason that I think the voting age should be lowered is that around here, participation in town elections has been very low. Changing the age of voting eligibility would mean that not only would the...

Eleanor Wade: Mental health and voting age

As a Frontier Regional student, I think that mental health is one of the most important things that we can keep an eye on in our communities. Studies show that stressful politics take a toll on mental health, with symptoms anywhere from extremely...

Erika Heilig: Trump’s mug is not news

Every week, I count the number of Trump photos in the paper, and to be fair, I've started to count the number of Biden photos. Last week was 5 for 6 on Trump (and 0 for 6 on Biden). Thursday was the only day without his mug. I can’t, for the life of...

Jessica Corwin: Lower voting age to strengthen democracy

It has always struck me as problematic that most young adults get their first opportunity to vote several months after they have finished their free and appropriate public education. Many have left home by then, leaving them to figure out voting on...

Nan Clark: Cinner for Chesterfield Select Board

I am writing in support of Dee Cinner for the Chesterfield Select Board. In my 94 years here I’ve seen various select boards, some better than others. Often there has been room for improvement, new ideas, a new voice. Now again is that time. Cinner’s...

Marianne Preger: Ode to harmony

From the river to the seaThere could be peace and harmonyTwo small countries hand in handCould make a rich and happy landFrom the river to the seaThat’s the way it ought to beBut local leaders must be soughtWhose goals cannot be boughtFor whom the...

Becca King: Tax fund for elderly, disabled a good idea

As an elder on a modest and fixed income who falls through many benefits cracks, I appreciate the efforts of Greenfield City Councilors Minhas and Mastrototaro in seeking new ways to support our elders and individuals with disabilities with a property...

My Turn: The truth about time spent on MCAS testing

By DOUG SELWYN

 Many people have an image of students taking the MCAS exams: They receive a booklet, fill in bubbles for an hour or so and then go about their day. Those of us who have worked in schools know the real truth. The actual amount of time spent on testing...

Phillip Tedesco: Golf course in good hands with new owners

In response to the article “New owners look to build on golf course’s strengths” [Recorder, April 19], I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Snow family on their acquisition of the Thomas Memorial Golf & Country Club. I am familiar...

My Turn: Call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza

By PATRICIA CROSBY

 As Friends (Quakers), we respect the humanity of all people, which is why we have sought nonviolent responses to conflict anywhere. Our experience teaches us that violence only creates hatred, fear, hopelessness, and endless new cycles of war and...

My Turn: To become a Climate Leader

By ELLEN LEUE

 When I was a working stiff, the company I worked for (for 39 years!) had a motto: “Never sacrifice the long term for the short term.” This successfully carried the family-owned horticultural company into its fourth generation of leadership. I took it...

As I See It: What if we could think like 10-year-olds?

By JON HUER

My wife, who is my severest critic, says I think like a 10-year old, which I interpret as a compliment. True, I tend to be simple-minded and linear as a 10-year-old child would be. After nearly half a century of working as a sociologist, writing a...

Connecting the Dots: In what world do you want to live?

By JOHN BOS

I find myself acutely aware of living in three worlds right now. The biggest one is the Universe that is large beyond my comprehension. My awareness was sharpened by watching the eclipse with my sister from two camp chairs in my driveway. Watching the...

$50K allocated for Poet’s Seat Tower sandblasting as officials mull vandalism prevention

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Following an affirmative vote by City Council this week, $50,000 will go toward sandblasting graffiti off of Poet’s Seat Tower, where vandalism has proven to be a persistent problem.Department of Public Works Director Marlo Warner II said...

Jessica Zhang: Weigh your choices — Solar power a better alternative

In his recent letter [“‘No’ means higher energy prices,” Recorder, March 26] Jim Bates is right that fossil fuels have powered societies across the globe — nobody disputes that. It’s the reality of pollution and carbon buildup in the atmosphere that...

My Turn: Saving planet Greenfield

By BRAM MOREINIS

Anthropologist Margaret Mead wrote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” If such a group were Greenfielders responding to the climate crisis, what would...

Gary Seldon: Solar Roller Earth Day River Ride

The Solar Roller Earth Day River Ride, a protest of Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage (NMPS), will gather April 20 at 9 a.m. on the Greenfield Common. Join our bicycling, walking, (paddling anyone?) protest and rallies. Details at...

Mitch Speight and Joan Marie Jackson: City should follow constitutional ruling on property takings

On April 13, the Greenfield tax collector bought a full-page advertisement in this newspaper announcing the city’s intention to “take” 35 parcels of land on May 3 for “non-payment after demand, of the taxes due thereon.” The list of properties for...