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It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dr. Melvin Hershkowitz. In the relatively short time he graced us here in Northampton so many benefited from his experience, wisdom, and largesse. While originally coming to Northampton to be close to his beloved daughter Marie, we found him engaged with so many facets of Northampton and regional life.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

The Massachusetts congressional delegation is demanding answers from the federal government after hundreds of arts grants under the National Endowment for the Humanities, including dozens earmarked for institutions in the Pioneer Valley, were canceled on the seeming recommendation of billionaire Elon Musk.

When in the past I have been asked where I went to college I usually respond Boston … maybe mumble something about Cambridge. Now though, I am proud as hell to say, yes, I went to Harvard!

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — Grow Food Northampton’s Tuesday Market returns for the season today, with the market’s manager Helen Kahn emphasizing the particular urgency of buying from local farmers this year.

By JULIA BROWN

To the question why so many people voted for Donald Trump, Democrats commonly reply: ignorance or lack of information — a deficiency of facts, of the knowledge necessary to make a reasoned decision. This was my working definition of ignorance until several years ago, when I began an email exchange with a childhood friend who is a passionate Trump supporter.

By THE REV. PETER KAKOS

On Monday, April 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slipped into the White House for a brisk meeting, most likely exchanging latest plans for a Palestine-cleansed Gaza (West Bank, next ), riding high on an additional $8.8 billion from Congress, to stockpile his arsenal in their relentless pursuit of the eradication of an ancient people.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — Opposition to a proposed five-story apartment complex at the corner of Phillips Place and Hawley Street continues to mount ahead of a scheduled Planning Board meeting this week to discuss the project.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — Hundreds of protesters descended on downtown Northampton on Saturday, shutting down traffic as they marched against actions taken by the administration of President Donald Trump.

By THE REV. ANDREA AYVAZIAN

OK, boomer.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — City Council President Alex Jarrett will not seek a fourth term representing Ward 5 this fall, one of several developments that continue to happen ahead of the deadline to file nomination papers for the upcoming municipal election in November.

By EMILEE KLEIN

NORTHAMPTON — When Kara McElhone, executive director of child welfare nonprofit Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County, searched in vain for a satellite office in Belchertown, Police Chief Kevin Pacunas personally helped her locate a place to rent.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — The room on the second floor of the Northampton Music Center reached standing-room only on Monday night as the Northampton Cycling Club hosted a public forum on bringing a pump track to the city.

I am the treasurer for the Campaign to Elect Laurie Loisel. People presume it’s a rather boring job, and it’s not all fun, but I find it exciting because money is energy. Potential energy, to be precise. For us ordinary, non-Elon Musk types, work is converted to money, and money is transformed into things. Often those things are personal needs, like housing and food for ourselves and our families. But some money can catalyze improvements in the community and the world.

By MARILYN MARKS

During these times of political, economic, and climate turbulence, anger and alarm surge and tensions run high. In responding to our poly-crisis situation, we quickly assign blame. However, pointing the finger at Washington, D.C. and shouting “Tyranny!” is ideally balanced with uprooting the tyranny we may unknowingly carry within ourselves.

By BRYAN JERSKY

The public school meals system in the U.S. is complicated, and overseen by the federal government. I commend the Smith College students for trying to understand it and writing their article, “Fare Questions: Local school meals face healthy criticism,” published in the Gazette on March 15. But in an age of rampant misinformation, I want to provide our community with the most accurate information. Unfortunately, some facts were misrepresented and blame was misdirected. The Freshampton School Meals team works tirelessly to improve the school meals program, and we should be working together, as a community, for change.

If you knew somebody who could make the markets go up or down instantaneously, could you make a lot of money? Let’s say you were the son of a person, and you ran that person’s businesses and that person could establish policies that positively affected the stock markets. Could you invest in a stock that was priced low and make a lot of money when stocks went up because of policy changes?

I was pleased to see that Northampton’s City Council, and the mayor are sponsoring a special order to ban the requirement that renters pay a broker’s fee contracted by the landlord. This fee which often totals one month’s rent, is on top of what renters have to pay for first and last month’s rent, as well as a security deposit. The average rent for a 2-bed room apartment in Northampton now is around $2,000. This means that a renter would need to come up with $8,000 to afford to live in the city.

The recent blizzard of new tariffs unleashed by the Trump administration isn't just confusing trade policy; it's a direct hit on American families and businesses. From skyrocketing taxes on imports from China to broad levies on steel, aluminum, cars, and a new baseline tariff on nearly everything else, these actions contradict basic economics and common sense.

A little context about the sheriffs and how stressed they are over their budgets. (“Free jail calls stressing sheriffs’ budgets, staff,” Gazette, April 9). Gov. Maura Healey recommended in her 2026 budget $741 million to incarcerate as of March 31, 6,843 people in 17 jails. Most people are being held pretrial, that is not convicted of anything. For examples close to home, the budget for the Hampshire County jail/House of Correction is $18 million to incarcerate 118 people. In Hampden County, the cost is more than $100 million to incarcerate 1,058 people, 604 held pre-trial.

I am writing to offer my support of Mayor Gina Louise Sciarra for a second term as Northampton’s mayor. I voiced support her first mayoral run and do so again because she shares my values, is smart and dedicated to our city. She listens to the people she represents and makes decisions, sometimes tough ones, that best maintain the services and infrastructure of our city while preserving its future. I am a retired public school teacher who believes that we should value all people and that it is our responsibility to contribute to our communities. Mayor Sciarra shows up to support people with disabilities, and on weekends has worked with volunteer crews that clean up the city’s trails. She is the real deal. Go to her website and read about her views, vision, and accomplishments and join me in supporting her for another term. 

By JOSH SILVER

If you follow Northampton city politics, you know that hostility and acrimony dominate marathon-length City Council and School Committee meetings. This is a big reason that many of our elected officials have recently announced they will not seek reelection this year — and there are very few candidates raising their hands to run for these important positions.