As of March 7, more than 400 people had RSVP'd to a Northampton march for gun control that is planned for March 24. The march will start at noon at Northampton High School and end at city hall. More information is at:

www.facebook.com/events/170576480247420

As of March 7, more than 130 people had RSVP'd to a Keene march for the same cause, on the same day at 10 a.m., starting at Central Square. Details are at:

www.facebook.com/events/1351988534907262

On March 14 at 10 a.m., students at several schools in the Valley will walk out of classes to call for gun control. As of March 7, more than 80 people had RSVP'd to the Brattleboro high school walkout. Details about the Brattleboro event are at:

www.facebook.com/events/1744304405612851

A list of schools in the Valley that will take part is at:

www.actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/enough-national-school-walkout

Giselle Gonzalez is a teacher at the public elementary school in Pelham, Massachusetts. Pelham borders Amherst. Gonzalez told the Valley Post, “I am hoping that we can somehow support the rest of the nation in this walkout, or find an age appropriate way to show our support. Enough is enough. We need stronger laws that will help keep our children safe at school and everywhere else.”

In other news from the Valley, on March 6 voters in Brattleboro elected Shanta Lee Gander to the selectboard. She will be the first African American woman ever to hold that position. Brattleboro does not have a mayor; the five member selectboard does the job of a mayor.

In other news from the Valley, on March 6 voters at the annual town meeting in Dummerston, Vermont doubled the town's annual investment in farmland protection, to $5,000. Dummerston's population is about 1,900. It borders Brattleboro. A farmer made the motion to increase the funding, and another farmer spoke in support of the motion. It passed by a vote of 104 – 33. In recent years, the town has permanently protected two farms from development, with the help of state and federal funding, and private donations. The town's investment helps it win state and federal funding. The USA is losing about 6,000 acres of open space every day.

In other news from the Valley, Eduardo Samaniego, an immigrant rights activist from Amherst, was one of 10 people who marched from New York City to Washington, DC. They arrived on March 1. “We are fighting for permanent protection for undocumented youth,” Samaniego told the Valley Post. He can be reached via www.pvWorkersCenter.org. The below photo shows the marchers, and some of their supporters. The photo was provided by Samaniego. To enlarge the photo, click on it, then scroll down and click “see full size image.”

In other news from the Valley, in Brattleboro on March 8 at 5 p.m., there will be a rally “against sexual abuse and to stand with survivors of sexual assault and harassment.” As of March 7, 20 people had RSVP'd. More information is at:

www.facebook.com/events/707898772748169