# Amherst Indy

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Critical, Progressive, Independent

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## Posts

- [Amherst Public Health Department Hosting Vaccine Clinic](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/09/mherst-public-health-department-hosting-vaccine-clinic/): AMHERST, MA – The Town of Amherst Public Health Department will be hosting a vaccine clinic offering Flu and COVID shots on Thursday, October 22 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Bangs Community Center (70 Boltwood Walk). Register here or by going to: northamptonma.gov/2219/vax Registration is highly recommended as there is limited walk-in availability. Vaccines are available for all Massachusetts residents ages 6
- [Salt Flower and Tilted Orbit Arcade Celebrate Openings in The Mill District with Two Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies October 16](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/09/salt-flower-and-tilted-orbit-arcade-celebrate-openings-in-the-mill-district-with-two-ribbon-cutting-ceremonies-october-16/): Community invited to celebrate two new locally owned businesses on Friday, October 16 AMHERST, MA – The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the continued growth of The Mill District with two ribbon cutting ceremonies on Friday, October 16, welcoming Salt Flower and Tilted Orbit Arcade to the vibrant North Amherst destination. The afternoon
- [On the Aftermath of an October 7 Anniversary: American Jewish Identity and Its Discontents](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/09/on-the-aftermath-of-an-october-7-anniversary-american-jewish-identity-and-its-discontents/): Editors note: The op-ed originally appeared in The Daily Hampshire Gazette and is published with permission of the author. by Jeff Gold The crisis that has emerged within the American Jewish community since October 7, 2023 is nothing short of profound. Although the roots of this crisis can be traced back at least to 1948,
- [What's Happening October 9-18th](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/09/whats-happening-october-9-18th/): FRIDAY OCTOBER 9-11: UMASS HOMECOMING WEEKEND UMass Homecoming is coming to Downtown Amherst! Join the celebration as UMass brings the Homecoming spirit to Kendrick Park for an unforgettable Friday night (5-8PM) of fun, games, and community vibes. Community Spirit Central returns to Kendrick Park with student group performances, interactive activities, and family-friendly fun. Just a
- [Town of Amherst Seeks Resident to Join the Board of License Commissioners](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/09/town-of-amherst-seeks-resident-to-join-the-board-of-license-commissioners/): Applications will be reviewed beginning November 16 AMHERST, MA – The Town of Amherst is seeking one resident to join the Board of License Commissioners which oversees and issues licenses for businesses, public events, and activities within Amherst. Interested residents should submit a Community Activity Form at amherstma.gov/CAF Applications will be reviewed beginning November 16. About the
- [Amherst Awarded Nearly $300K Grant for Improving Infrastructure Within the Fort River Watershed](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/28/amherst-awarded-nearly-300k-grant-for-improving-infrastructure-within-the-fort-river-watershed/): Press Release AMHERST, MA – The Town of Amherst has been awarded a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant of $296,000 to improve infrastructure within the Fort River Watershed which will promote flood resilience, enhance wildlife passage, and improve water quality for recreational use. The grant was part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration award of $45
- [Mass Power Forward to Debut Dashboard with Press Conference on Statehouse Steps](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/28/mass-power-forward-to-debut-dashboard-with-press-conference-on-statehouse-steps/): The event will be live-streamed to accommodate media in Western Mass. Link to live-stream will be sent at 6am on September 29. Boston – Mass Power Forward, the largest coalition of grassroots climate and environmentaljustice groups in Massachusetts, will gather for a press conference in front of the MassachusettsStatehouse on Tuesday, September 29 at noon
- [UMASS Amherst Earns 2026 Mass Save Impact Award](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/28/umass-amherst-earns-2026-mass-save-impact-award/): 17 organizations to be recognized at the Massachusetts State House for advancing energy efficiency, helping customers save on energy costs and supporting Massachusetts' clean energy future BOSTON, MA (September 28, 2026) — The Sponsors of Mass Save today announced the recipients of the 2026 Mass Save Impact Awards, recognizing 17 organizations and communities across Massachusetts
- [Amherst to Celebrate Completion of New Elementary School Building with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/29/amherst-to-celebrate-completion-of-new-elementary-school-building-with-ribbon-cutting-ceremony/): WHAT: The Town of Amherst and the Amherst-Pelham Regional Public School District are hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Amethyst Brook Elementary School building on Monday, October 26 at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this special celebration. The event will include remarks from Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, town officials, and community leaders as well as tours of the new building.
- [UMass Amherst, in Partnership with Worcester and Salem State Universities, to Host Forum on Gun Law Referendum](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/30/umass-amherst-in-partnership-with-worcester-and-salem-state-universities-to-host-forum-on-gun-law-referendum/): Representatives of “yes” and “no” campaigns for Ballot Question 9 to speak Oct. 8 at Old Chapel AMHERST, Mass. — The University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’ (SBS) Democracy Project, in partnership with Worcester State University and Salem State University, will host a public forum on Ballot Question 9, a referendum on
- [Representative Domb Nominates Manuel Frau-Ramos for the 2026 Latino Excellence Award](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/30/representative-domb-nominates-manuel-frau-ramos-for-the-2026-latino-excellence-award/): (AMHERST, MA) - Representative Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) has nominated Manuel Frau-Ramos for the 2026 Latino Excellence Award for the 3rd Hampshire District. Frau-Ramos is a scholar, founder and editor of the monthly publication, El Sol Latino. The Latino Excellence Awards event is hosted annually by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus “to commemorate Latino
- [R. Michelson Gallery 37th Annual Children's Illustration Celebration!](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/30/r-michelson-gallery-37th-annual-childrens-illustration-celebration/): November 8, 2026 - January 31, 2027 Opening Reception: Sunday, November 8th from 4 to 6 pm Come meet more than 50 of your favorite Illustrators and Authors, at our biggest party of the year! The Eric Carle Museum will be here selling books and, as always, this event is free and open to the
- [Flock Cameras Put Cities at a Crossroads. New Research Offers a Roadmap](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/01/flock-cameras-put-cities-at-a-crossroads-new-research-offers-a-roadmap/): PRESS RELEASE UMass Amherst researcher says ‘public value mapping’ can help communities weigh security benefits against privacy and other concerns AMHERST, Mass. — As communities across the U.S. grapple with the rapid spread of Flock cameras and questions about who can access the data they collect, a new study from a University of Massachusetts Amherst
- [Halloween Events in Amherst for Kids & Dogs!](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/02/halloween-events-in-amherst-for-kids-dogs/): Amherst Dog Park's Halloween Pawty - Saturday, October 24, 2026 The annual Halloween dog costume “Pawty” is on for Saturday October 24 (rain date Sunday, October 25) from 2-4p.m. Bring your spooky and adorable dogs. We will have judges for the best dog costumes and the best dog/human duo for both little and big dogs.
- [Representative Mindy Domb Calls on Baystate Medical to Fulfill Commitment to Patients](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/05/representative-mindy-domb-calls-on-baystate-medical-to-fulfill-commitment-to-patients/): (AMHERST, MA) - Representative Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) is calling on Baystate Health to fulfill its commitment to patients affected by Baystate’s decision to terminate its pediatric gender affirming healthcare services and ensure continuity of care. She is also calling on them to disclose the conditions that need to exist to allow them to restore these
- [October Office Hours for Rep. Mindy Domb For Constituents Seeking Assistance or Share Concerns](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/09/october-office-hours-for-rep-mindy-domb-for-constituents-seeking-assistance-or-share-concerns/): OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE MINDY DOMB ANNOUNCES OCTOBER OFFICE HOURS AMHERST, MA—Representative Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) office will host community office hours in October at the following times: Tuesday, October 27, 12:30pm-1:30pm at the Amherst Survival Center (138 Sunderland Road, Amherst, MA 01002) Tuesday, October 27, 4:00pm-5:00pm at the Granby Free Public Library (297 E State St.,
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/09/whats-happening-in-amherst-246/): by Art and Maura Keene Notice: Our weekly calendar is going on vacation until Oct. 24. This week, we've tried to add events well into November to help you out. We'll be back with a full calendar on the 24th, so please continue to send us your event announcements. Help us make our events calendar
- [UMASS Homecoming Weekend Oct 9-11 Events](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/09/umass-homecoming-weekend-oct-9-11-events/): It's UMass Homecoming Weekend! Downtown Amherst will be buzzing with students and alumni, back to enjoy their favorite spots and discover a few new ones. But on Friday, October 9, UMass Homecoming is coming to Downtown Amherst! Join the celebration as UMass brings the Homecoming spirit to Kendrick Park for an unforgettable Friday night (5-8PM)
- [The Mothership Is Landing: Tilted Orbit Opening Party October 17th](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/08/the-mothership-is-landing-tilted-orbit-opening-party-october-17th/): Some businesses open. Others land. Tilted Orbit is the latter. Amy McDonough spent years watching pinball get written off as too niche, too nostalgic, too much a relic of somewhere else. She disagreed, quietly and persistently, the way people do when they've fallen for something the rest of the world hasn't caught up to yet.
- [Opinion: Beyond the Party—Who Is Responsible for Amherst’s Neighborhoods?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/08/opinion-beyond-the-party-who-is-responsible-for-amhersts-neighborhoods/): Social Injustice Goes Global Amherst’s student-housing story begins at night, when a house filled with students becomes a vastly different kind of neighbor to the people who live in that neighborhood year-round. The West Downtown Neighborhood Association wants Amherst Police to patrol North Prospect Street more often and UMass to take student behavior seriously when
- [2026 State Election: Information & Reminders from the Town of Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/08/2026-state-election-information-reminders-from-the-town-of-amherst/): AMHERST, MA - The State Election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Voters must be registered to vote in Amherst and have the options to vote-by-mail, vote early in-person, vote absentee, or vote in-person on Election Day. See below for details. If you have questions, please visit amherstma.gov/vote, email townclerk@amherstma.gov, or call 413-259-3035. The State ballot consists of 2 pages, with 3 printed sides in total, and includes 9 ballot
- [Amherst Chamber Executive Director Jacob Robinson Steps Down for New Role at PVPC](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/07/amherst-chamber-executive-director-jacob-robinson-steps-down-for-new-role-at-pvpc/): Editor’s note: Jacob Robinson, Executive Director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce since April 2024, will step down on October 16 to join the Community Development team at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. In the letter below, Robinson reflects on his time at the Chamber, the role it plays in the Amherst community, and
- [The Boston Palestine Film Festival Presents Seeds for Liberation, a film by Matthew Solomon](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/07/the-boston-palestine-film-festival-presents-seeds-for-liberation-a-film-by-matthew-solomon/): Thursday, October 22, 6:30 pm. UMASS, Amherst Flavin Family Auditorium Isenberg in partnership with Western MA cosponsoring organizations Followed by a Q&A with director Matthew Solomon, and protagonist Dr. Ayman Nijim Location : UMASS, Amherst, Flavin Family Auditorium, Isenberg Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILmflLsnaXc "Seeds for Liberation" explores Palestinian resistance through emotional and impactful interviews with historians, activists,
- [Collaborative for Educational Services Receives $375,000 to Advance Health and Wellbeing in Amherst, MA](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/07/collaborative-for-educational-services-receives-375000-to-advance-health-and-wellbeing-in-amherst-ma/): The three-year initiative known as the Amherst Wellbeing Alliance will bring together community members, organizational and governmental stakeholders to create a community-wide plan for health AMHERST, MA — The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), in partnership with the Amherst Public Health Department, has received $375,000 over three years to complete a Community Health Improvement Plan
- [October 19th Listening Session on Proposed Amherst Charter Changes](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/07/october-19th-listening-session-on-proposed-amherst-charter-changes/): Monday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. (tentative) Amherst Town Hall The Amherst Town Council will hold a listening session on Monday, October 19, to hear from residents about several potential changes to Amherst’s form and structure of government identified during the recent Charter Review process. Athena O’Keeffe, Clerk of the Council, will begin with a
- [REAL ID enforcement is here—what women need to know about travel, voting and name changes](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/07/real-id-enforcement-is-here-what-women-need-to-know-about-travel-voting-and-name-changes/): For years, Americans heard warnings that the REAL ID deadline was coming. The deadline was postponed so many times that it became easy to tune it out. That grace period is over. Since May 7, 2025, a standard state driver's license or identification card that is not REAL ID-compliant is no longer sufficient identification for
- [Issues & Analyses: Becoming Human - How To Give Back The Land](https://www.amherstindy.org/2021/10/01/issues-analyses-becoming-human-how-to-give-back-the-land/): A note from the series editor: A reckoning is upon us. More and more acknowledgement of the ongoing theft and violence of our settler colonial state is entering public conversation and consciousness. One level of response has been directed towards historical and cultural representation: removing white supremacist and colonial monuments, changing sports team names,
- [Letter: Unions make UMass better](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/07/letter-unions-make-umass-better/): This letter to the editor was previously published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette and is republished with permission from the author. After 14 years employed by UMass Amherst, I can tell you one thing for certain: UMass is a good place to work, thanks to the unions. Here is a partial list of benefits that
- [Town Manager Report for October 5, 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/06/town-manager-report-for-october-5-2026/): Town Manager Report – October 5, 2026 Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the second Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 16 pages in length, provide up-to-date information on what is happening within and across town departments. The Manager Report
- [Treating Breast Cancer with Bacteria: UMass Amherst Leads $13.1 Million Research Effort](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/05/treating-breast-cancer-with-bacteria-umass-amherst-leads-13-1-million-research-effort/): Scientists are designing custom strains of Salmonella to counteract cancer’s invisibility to the immune system, detour drug resistance and re-route radiation toxicity AMHERST, Mass. — Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have been awarded $13.1 million to lead new, complementary research efforts engineering therapeutic Salmonella to target critical gaps in treatment for drug-resistant triple-negative
- [Amherst Walk & Roll to School Day October 7th!](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/06/amherst-walk-roll-to-school-day-october-7th/): Amherst-area students and families are invited to leave the car behind on Wednesday, October 7, and join communities across the country for National Walk & Roll to School Day. The annual event encourages children and families to walk, bike or roll to school together, promoting physical activity, community connection and safer routes for students traveling
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: American Sweetgum](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/06/amherst-arbor-spotlight-american-sweetgum/): Liquidambar styracifluaThe American Sweetgum is moving north. Native to the southeastern United States, this resilient 75-foot-tall shade tree now thrives in Western Massachusetts due to warming temperatures. Sweetgum is a deciduous tree with nearly perfect star-shaped leaves that burst into a cornicopia of fall colors. In addition to their leaves, sweetgums are famous for another
- [Town of Amherst Invests Nearly $4 Million Into FY27 Pavement Management and Paving Plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/06/town-of-amherst-invests-nearly-4-million-into-fy27-pavement-management-and-paving-plan/): AMHERST, MA – The Town of Amherst is investing nearly $4 million into its pavement management and paving plan for fiscal year 2027 (FY27). This plan outlines the roads that will be paved and repaired during the upcoming fall and spring seasons, with completion expected by June 30, 2027. Roads will receive different pavement treatment methods
- [The Newell Court Case: When Is an Attic an ADU?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/29/the-newell-court-case-when-is-an-attic-an-adu/): Social Injustice Goes Global At the District 4 meeting on September 27, Councilors Pam Rooney and Jennifer Taub updated Amherst residents on recent Council actions and local issues, including one question that has become increasingly difficult to answer: how do you increase the town’s housing supply without creating a new set of conflicts over what
- [The Dorm That Was Private, Public, and Somehow Tax-Free](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/29/the-dorm-that-was-private-public-and-somehow-tax-free/): Social Injustice Goes Global At District 4 meeting, Sunday, September 27, Councilors Pam Rooney and Jennifer Taub brought up the very Amherst questions regarding housing, zoning, universities, development and, eventually, who pays for all of it. The meeting was billed as a chance for residents to hear updates and raise whatever was on their minds.
- [Members of the Four Towns Meeting Learn that Amending the Regional Agreement is a Multi-year Endeavor](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/30/members-of-the-four-towns-meeting-learn-that-amending-the-regional-agreement-is-a-multi-year-endeavor/): By Maria Kopicki The meeting was held in person at the Amherst Regional High School Library and was recorded. Members of the Regional School Committee (RSC), the Finance Committees and Select Boards of member towns, and the Amherst Town Council met on September 26, 2026 to discuss the Regional Agreement that defines the budgetary and
- [Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Announces 2026 A+ Awards Recipients](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/05/amherst-area-chamber-of-commerce-announces-2026-a-awards-recipients/): Amherst, MA – The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the 2026 A+ Awards Dinner, scheduled for Thursday, November 12th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the UMass Student Union Ballroom. The A+ Awards Dinner is an annual event created to celebrate the people, businesses, and organizations whose leadership, innovation, service,
- [Cuppa' Joe with Paul and Town Clerk Amber Martin](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/05/cuppa-joe-with-paul-and-town-clerk-amber-martin/): WHAT: The Town of Amherst invites community members to join us for coffee and conversation with Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Town Clerk Amber Martin on Friday, October 9 from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM at Futura Coffee Roasters in the Mill District. With the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 3, this event is a great opportunity to learn more about the election and how to participate. In addition
- [U.S. Representative Jim McGovern to Deliver 5th Annual Ellsberg Lecture at UMass Amherst on October 27th](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/05/u-s-representative-jim-mcgovern-to-deliver-5th-annual-ellsberg-lecture-at-umass-amherst-on-october-27th/): Amherst, MA — On October 27, 2026, the Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will host the 5th Annual Ellsberg Lecture, featuring U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts congressman since 1997 who is best known for championing the struggle to end hunger, protect human rights, and promote a more
- [Councilors Seek More Funding from UMass; ADU & LDH Bylaws Advance to Subcommittees](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/02/councilors-seek-more-funding-from-umass-adu-ldh-bylaws-advance-to-subcommittees/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Council, September 28, 2026 By Maria Kopicki This was a hybrid meeting held in the Town Room of Town Hall and was recorded. PresentCouncilors: Mandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3),
- [Budget Coordinating Group Kicks Off FY28 Budget Season](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/02/budget-coordinating-group-kicks-off-fy28-budget-season/): The Town of Amherst officially launched its Fiscal Year 2028 budget development process on Wednesday, September 30, when the Budget Coordinating Group (BCG) convened its first meeting of the season. The session offered a preliminary look at the financial pressures, systemic uncertainties, and modest cost-saving opportunities facing municipal departments, public schools, and the library system
- [Amherst TSO Moves Waste Hauler Proposal Nearer RFP](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/02/amherst-tso-moves-waste-hauler-proposal-nearer-rfp/): The Town Services and Outreach Committee (TSO) took up the final decision points regarding the current Waste Hauler Proposal at its remotely conducted meeting on October 1, 2026. Present were: Chair George Ryan, TSO Committee members Councilors Jennifer Taub, Pam Rooney, Andy Churchill, and Hala Lord, as well as Town Manager Paul Bockelman, DPW Superintendent
- [7 Safety Apps and Phone Tools Everyone Should Know About](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/02/7-safety-apps-and-phone-tools-everyone-should-know-about/): A safety app cannot guarantee protection or replace calling 911 in an emergency, but the right tool can make it faster to contact help, share your location, document what happened, or reach trained support. The best choice depends on the situation: an immediate threat, walking alone, dating, harassment or stalking, sexual violence, or an unsafe
- [Poll shows voters on track to retain legal cannabis and 2024 gun law](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/10/02/poll-shows-voters-on-track-to-retain-legal-cannabis-and-2024-gun-law/): by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon September 29, 2026 Massachusetts voters look like they’ve largely made up their minds on two of the highest-profile questions on the November ballot. They seem on track to retain legalized recreational marijuana and a sweeping new gun law passed in 2024, according to a new poll. In a MassINC Polling
- [What Your Favorite Apps Can Access—and How to Take Back Control](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/30/what-your-favorite-apps-can-access-and-how-to-take-back-control/): Your phone may know more about your day than your nosy neighbor, and unlike the neighbor, it can remember where you went, which photos you uploaded, and what features you used. Many popular apps can request access to sensitive phone features, including your microphone, camera, location, contacts, photos, Bluetooth, nearby devices, and local network. What
- [Great Barrington's Library Gets a Crash Course in What Amherst Has Learned the Hard Way](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/28/great-barringtons-library-gets-a-crash-course-in-what-amherst-has-learned-the-hard-way/): Great Barrington’s Ramsdell Library renovation is running into a familiar set of problems — ones Amherst residents will recognize from the long‑troubled Jones Library demolition‑renovation‑expansion project. Both towns are discovering that when a project depends on MBLC grants, involves a historic building, and adopts an ambitious design before fully resolving preservation and cost questions, the
- [Registration for Town's Hazardous Waste Day Closes Oct. 19](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/24/registration-for-towns-hazardous-waste-day-closes-oct-19/): Source: amherstma.gov The town's 2026 household hazardous waste collection event will be held on October 31st at Wildwood School, 71 Strong Street from 9 a.m. to Noon. Registration is now open online. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Register here. Details PARTICIPATION Registration must be completed by 10/19/26 All Amherst, Pelham, Hadley, & Shutesbury residents may participate. Other
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/whats-in-this-issue-302/): Welcome to our Table of Contents. You can also get a weekly list of all new items in the Indy by dropping us a note with your contact information at amherstindy@gmail.com. The subscription is free and will deliver a listing of all new content to your inbox each Saturday at 6 a.m. We promise that we will not share
- [The Gift Article You'll Never Read and the Greeting I'll Never Pass Along](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/21/the-gift-article-youll-never-read-and-the-greeting-ill-never-pass-along/): The following column appeared originally in Eben's Substack on Sept. 20, 2026 and is posted here with permission. I have a penchant for making bold assertions that can’t be backed up with any evidence. Here are my two latest. More than 90% of the articles that people send to their friends and family to read
- [Opinion: Buildings, Settings, and History](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/opinion-buildings-settings-and-history/): I want to thank Hetty Startup and Ira Bryck for their strong advocacy for an East Amherst Historic District. They quite rightly wrote to address current controversies, but I want to support them in larger terms, implicit in their letters to the Town Council, by arguing for preserving buildings in their settings and buildings as
- [Letter: UMass Must Do More to Reduce Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/letter-umass-must-do-more-to-reduce-its-greenhouse-gas-emissions/): by the Energy and Climate Action Committee (ECAC) of the Town of Amherst A significant part of the Town of Amherst's overall greenhouse gas emissions comes from UMass Amherst, which emits roughly 160,000 metric tons of CO2 yearly, 120,000 of which is directly traceable to their central heat and power plant – an oil and
- [Indy to Publish Abridged Editions in October](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/indy-to-publish-abridged-editions-in-october/): Dear Readers The Indy will be posting abridged editions the weeks of Oct 3, 10, and 17, with only a few key articles each week while Maura and I are traveling. Think of it as the Indy lite. Robin Jaffin, Jeff Lee, and Josna Rege will lead the production and editorial team, with assistance from
- [Problem House Seeks Amendment to Special Permit](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/problem-house-seeks-amendment-to-special-permit/): Report of the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, September 24, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Everald Henry (Chair), David Ahlfeld, Craig Meadows. Sarah Morton, and David Sloviter. Staff: Steve McCarthy (Licensing Coordinator) The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) was skeptical about a request to remove the owner-occupancy
- [Read and Resist Festival Back for Its Third Year](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/read-and-resist-festival-back-for-its-third-year/): Source: Interlink Publishing The Third Annual Read & Resist Fest will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Interlink Publishing, located at 46 Crosby Street in Northampton, Massachusetts. Masking is required. (Rain date: October 4, 2026) Interlink Publishing—the only Palestinian-owned book publisher in the United States—will once again
- [Bandtoberfest, a Family-Friendly Celebration of Autumn, Returns to the Town Common Sept. 27](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/22/bandtoberfest-a-family-friendly-celebration-of-autumn-returns-to-the-town-common-sept-29/): Source: UMass Department of Music and Dance On Sunday, September 27, the UMass Wind Ensemble, conducted by Matthew Westgate, and the UMass Symphony Band, conducted by Lindsay Bronnenkant, will perform on the Amherst Common as part of the sixth annual “Bandtoberfest” event sponsored by the Amherst Downtown Business Improvement District (BID). Near the beginning of
- [Photos of the Week: An Indy September Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/photos-of-the-week-an-indy-september-gallery-2/): by Jerry Meyer, Annique Boomsma, Anne-Marie Taylor, Dave Madeloni, Richard Sclove, Darya Zelentsova, John Varner, John Root and Robin Jaffin Dear Readers,Photos of the Week will be on vacation until Oct. 24. To fill that hiatus, we have assembled this gallery of photos from some of our regular contributors. Enjoy! Our feature, Photo of the Week,
- [Revisions to ADU Bylaw in the Works](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/revisions-to-adu-bylaw-in-the-works/): Zoning Bylaw Fix Will Go to Public Hearing with Community Resources Committee and Planning Board At its September 28 meeting, Town Council is expected to discuss and refer the planning staff’s proposed revisions to the town’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bylaw to the Community Resources Committee (CRC) and the Planning Board for a joint public
- [Paintings by Janet W. Winston at Gallery A3 in October](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/paintings-by-janet-w-winston-at-gallery-a3-in-october/): Source: Gallery A3 Gallery A3 announces a new October exhibit: Variations/Sensations, featuring paintings by Janet W. Winston. The exhibit opens on ,Friday, Oct. 2 and will run through Saturday, Oct. 31. There will be an opening reception at the gallery on Friday, Oct. 2, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., and a free online art forum on Thursday,
- [Safe Energy Groups Oppose New England Governors’  Pro-Nuclear Summit in Lowell, MA, September 30](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/24/safe-energy-groups-oppose-new-england-governors-pro-nuclear-summit-in-lowell-ma-september-30/): Source: Clamshell Alliance Safe energy and anti-nuclear activists are bringing the dangers of a nuclear 'reboot' to the general public and to summit delegates in response to Massachusetts Governor Healey’s September 30 governors’ summit at UMass Lowell to promote nuclear power. Governor Healey will host a New England governors’ nuclear energy summit at UMass Lowell
- [Town Manager Report for September 14, 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/25/town-manager-report-for-september-14-2026/): Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the second Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 16 pages in length, provide up-to-date information on what is happening within and across town departments. The Manager Report is usually one of the last items
- [Letter: Stop Spending MA Taxpayer Money on Gazan Genocide](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/24/letter-stop-spending-ma-taxpayer-money-on-gazan-genocide/): by Jennifer Scarlott and Nick MotternThe following letter was sent to members of the Massachusetts Legislature on Sept. 24, 2026. At a press conference in Boston on May 7th, 2025, well into the Israel-U.S. genocide in Gaza, Governor Healey, surrounded by staff, state officials, and Israeli medical and business figures, gave a warm welcome to
- [Craig’s Doors Celebrates 15 Years](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/24/craigs-doors-celebrates-15-years/): About 75 supporters enjoyed pizza and cake at Mill River Recreation Area on September 23 as Craig’s Doors celebrated 15 years of serving unhoused people in Amherst. Craig’s Doors Board President Gerry Weiss told of how the late Ken Mosakowski, philanthropist and activist, approached the Amherst Select Board in 2007 and implored them to do
- [October Song and Story Swap Will Feature Singer-Songwriter Paul Sprawl](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/24/october-song-and-story-swap-will-feature-singer-songwriter-paul-sprawl/): Source: Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s October Song & Story Swap will feature rootsy Americana singer-songwriter Paul Sprawl on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at First Church, 165 Main Street. Free parking is available in the lot behind the church. The Song & Story Swap is open to members of the
- [Letter: Protect Amherst's Significant Architectural Resources](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/24/letter-protect-amhersts-significant-architectural-resources/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on Sept. 23, 2026. I hope the Town Council will support the carefully formulated proposal for an East Amherst Local Historic District and vote to protect the town’s significant historic and architectural resources. A local historic district would not prevent accessory dwelling units or any
- [Regional Agreement Up for Review at Four Towns Meeting Sept. 26](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/23/regional-agreement-up-for-review-at-four-towns-meeting-sept-26/): Note: This meeting will be held in the Amherst Regional High School library and is open to the public. The first Four Towns Meeting of the school year will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in the Amherst Regional High School library. Previous Four Towns Meetings have focused on the regional budget, but this
- [Town Closes in on RFP for New Trash Hauling Contract](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/23/town-closes-in-on-rfp-for-new-trash-hauling-contract/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Services and Outreach Committee, September 18, 2026 The meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.Present Councilors George Ryan (District 3, Chair), Amber Cano-Martin (District 2), Hala Lord (District 3), Pam Rooney (District 4) , Jennifer Taub (District 3) Staff: Paul Bockelman (town manager), Mimi Kaplan (consultant), Guilford
- [New Jazz Concert Series at Masuda's Cafe](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/23/new-jazz-concert-series-at-masudas-cafe/): Source: Sarah Barr, Amherst College Jazz at Masuda’s is an exciting new monthly concert series that will take place in the heart of Amherst Center at Masuda’s Café on select Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., beginning on October 1, 2026. Masuda’s Café is located at 17 Kellogg Avenue. Free of charge and open
- [More Than 100 Organizations Are Now Endorsing the “YES on 6” Ballot Campaign to Protect Water and Nature](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/23/more-than-100-organizations-are-now-endorsing-the-yes-on-6-ballot-campaign-to-protect-water-and-nature/): Source: Andrew Farnitano, Nature for Massachusetts Coalition With less than two months until Election Day, more than 100 organizations across Massachusetts are now endorsing the “YES on 6” ballot campaign. Question 6, the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative (see also here) on the November statewide ballot, would create a new Nature for All Fund
- [Attendees at Listening Session Agree: Build Mixed Housing on the Hampshire College Campus](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/23/attendees-at-listening-session-agree-build-mixed-housing-on-the-hampshire-college-campus/): Report on the Listening Session at the Eric Carle Museum, September 22, 2026 Close to 100 people gathered at the Eric Carle Museum on September 22 to hear a presentation from Peter Flinker of Dodson and Flinker Landscape Architecture and Design and to participate in small-group discussions about rezoning the Hampshire College campus to permit
- [Town Explores Zoning Options for Hampshire College Campus](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/23/town-explores-zoning-options-for-hampshire-college-campus/): Consultants See Possibility for as Many as 2,400 New Housing Units The town of Amherst held its first public information session on its study of rezoning options for the Hampshire College campus on July 21. The meeting was held over Zoom, and more than 150 people attended online. The session was recorded. (Look here for
- [Letter: Both Sides Are Right on Starter Home Ballot Question](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/23/letter-both-sides-are-right-on-starter-home-ballot-question/): November 3rd's Ballot Question 7 is not a housing slogan. It is a statewide rewrite of who controls a suburban lot. A yes vote would require cities and towns to allow a single-family house on a residentially zoned parcel of at least 5,000 square feet, with 50 feet of street frontage and public water and sewer. Height,
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/whats-happening-in-amherst-245/): by Art and Maura Keene Help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings, including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send event listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18: THE BELAIR LIP BOMBS. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Indie rock quartet from Australia that have been building a
- [Exit Strategies: Contesting the Future of Capitalism](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/23/exit-strategies-contesting-the-future-of-capitalism/): Source: UMass Department of History On Monday, September 28, the UMass Amherst History Department and partners launch the 2026-2027 Feinberg Series, a free public event series that brings together students, scholars, organizers, and community members. The series theme is Escape from Oligarchy: The History and Future of Rule by the Rich. Throughout the year, events–including lectures,
- [Black Business Association Launches Microgrant Program](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/22/black-business-association-launches-microgrant-program/): Source: Black Business Association of Amherst Area The Black Business Association of Amherst Area (BBAAA) encourages current and aspiring entrepreneurs to apply for support with startup costs and operating expenses. The application deadline is Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The grant application form and guidelines can be found on the BBAAA website: Eligible Expenses Grant awards
- [Almshouses, Poor Farms, Settlements and Homes for the Aged: Exploring Where Architecture and Social Welfare Histories Meet](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/22/almshouses-poor-farms-settlements-and-homes-for-the-aged-exploring-where-architecture-and-social-welfare-histories-meet/): This is the first article in a new three-part series. This series explores social welfare institutions in this region in past centuries. Leaving today behind, I also wanted to explore ideas about the creative economy and who drove change in health, welfare, and the arts in western Massachusetts. It may seem odd to combine histories
- [Letter: East Amherst Local Historic District is a Wise Move](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/22/letter-east-amherst-local-historic-district-is-a-wise-move/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on Sept. 19, 2026. I am writing in support of approval of the proposed East Amherst Local Historic District. The proposal now before you is a measured and carefully reduced one. After review and deliberation, the original 55-property proposal was narrowed to a compact core
- [Opinion: Will Taxpayers Inherit the Jones Library Debt?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/21/opinion-will-taxpayers-inherit-the-jones-library-debt/): When does reality become too obvious to ignore? From what I remember, the Jones Library Capital Campaign claimed that it would be in a “silent phase” of fundraising for an initial period. It was alleged that this was how major campaigns were typically run. The “public phase” would begin when the project actually broke ground, and
- [Opinion: A Human Library for Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/21/opinion-a-human-library-for-amherst/): I attended a recent Jones Library listening session facilitated by Dr. Pat Romney and Angelica Castro. They gathered people’s hopes and concerns about the library, then opened the room for discussion. In a town where the Jones Library has too often become a divisive political argument, I appreciated the chance to hear people speak directly
- [Recreation Director Criticizes Draft Report from Cherry Hill Working Group  ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/21/recreation-director-criticizes-draft-report-from-cherry-hill-working-group/): Report on the Meeting of the Cherry Hill Working Group, September 14, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Michele Miller (Chair), Chris Pariseau, Hilary Matheson, Sanjay Arwade, Ryan Diplock, Sarah Goff, and Anurag Sharma Staff: Rey Harp (Recreation Director) and Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) The Cherry Hill Working Group
- [Photos of the Week: 2026 Annual Block Party Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/photos-of-the-week-2026-annual-block-party-gallery/): by Josna Rege and Art Keene A rainy evening did not deter Amherst residents, as a large crowd turned out for the 13th Annual Town Block Party on Sept. 17, 2026. View a gallery of photos of the 2026 Block Party from professional photographer Keith Toffling here. Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new
- [Human Rights Commission Hopes to Create an Institutional Record of Rights-Related Incidents in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/human-rights-commission-hopes-to-create-an-institutional-record-of-rights-related-incidents-in-amherst/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Human Rights Commission, Sept. 16, 2026. This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.PresentCommissioners: Jayendran Pillay (co-chair), Milan Clark (co-chair), Rizwana Khan, Mattea Kramer, Silas McClung. Absent: Rani Parker. One vacancyStaff: Philip Avila (assistant director, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) The Human Rights Commission (HRC) established
- [Mark the Autumnal Equinox at the UMass Sunwheel](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/17/mark-the-atumnal-equinox-at-the-umass-sunwheel/): Public sunrise and sunset gatherings on September 22 explore the astronomy of the changing seasons Source: UMass News and Media The public is invited to observe sunrise and sunset associated with the day of the autumnal equinox among the standing stones of the UMass Amherst Sunwheel on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. These
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/whats-in-this-issue-301/): Welcome to our Table of Contents. You can also get a weekly list of all new items in the Indy by dropping us a note with your contact information at amherstindy@gmail.com. The subscription is free and will deliver a listing of all new content to your inbox each Saturday at 6 a.m. We promise that we will not share
- [Opinion: From ‘Send it to the Human Rights Commission’ to ‘Who is Actually Responsible?’](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/from-send-it-to-the-human-rights-commission-to-who-is-actually-responsible/): Social Injustice Goes Global On Aug. 25, a hateful symbol was found spray-painted on electrical boxes at Kendrick Park and at the intersection of Northampton Road and South Pleasant Street. Reporting in the Indy also documented “white power” stickers depicting a gun pointed at a Black cartoon face. The town described the spray-painted symbol as
- [Air Quality at Middle School is Good, Small Fixes Still Needed](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/air-quality-at-middle-school-is-good-small-fixes-still-needed/): School Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi) reported in an email to the school community on Wednesday, Sept. 15, that the latest air quality tests at the Middle School, from Sept. 7, produced an AQI (air quality index) rating of 14, which is in the "Good" range. District leaders met with Vertex, T2, and CDW
- [Letter: It's Time for the Democrats to Move Left](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/letter-its-time-for-the-democrats-to-move-left/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Democratic Town Committee on September 18, 2026. I am looking forward to political discussion at our meetings. We are all Democrats, but that doesn’t mean that we are satisfied with the party’s stance on everything. I am greatly disappointed by the party’s shift to the right since Nixon’s
- [Market Will Guide Future Zoning of Hampshire College Campus](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/market-will-guide-future-zoning-of-hampshire-college-campus/): About 25 people gathered at the new Izote Restaurant on West Street with Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Planning and Economic Development Director Jeff Bagg. Most of the discussion centered around the town’s plans to rezone the Hampshire College campus to allow non-educational uses of the property. Bockelman and Planning and Bagg outlined the town’s
- [Elementary School Year off to a Good Start, District Considering Tech-less Thursdays ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/elementary-school-year-off-to-a-good-start-district-considering-tech-less-thursdays/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, September 15, 2026 By Maura Keene This hybrid meeting was held in Town Hall and was recorded. PresentDeb Leonard (Chair), Andrew Hart, Laura Jane Hunter, Bridget Hynes, snf Sarah Marshall. Staff: Dr. E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi, Superintendent) Elementary Schools Welcome Students in New Configuration The
- [Library Project’s Failure to Repay Town Discussed at Finance Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/library-projects-failure-to-repay-town-discussed-at-finance-committee/): This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Money Coming To the Town Town Finance Director Sean Mangano updated the Finance Committee on the financials of the Jones Library building project at its September 15 meeting. Since his last report in March 2026, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) has paid the town installments totaling
- [Initial DPW Building Proposal Already Over Budget](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/18/initial-dpw-building-proposal-already-over-budget/): Report of the meeting of the Department of Public Works Building Committee (DPWBC) on September 16, 2026 The hybrid meeting was held in the First Floor Conference Room of Town Hall and was recorded. Committee members present: Christine Gray-Mullen (chair), Guilford Mooring (superintendent of public works), Jason Skeels (town engineer), Sean Mangano ( finance director),
- [Garden Program Brings Student-Grown Produce to School Cafeterias](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/17/garden-program-brings-student-grown-produce-to-school-cafeterias/): Source: Amherst Regional Public SchoolsStudents working in Amherst and Pelham elementary school gardens are incorporating produce into school meals through a collaboration between the Amherst and Pelham Elementary School Garden Program and ARPS School Nutrition Services. The School Garden Program provides year-round garden-based learning for students in Grades K–6 in school gardens and classrooms. Jennifer
- [As Budget Woes Linger in Hampshire County, Some Look to the Colleges](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/17/as-budget-woes-linger-in-hampshire-county-some-look-to-the-colleges/): By Anna Carpinelli The Five Colleges’ tax-exempt property holdings can be a sore spot when municipal budget season rolls around. Some residents and officials think the time is right to push for greater contributions from the wealthy institutions. The following article appeared originally in The Shoestring on September 11, 2026. It is reposted here under
- [Council Passes Clean Energy Bylaw with Amendments to Protect Private Wells](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/17/council-passes-clean-energy-bylaw-with-amendments-to-protect-private-wells/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Council, September 14, 2026, Part 2 This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall and was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Andy Churchill (at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District
- [The Massachusetts Ballot Questions, Explained](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/16/the-massachusetts-ballot-questions-explained/): Ballot question vote history 1992-2026 Each square represents one ballot question. Colors indicate whether the measure was approved or rejected. 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 Approved Rejected Upcoming Latest Coverage Let’s say a ballot question passes in November. What happens next?Nine ballot questions
- [Private Builders of UMass Dorms Will Not Pay Tax to Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/17/private-builders-of-umass-dorms-will-not-pay-tax-to-amherst/): Report of the Meeting of the Town Council, September 14, 2026, Part 1 This hybrid meeting was held in Town Hall and recorded. Present Mandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Andy Churchill (at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3),
- [Letter: UMass' AI Infrastructure Push Needs A Public Value Test](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/16/letter-umass-ai-infrastructure-push-needs-a-public-value-test/): Tomorrow (Sept. 17), UMass Amherst opens its Sustainable Compute & AI Infrastructure Research Symposium with a useful premise: AI infrastructure should behave as a flexible and responsible participant in the broader public-infrastructure ecosystem, respect existing resource constraints, and serve the public good. That framing matters because arguments about AI infrastructure often collapse into two camps. One side
- [UMass Amherst Launches $120 Million Future of Food Initiative](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/16/umass-amherst-launches-120-million-future-of-food-initiative/): Supported by private and public investment, the initiative will establish new research facilities, champion world-class faculty, and accelerate interdisciplinary solutions to challenges facing the global food system Source: UMass News & Media UMass Amherst is launching a $120 million effort to address real-world concerns as the global food system faces critical challenges related to climate change and sustainability, food safety, and a growing population expected to reach 10 billion people
- [A Tale of Two Policies: Why Amherst Needs Stronger Local Protections in the PROTECT Act Era](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/16/a-tale-of-two-policies-why-amherst-needs-stronger-local-protections-in-the-protect-act-era/): The Town should revise its Sanctuary Community Bylaw to align with the PROTECT Act while also addressing voluntary cooperation that state law still permits. ICE arrests in Massachusetts are slowly and quietly increasing. Between January 20, 2025 and August 6, 2026, ICE made 9,783 arrests in Massachusetts, according to an analysis of the August 21
- [Social Justice Committee Endorses Investigative Model for Resident Oversight Board](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/16/social-justice-committee-endorses-investigative-model-for-resident-oversight-board/): Report on the Meeting of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, Sept. 9, 2026 The meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentDebora Ferreira (Co-chair), Everald Henry (co-chair), Erica Piedade. Absent: Anna Derby, Lissette Paredes, and Brigid Owino. One vacancy. Staff: Philip Avila (assistant director, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) The meeting
- [Anthropic Researcher Quits, Citing Internal Fears That AI ‘Could Kill Us All’ This Decade](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/anthropic-researcher-quits-citing-internal-fears-that-ai-could-kill-us-all-this-decade/): by Jon Queally “Most tech geeks don’t resign from their roles because…the tech they’re building could end humanity,” said Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, running for US Senate in Michigan. The following article appeared originally in Common Dreams on Sept. 09, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY 3.0).Indy Editor's note: This story
- [Letter: Grass on New Athletic Fields Is Too Long](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/15/letter-grass-on-new-athletic-fields-is-too-long/): I want to begin by recognizing the work that has gone into bringing the track and field complex to this stage. A great deal of effort and investment has clearly gone into these facilities, and that is something the community can appreciate. But we are not finished yet. While things may look great, we need
- [Jones Library Move-in Delayed Until June or July 2027  ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/15/jones-library-move-in-delayed-until-june-or-july-2027/): Report on the Meeting of the Jones Library Building Committee, September 14, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Austin Sarat (Jones Library trustee, chair), Sharon Sharry (library director), Paul Bockelman (town manager), Sean Mangano (town finance director), George Hicks-Richards lLibrary building facilities supervisor ), Alex LeFebvre, Christine Gray-Mullen, and George
- [Jones Library Trustees Launch New Fundraising Arrangement for Expansion Project](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/15/jones-library-trustees-launch-new-fundraising-arrangement-for-expansion-project/): Report on the Meeting of the Jones Library Trustees, Sept. 10, 2026 This meeting was held via Zoom and was recorded. Present: Austin Sarat (president), Lee Edwards, Farah Ameen, Nat Larson, Tammy Ely, and Eugene Goffredo Staff: Sharon Sharry (library director) Friends of the Jones Library Join With Trustees in New Capital Campaign Committee As
- [Reflections on Two Terms on the Amherst Historical Commission #3](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/reflections-on-two-terms-on-the-amherst-historical-commission-3/): by Hetty Startup I recently stepped down from the Amherst Historical Commission. As I neared the end of my second term, I wrote a couple of articles for the Indy about my time as a commissioner (see here and here), reflecting on what happened over six years. This is the last article in that series
- [No To Nuclear: Author Linda Pentz Gunter in Conversation with Sharon Tracy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/no-to-nuclear-author-linda-pentz-gunter-in-conversation-with-sharon-tracy/): On Tuesday, September 8, Linda Pentz Gunter of Beyond Nuclear discussed her new book, No to Nuclear: Why Nuclear Power Destroys Lives, Derails Climate Progress and Provokes War (Pluto Press, 2026), in conversation with longtime anti-nuclear power activist Sharon Tracy. More than 35 people packed the Clapp Memorial Library in Belchertown for a short reading
- [What Kind of Resident Oversight Board for the Amherst Police Will Best Serve the Town?  GOL Remains Split](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/what-kind-of-resident-oversight-board-for-the-amherst-police-will-best-serve-the-town-gol-remains-split/): Report on the Meeting of the Government, Organization and Legislation Committee (GOL), September 8, 2026 PresentAna Devlin Gauthier (District 5, Chair), Amber Cano-Martin (District 2), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord (District 3), George Ryan (District 3)Staff: Athena O’Keeffe (Clerk of Council) The Government, Organization and Legislation Committee (GOL) continued deliberations on a proposed Resident
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/whats-in-this-issue-300/): 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
- [Opinion | Hampshire's Land: Zone for the Future, Not the Next Developer](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/opinion-hampshires-land-zone-for-the-future-not-the-next-developer/): Hampshire College is closing, and now Amherst has a different problem: What happens to the land? The easy answer is to say housing. Amherst needs housing. Amherst already has a stated goal of creating 200 affordable homes for households earning below 100% of area median income over the next five years. But if the answer
- [Constitution Day Event at UMass: The American Experiment at 250](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/constitution-day-event-at-umass-the-american-experiment-at-250/): Source: UMass News & Media A retired NASA astronaut and state lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle will come together on campus Thursday, Sept. 17 for a Constitution Day event focused on the state of American democracy as the country marks its 250th anniversary. “The American Experiment at 250: Where Does Our Democracy Stand?”
