Hi everybody,

Our volunteer org, Bay Staters for Natural Medicine (BaystatersNM.org/faq) partnered with Somerville, Cambridge, Northampton, Easthampton, Amherst, Salem, Provincetown, and Medford to deprioritize arrests for growing and sharing psychedelics plants. We also passed a bill, H.3605, out of the legislature's public health committee to legalize facilitation services affordably and much like we already license counselors. Our group teaches people how to forage, grow, and have safe experiences at our community events.

The ballot question, question four, was authored and put forward by D.C.-based New Approach PAC to co-opt our work. In Oregon and Colorado, the PAC created a system like question four that created an unelected regulatory agency to regulate psychedelic facilitation. We strongly oppose question four for three key reasons.

1. Unaffordable Treatments: In Oregon a legal experience with mushrooms costs on average $2,000 to $3,500. Small businesses are shutting down and harm reduction programs have been shut down legally. Entrepreneurs have had their lives and marriages destroyed by signing up for training programs that cost tens of thousands of dollars and similar lawyerly fees. This is similar to what the same PAC did to our cannabis system in Massachusetts, which has driven social equity applicants hundreds of thousands in debt, led to extreme amounts of mold, and created one of least diverse cannabis systems in the country. Looking at psychedelic "legalization" in Oregon, Colorado entrepreneurs are shutting down already too. Strict rules, like Oregon, are coming online that do not allow at-home use or even microdosing. Mental health care professionals also risk delicensing for participating.

2. More Arrests of Growers: Currently in Massachusetts, because of our work and general education in the world, there are virtually no arrests for growing and sharing personal amounts of mushrooms now. The 30-page law contains language on cultivation that has extremely low limits and prohibits transportation on and off residential property. These low limits would, for example, effectively ban indigenous ceremonies, according to analysis by Dr. Mason Marks, a professor at Harvard Law. Multiple indigenous volunteers on our team have come forward noting this effective prohibition as well (Baystatersnm.org/faq). Moreover, in Oregon, the PAC "legalization" led to hundreds of cities banning psychedelic services and led the state to recriminalize possession as well. The PAC has made it clear that it plans to remove these poorly written parts about cultivation after passage (see FAQ).

3. Creating a Corrupt Agency: The PAC had the opportunity to substitute or change the ballot question, and refused despite pressure from our coalition to find a compromise and multiple cities calling for our changes. It also tried to bribe and pressure our organization to just going along with the flawed text of the law, which we declined. For the PAC, establishing an unelected agency of regulators who would only have to live here for 90 days is the primary objective. The problem with that is that in Oregon the chair of that unelected agency had to resign for regulating trainings to benefit his romantic partner who sells said trainings. Similarly, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has seen multiple resignations due to conflicts of interest, the agency is facing receivership for failing to carry out legally required business, and top staff are on leave for harassing each other. In Colorado, the PAC has engaged in illegal lobbying to benefit the large corporations it works with.

By voting no, you are sending a message that you would rather see Massachusetts groups work together to write our own legislation and continue to decriminalize cities. We are saying no to corporate money misleading voters, threatening and harassing volunteer advocates, and trying to ruin mushrooms like it ruined cannabis. The culture is changing any way, and public acceptance would face a reversal like in Oregon by doing "legalization" poorly. Please feel free to reach out to us with any and all questions: team@baystatersnm.com

Hi all. My friend lives in town and wants to get away but hasn’t got a lot of money. Any tips on some cheap things to do or great tea, coffee, or picnic spots that aren’t super touristy?

Today's the day, Easthampton Porchfest 2: Electric Boogaloo is just 2 hours away!

Sun's out, funs out as this year's P'fest spreads across 12x different porches/backyards/driveways with 24 bands playing 1-5pm today

Hi I've just moved here and have a doggo. Does anyone know of any leash-free dog trails?

I think I read that there's a place in Northampton but other than that what are some leash free dog areas? Fields, trails are more what I'm looking.

In terms of dog parks, are there ones that have small dog hours only or areas that are dedicated to just small dogs?

I've applied for the administrator/Finance manager job there and I am looking for some information about the company. There isn't much online.

When you are trying to sleep off your cultural chaos hang over there will be big trucks hammering the highway horns driving around town.

Hi, I'm moving to easthampton from Northampton next month, but my kids are staying in the northampton schools (nhs and jfk). I work in Amherst and Springfield, so looking for a better option than driving in every day. Is there an existing solution? Or is anyone looking for a possible carpool next sept?

