Three years ago, my wife and Colrain-Shelburne Rd. resident Godeliève Richard became electro-hypersensitive. She experiences numerous serious medical symptoms when exposed to wireless radiation. Her condition has plunged our family into hours and hours of research on the subject which have taught us that the current FCC standards are not adequately protecting U.S. citizens. The proposed cell tower would be the first glimpse motorists on Route 2 see of the "beautiful hilltowns." It is proposed in an area surrounded by wetlands and homes that include elderly people and children, the most vulnerable populations to health damage from EMF radiation. Studies have shown property values drop by an average of 15% around cell towers. The first night of the hearing on June 17 featured AT&T's lawyer asking for 3 "waivers" of Shelburne by-laws, including the one which states cell towers must be at least 500 feet from homes. This tower will be a mere 350 feet, essentially playing Russian roulette with innocent people's health. The hearing will be continued on July 29th at 7 pm in Memorial Hall, Shelburne Falls when an updated list of petition signers will be given again to the ZBA. Letters can be sent to [email protected] or mailed to ZBA, 51 Bridge Street. All letters received before July 29 will be considered by the Zoning Board. For cell tower research and resources go to www.ptco.org/emf

Earlier this year, Florida State University began a search to choose FSU’s next President. We, the FSU community, deserve a process that is open, fair, inclusive and representative of the highest ethical standards so that when completed, we can all move forward together knowing that the process was thorough and fair and can be supportive of the new President. The fact that the search committee, contrary to its many claims, has made a single presumptive front runner (a powerful politician in the Florida Senate) seem ever more like its inevitable choice, reflects a process that is neither fair, nor inclusive, nor representative of the highest ethical standards. This petition is not focused on the presumptive front runner, but on a flawed search process that will lead to divisiveness that is not in the best interests of our university community as a whole and Florida’s taxpayers. For a complete account of the search process thus far, see presidentsandpolitics.blogspot.com.

At a May 19 awards ceremony, Zucker admitted that while climate change "deserves more attention," CNN hasn't "figured out how to engage the audience in that story in a meaningful way." He added that there was a "tremendous lack of interest on the audience's part." Just two days later, CNN gave us a lesson in how not to cover the issue. The program OutFront (5/21/14) covered the "controversy" over game show host Pat Sajak's climate change denial Twitter outburst. So who did CNN tap to weigh in on Sajak? Far-right provocateur and climate change denier Ann Coulter. Informing the audience was evidently not the point. As substitute host Briana Keilar introduced the segment: "Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak says global warming alarmists are unpatriotic. Tonight, Ann Coulter tells us why she agrees." And the interview was preceded by a taped segment that turned to another global warming denier: "Sajak's skepticism is echoed by others, most notably Florida Sen. Marco Rubio." Some of CNN's previous climate coverage this year has included putting deniers on Crossfire as one "side" of the debate–in one case because it was cold in some parts of the country. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz appeared on the Situation Room (2/21/14) to falsely claim that "the data are not supporting what the advocates are arguing. The last 15 years, there has been no recorded warming." But the segment with Coulter is actually worse–not just treating deniers as though they're a legitimate part of a climate "debate," but acting as though they're the only viewpoints worth hearing from. Is this what Zucker means by trying "to engage the audience in a meaningful way"?

Can you imagine what the US would look like if the Tea Party set our immigration policies? But that's exactly what's happening. We have the votes needed to pass reform, but Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor are letting Tea Party extremists like Steve King set the agenda on immigration reform. 11 million aspiring Americans currently living in the US without papers need immigration reform now. Please join us in telling Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor to stop pandering to the extremists in the Republican party trying to kill immigration reform and mass deport 11 million people.

Can you imagine what the US would look like if the Tea Party set our immigration policies. But that's exactly what's happening. Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor are letting extremists like Steve King set the agenda on immigration reform. 11 million aspiring Americans currently living in the US without papers need immigration reform now. Please join us in telling Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor to stop pandering to the extremist in the Republican party trying to kill immigration reform.

This petition is about helping all qualified Californians get access to OUR own public universities.

I am a high school graduate BECAUSE of North Campus High School. There are lives at stake here; there are moms and kids and jobs and future professionals who just need a little bit of help to be successful. I was one of them.