- [Read & Resist Fest is Back for Its Third Year](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/read-resist-fest-is-back-for-its-third-year/): Source: Interlink Publishing The Third Annual Read & Resist Fest will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Interlink Publishing, located at 46 Crosby Street in Northampton, Massachusetts. Masking is required. (Rain date: October 4, 2026) Interlink Publishing—the only Palestinian-owned book publisher in the United States—will once again
- [ARPS Coach Leila Tunnell Named to Ultimate Hall of Fame Class of 2026 ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/arps-coach-leila-tunnell-named-to-ultimate-hall-of-fame-class-of-2026/): Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools Leila Tunnell, Amherst Bx Varsity Ultimate co-coach, has been selected for induction into the Ultimate Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Tunnell has served as a co-coach of Amherst's varsity ultimate program alongside Joe Costello since 2014. In addition to coaching student-athletes, she works with elementary students as an Amherst
- [Two Events to Gather the Public's Input on Hampshire Campus Zoning Study](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/two-events-to-gather-the-publics-input-on-hampshire-campus-zoning-study/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst invites the community to attend two upcoming events about the Hampshire Campus Zoning Study on September 22 and September 24. These events are an opportunity to learn more and provide input as the town works to develop new zoning for the Hampshire campus. Participation in both sessions is encouraged. All are welcome! Space is limited so
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/whats-happening-in-amherst-244/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11 THROUGH SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13: 8TH ANNUAL FIVE COLLEGE NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL. Bezanson Recital Hall, UMass. This year’s festival,
- [Photos of the Week: Beauty of the Season](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/photos-of-the-week-beauty-of-the-season/): All of this week's photos are from the Kestrel Trust's Brightwater Bog Nature Retreat in Shutesbury, Septeember, 2026. Our Photo of the Week feature presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be
- [Come Celebrate Downtown at the 13th Annual Block Party, Sept. 17](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/come-celebrate-downtown-at-the-towns-annual-block-party-sept-17/): Source: Amherst Business Improvement District All are invited to the 13th Annual Block Party on Thursday, September 17, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on North Pleasant Street in Downtown Amherst. This beloved community event promises an evening of fun, entertainment, and celebration of all things Amherst. The Annual Block Party is a cherished tradition, drawing thousands
- [Come Celebrate Downtown at the Annual Block Party, Sept 17](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/come-celebrate-downtown-at-the-annual-block-party-sept-17/): Source: Amherst Business Improvement District All are invited to the 13th Annual Block Party on Thursday, September 17, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on North Pleasant Street in Downtown Amherst. This beloved community event promises an evening of fun, entertainment, and celebration of all things Amherst. The Annual Block Party is a cherished tradition, drawing thousands
- [Bridging the Seasons with an Exploration of Architectural Hybrids: Houseboats and Covered Bridges](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/bridging-the-seasons-with-an-exploration-of-architectural-hybrids-houseboats-and-covered-bridges/): By Hetty Startup In the mornings, I walk to stay healthy and witness a world that can feel fresh and new each day (how does nature do that?), though I also walk to ease anxieties about the upcoming mid-term elections, now under two months away. My walks are sometimes accompanied by a kind of free
- [Jones Library Building Project Financial Status, September 2026: $8.4 Million Still Owed to Town](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/jones-library-building-project-financial-status-september-2026-8-4-million-still-owed-to-town/): Since the last update in August 2026, the Jones Library has made no additional payments to the Town for its share of the building project ($13,822,518). Note that the town Finance Committee will be providing an update to the financials for this project at their next meeting on Tuesday, September 15 at 1p,m. The amounts paid
- [Construction Concludes at Amethyst Brook Elementary as Demolition of Fort River Building Begins](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/construction-concludes-at-amethyst-brook-elementary-as-demolition-of-fort-river-building-begins/): Report on the Meeting of the Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC), September 11, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. The Elementary School Building Committee’s (ESBC) most recent monthly meeting took place on September 11, 2026. Construction Update“The school is open!” Kseniya Slavsky (Owner’s Project Manager, Accenture) reported that the construction was
- [Affordable Housing Trust Rolls Out Initiative to Encourage Construction of Accessory Dwelling Units](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/affordable-housing-trust-rolls-out-initiative-to-encourage-construction-of-accessory-dwelling-units/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, September 10, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentMembers: Gaston de los Reyes (Chair), Heejae Kim, Bob Pomeroy, Karla Rasche, Paul Bockelman, Mayan Thorsen, and Eason Zhou.Staff: Greg Richane The Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust (AMAHT) has been working to
- [District Secondary School Principals Share Objectives for School Year](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/11/district-secondary-school-principals-share-objectives-for-school-year/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Regional School Committee, September 8, 2026, Part 2. This hybrid meeting was held in the high school library and was recorded.PresentRSC members: William Sherr (Chair, Pelham), Sarahbess Kenney (Vice Chair, Pelham), Andrew Hart (Amherst), Anna Heard (Shutsbury), Bridget Hynes (Amherst), Laura Jane Hunter (Amherst), Deborah Leonard (Amherst), Sarah
- [Conservation Commission Takes on Noncompliance at Three Area Projects](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/10/conservation-commission-requires-soil-testing-after-olympia-place-fire/): Report of the Meeting of the Amherst Conservation Commission, September 9, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentBruce Stedman (Vice Chair), Jason Dorney, Sarah Matthews, Carol McNeary, and Rachel LoefflerStaff: Erin Jacque (Conservation Agent) and Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) At its September 9, 2026 meeting, the Conservation Commission addressed land
- [Why So Many Problems with ARMS Roof Replacement?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/10/why-so-many-problems-with-arms-roof-replacement/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, Sept. 8. Part 1 PresentRSC members William Sherr (Chair, Pelham), Sarahbess Kenney (Vice Chair, Pelham), Andrew Hart (Amherst), Anna Heard (Shutsbury), Bridget Hynes (Amherst), Laura Jane Hunter (Amherst), Deborah Leonard (Amherst), Sarah Marshall (Amherst), Tim Shores (Leverett); Superintendent Xiomara Herman At their September 8, 2026
- [Approval of New Plan for Lincoln Ave ADU Delayed by Concern for Large Beech Tree](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/10/approval-of-new-plan-for-lincoln-ave-adu-delayed-by-concern-for-large-beech-tree/): Report on the Meeting of the Local Historic District Commission, September 8, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentNancy Ratner (Chair), Greta Wilcox, Steve Bloom, and Ben Lynch. Absent: Betty Sharpe, Nicole Miller, and Bruce Coldham Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) New Design for Lincoln Avenue AD Praised, but Concern Raised for Beech
- [Public Comment: Resident Oversight Board Needs Investigative Powers](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/09/public-comment-resident-oversight-board-needs-investigative-powers/): By Erica Piedade, Martha Hanner, Debora Ferreira, and Rani Parker The following public comments were offered at the Government Organization and Legislation Committee (GOL) meeting on September 8, 2026. Two models are under consideration for a Resident Oversight Board to field complaints about the Amherst Police Department (APD): a review model in which the
- [Racist Graffiti Reported at Kendrick Park](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/09/racist-graffiti-reported-at-kendrick-park/): Racist graffiti was reported at Kendrick Park and on three electrical boxes around town, one of which was at Kendrick Park, on August 24. The graffiti was reported to the Amherst police and to the DPW, which quickly removed it. The graffiti reappeared at Kendrick Park the next day and was apparently removed again. The
- [Town Celebrates Opening of Amherst Community Homes](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/07/town-celebrates-opening-of-amherst-community-homes/): By Maura and Art Keene The Town of Amherst celebrated the opening of Amherst Community Homes on Sept. 2, marking the completion of 30 new homes for affordable homeownership. More than 100 people gathered to tour the as-yet-unoccupied homes on the nine-acre site at the intersection of Pulpit Hill Road and Route 63, hear from
- [Superior Court Upholds Northampton Resolution to Divest from Israeli Apartheid](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/08/superior-court-upholds-northampton-resolution-to-divest-from-israeli-apartheid/): Hampshire County judge dismisses challenge to city's divestment resolution, handing victory to movement to divest from companies enabling apartheid in Israel and Palestine. Source: Apartheid Divest Northampton In what is among the nation's first rulings on municipal action to divest from Israeli apartheid, the Hampshire Superior Court upheld Northampton's resolution to divest from companies enabling
- [UMass Creates Pedestrian-Only Zone on Campus](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/08/umass-creates-pedestrian-only-zone-on-campus/): Source: UMass Environmental Health and Safety Starting Fall 2026, the University of Massachusetts is implementing a Pedestrian-Only Zone within the core of campus. This pilot program aims to improve pedestrian safety, reduce conflicts between pedestrians and wheeled devices, and better understand the operational impacts of a pedestrian-only zone before considering whether a permanent program is
- [Economic Policies for Working America: A New Initiative at UMass Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/08/economic-policies-for-working-america-a-new-initiative-at-umass-amherst/): The Game Changers initiative brings together 40 experts to develop policy proposals on jobs, healthcare, housing, immigration, the care economy, climate, finance, and other issues.Source: UMass Political Economy Research Institute The Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has launched Game Changers: Economic Policies for a Working America, a national initiative focused on developing policy
- [New Appointments to Town Boards and Committees](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/08/new-appointments-to-town-boards-and-committees-2/): Town Manager Paul Bockelman has nominated the following residents for appointment to town boards and committees. The Town Services and Outreach Committee unanimously recommended the nominees at its September 3 meeting. The Town Council will vote to confirm the nominations at its September 14 meeting. The town manager provided biographical profiles of the nominees: Energy
- [Progress on New Waste Hauler Proposal ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/08/progress-on-new-waste-hauler-proposal/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Services and Outreach Committee, September 3, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentGeorge Ryan (District 3, chair), Andy Churchill (at-large), Pam Rooney and Jennifer Taub (District 4). Absent: Hala Lord (District 3)Staff: Guilford Mooring (Superintendent of Public Works) and Susan Waite (Municipal Assistance Coordinator,
- [New Track and Field Celebrated with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/07/new-track-and-field-celebrated-with-ribbon-cutting-ceremony/): The new track and field complex at Amherst Regional High School was celebrated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 4. A large crowd of student-athletes, community members, school and town staff, and officials gathered at the new facility to welcome the return of track and field to the high school. No home meets were held
- [Finance Committee Pursues Budget Book Overhaul](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/07/finance-committee-pursues-budget-book-overhaul/): For years, Amherst’s 200-plus-page municipal budget book has often functioned more like a heavy paperweight than a public service. This hefty tome represents the Town Manager’s annual proposal to the Town Council for how to allocate Amherst’s money. In the face of criticism that the document is unwieldy, confusing, missing critical information and largely unread,
- [Town Council's Vision for the Hampshire Campus: A Diverse Community and Not a Sterile Subdivision](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/towns-vision-for-the-hampshire-campus-a-diverse-community-and-not-a-sterile-subdivision/): Report on the Working Session of the Amherst Town Council on the Rezoning of Hampshire College, August 31, 2026 This was a hybrid-format meeting, held in the Town Room of Town Hall and over Zoom. It was recorded.PresentTown Councilors: Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord
- [Free Events on the Dangers of Nuclear Power, Old and New](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/free-events-on-the-dangers-of-nuclear-power-old-and-new/): Sources: Beyond Nuclear, Clamshell Alliance, and Mass Peace Action Two safe energy events, one in-person and the other virtual, will offer a clear-eyed look at nuclear power: author Linda Pentz Gunter presents her new book, NO TO NUCLEAR, in Belchertown on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and a national webinar the following evening, Sept. 9, will discuss "The
- [Planning Board Dives into ADU Controversy, Proposes  Rezoning Around UMass](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/planning-board-dives-into-adu-controversy-proposes-rezoning-around-umass/): Report on the Meeting of the Planning Board, September 2, 2026 By Maura Keene This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Doug Marshall (Chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Jesse Mager, and Angus McLeod. Absent: Roy Johnson and Jerah Smith Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) and Pam Field Sadler (Assistant) Planning Board Members Decry
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/whats-in-this-issue-299/): 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
- [New UMass Amherst Poll: Nearly All Americans Believe The Federal Government is Corrupt](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/03/new-umass-poll-nearly-all-americans-believe-the-federal-government-is-corrupt/): Democrats and Republicans largely agree on what constitutes corruption, but partisan loyalties change how they judge identical presidential behavior 'Source: UMass News & Media Nearly all Americans believe at least some corruption exists within the federal government, according to a new national University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll. The survey of 1,000 respondents, conducted Aug. 21-26, found
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/whats-happening-in-amherst-243/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5: GUIDED STORYWALK. 10 to 11 a.m., Mill River Recreation Area, Montagure Road. jThe North Amherst Library and the Hitchcock Center
- [Town Will Mark 25th Anniversary of 9/11 with Remembrance Ceremony](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/town-will-mark-25th-anniversary-of-9-11-with-remembrance-ceremony/): This year marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City. The public is invited to join in a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to honor and remember all of the people who sacrificed their lives 25 years ago while helping others. The ceremony will be held on Friday, Sept,11 at
- [Opinion: A Call to Action to Support Volunteers in the Amherst Public Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/opinion-a-call-to-action-to-support-volunteers-in-the-amherst-public-schools/): If you have concerns about safety and wellness at the Amherst Regional Middle School and you care about transparency, this is a call to action to make your voice heard. Last year, the LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst implemented a volunteer program to support Amherst Regional Middle School students and staff. Caucus members volunteered weekly during
- [Letter: Why is There a Temporary Ban on Volunteers in Amherst Public Schools?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/letter-protesting-temporary-ban-on-volunteers-in-amherst-public-schools/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Regional School Committee on Sept. 1, 2026. I know this is a busy time for the Amherst Regional Public Schools. (ARPS). The start of school is also an especially vulnerable time for students. The LGBTQIA+ Caucus had intended to continue our efforts to support students by volunteering
- [Photos of the Week: Adventures with Flowers and Fungi](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/photos-of-the-week-adventures-with-plants/): by Robin Jaffin, Karin Lee, Annique Boomsma, Kate Pfordresher, and John Root
- [Immigration and ICE: What You Can Do Right Now](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/04/immigration-and-ice-what-you-can-do-right-now/): by Scot Nakagawa The following article appeared originally in the blog The Anti-authoritarian Playbook on July 9, 2026. It is reposted here with permission. The most common thing I hear from people who are not directly targeted by the immigration assault is some version of: I want to do something. I just don’t know what. That’s
- [UMass Amherst Celebrates the Arrival of 5,300 First-year Student Scholars](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/03/umass-amherst-celebrates-the-arrival-of-5300-first-year-student-scholars/): Source: UMass News & Media The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomed 5,300 students this week, representing one of the academically strongest classes in the past decade. The incoming class posted an impressive combined (optionally submitted) SAT (1386) and ACT (31.3) scores, and a grade point average (GPA) of 4.03, maintaining a trend of an average GPA of 4.0 or higher since 2021. The university received 52,450 applications for this fall; this is the fourth
- [Voices in the Brick: Amherst’s First Public Art Project](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/02/voices-in-the-brick-amhersts-first-public-art-project/): As you walk through downtown Amherst, you might notice ceramic art tiles here and there on brick facades. These are the “Brick Tiles”, a public art project that turned the buildings of downtown Amherst into a kind of open-air book written by the town’s own notable residents. The “Brick Tiles” project holds a particular distinction
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: American Beech](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/01/amherst-arbor-spotlight-american-beech/): by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee This is the ninth in a series of 12 articles produced by the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) under the title “Amherst Arbor Spotlight.” The series focuses on the town’s 12 species of shade trees and features a different tree each month. New articles will be posted
- [State Eases Standards for Variances. ZBA Approves Reduced Setbacks for Berkshire Terrace Home](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/02/state-eases-standards-for-variances-approves-reduced-setbacks-for-berkshire-terrace-home/): Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, August 27, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentEverald Henry (Chair), David Ahlfeld, Sarah Morton, David Sloviter, and Francisco Botto (Associate Member). Absent: Craig Meadows Staff: Steve McCarthy (Licensing Coordinator) At the close of the meeting, Licensing Coordinator Steve McCarthy informed
- [ARMS Roof Repairs Underway. Classes Continue on Regular Schedule](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/02/arms-roof-repairs-underway-classes-continue-on-regular-schedule/): School Superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi) updated Amherst Regional Middle School (ARMS) and Chestnut Street Academy (CSA) families on Tuesday, Sept. 2, on efforts to repair the leaking roof at the ARMS building, which also houses the CSA.Dr. Xi reported that contractors identified and addressed the areas that contributed to the leaks identified
- [Puffer's Pond Unsafe for Swimming Again](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/02/puffers-pond-unsafe-for-swimming-again/): The final town water testing at Puffer's Pond for the 2026 season resulted in a warning that swimming is not recommended at the pond due to high levels of E. coli bacteria. The warning was issued even though the geometric mean for the beaches falls within safe levels. Town water testing at Puffer’s Pond on
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/whats-happening-in-amherst-242/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. FRIDAY AUGUST 28 THROUGH SUNDAY AUGUST 30: AMHERST ROTARY FAIR. 6. To 10 p.m. August 27 and 28, 1 to 10
- [Amherst Chooses Markey, Minoque, and Jacobs in Contested Primaries](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/02/amherst-chooses-markey-minoque-and-jacobs-in-contested-primaries/): In the only three contested races in Amherst in Tuesday's statewide primary election, Senator Ed Markey won the Democratic nomination for Senate, Michael Minoque won the Republican nomination for Governor, and Tara Jacobs won the nomination for a seat on the Governor's Council. All won by large margins statewide and in the Town of Amherst.
- [Opinion: State Pension Fund is Financing Genocide in Gaza](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/02/opinion-state-pension-fund-is-financing-genocide-in-gaza/): I am deeply troubled that our federal tax dollars as well as our Mass State Retirement funds are funding a genocide in Gaza, and an apartheid state in the West Bank that eerily resembles the Jim Crow South and the former apartheid South Africa. I am grateful that Representative Erika Uyterhoeven (27th Middlesex) presented a
- [Updated: Leaks at Middle School Persist Following Costly Roof Replacement](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/01/leaks-at-middle-school-persist-following-costly-roof-replacement/): School Superintendent Dr, E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi) informed Amherst Regional Middle School (ARMS) and Chestnut Street Academy (CSA) families in a Sept. 1 email that the recently replaced Middle School roof still leaks. On the first day of school, staff found water in three classrooms, several hallways, and shared spaces. Classes have been relocated
- [Cherry Hill Working Group Seeks Golf Course Improvements and Expanded Winter Offerings](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/02/cherry-hill-working-group-seeks-golf-course-improvements-and-expanded-winter-offerings/): Report of the Cherry Hill Working Group Meeting, August 31, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentMichele Miller (Chair), Chris Pariseau, Hilary Matheson, Sanjay Arwade, Ryan Diplock, Sarah Goff, and Anurag Sharma Staff: Rey Harp (Recreation Director) The Cherry Hill Working Group (CHWG) is preparing its final report on recommendations for
- [New UMass Amherst Poll Finds Trump's Approval Down to 32%](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/09/01/new-umass-amherst-poll-finds-trumps-approval-down-to-32/): Over Two-Thirds of Americans Disapprove of President's Handling of Iran War. Four in Five Say the War Has Increased Gas and Food Prices Source: UMass News & Media A new national University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll finds broad disapproval of President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran war and a further decline in the approval of his
- [From Other Sources: News for and About Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/from-other-sources-news-for-and-about-amherst-3/): I have assembled some local stories from other media sources that we couldn't cover in the Indy but that I think are worth reading. But first, I provide a few recommendations from readings on the security of the upcoming elections and on housing that I think are worth a look. Are Paywalls An Obstacle?”Here at the Indy, we support several
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/whats-in-this-issue-298/): 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
- [Classes at ARMS, Chestnut Street Academy, and for all Kindergarteners Begin Monday, Aug. 31](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/classes-at-arms-chestnut-street-academy-and-for-all-kindergarteners-begin-monday-aug-31/): Air Quality at ARMS Raterd as Good". Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools Students attending the Amherst Early Education Center, all kindergarten students, and students at Amherst Regional Middle School (ARMS) and Chestnut Street Academy will begin school on Monday, August 31. Indoor Air Quality Rated GoodThe start of school in the ARMS building was delayed
- [Common Thread: A New Exhibit at Gallery A3 in September](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/common-thread-a-new-exhibit-at-gallery-a3-in-september/): Source: Gallery A3 Gallery A3 announces a new exhibit for September. "Common Thread" presents the work of Martha Braun and Matthew Simons. The exhibit opens on Wednesday, Sept. 3 and will run through Saturday, September 26. There will be an opening reception on Thursday, September 4, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., and a free online art forum
- [New UMass Pollinator Garden Takes Root at 400 Venture Way](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/new-umass-pollinator-garden-takes-root-at-400-venture-way/): Source: UMass News & Media There are plenty of reasons for the UMass IT staff to keep their eyes on a screen, but the newest addition at 400 Venture Way now gives them and other university employees at the location a colorful, sustainable reason to look outside. This summer, a pollinator garden has been installed
- [Information for Voters: State Primary Election Tuesday, Sept. 2](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/information-for-voters-state-primary-election-tuesday-sept-2/): Source: amherstma.gov The State Primary Election is on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters must be registered to vote in Amherst and have the options to either vote-by-mail, vote absentee, vote early in-person, or vote on election day. See below for details. If you have questions, please visit amherstma.gov/vote, email townclerk@amherstma.gov,or call 413-259-3035. Important Deadlines: Deadline to register to vote: August 22 Deadline to apply for
- [“Get the Flock Out”: Western Massachusetts Residents Push Back Against Automated License Plate Readers](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/get-the-flock-out-western-massachusetts-residents-push-back-against-automated-license-plate-readers/): By divina cordeiro and Dusty Christensen The following article appeared originally in The Shoestring on August 18, 2026. It is reposted here under a Creative Commons license. See RelatedAutomated License Plate Readers Flock to Western Massachusetts (The Shoestring)ACLU of Massachusetts Releases New Toolkit to Help People Challenge Flock Cameras in Their Communities (ACLU)What DeFlock? A Week of Action Confronts the AI Surveillance State
- [Amherst Will Light Town Hall Purple in Recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/amherst-will-light-town-hall-purple-in-recognition-of-international-overdose-awareness-day/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst will recognize International Overdose Awareness Day by illuminating Town Hall with purple lights from Friday, August 28 through next week. Purple is the color of recovery and symbolizes hope and support. Every year on August 31, people worldwide come together to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). This day aims to honor and remember those who have lost their lives to overdose, to support families, friends, and
- [Photo of the Week: Moonrise over Town Hall](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/photo-of-the-week-moonrise-over-town-hall/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited. Are you searching for past “Photos of the Week”. Note that they appear under the headlines “Photo of
- [Rotary Fair Returns to Town Common This Weekend](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/27/rotary-fair-returns-to-town-common-this-weekend/): Source: amherstma.gov The annual Amherst Rotary Town Fair returns to the Amherst Town Common this weekend. The fair runs from Thursday Aug. 27 through Sunday, Aug. 30. The hours are: Friday 6:00 p.m.- 10:00 pm, Saturday 1:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Carnival rides for thrill-seekers of all ages
- [Gov Healey Announces New Guidance for Keeping ICE out of Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/28/gov-healey-announces-new-guidance-for-keeping-ice-out-of-schools/): Source: mass.gov The Healey-Driscoll Administration has released new model policies, procedures, and guidance to help K-12 schools and child care programs respond to civil immigration enforcement, protect confidential information, and implement the PROTECT Act ahead of the 2026–2027 school year. Find copies of all of the model policies under the PROTECT ACT here. The resources provide school districts,
- [10 More Affordable Units Added to East Street School Project](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/27/10-more-affordable-units-added-to-east-street-school-project/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust By Maura Keene This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Gaston de los Reyes (chair), Hejae Kim, Bob Pomeroy, Karla Rasche, Eason Zhou, Mayen Thorsen, and Paul Bockelman (town manager). (2 vacancies) Staff: Greg Richane (housing coordinator) Planned Way Finders Projects
- [Indy Rewind: Spotted Lanternflies Are Active in Western Mass](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/26/indy-rewind-spotted-lanternflies-are-active-in-western-mass/): Invasive spotted lanternflies are currently reaching peak adult season in Western Massachusetts and have been spotted across 50 Massachusetts municipalities this year. The following article appeared originally in the Amherst Indy on August 1, 2025. Its advice concerning controlling the spread of spotted lanternfly still applies. This article was prepared with the assistance of Perplexity
- [Spotted Lanternflies Have Arrived in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/08/01/spotted-lanternflies-have-arrived-in-amherst/): The following article was prepared with the assistance of Perplexity AI The sudden appearance of the spotted lanternfly, a striking but destructive insect native to Asia, has been confirmed in Western Massachusetts this summer, raising new alarms among scientists, farmers, and residents alike. First detected in Massachusetts in 2021 in Fitchburg, the pest has now
- [September Song and Story Swap Will Feature Folksinger Mike Agranoff](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/26/september-song-and-story-swap-will-feature-folksinger-mike-agronoff/): Source: Pioneer Valley Folklore Society The Pioneer Valley Folklore Society's monthly Song & Story Swap is back from its summer break. The September session will be at First Church, 165 Main Street, on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and will feature folksinger and storyteller Mike Agronoff. Parking is available in the lot behind the church.
