What’s in This Issue?

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ANALYTICS
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* The Indy was on vacation from 12/26/25 until 1/15/26

TOP FIVE MOST-READ STORIES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: A Long List of Questions About Proposed North Amherst Apartment Complex by Robin Jaffin
2. Opinion: Welcome to Amherst – Everytown USA by Michael Greenebaum
3. Public Comment: Charter Review Was So Flawed It Requires a Redo by Darcy DuMont
4. Opinion: Jones Library Request for More CPAC Funding Unjustifiable by Maria Kopicki
5. School Committee Tables Indefinitely Decision on Repair of Middle School Auditorium Roof by Maura Keene

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

ARTS

• Amherst Cultural Council Announces Grant Recipients
• What’s Happening in Amherst by Art and Maura Keene

BUDGET

•  FY 2026 Town Finances on Target. No Decision on Replacement of Middle School Auditorium Roof by Maura Keene
• CPA Committee’s First Pass Still Nearly $1.6 million over Budget by Maura Keene

CAMPUS

• Amherst College Celebrates National Women & Girls in Sports Day
• Our House: UMass DesignBuild Students Send Forth House To Holyoke
  

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE

•  Improvements On Tap for Puffer’s Pond, Mount Pollux, Hickory Ridge, and Sweet Alice by Maura Keene

DEMOCRACY

• Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List by Art Keene
• A Better World is Possible: Here’s How We Pressured an Airline to End Its Contract With ICE by Umme Hoque and Daniel Hunter (c/o Truthout)
• Opinion: Charter Review Committee’s Recommendations Are Deeply Flawed: A Response to Ray LaRaja  by Darcy DuMont
• Photos of the Week: ICE Out for Good Standout in Hadley

EVENTS

• Amherst College Celebrates National Women & Girls in Sports Day
• Slavery and Freedom in Northampton, 1654-1783: An Exhibit by Hetty Startup
• What’s Happening in Amherst by Art and Maura Keene
  

FEATURES

• Slavery and Freedom in Northampton, 1654-1783: An Exhibit by Hetty Startup
• A Better World is Possible: Here’s How We Pressured an Airline to End Its Contract With ICE by Umme Hoque and Daniel Hunter (c/o Truthout)
• Our House: UMass DesignBuild Students Send Forth House To Holyoke
• Photos of the Week: ICE Out for Good Standout in Hadley

HISTORY / HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

• CPA Committee’s First Pass Still Nearly $1.6 million over Budget by Maura Keene
• Historical Commission Supports CPA Funds for Goodwin Church Repairs by Maura Keene
• Public Shows Interest in Creating East Amherst Historic District by Maura Keene
• Slavery and Freedom in Northampton, 1654-1783: An Exhibit by Hetty Startup

HOUSING

• Beacon Presents Plan for a Multi-Generational Housing Development in North Amherst. by Maura Keene
• CPA Committee’s First Pass Still Nearly $1.6 million over Budget by Maura Keene
• Downtown Design Standards, East Amherst Study, and Professional Research Park Zones will Be Top Priorities for Planning Department in 2026 by Maura Keene
• Opinion: A Warm Welcome for the New Emergency Shelter in Northampton by Amy Cronin DiCaprio
• Our House: UMass DesignBuild Students Send Forth House To Holyoke

ISSUES & ANALYSES

• A Better World is Possible: Here’s How We Pressured an Airline to End Its Contract With ICE by Umme Hoque and Daniel Hunter (c/o Truthout)

LIBRARY

•  Multiple Change Orders Submitted for Library Building Project by Jeff Lee

OPINION

• Opinion: Charter Review Committee’s Recommendations Are Deeply Flawed: A Response to Ray LaRaja by Darcy DuMont
• Opinion: A Warm Welcome for the New Emergency Shelter in Northampton by Amy Cronin DiCaprio
• Opinion: An Elected Mayor for Amherst? by Michael Greenebaum

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

• Town Declares Parking Ban Beginning Sunday Night
• Amherst Again in Mild Drought
• Hours For Local Warming Centers

RECREATION

• CPA Committee’s First Pass Still Nearly $1.6 million over Budget by Maura Keene
• Amherst College Celebrates National Women & Girls in Sports Day
  

RESOURCES

• Hours For Local Warming Centers
• Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List by Art Keene

SCHOOLS

• Following Angst-filled Discussion, School Committee Accepts Sixth-Grade Move to Middle School for Fall 2026 by Art Keene
• FY 2026 Town Finances on Target. No Decision on Replacement of Middle School Auditorium Roof by Maura Keene

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

• Slavery and Freedom in Northampton, 1654-1783: An Exhibit by Hetty Startup
• A Better World is Possible: Here’s How We Pressured an Airline to End Its Contract With ICE by Umme Hoque and Daniel Hunter (c/o Truthout)
• Opinion: A Warm Welcome for the New Emergency Shelter in Northampton by Amy Cronin DiCaprio
• Photos of the Week: ICE Out for Good Standout in Hadley

TOWN GOVERNMENT

• Beacon Presents Plan for a Multi-Generational Housing Development in North Amherst.by Maura Keene
• Following Angst-filled Discussion, School Committee Accepts Sixth-Grade Move to Middle School for Fall 2026 by Art Keene
• FY 2026 Town Finances on Target. No Decision on Replacement of Middle School Auditorium Roof by Maura Keene
• CPA Committee’s First Pass Still Nearly $1.6 million over Budget by Maura Keene
• Historical Commission Supports CPA Funds for Goodwin Church Repairs by Maura Keene
• Multiple Change Orders Submitted for Library Building Project by Jeff Lee
• Downtown Design Standards, East Amherst Study, and Professional Research Park Zones will Be Top Priorities for Planning Department in 2026 by Maura Keene
• Public Shows Interest in Creating East Amherst Historic District by Maura Keene
• Improvements On Tap for Puffer’s Pond, Mount Pollux, Hickory Ridge, and Sweet Alice by Maura Keene
• Amherst Cultural Council Announces Grant Recipients
• Opinion: Charter Review Committee’s Recommendations Are Deeply Flawed: A Response to Ray LaRaja by Darcy DuMont
• Opinion: An Elected Mayor for Amherst? by Michael Greenebaum