What’s in This Issue?

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ANALYTICS 
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Number of Engaged Page Views Last 30 Days: 31,379 (+3202)
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Number of Engaged Users Last Week: 4617 (+1499)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Racist Graffiti Reported at Kendrick Park by Art Keene
2. Jones Library Building Project Financial Status, September 2026: $8.4 Million Still Owed to Town by Maria Kopicki
3. Private Builders of UMass Dorms Will Not Pay Tax to Amherst by Maura Keene
4. The Massachusetts Ballot Questions, Explained by CommonWealth Beacon
5. Why So Many Problems with ARMS Roof Replacement? by Maria Kopicki

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

ARTS

•  What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

BUDGET

• As Budget Woes Linger in Hampshire County, Some Look to the Colleges by Anna Carpinelli (c/o The Shoestring)
• Library Project’s Failure to Repay Town Discussed at Finance Committee by Maria Kopicki
• Jones Library Trustees Launch New Fundraising Arrangement for Expansion Project by Maura Keene
• Initial DPW Building Proposal Already Over Budget by Maria Kopicki

CAMPUS

• Private Builders of UMass Dorms Will Not Pay Tax to Amherst by Maura Keene 
• As Budget Woes Linger in Hampshire County, Some Look to the Colleges by Anna Carpinelli (c/o The Shoestring)
• Market Will Guide Future Zoning of Hampshire College Campus by Maura Keene
• UMass Amherst Launches $120 Million Future of Food Initiative
• Letter: UMass’ AI Infrastructure Push Needs A Public Value Test by Gleb Tsipurski

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE

• Council Passes Clean Energy Bylaw with Amendments to Protect Private Wells by Maura Keene
• Mark the Autumnal Equinox at the UMass Sunwheel

DEMOCRACY

• The Massachusetts Ballot Questions, Explained by CommonWealth Beacon
• A Tale of Two Policies: Why Amherst Needs Stronger Local Protections in the PROTECT Act Era by Miriam DeFant
• Social Justice Committee Endorses Investigative Model for Resident Oversight Board by Art Keene
• Letter: It’s Time for the Democrats to Move Left by Gary Michael Tartakov

ELECTIONS

• The Massachusetts Ballot Questions, Explained by CommonWealth Beacon
• Letter: It’s Time for the Democrats to Move Left by Gary Michael Tartakov

EVENTS

• Mark the Autumnal Equinox at the UMass Sunwheel
• What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES

• Garden Program Brings Student-Grown Produce to School Cafeterias
• Photos of the Week: 2026 Annual Block Party Gallery by Josna Rege and Art Keene

HOUSING

• Private Builders of UMass Dorms Will Not Pay Tax to Amherst by Maura Keene
• The Massachusetts Ballot Questions, Explained by CommonWealth Beacon
• Market Will Guide Future Zoning of Hampshire College Campus by Maura Keene

ISSUES & ANALYSES

• A Tale of Two Policies: Why Amherst Needs Stronger Local Protections in the PROTECT Act Era by Miriam DeFant
• As Budget Woes Linger in Hampshire County, Some Look to the Colleges by Anna Carpinelli (c/o The Shoestring)
• Library Project’s Failure to Repay Town Discussed at Finance Committee by Maria Kopicki

LIBRARY

•  Library Project’s Failure to Repay Town Discussed at Finance Committee by Maria Kopicki
• Jones Library Trustees Launch New Fundraising Arrangement for Expansion Project by Maura Keene
• Jones Library Move-in Delayed Until June or July 2027   by Maria Kopicki

OPINION

• Letter: It’s Time for the Democrats to Move Left by Gary Michael Tartakov
• Letter: Grass on New Athletic Fields Is Too Long by Marcus Smith
• Letter: UMass’ AI Infrastructure Push Needs A Public Value Test by Gleb Tsipurski
• Opinion: From ‘Send it to the Human Rights Commission’ to ‘Who is Actually Responsible?’ by Rizwana Khan

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

• A Tale of Two Policies: Why Amherst Needs Stronger Local Protections in the PROTECT Act Era by Miriam DeFant
• Social Justice Committee Endorses Investigative Model for Resident Oversight Board by Art Keene
• Air Quality at Middle School is Good, Small Fixes Still Needed by Art Keene
• Council Passes Clean Energy Bylaw with Amendments to Protect Private Wells by Maura Keene

RECREATION / SPORTS

• Letter: Grass on New Athletic Fields Is Too Long by Marcus Smith

RESOURCES

•  The Massachusetts Ballot Questions, Explained by CommonWealth Beacon

SCHOOLS

• Air Quality at Middle School is Good, Small Fixes Still Needed by Art Keene
• Elementary School Year off to a Good Start, District Considering Tech-less Thursdays by Maura Keene
• Garden Program Brings Student-Grown Produce to School Cafeterias

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

• A Tale of Two Policies: Why Amherst Needs Stronger Local Protections in the PROTECT Act Era by Miriam DeFant
• Social Justice Committee Endorses Investigative Model for Resident Oversight Board by Art Keene
• Human Rights Commission Hopes to Create an Institutional Record of Rights-Related Incidents in Amherst by Art Keene
• Opinion: From ‘Send it to the Human Rights Commission’ to ‘Who is Actually Responsible?’ by Rizwana Khan

TOWN GOVERNMENT

• A Tale of Two Policies: Why Amherst Needs Stronger Local Protections in the PROTECT Act Era by Miriam DeFant
• Social Justice Committee Endorses Investigative Model for Resident Oversight Board by Art Keene
• Human Rights Commission Hopes to Create an Institutional Record of Rights-Related Incidents in Amherst by Art Keene
• Private Builders of UMass Dorms Will Not Pay Tax to Amherst by Maura Keene
• Library Project’s Failure to Repay Town Discussed at Finance Committee by Maria Kopicki
• Jones Library Trustees Launch New Fundraising Arrangement for Expansion Project by Maura Keene
• Jones Library Move-in Delayed Until June or July 2027   by Maria Kopicki
• Initial DPW Building Proposal Already Over Budget by Maria Kopicki
• Elementary School Year off to a Good Start, District Considering Tech-less Thursdays  by Maura Keene
• Council Passes Clean Energy Bylaw with Amendments to Protect Private Wells by Maura Keene
• Market Will Guide Future Zoning of Hampshire College Campus by Maura Keene
• Opinion: From ‘Send it to the Human Rights Commission’ to ‘Who is Actually Responsible?’ by Rizwana Khan

TRANSPORTATION

• Elementary School Year off to a Good Start, District Considering Tech-less Thursdays by Maura Keene