- [Letter: Land Court Should Affirm ZBA's Decision on Jumbo ADUs](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/26/letter-land-court-should-affirm-zbas-decision-on-jumbo-auds/): An open letter regarding:COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS LAND COURT DEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT HAMPSHIRE, SS. CASE NO. 26 MISC. 000 NEWELL COURT LLC, GRAY & TAYLOR LLC, KILERINE PROPERTIES LLC, SUSAN HAN AS TRUSTEE OF THE REVOCABLE INDENTURE OF TRUST OF SUSAN HAN and WILD ONION RENTALS LLC, Plaintiffs The Land Court should affirm Amherst’s
- [Join the Community Conversation That Will Help Shape Amherst's Future](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/26/join-the-community-conversation-that-will-help-shape-amhersts-future/): Source: amherstma.gov Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Residents are invited to help shape Amherst's future by participating in the town's next Community Heart and Soul Conversation on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The Town of Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) is organizing the event
- [Letter: Seeking AG Opinion on Amherst's Jumbo ADU's](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/04/letter-seeking-ag-opinion-on-amhersts-jumbo-adus/): The following letter was sent to Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman, the Amherst Zoning Board of Appeals, the Amherst Planning Board, and the Amherst Town Council on August 4, 2026. I support accessory dwelling units, but Amherst is facing a serious misuse of the state ADU law that deserves your
- [My Summer Wanderings #6: Harvest Time in North Amherst, Ashfield, Sunderland, and Northampton](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/25/my-summer-wanderings-6-harvest-time-in-north-amherst-ashfield-sunderland-and-northampton/): Find previous "Summer Wanderings" columns here. The last of my summer wanderings series coincides with the end-of-summer season and is possibly my favorite time of the year. It goes on until the first killing frosts. We’re seeing the pivot back to school. Some great sunsets. Garden centers already have mums for sale. Broad-leaf tobacco leaves
- [Developer Sues Amherst and ZBA for Decision to Not Allow Oversized ADU](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/25/adu-developer-sues-amherst-and-zba-for-decision-to-not-allow-oversized-adu/): Attorney Michael Pill filed a case in land court on August 25, charging that the Amherst Building Commissioner made a correct decision concerning the application of the zoning bylaw to the construction of a 1200 square foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 27 Newell Ct. and that the contrary interpretation by the Amherst Zoning Board
- [Concerns Raised About Size and Design of Proposed ADUs on Lincoln Avenue](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/25/concerns-raised-about-size-and-design-of-proposed-adus-on-lincoln-avenue/): Report on the Meeting of the Local Historic District Commission, August 24, 2026 By Maura Keene This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentNancy Ratner (Chair), Greta Wilcox, Betty Sharpe, Nicole Miller , Steve Bloom, Ben Lynch, and Bruce Coldham Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) Local Historic District Commission (LHDC) members were unhappy with
- [New Traffic Plan for the Opening of Amethyst Brook Elementary School](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/25/new-traffic-plan-for-the-opening-of-amethyst-brook-elementary-school/): Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools The new Amethyst Brook Elementary School will open on Wednesday, August 26. The Amherst School District and the Town of Amherst are working together to help students, families, staff, and neighbors travel safely near the new school. The new school may bring more traffic to South East Street between Route
- [Traffic Advisory for UMass Student Move-in Next Week](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/24/traffic-advisory-for-umass-student-move-in-next-week/): UMass Amherst Fall 2026 assisted move-in takes place from Wednesday, Sept. 2 through Friday, Sept. 4, bringing traffic delays to campus and surrounding thoroughfares like Route 9 and Route 116. Multiple road closures, one-way patterns, and restricted routes are active daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the September 2–4 move-in window. Key Move-In
- [New Online Seasonal Program Guide from Amherst Recreation](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/24/new-online-seasonal-program-guide-from-amherst-recreation/): Source: Amherst Recreation The Amherst Recreation Department has launched a new virtual program guide. As of 2026, Amherst Recreation will no longer mail physical program brochures; instead, families are encouraged to browse the seasonal catalog and check out what Amherst Recreation has been cooking up! This new flipbook allows the department to support the town’s
- [Opinion | The Housing Debate's Canonical Chart](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/24/opinion-the-housing-debates-canonical-chart/): by Charles Marohn Austin's falling rents have become a canonical story. That should make us more curious, not less. The following article appeared originally in Strong Towns on July 20, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY-SA 4.0 International). See RelatedQuestions from the Front Lines of the Housing Crisis (Strong Towns)
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/whats-happening-in-amherst-241/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. FRIDAY AUGUST 21: MISTY BLUES. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. 2019 International Blues Challenge finalist, Misty Blues, is fronted
- [Town Must Revisit Library Budgeting Warns Sarat](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/town-must-revisit-library-budgeting-warns-sarat/): “As we contemplate what will occur in the town's budgeting process over the next several years, we will need to think with the town about the financing of the Jones Library,” declared President Austin Sarat at the August 13 Jones Library Board of Trustees meeting. This pronouncement comes in the wake of Sarat’s acknowledgment at
- [Inadequate Erosion Control at Amethyst Brook Elementary School Site  ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/inadequate-erosion-control-at-amethyst-brook-elementary-school-site/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Conservation Commission, August 12, 2025 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentCommissioners: Andrey Guidera (Chair), Bruce Stedman, Carol McNeary, Rachel Loeffler, Jason Dorney, and Sarah Matthews. Staff: Erin Jacque (Conservation Agent) and Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) Erosion Control Violations at Amethyst Brook Elementary SiteThe
- [A Sneak Peek at the New Amethyst Brook Elementary School](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/a-sneak-peek-at-the-new-amethyst-brook-elementary-school/): The local press was invited to join Amethyst Brook Elementary School Principal Allison Estes, School Superintendent E, Ximomara Herman, and members of her leadership team, and town Communication Director Samantha Giffen, for a walkthrough of the new school building before it officially opens for the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 26. The school
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/whats-in-this-issue-297/): 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
- [TSO Considers Changes to Waste Hauler Policies](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/tso-considers-changes-to-waste-hauler-policies/): Local and Green The following article appeared previously in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. On Aug. 6, the Town Services and Outreach Committee of the Amherst Town Council (TSO) considered consultant Mimi Kaplan’s draft RFP and decision-point document addressing the reform of our waste hauler system based on the 2022 proposal to amend Amherst’s waste hauler bylaw. Participating in the discussion were committee members
- [Ribbon-Cutting for the Amherst-Pelham Regional  High School Track & Field Reconstruction](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/ribbon-cutting-for-the-amherst-pelham-regional-high-school-track-field-reconstruction/): Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School track and field reconstruction will take place on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend this special event. Please RSVP here: www.arps.org/track-rsvp The reconstruction features several significant improvements, including a new eight-lane running track, new perimeter
- [A Better World is Possible: Seattle Celebrates Universal School Meals for All Students](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/a-better-world-is-possible-seattle-celebrates-universal-school-meals-for-all-students/): by Stephen Prager Seattle’s City Council used a budget surplus to enact Mayor Katie Wilson’s proposal to provide free breakfast and lunch to 49,000 public school students.The following article appeared originally in Common Dreams on Aug. 14, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY 3.0). Seattle’s public school students will be eating
- [2026 State Primary Election Information for Amherst Voters](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/2026-state-primary-election-information-for-amherst-voters-2/): Source: amherstma.gov The State Primary Election is on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters must be registered to vote in Amherst and have the options to either vote-by-mail, vote absentee, vote early in-person, or vote on election day. See below for details. If you have questions, please visit amherstma.gov/vote, email townclerk@amherstma.gov,or call 413-259-3035. Important Deadlines: Deadline to register to vote: August 22 Deadline to apply for
- [Letter | Mass General Brigham's Divorce from Blue Cross Hurts Patients](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/18/letter-mass-general-brighams-divorce-from-blue-cross-hurts-patients/): Editor's note: Starting October 1, 2026, Mass General Brigham primary care providers in Western Massachusetts (including Cooley Dickinson networks) will be out of network for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Medicare Advantage plans. Specialty care, hospital services, and commercial plans remain largely unaffected. A 90-day transition period is available through December 31, 2026 If
- [Independent Investigation Finds Amherst School District in Compliance with State Restraint Laws; Superintendent Says District Can Do Better](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/independent-investigation-finds-amherst-school-district-in-compliance-with-state-restraint-laws-superintendent-says-district-can-do-better/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, Aug. 20, 2026 The meeting was held in hybrid format in the Town Room of Town Hall and over Zoom and was recorded. PresentMembers: Deb Leonard (Chair), Andrew Hart, Bridget Hynes, and Sarah Marshall. Laura Jane Hunter joined the meeting at 7:07 p.m. Staff: Dr. E.
- [Photos of the Week: Hummingbird in Flight](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/photos-of-the-week-hummingbirds-in-flight/): Our Photo of the Week feature presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited. Are you searching for past “Photos of the Week”. Note that they appear under the headlines “Photo
- [Letter | Proposed Historic District Consistent with Town's Master Plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/21/letter-proposed-historic-district-consistent-with-towns-master-plan/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Planning Board on August 17, 2026. I am writing to ask you to support the proposed East Amherst Local Historic District. Local Historic Districts (LHD) have successfully worked in Amherst and other cities and towns as a key strategy to maintain historic properties as they are used,
- [Letter | Join the School Equity Advisory Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/17/letter-join-the-school-equity-advisory-committee/): The Amherst Regional School Equity Advisory Committee (SEAC) is seeking parents, caregivers, and community members who are passionate about supporting equitable opportunities for all students. SEAC advises the Amherst Elementary and Amherst Regional School Committees on strategies to achieve equitable excellence across our schools, with a focus on the diverse racial, ethnic, socio-economic, cultural, religious, ability, gender,
- [59th Annual Community Breakfast, Sept. 1](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/20/59th-annual-community-breakfast/): Source: umass.edu Join the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce for breakfast catered by the award-winning UMass Dining in the beautiful UMass Student Union, on Tuesday September 1, 2026 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The Community Breakfast is a great opportunity to reconnect with community and campus leaders, welcome newcomers,
- [Planning Board Narrowly Recommends East Amherst Local Historic District](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/20/planning-board-narrowly-recommends-east-amherst-local-historic-district/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Planning Board, August 19, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Members: Doug Marshall (Chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Roy Johnson, Jesse Mager, Angus McLeod, and Jerah Smith. Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) and Pam Field Sadler (Assistant) Spirited Debate Between Advocates and Opponents of
- [Amherst Bassoonist Rémy Taghavi Explores French and Iranian Roots on MIZANSEN](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/20/amherst-bassoonist-remy-taghavi-explores-french-and-iranian-roots-on-mizansen/): Source: PARMA Recordings Rémy Taghavi, UMass Amherst Professor of Bassoon, recently released MIZANSEN, an album of French and Iranian works for bassoon. “MIZANSEN is the culmination of an effort to create a musical self-portrait … I have always taken pride in my unique combination of French and Iranian heritage, and examining the place in the
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/whats-happening-in-amherst-240/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. FRIDAY AUGUST 14: SUMMER CONCERT WITH DAVID ROTH. 7:30 p.m., Amherst South Church, 1066 South East Street. One-of-a-kind concerts where song,
- [Updated: Goodwin Memorial Church to Host Historic Unity Service](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/20/updated-goodwin-memorial-church-to-host-historic-unity-service/): Source: Goodwin Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church As public discourse grows increasingly fractured across the nation, Goodwin Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church has announced it will unite in August with the two other historic African Methodist Episcopal Zion congregations of Western Massachusetts for a day of worship and call to unity. Gardner Memorial, Springfield, and Price Memorial, Pittsfield,
- [First Day of School Delayed to Aug. 31 for ARMS and Chestnut St. Academy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/20/first-day-of-school-delayed-to-aug-31-for-arms-and-chestnut-st-academy/): Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools The start date for Amherst Regional Middle School (ARMS) and Chestnut Street Academy has been delayed to Monday, Aug. 31, due to disruptions from the roof repair and renovation project. In addition, Oct. 13, Jan. 6, and March 12 were previously scheduled as no-school days. They have been converted to
- [Lack of a Quorum Means Phillips Street Porch Demolition Permit May Be Approved by Default](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/20/lack-of-a-quorum-means-phillips-street-porch-demolition-permit-approved-by-default/): Report on the Meeting of the Historical Commission, Aug. 18, 2026 This meeting was held via Zoom and was recorded. PresentJoel Greenbaum, George Baitinger, and Camila Hwang-Carlos. Absent: MacKenzie Landsittel and Kalyani Subramanyam.Staff: Walker Powell (planner) With only three members present, the Historical Commission lacked a quorum and could not rule on the request to
- ["Soul of Gaza" Fundraiser Offers Information, Film, and Food in Support of Displaced Gazan Families](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/20/soul-of-gaza-fundraiser-offers-information-film-and-food-in-support-of-displaced-gazan-families/): Source: Apartheid Free Western Mass The Soul of Gaza, a special Palestinian meal and program, will be held on Saturday, August 29, from 3 p.m. at Lyman Hall ,First Churches Northampton, 129 Main St, Northampton, MA, (doors open 2:45 pm). The event is a fundraiser to help Palestinian families, displaced in Gaza and Egypt, to sustain their
- [Puffer's Pond Is Safe for Swimming](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/18/puffers-pond-is-safe-for-swimming/): Swimming is now allowed at Puffer’s Pond. The latest water quality test results for Puffer’s Pond show that both South Beach and North Beach meet state standards for safe swimming conditions. While the pond was closed to swimming last week due to high E. Coli counts, the latest water quality test results show that both beaches are well within
- [Advice to Way Finders: Locate Accessible Apartments on the Ground Floor](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/18/advice-to-way-finders-locate-accessible-apartments-on-the-ground-floor/): Report on the meeting of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Aug. 11, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentMyra Ross (chair), Cody Rooney, Serin Derin, James Kruidenier, Ian Rhodewalt and Pamela Nolan-Young (Director, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Affordable Housing Project at East Street School Receives Variance and SuggestionsWay
- [Kick off the New School Year at the Town's Annual First Day Celebration](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/19/kick-off-the-new-school-year-at-the-towns-annual-first-day-celebration/): Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools The Amherst Regional Public Schools invites the community to kick off the new school year at the annual First Day Celebration on Monday, Aug. 24, from 4:30-6:30 p.m at Kendrick Park on East Pleasant St. 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. will be a sensory-friendly hour with no music or amplified sound.
- [What Is the Future of the Wildwood School Building?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/19/what-is-the-future-of-the-wildwood-school-building/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Council and Special Meeting of the Finance Committee, Aug. 17, 2026 The meeting was held in a hybrid format in the Town Room of Town Hall and was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (president, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord
- [Town Seeks Volunteers to Help Select Public Art for New Elementary School](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/18/town-seeks-volunteers-to-help-select-public-art-for-new-elementary-school/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst recently established the Percent for Art Advisory Committee, a time-limited committee responsible for selecting public art for the new Amethyst Brook Elementary School. The Town is seeking two residents to serve on the committee. These resident members must be art professionals who work in fields such as production, education, criticism, administration, fundraising, curating, and collecting, and who are well-respected and knowledgeable
- [Arts and Education Cooperative Seeks New Performing Arts Space for Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/18/arts-and-education-cooperative-seeks-new-performing-arts-space-for-amherst/): Source: The Performing Arts and Education Cooperative The Performing Arts and Education Cooperative (PAEC), a nonprofit organization formed by several of the Pioneer Valley's leading community performing arts groups: Amherst Community Theater, Empowerment Through the Arts (ETTA), The Rainbow Players, Starlight's Youth Theatre, and Valley Light Opera, is seeking community input on a new, shared
- [Auditions for Amherst Community Theater's Production of Disney's Frozen](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/18/auditions-for-amherst-community-theaters-production-of-disneys-frozen/): Source: Phoebe Hazzard Amherst Community Theater (ACT) will hold auditions for its production of "Disney's Frozen," on September 17, 19, and 20 atAmherst Regional Middle School. The production is directed by Kimberly Overtree Karlin, with Musical Direction by Cindy Naughton and Choreography by Mari Washburn. This multigenerational production offers meaningful opportunities for performers of all experience levels
- [Friday Evening Concert at the Amherst Dog Park](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/17/friday-evening-concert-at-the-amherst-dog-park/): Source: Myra Lnburg The Amherst Dog Park is hosting a Friday evening concert on August 21, from 5 p.m. until dusk. Juliana Hatfield, alternative rock recording artist for ALR will open the evening. The acoustic trio, Nectar, will follow, playing music from the Americas. The community and their dogs are invited. The dog park, on
- [What Massachusetts’ New ICE Law Protects, and What It Doesn’t](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/11/what-massachusettss-new-ice-law-protects-and-what-it-doesnt/): by CommonWealth Beacon staff This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License The Codcast When Gov. Maura Healy signed the PROTECT Act in Chelsea last week, she called it the strongest law in the country to protect people against the “dangerous” tactics of President
- [Construction of Amethyst Brook Elementary School Is Complete; Move-In Is Underway](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/construction-of-amethyst-brook-elementary-school-is-complete-move-in-is-underway/): This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. The Elementary School Building Committee received reports at its Aug. 14 meeting that construction of the Amethyst Brook Elementary School is substantially complete and move-in is underway. The building has received an unrestricted temporary certificate of occupancy and will be ready for the first day of
- [What's in This Issue](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/whats-in-this-issue-296/): 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
- [Yale Study: Medicare for All Would Save Over 114,000 Lives and $1 Trillion a Year](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/yale-study-medicare-for-all-would-save-over-114000-lives-and-1-trillion-a-year/): by Jessica CorbettThe following article appeared originally in Common Dreams on August 11, 2026. It is reposted here under a Creative Commons license (CC BY 3.0). Previous research has shown that shifting the United States to a Medicare for All system could save roughly 68,000 lives and $650 billion per year, but a new study by experts at Yale University suggests the savings would likely
- [Towns Surrounding the Quabbin Reservoir Protect the Water for 2.7 million People in Eastern Mass. They’re Getting Financially Starved in the Process.](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/towns-surrounding-the-quabbin-reservoir-protect-the-water-for-2-7-million-people-in-eastern-mass-theyre-getting-financially-starved-in-the-process/): by Matteo Pangallo, The following story appeared originally in CommonWealth Beacon on August 2, 2026. is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License Read More‘It’s like the Hunger Games’: Quabbin Reservoir Towns Take Funding fFght to Beacon Hill Amid Extended Drought (CommonWealth Beacon)Healey, in New Letter, Urges MWRA to Meet the ‘Pressing
- [2026 State Primary Election Information for Amherst Voters](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/2026-state-primary-election-information-for-amherst-voters/): Source: amherstma.gov The State Primary Election is on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters must be registered to vote in Amherst and have the options to either vote-by-mail, vote absentee, vote early in-person, or vote on election day. See below for details. If you have questions, please visit amherstma.gov/vote, email townclerk@amherstma.gov,or call 413-259-3035. Important Deadlines: Deadline to register to vote: August 22 Deadline to apply for
- [Letter | Saving Allebach Farm: A Model for the Hampshire College Campus?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/letter-saving-allebach-farm-a-model-for-the-hampshire-college-campus/): Instead of turning the Hampshire College campus into a real-estate-development boondoggle, what are the chances of Amherst doing something like this (see below)? There are likely constitutional challenges for a town in Massachusetts to impose a local income tax, not to mention its unlikely political popularity, but if a small township in SE Pennsylvania can
- [Photo of the Week: Hasselback Pine Needles at Amethyst Brook](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/photo-of-the-week-hasselback-pine-needles-at-amethyst-brook/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited. Are you searching for past "Photos of the Week". Note that they appear under the headlines "Photo of
- [ZBA Nixes Jumbo Accessory Dwelling Units](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/zba-nixes-jumbo-accessory-dwelling-units/): Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Aug. 13, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Everald Henry (chair), David Ahlfeld, Craig Meadows, Sarah Morton, and David Sloviter. Staff: Jeff Bagg (director of planning and economic development), Rob Morra (building commissioner), and Steve McCarthy (licensing coordinator). ZBA Upholds
- [Swimming Still Not Recommended at Puffer's Pond](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/13/high-bacteria-counts-persist-at-puffers-pond/): While town water testing at Puffer’s Pond on August 10 indicated that bacterial counts at both beaches are now within state safety limits for E.coli, the geometric mean for the last five tests at the south beach still exceeds the state's safe limits for swimming, and hence swimming is not recommended at the pond. Signs have
- [Social Justice Committee Decries Lack of Progress on Resident Oversight Board for Amherst Police](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/social-justice-committee-decries-lack-of-progress-on-resident-oversight-board-for-amherst-police/): Report on the Meeting of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC), Aug. 12, 2026 The meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentDebora Ferreira (chair), Anna Derby, Everald Henry, Bridgid Owino, and Erica Piedade. Absent: Lissette Paredes. One vacancy. Staff: Camile Theriaque (CRESS director), Pamela Nolan Young (DEI director), who joined the
- [New Traffic Pattern for Amethyst Brook Elementary School This Fall](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/14/new-traffic-pattern-for-amethyst-brook-elementary-school-this-fall/): Transportation and Parking Commission Recommends Crosswalk at Mt. Holyoke Drive Report on the meeting of the Transportation and Parking Commission, Aug. 12, 2026 This meeting was held via Zoom and was recorded. PresentAndy Steinberg (Chair), Guilford Mooring (Superintendent of DPW), George Ryan (Town Councilor, District 3), Sam MacLeod (Town Councilor, District 5), Ian Rhodewalt (Commission
- [DPW Building Committee Adopts Aggressive Schedule](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/12/dpw-building-committee-adopts-aggressive-schedule/): Report on the Meeting of the DPW Building Committee, Aug. 12, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in the Town Room of Town Hall and was recorded. PresentChristine Gray-Mullin (chair), Guilford Mooring (superintendent of public works), Holly Young (procurement officer), Sean Mangano (finance director), Paul Bockelman (town manager), Pam Rooney (town councilor, District 4),
- [GOL: More Information Needed Before Establishing Resident Oversight Board for Police](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/13/gol-more-information-needed-before-establishing-resident-oversight-board-for-police/): Report on the Meeting of the Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee, Aug. 11, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Town Councilors: Ana Devlin Gauthier (Chair, District 5), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), George Ryan (District 3), and Hala Lord (District 3). Absent: Amber Cano-Martin (District 2). Staff: Athena O’Keeffe (Clerk of
- [Letter: Establishing the Resident Oversight Board](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/13/letter-establishing-the-resident-oversight-board/): An Open Letter to the Amherst Town Council and Amherst Residents by The Community Safety and Social Justice Committee of the Town of Amherst The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on August 6, 2026. We write to you openly, rather than only through a committee memo, because the question before the
- [Last Free Concerts of the Summer by Amherst Community Band](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/12/last-free-concerts-of-the-summer-by-amherst-community-band/): The Amherst Community Band will be performing its last outdoor concert of the summer in Sweetser Park on Saturday, August 18, at 6:30 p.m. Conductor for this concert will be Richard Cuoco. There will be music to please all ages, including selections from "The Lion King", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Pixar Movie Magic". Other
- [Summer Wanderings #5: Federal Street — Driving All Over Creation Near Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/11/summer-wanderings-5-federal-street-driving-all-over-creation-near-amherst-by-hetty-startup/): I drove on Federal Street twice today: once in Montague, to a place just off Route 63, to visit friends, and once in Belchertown. These days, the two Federal Streets — one in Montague, the other in Belchertown — aren't contiguous, and, interestingly, Amherst doesn't have a Federal Street at all. Whilst driving around creation,
- [Summer Wanderings #4: Shelburne Falls and the Bridge of Flowers](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/30/summer-wanderings-4-shelburne-falls-and-the-bridge-of-flowers/): In Amherst we celebrate things we can find locally at places like the farmers' market. We also relish that in local places, like the Emily Dickinson Museum's Tell It Slant festival, we can meet people from all over the world in person or online. Our townsfolk take pride in both the "local" and the "international,"
- [Summer Wanderings: My Busy Week in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/10/my-busy-week-in-amherst/): I noticed recently that, while it’s summer and the pace is a little slower, there is still plenty to do in Amherst as well as in nearby towns. Below, I share a rundown of my busy summer week at the end of June. The events began on Sunday, June 21, with a special workshop and
- [Summer Wanderings and The Lost Domain](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/16/summer-wanderings-and-the-lost-domain/): This summer has offered me a change of pace and a chance to widen my lens on issues of historic preservation and related local history themes. This is the second article in a new series called Summer Wanderings. Read the first installment here. The Lake Wyola FarmhouseThere is a charming ca. 1785 farmhouse and barn on
- [Summer Wanderings No. 3: Blueberries and the Town of Heath](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/summer-wanderings-no-3-blueberries-and-the-town-of-heath/): This summer has offered me a change of pace and a chance to widen my lens on issues of historic preservation and related local history themes. This is the third article in a new series called Summer Wanderings. Read previous installments here. Routes 8 and 8A off the Mohawk Trail in Charlemont take you to Heath,
- [South Church Chicken BBQ & Craft Sale, and Amherst Community Band Concert](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/11/south-church-chicken-bbq-craft-sale-and-amherst-community-band-concert/): Source: Amherst Town Calendar Enjoy an evening of music and food at the 15th Annual South Church Chicken BBQ & Band Concert. The BBQ will run from 5:00 to 6:00 pm at South Church, 1066 South East Street. All meals are prepared "To Go" and cost $20. Each meal includes 1/2 chicken or BBQ soy
- [Jones Library Building Project Financial Status Update, August 2026: $8.5 Million Owed to Town](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/11/jones-library-building-project-financial-status-update-august-2026-8-5-million-owed-to-town/): This is the first of a recurring series of reports in the Amherst Indy to show where the Jones Library Trustees are in meeting their financial obligations toward the building project. The focus will be on the amount the Library owes to the town for its share of the $46.1 million project cost. It will
- [Opinion | "I Was a Hurricane": Connecting Generations](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/11/opinion-i-was-a-hurricane-connecting-generations/): Social Injustice Goes Global By Rizwana Khan The Long Throw On Aug. 8, 2026, Amherst gathered on the Town Common to relive the 2003 Amherst Regional High School boys' Ultimate team's run to the national championship, brought to life in a documentary film 20 years in the making. The rain stopped early Saturday evening, the
- [Jones Library Building Project’s Contingency Down to Half; Construction Expected to End by Early March 2027](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/11/jones-library-building-projects-contingency-down-to-half-construction-expected-to-end-by-early-march-2027/): Report on the Meeting of the Jones Library Building Project, August 10, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentAustin Sarat (Jones Library Trustee, Chair), Sharon Sharry (Library Director), Sean Mangano (Town Finance Director), Farah Ameen (Library Trustee), George Hicks-Richards (Library Building Facilities Supervisor ), Alex LeFebvre, Christine Gray-Mullen, and George Ryan
- [Letter | Classifying Finished Second Floor as Attic Violates Intent of ADU Bylaw](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/10/letter-classifying-finished-second-floor-as-attic-violates-intent-of-adu-bylaw/): The following letter was sent to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Town Manager, and Town Planning Director on August 10, 2026. I write to object to the request before you to approve a permit for a purported 900-square-foot protected-use accessory dwelling unit that also contains approximately 299 square feet of finished upper-level living
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/whats-happening-in-amherst-239/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com SATURDAY AUGUST 8: KIDS’ END OF SUMMER READING CELEBRATION. 10:30 to noon, Munson Memorial Library, 1046 South East Street. Join staff of
- [Goodwin Memorial Church to Host Historic Unity Service](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/goodwin-memorial-church-to-host-historic-unity-service/): Source: Goodwin Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church As public discourse grows increasingly fractured across the nation, Goodwin Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church has announced it will unite in August with the two other historic African Methodist Episcopal Zion congregations of Western Massachusetts for a day of worship and call to unity. Gardner Memorial, Springfield, and Price Memorial, Pittsfield,
- [The Fight Against AI Data Centers Is Spreading Globally](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/the-fight-against-ai-data-centers-is-spreading-globally/): By Cathy Rogers , Saul Levin , and Philip Eubanks The following article appeared originally in Waging Nonviolence on July 23, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0 International). One of the clearest victories happened in a Dutch town that few people outside the Netherlands had heard of before 2021. Earlier this year, Gallup asked
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/whats-in-this-issue-295/): 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
- [Citizens Bank is Parting Ways with Two ICE Contractors](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/29/citizens-bank-is-parting-ways-with-two-ice-contractors/): by Christopher Shea The following article appeared originally in the Rhode Island Current on July 17, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), and as part of our series, A Better World is Possible. Indy editor's note: Activists and regional groups—including Indivisible Northampton—have, since at least the Fall of 2025,
- [2026 State Primary Election Information for Amherst Voters](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/2026-state-primary-election-information/): Source: amherstma.gov The State Primary Election is on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters must be registered to vote in Amherst and have the options to either vote-by-mail, vote absentee, vote early in-person, or vote on election day. See below for details. If you have questions, please visit amherstma.gov/vote, email townclerk@amherstma.gov,or call 413-259-3035. Important Deadlines: Deadline to register to vote: August 22 Deadline to apply for
- [Learn About Podcasting at the Amherst Media Podcast Parlor](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/learn-about-podcasting-at-the-amherst-media-podcast-parlor/): Source: Amherst Media Amherst Media invites the community to learn all about podcasting at their Summer Pod Parlor at Amherst Coffee, 28 Amity St., from 6-9 p.m. on Sunday, August 9. Three of Amherst Media's esteemed podcasters, Amina Davlatshoeva, Jamahl Jackson, and Milan Clark, will lead a panel on how they make their work and
- [Puffer's Pond Remains Unsafe for Swimming](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/puffers-pond-remains-unsafe-for-swimming/): Town water testing at Puffer’s Pond on August 4 exceeded state safety limits for E.coli at the south beach. Sampling at the north beach produced a reading for E. coli of 166.4 MPN/100 ml, and the sample at the south beach yielded a result of 2419.6 MPN/100 ml. The state allowable limit for safe swimming is 235 MPN/100 ml. Swimming is
- [Revised Clean Energy Bylaw Goes to Town Council](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/revised-clean-energy-bylaw-goes-to-town-council/): Report on the Joint Meeting of the Planning Board and Community Resources Committee, August 5, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentDoug Marshall (Chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Roy Johnson, and Jerah Smith. Absent: Jesse Mager and Angus McLeod. Three members of the Community Resources Committee were also present at this
- [Gov. Healy Signs PROTECT Act into Law](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/06/gov-healy-signs-protect-act-into-law/): New Law Provides the Strongest Protections in the Nation Against Unlwaful Tactics of ICE Source: mass.gov On August 5, 2026, Governor Maura Healey stood with immigrants, advocates, community leaders, law enforcement, teachers, nurses, doctors, clergy and elected officials at La Colaborativa in Chelsea to sign the PROTECT Act, landmark legislation that provides the strongest protections in the nation against the dangerous and illegal tactics of President Donald Trump and ICE. The
- [Town Introduces New Agenda and Minutes Center for Public Meetings](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/town-of-amherst-introduces-new-agenda-and-minutes-center-for-public-meetings/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst has implemented a new Agenda and Minutes Center, designed to streamline access to all public meeting information. Residents can now visit the new webpage to find agendas, minutes, and links to video recordings for all meetings in one convenient location. This upgrade aims to make it easier for residents to stay informed and engaged with local
- [Photos of the Week: Aerial Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/photos-of-the-week-aerial-amherst/): by Aerial-MA About Aerial-MA--Eyes in the Sky-- Capturing the world from above-one flight at a time. From sweeping landscapes to dynamic urban shots, Aerial-MA brings you cinematic drone content with a fresh perspective. Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their
- [Amity Street Affordable Homeownership Project Gets Its Final Permit](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/amity-street-affordable-homeownership-project-gets-its-final-permit/): Report on the Meeting of the Planning Board, July 29, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentDoug Marshal (Chair), Fred Hartwell, Jerah Smith, and Jesse Mager. Absent: Bruce Coldham, Angus McLeod, and Roy Johnson Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) and Pam Field Sadler (Assistant) The Planning Board, at their July 29 meeting,
- [AFD Responds to Fire at Boulders Apartments](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/afd-responds-to-fire-at-boulders-apartments/): Source: Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren Amherst Fire Department responded to an alarm at the Boulders Apartment Complex, 188 East Hadley Road, on August 6, 2026, at 8:31 p.m. The fire crew discovered a fire in an apartment on the second floor of building number #145 of the complex. The fire was quickly extinguished; however, there
- [Listen to the Hibakusha This Hiroshima Day – the World Doesn’t Need More Nuclear Weapons](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/06/listen-to-the-hibakusha-this-hiroshima-day-the-world-doesnt-need-more-nuclear-weapons/): by Jeremy Corbyn The following article originally appeared in Morning Star, on August 4, 2026 and was reposted in Portside on August 5, 2026.See RelatedSteps Toward Peace: Region Remembers Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Daily Hampshire Gazette)Hiroshima Marks 81st Atomic Bomb Anniversary as Mayor Deplores the Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons (AP)Make Anniversary of Hiroshima Bombing "Disarmament Day."