Because the NRA hides behind silence and lies, whichever suits their purpose best at the time.

My name is Sean Tanabe and I am a third-year student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a proud Gaucho. I write this petition with the utmost solidarity. I have witnessed firsthand the pain, sadness, and shock that has rocked our community to its core. At the Memorial service several days after the shooting, I was inspired from my seat in the stands to do something more. If you want to make tangible progress on this pressing issue, then I urge you to sign this petition. Ending gun violence will not be easy, but I promise that if we unite on this issue as students, we will not be ignored. We are the future, and as the future it is our duty to take this issue into our own hands and work to create a society we desire to thrive in. We are far from powerless. We are not only capable of sharing a hashtag and spreading awareness on social media. We CAN cultivate real, positive change. It feels as if our generation has become almost numb due to the normalization of these shooting attacks in the US. This is far from normal. We are affected nationwide; from Aurora to Newtown, Chicago to Tucson, Blacksburg to Isla Vista and beyond. Uniting as a generation on this issue will place the power back where it should be: in the hands of those it most strongly affects. Voting is important, but here's something you can do to have a more immediate effect. Divestment is a new front in the war to end the epidemic of gun violence. Its focus is on the corporate elements that are profiting from readily available and barely-regulated firearms that are responsible for over 30,000 American deaths every year, including the 20 first-graders and six educators killed with a military-style assault weapon at Sandy Hook Elementary. Congress -- the “craven, irresponsible politicians,” as Richard Martinez labeled them -- has failed its constituents, 85% of whom support a bill to make every potential gun purchaser go through a background check. We must use our wallets to take a stand to this gross lack of morality. -->Read in The Nation about the call for divestment after the UCSB shooting. http://www.thenation.com/article/180021/how-uc-santa-barbara-can-turn-grief-action-divest-gun-manufacturers# The gun industry -- led by Remington Outdoor, Sturm, Ruger & Company, and Smith & Wesson – has profited even as more Americans are killed by the products they manufacture and aggressively market. The value of these companies has grown significantly just as the rate of mass shootings has increased. (Watch this video to learn more: www.unloadyour401k.com.) How can this be occurring? Gun companies are donating substantial sums of money to the NRA. With that financial clout, the NRA is able to quell attempts at enacting practical gun laws. To communicate efficiently, we must speak their (monetary) language. Luckily, we students are not alone. Occidental College started the movement in February by becoming the first higher education institution to pledge to ban investments in companies that manufacture military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines for the general public. Universities should lead on this issue to ensure that they do not further the epidemic of gun violence by financially supporting the companies that largely allow this calamitous cycle to continue. Note: This petition will not end gun violence overnight. But as ancient philosopher Laozi asserts, “the journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” That stair awaits you above. Sign this petition to stand with the UCSB community and call for divestment from the gun industry. Ultimately, this change depends on us. Thank you. Respectfully, Sean Tanabe *Note: An earlier version of this petition incorrectly identified the shooter as a UCSB student. He was a student at Santa Barbara City College.

DRAMA IS A VALUABLE PART OF OUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION, PROVIDING ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS WE SEE AS IMPORTANT TO OUR SCHOOL AND TO OUR CHILDREN SUCCEEDING IN LIFE. IT IS ONE OUT OF CLASS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM THAT REACHES ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT, AND IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM IN WEST SONOMA COUNTY SCHOOLS THAT WE SEE AS AN ASSET TOO VALUABLE TO LOOSE.

We want Governor Cuomo to restore the Original Birth Certificate to every NY ADULT ADOPTEE. They DESERVE to know where they came from, their medical history, and it is their right to know.

This petition is for the legalization of the use of Marijuana for medical use or recreational use. I personally feel like there are more benefits to legalizing Marijuana than keeping it illegal. The main benefits are revenue for the government and freedom for users. There are also many jobs that can be created through the legalization of marijuana. Also with the fertile land in Virginia, the production of Marijuana products such as hemp could be grown not only in quantity but also quality, thus providing even more revenue and jobs. The medicinal values are often used to help with cancer patients, people who suffer from depression, insomnia, PTSD, MS, chronic joint pains, and many other physical and mental health problems. Yet it is still illegal; please show some support and sign.