CISA appreciates the overage in The Republican regarding the Gov. Deval L. Patrick's 9c budget cuts and the challenges it creates so late into the fiscal year. Unfortunately, CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) will sustain a $50,000 cut as the entire line-item to promote local farms throughout Massachusetts was cut.
We know we are not the only worthy cause to be affected five months into the fiscal year. And it is a reminder that eliminating $225 million from the state budget cannot occur without causing a lot of pain and unforeseen consequences. In Western Massachusetts, there are 2,000 farms on 170,000 acres of land with sales of over $120 million. CISA's "Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown" campaign is one of the most successful campaigns in the nation, and we have doubled the amount of food our farmers sell directly to all of us, as residents of western Massachusetts, from $4.5 million to $9 million.
Our farms are part of the answer to our current challenges, whether one cares about fresh and nutritious food, climate change, beautiful vistas and/or the resiliency of our local economy. We encourage you to support our efforts to ensure that our farms not only survive, but thrive, for this generation and the generations to come. Learn and get involved at www.buylocalfood.org
– PHILIP KORMAN.Executive director,
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, South Deerfield
Rev. Jason Seymour is the new minister at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield.
Thank you for your article on the mission of the Unitarian Universalists ("Unitarian Universalists ordain new minister," Pioneer Valley Life, Dec. 8).
I have two questions about this philosophy: Does it have a divine or superhuman power in its core of beliefs? Does it believe in life after death? I have one suggestion to add to the list of how to help children with their religious questions ("Help children with their religious questions," Mari-Jane Williams, Pioneer Valley Life, December 8, 2012), and it is: Live your faith to the fullest.
When parents or guardians demonstrate in their lives that their faith/religion brings them joy and happiness, strength and courage in hard times, a peace that the world cannot give, rituals for important steps in life, love for neighbor, and a passion for helping others, it will inspire their children to want and seek the same.
Rabbi Mark Shapiro, ("I am a Jew because...," Pioneer Valley Life, December 8, 2012), after reading your article, I almost wished I were a Jew. Not even Abraham could have done a better job at describing/explaining the Jewish faith/religion. May our God continue to inspire you to lead your flock in peace, love and joy.
– SISTER DOROTHEA JURKOWSKI, CSFN, West Springfield
The editorial "Best job for a woman: Any job she wants," (The Republican, Dec. 10) was certainly timely for the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library.
The editorial states that "half a century ago, there were few women who were doctors . . . . In 1970, a mere 9.7 percent of doctors were women."
Just imagine between 1871 and finally 1876 when the Holyoke City Hall building was completed, six of the ecclesiastical stained glass windows in the second-floor auditorium, now used by the Holyoke Public Library, were dedicated to women depicting aspects of the Paper City economy of that day – agriculture, water power, painting, music industry and commerce.
Each year, the Friends of the Library, offer an ornament for sale during the Christmas holiday season. This year they have selected its design from those gorgeous stained-glass windows, where the library is temporarily located while its building is being renovated. The chosen window, of painted antique hand-blown glass, weighs about 700 pounds and is over 14 feet tall. The Friends of the library also has merchandise – other ornaments, gifts and books, available for sale at the library, the Mayor's Office The Cottage store on Northampton Street. Holyoke, and the Archives at Holyoke Community College Library. For information call the library at (413) 322, 5640.
– CATHERINE DOWER, Holyoke