- [Scaled-Down East Amherst Local Historic District Still Meets Opposition from Planning Board](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/07/scaled-down-east-amherst-local-historic-district-still-meets-opposition-from-planning-board/): Report on the Meeting of the Planning Board, August 5, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentDoug Marshall (Chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Roy Johnson, and Jerah Smith. Absent: Jesse Mager and Angus McLeod. Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) and Pam Field Sadler (Planning Assistant) Proposed East Amherst Local Historical District Includes
- [Public Comment | The New Hauler Proposal: Recommendations for Maximizing Reduction of Waste and Emissions](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/06/public-comment-the-new-hauler-proposal-recommendations-for-maximizing-reduction-of-waste-and-emissions/): The following public comment was offered at the meeting of the Town Services and Outreach Committee on August 6, 2026 My name is Darcy DuMont, and I live in District 3. I am making a comment today on behalf of Zero Waste Amherst, the community sponsor of the original proposal, on the proposed RFP assembled
- [Letter: Support Area Black Businesses During National Black Business Month](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/05/letter-support-area-black-businesses-during-national-black-business-month/): National Black Business Month is celebrated every August to recognize the contributions, achievements, and resilience of Black-owned businesses and to acknowledge the barriers and challenges they face. More than 3.1 million Black-owned businesses operate in the U.S., generating over $200 billion in annual revenue. This national commemoration was created in 2004 by historian John William
- [Opinion | The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee: Planting for People We Will Never Meet](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/05/opinion-the-amherst-public-shade-tree-committee-planting-for-people-we-will-never-meet/): Social Injustice Goes Global Around the world, climate promises are colliding with reality. Governments are struggling to meet the commitments they made, while some corporations that once promoted ambitious environmental goals are quietly stepping back. The distance between public promises and everyday experience is becoming harder for communities to ignore. For generations, New England has
- [Amherst to Celebrate Becoming a Purple Heart Community](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/05/amherst-to-celebrate-becoming-a-purple-heart-community/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst is proud to announce that it has officially become a designated Purple Heart Community, joining more than 100 municipalities in Massachusetts and hundreds more nationwide in recognizing those wounded or killed in combat for their country. The Town of Amherst will be honoring this designation with an official Purple Heart Community Designation Ceremony on Friday, August 14 from 3-4 p.m. on the North Common in front of Town
- [De-ICE Citizens Bank: A Model of a Successful Civil Resistance Campaign](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/04/de-ice-citizens-bank-a-model-of-a-successful-civil-resistance-campaign/): by Peyton Flemming The grassroots effort was a textbook example of sustained, targeted civil resistance that can undermine Trump administration policies; by chipping away at corporate supporters of programs like ICE, citizen activism can erode and stop these initiatives. The following article appeared in Common Dreams on August 2, 2026. It is reposted here under
- [Letter: Media is Complicit in Israel's Unprecedented Assault on Journalists](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/03/letter-media-is-complicit-in-israels-unprecedented-assault-on-journalists/): The following letter was sent to local media outlets on July 31, 2026. August 10th marks the martyrdom of Anas Al-Sharif, the honorable Al-Jazeera journalist who was murdered by the Israeli Occupation Forces. We honor his life by calling upon his colleagues, fellow journalists, to take up the mantle of truth that he carried and
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: Black Walnut](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/04/amherst-arbor-spotlight-black-walnut/): by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee This is the eighth in a series of 12 articles produced by the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) under the title “Amherst Arbor Spotlight.” The series focuses on the town’s 12 species of shade trees and features a different tree each month. New articles will be posted
- [Opinion: Safety Is Not a Value, It's a Responsibility](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/opinion-safety-is-not-a-value-its-a-responsibility/): This is the fifth and final article in a series written by the LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst for Pride month 2026. View the previous columns in the series here, here, here, and here. As Pride Month comes to a close, Amherst has once again celebrated LGBTQIA+ community members with rainbow flags, public events, affirming messages,
- [Opinion: On the Wisdom of Borrowing from One’s Endowment](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/03/opinion-on-the-wisdom-of-borrowing-from-ones-endowment/): A Lesson the Jones Library Should Heed In 2010, Wells College, my alma mater, again found itself in challenging financial circumstances. A very small women’s college, founded in 1868 by Henry Wells – he of Wells Fargo fame – it had made the controversial decision to go coed in 2005, arguing that this would be
- [Applications Now Available for the Town's 2nd Annual Civic Academy Program](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/03/applications-now-available-for-the-towns-2nd-annual-civic-academy-program/): Source: amherstma.gov Applications are now being accepted for the Town of Amherst's second annual All About Amherst: Civic Academy, a dynamic program designed to give residents an inside look at how local government operates and how they can actively participate in shaping the community. Interested residents should submit a Civic Academy Application by Sunday, September 20. During this free 8-week program, participants will explore the inner workings of Amherst’s government as they learn about
- [A Brief History of Amherst Housing - What’s Worked and What Has Not](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/issues-analyses-a-brief-history-of-amherst-housing-whats-worked-and-what-has-not/): By Ira Bryck and Art Keene This analysis was prepared with the assistance of Perplexity AI. Amherst’s housing story is less about simple growth and more about a long, uneven experiment in how a small town absorbs a very large university within a changing regional economy. Over time, the Town of Amherst has repeatedly diagnosed
- [NYC Mayor Mamdani Unveils 30% Discount at New Municipal Grocery Stores](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/29/nyc-mayor-mamdani-unveils-30-discount-at-new-municipal-grocery-stores/): A Better World is Possible Source: nyc.gov New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su, and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced on July 27 that a core basket of everyday groceries will be 30 percent cheaper at the city's five new municipal grocery stores. The basket
- [From Other Sources: News for and About Amherst:  This Week, Catching Up](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/from-other-sources-news-for-and-about-amherst-this-week-catching-up-5/): I have assembled some stories from last week that we were unable to cover in the Indy that I think are worth reading. But first, I provide a few recommendations from readings that had an impact on my thinking last week. Are Paywalls An Obstacle?”Here at the Indy, we support several other publications with our personal subscriptions, and
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/whats-happening-in-amherst-238/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SATURDAY AUGUST 1: WATERSHED WOODS WALK. 9 a.m. to noon, Notch Visitors Center, 1500 West Street. Join MA Department of Conservation
- [Opinion: Frequently Unanswered Questions: Is Amherst on the Verge of a Generation-Long Fiscal Disaster?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/01/10/frequently-unanswered-questions-is-amherst-on-the-verge-of-a-generation-long-fiscal-disaster/): by Art Keene, Maura Keene, and Maria Kopicki It is hard to imagine that the town would undertake a $46 million capital project without having sound answers to some fundamental questions – such as where will the money come from, and what will happen if we fall short in gathering that money, and how will
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/whats-in-this-issue-294/): 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
- [Photos of the Week: Amazing Area Wildlife](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/photos-of-the-week-amazing-local-wildlife/): View more photos by Treya Sage Dutil on Nextdoor. Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [Library Trustees Acknowledge That Fundraising Gap Will Be Substantial](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/30/library-trustees-acknowledge-that-fundraising-gap-will-be-substantial/): At their July 30, 2026 meeting, the Jones Library Trustees finally received a fundraising update for the building expansion project (there had been no report since May 1). Chair Austin Sarat said, “We need to acknowledge that the gap [between Capital Campaign fundraising and the library’s portion of the building project costs] is likely to
- [New Logos for Amherst's New Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/29/new-logos-for-amhersts-new-schools/): Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools After months of submissions, community voting, and incredible creativity, Amethyst Brook Elementary School and Chestnut Street Academy have officially selected their new school logos. Both winning designs were created by Hadley N., a recent Fort River graduate and member of the ARHS Class of 2033. The logos were selected through
- [New Exhibit at the Amherst Town Hall Art Gallery: Works of Amy Dawn Kotel](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/new-exhibit-at-the-amherst-town-hall-art-gallery-works-of-amy-dawn-kotel/): Source: Amherst Public Art Commission The Amherst Town Hall Art Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibition of works by local artist Amy Dawn Kotel on display from August 10 through the end of September. The public is invited to meet the artist at a free reception on Friday, August 21st from
- [Human Rights Commission Gets New Charge, Continues Work on Immigration ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/29/human-rights-commission-gets-new-charge-continues-work-on-immigration/): After years in development, the Amherst Town Council approved a new charge for the Human Rights Commission (HRC) on June 1, 2026. “The mission [of the HRC] was to ensure that no power goes unchecked and that all residents are afforded equal protection under the law,” said chair Rani Parker. “Those are strong words. We
- [Area Organizers Respond to Escalating Federal Aggression Towards Cuba](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/area-organizers-respond-to-escalating-federal-aggression-towards-cuba/): by R. Nicholas As the Trump administration’s trade embargo against Cuba ramps up, local organizers spoke to The Shoestring about their solidarity efforts. The following article appeared originally in The Shoestring on July 31, 2026. It is reposted here under a Creative Commons license. Merri Ansara was part of the first Venceremos Brigade in 1969,
- [Indy Rewind | Almanac: Black Squirrels](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/indy-rewind-almanac-black-squirrels/): Editor’s note: The Almanac column ‘Black Squirrels” first appeared in the Indy on March 12, 2021. Since then, it has gone on to become the most-read article in the Indy since we began publishing in March of 2019. We’re not sure why it goes viral from time to time, but we concur with both the folks who
- [Senior Center Welcomes Dan Garcia as New Director](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/senior-center-welcomes-dan-garcia-as-new-director/): Amherst seniors welcomed new Director of Senior Services Daniel (Dan) Garcia at a reception at the Bangs Center on July 31. Garcia comes to Amherst from Houston where he worked with students from marginal communities at the University of St. Thomas. “My strength is in community building, and I plan to do it for seniors
- [Registration Open for Free Fall Classes at Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/registration-open-for-free-fall-classes-at-sojourner-truth-school-for-social-change-leadership/): Source: Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership The catalog for the Fall 2026 session of classes at the Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership is hot off the press and being distributed throughout the community and online at www.truthschool.org. As always, all classes are free and are taught on Zoom. Registration for fall class opens
- [Puffer's Pond Exceeds State Bacteria Limits for Safe Swimming](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/29/puffers-pond-exceeds-state-bacteria-limits-for-safe-swimming/): Town water testing at Puffer's Pond on July 27 exceeded state safety limits for E.coli at the south beach. Sampling at the north beach produced a reading for E. coli of 13.4 MPN/100 ml, and the sample at the south beach yielded a result of 1178 MPN/100 ml. The state allowable limit for safe swimming is 235 MPN/100 ml. Signs
- [Kimaya Diggs in Concert at the Emily Dickinson Homestead](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/kimaya-diggs-in-concert-at-the-emily-dickinson-homestead/): The Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) and the Emily Dickinson Museum are bringing live music to the Emily Dickinson Homestead. On Friday, August 7 from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Western Massachusetts artist Kimaya Diggs will perform on the Dickinson family lawn between the historic Homestead and Evergreens properties. The concert is free and open
- [Regional Tibetan Association to Hold Candlelight Vigil August 1](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/31/regional-tibetan-association-to-hold-candlelight-vigil-august-1/): Source: Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts The Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts (RTAM) will hold a candlelight vigil and prayer gathering on Saturday, August 1, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in downtown Amherst as part of the Global Day of Action for Pawo Lobga Rangzen. The vigil will honor the life and sacrifice of Tibetan
- [Amherst Kids and Teens Eat Free This Summer](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/29/amherst-kids-and-teens-eat-free-this-summer/): The Summer Eats Program, which offers free meals to kids and teens, is operating at nine sites in Amherst this summer. Meals are sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Education and UMass dining and are delivered by UMass Dining's Baby Berk food truck. In Amherst, summer eats began on June 29, and will run Monday-Friday
- [Justice for Nolan Wells](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/29/justice-for-nolan-wells/): They say it's the economy All about those money trees like honey comb to a bee it's human nature's philosophy but there can be no greater nook than the places of the heart that lie the cravings jealous passion that's the heart They say it's about knowing oneself taking the webs off the shelf reflecting
- [Alexis Wheeler Named Assistant Planning Director](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/28/alexis-wheeler-named-assistant-planning-director/): Town Manager Paul Bockelman announced at the July 20 Town Council meeting that the town has hired a new assistant planning director to replace Nate Malloy, who left in May to become the town administrator in Hadley. According to her LinkedIn profile, Alexis Wheeler has spent the past eight years in the New York City
- [Letter: Amherst's Jumbo ADUs Not Allowed in Deerfield's New Bylaw](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/28/letter-amhersts-jumbo-adus-not-allowed-in-deerfields-new-bylaw/): As highlighted in a story in today's (7/28/26) Daily Hampshire Gazette, Deerfield’s proposed accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bylaw avoids a major loophole present in Amherst’s interpretation of state law. Amherst’s interpretation exempts finished attics from gross floor area calculations, allowing developers to build multi-level ~1,200-square-foot "jumbo" ADUs—complete with attic bedrooms, bathrooms, and stairs—without triggering the owner-occupancy
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/whats-happening-in-amherst-237/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.ing support, SATURDAY JULY 25: FUN SATURDAY MORNINGS: PAINT AND PLANT. 10 a.m., UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant Street. Join us for Fun
- [You Don’t Have to Leave Home to Fight ICE: Seven Ways to Push Back](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/you-dont-have-to-leave-home-to-fight-ice-seven-ways-to-push-back/): by 50501 Movement ICE runs on contracts, data, transportation, and local cooperation. Every dependency can be used as a pressure point. The following article appeared originally on the 50501 Substack on July 22, 2026 and is reposted here with permission. 📌 NOTE FOR NEW READERS: This is an independent Substack covering 50501, No Kings, and the broader
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/whats-in-this-issue-293/): 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
- [Hampshire College Students Express Concern for Preserving Cultural Center](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/23/hampshire-college-students-express-concern-for-preserving-cultural-center/): Report on the Meeting of the Historical Commission, July 21, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: George Baitinger, Joel Greenbaum, Camila Hwang-Carlos and Kalyani Subramanyam. Absent: Kenzie Landsittel. (Two vacancies.)Staff: Walker Powell (planner) Allyse Brockington and Mia Sanghvi, two Hampshire College students, asked whether the Historical Commission could help them
- [Sunset Thursday at the Carle with Pianist Dylan Walter](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/sunset-thursday-at-the-carle-with-pianist-dylan-walter/): Source: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art The Sunset Thursdays series at the Eric Carle Museum continues on Thursday July 30 from 4-8 p.m. with pianist Dylan Walter. The event is free with a museum admission and free to musuem members. 125 West Bay Road. Sunset ThursdaysAs part of Summer at The Carle, the
- [The Most Searched Word Definition in Massachusetts is"Science"](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/the-most-searched-word-definition-in-massachusetts-isscience/): by Randoh Sallihall Analysis of Google search data for 2026 by Word Unscrambler reveals the most searched word definitions for each U.S. state and America. A spokesperson for Word Unscrambler (Unscramblerer.com) commented on the findings: "One of the most striking findings is that Americans top searched definitions in 2026 are dominated by abstract concepts rather than objects.
- [Photos of the Week: An Indy July Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/photos-of-the-week-an-indy-july-gallery/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week, a new picture by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited. This week we offer a gallery of photos that we have received during the month of July, 2026. We
- [Two Sites Under Consideration for New DPW Facility](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/two-sites-under-consideration-for-new-dpw-facility/): Report on the Meeting of the DPW Building Committee, 7/22/26 Present Cristine Gray Mullen (Chair), David Ahlfeld, Sean Mangano ( Finance Director), Paul Bockelman (Town Manager), Guilford Mooring (Superintendent of Public Works), Bob Peirent (Capital Projects Manager,non-voting member). The following members were absent:Pam Rooney (Town Councilor, District 4), Holly Young (Town Procurement Officer), and Jason
- [Gallery A3's 11th Annual Juried Show: Everyday Sublime](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/gallery-a3s-11th-annual-juried-show-everyday-sublime/): Source: Gallery A3 Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D, announces its 11th Annual Juried Show, Everyday Sublime, on view August 6-29, 2026. The Opening Reception is on Friday, August 7, 5–8:00 p.m., and an online Art Forum, open to the public, is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, at 7:30 pm. The 34 artists and 46 artworks
- [ZBA Split on Appeal of Permit for Oversized Accessory Dwelling Unit](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/zba-split-on-appeal-of-oversized-accessory-dwelling-unit/): Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, July 23, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Everald Henry (chair), David Ahlfeld, Craig Meadows, Sarah Morton, and David Sloviter StaffJeff Bagg (director of planning and economic development) The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) postponed a formal vote on an
- [Opinion | Own Your Power Part 2: Microgrids Needed to Safeguard Our Future](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/24/opinion-own-your-power-part-2-microgrids-needed-to-safeguard-our-future/): Local and Green This column appeared previously in the Amherst Bulletin. Recently, I hosted a gathering to see if there was interest in participating in a community microgrid or networked geothermal heating in the Orchard Valley neighborhood of Amherst. Paul Fenn of Local Power, LLC was in attendance and presented about the Own Your Power
- [Grand Opening of Herrell's Ice Cream Permanent Mill District Location](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/23/grand-opening-of-herrells-ice-cream-permanent-mill-district-location/): Community invited to celebrate on Friday, July 31 and Saturday August 1 with giveaways and 15% offSource: Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Herrell's Ice Cream, one of the Valley's most beloved ice cream makers, will celebrate the grand opening of its permanent Mill District location with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2 p.m on Friday,
- [DPW Move from Existing Building Not Feasible by Oct. 1](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/23/dpw-move-from-existing-building-not-feasible-by-oct-1/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, July 20, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in the Town Room of Town Hall. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large); Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1); Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2); Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3);
- ["I Was a Hurricane" – World Premiere of Documentary Film About Amherst Ultimate](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/22/i-was-a-hurricane-world-premiere-of-documentary-film-about-amherst-ultimate/): Source: amherstma.gov Twenty years later, the story comes home—and you're invited to be part of the final scene. Join us for the World Premiere of I Was a Hurricane, a documentary more than twenty years in the making. On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the Amherst Town Common will transform into an outdoor cinema as community members,
- [Swimming Now Allowed at Puffer's Pond](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/22/swimming-now-allowed-at-puffers-pond/): Swimming is now allowed at Puffer's Pond. The latest water quality test results for Puffer’s Pond show that both South Beach and North Beach meet state standards for safe swimming conditions. While the pond was closed to swimming last week due to high E. Coli counts, the latest water quality test results show that both
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/whats-happening-in-amherst-236/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.ing support, SATURDAY JULY 18: FUN SATURDAY MORNINGS: BUILD YOU OWN SHOEBOX FOOTBALL GAME. 10 a.m., UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant Street.
- [Town Manager Report for July 10, 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/22/town-manager-report-for-july-10-2026/): Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the second Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 16 pages in length, provide up-to-date information on what is happening within and across town departments. The Manager Report is usually one of the last items
- [Public Art Commission Invites Design Proposals for Electrify Amherst 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/20/public-art-commission-invites-design-proposals-for-electrify-amherst-2026/): Source: Amherst Public Art Commission The Amherst Public Art Commission, in partnership with the Business Improvement District, is calling for artists to submit designs for painting electrical boxes in downtown Amherst. Amherst invests in public art to enhance public spaces and the built environment, support economic growth and cultural diversity, create engaging and thought-provoking experiences
- [Parking Commission to Seek Fix for Kendrick Park Parking Shortage](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/20/parking-commission-to-seek-fix-for-kendrick-park-parking-shortage/): Report on the Meeting of the Transportation and Parking Commission, July 15, 2026 This meeting was held via Zoom and was recorded. Permit Holders Occupy Most Parking Spaces at Kendrick ParkTransportation and Parking Commission (TPC) Chair Andy Steinberg reported that the commission received a public request to deal with the parking situation around Kendrick Park
- [Free Amherst Community Band Concert, July 25](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/20/free-amherst-community-band-concert-july-25/): It’s happening again! The Amherst Community Band will be performing at Sweetser Park on July 25 at 6:30 p.m. If it rains, the event will be held at St Brigid’s Church, 122 North Pleasant St.The guest conductor for this concert will be Juli Sansoucy, who conducted this band many years ago.The music is reflective of summer,
- [Dear Reader](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/dear-reader-25/): Dear Reader, The Indy by the NumbersNext week we will post our 8,000th article since we published our first story on March 26, 2019. At this moment we are at 7987. Those articles have been authored by 505 unique writers and have received 10,221 published comments. We have 1548 subscribers to our weekly email dispatch
- [Amherst Protests Recent ICE Killings](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/amherst-protests-recent-ice-killings/): About 150 people gathered at Sweetser Park in Amherst on Thursday afternoon, July 16, to protest recent killings of immigrants by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to call for the agency's abolition. On July 14, ICE agents in Biddeford, Maine, killed Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old father from Colombia working legally
- [Photos of the Week: Views from My Garden](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/photos-of-the-week-views-from-my-garden/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/18/whats-in-this-issue-292/): 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
- [A Better World is Possible: Mayor Mamdani Announces "Parents' Night Out"](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/15/a-better-world-is-possible-mayor-mamdani-annouces-parents-night-out/): Source: nyc.gov Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura announced this week, the launch of NYC Parks’ first-ever Parents’ Night Out, a free, one-night drop-off program that gives parents and caregivers the opportunity to enjoy an evening to themselves while children participate in supervised fun at select NYC Parks recreation centers across the
- [CSSJC Continues to Seek Answers From Town Manager on Social Justice Initiatives](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/cssjc-continues-to-seek-answers-from-town-manager-on-social-justice-initiatives/): Report on the meeting of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, July 15, 2026The meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentDebora Ferreira (chair), Anna Derby, Lissette Paredes and Erica Piedade. Absent: Everald Henry and Brigid Owino. One vacancy. Staff: Camille Theriaque (CRESS director) The agenda was familiar. As has been the case
- [Despite Rent Control Defeat, Tenants Continue Organizing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/despite-rent-control-defeat-tenants-continue-organizing/): by divina cordeiro and Dusty Christensen The following article appeared originally in The Shoestring on July 16, 2026. It is reposted here under a Creative Commons license. Last month, Massachusetts’ highest court tossed out a rent-control ballot measure. But tenant organizers say the setback won’t stop their work fighting against climbing rents. This past fall, Milla Wenick
- [Inside a Wisconsin Democratic Gathering: Politics Beneath the Speeches](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/opinion-inside-a-wisconsin-democratic-gathering-politics-beneath-the-speeches/): By Rizwana Khan Earlier this month, I visited Milwaukee and stayed with my cousin, Dr. Ariba Khan, who was elected Ozaukee County supervisor in 2025. During my visit, I attended the Democratic Party of Ozaukee County's monthly membership meeting July 17 in Grafton. I attended as an observer to learn more about local Democratic organizing
- [Healey Seeks $100 Million in Additional School Funding as Districts Confront Mounting Financial Strain](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/healey-seeks-100-million-in-additional-school-funding-as-districts-confront-mounting-financial-strain/): by Saaya Daga, CommonWealth BeaconThe following story appeared originally on CommonWealth Beacon on July 16, 2026, and is reposted here under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-ND 4.0 International). Governor Maura Healy on Wednesday proposed directing an additional $100 million to public school districts across Massachusetts, saying the funding would help communities manage growing financial
- [Air Quality and Cyclosporiasis Warnings in Latest Health Department Update](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/air-quality-and-cyclosporiasis-warnings-in-latest-health-department-update/): Source: Amherst Department of Health The Amherst Department of Health issued the following alerts on July 15, 2026. Air QualityAn air quality alert is in effect for our region. Pollution levels may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with asthma or other lung conditions. By now you have probably
- [Amethyst Brook Elementary School Nears Completion](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/amethyst-brook-elementary-school-nears-completion/): Report on the Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) Meeting, July 17, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. The Elementary School Building Committee’s (ESBC) most recent monthly meeting took place on July 17, 2026. Construction UpdateTim Cooper of DiNisco Design reports that plantings are going in, paving is done, and the pollinator
- [Swimming Not Recommended at Puffer's Pond](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/14/swimming-not-recommended-at-puffers-pond/): Source: amherstma.gov Swimming is not recommended at Puffer's Pond due to high levels of E. coli bacteria. The latest water quality test results show that the water does not meet state standards for safe swimming conditions. Sampling at the North Beach on July 13 yielded a reading of 30.9 MPN/ 100 ml which is within
- [Town Attorney Recommends Reorganization of Clean Energy Bylaw](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/town-attorney-recommends-reorganization-of-clean-energy-bylaw/): Report of the Meeting of the Amherst Planning Board, July 15, 2026 This meeting was held via Zoom and was recorded. Present Doug Marshall (chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Roy Johnson, Jesse Mager, Angus McLeod, and Jerah Smith Staff: Walker Powell (planner) and Pam Field Sadler (assistant)From the Community Resources Committee: Pam Rooney (chair), Mandi
- [State's PILOT Listening Session Highlights Shared Challenges for Amherst and Rural Towns](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/17/states-pilot-listening-session-highlights-shared-challenges-for-amherst-and-rural-towns/): The state's Special Commission on Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) held one of its western Massachusetts listening sessions this week at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments in Greenfield, drawing a largely senior audience from small rural towns as well as representatives from Amherst. The session is one of several being held around the
- [Issues and Analyses: Making The Case For Worker Cooperatives In Massachusetts](https://www.amherstindy.org/2022/09/30/issues-and-analyses-making-the-case-for-worker-cooperatives-in-massachusetts/): Becoming Human Worker-owned cooperatives (WOC) are often positioned by their advocates as having many potential advantages and benefits for workers and communities. These range from the "economic"--cooperatives can create stable jobs and build wealth, to the social and political--WOC can democratize the economy; to the truly transformative--WOC can reorient how people want to live and
- [Opinion: Fight Back!](https://www.amherstindy.org/2024/05/10/opinion-fight-back-2/): Now Is Not The Time For Despair And Hopelessness But For Fervent Militant Resistance.This column appeared originally in the Amherst Indy on July 1, 2022 in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. The recent efforts to suppress free speech on college campuses around the country, the global growth of authoritarianism,
- [DSA Grows in Western Mass Following National Election Upsets](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/15/dsa-grows-in-western-mass-following-national-election-upsets/): Source: River Valley Democratic Socialists of America River Valley DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) has reached 500 members in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties. Nationally, DSA has drawn attention due to the electoral wins of Clare Valdez, Chris Rabb, and Darializa Avila Chevalier in U.S. congressional primaries and 30 primaries nationwide. These wins follow the
- [Conservation Commission Recommends Expanding Areas Where Hunting Is Allowed](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/15/conservation-commission-recommends-expanding-areas-where-hunting-is-allowed/): Report of the Meeting of the Conservation Commission, July 8, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentAndrey Guidera (Chair), Jason Dorney, Bruce Stedman, Tina Smith, Sarah Matthews, Carol McNeary and Rachel LoefflerStaff: Erin Jacques (Conservation Agent) and Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) The Conservation Commission continued its evaluation of various parcels
- [Conservation Commission Evaluates Expanding Areas for  Hunting](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/conservation-commission-evaluates-expanding-areas-for-hunting/): Report on the Meeting of the Conservation Commission, June 24, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Andrey Guidera (chair) , Bruce Stedman, Tina Smith, Carol McNeary, and Rachel Loeffler. Absent: Jason Dorney and Sarah Matthews.Staff: Erin Jacque (conservation agent) and Dave Ziomek (assistant town manager) Should Hunting Be Permitted in
- [Amherst Ranked High Risk for Tick-Borne Disease](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/13/amherst-ranked-high-risk-for-tick-borne-disease/): Amherst has been ranked as a high risk town for tick-borne disease by TickZone, an independent, free app that provides daily tick activity forecasts for more than 20,750 towns across 30 U.S. states. TickZone currently rates 16 of 20 towns in Hampshire County and 25 of 26 in Franklin County as high risk. High risk
- [Rally Against ICE: Thursday July 16 at Sweetser Park](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/14/rally-against-ice-thursday-july-16-at-sweetser-park/): There will be rally against ICE on Thursday, July 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Sweetser Park, Lessey and Main Streets, Amherst. Participants are asked to bring signs and something to make noise. The event is sponsored by Free Speech for People, LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts, River Valley Democratic Socialists of America, Valley Families
- [Letter: ZBA Should Deny Permits for Oversized ADU's](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/15/letter-zba-should-deny-permits-for-oversized-adus/): The following letter was sent to the Zoning Board of Appeals and to Planning Director Jeff Bagg on July 14, 2026 I write in support of the abutter’s objection to the proposed oversized accessory dwelling unit at 27 Newell Court. Amherst already had a workable ADU framework that allowed appropriately scaled units, including by-right options
- [Proposed Alterations to Two-Unit House on High Street Approved by ZBA](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/15/proposed-alterations-to-two-unit-house-on-high-street-approved-by-zba/): Report of the Meeting of the Amherst Zoning Board of Appeals, July 9, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentEverald Henry (Chair). David Ahlfeld, Craig Meadows, Sarah Morton, and David Sloviter Staff: Jeff Bagg (Director of Planning and Economic Development) ZBA Grants Special Permit for Change from Duplex to Converted Dwelling
- [Local Historic District Commission Again Denies Vinyl Replacement Siding](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/15/local-historic-district-commission-again-denies-vinyl-replacement-siding/): Report on the Meeting of the Local Historic District Commission, July 13, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentNancy Ratner (Chair), Ben Lynch, Bruce Coldham, Nicole Miller Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) Vinyl Siding at 71 Prospect Street DeniedConsistent with previous decisions, the Local Historic District Commission (LHDC) voted unanimously to deny
- [Update About the Town’s Hampshire College Campus Zoning Study](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/14/update-about-the-towns-hampshire-college-campus-zoning-study/): Important Clarifications, New Project Website, and Upcoming Information Session Source: amherstma.gov Following Hampshire College’s announcement that it will cease academic operations after December 2026, the Town of Amherst initiated a study to develop zoning options to prepare for future uses of the Hampshire campus property. This study will include various assessments, opportunities for public input, and a final report by January 2027. The
- [Letter: UMass Amherst Should Be Part of the State's PILOT Reimbursement Program](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/09/letter-umass-amherst-should-be-part-of-the-states-pilot-reimbursement-program/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Manager and Amherst Town Council on July 9, 2026. UMass Amherst is the Commonwealth’s flagship campus, but Amherst alone absorbs most of the local costs of hosting it. Police, fire, roads, and other services must support a large, tax‑exempt institution, while the town cannot collect the
- [Under Budget Constraints, Library Building Committee Begins Furniture Shopping](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/10/under-budget-constraints-library-building-committee-begins-furniture-shopping/): On Monday, July 6, 2026, the Jones Library Building Committee (JLBC) Design Subcommittee met to provide a comprehensive update on the renovation-expansion project’s Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E). Facilities Supervisor George Hicks-Richards described how furniture selection has focused on balancing aesthetic goals with strict budget adherence. Hicks-Richards detailed the multi-year furniture procurement process, which began
- [Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives: A Solution for the Affordable Housing Dilema](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/10/limited-equity-housing-cooperatives-a-solution-for-the-affordable-housing-dilema/): by Araz Hachadourian and David J. ThompsonThe following article appeared as a chapter in the collection Beautiful Solutions by Eli Feghali Rachel Plattus, Nathan Schneider, and Elandria Williams (2025, OR Books). It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 4.0). Editor's note: In this, the 68th installment of our series, "A Better World is Possible", we take a
- [Tree Warden Alan Snow on Climate Change and Development](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/09/the-impacts-of-climate-change-on-amherst-shade-trees/): Amherst Tree Warden Alan Snow has no doubt that the climate is changing. Growing up on Cape Cod, his grandfather told stories of ice on the saltwater town cove thick enough to support a Model T. His father recalled iceboat racing on thinner ice. But today, said Snow, “it doesn't freeze over other than just
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/10/whats-happening-in-amherst-235/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.ing support, FRIDAY JULY 10: DOWNTOWN SUMMER CONCERT SERIES WITH HWY 91 AND AMHERST CONTRA DANCE. 5 p.m. Amherst Town Common SATURDAY JULY 11:
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/10/whats-in-this-issue-291/): 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
- [Town Seeks Community Input About Cable Television](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/10/town-seekings-community-input-about-cable-television/): Public survey is open through Friday, August 7. Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst invites the community to participate in a brief survey to share their experiences with cable television in Amherst. All residents are encouraged to participate even if they are not current cable subscribers. Complete the survey here: amherstma.gov/cable-survey The survey is open through Friday, August 7. This public survey is an opportunity for residents to provide feedback
- [Photo of the Week: Dogbane Beetle](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/10/photo-of-the-week-dogbane-beetle/): Chrysochus auratus, more commonly known as the dogbane beetle, is a leaf beetle primarily found in the eastern United States and Canada. The beetle is approximately 8 to 11 mm in length, and possesses an oblong and convex shape. This beetle has two pairs of wings, one of which is a pair of copper colored elytra. The beetle is typically found to have
- [Opinion: Library Trustees Silent on $9 Million Owed to Town ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/09/opinion-library-trustees-silent-on-9-million-owed-to-town/): The Jones Library Trustees held their monthly meeting on July 9. It lasted all of 13 minutes and the only agenda item was a vote on the signage for the Jones Library. No mention was made about any upcoming meeting. There was no discussion whatsoever about the state of the capital campaign. None of the
- [Town to Host Information Session About Hampshire College Campus Zoning Study](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/08/town-to-host-information-session-about-hampshire-college-campus-zoning-study/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst invites the community to attend a virtual information session about the Hampshire Campus Zoning Study on Tuesday, July 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. All are welcome! Those interested in attending can register and submit their questions at: amherstma.gov/Hampshire-Zoning-Info-Session. The information session is an opportunity for community members to learn more and ask questions about the study and hear the latest updates from town staff and consultants. The session will include a
- [Plant Trees with the Shade Tree Committee This Saturday](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/09/plant-trees-with-the-shade-tree-committee-this-saturday/): Source: Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee invites the public to help plant trees on the town's South Common, Saturday, July 11, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Volunteers are asked to bring work gloves and a shovel if you have one and to look for the yellow town truck (see
- [Opinion: The Cure for Despair is Wonder, Awe, and Humility](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/08/opinion-the-cure-for-despair-is-wonder-awe-and-humility/): by Caitlin Johnstone The following column appeared originally in Caitlin Johnstone's blog, "Daily Writings on the End of Illusions," on July 8, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license. The cure for despair is awe, wonder, and humility. It is true that there is unfathomable cruelty in this world that will bring you
- [ACLU of Massachusetts Releases New Toolkit to Help People Challenge Flock Cameras in Their Communities](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/08/aclu-of-massachusetts-releases-new-toolkit-to-help-people-challenge-flock-cameras-in-their-communities/): Source: American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts has released a new community advocacy toolkit to help people across the Commonwealth challenge the use of Flock and other automated license plate readers (LPR) by their local police departments. The toolkit contributes to ACLU's Get The Flock Out Campaign, a national effort to help communities stop local Flock surveillance.See related: ‘Get
- [Celebrate Disability Pride Month With Events in Amherst, Northampton, and Easthampton](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/07/celebrate-disability-pride-month-with-events-in-amherst-northampton-and-easthampton/): Amherst's Commission for Persons with Disabilities is sponsoring two events in Amherst to commemorate Disability Pride Month. Northampton and Easthampton will also host events. The theme for the Amherst events is sports adaptations for disabilities. Amherst Paralympians Tory and Juan Dixon will share their experiences in two programs: one for children up to age 5
- [Amherst Forward Calls It Quits](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/02/amherst-forward-calls-it-quits/): The leadership of the local political action committee Amherst Forward announced in a June 30 email to its followers that it would be "wrapping up operations" over the coming months. The email, written by Laura Draucker, Clare Bertrand, and MaryAnn Grim, said, "Our leadership team members have moved, gotten new jobs or caretaking responsibilities, or
- [Opinion: In Beacon's North Amherst Project, Community Engagement Did What It Was Supposed to Do](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/06/opinion-in-beacons-north-amherst-project-community-engagement-did-what-it-was-supposed-to-do/): One concern I have about the Planning Board's proposal to rezone the professional research park zone (PRP) for housing is the precedent it sets.I have never believed Amherst should stop building housing. My concern has always been that we build the right housing in the right places, through a planning process that residents can trust.The
- [Opinion: Peace Walk: The Practice of Returning](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/06/opinion-peace-walk-the-practice-of-returning/): By Rizwana Khan In Amherst, a small circle of people standing quietly on the Town Common might not appear remarkable at first glance. Yet the Common functions as a living civic space where democracy’s strength rests on the willingness to remain together despite differences. Across the United States, Americans marked the nation's 250th birthday even
- [Opinion: Develop Hampshire Campus as a Technology Incubator](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/06/opinion-develop-hampshire-campus-as-a-technology-incubator/): What will become of the soon-to-be shuttered Hampshire College campus? Amherst needs more affordable housing. Some people call for the Hampshire Campus to be converted into housing, but this is not the answer. What Amherst needs is revenue to repair its notoriously broken streets. It needs to replace an antiquated central fire station. It needs
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/03/whats-happening-in-amherst-234/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.ing support, FRIDAY JULY 3: INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION. 5:30 p.m., South Lawn next to UMass Amherst’s McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Music, food, Family-friendly activities.
