Editorials

Editorial: Drip, drip, drip of rate hikes

Monday, May 21, 2012

As the Northampton City Council prepares to vote on the mayor's budget, the financial elephant in the room is rising water and sewer costs. Rates have gone up steadily and will continue to do so as the Board of Public Works salts away millions for repairs, replacements and upgrades to the water and sewer systems in the coming decade.

Editorial: Graduates - go right wrongs

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Four local institutions of higher learning will be in full glory this weekend when 2,100 students graduate from Hampshire, Smith, Mount Holyoke and Amherst colleges. When it comes to commencement rituals, the rich traditions of these schools are up there with the best. And a long history it is.

Editorial: Mapping the future

Friday, May 18, 2012

Supporters of new zoning for North Amherst should dust themselves off after Monday's defeat at Town Meeting and take to heart the concerns expressed by opponents.

Editorial: A music man's legacy

Thursday, May 17, 2012

When Hopkins Academy seniors proceed into the Reed Memorial Gymnasium at the school's June 1 commencement exercises, someone other than Edward Forman will be directing the band's performance of "Pomp and Circumstance."

Editorial: Bulking up veterans' care

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' decision to hire nearly 2,000 new mental health clinicians in the year ahead is an admission that the VA system is unable to provide help that today's veterans need. It comes as hundreds of thousands of veterans prepare to close out deployments overseas.

Editorial: The river as muse

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

By design, the 18-month Riverscaping project that just wrapped up in the Valley positioned itself at the intersection of nature and civic betterment. From the outset, this international artistic venture, inspired by work in Germany's riverside city of Hamburg, used the Connecticut River as its jumping-off point.

Editorial: A department at odds

Monday, May 14, 2012

Sadly, it appears that rank-and-file firefighters and top brass of the Northampton Fire Department could not be any more polarized or their positions more entrenched.