Opinion
Lew LaChance: Why have stop signs?
Many people in Greenfield and elsewhere do not stop at stop signs! The are red, octagon (eight-sided) signs with a white border along the edges. These markers are very visible. I’m sure from early life, we have all heard “STOP.” We all know what that...
My Turn: Gun buyback a worthy effort
By DAVID E. SULLIVAN
As district attorney for 47 towns that make up the Northwestern District, I invite everyone to consider turning in unwanted firearms and ammunition this Saturday, April 13, when our office holds its third Gun Buyback in Greenfield and...
My Turn: Recalling long, painful road to Red Sox redemption
By DANIEL A. BROWN
Before the coming presidential election drives us all crazy, let’s take a break and read about something we can all (hopefully) agree on, namely, the Boston Red Sox.This for me is unusual as I grew up in New York City and was 11 years old when the...
My Turn: Why did Israel target World Central Kitchen worker convoy?
By SHERRILL HOGEN
In the war on Gaza, Israel recently targeted three cars carrying humanitarian aid workers of the World Central Kitchen (WCK), killing all seven of them.There is no excuse. This was clearly intentional. But why? WCK had a special relationship with...
Guest columnist Richard S. Bogartz: What the ghosts of Warsaw Ghetto know
By RICHARD S. BOGARTZ
I had intended to continue my four-part series on President Joe Biden, but I must interrupt that project even though Part 2 is almost complete because, even though I don’t believe in ghosts, I keep encountering ghosts who insist I must address Gaza...
Mary Kay Mattiace: Wild Goose Players
The Wild Goose Players are presenting “Fiddler on the Roof” at Bellows Falls Opera House, Bellows Fall, Vermont on April 11, 12, and 13th.The excellent acting, extraordinary singing, outstanding stage set, Broadway-quality costuming, and live...
Lloyd Crawford: Rural wood heating bolsters rural economy, self-reliance
In response to Katy Eiseman’s column [“Must stop subsidizing wood-fired energy,” Recorder, April 5], I’d agree that wood burning indeed releases toxic compounds that are harmful to human health. I also believe that widespread burning of wood to...
Rosemary Seifert-Graf: Oppose state’s new clean heat standard
I have learned that a new regulation is being worked on by the Massachusetts Department of Environment Protection called the “clean heat standard.” As a homeowner, I am asking that all Massachusetts homeowners oppose this regulation because it will...
My Turn: No place for politics in ‘family problems’
By DON LASHIER
I’ve been around for 89 years and for most of my voting years, I have been leaning to the right more than to the left. I can even say, without emotion, that I voted for Donald Trump in the last two elections. However, I’m not so sure that he will get...
My Turn: A treat at the bird feeder
By CAROLE GARIEPY
We feed the birds. In fact, we feed the birds every morning before we feed ourselves, and then while we are eating our cereal we watch them dining on their seeds. We are always awed at their beauty and entertained by their interactions with each...
My Turn: Facts, opinions and falsehoods
By MARIE BETTS BARTLETT
The beauty of our U.S. news and information systems is that individuals get to say what they want to say, with only a few restrictions.The challenge is that people, including news organizations, routinely combine opinion and fact, and state their...
Carolyn Olsen: Questions about municipal retirement benefits explained
In response to letter [“City retirement benefit questions,” Recorder, April 7], all of this information is available either at the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) website at...
My Turn: Asbestos exposure can still compromise Massachussets veterans’ health
By CRISTINA JOHNSON
Over the last century, the U.S. military has primarily used asbestos because the World War II war effort needed cheap materials to mass-produce military equipment quickly. Considered a “wonder material,” asbestos was abundant in the markets, and...
Mary Collins: Let’s create 413 Day
St.Louis, Missouri (area code 314) has a yearly event to celebrate their city. Appropriately, it’s called 314 Day.Begun in 2006 to show love and support for the city, there are numerous activities and festivities citywide.I daresay we should have a...
William Beckett: Burning wood for electricity is bad for our health
Kudos to Katy Eiseman for her call to end public subsidies in Massachusetts for wood-burning power plants [“Must stop subsidizing wood-fired energy,” Recorder, April 4]. Even if woody biomass-burning power plants did not release large amounts of...
Bob Armstrong: Saudi-Russian oil collusion affecting gas prices
The recent surge in gas prices is being orchestrated. Brace yourselves. What we’re witnessing might be just the tip of the iceberg. Maneuvers by Saudi Arabia and Russia in the global oil market indicate a troubling trend that could have far-reaching...
Cathy Gouch: No good deed goes unpunished
Not so long ago I watched as a small team of volunteers weathered a cold and windy Saturday morning to help beautify our Main Street by removing layers of tattered and old flyers from the street light poles. With razor blades and cleaning solvent in...
My Turn: A new bridge over the Conn. River is not asking too much
By CRAIG FELTON
I am grateful to the Greenfield Recorder for granting me space to add to Chris Larabee’s article: “Visioning workshop considers future of downtown (Sunderland)” [Recorder, April 2]. I am quoted, rightly, as saying: “Forget about the roundabout.” I...
Susan Tracy: Support Ukraine funding
As Congress returns this week, funding for military aid to Ukraine will be on the table in the House. However, if Speaker Mike Johnson brings Ukraine aid up for a vote which will pass, the MAGA Republicans have threatened his tenure as speaker....
Patricia Stevenson: When freedom of speech crosses a line
I write to say thanks to Tom Williams for his recent My Turn describing the despicable remarks made by our former President toward those men and women who sacrificed their lives so he can live in a free country and say whatever he wants to say however...