- [Opinion: Our Town Government is Broken. Part 1](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/10/31/opinion-our-town-government-is-broken-part-1/): by Art and Maura Keene Here’s the heart of the matter up front. The people in charge of our town government, (you can call them Amherst Forward, or Amherst Forward-endorsed, or the advocates of unfettered development of off-campus student housing, or just the ruling majority) have been completely in charge since Amherst changed its form
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/03/whats-in-this-issue-290/): 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
- [Thirty Northampton Residents Move to Intervene in Divestment Lawsuit](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/03/thirty-northampton-residents-move-to-intervene-in-divestment-lawsuit/): In response to lawsuit brought by right-wing lawfare organizations, Northampton residents defend city's right to remove public investments from Israeli apartheid. Source: Apartheid Divest Northampton Thirty Northampton residents and municipal taxpayers, including twenty members of the city's Jewish community, joined together to move to intervene in the case Kevin Hale, et al. v. City of
- [Opinion: Whither the Hampshire College Campus?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/03/opinion-whither-the-hampshire-college-campus/): Sadly, many people involved appear to have given up on reincarnating Hampshire College as an innovative educational institution. Even though the college is not quite dead yet, the land vultures are circling, eager to carve up the 800 acre campus. Town officials, backed by funding from the state with real estate developers in the background, are
- [Amherst Wraps up Pride Month with Joyful Parade](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/29/amherst-wraps-up-pride-month-with-joyful-parade/): Good weather and a large turnout made for a joyful day as Amherst concluded its Pride Month celebrations with a Pride parade on June 28. Led by the Expandable Brass Band, over 500 marchers representing 38 area organizations paraded from Amherst Regional High School, up Triangle Street, to North Pleasant Street and down North Pleasant
- [If Opposing Genocide Does Not Align With Smith College’s Mission, Values, or Priorities, What Does?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/02/opinion-if-opposing-genocide-does-not-align-with-smith-colleges-mission-values-or-priorities-what-does/): by Jennifer Scarlott and Nick MotternThe following article appeared originally in Common Dreams on July 1, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY 3.0). It is difficult not to conclude, both from Smith’s repeated rejections of divestment from genocide and from its punitive responses to student activists, that its leadership hopes
- [Opinion: Honoring America’s Promise by Reading Frederick Douglass](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/03/opinion-honoring-americas-promise-by-reading-frederick-douglass/): by Brian BoylesThe following article appeared originally in the CommonWealth Beacon on June 27, 2026. It is reposted here under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-ND 4.0 International).Amherst's Reading of Frederick Douglass together will be held on July 5 at the South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street, at 3 p.m. More information here. During
- [Photos of the Week: Chasing Fireflies](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/03/photos-of-the-week-chasing-fireflies/): Fireflies thrive in wetlands and tall meadow vegetation. Habitat loss, climate change, and light pollution are the primary reasons we see fewer fireflies. They’re not close to extinction yet, but their populations are steadily declining. Learn more about fireflies here. Check out other photographs by Darya Zelentsova at darzel_photography on Instagram or DarZel photography on Facebook.Our feature, Photo of
- [New Appointments to Town Boards and Committees](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/03/new-appointments-to-town-boards-and-committees/): With the start of the new fiscal year, Town Manager Paul Bockelman presented a slate of new appointments and reappointments at the July 2 Town Services and Outreach Committee. They will be on the agenda for approval by the Town Council at their next meeting on July 20. Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing TrustFor one-year terms
- [Planning Board Supports Rezoning Professional Research Park to Include Housing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/03/planning-board-supports-rezoning-professional-research-park-to-include-housing/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Planning Board, July 1, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Planning Board: Doug Marshall (chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Roy Johnson, Angus McLeod and Jesse Mager. Absent: Jerah Smith. Staff: Walker Powell (planner) and Pam Field-Sadler (planning assistant). Planning Board Suggests Opening More
- [Regional School Committee Members Lament Superintendent's Resignation](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/01/regional-school-committee-praises-superintendent-after-announcement-of-her-resignation/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Regional School Committee, June 30, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Reflection on School Committees' Role in Superintendent’s ResignationIn the wake of Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman’s (Dr. Xi) June 26 announcement that she will resign at the end of the 2026-27 school year, Regional
- [Opinion: 250th Anniversary - of What?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/02/opinion-250th-anniversary-of-what/): I sit here on the eve of our great national celebration wondering, like many others, what exactly there is to celebrate. It’s not the creation of our nation; if we are lucky we will do that a decade or so hence. If we celebrate today the stirring and ambiguous opening words of the Declaration of
- [Opinion: CSSJC, CRESS, Youth Empowerment Center and the Town](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/opinion-cssjc-cress-youth-empowerment-center-and-the-town/): The recent meeting of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) (and how about an easier acronym?), with the Town Council, raised several questions that are neither new nor easy. I want to support the CSSJC positions and recommendations more wholeheartedly than I can right now and I want both groups to figure out how
- [Opinion: Amherst Forward Presumes To Speak For BIPOC People While Simultaneously Silencing And Oppressing Those Voices](https://www.amherstindy.org/2021/10/08/opinion-amherst-forward-presumes-to-speak-for-bipoc-people-while-simultaneously-silencing-and-oppressing-those-voices/): When candidates run for local office in Amherst, they have the opportunity to be endorsed by a PAC (political action committee) that will support their campaign through volunteers, financial support, and strategic planning. A PAC’s decision to endorse a candidate is largely based on a questionnaire filled out by the candidate followed by an interview
- [Letter: A Call for Respect in School Committee Discussions](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/30/letter-in-support-of-school-superintendent-dr-e-xiomara-herman/): by Alison Estes, Alicia Lopez Nieto, and Derek Shea The following letter was sent to the Amherst, Pelham, Union 26 and Amherst Pelham Regional School Committees on June 30, 2026. The letter was read as a public comment at the Regional School Committee meeting of June 30, 2026. We speak on behalf of over 27
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: Northern Catalpa](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/07/01/amherst-arbor-spotlight-northern-catalpa/): by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee This is the seventh in a series of 12 articles produced by the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) under the title “Amherst Arbor Spotlight.” The series focuses on the town’s 12 species of shade trees and features a different tree each month. New articles will be posted
- [Public Forum on ICE Collaboration with Local Police](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/30/public-forum-on-ice-collaboration-with-local-police/): The Immigration Justice Action Team of the Indivisible Mass Coalition is sponsoring a forum on the ICE OUT report. The Protect Act and the prospect for building clear boundaries between ICE and local law enforcement. The event will be held on July 8, 2026, from 7-8 p.m and is free and open to all. Register
- [Ways to Stay Cool in the Coming Extreme Heat](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/30/ways-to-stay-cool-in-the-coming-extreme-heat/): Source: amherstma.gov Extreme heat and humidity are expected through Friday, July 3. The Town of Amherst offers a variety of ways to stay safe and cool during these forecasted conditions. Cooling centers are available during limited hours, the spray pad is operational, and the public pools are free to use Wednesday, July 1 through Friday, July 3. Cooling Centers & Water StationsThe following locations have been identified as
- [Drawing the Line: Why Massachusetts Communities Are Rethinking Local Police-ICE Relationships](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/29/drawing-the-line-why-massachusetts-communities-are-rethinking-local-police-ice-relationships/): Across Massachusetts, communities are asking a question that until recently received little public attention: What should local police do when ICE comes to town? Holding ICE Accountable in MassachusettsThat question has taken on new urgency following a series of highly publicized ICE operations, including many in Massachusetts, that have generated allegations of excessive force, unlawful
- [Opinion: What Are You Doing Here? The Question Behind Belonging](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/30/opinion-what-are-you-doing-here-the-question-behind-belonging/): Social Injustice Goes Global She was a psychologist, which in Amherst means she had achieved a certain sanctioned level of emotional vocabulary and outdoor furniture. Blond, blue-eyed, cardigan energy that says "community" like it's both a value system and a lifestyle brand. The brunch table around her was doing its usual choreography: curated humility, mutual
- [Amherst's Latin Students Shine at UMass Classics Day](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/23/amhersts-latin-students-shine-at-umass-classics-day/): High school Latin teacher Will Roundy told the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee (RSC) at its June 17 meeting about the impressive success of Amherst Regional High School (ARHS) and Amherst Regional Middle School (ARMS) students at the recent Classics Day at UMass. Ninety-one ARHS and ARMS students participated in the event, along with students from
- [Anti-LGBTQIA+ Bias Still a Problem at Middle School](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/anti-lgbtqia-bias-still-a-problem-at-middle-school/): Report on the Meeting of the Regional School Committee, June 23, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in the High School library and was recorded. The ramifications of the court-ordered reinstatement of middle school adjustment counselor Delinda Dykes were made clear in the impassioned public comments delivered to Regional School Committee (RSC) members at
- [Mariano and DiZoglio Square Off in State Transparency Fight](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/mariano-and-dizoglio-square-off-in-state-transparency-fight/): A new round of political pugilism over transparency on Beacon Hill has erupted as Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano and State Auditor Diana DiZoglio trade sharp public attacks over how — and how far — the auditor should be able to probe the Legislature. The fight traces back to a 2024 ballot question that voters
- [From Other Sources: News for and About Amherst. This Week: Local News Roundup](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/22/from-other-sources-news-for-and-about-amherst-this-week-local-news-roundup-4/): We have not done a “From Other Sources” in a while and there is a lot to catch up on. I have assembled some articles, mostly local (and below that from further afield) from the last few weeks that we were unable to cover in the Indy and that I think are worth reading. Are Paywalls An Obstacle?”Here
- [Trump’s Repression of Dissent is Backfiring](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/trumps-repression-of-dissent-is-backfiring/): by Daniel Hunter In response to the Trump administration’s attempts to quell dissent and tilt the playing field, people are not shrinking in fear, but getting more bold in their resistance. The following article appeared originally in Waging Nonviolence on June 24, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0 International)
- [Housing Activists Vow to Continue Campaign After Ban of  Rent Control Ballot Initiative](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/24/housing-activists-vow-to-continue-campaign-after-ban-of-rent-control-ballot-initiative/): Source: The Keep Massachusetts Home Campaign The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today issued a decision barring the proposed rent control ballot initiative from appearing on the November ballot. Proponents from the Keep Massachusetts Home campaign responded: “This decision is a massive disappointment after all the work that thousands of volunteers and advocates in every corner
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/whats-in-this-issue-289/): 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
- [School Superintendent Tenders Resignation Effective June 2027](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/school-superintendent-tenders-resignation-effective-june-2027/): School Superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman announced today (6/26/26) in an email to the Amherst Public Schools community that she will resign effective June 30, 2027. She had informed the school committee of her decision in an executive session the previous day, Until next June, she pledged to remain “fully committed to serving our students,
- [Amherst to Celebrate Pride with Parade on Sunday, July 28](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/25/amherst-to-celelbrate-pride-with-parade-on-sunday-july-28/): Source: amherstma.gov Amherst Pride aims to celebrate the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, promote visibility, and provide valuable resources and support. It’s a day for everyone to come together, celebrate love and identity, and strengthen the bonds of our community. This exciting event will feature a festive parade, an empowering rally, and a
- [UMass Prof Releases Album of New England-centered Pieces](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/umass-prof-releases-album-of-new-england-centered-pieces/): Source: PARMA Recordings UMass Professor of Voice, Soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine recently released "Filled with the Light", an album of premiere recordings of New England-focused vocal works, on Grammy-winning label Navona Records. Guarrine, a Wisconsin transplant, says the works reflect pride and admiration for her chosen home. “The music on this album grows out of a
- [Opinion: The $9 Million Issue We Need to Start Addressing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/opinion-the-9-million-issue-we-need-to-start-addressing/): There is a monthly ritual at the Jones Library Trustees meeting that goes like this: Chair Austin Sarat asks for a report from the Capital Campaign, the group responsible for raising the library’s share of its building project costs. Trustee Lee Edwards, usually, says something along the lines of “Everything is awesome” and “We’ve raised
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/whats-happening-in-amherst-233/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. FRIDAY JUNE 26: VICTOR WOOTEN & THE WOOTEN BROTHERS. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. The Wooten brothers’ first public
- [Mass High Court Strikes Rent Control Question From Ballot](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/24/mass-high-court-strikes-rent-control-question-from-ballot/): by Chris Lisinski and Jennifer Smith The following story appeared originally in the CommonWealth Beacon on June 23, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY-ND 4.0). Proponents of a ballot measure that would have enacted one of the strictest rent control laws in the nation took care to make one thing
- [Photos of the Week: Eagle Along the Connecticut](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/26/photos-of-the-week-eagles-along-the-connecticut/): These pictures were taken last year on 6/5 on the Connecticut River, about one mile north of the Sunderland bridge. For about a week after the shad run upstream to spawn, dead and dying shad wash down stream in early June, providing a feast for eagles, and a great opportunity for bird watchers. This eagle
- [Opinion: Could a Fair Rent Pledge Work in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/25/opinion-could-a-fair-rent-pledge-work-in-amherst/): The following column was written with the assistance of Perplexity AI. A copy was also submitted as a written public comment to the Amherst Town Council on June 25, 2026. Amherst and Massachusetts will not be voting on rent control this November, but that does not mean we have to accept a housing market with
- [Revised Elementary School Budget Restores Paraprofessional Positions](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/25/revised-elementary-school-budget-restores-paraprofessional-positions/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, June 25, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Deb Leonard (Chair), Andrew Hart, Bridget Hynes, and Sarah Marshall. Absent: Laura Jane Hunter Staff: E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi, Superintendent), Shannon Bernacchia (School Finance Director), Derek Shea (Principal, Crocker Farm Elementary), Allison
- [Town's Annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks, July 3](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/25/towns-annual-independence-day-celebration-and-fireworks-july-3/): Source: amherstma.gov Join the Town of Amherst for the annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks on Friday, July 3 at UMass Amherst’s McGuirk Alumni Stadium South Lawn. This FREE event features dazzling fireworks, live entertainment, tasty food vendors, and a range of family-friendly activities. View all the details at www.amherstma.gov/fireworks. Festivities begin at 5:30 PM, offering ample time for food, fun, and socializing before the spectacular fireworks display lights up
- [Collection of Donations for League of Women Voters Book Sale, July 2-12](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/25/collection-of-donations-for-league-of-women-voters-book-sale-july-2-12/): This Year in a New Location Source: League of Women Voters Amherst It’s time to donate books and think about helping with culling, sorting, and curating for the League of Women Voters Amherst’s Annual Giant Book Sale. Donations: 41 Russell Street, Hadley, in the Village Shops next to the Hampton Inn Important Dates:Collection begins on Thursday,
- [Town Recognized for its Leadership in Clean Energy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/25/town-recognized-for-its-leadership-in-clean-energy/): Source: amherstma.gov Thanks in part to local leadership to encourage clean energy growth, in 2025, Massachusetts produced the equivalent of 13% of the electricity it consumes from solar, wind and geothermal power, compared with just 4% in 2016, part of a larger transition toward clean energy technologies. That’s according to The State of Renewable Energy
- [Weston & Sampson Recommended to Town Manager as Top Choice for DPW Facility Designer](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/25/weston-sampson-recommended-to-town-manager-as-top-choice-for-dpw-facility-designer/): By Maria Kopicki & Toni Cunningham This meeting was held in Town Hall and was recorded. After interviewing the three designer finalists, the Department of Public Works Building Committee (DPWBC) ranked Weston & Sampson at the top, HKT Architects second, and Helene Karl Architects (HKA) third. This ranking is a recommendation to the Town Manager
- [Downtown Summer Concert Series Begins This Weekend](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/24/downtown-summer-concert-series-begins-this-weekend/): Source: Amherst Community Band and the Business Improvement District The free, summer downtown concert series kicks off this weekend with a the Amherst Community Band with Dave Morris and Lexie Black, conductors, presenting a program of American music. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Sweetser Park on Main Street in the center of
- [Letter: Our Students Deserve Schools Where Safety, Dignity, and Inclusion are Reflected in Everyday Actions](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/24/letter-our-students-deserve-schools-where-safety-dignity-and-inclusion-are-reflected-in-everyday-actions/): Last night, dozens of community members gathered at a rally before the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee meeting to express concern about the district's response to ongoing reports of harmful staff conduct and its commitment to ensuring student safety and accountability. Families, educators, advocates, and community members came together because many believe the lessons of the
- [Daniel Garcia is the Town's New Director of Senior Services](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/24/daniel-garcia-is-the-towns-new-director-of-senior-services/): Source: amherstma.gov Town Manager Paul Bockelman has announced that Daniel Garcia as the town's new Director of Senior Services. The appointment was reviewed and approved by the Town Council at their meeting on June 15. Garcia is expected to start in this new role on July 20. Garcia brings more than two decades of experience
- [Public Comment: Will The School District Step up and  Protect LGBTQIA+ Students?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/24/public-comment-will-the-school-district-step-up-and-protect-lgbtqia-students/): The following public comment was read at the meeting of the Amherst Regional School Committee on June 23, 2026., It was one of 32 public comments presented and was read by Amy Cronin-DiCaprio on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst. The LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst organized tonight's rally to send a simple message: queer
- [Amherst Celebrates 10 Years of Juneteenth](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/22/amherst-celebrates-10-years-of-juneteenth/): The 10th Anniversary Juneteenth Celebration, organized by the Black Business Association of the Amherst Area, was held at St. Brigid's Parish in Amherst on June 19, 2026. Throughout the venue, rich reds, greens, golds, and black motifs honored African American heritage. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed
- [The Fabric of 250 Years: What the Pioneer Valley Teaches Us About the American Tapestry](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/22/the-fabric-of-250-years-what-the-pioneer-valley-teaches-us-about-the-american-tapestry/): Every so often, I find myself walking past the old brick brick-and-brownstone facades of our historic neighborhoods here in Western Massachusetts, looking at the quiet, resilient spaces that define our landscape. From the industrial heritage of Springfield and Holyoke to the vibrant cultural hubs of Northampton and Amherst, this valley is a visual timeline of
- [From Other Sources: News for and About Amherst. This Week: Local News Roundup](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/08/22/from-other-sources-news-for-and-about-amherst-this-week-local-news-roundup-3/): We have not done a “From Other Sources” in a while and there is a lot to catch up on. I have assembled some articles, mostly local, from the last few weeks that we were unable to cover in the Indy and that I think are worth reading. Featured StoryAppearing in the Boston Globe this morning
- [Memorial to Amherst's Poets Takes Shape on Strong Street](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/15/memorial-to-amhersts-poets-takes-shape-on-strong-street/): Report on the Meeting of the Historical Commission, June 9, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Commissioners Robin Fordham (chair), Pat Auth, Joel Greenbaum, Hetty Startup, George Baitinger, and Kenzie LandsitteStaff: Walker Powell (planner) Amherst Poets' Memorial at Wildwood CemeteryWildwood Cemetery is constructing a memorial to 16 deceased poets with
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/19/whats-in-this-issue-288/): 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
- [Two New Appointments to Historical Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/15/two-new-appointments-to-historical-commission/): The Town Council unanimously approved, as part of the June 3 consent agenda, Town Manager Paul Bockelman’s appointments of Camila Hwang-Carlos and Kalyani Subramanyam to the Historical Commission. The two had been unanimously recommended by the Town Services and Outreach Committee (TSO) at its May 21 meeting. Hwang-Carlos was appointed to a one-year term ending
- [New High School Principal and New Director of Student Services](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/19/new-high-school-principal-and-director-of-student-services/): The Regional School Committee approved the appointment of Marc Gomes as Principal of Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and Thomas A. Simon as Director of Student Services at their meeting on June 17. Gomes was the Assistant Principal at Van Sickle Prep/Academy Middle School in the Springfield Public Schools. The announcement of his appointment states, “Dr.
- [Call to Action: Rally to Protect and Support LGBTQIA+ Students, Staff, and Community Members ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/19/call-to-action-rally-to-protect-and-support-lgbtqia-students-staff-and-community-members/): The LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst will hold a rally at the side entrance of Amherst Regional High School prior to the final in-person Regional School Committee meeting of the academic year on Tuesday June 23 at 5:30 p.m. Following the rally, caucus members and supporters will participate in the public comment period during the 6:30
- [UMass Amherst Ag and Food Science Programs Ranked Among the Best in the World](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/19/umass-amherst-ag-and-food-science-programs-ranked-among-the-best-in-the-world/): Source: UMass News & Media The University of Massachusetts Amherst Agricultural Sciences and Food Sciences and Technology programs have again been ranked among the Top 10 worldwide in the 2026-27 Best Global Universities by U.S. News & World Report. The 12th annual edition of U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings evaluating more than 2,250 institutions in the U.S. and
- [Photos of the Week: Mountain Laurels in Full Bloom](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/19/photos-of-the-week-mountain-laurels-in-full-bloom/): by Richard Sclove and Art Keene The following photos were taken the week of June 15, 2026 at Ames Pond at Kestrel Land Trust's Brightwater Bog nature retreat in Shutesbury. Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/19/whats-happening-in-amherst-232/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. FRIDAY JUNE 19: 17TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH JUBILEE: COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. 3 to 6 p.m., St. Brigid’s Parish Auditorium, 43 North Prospect
- [Opinion: The Body Politic Keeps the Score](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/19/opinion-the-body-politic-keeps-the-score/): This is the fourth article in a five-part series that the LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst has prepared for Pride Month, 2026. The Indy will publish one piece each week during the month of June. Look here and here and here for the first three articles in the series. Pride creates the cultural commons where we celebrate queer joy. It’s an
- [Amherst School Committee and Superintendent Clash Over Restoration of Interventionists and Paraeducators for Specials](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/19/amherst-school-committee-and-superintendent-clash-over-restoration-of-interventionists-and-paraeducators-for-specials/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, June 16, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in the Town Room of Town Hall. It was recorded. Present: Deb Leonard, Chair; Andrew Hart; Laura Jane Hunter; Bridget Hynes; Sarah Marshall Staff: E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi, Superintendent); Shannon Bernacchia (School Finance Director); Tonya McIntyre
- [Disability Pride Programs Scheduled for July 16 and July 20 to Feature Adaptive Sports](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/18/disability-pride-programs-scheduled-for-july-16-and-july-20-to-feature-adaptive-sports/): Report on the Meeting of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, June 9, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Myra Ross (Chair), James Kruidenier, Ian Rhodewalt, Seren Derin, and Pamela Nolan Young (Staff Appointee). Absent: Cody Rooney and Reginald Andrade. The Amherst Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) has planned
- [Salsa in the Park Returns June 27](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/18/salsa-in-the-park-returns-june-27/): Salsa con Tacos presents “Salsa in the Park” on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m at the Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. The event features a free salsa class with Kevin from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., followed by a free Latin dance social from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30
- [ARHS' Sara Barber-Just Celebrated with Inaugural Commonwealth Pride Award](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/18/arhs-sara-barber-just-celebrated-with-inaugural-commonwealth-pride-award/): Source: State Rep. Mindy Domb This week, Representative Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) and Representative Aaron Saunders (D-Belchertown) celebrated Sara Barber-Just with an inaugural Commonwealth Pride Award, a newly-founded annual event sponsored by the Massachusetts legislature’s LGBTQ Caucus. The event celebrates the rich accomplishments and talents of Massachusetts’ LGBTQ+ community. Sara Barber-Just is the English department chair at Amherst Regional High School, where she
- [Letter: This Summer, Let Amherst Be Your Destination](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/18/letter-this-summer-let-amherst-be-your-destination/): by Pat Ononibaku, Jeff Bagg, Jacob Robinson and John Page A unified call to support local from Amherst economic ecosystem leaders: the Amherst Business Improvement District, the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, the Black Business Association of the Amherst Area, and the Town of Amherst Department of Planning and Economic Development. This summer, let the
- [SJC Kills Ballot Initiative to Cut State Income Tax](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/18/supreme-judicial-court-bars-income-tax-cut-ballot-initiative/): Opponents say the tech CEO-backed measure would have gutted the state’s budget and drained money from education, research, and healthcare, eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs. Source: Andrew Farnitano, ACF Impact Strategies The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today issued a decision barring the proposed income tax cut ballot initiative from appearing on the November ballot.
- [Cherry Hill Working Group Says Golf Course Needs Full-time Professional Management](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/18/cherry-hill-working-group-says-golf-course-needs-full-time-professional-management/): Report on the Meeting of the Cherry Hill Working Group, June 16, 2026 This meeting was held via Zoom and was recorded. Present: Michele Miller (chair), Ryan Diplock, Hilary Matheson, Chris Pariseau, and Anurag Sharma. Absent: Sanjay Arwade and Sarah Goff. Staff: Rey Harp (recreation director) The Cherry Hill Working Group (CHWG) was in unanimous
- [Letter: No Free Rides for Hate](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/18/letter-no-free-rides-for-hate/): On May 18, the Islamic Center of San Diego security guard Amin Abdullah along with Mansour Kaziha, and Nader Awad lost their lives to two teenage gunman radicalized to hate people because of their faith. On May 14, The Global Sumud Flotilla of 50 boats set sail with international activists, attempting to bring life-saving aid
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/whats-happening-in-amherst-230/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY JUNE 13: ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST FOR PUFFER’S POND. 8:30 to 11 a.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague
- [North Amherst Community Farm Hopes to Start a Community Orchard](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/17/north-amherst-community-farm-hopes-to-start-a-community-orchard/): The Board of Directors of the North Amherst Community Farm (NACF) has expressed interest in hosting a community orchard (or food forest) at the former site of Simple Gifts Farm. They have asked for a detailed plan and evidence of community interest before making this commitment. Toward this end, the Amherst Community Orchard Project is inviting people
- [Town Council Approves Rent Stabilization Resolution](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/17/town-council-approves-rent-stabilization-resolution/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Council, June 15, 2026, Part 2Read Part 1 of the Report on the meeting of the Town Council here. This was a hybrid meeting held in the Town Room of Town Hall and was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (president, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1),
- [Town Seeks Resident to Join the Department of Public Works Building Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/17/town-seeks-resident-to-join-the-department-of-public-works-building-committee/): Source: amherstma.gov Town Manager Paul Bockelman is seeking one resident to join the Department of Public Works Building Committee, a temporary committee responsible for advising the Town on the design and construction of a new Department of Public Works (DPW) building. Interested residents should submit a Community Activity Form at www.amherstma.gov/CAF Applications will be reviewed beginning July 6th. The Committee has been meeting
- [Amherst Educators Rally For Resumption Of  Contract Negotiations](https://www.amherstindy.org/2023/03/10/amherst-educators-rally-for-resumption-of-contract-negotiations/): More than 250 Amherst-Pelham educators and their supporters marched from Amherst Regional High School (ARHS) to the town common on Thursday (3/9) to protest their lack of a contract and the unwillingness of the Amherst School Committee to return to the bargaining table. Teachers have been without a contract for 400 days. In June, the
- [Could Massachusetts Get Rent Control Back After a 32-Year Ban?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/17/could-massachusetts-get-rent-control-back-after-a-32-year-ban/): by Steve Dubb The following article appeared originally in Shelterforce on June 5, 2026 and is reposted here in accordance the Shelterforce's reprint guidelines. In Massachusetts, the collection of more than 124,000 signatures makes it likely that a statewide rent control measure will be on the ballot in November. Addressing hundreds of housing activists in
- [Former Western Mass Journalist Appointed Pastor of Historic Black Church](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/17/former-western-mass-journalist-appointed-pastor-of-historic-black-church/): Source: Goodwin Memorial A.M.E. Zion ChurchRev. Janet Davenport, an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (A.M.E. Zion) Church and a former newspaper editor in Springfield, has been appointed pastor of one of Amherst's oldest Black congregations. Rev. Davenport initially took the helm of Goodwin Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in April following a period
- [Council Approves FY27 Budget with Additional Money for Elementary Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/16/council-approves-fy27-budget-with-additional-money-for-elementary-schools/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Council, June 15, 2026, Part 1 This was a hybrid meeting held in the Town Room of Town Hall and was recorded. Present: Mandi Jo Hanneke (president, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan
- [Mark Summer Solstice with UMass Astronomy at the Sunwheel on June 21](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/15/mark-summer-solstice-with-umass-astronomy-at-the-sunwheel-on-june-21/): Public is Invited to Skywatching Events at Sunrise and Sunset to Celebrate the Longest Day of the Year. The public is invited to witness sunrise and sunset associated with the summer solstice among the standing stones of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Sunwheel on Sunday, June 21. The morning gathering begins at 5 a.m., shortly before sunrise
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/whats-happening-in-amherst-231/): 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
- [Solar Power May Not Be Ready for the Opening of Amethyst Brook Elementary School ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/solar-panels-may-not-be-ready-for-opening-of-amethyst-brook-elementary-school/): Report on the Meeting of the Elementary School Building Committee meeting, June 12, 2026i This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. The Elementary School Building Committee’s (ESBC) most recent monthly meeting took place on June 12, 2026. Construction UpdateKseniya Slavsky (Owner’s Project Manager, Accenture) reported that Corkeen, the cork-based, accessible playground surface, has
- [Opinion: Will Amherst Schools Ever Be Safe for Queer and Trans Kids?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/opinion-will-amherst-schools-ever-be-safe-for-queer-and-trans-kids/): This is the third article in a five-part series that the LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst has prepared for Pride Month, 2026. The Indy will publish one piece each week during the month of June. Look here and here for the first two articles in the series. This was supposed to be an article celebrating a Pride
- [Photos of the Week: Great Blue Heron Chicks](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/photos-of-the-week-great-blue-heron-chicks/): These great blue heron chicks and their parents were photographed at the Wollomonopoag Conservation Area in Wrentham a few weeks ago. You can view other photos by Jerry Meyer here. Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please
- [Opinion: What Happens if ICE Appears in Amherst? Officials Cite Differences](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/opinion-what-happens-if-ice-appears-in-amherst-officials-cite-differences/): Social Injustice Goes Global A Meeting of Repeated QuestionsI attended the joint meeting of the Town Council and the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) and the Human Rights Commission on June 8, expecting a discussion. What I did not expect was a two-hour exercise in watching variations of the same question asked repeatedly.
- [Protect Trans & Queer Kids: An Archive of Writing About the 2023 Crisis at ARMS](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/23/protect-trans-queer-kids-a-roundup-of-writing-about-the-2023-crisis-at-arms/): March 23, 2026: The following archive was started by a local parent beginning in July, 2023 to track the LGBTQIA+ discrimination crisis at Amherst Regional Middle School, where charges of harassment of LGBTQIA+ students by both students and staff were confirmed by subsequent Title IX and non-Title IX investigations (see also here) that faulted the district for failing
- [Touring Historic Sites in the Summertime](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/09/touring-historic-sites-in-the-summertime-by-hetty-startup/): It's June, and the pace of our lives shifts a little — a time for garden tours, step-up days, open houses, Father's Day suppers with strawberry shortcake and perhaps summer camp. But as childcare, utilities, and rent persist through the season, and as gas prices weigh on our minds, it may be time to plan
- [Amherst Will Celebrate Pride Month with Parade on June 28](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/11/amherst-will-celebrate-pride-month-with-parade-on-june-28/): Source: amherstma.gov Amherst Pride aims to celebrate the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, promote visibility, and provide valuable resources and support. It's a day for everyone to come together, celebrate love and identity, and strengthen the bonds of our community. This exciting event will feature a festive parade, an empowering rally, and a
- [What is Rent Control?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/what-is-rent-control/): The following is adapted from the Metropolitan Planning Council fact sheet. Rent control is a policy to moderate or stabilize rent increases or curb extreme rent hikes by putting limits to the amount a landlord can increase rent from year to year. Generally, rent stabilization is an effective tool for improving housing stability among renters.
- [CRC Recommends Everald Henry and Sarah Morton for Appointments to Zoning Board of Appeals](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/crc-recommends-everald-henry-and-sarah-morton-for-appointments-to-zoning-board-of-appeals/): Report on the Meeting of the Community Resources Committee, June 11, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Town Councilors Pam Rooney (Chair, District 4[)], Jennifer Taub (District 4), Mandi Jo Hanneke (at large), Ellisha Walker (at large), and Andy Churchill (at large). After interviewing seven candidates for six possible positions
- [Bridge4Unity: Join Us and Stand Against Hate in Our Community](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/bridge4unity-join-us-and-stand-against-hate-in-our-community-2/): On April 29, a racist flyer was distributed on the windshields of some cars parked in downtown Amherst. Community members will come together on Saturday, June 13, to respond to that letter.Join Bridge4Unity, a local grassroots organization devoted to interracial and intercultural dialogue, at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House from 2-4 p.m., 121 North Pleasant Street, for a gathering to
- [ZBA Grants Special Permit for Five-Unit Affordable Homeownership Project on Amity Street](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/zba-grants-special-permit-for-five-unit-affordable-homeownership-project-on-amity-street/): Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, June 11, 2026 By Maura Keene The meeting was held via Zoom and was recorded. Present: Everald Henry (chair), Craig Meadows, David Ahlfeld, David Sloviter, and Philip White. Staff: Jacinta Williams, planner. The Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to grant a special permit to
- [Plant Trees with the Public Shade Tree Committee on Saturday, June 13](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/09/plant-trees-with-the-public-shade-tree-committee-on-saturday-june-13/): Source: Amherst Public Shade Tree CommitteeThe public is invited to join the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee for their next community planting on Saturday, June 13, from 9:00 a.m. They will be planting eight trees. Please bring a shovel if you are able. Please meet us on the East Street Common across from Fort River
- [School District Receives Large Gift from Rozman Trust](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/school-district-receives-large-gift-from-rozman-trust/): The David Rozman Trust has donated $63,500 to the Amherst Pelham School District. Rozman was a 1956 graduate of Amherst High School who died at the age of 84 in June, 2024. His obituary in the Amherst College Magazine, written by his classmate David Weisfelder, states, “David graduated from Amherst High School in 1956 and
- [Academic Achievement Report Documents Disparities in Regional Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/academic-achievement-report-documents-disparities-in-regional-schools/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, June 9, 2026 This was an in-person meeting held in the high school library and was partially live-streamed on Amherst Media Channel 15. The meeting was recorded. Regional School Committee (RSC) member Bridget Hynes (Amherst) and School Equity Advisory Council (SEAC) co-chair Alyssa Melnick reported
- [Three Design Firms Selected as Finalists for DPW Building Project](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/12/three-design-firms-selected-as-finalists-for-dpw-building-project/): Appointment of DPW Employee to Committee May Be Forthcoming The DPW Building Committee met in the Amherst Police Station community room on June 10 with the primary goals of shortlisting design firms and finalizing the questions for upcoming interviews. DPW Worker May Be Added to CommitteeIn response to a question from Committee Chair Christine Gray-Mullen
- [ARHS Grad Earns Prestigious Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/11/arhs-grad-earns-prestigious-amazon-future-engineer-scholarship/): Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools Amherst Regional High School graduate Ajmain Sharar has been named a recipient of the highly competitive Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship for 2026. Sharar is one of only five students in Massachusetts and 200 students nationwide selected for the prestigious award. The scholarship will provide up to $40,000 over four years
- [Ways to Stay Cool During Extreme Heat in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/11/ways-to-stay-cool-during-extreme-heat-in-amherst-3/): Source: amherstma.gov Extreme heat and humidity are expected through Friday, June 12th. This forecasted heat wave marks the first of the season, which is when the risk is highest. Heat-related illnesses and hospital visits often spike during the first stretch of 85°F days because people's bodies haven't yet acclimated to higher temperatures. Extreme heat can
- [Town Has No Easy Answers for Dealing with ICE](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/10/town-has-no-easy-answers-for-dealing-with-ice/): Report on the Special Meeting of the Town Council with the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee and the Human Rights Commission, June 8, 2026 This hybrid meeting was held in the Town Room of Town Hall and was recorded. This meeting was called at the request of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee
- [Frustrations Surface at State Review of Open Meeting Law](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/11/frustrations-surface-at-state-review-of-open-meeting-law/): The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law Advisory Commission (OMLAC), a body comprising representatives from the Attorney General’s office, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association and the legislators chairing the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight met via Zoom on June 3, 2026. The primary purpose of this meeting was to review
- [Reading Frederick Douglass Together, July 5](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/11/reading-frederick-douglass-together-july-5/): Source: Bruce Pennimen In what has become an annual tradition, South Congregational Church and the Amherst DEI Department are collaborating again to host a community reading of Douglass's "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" on July 5. As 2026 is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the theme for this
- [One Hundred Days of Mayor Zohran Mamdani in New York: Free Kindergarten and a Tax on Luxury Homes](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/08/one-hundred-days-of-mayor-zohran-mamdani-in-new-york-free-kindergarten-and-a-tax-on-luxury-homes/): A Better World is Possible by Julius Schiedat Since the beginning of 2026, Zohran Mamdani has been mayor of New York City. The democratic socialist ran on a clear platform and is now starting to implement it. After around 100 days in office, the first figures show the direction: from autumn 2026 there will be
- [Letter: Here's a Way to Support Rent Control in Massachusetts](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/10/letter-heres-a-way-to-support-rent-control-in-massachusetts/): As many of you know, Amherst continues to struggle with a lack of affordable housing in town. According to our recent Amherst Housing Production Plan, 58.5% of renters in Amherst are considered “cost-burdened,” paying more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities—with 39.2% severely cost-burdened, paying over 50%. Our community has long sought
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/whats-happening-in-amherst-229/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY JUNE 6: GIRLS ON THE RUN 5 K RUN. 10:30 a.m., University of Massachusetts. Open to the
- [Spaces Still Available for Kids’ Fun Week, June 22-26 at Amherst South Church](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/10/spaces-still-available-for-kids-fun-week-june-22-26-at-amherst-south-church/): Source: Amherst South Church For parents caught in a last-minute crunch to find early summer activities for their children, Amherst South Church still has openings for its Kids’ Fun Week on June 22-26. This weeklong, fun-packed summer experience is for kids completing K-5 this spring. It happens from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. Local children,
- [Hampshire College Secures Loan to Partially Open for Fall Term](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/09/hampshire-college-secures-loan-to-partially-open-this-fall/): Hampshire College President Jennifer Chrisler announced in an email to the Hampshire community dated June 8, 2026, that the college has secured a loan from a philanthropic partner that will enable it to partially open for the fall term to accommodate students who have not transferred and who are attempting to complete their Division III
- [Public Comment: Is it the Policy of This Town to Hold Federal Immigration Officials Accountable Under the Law?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/09/public-comment-is-it-the-policy-of-this-town-to-hold-federal-immigration-officials-accountable-under-the-law/): By Rani Parker and J. Patrick MeagherThe following public comment was read at the special joint meeting of the Amherst Town Council, Community Safety and Social Justice Committee and the Human Rights Commission. I would like to begin my comments by thanking the town manager and the various town staff members who reviewed our questions
- [Opinion: Democracy on a Rainy Day in Wendell](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/08/opinion-democracy-on-a-rainy-day-in-wendell/): On a recent gray, rainy Saturday morning, with the temperature hovering around 43 degrees, I found myself driving the winding roads through Sunderland, North Leverett into Wendell. As I entered town, American flags hung from utility poles, stirring gently in the damp breeze. Ahead stood the white Town Hall, modest and unassuming, the kind of
- [How Massachusetts Teachers Transformed Their Union: An Interview with Amherst's Max Page](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/03/how-massachusetts-teachers-transformed-their-union-an-interview-with-amhersts-max-page/): by Chris Brooks The following interview appeared originally in Jacobin on May 1, 2026. It is reposted here with gratitude and with permission from the publisher. We post it here as part of our series, A Better World is Possible. Max Page is president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA), one of the largest state
- [Long Rancorous Discussion Precedes Vote on Planning Board Appointment](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/03/long-rancorous-discussion-precedes-vote-on-planning-board-appointment/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Council, June 1, 2026, Part 2 By Maura Keene This was a hybrid meeting held at Town Hall. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3),
- [Seven Design Firms Submit Proposals for DPW Building Project. Building Committee Continues to Limit Public Access](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/seven-design-firms-submit-proposals-for-dpw-building-project-building-committee-continues-to-limit-public-access/): Seven design firms have submitted proposals to be considered for the Department of Public Works building project. Individual rankings by DPW building committee (DPWBC) members will be compiled and discussed at their next meeting on June 10, after which they will recommend a short list of firms to invite for an interview. The interviews will
- [Amherst Will Celebrate Juneteenth With Events on Sunday June 14 and Friday June 19](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/03/amherst-will-celebrate-juneteenth-with-events-on-sunday-june-14-and-friday-june-19/): Sources: Ancestral Bridges, Black Business Association of Amherst Area, and amherstma.gov The Ancestral Bridges Foundation, the Black Business Association of Amherst Area and Sankofa Gumbo and the Amherst Cinema, will sponsor activities on June 14 and June 19 to celebrate Juneteenth (see also here), which marks the historic moment on or around June 19,1865 when
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/whats-in-this-issue-287/): 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
- [Photos of the Week: Commencement for the ARHS Class of 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/photos-of-the-week-commencement-for-the-arhs-class-of-2026/): by Art and Maura Keene We were there. The photos may not be stellar – we were working with an old iPhone and were sitting far from the stage – but we nonetheless offer this token bit of witness to a joyful evening and the hopeful, forward-looking remarks of all who spoke. If others who
- [Opinion: Hampshire College Didn't Fail; Society Failed Hampshire](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/hampshire-college-didnt-fail-society-failed-hampshire/): Since the public announcement of its imminent closure on April 14, many have opined on why Hampshire College "failed." Many of the reasons offered on outlets ranging from new social media to established international news agencies have been both reasonable and predictable: that Hampshire did not have sufficient time to build an endowment, that the
- [Questions from The Front Lines of the Housing Crisis](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/01/questions-from-the-front-lines-of-the-housing-crisis/): by Charles Marohn What I heard in Des Moines, IA, from the people trying to solve America’s housing crisis. The following article appeared originally in Strong Towns on May 25, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY-SA 4.0 International). I recently spent time in Des Moines, Iowa, with planners, local officials,
- [Cuppa Joe with DEI Director Pamela Nolan Young](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/cuppa-joe-with-dei-director-pamela-nolan-young/): Source: amherstma.gov The June Cuppa Joe will be held on Friday, June 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at West Street Coffee and Tea, 450 West Street. Town Manager Paul Bockelman will be joined by Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pamela Nolan Young. All community members are welcome at this informal event, which
- [Opinion: Belonging Is a Public Health Issue](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/opinion-belonging-is-a-public-health-issue/): by Amy Cronin DiCaprio, for the LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst This is the second of five pieces that the LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst has prepared for Pride Month. The Indy will publish one piece each week during the month of June. Read the first article in the series here. When we think about health, we
- [Staff Shortages in Planning Department Will Require Adjustments to Planning Board Work](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/staff-shortages-in-planning-department-will-require-adjustments-to-planning-board-work/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Planning Board, June 3, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Planning Board: Doug Marshall (chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Johanna Neumann, Angus McLeod, Jerah Smith, and Jesse Mager. Staff: Walker Powell (planner) and Pam Field-Sadler (planning assistant). With the departure of Assistant Planning
- [Special Meeting of Town Council Will Take Up Social Justice Concerns](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/special-meeting-of-town-council-will-take-up-social-justice-concerns/): A joint meeting of the Amherst Town Council, the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, and the Human Rights Commission is schedule for Monday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m., to respond to community concerns about a range of social justice issues. The meeting will be held in person in the Town Room of Town Hall
- [Meet Rigo Antonio Flores-Noriega, Amherst's Newest Community Responder](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/meet-rigo-antonio-flores-noriega-amhersts-newest-community-responder/): CRESS (Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service) has hired a sixth responder, Rigo Antonio Flores-Noriega.The addition of Flores-Noriega brings staffing at CRESS up to six responders, still far short of the 13 that had been recommended for FY27 by the town's Community Safety and Social Justice Committee. Flores-Noriega, who began work at CRESS March
- [Students at Fort River Elementary Mobilize to Oppose Book Banning](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/05/students-at-fort-river-elementary-mobilize-to-oppose-book-banning/): Book bans are a major issue in today's world, and that's why fifth-graders at Fort River Elementary School in Amherst are taking a stand. On June 3, they hosted a Banned Book Event to raise awareness about book bans and restrictions on reading access. They were joined by authors Megan Dowd Lambert and Breanna McDaniel,
- [DPW Workers and Town Ratify New Contract](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/04/dpw-workers-and-town-ratify-new-contract/): Source: Amherst DPW Workers Association The Amherst DPW Associations (ADPWA), a union representing roughly 60 Amherst DPW workers, has ratified a new contract. The contract passed a ratification vote from the membership on May 20, and the ADPWA negotiating committee signed the contract with the town manager and HR director on May 27. After almost
- [Bridge4Unity: Join Us and Stand Against Hate in Our Community](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/01/bridge4unity-join-us-and-stand-against-hate-in-our-community/): On April 29, a racist flyer was distributed on the windshields of some cars parked in downtown Amherst. Community members will come together on Saturday, June 13, to respond to that letter.Join Bridge4Unity, a local grassroots organization devoted to interracial and intercultural dialogue, at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House from 2-4 p.m., 121 North Pleasant
- [A Better World is Possible: The World's First Non-Violent Municipality](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/a-better-world-is-possible-the-worlds-first-non-violent-municipality/): by Stacie Freasier The following article appeared originally in Waging Nonviolence on April 22, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons License (CC BY 4.0 International). High in the mountains of western Antioquia, Colombia, where the mist settles into the coffee fields each morning and the air smells of wet earth and woodsmoke, exists
- [Letter: Board of Health Calls for Lyme Disease Vigilance in Response to Surging Tick Populaton](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/03/letter-board-of-health-calls-for-lyme-disease-vigilance-in-response-to-surging-tick-populaton/): by The Amherst Board of Health The following letter appeared previously in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. As we observed Lyme Disease Awareness Month this May, the Amherst Board of Health (BOH) wants to alert the community to a sobering trend. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s latest surveillance data, the 2026 tick population
- [Town Discusses Planning Process for Redeveloping Hampshire College Campus](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/02/town-discusses-planning-process-for-redeveloping-hampshire-college-campus/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, June 1, 2026, Part 1 This was a hybrid meeting held at Town Hall. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Pam Rooney
- [Hampshire College May Close Sooner Than Expected](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/02/hampshire-college-may-close-sooner-than-expected/): When Hampshire College President Jennifer Chrisler announced on April 14 (see also here) that the college would close permanently at the end of the calendar year, she outlined a completion pathway for Division III students—the final capstone stage of a Hampshire education, typically completed in a student's fourth year—to finish their degrees on campus. This
- [Town Collaborates with MassDevelopment to Plan for Future Uses of Hampshire College Land  ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/02/town-collaborates-with-massdevelopment-to-plan-for-future-uses-of-hampshire-college-land/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst is pleased to announce its collaboration with MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, for an extensive, but focused initiative to prepare for future potential uses of the Hampshire College campus. “The town appreciates and welcomes the participation of MassDevelopment in providing important professional analysis of the land Hampshire College owns,” said Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman. “The town has
- [Opinion: What's Wrong with the Positive Growth Narrative](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/02/opinion-whats-wrong-with-the-positive-growth-narrative/): Amherst’s “positive growth” narrative, as framed in George Ryan’s recent article in the Amherst Current, on closer inspection begins to look less like a success story and more like a house of cards. While the town leans on UMass' PILOPILOT (Payment in Lieu of PILOT) to offset UMass’s footprint, our local tax structure fails to
- [Opinion: Amherst’s Politics of Endless Outrage](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/01/opinion-amhersts-politics-of-endless-outrage/): By Rizwana Khan Social Injustice Goes Global The first meeting of the new four-part series, Community Wellness and Resiliency Conversations, felt like a group project in which everyone had done the reading and mastered the vocabulary — systemic oppression, community accountability, and the rest — with graduate seminar precision. The challenge was figuring out what to
- [Town Councilors Issue Nakba Remembrance Day Statement](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/20/town-councilors-issue-nakba-remembrance-day-statement/): Source: Jill Brevik Town Councilors Jill Brevik (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin (District 2), and Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5) read the following statement in commemoration of Nakba Remembrance Day, at the Amherst Town Council meeting of May 18, 2026. The statement was also endorsed by Councilors Hala Lord (District 3) and Ellisha Walker (at large).
