Eesha Williams's Blog, page 139
March 15, 2014
Activists Fight Northampton Logging
The city of Northampton is logging a city-owned forest. Photos of the logging are below. Mayor David Narkewicz is rejecting all requests from journalists who want to interview him about the logging, according to a woman who answered the phone in the mayor's office on March 11.
An environmental group is asking the public to contact the mayor and tell him to stop the logging. The group has a web site at www.MAforests.org and can be reached via Chris Matera at christoforest@maforests.org or by p...
March 13, 2014
Photos: Cows Watching Snowstorm
These photos were taken at a farm in Dover, Vermont, near Brattleboro, on March 13. The first photo shows two cows looking out from their barn at a snow storm. These cows have free access to the outdoors all winter. Cows may be "healthier and happier outside" during winter in Wisconsin, according to a study by the University of Wisconsin. The study is at
www.cias.wisc.edu/outwintering-dairy-cattle-animal-health-issues
March 8, 2014
Environmental Victories
People in Northampton, Brattleboro, and Keene have recently reduced pollution and saved money by investing in better insulation and air sealing for buildings, and in other energy efficiency measures. “We're saving around $400,000 a year,” Chris Mason told the Valley Post. He works for the city of Northampton, which undertook a major energy efficiency project in 2010 in schools, the public library, and other city-owned buildings. “We reduced greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
March 1, 2014
Eviction Protest Is March 4 in Springfield
Activists are asking the public to attend a rally outside the Springfield courthouse where a multi-million dollar bank's lawyers will try to evict a low-income man from his home. The rally will be on March 4 at 8:30 a.m. outside the Western Housing Court at 37 Elm Street.
After a brief rally, the protesters will put on buttons saying “Mel Watt: Suspend Evictions Now” and will attend the trial. Watt is director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which controls the government-funded mortgag...
February 23, 2014
Valley May Get More Frequent Passenger Train Service
The number of passenger trains traveling daily between Springfield and Greenfield -- and possibly Brattleboro -- may go from the currently planned one round trip per day to 10 round trips per day. "The best case timetable would be launching expanded rail passenger service by mid-2015 or 2016," Tim Brennan told the Valley Post on February 19. He is director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission www.pvpc.org.
February 17, 2014
Sierra Leone All Stars Concert Is April 9
The Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars will perform a public concert in Northampton on April 9. The 7 p.m. concert will be at the Iron Horse Music Hall. Advance tickets are $10. The band performed an excellent concert at the Iron Horse last summer. The club appeared to be almost sold out and most of the people there danced.
In 2012, the All Stars released an outstanding album, Radio Salone. Most of the songs on the album are Afro-Pop or “high life” style. Some are reggae. The band has a new album...
