Opinion

My Turn: Unraveling the mystery — Warmer sea, cool land

By ROB MOIR

 Why did sea surface temperatures go up when summer air temperatures did not? This perplexing question arose after last summer’s unusual findings.Ocean surface water temperatures off Boston, Portsmouth and Portland were nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit...

My Turn: My personal Middle East peace plan

By DANIEL A. BROWN

 Seeing that the Israelis and the Palestinians are stuck with each other, it’s time for my comprehensive peace plan. None of the following is particularly original or realistic, but it sure beats the endless cycle of fratricidal violence between these...

Jasper Lapienski: On the justification for war

If a small child hits a bigger child, most of us would understand if the big kid hits back. After all, the other one started it. If, on the other hand, the bigger child chooses to turn the other cheek rather than retaliate — well, we would honor this...

As I See It: Of dogs and men

By JON HUER

It is universally agreed that we as humans are better off than dogs in America, in intelligence, dignity, health, etc. Two crucial facts contradict this notion. So, let’s get to these facts:FACT ONE: New York’s rich hotel heiress Leona Hemsley,...

Connecting the Dots: ‘They can say they don’t care, but they can’t say they didn’t know’

By JOHN BOS

“Sometimes it is almost impossible not to feel hopeless and broken,” says climate scientist Ruth Cerezo-Mota. “After all the flooding, fires, and droughts of the last three years worldwide, all related to climate change, and after the fury of...

Karen Traub: What it means when you lose a public library

With no library, the town of Orange will lose state aid, reciprocity with other towns, access to grants, and property value. Defunding the library will not make up for the budget shortfall and will harm the town for years to come. When you lose a...

My Turn: Too often, what we got sold not what we got

By JESUS LEYVA

Liberals are liberals until the bill is due or the policy they advocated for negatively affects them. Conservatives are conservative until they benefit from government or need the help of government.Maybe we should try to stop identifying and labeling...

Bill Knittle: Rowe Elementary is looking for people with a cool job

Rowe Elementary is hosting “That’s A Cool Job!” Day on Wednesday, June 5. It’s a day for anyone to share with the Rowe students what your job is, why you love it, and what makes it interesting. Learning about the wide array of jobs and careers right...

My Turn: Unwelcome gift in mailbox — A flag that won’t be flying

By KEVIN J. SMITH

 On a recent morning, there was a LGBTQ+ flag in my mailbox, encased in plastic and accompanied by a lengthy note which was a computer printout. I was told that I was “gifted” with this flag, and was welcomed to display it outside my home. The note...

Michael DeChiara: Don't ‘Quabbin-ize’ us on clean energy

The Quabbin Reservoir is a powerful reminder of towns being steamrolled by state government to get its way. Almost 100 years after construction began, the same dynamic is at play again, this time motivated by a narrow interpretation on how to expedite...

Genevieve Harris-Fraser: Ground Zero for Palestinians

Ground Zero for PalestiniansThe Israeli slaughterhouse, GazaHeavy with 2,000 lbs bombs bucklesBends from the onslaught of hypocrisyBombast pledging concern for civiliansAs they shred the UN’s decreesOutlining humanitarian law, bulldozersScoop up...

My Turn: One way to save right whales

By JOHANNA NEUMANN

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the rarest whale species in the world. Will we drive them to extinction or save them?Those of us lucky enough to have taken a whale-watching trip in the Gulf of Maine may have glimpsed the majesty of humpback...

Dan Manka: A sign of character

As a speech teacher, I told my students about a boss who was hiring new employees. He deliberately left a book on the floor not far from the door and his desk. He waited to see who would stop to pick up the book. Then he planned to hire that...

Celia Lang: Senior Center proudly promotes all elder programs

A big thank you to the Senior Center Board of Oversight for opting not to renew the center’s lease at the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church.Yes, it is a legal issue. And, LGBTQIA+ seniors who attend the Rainbow Elders Zoom programming, the monthly...

Pushback: Solomon to split marijuana baby

By AL NORMAN

A public drama was performed on April 11 in Greenfield City Hall. The script ran for 90 minutes without intermission.Act I: A marijuana cultivator,15 Arch Street, LLC, asks for a “change of use” to add marijuana product manufacturing to their special...

My Turn: Towns could abolish elections and embrace real democracy: Sortition

By PHIL WILSON

It ought to be universally understood that our American perversion of democracy completely ignores the needs of most people and caters with slavish and subservient enthusiasm to the demands of corporate lobbyists. We are on a treadmill of meaningless...

Andrea Davulis: The northern spotlights

On Saturday, May 11, my husband and I (we live in Worcester) drove to the North Quabbin region in hopes of finding an open, dark area where we could hopefully see the northern lights. We were wandering around New Salem looking for the lake, which we...

Crystal Smith: Disappointed with the town of Heath

I am writing to express my disappointment with the town of Heath regarding the recent election of a new Selectboard member. We had a chance to bring in a native, Mike Smith, who not only has broad, extensive experience in town politics, but also the...

Michele Craig: Deerfield church should follow pope’s lead

I’m writing in response to the article “Senior Center opts not to renew lease with church,” [Recorder, May 8]. The Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in South Deerfield requested that the Senior Center avoid advertising it’s Rainbow Elders luncheon...