- [Opinion: When Public Meetings Feel Pre-Determined](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/21/opinion-when-public-meetings-feel-pre-determined/): Local observers like Maria Kopicki, writing in the Amherst Indy, understand that a seemingly dull committee meeting can reveal far more about institutional culture. In Amherst, the ritual is almost always the same: a fluorescent municipal room, half-charged laptops, consultant slide decks with enough acronyms to qualify as a dialect, someone quietly adjusting a microphone
- [Opinion: Potholes in Amherst and England](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/06/01/opinion-potholes-in-amherst-and-england/): Perhaps the good people of Amherst should declare war. No, not on authoritarian aggressors, foreign or domestic; not on undocumented workers or the proto-fascists trying to round them up, hold them in makeshift camps, and ship them off to countries they didn't come from; not on homelessness or avaricious landlords or blood-sucking pathogenic ticks. This is a
- [Hundreds Turn Out for Wisconsin High Schoolers’ Performance of Banned Music](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/26/hundreds-turn-out-for-wisconsin-high-schoolers-performance-of-banned-music/): A Better World is Possibleby Chris Walker The Watertown school board banned students from performing “A Mother of a Revolution” just days before the concert. The following article appeared originally in Truthout on May 21, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). On Wednesday evening, high school students from Watertown,
- [Join the Amherst Community Band and Be Part of Our Nation's 250th Anniversary Celebration](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/28/join-the-amherst-community-band-and-be-part-of-our-nations-250th-anniversary-celebration/): The Amherst Community Band is inviting musicians of all ages, both amateur and professional, to help celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary. The music will be a mix of historical selections, such as American Civil War Fantasy, American River Songs, Songs about Kentucky, Fanfare for the Common Man, as well as traditional patriotic selections, such as
- [Opinion: At the Start of Pride Month, Consider What It Means to Be an Ally](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/opinion-at-the-start-of-pride-month-consider-what-it-means-to-be-an-ally/): This is the first of four pieces that the LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst has prepared for Pride Month. The Indy will publish one piece each week during the month of June. As Pride Month approaches, you may see an increase in rainbow and Pride-themed language and flagging. This could look like a pin on someone’s
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/whats-in-this-issue-286/): 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
- [Construction Updates from the DPW](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/construction-updates-from-the-dpw/): Source: amherstma.gov The Department of Public Works (DPW) is continuing to work on various construction projects to improve our roads and sidewalks across town. This notice includes information about each project and how traffic may be impacted. Work will typically occur Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.. All work is weather-dependent; severe
- [Advanced Spanish Pilot Class Created for Some Amherst Seventh Graders](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/advanced-spanish-pilot-class-created-for-amherst-seventh-graders/): Report on the Meeting of the Regional School Committee, May 26, 2026 This meeting was held in the High School library with hybrid access and was recorded. The inaugural class of Fort River students in the dual-language Caminantes program is now finishing sixth grade and moving to the middle school next fall. Their parents and
- [Letter: A Formal $21M Asset-Backed Refinancing Offer and Binding Restructuring Conditions for Hampshire College](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/letter-a-formal-21m-asset-backed-refinancing-offer-and-binding-restructuring-conditions-for-hampshire-college/): The following letter was sent to the Executive Committee of the Hampshire College Board of Trusees and to the Hampshire College President on May 27, 2026. I am writing on behalf of our newly incorporated Hampshire Institute for Peace, Plain Living, and Conflict Resolution Training (HIP) to submit a definitive, structured alternative to reverse the
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/whats-happening-in-amherst-228/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY, MAY 30: EDDIE JAPAN WITH THE FAWNS AND GLAD MACHINE. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant
- [Folksinger Rupert Wates Headlines June PVFS Song & Story Swap](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/folksinger-rupert-wates-headlines-june-pvfs-song-story-swap/): Source: Pioneer Valley Folklore SocietyAward-winning, transatlantic singer-songwriter Rupert Wates will be the guest artist at the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s June Song and Story Swap. The monthly performance will take place at First Church, 165 Main St. in Amherst on Saturday, June 6, from 7-9 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested minimum donation to
- [Smith College Investigation Widens Trump Administration’s Attacks on Higher Education, Advocates Say](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/smith-college-investigation-widens-trump-administrations-attacks-on-higher-education-advocates-say/): by Sarah Prager (Prism) Smith College is being investigated for admitting trans women. Advocates compared it to attacks on race-conscious admissions The following article appeared originally in Prism on May 20, 2026. It is reposted here following Prism's distribution guidelines. Real journalists wrote and edited this (not AI)—independent, community-driven journalism survives because you back it. Donate to
- [North Amherst Church Turns 200](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/north-amherst-church-turns-200/): The North Church opened in 1826, when 59 farmers came together to build a Protestant church in North Amherst. With optimism about the anticipated population increase, the sanctuary was built to seat 400 congregants. The land for the church was donated by Joseph Cowls, a family with descendants still living in North Amherst. The church
- [Amherst Celebrates Launch of Electric School Bus Fleet](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/amherst-celebrates-launch-of-electric-school-bus-fleet/): Source: Highland Electric Fleets The following article was written with the assistance of Perplexity AI. The Amherst-Pelham Regional School District celebrated the launch of its electric school bus fleet with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 28 that brought together district leaders, transportation partners and community members at the district’s transportation facility at the Amherst Regional
- [Photos of the Week: Mother Nature's Mandalas](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/photos-of-the-week-mother-natures-mandalas/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [Paintings Explore Gesture and Line at Gallery A3 in June](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/29/paintings-explore-gesture-and-line-at-gallery-a3-in-june/): Source: Gallery A3 Paintings by Karen Iglehart will be featured in a new exhibit at Gallery A3 in June. The exhibit opens on June 4 and runs through June 29. There will be an opening reception on Friday, June 5, from 5-7 p.m. and a free, online Art Forum on Thursday, June 18, at 7:30
- [CRC Recommends Mager, Johnson, and Hartwell for Planning Board Seats](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/28/crc-recommends-mager-johnson-and-hartwell-for-planning-board-seats/): Report on the Meeting of the Community Resources Committee, May 28, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Pam Rooney (chair, District 4), Jennifer Taub (at-large), Mandi Jo Hanneke, Andy Churchill, and Ellisha Walker (at-large). Staff: Athena O’Keeffe (clerk of council). The Community Resources Committee (CRC) interviewed six candidates for three
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: Shagbark Hickory](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/28/amherst-arbor-spotlight-shagbark-hickory/): by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee This is the sixth in a series of 12 articles produced by the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) under the title “Amherst Arbor Spotlight.” The series focuses on the town’s 12 species of shade trees and features a different tree each month. New articles will be posted
- [Town Will Celebrate Race Amity Day and Youth Heroes](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/28/town-will-celebrate-race-amity-day-and-youth-heroes/): The Town of Amherst will host a celebration of Race Amity Day on June 14 at 11 a.m at Mill Valley Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road, Amherst. The event is free, open to all, and will include a celebration of the winners of the 2026 Amherst Human Rights Youth Hero Awards. Race Amity Day offers
- [What to Do if You Find Spotted Lanternfly Eggs](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/28/what-to-do-if-you-find-spotted-lanternfly-eggs/): Spotted lanternfly is an invasive, sap-sucking insect that attacks and kills trees in Massachusetts, including here in Amherst.Now is the time to destroy egg masses before they hatch! Egg masses can adhere to any flat surface. Check your plants, trees (especially trees-of-heaven, grapes, black walnuts, birches and maples), outdoor furniture, play equipment, and automobiles.If You
- [Shutesbury Adopts the PROTECT Bylaw to Govern Town Interactions with ICE](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/12/shutesbury-adopts-the-protect-bylaw-to-govern-town-interactions-with-ice/): In our criminal legal systems, who should decide when information is shared with federal immigration authorities (i.e., ICE), and under what circumstances? On May 9, the Shutesbury Annual Town Meeting determined that the people should decide if and how town resources are to be used when interacting with ICE. The Annual Town Meeting voted by
- [New Campaign Demanding Congressional Oversight of Burlington ICE Facility](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/28/new-campaign-demanding-congressional-oversight-of-burlington-ice-facility/): Coalition Releases New Toolkit Calling for Coordinated Announced and Unannounced Congressional Inspections Source: immigration-justice-action-team@indivisible-ma.orgA statewide coalition of immigrant justice advocates, grassroots organizations, and community activists announced on May 28 the launch of the Burlington ICE Congressional Accountability Project, a coordinated campaign urging Members of Congress to conduct persistent oversight visits to the Burlington ICE Field Office
- [Opinion: Amherst College Silences Criticism of Gaza Genocide](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/28/opinion-amherst-college-silences-criticism-of-gaza-genocide/): After Amherst College hosted Israeli apologists Noa Tishby (Nov. 17, 2025) and Michael Oren (April 30, 2026) — both of whom deny the ongoing genocide in Gaza — and after an Amherst College dean and campus police threatened us with arrest for distributing a newspaper on campus opposing genocide, my colleagues and I at River
- [DPW Building Committee Still Meeting Offline and Unrecorded. Designer Selection Process Continues](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/28/dpw-building-committee-still-meeting-off-line-and-unrecorded-designer-selection-process-continues/): Report of the Meeting of the DPW Building Committee, May 27, 2026 The Department of Public Works Building Committee (DPWBC) met on May 27, 2026, in the Town Room at Town Hall. Although this room has the infrastructure to conduct hybrid meetings — it is where the Town Council meets — the meeting was neither
- [“Not Just a Class”: Students Find Connection Through Building Solidarity Economies](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/26/not-just-a-class-students-find-connection-through-building-solidarity-economies/): A Better World is Possible Source: UMass College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Faced with the myriad crises impacting our world, Annie McGrew was called to act. “I needed to get up from my desk and do something about it,” reflects McGrew, an economics PhD student at UMass Amherst. “I needed to find other alternatives.
- [Opinion: Is the Cost of True Sustainability Beyond Reach?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/26/opinion-is-the-cost-of-true-sustainability-beyond-reach/): While recycling may appear to be a step toward sustainability, it is a band-aid covering a gaping wound in the environment, a partial solution to a problem that societies around the world have become locked into by the acceptance of the consumer culture that drives the modern world's industry and commerce. The state of
- [School Start Times Unchanged for Next Year](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/26/school-start-times-unchanged-for-next-year/): Report of the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, May 19, 2026 This hybrid meeting was held in Town Hall and was recorded. Present: Deb Leonard (Chair), Andrew Hart, Bridget Hynes, Laura Jane Hunter, and Sarah Marshall Staff: E. Xiomara Herman (Superintendent), Shannon Bernacchia (School Finance Director), and Tonya MacIntyre (Executive Director of Student Academic
- [Town Hall Explores Possibilities for Continuing Hampshire College's Mission](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/town-hall-explores-possibilities-for-continuing-hampshire-colleges-mission/): Hampshire Next, a grassroots organization founded by members of the Hampshire community in the wake of the college's announced closure, has recently incorporated. The group held a town hall meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, May 20, focused on organizing around the future of Hampshire College's campus and mission following the announcement of closure and a
- [Massachusetts Receives National “Black Hole Award” for Government Secrecy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/21/massachusetts-receives-national-black-hole-award-for-government-secrecy/): Massachusetts has been named the 2026 recipient of the Black Hole Award, a national designation issued annually by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) to spotlight the most secretive government entities in the United States. The award is intended to call out public institutions that “thwart the free flow of information,” and this year SPJ
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/whats-in-this-issue-285/): 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
- [Hampshire College Trustees Put Campus Up for Sale](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/hampshire-college-trustees-put-campus-up-for-sale/): Hampshire College trustees placed the campus up for sale on May 20. The entire 800-acre campus is to be sold to pay off approximately $25 million in debt, following the announcement on April 14 that the institution will close permanently at the end of 2026. The sale is being managed by Region, a commercial land
- [Opinion: Democracy is Often Inconvenient. Public Process Can Be Messy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/20/opinion-democracy-is-often-inconvenient-public-process-can-be-messy/): There is something increasingly troubling happening in public life, and Amherst is not immune to it. Across the country, residents who raise questions about major development proposals are increasingly being dismissed as obstructionists. Whether the issue is industrial solar installations, large housing projects, warehouse expansion, or the wave of massive data centers now being proposed
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/whats-happening-in-amherst-227/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY MAY 23: THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMHERST PLANT SALE. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Town Common. Fabulous woodland
- [Letter: Bond Bill Amendments Weaken Local Environmental Bylaws](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/letter-bond-bill-amendments-weaken-local-environmental-bylaws/): The following letter was sent to State Senator Jo Comerford and State Representative Mindy Domb on May 19, 2026 in response to an email Comerford sent on May 19, 2026, explaining her position on amendments 264 and 267 to the Senate Environmental Bond Bill (S.3064). The author had previously written to the representatives opposing the
- [Photo of the Week: Tree Frogs in Shutesbury](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/photo-of-the-week-tree-frogs-in-shutesbury/): This gray tree frog was spotted in Shutesbury by Richard and Marcie Sclove on May 17, 2026. Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [Six Vie for Open Seats on Planning Board](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/six-vie-for-open-seats-on-planning-board/): The Community Resources Committee (CRC) will interview six candidates for three open positions on the Planning Board that will become vacant as of June 30, 2026. Interviews are scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, May 28, on Zoom. Johanna Neumann will step down after serving two three-year terms. Jesse Mager and Fred Hartwell are seeking reappointment
- [Planning Board and Community Resources Committee Review Draft of Clean Energy Bylaw](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/planning-board-and-community-resources-committee-review-draft-of-clean-energy-bylaw/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Planning Board and Community Resources Committee, May 20, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentPlanning Board: Doug Marshall (chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Johanna Neumann, and Angus McLeod. Absent: Jerah Smith and Jesse Mager. Community Resources Committee: Pam Rooney (chair), Mandi Jo Hanneke, and
- [Hampshire College Celebrates Its Final Spring Commencement](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/hampshire-college-celebrates-its-final-spring-commencement/): Source: hampshire.edu Hampshire hosted its 56th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2026, conferring degrees to 192 graduates. For what was the college’s last full-scale graduation event, hundreds of alumni and community friends, as well as several members of the founding faculty, joined families in the celebration. Due to overwhelming interest in the wake of
- [TSO Calls for Faster Action on Waste Hauler Reform](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/22/tso-calls-for-faster-action-on-waste-hauler-reform/): The Town Services and Outreach Committee (TSO) heard a report and presentation on May 21 from Mimi Kaplan, former Amherst Waste Reduction Coordinator and current Pioneer Valley Planning Commission consultant to the town, outlining the key policy and operational decisions Amherst needs to make to transition to a town-wide curbside waste collection system. The proposed
- [Diners: Artifacts of America's Mid-20th Century, They Persist into the Present](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/21/diners-artifacts-of-americas-mid-20th-century-they-persist-into-the-present/): I'm still drawn to diners as if it were the day I began to put down roots in the United States. I think of them as an art form as well as a beloved — and perhaps sentimental — cultural destination, quintessentially American, right up there with baseball and the flag. The first diner I
- [Town Introduces Water Use Restrictions in Response to Significant Drought](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/21/town-introduces-water-use-restrictions-in-response-to-significant-drought/): Source: amheretma.gov The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has declared the Connecticut River Valley to be in a Level 2 Significant Drought. Precipitation in April was below normal in the Connecticut River Valley, worsening drought conditions that have built up over the past two years. The Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force will meet again in June
- [Fort River Students Launch Campaign to Solarize the State House](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/21/fort-river-students-launch-campaign-to-solarize-the-state-house/): Source: Tim Austin This week, 5th-grade students at Fort River Elementary School announced their campaign for putting solar panels on the roof of the Massachusetts State House and to pass “An Act relative to solar and battery decommissioning and stewardship” (S. 2569) in the Massachusetts legislature. “This bill will ensure that harmful parts of solar
- [Town to Host Conversation Series on Resiliency and Wellness](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/21/town-to-host-conversation-series-on-resiliency-and-wellness/): Topics will focus on domestic violence, racism, and the closure of Hampshire College Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst is hosting a series of community conversations designed to acknowledge harm, provide support, and promote wellness in response to multiple recent events in town. Topics will focus on the impacts of domestic violence, racism, and the closure of Hampshire College, as well as overall community wellness and resiliency. The
- [Letter: Downtown Design Standards Should Be Adopted. Proposed Zoning Changes Require More Study](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/21/letter-downtown-design-standards-should-be-adopted-proposed-zoning-changes-require-more-study/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Planning Board and Amherst Town Council on May 14, 2026. As a former Planning Board member and member of the stakeholder group during the design standard process with Dodson Flinker consultants, I am writing to offer my perspectives on the draft design standards. 1. Much of the
- [Opinion: Smith College Students Recommend Amherst Waste Hauler Proposal (Again)](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/20/opinion-smith-college-students-recommend-amherst-waste-hauler-proposal-again/): Local and Green The following column appeared originally in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. This month, a group of Smith College students published their Capstone Project report and presentation, Implementing Waste Minimization Strategies in Amherst. The 60-page report makes a strong case that Amherst should move away from its fragmented, privatized waste system and toward a
- [Inspections Program Reveals Violations in 96% of Amherst Rental Properties. Still No DPW Employee on Building Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/21/inspections-program-reveals-violations-in-96-of-amherst-rental-properties-still-no-dpw-employee-on-building-committee/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, May 18, 2026 By Maura Keene This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall and was recorded. Present Mandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3),
- [Will Town Embrace a Smaller East Amherst Local Historic District?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/21/will-town-embrace-a-smaller-east-amherst-local-historic-district/): Report on the Meeting of the Local Historic District Commission, May 18, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Nancy Ratner (chair), Steve Bloom, Nicole Miller, Bruce Coldham, Becky Sharp, and Ben Lynch. Absent: Greta Wilcox. Staff: Walker Powell (planner). Design Guidelines for Local Historic DistrictsThe Local Historic District Commission unanimously
- [Opinion: The Golden Opportunity of President Trump’s War on Iran](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/20/opinion-the-golden-opportunity-of-president-trumps-war-on-iran/): President Trump’s war on Iran offers a golden opportunity for both the Democratic Party and all of US. There could not be a clearer case of a mistaken American war than President Trump’s decision to use the United States’ superpower military (designed by both of our pro-war parties) to go to war on Iran. Nor could
- [Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd Urges UMass Graduates to Take Chances](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/18/chief-justice-kimberly-s-budd-urges-umass-graduates-to-take-chances/): UMass President Marty Meehan presides over ceremony for more than 7,000 graduates Source: UMass News & Media The first Black woman to be Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Kimberly S. Budd encouraged graduates at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s 156th Undergraduate Commencement on May 15, to keep moving forward, take chances and persevere whenever they face opportunities or challenges in the years to come. “Look at
- [Are Amherst Developers Flouting the Intent of the Town's ADU Bylaw?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/are-amherst-developers-flouting-the-intent-of-the-towns-adu-bylaw/): A building boom of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) is underway in Amherst, with at least 21 permits for new units issued in the last five months and another five to seven applications pending. Plans for several of those units appear to violate the town's new ADU bylaw. ADUs are self-contained units with sleeping areas, eating
- [Affordable Housing Trust Contributes to Solar Panels on Amherst Community Homes Project](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/affordable-housing-trust-contributes-to-solar-panels-on-amherst-community-homes-project/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, May 14, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Gaston de los Reyes (chair), Alex Cox, Allegra Clark, Karla Rasche, Heejae Kim, Bob Pomeroy, and Paul Bockelman (town manager). Absent: Rob Allingham. Staff: Greg Richane (housing coordinator). Solar Panels for
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/whats-in-this-issue-284/): 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
- [Photo of the Week: Fiddlehead Season](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/photo-of-the-week-fiddlehead-season/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [New Appointments to Elementary School Building Committee and Recreation Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/new-appointments-to-elementary-school-building-committee-and-recreation-commission/): The following appointments were nominated by Town Manager Paul Bockelman in a memo to the Town Clerk on May 5, 2026. They were unanimously endorsed by the Town Services and Outreach Committee at their meeting on May 7 and forwarded to the Town Council for final approval. A vote is expected at the next Town
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/whats-happening-in-amherst-226/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY MAY 16: WALKING RIVERS. 9 a.m. to noon, 42 Cushman Road, North Amherst. Walking Rivers is a day to show
- [The Hive Collective Brings a Multifunctional Arts Hub to 49 Boltwood Walk](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/the-hive-collective-brings-a-multifunctional-arts-hub-to-49-boltwood-walk/): Grand Opening May 29, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Source: Amherst Business Improvement District The Hive Collective, a new multifunctional creative hub dedicated to increasing arts participation and cultural access in Downtown Amherst, will officially open its doors at 49 Boltwood Walk on May 29. The public is invited to join the Grand
- [Trustees of Reservations and Kestrel Land Trust Offer a Shared Vision for Conservation, Community, Agriculture, and Education at Hampshire College](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/trustees-of-reservations-and-kestrel-land-trust-offer-a-shared-vision-for-conservation-community-agriculture-and-education-at-hampshire-college/): Source: The Trustees of Reservations The Trustees of Reservations and Kestrel Land Trust, a statewide and regional land trust, have joined forces to offer a unified conservation vision for Hampshire College's rural landscape surrounding the core campus. Hampshire College has long been defined by a bold vision of innovation, sustainability, community, and deep connection to
- [Town of Amherst Accepting Nominations for Youth Hero Awards](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/town-of-amherst-accepting-nominations-for-youth-hero-awards/): Submit Nominations Online by May 26 Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst Human Rights Commission (HRC) is accepting nominations for the 2026 Human Rights Youth Hero Awards. These awards recognize Amherst youth who demonstrate kindness, selflessness, social courage, and community service within their families, schools, and neighborhoodsNominations can be submitted online at amherstma.gov/youth-hero-awards through Tuesday, May 26, 2026. “The Amherst Human Rights Commission is hosting its 22nd Annual Youth Hero Awards, celebrating the acts of kindness and compassion demonstrated by young
- [Historical Commission Imposes Demolition Delay on Phillips Street Porches](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/historical-commission-imposes-demolition-delay-on-phillips-street-porches/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Historical Commission, May 12, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Robin Fordham (chair), George Baitinger, Joel Greenbaum, and Hetty Startup. Absent: Makenzie Landsittel. Staff: Walker Powell (planner). Alex Korotich, contractor for Eagle Crest Property Management, came before the Historical Commission to request approval
- [Jones Library Prepares for Fundraising Changing of the Guard](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/jones-library-prepares-for-fundraising-changing-of-the-guard/): Plans are underway to reconstitute the Joint Friends of the Jones Library-Board of Trustees Development Committee as the library prepares for its transition back to the Amity Street building in a year’s time. Fundraising has been governed by a 2018 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that placed all activities under the auspices of the Friends of
- [Elementary School Building Project on Budget and on Schedule](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/elementary-school-building-project-on-budget-and-on-schedule/): Report on the Meeting of the Elementary School Building Committee, May 15, 2026 The Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) held its monthly meeting on May 15, 2026. Holly Young was welcomed onto the committee as the new town procurement officer, replacing Simone Cristofori. Construction UpdateInterior work this past month included gymnasium flooring, kitchen equipment installation,
- [Opinion: DPW Building Committee Needs to Change How It Conducts Its Business](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/opinion-dpw-building-committee-needs-to-change-how-it-conducts-its-business/): On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, I drove to downtown Amherst in the middle of the afternoon to attend a meeting of the committee overseeing the construction of the town's new DPW facility — the DPW Building Committee (DPWBC). There was essentially one agenda item: reviewing the evaluation criteria that will be used to select a
- [Cherry Hill Hopes to Expand Opportunities for Cross-Country Skiing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/15/cherry-hill-plans-to-expand-opportunities-for-cross-country-skiing/): Report of the Meeting of the Cherry Hill Working Group, May 11, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Michele Miller (chair), Sanjay Arwade, Ryan Diplock, Sarah Goff, Hilary Matheson, Chris Pariseau, and Anurag Sharma. Staff: Rey Harp (recreation director), Dave Ziomek (assistant town manager). Eight people attended on Zoom. Plan
- [School Supporters Voice Concerns About FY27 Budget](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/14/school-supporters-voice-concerns-about-fy27-budget/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Finance Committee, May 11, 2026 This meeting was a hybrid meeting held at Town Hall. It was recorded. Present Cathy Schoen (District 1, chair), Jill Brevik (District 1), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Ana Devlin Gauthier, and Sam MacLeod (District 5). Resident Nonvoting members: Cathleen Mitchell, Tom Porter, and
- [Opinion: Austin Sarat on the Supreme Court's Take Down of Constitutional Democracy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/14/opinion-austin-sarat-on-the-supreme-courts-take-down-of-constitutional-democracy/): I was both gratified and puzzled by the commentary of Amherst College's Austin Sarat in The Guardian this week; gratified because I agree with it, and puzzled because what he decries in Washington, he apparently accepts in Amherst. In accurately noting the Supreme Court’s evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, Sarat begins his story with
- [Beacon Withdraws Plans for 140-Unit Housing Complex in North Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/14/beacon-withdraws-plans-for-140-unit-housing-complex-in-north-amherst/): Beacon Communities Vice President for Development Darcy Jameson informed Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Director of Planning and Economic Development Jeff Bagg on May 12 that the company was withdrawing its plans to build 140 units of affordable housing for seniors and families at 246 Montague Road. A group of residents unhappy about the density
- [Opinion: Amherst Should Not Have to Trade Wetland Protections for Housing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/14/opinion-amherst-should-not-have-to-trade-wetland-protections-for-housing/): The Mass Ready Act is being promoted as a major environmental and climate-resilience bill, and much of it appears to merit support. The legislation authorizes billions in environmental funding and includes investments related to drinking water, flood resilience, drought preparation, parks, trails, and the removal of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.” But two late-added
- [Central Fire Station to Temporarily Relocate for Work on Jones Library Utilities](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/14/central-fire-station-to-temporarily-relocate-for-work-on-jones-library-utilities/): Report on the Meeting of the Jones Library Building Committee, May 11, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Amherst Capital Projects Manager Bob Peirent told the committee that work will begin on new utility lines for the library that will run through the parking lot of Central Fire Station. The work
- [Amherst Now in Level 2 Drought](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/12/amherst-now-in-level-2-drought/): Source: mass.gov Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared last week that drought conditions have worsened in several regions of Massachusetts. The Connecticut River Valley, Central, and Northeast Regions and Nantucket County are now in a Level 2 - Significant Drought. The Western and Southeast Regions and Dukes County have moved to a Level 1 - Mild Drought. Conditions have slightly improved in the Cape, which is now a Level 1 - Mild Drought. Drought designations reflect long-term trends. The
- [Letter: UMass Decarbonization Claims Are Misleading](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/12/letter-umass-decarbonization-claims-are-misleading/): On May 8, the Indy published a UMass press release titled “UMass Amherst Launches Phase Two of Campus Decarbonization Plan.” I find it imperative to ask: what exactly was Phase 1? And how does hiring a consultant count as “launching Phase 2”? Phase 1 was never started, let alone completed. In 2021, the Carbon Mitigation
- [The World is on Fire. What the F**K Do We Do?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/11/the-world-is-on-fire-what-the-fk-do-we-do/): Join award-winning artist and journalist Jesse Mechanic and Interlink Publishing's editorial director Leyla Moushabeck for a conversation on the inequitable and inhumane systems shaping our world, the global drift towards authoritarianism, and the many ways we can resist. The discussion will be held on Saturday, May 16, at the Amherst College Center for Humanistic Inquiry
- [Plan Ahead for Heavy Traffic, Street Closures, During Move-Out and Commencement Events at UMass](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/11/plan-ahead-for-heavy-traffic-street-closures-during-move-out-and-commencement-events-at-umass/): Source: UMass News & Media The public is advised to plan ahead and expect heavy traffic, possible delays and road closures on and around the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus due to student move-out and Commencement activities Wednesday, May 13, through Sunday, May 17. Move-out for students is planned for Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14. On Friday,
- [UMass Amherst Launches Phase Two of Campus Decarbonization Plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/umass-amherst-launches-phase-two-of-campus-decarbonization-plan/): Source: UMass News & Media As part of UMass Amherst’s Path to Carbon Zero ongoing effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the university has partnered with RMF Engineering, Brailsford & Dunlavey, and DOC Construction to develop the second phase of the campus decarbonization plan. The updated plan will be completed in 2027 and will guide major decisions
- [Residents File Suit Challenging Proposed Development in North Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/28/residents-file-suit-challenging-proposed-development-in-north-amherst/): Source: Attorney Michael Pill On April 28, 2026, Amherst residents Hilda Greenbaum, Robin Jaffin, Alexander Hoar, Susan McGinn, Jay Mankita and RKP, LLC (Bruce Patterson, principal) filed a lawsuit in the Massachusetts Land Court against Beacon Properties, LLC (with the Town of Amherst as a nominal co-defendant), asking the court to rule on the applicability
- [Jumping Worms! The Worm That Is Taking over Gardens Everywhere, and How to Control Them in Yours](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/77909/): by Dede Wilson It's the time of the year. As gardeners are chomping at the bit to start planting, we are, in what is becoming an Indy annual tradition, reposting an article about Asian jumping worms. The following article by Dede Wilson appeared originally in The Queen Zone on April 22, 2024. It is reposted
- [Reports of Investigations from 2023 LGBTQ Crisis at Middle School Still Available](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/07/reports-of-investigations-from-2023-lgbtq-crisis-at-middle-school-still-available/): On March 23, 2026, the Indy reported that it had begun to curate an archive of news stories and op-eds about the 2023 LGBTQIA+ discrimination crisis at Amherst Regional Middle School. That archive had been started by a parent amid the crisis. It lists links to over 300 articles written between May 9, 2023, and
- [Amherst School Committee Condemns Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary Schools; Revised Policy Approved](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/amherst-school-committee-decries-use-of-restraint-and-seclusion-in-elementary-schools-revised-policy-approved/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, May 7, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall and was recorded. Present Deb Leonard (chair), Bridget Hynes, Laura Jane Hunter, and Andrew Hart Staff: Tonya McIntyre (director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment), JoAnn Smith (director of special education), and Alison Estes (principal,
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/whats-happening-in-amherst-225/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY MAY 9: COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING. 9 a.m. to noon, North Pleasant Street between Fisher Street and Hobart
- [Letter: Interventions at Drunken Student Parties Cost Town More Than Dollars](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/04/interventions-at-drunken-student-parties-cost-town-more-than-dollars/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on May 3, 2026. Last Saturday (5/2), a Kentucky Derby party at a house on South Pleasant Street got wildly out of hand. Hundreds of inebriated revelers were eventually dispersed by the police, who showed up in at least 10 police cars, including three State
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/whats-in-this-issue-283/): 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
- [Health Department Planning Education and Outreach on Tickborne Illnesses](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/health-department-planning-education-and-outreach-on-tickborne-illnesses/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Board of Health, May 6, 2025 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Risha Hess (Chair), Betsy Brooks, Jack Jemsek, Ileana Carrion, and Premila Nair Staff: Kiko Malin (Public Health Director) and Maheen Ahmed It's a Bad Tick YearMay is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and
- [Opinion: Amherst's Year-Round Residents Deserve a Seat at the Table When UMass Plans Housing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/opinion-amhersts-year-round-residents-deserve-a-seat-at-the-table-when-umass-plans-housing/): UMass Amherst often cites a reassuring figure: that about 60% of its students live on campus, placing it among the top public universities in the country for housing students in university facilities. On its face, that sounds like a sign that the campus is doing its part. But for those of us who live here
- [Four UMass Amherst Student Startups Share $65K in Annual Innovation Challenge Pitch Competition](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/four-umass-amherst-student-startups-share-65k-in-annual-innovation-challenge-pitch-competition/): Source: UMass News & Media Four student-led ventures shared in a $65,000 prize pool in the Innovation Challenge: The Final—the culminating pitch competition hosted by the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management on April 30. More than 50 ventures representing 10 schools and colleges across the university entered this year’s competition,
- [Photo of the Week: Beavers of the Norwottock Trail](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/photo-of-the-week-beavers-of-the-norwottock-trail/): Norwottuck Trail, Brickyard Conservation Area, Amherst. May 2026. Check out other photographs by Darya Zelentsova at darzel_photography on Instagram or DarZel photography on Facebook.Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description or caption and indicate who is
- [Opinion: Baystate Throws Trans Kids Under the Bus ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/opinion-baystate-throws-trans-kids-under-the-bus/): A group of concerned and impacted citizens have recently conducted their 3rd and 4th protest art installations in Greenfield and Northampton, in opposition to Baystate Health's decision to discontinue gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors — a decision made before any law required it, before any court upheld it, and one that has since been rendered
- [Letter: Amherst Fire Department is Dangerously Understaffed](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/letter-amherst-fire-department-is-dangerously-understaffed/): Over the past week, multiple incidents highlighted the strain placed on Amherst’s fire response due to simultaneous calls and limited staffing. Friday, May 1, Engine 1 was dispatched to a fire alarm activation at Hampshire College. At the same time, crews were already committed to a medical call, leaving Engine 1 responding with only two
- [Opinion: Jackson Katz in the Age of Podcasts and Polarization](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/opinion-jackson-katz-in-the-age-of-podcasts-and-polarization/): Social Injustice Goes Global At Amherst Books on May 6, Jackson Katz presented his latest book, Every Man: Why Violence Against Women Is a Men's Issue, and How You Can Make a Difference (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026), as part manifesto, part survival guide for institutional masculinity reform. The 2026 edition updates previous editions of the book
- [May Day Was Even More Important than You Think](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/may-day-was-even-more-important-than-you-think/): by Daniel Hunter The mass mobilization on May Day was a show of power — and a dress rehearsal of the tactics it takes to win against an authoritarian regime. The following article appeared originally in Waging Nonviolence on May 5, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0 International). On May
- [Letter: Strong Fiscal Work Informs Long-term Plans for Pelham Elementary School](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/08/letter-strong-fiscal-work-informs-long-term-plans-for-pelham-elementary-school/): The following is an open letter to the residents of Pelham. As we approach Town Meeting on Saturday, May 9, I want to highlight the strong fiscal work done by both the Pelham School Committee and the Pelham Select Board. Together, they have produced a responsible FY27 Pelham Elementary budget with only a 1.25% increase
- [Opinion: Amherst College Helped Found Hampshire College. Will It Help with a Just Closure?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/07/opinion-amherst-college-helped-found-hampshire-college-will-it-help-with-a-just-closure/): Amherst College played an outsized role in creating Hampshire College through its planning, early donors, founders, and geographic proximity. Hampshire, in turn, has had an impact on Amherst College and on higher education writ large, which was part of its mission. Now, even as Hampshire College moves toward closure, the opportunity for Amherst to positively
- [Hospice of the Fisher Home Marks 20 Years with Endowment Campaign](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/07/hospice-of-the-fisher-home-marks-20-years-with-100000-endowment-campaign-to-secure-the-future-of-compassionate-care-in-our-community/): Source: Hospice of the Fisher Home As Amherst's Hospice of the Fisher Home celebrates its 20th anniversary, the organization is honoring its past while making an investment in its future. For two decades, Hospice of the Fisher Home has provided compassionate, end-of-life care to individuals and families across Western Massachusetts – both in its residence
- [Bigger and Better than Ever Before](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/07/bigger-and-better-than-ever-before/)
- [Open Call for Artists: Gallery A3's 11th Annual Juried Show](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/07/open-call-for-artists-gallery-a3s-11th-annual-juried-show/): Source: Gallery A3 Gallery A3 announces an open call for artists for its 11th Annual Juried Show, to be held August 6–29, 2026. Submissions will be accepted online May 10–June 7, 2026. Gallery A3’s Annual Juried Show offers local and regional artists an opportunity to exhibit in a downtown Amherst gallery. It gives the community a chance to
- [Letter: Hampshire College Has Abdicated Its Responsibility to Its Students, Families, and Community](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/04/letter-hampshire-college-has-abidcated-its-responsibility-to-its-students-families-and-community/): The impending closure of Hampshire College (HC) has left students and families devastated in a way that is not well known to the public. Our daughter is going into her fourth year at HC. She has been told that there is no guarantee that she will be accepted at any of the consortium colleges. In addition,
- [Registration is Open for Kids’ Fun Week, June 22-26 at South Church](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/07/registration-is-open-for-kids-fun-week-june-22-26-at-south-church/): Source: Amherst South Church Kids’ Fun Week is coming to Amherst South Church on June 22-26. This weeklong, fun-packed summer experience is for kids completing K-5 this spring. It happens from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. Local children, from all faiths and backgrounds, are welcome to attend. The $150 per child cost includes lunch
- [Town Manager Report for April 27, 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/07/town-manager-report-for-april-27-2026/): Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the second Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 16 pages in length, provide up-to-date information on what is happening within and across town departments. The Manager Report is usually one of the last items
- [UMass Team Will Develop Plan to Modernize Campus Housing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/07/umass-team-will-develop-plan-to-modernize-campus-housing/): The project team will work toward developing options for contemporary undergraduate, graduate and non-student housing that preserves affordability while adding community amenities Source: UMass News and Media The University of Massachusetts Amherst, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Building Authority (UMBA), announced on May 7, that it has selected a development team led by
- [Amherst in the Year 2525](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/06/06/amherst-in-the-year-2525/)
- [Opinion: Ingredients of a Democracy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/08/29/opinion-ingredients-of-a-democracy/): Ira Bryck has lived in Amherst since 1993, ran the Family Business Center for 25 years, hosted the “Western Mass. Business Show” on WHMP for seven years, now coaches business leaders, and is a big fan of Amherst’s downtown.
