I've lived here in Easthampton my entire lifetime. I've seen a lot of changes over the years and, for the past 35 of those years, I've relied on the Advocate to provide arts and entertainment information, news coverage, and an alternative viewpoint on some very important issues.
The Advocate has provided much-needed representation of progressive ideas and ideals in many areas. Some of my favorite Advocate articles involved coverage of environmental issues and the sometimes hidden political landscape of the Valley. I have especially appreciated the Advocate's balanced coverage of conservation and economic issues involving Easthampton and our surrounding communities. I believe that the voice of the Advocate has helped the Valley as a force for self-improvement and I look forward to your next 35 years.
Mike Tautznik
Mayor of Easthampton
I was a frequent visitor to the Hatfield office during the last hoorah of light tables, vats of molten wax, Exacto knife injuries and manual paste-up. A stat camera the size of a Ski-Ball machine had to be stabbed repeatedly with a butter spreader before it would work. Downstairs it smelled faintly of rodentine decay. People answered the phone with "Floor of Hell, Beelzebub speaking," or whatever was the favorite demon of the day, until Chris, the boss, having been greeted that way herself, ended the practice. There was a sweet Polish saloon within walking distance.
David Lenson
Editor, The Massachusetts Review; Professor of
Comparative Literature, UMass-Amherst
(Full disclosure: a member of Lenson's family is a
former Advocate staffer.)
The Valley Advocate, a great media outlet for the entire Pioneer Valley!
Congratulations on your 35th anniversary.
Diosdado Lopez
City Councilor, Holyoke
An independent voice in the printed media is an essential element of a healthy democracy. The Valley Advocate is one of those voices here in our community. The achievement of that independence at a time when scarce fiscal resources reduce the human resources necessary to provide well-researched reporting is a daunting challenge. Our community is better for this achievement. Our congratulations to the Valley Advocate and all of the people who made it happen over the past 35 years, and all who are making it happen today.
Robert L. Pura, Ph.D.
President, Greenfield Community College
In the same way that 88.5FM WFCR engages the community in civil discourse, the arts, and culture, the Advocate—an important independent voice in the Pioneer Valley—provides its readers with a unique way to explore our region. Valley readers are stimulated on a weekly basis with the Advocate's lively arts reporting and distinctive points of view on current events. The combination of these many voices creates the rich fabric of life that we know in western New England. Congratulations on 35 years! May there be many more.
Martin Miller, Manager
WFCR-National Public Radio
For 35 years, the Valley Advocate has provided the region with a trusted source of information and a lively forum for the diverse voices of our community. The Advocate's mix of investigative journalism and political commentary, punctuated by Best Of guides, personal ads, art, music, film, and restaurant reviews—seasoned liberally with acerbic wit—embodies the spirit of our postmodern Pioneer Valley. For its service to the community, public spirit, and support of public education, and for reflecting the best qualities of independent journalism, Holyoke Community College bestows on the Valley Advocate a well-deserved Halo.
Happy 35th Anniversary to the Advocate and its staff.
William F. Messner
President, Holyoke Community College
I want to say happy birthday to the Advocate and to its editors and staff and all the people that over the years have made this a successful and vital part of our life in this Valley. The Advocate really has had a special role with respect to Springfield. When bad government and significant corruption visited our city some years ago, it was the Advocate that, in a valiant fight, brought to the attention of the entire community the serious and outrageous offenses that were being committed against the people of this city. In my opinion a special award goes to those who are vigilant and retain their integrity in the most difficult of times. Their efforts in our dark days will always ensure that the Advocate has a strong place in my heart and in the hearts of thousands of others who love this city.
Charles V. Ryan
Former Mayor of Springfield
The Valley Advocate occupies a unique and important position among newspapers in our region. Throughout its history, it has provided in-depth coverage of many important issues and events that affect our environment, our economy, and our civic and political life. I remember many stories that have exposed actions in the public and private sectors that were not serving the public interest. With such information, citizens become better informed and are more empowered to take action to improve our communities and our Commonwealth. I also remember many inspiring stories of people and activities that make positive contributions to our quality of life in Western Massachusetts.
I always appreciate the Advocate's irreverent and off-center viewpoint, its willingness to take risks and challenge the status quo, and its commitment to holding our public institutions and officials more accountable. Living here would not be as satisfying without the presence and influence of the Valley Advocate, and I offer my thanks and congratulations upon 35 years of solid journalism.
Rep. Stephen Kulik (D-Worthington)
First Franklin District
I was recently surprised and pleased to learn that the Valley Advocate and I have something in common to celebrate, namely a shared 35th anniversary of serving the region that we both call home. It was in the late summer of 1973, fresh out of the UMass graduate planning school, that I joined the staff of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and by so doing ultimately decided to make the Valley the focus of my career, my home, my family, and indeed my passion.
A great deal has transpired here in the Pioneer Valley over the last three and a half decades, and the Advocate has been there to chronicle much of it—some good, some bad and some ugly and outrageous. Over this time span, I must confess that I have not always agreed with the Advocate's reporting or its occasional over-the-top editorial style. Nevertheless, I'd never miss an opportunity to read it because it routinely afforded me important insights that otherwise I would have missed; it gave me confidence to fight for the region's interests even when the cause proved far less than popular in Boston circles (read Big Dig funding, Connecticut River cleanup support and proposed new Pioneer Valley commuter rail options); and it has stayed remarkably true to its commitment to cover the highly complex and controversial issues that other media outlets have often shied away from.
Over this long time span, the Advocate, to its credit, has also provided the region and all of its residents with a constant reminder that we're fortunate to be living in a very special piece of New England geography, but to keep it so is not a matter of luck. Rather it takes good ideas combined with lots of hard work from all sectors—public, private and civic. By so doing, the Advocate has fulfilled a pivotal dual role as a Pioneer Valley regional media conscience as well as advocate.
Today, as professional planners like me look to the future and try to chart a path that will allow the Valley to remain livable by becoming sustainable, we increasingly must call for alternative energy sources, alternative modes of transportation, alternative land development patterns, alternative patterns of governance and our list of required "alternatives" just keeps on expanding. Consequently, I'm looking forward to the Advocate's next 35 years' run, and to relying on it to help shape a 21st-century version of the Valley that successfully allows us to lead by cooperating intelligently and with our sights on the future.
Happy anniversary to the folks at the Advocate. Thanks for being a key part of our Valley's DNA over the past 35 years and ideally for many more years to come!
Tim Brennan, Executive Director
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