Anyone out there in Easthampton who has an attic antenna? What channels are you able to get?

I currently have an indoor antenna and can only get ABC/40 and PBS.

I guess there is a bakery in a house on west street that makes killer cinnamon buns, what’s the house number?

Tonight at the marigold theater

Moving to the area and need housing for two adult professionals with 2 tiny dogs. Guidance and referrals appreciated.

Looking in Florence, Leeds, Amherst, and Northampton as well

Stay active as the weather starts to turn! Fall COED indoor volleyball league starting up at Train With Higher Expectations in Springfield!! Thursday nights starting 10/19, running for 8 weeks. Sign up today for the Early Bird price. You can register as a free agent, or with a full team. Visit www.playvalleysports.com/fl23-co-ed-vb for for details and to sign up!!

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The lineup for Easthampton's first Porchfest just dropped!!

https://facebook.com/events/s/easthampton-porchfest-2023/760077365858195/

Any customers? Is their cell service any good or do you just end up with the lowest priority on Verizon towers? Currently having a few issues with T-Mobile (dropped calls and spotty service) and the offer of a free year from Spectrum is tempting, but I still hold grudges from the Time Warner Cable days.

To anyone in the 5 College area looking for assistance moving into a dorm or off campus, with yard work, or any general odd job.

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If you need anyone that can:

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Help load and unload packages into cars

Carry boxes

Move furniture

Clean your living space

Clean up your yard

And more...

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I can offer my services to anyone moving in off campus at a reasonable price that can be negotiable.

Please DM for inquiries Offer open until 9/5

https://theshoestring.org/2023/07/24/records-easthampton-police-install-automatic-license-plate-reader-on-route-141/?fbclid=IwAR39HZlhQ8WyPyamcftciolforFE_IoQ_kY_oS0JMoOmgGiVo8XMN78613s

I'm following this closely. I think it's right to ask for better traffic studies that take the connecting roads into account. I don't know if it's even possible to get the developer to make a better plan, but I like this column (I'll link at the bottom)

Judging by social media posts on people looking for an apartment... seems we desperately need housing. This is 200 units (around 35 unit "affordable" by state standards, higher monthly than our area). There is absolutey no talk about transportation other than the parking. There isn't even a bus route there as far as I can tell. The current proposal is 11 buildings each with 18 apartments and each surrounded by a sea of asphalt parking. If this is going to be a new village, why not incorporate planning ideas like pedestrian paths, parking off the side, a clustered feel. I saw the alternative plans by the Pascommuck Trust and those look like a place that would make a nice community, where kids could play outside and people meet each other. (And also: western mass is losing population. I wonder, why is there such housing pressure? Should we have better regulations on short-term rentals that are taking the place of hotels and pushing out renters? I don't know how much airbnb is really a problem here. I know the pressure from UMass is huge, as they increased enrollment significantly without adding new dorms.)

I've seen people say - hey, this guy owns the land, he can do whatever he pleases. I think this is a very strange way of thinking, along the lines of "it's my land, I can dump whatever I want in my stream". Because we are all connected to what happens. Our area will feel the effects (some good, some bad) from his quick monetary gain. What is the balance, who is benefiting? For instance, the traffic will affect the whole town. Why not try to get something better for the tradeoff? This developers' track record in Westfield of doing something sketchy and asking permission after it's too late. btw This plan has a phase one of the commercial stuff, and phase 2 of the housing.

https://www.gazettenet.com/Guest-columnist-Klein-51413476

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Our Summer seasons are now open for registration!! Come join the fun to meet new people and get active this summer! Can't wait to see you out there!!

Springdale Park, Holyoke: Thursdays starting 6/29

Forest Park, Springfield: Wednesdays starting 7/26

Visit playvalleysports.com for more information

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Meeting is in person or virtual. https://easthamptonma.gov/.../ViewFile/Agenda/\_06062023-1969

More more info on this development and Easthampton Deserves Better coalition, please see better01027.org

I'm looking for a new apartment in the area and saw a listing for a very affordable townhouse on Park St. managed by Pine Valley Realty. It seems perfect but I'm concerned that the listing seems to have been on the market for so long -- does anyone know this company/property? Do they have a reputation? Their website seems to be down right now.

Sign up today!!! Final week to sign up for Tuesday Beach volleyball at Forest Park in Springfield. Last day to register is Friday 5/19. All skill levels welcome!! Sign up for some a fun and social beach volleyball league today!

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Playvalleysports.com