- [Opinion: Honor the Promise – Not a Penny More](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/02/opinion-honor-the-promise-not-a-penny-more/): The Town Council will soon vote on whether to authorize allocating $477,000 of Community Preservation Act funds for the Jones Library Expansion Project.
- [Finding Italianate Buildings in Amherst and the Valley](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/06/finding-italianate-buildings-in-amherst-and-the-valley/): When I moved to western Massachusetts about 15 years ago, I noticed some striking examples of a style of architecture known as "Italianate," or the Italian Villa style. I have since learned that our Valley is rich in buildings in this style from the mid-1800s. The term "Villa style" is generally reserved for homes, while
- [Letter: Questions for the DPW Building Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/06/letter-questions-for-the-dpw-building-committee/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on May 5, 2026. Questions: Is there a place where town residents can follow the workings of the Amherst DPW Committee? The DPW Building Committee website posts links for Agendas, Minutes, Packets, and Recordings, but except for agendas, they are all empty. Is there a reason
- [FY27 Budget Presented to Town Council: Water and Sewer Rate Increases Are Coming](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/06/fy27-budget-presented-to-town-council-water-and-sewer-rate-increases-are-coming/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, May 4, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (president, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Pam Rooney and
- [Adventures of a Native Plant Gardener: Scilla in the Spring](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/04/adventures-of-a-native-plant-gardener-scilla-in-the-spring-2/): For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been enjoying – and simultaneously destroying – a literal efflorescence of Siberian Squill, Scilla siberica (also called Othocallis siberica or “spring scilla”) – and its close cousin, Scilla section Chionodoxa (glory of the snow). Scilla are lovely grassy bulbs that make beautiful little starry purple flowers – anywhere from 2” to about 6”. From a purely
- [UMass May Day Fest Calls on University to Democratize, Decolonize, and Demilitarize](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/05/umass-may-day-fest-calls-on-university-to-democratize-decolonize-and-demilitarize/): Organizers Heartened by Strong Turnout Across the Nation On Friday, May 1, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Solidarity Coalition hosted May Day Fest: A Festival of Student & Worker Power on Metawampe Lawn to mark International Workers' Day. The all-day festival featured hourly teach-ins led by organizations within the Solidarity Coalition, including student activist groups
- [Letter: It's Time to Revisit Fieldstone Apartments' Tax-exempt Status](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/05/letter-its-time-to-revisit-fieldstone-apartments-tax-exempt-status/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on May 5, 2026. Amherst and UMass depend on each other. The town benefits from the university’s presence, and UMass depends on town roads, public safety, utilities, and the broader civic life that makes Amherst a strong host community. That is exactly why the issue
- [Letter: Proposed Design Standards Will Yield a Better Downtown for All](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/21/letter-proposed-design-standards-will-produce-a-better-downtown-for-all/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Planning Board on April 20, 2026. Amherst now has in hand a thoughtful, community-based roadmap (see also here) for its future downtown, and the Planning Board should rely on it: the Dodson + Flinker work was commissioned precisely to balance economic vitality, livability, and Amherst’s small-town character.
- [Updated: Councilors Decry Racist Handbill Circulated in Amherst. Call for Tangible Action from Council](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/04/councilors-decry-racist-handbill-circulated-in-amherst-call-for-tangible-action-from-council/): The following statement was made by Town Councilors Jill Brevik, Amber Cano-Martin, Hala Lord, and Ellisha Walker at the meeting of the Amherst Town Council on May 4, 2026, concerning the distribution of a racist handbill on the windshields of parked cars in Amherst on April 29, 2026. They decried the harm inflicted on the
- [Hampshire College Coalition Seeks to Raise $10M in Two Weeks to Forestall Sale of Campus](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/hampshire-college-coalition-seeks-to-raise-10m-in-two-weeks-to-forestall-sale-of-campus/): A new coalition of Hampshire College alumni, students, parents, staff, and faculty calling themselves Hampshire Next, has organized to forestall the impending sale of the campus. The college announced on April 14 that it would close permanently at the end of the year, and Hampshire President Jennifer Chrisler announced April 28 that the campus would
- [Town Has Much to Consider with the Closing of Hampshire College](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/29/town-has-much-to-consider-with-the-closing-of-hampshire-college/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, April 27, 2026, Part 2 This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (president, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Pam Rooney
- [Adventures of a Native Plant Gardener: Scilla in the Spring](https://www.amherstindy.org/2024/04/05/adventures-of-a-native-plant-gardener-scilla-in-the-spring/): For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been enjoying – and simultaneously destroying – a literal efflorescence of Siberian Squill, Scilla siberica (also called Othocallis siberica or “spring scilla”) – and its close cousin, Scilla section Chionodoxa (glory of the snow). Scilla are lovely grassy bulbs that make beautiful little starry purple flowers – anywhere
- [School Committee Updates Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/04/school-committee-updates-bullying-prevention-and-intervention-plan/): Report on the Joint Meeting of the Regional School Committee and the Amherst School Committee, April 30, 2026 This meeting was held in a hybrid format at Amherst Regional High School and was recorded. Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan UpdatedThe new administrator of mental health and behavioral services, Colleen Bogonovich, has worked to update the
- [Saving Hampshire College: Plan C](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/hampshire-college-plan-c/)
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/02/whats-in-this-issue-282/): 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
- [Cuppa Joe with Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Finance Director Sean Mangano: The FY27 Budget](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/cuppa-joe-with-town-manager-paul-bockelman-and-finance-director-sean-mangano-the-fy27-budget/): The public is invited to Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Town Finance Director Sean Mangano for coffee and conversation about the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Budget. This will be the second Cuppa’ Joe with Paul “After Hours” event. The goal is to host some of these community sessions on weeknights, rather than just the traditional
- [UMass Celebrates Opening of $43M Public Health and Health Sciences Hub](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/umass-celebrates-opening-of-43m-public-health-and-health-sciences-hub/): Source: UMass News & Media The University of Massachusetts Amherst celebrated on May 1, the opening of its new $43 million School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) Hub, which unites the school’s six departments under one roof for the first time. University, state and local leaders gathered for a ribbon cutting for the 26,800-sq-ft building that features a multistory commons with exposed wood construction and a sweeping staircase,
- [Careless Disposal of Smoking Materials Causes at Least Five Fires in Amherst Area](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/careless-disposal-of-smoking-materials-causes-at-least-five-fires-in-amherst-area/): Source; Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren The Amherst Fire Department is reaching out to remind residents of the dangers of improper disposal of smoking materials, such as cigarettes, whether they be tobacco or marijuana. Smoking materials continue to be the number one cause of fatal fires in Massachusetts. In the past three weeks, there have been
- [Grand Opening for Izote Latin & American Kitchen, May 6](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/grand-opening-for-izote-latin-american-kitchen-may-6/): Source: Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Izote Latin & American Kitchen, 460 West St. in Amherst, will celebrate its grand opening on May 6 from 2:30-5:30 p.m. The restaurant opened for business in mid-April. Izote Latin & American Kitchen brings authentic Latin American food to Western Massachusetts, introducing a diverse selection of traditional dishes to
- [Photo of the Week: Farewell to Hampshire](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/photo-of-the-week-farewell-to-hampshire/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents a new picture each week by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/whats-happening-in-amherst-224/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. FRIDAY MAY 1: FULL MOON HIKE TO MOUNT NORWOTTUCK. 6:30 to 10 p.m., Kestrel Land Trust House, 37 Bay
- [Land Trust Wins $375,000 to Promote Affordable Home Ownership](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/land-trust-wins-375000-from-state-for-amity-street-development/): Source: Amherst Community Land Trust Last week, Governor Maura Healey announced an award of $375,000 in Community Investment Tax Credits (CITC) to Amherst Community Land Trust (ACLT), part of $12.8 million distributed to 52 eligible Community Development Corporations (CDCs). The award is the maximum allotment available, making ACLT one of the top recipients in the
- [Flooding and Temperature Extremes Are the Highest Risks in Amherst's Future](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/flooding-and-temperature-extremes-are-the-highest-risks-in-amhersts-future/): Report on the Public Meeting on the Updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, April 30, 2026 This hybrid meeting was held in Town Hall and was recorded. Mimi Kaplan, senior planner at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, presented a draft Hazard Mitigation Plan for Amherst. The previous plan was completed in 2017. This was the second and
- [New Appointments to Board of Health and Social Justice Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/05/01/new-appointments-to-board-of-health-and-social-justice-committee/): The following appointments were nominated by Town Manager Paul Bockelman and approved unanimously on the consent agenda by the Town Council at their meeting on April 27, 2026. Both appointments were unanimously recommended by the Town Services and Outreach Committee at its meeting on April 16, 2026. For the Board of Health: Ileana Carrion of
- [New Exhibits in May at Gallery A3](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/30/new-exhibits-in-may-at-gallery-a3/): Source: Gallery A3 Mixed media collages on paper by Sue Curran join acrylic paintings on glass by GK Khalsa at Gallery A3 in May. On display May 7–30, with the Opening Reception on May 8, 5­–7 pm. Gallery A3 is located at 28 Amity Street 1D in the Amherst Cinema Complex. Gallery hours are Thursday
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/whats-happening-in-amherst-223/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY APRIL 25: UMASS DASH AND DINE. 9 a.m., Horseshoe, University Drive, UMass. UMass Dining is excited to host
- [Opinion: Join Me in the Streets This May Day](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/30/opinion-join-me-in-the-streets-this-may-day/): by Sulma Arias This year, the organizers of May Day Strong are calling for everyone to participate in a new version of a general strike—with no work, no school, and no shopping—wherever you are. The following article appeared originally in Common Dreams on April 30, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons License (CC
- [Town Issues Statement Regarding Hateful, Racist Letter Circulating in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/30/town-issues-statement-regarding-hateful-racist-letter-circulating-in-amherst/): Source: amherstma.gov On Wednesday, April 29, Town officials were notified of letters being placed on multiple vehicles in Amherst that contained hateful and racist sentiments. The Amherst Police Department (APD) immediately responded to the area and spoke with approximately seven residents who received the letter. APD has not received any notification that additional residents have
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: American Elm, The Massachusetts State Tree](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/30/amherst-arbor-spotlight-american-elm-the-massachusetts-state-tree/): American Elm Ulmus americanaby The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee This is the fifth in a series of 12 articles produced by the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) under the title “Amherst Arbor Spotlight.” The series focuses on the town’s 12 species of shade trees and features a different tree each month. New articles
- [Opinion: New Film Celebrates 16 Years of Internships at Amherst Community Connections](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/29/opinion-new-film-celebrates-16-years-of-internships-at-amherst-community-connections/): Amherst, with its tree-lined streets, farmers markets, and students debating climate justice over $7 lattes, is a place whose residents say that "community matters" — and they actually believe it. We don't post about the woman choosing between rent and heat in February, or the older man aging out of his apartment because the stairs
- [Opinion: The Wrong Engineering School is Closing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/29/opinion-the-wrong-engineering-school-is-closing/): The following column appeared originally in Gordon's Stem Blog on April 20, 2026 and is reproduced here with the author's permission. Hampshire College is closing down. I live a few miles from the campus in Amherst, Massachusetts. It is a beautiful piece of real estate, and watching it go dark will sure be a waste.
- [Opinion: End 47](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/29/opinion-end-47/): The trump administration is charging the town of Turners Falls on two counts, first in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871, alleging that Montague, a borough of Turners Falls, knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States. This charge alleges
- [Western Mass Mobilizes for May Day Economic Blackout](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/28/western-mass-mobilizes-for-may-day-economic-blackout/): No School, No Work, No Shopping Hundreds of labor unions, democratic organizations, and community groups from across the country have called for an economic blackout on May 1 — International Workers' Day — to protest Trump administration policies, threats of interference with the midterm elections, and economic inequality that they say prioritizes billionaires over workers,
- [Two-Thirds of Applicants for Amherst Community Homes Qualify for Local Preference](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/29/two-thirds-of-applicants-for-amherst-community-homes-qualify-for-local-preference/): Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, April 23, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: David Sloviter (acting chair), David Ahlfeld, Craig Meadows, Philip White, and Hilda Greenbaum (associate member). Absent: Everald Henry (chair). Staff: Jacinta Williams (planner). Amherst Community Homes Nearing CompletionUnder the special permit granted
- [Council Rejects Additional CPA Funding for Jones Library Project](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/29/council-rejects-additional-cpa-funding-for-jones-library-project/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, April 27, 2026, Part 1 This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Pam Rooney
- [Claudia Pazmany Named Executive Director of the Downtown Amherst Foundation and The Drake](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/28/claudia-pazmany-named-executive-director-of-the-downtown-amherst-foundation-and-the-drake/): Source: Gabriel Gould The Downtown Amherst Foundation (DAF) has named Claudia Pazmany its new executive director, bringing a familiar downtown leader back to Amherst in a role focused fully on the foundation and its signature cultural enterprise, The Drake. Her first day will be June 1. "Bringing Claudia onto this team feels like the most
- [Weekend Fire and Flooding at Brandywine Apartments Displace 13 Residents](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/28/weekend-fire-and-flooding-at-brandywine-apartments-displace-13-residents/): Source: Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren Amherst firefighters responded to a 911 call from a passerby at 2:01 a.m. Saturday, April 26, reporting a fire on the rear of Building 2 at Brandywine Apartments in North Amherst. Arriving crews found a fire on the wooden back porch of a third-floor apartment that had extended into the
- [Letter: Lamenting the Transformation of the McLellan Street Neighborhood](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/28/letter-lamenting-the-transformation-of-the-mclellan-street-neighborhood/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council and the Amherst Planning Board on April 28, 2026. As a longtime resident of downtown Amherst, Massachusetts, I am deeply concerned about the dissolution of our local community. It is undeniable that the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Five College Consortium are hubs of
- [Amherst Media Will Offer Teen Summer Programs in Digital Media](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/28/amherst-media-will-offer-teen-summer-program-in-digital-media/): Source: Amherst Media Amherst Media announces two new summer programs for teens. These programs are a great chance for teens to learn the value of community storytelling and their place within it. In Mysteries of the Forest, which will run from July 27, August 7, students will have the opportunity to write, produce, direct, and edit original
- [Mass Kids Lit Fest Returns with Four Events in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/mass-kids-lit-fest-returns-with-four-events-in-amherst/): Source: Massachusetts Center for the Book Massachusetts Center for the Book (MCB) is bringing back the Mass Kids Lit Fest, running from May 3-9, 2026. Now in its third year, this vibrant children’s book festival overlaps with Children’s Book Week, a national celebration of literature and reading. Families can meet acclaimed Massachusetts authors and illustrators,
- [Community Rallies to Support Hampshire College Refugees](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/community-rallies-to-support-hampshire-college-refugees/): About 250 Hampshire College faculty, staff, students, and allies rallied on the Amherst Town Common on Thursday to protest the imminent layoffs of 200 faculty and staff members and to call out the other four colleges in the Five College Consortium — Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and UMass Amherst — for not doing more to
- [DPW’s Amy Rusiecki Completes Her 20th Boston Marathon](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/21/dpws-amy-rusiecki-completes-her-20th-boston-marathon/): Amy Rusiecki is a familiar face at the Department of Public Works where she is the long-time Assistant Superintendent. She is also a familiar face on the course of the Boston Marathon, where on April 20, 2026 she completed the race from Hopkington to Boston for the 20th time. Although Rusiecki, age 48, said that
- [Opinion:  Come Celebrate Amherst Media’s 50th Anniversary and the Contribution of Independent Media to Sustaining Democracy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/21/opinion-come-celebrate-amherst-medias-50th-anniversary-and-the-contribution-of-independent-media-to-sustaining-democracy/): My colleague, anthropologist Tom Patterson, used to say that a free press is the right of anyone who owns one. Across the history of this country, media have been increasingly defined by corporate ownership, and that has certainly become more problematic as that ownership has become concentrated in the hands of a small collection of
- [Updated: Hampshire College Alumni Reflect on an Education That Changes Lives](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/21/hampshire-alumni-reflect-on-an-education-that-changes-lives/): by Evangeline Weiss, Kristen Harbeson, Anthony Thomas, Dani Slabaugh, Gillian Parent, and Roger Sherman Several Hampshire College alumni have shared their personal reflections with theIndy on the announcement that the college will close permanently at the end of this year. We share six of those reflections here, and will continue to post personal reflections and
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/whats-in-this-issue-281/): 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
- [Valley Green Energy to Lower Electricity Prices for Most Participants Beginning in May](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/valley-green-energy-to-lower-electricity-prices-for-most-participants-beginning-in-may/): Source: amherstma.gov The communities of Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham will see a price reduction for the majority of participants in Valley Green Energy, a regional group electricity buying program administered by the three communities. Starting in May 2026, participants currently enrolled in two of the program’s three options, VGE Standard Green and VGE Basic, will automatically transition
- [Controversy Over Reflection Rooms in New Elementary School Continues](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/controversy-over-reflection-rooms-in-new-elementary-school-continues/): This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. The Elementary School Building Committee's (ESBC) monthly meeting on April 17, 2026, had a full agenda of updates and became impassioned over recent changes to plans for four small "reflection rooms." Construction UpdateKseniya Slavsky, owner's project manager for Accenture, reported that construction is on schedule. Recent
- [Photo of the Week: Amherst Arts Night Plus Returns](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/photo-of-the-week-amherst-arts-night-plus-returns/): Arts Night Plus returned April 23 after a six-year hiatus. Across downtown, 20 venues opened their doors, more than 20 local artists shared their work, and a number of pieces were sold over the course of the evening. With the exception of exhibits at Gallery A3 and the Town Hall Art Gallery, the exhibits were spare,
- [Opinion: Some Questions About Hampshire College](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/opinion-some-questions-about-hampshire-college/): I was deeply saddened and perhaps more surprised than many at the announcement of Hampshire College’s imminent closing, and I have a number of real questions that I have not seen addressed and considered, even if they cannot be definitively answered. Perhaps the fundamental and overarching question is: Is Hampshire’s institutional failure tied closely to
- [Conservation Commission Approves Wetlands Mitigation Plan for Amity Street Multi-Family Affordable Housing Project](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/conservation-commission-approves-wetlands-mitigation-plan-for-amity-street-multi-family-affordable-housing-project/): Report on the Meeting of the Conservation Commission, April 22, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Andrey Guidera (chair), Bruce Stedman, Jason Dorney, Tina Smith, Sarah Matthews, Carol McNeary, and Rachel Loeffler. Staff: Erin Jacques (conservation agent) and Dave Ziomek (assistant town manager). It was a good couple of weeks
- [Performance Slots Are Open for Acoustic Songs of the Sixties Benefit for PVFS](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/performance-slots-are-open-for-acoustic-songs-of-the-sixties-benefit-for-pvfs/): Source: Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Pioneer Valley Folklore Society will hold its annual fundraiser on Saturday May 2, with a special event: Acoustic Songs of the Sixties Tribute. The event will be held at First Church, 165 Main St., Amherst at 7:00 p.m. Free parking is available behind the church. The event is free and
- [Opinion: Governor Healy's Social Media Ban is Even Worse Than You Think](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/opinion-governor-healys-social-media-ban-is-even-worse-than-you-think/): Governor Healey and several misguided MA lawmakers recently advanced some invasive online ID check legislation, (see also here and here) in the form of a “social media ban” for young people. Lawmakers claim this is about "kids safety." But if their proposal becomes law, it would require all 7 million of us state residents to submit
- [Opinion: Local and Green: Let's Own Our Power](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/opinion-local-and-green-lets-own-our-power/): The following column appeared previously in the Amherst Bulletin. Climate change is not just a threat — it’s a daily reality impacting our lives. Local residents are feeling the pressure of an energy system strained by fossil fuel dependency. That’s why our local electricity aggregation, Valley Green Energy, (and all our local municipalities) should examine
- [New Accessible Walkway for Munson Library to Be Completed by June 30](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/new-accessible-walkway-for-munson-library-to-be-completed-by-june-30/): Report on the Meeting of the Commission for Persons With Disabilities, April 14, 2026 By Maura Keene This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Myra Ross (chair), James Kruidenier, Ian Rhodewalt, Cody Rooney, Reginald Andrade, Seren Derin and Pamela Nolan Young (staff appointee). Guest: Amber Cano-Martin (Town Council liaison) Building Commissioner Rob
- [Letter: Some Recommendations for Review of the CRESS Budget](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/letter-some-recommendations-for-review-of-the-cress-budget/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Finance Committee on April 15, 2026. Town support for CRESS (Community Responders for Equity Safety and Service) has faltered since inception, even as CRESS’s role has expanded. CRESS has become a critical resource for residents who face challenges of insecurity, disability, mental health, housing, poverty and resources. It
- [Planning Board Opposes Creation of East Amherst Historic District](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/24/planning-board-opposes-creation-of-east-amherst-historic-district/): Report of the Meeting of the Planning Board, April 22, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Doug Marshall (chair), Fred Hartwell, Jesse Mager, Angus McLeod, Johanna Neumann and Jerah Smith. Absent: Bruce Coldham. Staff: Nate Malloy (assistant planning director), Pam Field-Sadler (assistant). Planning Board Does Not Recommend Creation of an
- [Finance Committee Recommends $330,000 for Library Project on Split Vote](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/23/finance-committee-recommends-330000-for-library-project-on-split-vote/): Report of the Meeting of the Finance Committee, April 21, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Cathy Schoen (District 1, chair), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Ana Devlin Gauthier and Sam MacLeod (District 5). Resident nonvoting members: Cathleen Mitchell and Tom Porter. Absent: Jill Brevik (District 1) and Joseph Jayne (nonvoting
- [Why I Love Local Small Country Stores](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/22/why-i-love-local-small-country-stores/): Recently, while in Huntington, I stopped by Moltenbrey's Market, located in a modest house on Route 112. With sparse signs of other commercial activity nearby, this country store is a little gem selling fresh fruit and vegetables, prepared foods, baking supplies and an assortment of meats from its own meat counter. I keep a mental
- [Public Invited to UMass Celebration of Founder’s Day, April 29, a Full Day of Free Activities on UMass Campus](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/22/public-invited-to-umass-celebration-of-founders-day-april-29-a-full-day-of-free-activities-on-umass-campus/): UMass has scheduled a variety of activities from morning to evening on Founders Day, Wednesday, April 29. Founders Day is a beloved campus-wide celebration, held annually on April 29, to honor the University's founding in 1863 and its history as a top public research university. The daylong event, often celebrated with a campus cookout on Haigis
- [Emergency Relief Fund Started to Support Laid-Off Staff and Faculty at Hampshire College](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/20/emergency-relief-fund-started-to-support-laid-off-staff-and-faculty-at-hampshire-college/): Source: Help Hampshire Workers Emergency Relief Fund On April 14, 2026, Hampshire College announced its closure, with most staff and faculty positions ending on June 16 and no severance provided to 250 employees. Following the announcement that Hampshire College will close, a group of staff and faculty has launched the Help Hampshire Workers Emergency Relief
- [Bearing Witness to Immigrant Suffering at Burlington ICE](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/20/bearing-witness-to-immigrant-suffering-at-burlington-ice/): When I learned last summer that immigrants were being mistreated not only in faraway places like Texas and Florida, but also near Boston, right across from the Burlington Mall, I wanted to make sure my neighbors knew about it. I wanted at least to stand outside the ICE building with a sign. But I was
- [Opinion: Man on the Street Asks, What’s Going on at the Senior Center These Days?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/20/opinion-man-on-the-street-asks-whats-going-on-at-the-senior-center-these-days/): This week a local man returned to his former workplace at the Bangs Community Center, just to check in. Most folks don’t get the opportunity to see things from the inside, but he had taken advantage of the Older Americans' Act of 1965 (remember the 'Great Society' programs—voting rights, expansion of health care coverage, and
- [Photography of Stephen Texiera at Amherst Town Hall Art Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/20/photography-of-stephen-texiera-at-amherst-town-hall-art-gallery/): Source: amherstma.gov The Amherst Town Hall Art Gallery will be featuring an exhibition of giclé prints of photography by local artist Stephen Texeira. This exhibit will open on Thursday, April 23 for the return of Amherst Arts Night Plus and remain on display through the end of May. The public is invited to meet the artist at a free reception during Amherst Arts Night Plus on Thursday, April 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Amherst Town
- [DPW Building Committee Seeks to Hire Designer by July. Swing Space for DPW Workers? Maybe Not](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/16/dpw-building-committee-seeks-to-hire-designer-by-july-swing-space-for-dpw-workers-maybe-not/): Report on the Meeting of the DPW Building Committee, April 15, 2026 This meeting was held in person at Town Hall. Present Christine Gray-Mullen (Chair), David Ahlfeld, Joe Cook, Paul Bockelman (Town Manager), Guilford Mooring (Superintendent of Public Works), Sean Mangano (Finance Director), and Pam Rooney (Town Councilor, District 4). Staff: Bob Peirent (Capital Projects
- [Opinion: What's the Color of Your Money?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/20/opinion-whats-the-color-of-your-money/): At the Finance Committee meeting on April 7, 2026, when discussing whether to authorize more Amherst Community Preservation Act (CPA) dollars for the Jones Library building project, District 2 Councilor Lynn Griesemer made the following statement: “Yes, I own the statement “not a penny more”, but here's where I differ: I don't think of CPA
- [Opinion: When Five Is Better Than Four: Can Hampshire College Still Be Saved?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/20/when-five-is-better-than-four-can-hampshire-college-still-be-saved/): On April 14, 2026, Hampshire College announced that it will close permanently. This surprised many people, coming just two months after a letter to The Boston Globe by the leaders of Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges and the University of Massachusetts Amherst stating that “It’s Not Too Late to Save Hampshire College”, and stressing
- [Hampshire College to Close Permanently at Year's End](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/14/hampshire-college-to-close-permanently-at-years-end/): Hampshire College President Jennifer Chrilser announced this morning (3/14/26) that the Hampshire College Board of Trustees voted to permanently close the college at the end of the Fall 2026 term. Hampshire has been struggling for several years to remain financially viable and to recover from a dramatic drop in enrollment when it decided not to
- [Return of Amherst Arts Night Plus: A Celebration of Art in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/return-of-amherst-arts-night-plus-a-celebration-of-art-in-amherst/): The Amherst Business Improvement District and Amherst Center Cultural District announce the return of Amherst Arts Night Plus, a vibrant celebration of the town’s creative community, taking place on Thursday, April 23, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. throughout Downtown Amherst. After a six year hiatus, Arts Night Plus returns with renewed energy, inviting residents,
- [death of a liberal arts college](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/death-of-a-liberal-arts-college/): death of a liberal arts college1965-2026 this morning i woke having sweat out a fever, still stumbling through virus dreams of garbled time and place, to hear you will be dead by autumn a stubborn refusal to go softly, they will say you were another expected casualty, a bottom line ending, a tough sell in a world
- [CSSJC Questions Delay in Reviewing Resident Oversight Board Bylaw ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/15/cssjc-questions-delay-in-reviewing-resident-oversight-board-bylaw/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, April 8, 2026 By Bella Astrofsky The meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentDebora Ferreira (Co-Chair), Allegra Clark (Co-Chair), Everald Henry, Erica Piedade, Lissette Paredes. Anna Derby. One vacancy. Staff: Assistant DEI Director Philip Avila and CRESS Director Camille Theriaque
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/whats-in-this-issue-280/): 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
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/whats-happening-in-amherst-222/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. FRIDAY APRIL 17 THROUGH SUNDAY APRIL 19: ALTERED STATES EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE. Friday 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday 6
- [Closures Scheduled for Road Improvements](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/closures-scheduled-for-road-improvements/): Source: Department of Public Works Superintendent of Public Works, Guilford Mooring, announced a schedule of upcoming road repairs that will require road closures from now into the fall. The Department of Public Works (DPW) continues work on various construction projects to improve the town's roads and sidewalks. The notice below includes information about each project
- [Little Agreement Emerges from Eversource Public Meeting with Residents, But Discussions Will Continue](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/little-agreement-emerges-from-eversource-public-meeting-with-residents-but-discussions-will-continue/): Area residents packed the Town Room of Amherst Town Hall the evening of April 14 to hear a panel of representatives from Eversource describe their WT-11 Transmission Right of Way Reliability Program (TRRP) and to engage them with questions and concerns about the project. The meeting was accessible on Zoom and was recorded. The event
- [Amherst Sustainability Festival: A Day of Family Fun, Education, and Entertainment](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/amherst-sustainability-festival-a-day-of-family-fun-education-and-entertainment/): Mark your calendars for the 14th Annual Amherst Sustainability Festival, taking place on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Amherst Town Common. Coinciding with the regularly scheduled Amherst Farmer’s Market, this free and family friendly event brings together local farmers, environmental vendors, advocacy groups, live entertainment, hands-on demonstrations, sustainable crafts, and much more. “The Amherst Sustainability Festival has become a beloved event
- [Photos of the Week: The Amherst Global Village Festival](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/photos-of-the-week-the-amherst-global-village-festival/): By Art Keene, Philip Avila, Marita Banda, and Dayun Taylor On April 11, one of the first mild days of spring, an estimated 1500 people chose to enthusiastically spend a portion of their time indoors at Amherst Regional High School to attend the town’s second annual Global Village Festival. Those attending represented approximately 80 different
- [Opinion: Conflating Criticism of Israel with Antisemitism Endangers All](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/opinion-conflating-criticism-of-israel-with-antisemitism-endangers-all/): Israeli leaders and Zionists everywhere have, for decades, strived to, and have been successful at equating Israelism (American Jews with an unquestioning emotional and political attachment to Israel) with Judaism; that is, to make them one and the same. The converse then became true: to criticize Israel is now considered to be anti-semitic, or if
- [Regional School Committee Approves Bid for ARMS Roof Repairs. Hears Calls for Advanced Spanish Classes at Middle School](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/regional-school-committee-approves-bid-for-arms-roof-repairs-hears-calls-for-advanced-spanish-classes-at-middle-school/): Report on the Meeting of Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, April 14, 2026 This meeting was held in the library of the Amherst Regional High School and simulcast over Amherst Media Channel 9, and was recorded. PresentRegional School Committee: Sarahbess Kenney (Chair, Pelham), Andrew Hart (Amherst), Laura Jane Hunter (Amherst), Anna Heard (Shutesbury), Bridget Hynes (Amherst),
- [Historical Commission Approves Demolishing Rear of 174 Amity for Construction of Affordable Townhouses](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/16/historical-commission-approves-demolishing-rear-of-174-amity-for-construction-of-affordable-townhouses/): Report on the Meeting of the Historical Commission, April 14, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentRobin Fordham (Chair), George Baitinger, Joel Greenbaum and Hetty Startup. Absent: Makenzie Landsittel Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) Permission Granted to Demolish Rear Section of 174 Amity StreetThe Amherst Historical Commission (AHC) voted unanimously that the
- [Jones Library Construction Proceeding on Schedule. Borrowing is Now Complete](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/jones-library-construction-proceeding-on-schedule-borrowing-is-now-complete/): Report of the Meeting of the Jones Library Building Committee, April 16, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentAustin Sarat (Chair), Sean Mangano (Finance Director), Christine Gray-Mullen, Farah Ameen, George Ryan, Alex Lefebvre, and George Hicks-Richards (Library Building Maintenance Official) Absent: Sharon Sharry (Library Director) and Paul Bockelman (Town Manager) Staff:
- [Virtuoso Organist to Open South Church Arts & Social Justice Series](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/virtuoso-organist-to-open-south-church-arts-social-justice-series/): Source: Bruce Penniman Widely acknowledged as one of the brightest stars in the new generation of American organists, Christopher Houlihan will perform on the oldest working Casavant organ in the United States on Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. at South Congregational Church in Amherst. Houlihan has established an international reputation as a “passionate and
- [How UMass' "Public-Private" Dorm May Be Shortchanging Amherst Taxpayers](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/how-umasss-public-private-dorm-may-be-shortchanging-amherst-taxpayers/): The following article was written with the assistance of Perplexity AI. Some Amherst residents have pointed out a downside of "more dorms on campus" — that if built within the laws of a Public Private Partnership (P3) (see also here), the town of Amherst may never see a dime in property taxes from these buildings
- [New Amherst Track to Open Soon](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/17/new-amherst-track-to-open-soon/): Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools This spring, student-athletes at Amherst Regional High school will be practicing on the new eight-lane track. All meets will continue to take place at away locations as field improvements continue. Temporary fencing will remain in place to protect newly seeded grass and turf. Looking ahead to summer, the track is
- [What Are Our Campuses Doing to Decarbonize?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/16/what-are-our-campuses-doing-to-decarbonize/): From a new net-zero school and eliminating the use of fossil fuels in town facilities like the Jones Library, to supporting a heat pump incentive program for residents, Amherst has been working under difficult financial constraints to reduce greenhouse (GHG) emissions townwide. But in many ways, the GHG emission from the town are minor compared to those
- [Opinion: Six Key Climate Truths](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/16/opinion-six-key-climate-truths/): Love, Justice, and Climate Change While individual support for limiting the effects of climate change is widespread, we have not yet been successful in creating a broad, powerful movement in the U.S. that insists on bold action by governments and businesses. Despite the existential threat that climate change poses for all of humanity, we have
- [Opening Day for Amherst Farmers' Market is This Saturday](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/16/opening-day-for-amherst-farmers-market-is-this-saturday/): Source: amherstma.gov Opening day for the Amherst Farmers' Market will be Saturday April 18. The market will operate every Saturday until November 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Town Common. The Amherst Farmers' Market is widely known as one of the best places for local food, fun, and community! Offering farm-to-table produce
- [Loss of Hampshire College Resonates Deeply Within Amherst Community](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/15/loss-of-hampshire-college-resonates-deeply-within-amherst-community/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst issued the following statement on April 15, 2026, in response to the announced closing of Hampshire College. The closure of Hampshire College at the end of 2026 is a loss that resonates deeply within our community. This loss will be felt across the Town of Amherst, the Pioneer Valley, and higher education at large. First, our thoughts are
- [Neighbors Unhappy with Beacon’s Plan to Build 140 Units in North Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/15/neighbors-unhappy-with-beacons-plan-to-build-140-units-in-north-amherst/): At a community meeting held at the Amherst Survival Center on the evening of April 13, Beacon Communities found no supporters for its plan to build 140 units of affordable housing for seniors (over age 55) and families (non-age-restricted) at 246 Montague Road, on land owned by the Mitchell family. There were about 50 attendees
- [Opinion: Hampshire Closing Opens Door To Regional Innovation Hub](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/15/opinion-hampshire-closing-opens-door-to-regional-innovation-hub/): Campus Could Become Live-Work Innovation Community The decision to close Hampshire College after the fall 2026 semester is now final. After years of financial strain, one of the region’s most distinctive institutions will wind down, leaving behind not just a legacy, but a question: What should become of its campus? That question matters far beyond
- [Sadness and Good Fellowship Mark All-campus Meeting on Hampshire's Closing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/14/sadness-and-good-fellowship-mark-all-campus-meeting-on-hampshires-closing/): At noon on Tuesday, April 14, Hampshire College convened a meeting of its students, faculty and staff at the biggest indoor space on campus, the Robert Crown Center. President Jennifer Chrisler and a group of trustees were there to say why they decided to close the college and what would happen next. Trustees Chair Jose
- [Letter: Taking Pride in Hampshire College's Accomplishments](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/14/letter-taking-pride-in-hampshire-colleges-accomplishments/): My sixty years of involvement with Hampshire College have rewarded me in ways too many to count, and now with a sadness too deep to measure. I’m proud of what Hampshire has accomplished, and even proud today of how its president and trustees have confronted the overwhelming circumstances forcing it to close at the end
- [No Shortage of Good Energy and Ideas at Cherry Hill Listening Session ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/14/no-shortage-of-good-energy-and-ideas-at-cherry-hill-listening-session/): About 20 people attended the Cherry Hill Working Group’s (CHWG) listening session at the Cherry Hill Golf Course Clubhouse on Sunday, April 12, despite its being held during the final round of the PGA Masters Tournament. Zoom attendance was also enabled. Also in attendance were Michele Miller (Chair), and CHWG members Chris Pareiseau, Hillary Matheson,
- [Fact Check: Did Only One Councilor Promise 'Not a Penny More' for the Jones Expansion Project?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/13/fact-check-did-only-one-councilor-promise-not-a-penny-more-for-the-jones-expansion-project/): At their April 7 meeting, the Finance Committee spent time debating whether the Jones Library project should receive additional funding in the form of a $330,000 CPA historic preservation grant. See related: Finance Committee Wants More Information about Jones Library CPA Request CPA funds are predominantly local tax dollars, collected through a 3% surcharge on
- [Opinion: We Love the Amherst Vision, But Who's Paying for It?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/13/opinion-we-love-the-amherst-vision-but-whos-paying-for-it/): Social Injustice Goes Global The facilities that protect our streets, our workers, and our families aren’t optional. Fire stations and DPW centers are the backbone of a functioning town—and right now, Amherst is finally starting to talk seriously about building them. The Town Council is moving forward without what should be the bare minimum: a
- [Eversource Offers Information on Its Vegetation Management Practices](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/13/eversource-offers-information-on-its-vegetation-management-practices/): Source: Eversource In advance of its April 14 Public Meeting in Amherst on clearcutting for powerlines, Eversource has provided the following information: The transmission system is the highway of the electric grid. It carries high-voltage electricity from power generation sources to the lower-voltage distribution system that supplies power to homes and businesses. Eversurce manages vegetation in and
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-25/): Table of Contents THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTHE MIDTERMSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 4/10/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Thanks to all who
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/whats-in-this-issue-279/): 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
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/whats-happening-in-amherst-221/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY APRIL 11: IT’S TREE PLANTING TIME! 9 a.m. to noon, Main Street at Sweetser Park or North
- [Mobile Dental Clinic Returns on May 7](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/mobile-dental-clinic-returns-on-may-7/): Source: Amherst Senior Center The Amherst Senior Center will sponsor a mobile dental clinic on Thursday May 7 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m, at the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Appointments are required. Call 413-259-3060 to schedule an appointment. Services offered include blood pressure screening, oral cancer screening, clinical assessment, and teeth cleaning.
