What’s in This Issue?
Photo: Dreamtime. Creative commons
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ANALYTICS
Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 85,148 (-2142)
Last Week:15,539 (-18,920)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 40,802 (-2961)
Last Week 8010 (-1595)
Number of Active Users
Last 30 Days: 22,936 (-2839)
Last Week: 4305 (-2491)
TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Police Intervene to Quell Altercation at Amherst Middle School by Art Keene
2. Letter: In Support of Author Hannah Moushabeck’s Visit to Fort River School by Drew Egan and 173 others.
3. Town Manager Disobeys AG’s Admonition Against Signing Contract While Bid Protest Under Investigation by Maria Kopicki
4. School Committees Raise Concerns Regarding “Portrait of a Graduate” Program by Maura Keene
5.. Town Manager Signs Contract for Jones Library Expansion by Maura Keene
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
- NEA Terminates Grant Supporting Amherst Cinema’s Bellwether Series
- New Exhibit by Painter Celeste Sze at Town Hall Art Gallery
- What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene
BUDGET
- Summary of Budget Presentation to Town Council and Finance Committee Discussion by Cathleen Mitchell
- Town Manager Presents $103 Million FY26 Budget to Town Council by Maura Keene
- Leverett Town Meeting Approves 14% Increase in Regional School Funding and Funds for Track and Field Reconstruction at the High School by Maura Keene
- Letter: We Oppose Town’s Proposed Cutbacks to CRESS by Martha Hanner and Ash Hartwell
CAMPUS
- UMass Paid $446K for Report Exonerating Chancellor in Police Assault on Student Encampment by Art Keene
- Demolition Hearing for Former Dakin Estate Rescheduled to May 12
- Amherst College Admits Record Percentage of First-Generation Students in Class of 2029 by Bridget Campolettano
- Public Asked to Plan Ahead for Heavy Traffic, Street Closures During Move-out and Commencement Events at UMass
- Opinion: A Strong Hampshire College Future Requires Transparency by Jonathon Podolsky
DEMOCRACY
EVENTS
- Jones Library to Close May 14 to Prepare for Renovations. Celebration of Existing Building on May 10 by Maura Keene
- Fort River Elementary School Time Capsule to Be Unearthed
- Public Asked to Plan Ahead for Heavy Traffic, Street Closures During Move-out and Commencement Events at UMass
- New Exhibit by Painter Celeste Sze at Town Hall Art Gallery
- Amherst’s A Better Chance Program Is the Focus of Next Judy Brooks Conversation
- What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene
FEATURES
- Ask Perplexity AI: Frequently Asked Questions About the Jones Expansion Needing Answers from Town Officials by Ira Bryck
- Town Manager Report for May 5, 2025
- Photos of the Week: Views from Mt. Pollux Vira Douangmany Cage
HISTORY / HISTORIC PRESERVATION
- Anestral Bridges Unveils New Home on Cottage Street by Maura Keene
- Demolition Hearing for Former Dakin Estate Rescheduled to May 12 by Maura Keene
- Local Historic District Commission Orders Removal of Fence Installed Without a Permit by Hilda Greenbaum
- Fort River Elementary School Time Capsule to Be Unearthed
HOUSING
- Proposed Development at Atkins Corner Raises Concerns About Size and Traffic by Maura Keene
- Demolition Hearing for Former Dakin Estate Rescheduled to May 12 by Maura Keene
ISSUES & ANALYSES
- Summary of Budget Presentation to Town Council and Finance Committee Discussion by Cathleen Mitchell
LIBRARY
- AG Declines to Enforce its Prohibition Against Contract Signing for Library Project by Maria Kopicki
- Jones Library to Close May 14 to Prepare for Renovations. Celebration of Existing Building on May 10 by Maura Keene
- Ask Perplexity AI: Frequently Asked Questions About the Jones Expansion Needing Answers from Town Officials by Ira Bryck
OPINION
- Letter: In Support of Author Hannah Moushabeck’s Visit to Fort River School by Drew Egan and 173 others
- Letter: We Oppose Town’s Proposed Cutbacks to CRESS by Martha Hanner and Ash Hartwell
- Opinion: A Strong Hampshire College Future Requires Transparency by Jonathon Podolsky
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
- APEA Calls for Review of Safety Procedures in Amherst Schools by Amherst Pelham Education Association
- Board of Health Member Nair Calls for Progress on Waste Hauler Reform by Darcy DuMont
- Letter: We Oppose Town’s Proposed Cutbacks to CRESS by Martha Hanner and Ash Hartwell
RESOURCES
SCHOOLS
- Summary of Budget Presentation to Town Council and Finance Committee Discussion by Cathleen Mitchell
- Leverett Town Meeting Approves 14% Increase in Regional School Funding and Funds for Track and Field Reconstruction at the High School by Maura Keene
- APEA Calls for Review of Safety Procedures in Amherst Schools by Amherst Pelham Education Association
- Town Accepting Nominations for Annual Youth Hero Awards
- Fort River Elementary School Time Capsule to Be Unearthed
- Letter: In Support of Author Hannah Moushabeck’s Visit to Fort River School by Drew Egan and 173 others
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
- UMass Paid $446K for Report Exonerating Chancellor in Police Assault on Student Encampment by Art Keene
- Amherst’s A Better Chance Program Is the Focus of Next Judy Brooks Conversation
- Letter: In Support of Author Hannah Moushabeck’s Visit to Fort River School by Drew Egan and 173 others
SOLID WASTE /RECYCLING
TOWN GOVERNMENT
- Summary of Budget Presentation to Town Council and Finance Committee Discussion by Cathleen Mitchell
- Town Manager Presents $103 Million FY26 Budget to Town Council by Maura Keene
- Leverett Town Meeting Approves 14% Increase in Regional School Funding and Funds for Track and Field Reconstruction at the High School by Maura Keene
- Proposed Development at Atkins Corner Raises Concerns About Size and Traffic by Maura Keene
- AG Declines to Enforce its Prohibition Against Contract Signing for Library Project by Maria Kopicki
- APEA Calls for Review of Safety Procedures in Amherst Schools by Amherst Pelham Education Association
- Board of Health Member Nair Calls for Progress on Waste Hauler Reform by Darcy Dumont
- Demolition Hearing for Former Dakin Estate Rescheduled to May 12 by Maura Keene
- Local Historic District Commission Orders Removal of Fence Installed Without a Permit by Hilda Greenbuam
- Town Accepting Nominations for Annual Youth Hero Awards
- Town Manager Report for May 5, 2025
TRANSPORTATION