As the 5th generation of the Kelley clan to call Amherst home and a former long-time small business owner in town (Amherst Athletic Club 1982-2010) I know all the players both large and small.

I am a proud graduate of the University of Massachusetts, where today my personal papers are part of the Special Collections and University Archives, stored at the W.E.B. Du Bois Library.

As a professional columnist for the Amherst Bulletin for 14 years I practiced advocacy journalism, trying to make my hometown a better place .  Since founding my Only In Amherst blog seven years ago I have championed the underdog -- giving voice to the voiceless -- and shined a bright light in areas where the powerful prefer darkness.

Only In Amherst is fast approaching the one million unique visitors mark, and for the past few years has averaged 60,000 page views per month.  March, 2013 is my top month of all time with 130,000 page views due to my boots on the ground coverage of the rowdy youthful disturbance known as the "Blarney Blowout".  This March again because of Blarney Blowout coverage -- this time joined by the national media -- will easily surpass last year's mark.

Reviving the Amherst Record online will allow me a bigger, more diverse platform to better cover town government, education, and business -- seven days a week, 24/7.  The $15,000 will cover the design of the website, training and follow up support.  I have already secured the URL. 

The Amherst Record online, in the best tradition of print journalism, will strive mightily to "bring comfort to the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."