What’s in This Issue?
Photo: Dreamtime. Creative commons
Welcome to our Table of Contents. You can also receive a listing of all new items in the Indy each week by dropping us a note with your contact information at amherstindy@gmail.com. The subscription is free and will deliver to your inbox a listing of all new content, each Saturday at 6 a.m. We promise that we will not share your email address, nor will we send you any additional emails to clog up your inbox (except in the case of truly urgent breaking news, in which case we’ll send out a special dispatch).
ANALYTICS
Our regular analytics will return next week,. Here’s some numbers on how many folks visited the Indy during our vacation (12/26-1/14).
Number of Unique Page Views: 36,331
Number of Unique Sessions:29,298
Number of Active Users: 24,194
by
TOP FIVE MOST-READ STORIES OVER VACATION (12/26-1/14)
1. Jones Trustees President Questions if Library Is Being Shortchanged by Town by Maura Keene
2. Applications Now Available for Amherst Community Homes, 30 Affordable Duplexes for Homeownership in North Amherst by Maura Keene
3. The Indy Is Going on Vacation by Art Keene
4. School Staff Pans Proposals to Keep Sixth Grade in Elementary Schools by Maura Keene
5. Opinion: Thrive or Perish: Transforming Admissions Will Dictate Whether Hampshire College Prospers by Jonathon Podolsky
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
- Amherst Community Theater Presents the Wizard of Oz
- What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene
BUDGET
- Four Towns in Regional School District Balk at Proposed Budget Increases: $2 Million Shortfall Projected by Maura Keene
- School Committee Tables Indefinitely Decision on Repair of Middle School Auditorium Roof by Maura Keene
- Library Director Seeks Funding for Three New Hires by Jefff Lee
CAMPUS
- UMass Amherst Earns ‘Community-engaged University’ Designation for Third Time
- UMass Webinar on the US Incursion in Venezuela
CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
- Amherst Arbor Spotlight: White Oak by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee
DEMOCRACY
- Dear Reader – We’re Back! by Art Keene
- Town Council Condemns Killing of Renee Good by ICE. Plans to Discuss Proposed Charter Revisions on February 9 by Maura Keene
- Amherst Rallies to Protest ICE by Brooks Ballenger
- UMass Webinar on the US Incursion in Venezuela
- Public Comment: Charter Review Was So Flawed It Requires a Redo by Darcy DuMont
- Opinion: MAGA Attacks on Racial Justice by Russ Vernon-Jones
ELECTIONS
EVENTS
- UMass Webinar on the US Incursion in Venezuela
- Amherst Community Theater Presents the Wizard of Oz
- Second Annual Community Food Drive on MLK Day To Honor King’s Legacy and Benefit the Amherst Survival Center
- What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene
FEATURES
- Amherst Arbor Spotlight: White Oak by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee
- Town Manager Report for January 12, 2026
HISTORY / HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
- CPAC Begins Deliberations on FY27 Applications by Maura Keene
HOUSING
- CPAC Begins Deliberations on FY27 Applications by Maura Keene
- Letter: A Long List of Questions About Proposed North Amherst Apartment Complex by Robin Jaffin
HUMAN SERVICES
ISSUES & ANALYSES
- Opinion: Jones Library Request for More CPAC Funding Unjustifiable by Maria Kopicki
LIBRARY
- Opinion: Jones Library Request for More CPAC Funding Unjustifiable by Maria Kopicki
- Library Director Seeks Funding for Three New Hires by Jeff Lee
MEDIA
- Dear Reader – We’re Back! by Art Keene
OPINION
- Opinion: Jones Library Request for More CPAC Funding Unjustifiable by Maria Kopicki
- Public Comment: Charter Review Was So Flawed It Requires a Redo by Darcy DuMont
- Letter: A Long List of Questions About Proposed North Amherst Apartment Complex by Robin Jaffin
- Opinion: Welcome to Amherst – Everytown USA by Michael Greenebaum
- Opinion: MAGA Attacks on Racial Justice by Russ Vernon-Jones
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
RECREATION
- CPAC Begins Deliberations on FY27 Applications by Maura Keene
SCHOOLS
- Four Towns in Regional School District Balk at Proposed Budget Increases: $2 Million Shortfall Projected by Maura Keene
- School Committee Tables Indefinitely Decision on Repair of Middle School Auditorium Roof by Maura Keene
- Elementary School Construction on Target to Finish on-time and Under Budget by Maria Kopicki
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
- UMass Webinar on the US Incursion in Venezuela
- Second Annual Community Food Drive on MLK Day To Honor King’s Legacy and Benefit the Amherst Survival Center
- Opinion: MAGA Attacks on Racial Justice by Russ Vernon-Jones
TOWN GOVERNMENT
- Opinion: Jones Library Request for More CPAC Funding Unjustifiable by Maria Kopicki
- Four Towns in Regional School District Balk at Proposed Budget Increases: $2 Million Shortfall Projected by Maura Keene
- School Committee Tables Indefinitely Decision on Repair of Middle School Auditorium Roof by Maura Keene
- Town Council Condemns Killing of Renee Good by ICE. Plans to Discuss Proposed Charter Revisions on February 9 by Maura Keene
- Elementary School Construction on Target to Finish on-time and Under Budget by Maria Kopicki
- CPAC Begins Deliberations on FY27 Applications by Maura Keene
- Library Director Seeks Funding for Three New Hires by Jeff Lee
- Town Council Elects New Officers, Receives Final Charter Review by Josna Rege
- Public Comment: Charter Review Was So Flawed It Requires a Redo by Darcy DuMont
- Opinion: Welcome to Amherst – Everytown USA by MIchael Greenebaum
- Amherst Arbor Spotlight: White Oak by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee
- Town Manager Report for January 12, 2026