- [Opinion: The UMass Death Spiral](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/opinion-the-umass-death-spiral/): The following column appeared previously in the Amherst Bulletin. As a retired professor with 35 years of teaching experience at UMass Amherst and having served as Graduate Program Director in the Political Science Department, I found the March 30 story in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, on cuts in graduate admissions, distressing. The story suggests a
- [18th Annual Empty Bowls at the Amherst Survival Center](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/18th-annual-empty-bowls-at-the-amherst-survival-center/): Source: Amherst Survival Center The Amherst Survival Center invites the public to join them at the 18th Annual Empty Bowls, on Saturday April 18, from Noon-4 p.m. at the Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Empty Bowls is a beloved community tradition. Spend the afternoon enjoying a delicious, hearty soup prepared by your favorite local restaurants
- [Tilted Orbit Pinball Arcade Coming to Mill District](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/tilted-orbit-pinball-arcade-coming-to-mill-district/): Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, April 9, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Everald Henry (Chair), David Ahlfeld, Craig Meadows, David Sloviter, and Philip White Staff: Jacinta Williams (Planner) With little discussion, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), unanimously approved the application for a Special
- [Pinball Arcade Proposed for Mill District](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/pinball-arcade-proposed-for-mill-district/): Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, March 26, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Everald Henry (Chair), David Ahlfeld, Craig Meadows, David Sloviter, and Philip White. Staff: Jacinta Williams (Planner) Pinball Arcade Proposed for Former Atkins North StoreFlorence resident Amy McDonough applied for a special permit
- [UMass Receives $1.5 Million Gift to Endow Professorship in Mediterranean Archaeology](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/umass-receives-1-5-million-gift-to-endow-professorship-in-mediterranean-archaeology/): Source: UMass News & Media Jeffrey Horvitz, father of Caroline H. Horovitz and executor of her estate, has pledged $1.5 million to establish the Caroline H. Horvitz Professorship in Mediterranean Archaeology in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts (HFA) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The gift honors Caroline’s wishes and her tenure as
- [Signup Deadline for Amherst Rubbish Roundup is April 19](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/signup-deadline-for-amherst-rubbish-roundup-is-april-19/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst will host its annual Amherst Rubbish Roundup on Sunday, April 26 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. This community clean up event aims to bring residents together for a fun and impactful day of cleaning and beautifying our beloved town. Participants are asked to sign up by Sunday, April 19 at amherstma.gov/RubbishRoundup2026 All town residents and groups are invited to participate, including community organizations, businesses, families, neighborhood associations, student
- [FlixBus to Launch First Direct Amherst–Boston Service on April 16](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/flixbus-to-launch-first-direct-amherst-boston-service-on-april-16/): Source: FlixBus Inc. FlixBus, North America’s fastest-growing intercity bus service, is expanding its Northeast network with the launch of a new route connecting Boston to Albany via Worcester, Amherst, and Northampton, starting April 16, 2026. This new service introduces FlixBus’s first direct, fast connection between Amherst and Boston, giving students at UMass Amherst and SUNY
- [In Amherst, a Short Errand Can Take Hours Without a Car](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/in-amherst-a-short-errand-can-take-hours-without-a-car/): On a cold Saturday morning in Amherst, a rider stands at a bus stop near North Pleasant Street, checking their phone and scrolling through a short grocery list. Milk, eggs, maybe some fruit. The Route 33 bus is expected soon, but timing matters. If they just missed it, the next one may not arrive for
- [Finance Committee Wants More Information about Jones Library CPA Request](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/finance-committee-wants-more-information-about-jones-library-cpa-request/): Report on the Meeting of the Finance Committee, April 7, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentCathy Schoen (Chair, District 1), Jill Brevik (District 1), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), and Sam MacLeod and Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5). Resident non-voting members: Joseph Jayne, Cathleen Mitchell. Absent: Tom Porter. Staff: Sean Mangano
- [Town Engineer Explains How Road Repairs are Prioritized](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/town-engineer-explains-how-road-repairs-are-prioritized-2/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Services and Outreach Committee, April 2, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentGeorge Ryan (District 3, Chair), Andy Churchill (at large), Pam Rooney (District 4), Jennifer Taub (District 4). Hala Lord (District 3). Lord joined the meeting at timestamp 46:52 and left before its
- [Planning Board: Downtown Design Standards and Clean Energy Bylaw Are Too Restrictive](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/planning-board-downtown-design-standards-and-clean-energy-bylaw-are-too-restrictive/): Report on the Meeting of the Planning Board, April 8, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Doug Marshall (Chair), Fred Hartwell, Johanna Neumann, and Jerah Smith. Absent: Bruce Coldham, Jesse Mager, and Angus McLeod.Staff: Nate Malloy (Assistant Planning Director), Pam Field-Sadler (Assistant) With three members absent, the Planning Board held
- [New UMass Poll Finds Continued Partisan Division and Erosion of Support for President Trump’s Immigration Policies](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/new-umass-poll-finds-continued-partisan-division-and-erosion-of-support-for-president-trumps-immigration-policies/): As support for ICE tactics also declines, Americans widely reject the physical assault of officers or attempts to obstruct their efforts to carry out arrests Source: UMass News & Media Fifteen months into President Donald Trump’s second term in office, a new national University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll finds public support continuing to erode on his handling
- [Photo of the Week: Defiance!](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/photo-of-the-week-defiance/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week, a new picture by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [Letter: Here Are Some Key Questions for Beacon's Proposed  Housing Development](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/here-are-some-key-questions-for-beacons-proposed-housing-development/): The following letter was sent to Darcy L. Jameson, Vice President of Development, Beacon Communities LLC, on April 6, 2026, in advance of Jameson's April 13 public presentation on Beacon's planned housing development at the Mitchell Farm in North Amherst. In preparation for your presentation next Monday to the community on the Beacon development at
- [Local Jewish Residents Gather to Protest Israeli Violence](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/08/local-jewish-residents-gather-to-protest-israeli-violence/): On April 6, the sixth night of Passover, Jews from across the Valley gathered at the Unitarian Society of Northampton to speak out against Israel’s ongoing violence targeting Palestinian people in Gaza as well as rising settler violence in the West Bank, and the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and Lebanon. The evening featured a speech
- [Challenges Remain in Finding Temporary Space for DPW](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/10/challenges-remain-in-finding-temporary-space-for-dpw/): Report on the Meeting of the DPW Building Committee, April 8, 2026 This meeting was held in person in Town Hall. It was not recorded. Present Christine Gray-Mullen (Chair), David Ahlfeld, Joe Cook, Paul Bockelman (Town Manager), Guilford Mooring (Superintendent of Public Works), Sean Mangano (Finance Director), and Pam Rooney (Town Councilor, District 3). Staff:
- [Search Begins for Temporary Space for DPW ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/09/search-begins-for-temporary-space-for-dpw/): Report on the Meeting of the Amheerst Town Council, April 6, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall and was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Pam Rooney and Jennifer
- [Letter: The Importance and Excitement of Amherst's Global Village Festival This Saturday](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/08/letter-the-importance-and-excitement-of-amhersts-global-village-festival-this-saturday/): I am happy that the Indy has given such prominent space to the Global Village Festival, which will occur at the Amherst Regional High School on Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m until 5 p.m. The rich program of entertainment will be presented by local individuals and groups from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and
- [Public Comment: Residents Demand Assurances That Town Will Protect Its Residents from ICE Violations of the Law](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/07/public-comment-residents-demand-assurances-that-town-will-protect-its-residents-from-ice-violations-of-the-law/): By John Bonifaz, Jeff Conant, Josna Rege, and Margaret SmithAmherst Town Council received at their meeting on April 6, 2026. five public comments concerning the failure of the Town Manager's Executive Order of March 3, 2026, affirming the town government's commitment to protect the constitutional rights of Amherst residents, to actually protect those rights. Three
- [Working Group Seeks Public Input on Cherry Hill's Future](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/08/working-group-seeks-public-input-on-cherry-hills-future/): Report on the Meeting of the Cherry Hill Working Group, April 6, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentMichele Miller (Chair), Sanjay Arwade, Ryan Diplock, Sarah Goff, Hilary Matheson, Chris Pariseau, Anurag Sharma, Staff: Rey Harp (Recreation Director) The Cherry Hill Working Group seeks public input on the use of the
- [Controversy over Additional CPA Funding for Jones Library Continues](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/08/controversy-over-additional-cpa-funding-for-jones-library-continues/): Report of the Public Forum of the Amherst Town Council on 2027 CPA Grants, April 6,2027 This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall and was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3),
- [New Appointments to Community Safety and Social Justice Committee and Council on Aging](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/07/new-appointments-to-community-safety-and-social-justice-committee-and-council-on-aging/): The following appointments were nominated by Town Manager Paul Bockelman and approved unanimously on the consent agenda by the Town Council on April 6, 2026. Both appointments were previously recommended by 4-0 votes with one absent by the Town Services and Outreach Committee at its April 2 meeting. For the Community Safety and Social Justice
- [Public Comment: The Government Belongs to the People](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/07/public-comment-the-government-belongs-to-the-people/): The following public comment was offered at the meeting of the Amherst Town Council on April 6, 2026. My name is Laura Jane Hunter, my pronouns are she/her, and I am a resident of Amherst. I am not here as a member of the school committee, but as a community member and a resident of
- [Indy Rewind: Amherst Ranks Last in Massachusetts in Public Works Spending Per Capita](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/06/indy-rewind-amherst-ranks-last-in-massachusetts-in-public-works-spending-per-capita/): Editor's note: In anticipation of this week's discussion by the Town Council of the situation at the DPW, we are reposting this article from July of 2024. The following article appeared originally in the Amherst Indy on July 4, 2025. In 2024 Amherst spent just under $2 million from its general fund on public works
- [Cuppa Joe With Paul and Town Engineer Jason Skeels](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/07/cuppa-joe-with-paul-and-town-engineer-jason-skeels/): The public is invited to join Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Town Engineer Jason Skeels for coffee and conversation at the April Cuppa Joe on Friday, April 17, at West Street Coffee and Tea, 450 West Street. Drop in or out any time between 8:00 -9:30 a,m. Jason Skeels, P.E., has worked for the Amherst
- [Letter: School Committee Rejects Notion That Amherst's Most Vulnerable Students Should Be the Most Impacted by Budget Cuts](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/06/letter-schools-committee-rejects-notion-that-amhersts-most-vulnerable-students-should-be-the-most-impacted-by-budget-cuts/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on April 6, 2025. I am writing in support of the FY 27 budget recently passed by Amherst School Committee for the elementary schools. This budget is a 5.87% increase over the FY26 Budget. This year, like the past uncountable number of years, there have
- [Indy Rewind: Opinion: Why Won’t the Town Research Options for New DPW and Fire Station?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/06/indy-rewind-opinion-why-wont-the-town-research-options-for-new-dpw-and-fire-station/): Editor’s note: In anticipation of this week’s discussion by the Town Council of the situation at the DPW, we are reposting this article, which appeared originally in the Amherst Indy on December 19, 2025. Every Amherst taxpayer should be aware that the town will be starting to research the construction of a long overdue fire
- [Letter: Reserve CPA Funds for Their True Purpose](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/06/letter-reserve-cpa-funds-for-their-true-purpose/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on April 2, 2026. I write to urge you to abide by the true intent of the Community Preservation Act and recognize that the Jones Library request for funding does not conform. The Massachusetts CPA has long directed that funds be used to supplement (increase)
- [Public Presentation Scheduled on Beacon’s Proposed North Amherst Development](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/02/public-presentation-on-beacons-proposed-north-amherst-development/): Beacon Communities, the Boston-based developer that developed and manages North Square apartments in the Mill District, plans to construct approximately 140 units of affordable housing on 14 acres at 246 Montague Road (the Mitchell Farm). There will be a public presentation on the project from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Amherst Survival Center, 138
- [Review: “Finding Our Place in the Connecticut River (Kwinitekw) Valley: Beginning to Heal 400 Years of Settler Colonialism”](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/review-finding-our-place-in-the-connecticut-river-kwinitekw-valley-beginning-to-heal-400-years-of-settler-colonialism/): On March 22, I attended the kickoff event for the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Society of Amherst’s Workshop Series, “Finding Our Place in the Connecticut River (Kwinitekw) Valley: Beginning to Heal 400 Years of Settler Colonialism.” featuring Indigenous scholar Dr. Margaret Bruchac (Emerita, University of Pennsylvania), speaking on Native/colonial relations. I found this program fascinating for
- [Amherst in 2040? Open House Previews New Design Standards for Downtown](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/amherst-in-2040-open-house-previews-new-design-standards-for-downtown/): By Art Keene and Maura Keene Renditions of how Amherst’s downtown might look in the year 2040 were on display the evening of March 11 as representatives of Dodson and Flinker Landscape Architects reviewed their proposed downtown design standards to an audience of about 50 people at an open house at Amherst’s Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse.
- [Photos of the Week: No Kings 3 in Amherst and Beyond](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/photos-of-the-week-no-kings-3-in-amherst-and-beyond/): Amherst was one of at least 25 Western Mass communities holding No Kings 3 actions on Saturday, March 28, to protest President Trump's lawlessness, the dismantling of democracy, and now the US-Israeli war in Iran. They joined more than 3100 such actions nationwide, which were attended by more than 8 million people, resulting in the
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-24/): Table of Contents THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTRAININGS & WORKSHOPSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 4/3/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Thanks to all
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/whats-happening-in-amherst-220/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY APRIL 4: 2ND ANNUAL EGG HUNT. 10 to 12 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road.
- [A Better World is Possible: The Year Cuba Taught Itself to Read](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/a-better-world-is-possible-the-year-cuba-taught-itself-to-read/): In a single year, a young revolution mobilized an entire nation — and nearly wiped out illiteracy. Six decades later, the world is still taking notes. The following article was written by Claude AI with only minor edits and additions by The Indy, for accuracy and stylistic consistency. Editor’s IntroductionLast week, President Donald J. Trump
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/whats-in-this-issue-278/): 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
- [More Than 3000 No Kings Events are Planned for March 28, Including One in Downtown Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/more-than-3000-no-kings-events-are-planned-for-march-28-including-one-in-downtown-amherst/): by Art Keene and nokings.orgShare your No Kings photos with the Indy: amheretindy@gmail.comWith only a week to go until the next national No Kings Day of Nonviolent Action, to protest Trump’s lawlessness, the dismantling of democracy, and now the US-Israeli war in Iran, organizers across the nation are now planning over 3,000 local events –
- [Be Seriously Scared! UMass Event Will Explore Dangers of Nuclear Weapons](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/be-seriously-scared-umass-event-will-explore-dangers-of-nuclear-weapons/): "Source: Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy On April 14, 2026, the Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will host “Be Seriously Scared!”, an interactive program that combines performance art, historical storytelling, and documentary film to confront the ongoing dangers of nuclear weapons and explore pathways toward a world
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: American Sycamore](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/amherst-arbor-spotlight-american-sycamore/): This is the fourth in a series of 12 articles produced by the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) under the title “Amherst Arbor Spotlight.” The series focuses on the town’s 12 species of shade trees and features a different tree each month. New articles will be posted on the first day of the month
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-23/): Table of Contents THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTRAININGS & WORKSHOPSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 3/27/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Thanks to all
- [Amherst Global Village Festival Returns for a Second Year](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/amherst-global-village-festival-returns-for-a-second-year/): Source: amherstma.gov The second annual Amherst Global Village Festival will take place on Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School. 21 Mattoon Street. Hosted by the Town of Amherst and many community partners, this free and family friendly event is dedicated to celebrating cultural diversity and promoting inclusivity within the community. “We are thrilled to welcome the community back to
- [Songs for Good: The Sudden Resurgence of the Protest Song](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/songs-for-good-the-sudden-resurgence-of-the-protest-song/): by Zac JohnsonThe following article appeared originally in AllMusic on March 4, 2026 and was reposted in Portside on March 6, 2026 Beginning in the middle of 2025, politically-minded (or just fed up) musicians slowly began making their rage and frustration known. Below is a loose timeline of the recorded protest music thus far in
- [Three ARHS Students Testify Before Joint Ways and Means Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/three-arhs-students-testify-before-joint-ways-and-means-committee/): Amherst Regional High School sophomores Maeve Fitzgerald and Ella Bradbury and junior Rose Collins, along with teacher Danielle Seltzer offered testimony advocating for increased rural aid to schools at the state legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee FY27 budget hearing on March 31 at the Gardner Auditorium at the State House. The recording can be
- [Public Meeting on Eversource's Local Clear-cutting Plans](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/public-meeting-on-eversources-local-clear-cutting-plans/): Source: Responsible Grid In response to the extensive clear-cutting that Eversource proposes in our area, Senator Jo Comerford and Representative Mindy Domb worked to secure a community meeting with Eversource. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 14, from 6-8 p.m in the Town Room of Amherst Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Avenue, and over
- [Update on the Sixth Grade Move to the Middle School](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/update-on-the-sixth-grade-move-to-the-middle-school/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, March 24, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in the High School Cafeteria and was recorded. PresentBridget Hynes (acting Chair), Deb Leonard, Laura Jane Hunter, Sarah Marshall, and Andrew Hart. Staff: E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi, Superintendent of Schools), Meghan Dushko (Executive Assistant to the Superintendent)
- [Amherst School Committee Approves FY27 Budget with 5.87% Increase](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/02/amherst-school-committee-approves-fy27-budget-with-5-87-increase/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, March 31,2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in the high school library. It was recorded. PresentDeb Leonard (Chair), Bridget Hynes, Sarah Marshall, Laura Jane Hunter, and Andrew Hart Staff: E. Xiomara Herman (Superintendent), Shannon Bernacchia (School Finance Director) The Amherst School Committee (ASC) voted unanimously to
- [It’s Not Too Late to Save Hampshire College. Here’s Why](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/03/its-not-too-late-to-save-hampshire-college-heres-why/): Hampshire College is facing problems in part because sensationalist news articles paint an erroneously hopeless picture. Unfortunately, a highly influential Boston Globe article originally titled, “Dying, Sputtering” fits into that category. Hampshire’s accreditor, The New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), has its home office in Boston, and the Globe is a prominent publication that
- [Letter: Three Reasons Why the Jones Library is Ineligible for More CPA Dollars](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/02/letter-three-reasons-why-the-jones-library-is-ineligible-for-more-cpa-dollars/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on April 2, 2026. There are three primary reasons the Amherst Town Council should not authorize the requested Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for the Jones Library building project, each of which stands on its own as sufficient cause to vote against the request. This
- [Get Them Out of That Building Now. Councilors Demand Safe Workplace for DPW](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/02/get-them-out-of-that-building-now-councilors-demand-safe-workplace-for-dpw/): Report on the Special Town Council Meeting, March 30, 2026This was a hybrid meeting held in the Town Room and was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Pam Rooney and Jennifer Taub (District
- [Celebrate Literature Downtown with the Amherst Lit Walk](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/01/amherst-lit-walk/): Source: Massachusetts Center for the Book The Massachusetts Center for the Book and the Amherst Business Improvement District are partnering with downtown businesses and organizations to sponsor the Amherst Lit Walk which will provide a day of author readings, poetry, local history, giveaways, and more, in celebration of Amherst's rich literary community in Downtown Amherst
- [Opinion: Solidarity at No Kings](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/31/opinion-solidarity-at-no-kings/): Love, Justice and Climate Change The No Kings rallies on March 28 were the largest protest in the history of the United States! Eight million people were in the streets together! What an overwhelming expression of resistance and opposition to Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies! What a statement against the war, against ICE, against
- [Town Council Refers Possible Charter Amendments to GOL and State Legislature](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/31/town-council-refers-possible-charter-amendments-to-gol-and-state-legislature/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Council, March 23, 2026, Part 2Read Part 1 of the March 23, 2026 Town Council meeting report here. By Anita Sarro This meeting was held in a hybrid format in the Town Room at Town Hall. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and
- [Large Turnout in Amherst for National No Kings Day of Protest](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/30/large-turnout-in-amherst-for-national-no-kings-day-of-protest/): Amherst turned out in force on Saturday, March 28, in support of the third No Kings nationwide day of action. Organizers estimated the crowd on the Town Common at 2,500 people. National event organizers estimated that over 8 million people participated in No Kings actions, making it the largest single-day protest in US history. Protestors held
- [President Trump's Approval Sinks to 33% in New UMass Poll](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/30/president-trumps-approval-sinks-to-33-in-new-umass-poll/): Sourcce: UMass News and Media A new national University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll finds President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33%, the lowest rating of his second term in office. The poll of 1,000 respondents, conducted March 20-25, finds Trump’s approval down five points from July 2025 and 11 points lower than last April. “In the
- [Indy Celebrates Seven Years of Local Reporting](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/indy-celebrates-seven-years-of-local-reporting/): On March 30, 2019, the Amherst Indy published its first issue. It contained 10 articles, including reports on the February and March town council meetings (by Maura Keene), the town-wide potluck celebrating Town Meeting (by Art Keene), Citizens for Racial Amity Now (by Jennie McKenna), the District One Neighborhood Association (by Meg Gage), budget constraints on the proposed major capital projects (by Toni Cunningham), the need for a new design for
- [Show Up! Sing Out!  Singing for Peace and Justice in the Pioneer Valley](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/show-up-sing-out-singing-for-peace-and-justice-in-the-pioneer-valley/): In these times of violent repression at home and abroad it is easy to become scattered and despairing. Things only get worse. The fog of war pervades not only the countries that the United States and its partner Israel have invaded, occupied, or bombed, but the streets of our cities and the very workings of
- [Library Trustees Approve $3.25M FY27 Budget Request](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/library-trustees-approve-3-25m-fy27-budget-request/): At their March 24 meeting, the Jones Library Board of Trustees approved Director Sharon Sharry’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget representing income and expenses of $3,253,135. This amount is 5.3% greater than the previous year's operating budget and will require a draw rate of 4.6% from the library’s $9.4 million endowment. The Town of Amherst’s contribution
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/whats-in-this-issue-277/): 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
- [Five College Jazz Festival Returns March 26-27](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/25/five-college-jazz-festival-returns-march-27-28/): The Five College Jazz Festival returns on Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27 on the campuses of Amherst College and UMass Amherst. All events are free and open to the public. Jazz student groups from Smith, Amherst, and Mount Holyoke Colleges will come together with UMass jazz ensembles for a celebration of jazz.Thursday evening’s
- [28th Annual High School Jazz Festival at UMass](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/25/28th-annual-high-school-jazz-festival-at-umass/): The 28th Annual UMass High School Jazz Festival will be held at the Bromery Center for the Performing Arts, 151 Presidents' Drive on the UMass Campus, on Saturday, March 28, and will host performances by regional high school vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles . UMass Jazz Faculty will serve as guest adjudicators & Chief Adjuah
- [Planning Board Chair to Housing Trust: Relax Zoning to Create More Housing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/planning-board-chair-to-housing-trust-relax-zoning-to-create-more-housing/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Municipal Housing Trust, March 12, 2026 By Maura Keene This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentGaston de los Reyes (chair), Alex Cox, Allegra Clark, Karla Rasche, and Heejae Kim, Bob Pomeroy and Paul Bockelman (Town Manager). Absent: Rob Allingham, Staff: Greg Richane (Housing Coordinator) Planning
- [Special Town Council Meeting on March 30 to Hear DPW Workers](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/special-town-council-meeting-on-march-30-to-hear-dpw-workers/): There will be a special meeting of the Town Council on Monday, March 30, at 6:30 p.m. to hear the concerns of DPW workers about low wages, high turnover, and unsafe working conditions. Workers had been denied the opportunity to address the council at a meeting on March 2, which was scheduled for that purpose.
- [Flora and Fauna at Gallery A3 in April](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/flora-and-fauna-at-gallery-a3-in-april/): Source: Gallery A3 Artists Laura Holland and Nancy Meagher present a collection of painting, photography and poetry in their new exhibit, FLORA and FAUNA at Gallery A3 in April. The exhibit opens on Thursday, April 2, and runs through Saturday, May 2. There will be an opening reception at the gallery from 5-7 p.m. on
- [Photos of the Week: Two Walks in the Woods](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/photos-of-the-week-two-walks-in-the-woods/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week, a new picture by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [What's Happening in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/whats-in-this-issue-276/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. FRIDAY MARCH 27: SALAR NADER: THE AFGHAN MUSIC PROJECT. 7:30 p.m., the Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. As a
- [Cherry Hill Preparing for Early April Opening](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/cherry-hill-preparing-for-early-april-opening/): Report on the Meeting of the Cherry Hill Working Group, March 23, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Recreation Director Rey Harp reported to the Cherry Hill Working Group (CHWG) that he and member Ryan Diplock looked at revenue projections for the golf course in the coming year with the institution
- [Hadley Selects Amherst Planner Nate Malloy as Next Town Administrator](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/hadley-selects-amherst-planner-nate-malloy-as-next-town-administrator/): The Hadley Select Board voted unanimously this week to hire Amherst’s Assistant Director of Planning and Economic Development, Nate Malloy, as Hadley Town Administrator. Police Chief Michael Mason has served as temporary Town Administrator since Carolyn Brennan retired in September 2024. Malloy has worked in the Amherst’s Planning Department since 2008, working as the staff
- [Letter: Four Hundred Residents Urge UMass Chancellor to Create More Student Housing on Campus](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/letter-four-hundred-residents-urge-umass-chancellor-to-create-more-student-housing-on-campus/): Compiled by Darcy DuMont and Kitty Axelson-Berry The following letter was sent to UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes, the president of the UMass Student Government Association, the Amherst Town Council, and the Amherst Planning Board on March 25, 2026. UMass Amherst’s new Strategic Plan paints a vision of education, innovation, and community stewardship, but it fails to address
- [Board of Health Bans Sale of Synthetic Kratom](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/board-of-health-bans-sales-of-synthetic-kratom/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Board of Health, March 25. 2026 The meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.PresentRisha Hess (Chair), Betsy Brooks, Jack Jemsek. Absent: Premila Nair. One vacancy.Staff: Kiko Malin (Public Health Director), Maheen Ahmed (Program Assistant) At their meeting on March 25, 2026, the Amherst Board of Health (BOH)
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/whats-happening-in-amherst-219/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. FRIDAY MARCH 20: TIM ERIKSEN AND PETER IRVINE. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Tim Eriksen is
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-22/): Table of Contents THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTRAININGS & WORKSHOPSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 3/20/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Thanks to all
- [De-ICE Hadley and Amherst Protest to Follow No Kings](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/27/de-ice-hadley-and-amherst-protest-to-follow-no-kings/): Following many local No Kings rallies and Saturday March 28, an alliance of local students and Show Up, Sing Out! Singers will lead a tour of seven “corporate collaborators” of ICE. They will march, chant and sing to draw attention to their demands: STOP COLLABORATING WITH ICE! Meet at the Bank of America Building in
- [Singer-songwriters Louise Coombe and Cliff Eberhardt Headline April PVFS Song and Story Swap](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/26/singer-songwriters-louise-coombe-and-cliff-eberhardt-headline-april-pvfs-song-and-story-swap/): Source: Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Singer-songwriters Louise Coombe and Cliff Eberhardt are the guest artists at the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s April Song and Story Swap. The monthly performance will take place at First Church, 165 Main St. in Amherst on Saturday, April 4, from 7-9 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested minimum donation
- [Regional School Committee Approves FY27 Budget and School Choice](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/26/regional-school-committee-approves-fy27-budget-and-school-choice/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, March 24, 2026 This meeting was held in the library of the Amherst Regional High School and simulcast over Amherst Media Channel 9, and was recorded. PresentRegional School Committee: Sarahbess Kenney (Chair, Pelham), Andrew Hart (Amherst), Laura Jane Hunter (Amherst), Anna Heard (Shutesbury), Bridget Hynes
- [Opinion: There Are Plenty of Reasons for Accreditors to Continue to Support Hampshire College](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/26/opinion-there-are-plenty-of-reasons-for-accreditors-to-continue-to-support-hampshire-college/): In early 2019, Hampshire College’s then-president Miriam Nelson decided that Hampshire could not afford to admit a regular class for its fall 2019 term. After alumni, faculty, students, and friends strongly objected, she resigned after just nine months, and in April 2019, I was honored to become Hampshire's interim president. Less than two months
- [Town Council Raises Concerns over More CPA Funding for the Jones Library, Requests Increased School Funding from Legislature](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/25/town-council-raises-concerns-over-more-cpa-funding-for-the-jones-library-requests-increased-school-funding-from-legislature/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Council, March 23, 2026 This meeting was held in a hybrid format in the Town Room at Town Hall. It wasrecorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3),
- [Hitchcock Center Reports Record-Breaking Amphibian Migration](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/25/hitchcock-center-reports-record-breaking-amphibian-migration/): The following story was compiled from reports from the Hitchcock Center for the Environment and The Town of Amherst’s Town Manager Report for March 23, 2026. Every year, the Town of Amherst partners with the Hitchcock Center for the Environment during the “Big Night” amphibian migrations. Portions of Henry Street will be temporarily closed to through traffic
- [Amherst Media Celebrates 50 Years of Community Media Leadership](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/25/amherst-media-celebrates-50-years-of-community-media-leadership/): Source: Amherst Media Amherst Media will celebrate a major milestone—its 50th anniversary—with a Gala event at the UMass Campus Center Auditorium on On Saturday, May 2, 2026,. The evening will honor Jim McGovern with the Jean Haggerty Award for Community Service. Representative McGovern will be in attendance, alongside event host Monte Belmonte, and local performers
- [Town Manager Report for March 23, 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/24/town-manager-report-for-march-23-2026/): Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the second Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 16 pages in length, provide up-to-date information on what is happening within and across town departments. The Manager Report is usually one of the last items
- [Celebrate Arbor Month with the Public Shade Tree Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/24/celebrate-arbor-month-with-the-public-shade-tree-committee/): The Town Council has again proclaimed April as Arbor month. Amherst has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation since 1987. The Public Shade Tree Committee has scheduled a series of events to celebrate trees, which the proclamation states, “capture carbon and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, produce
- [UMass Spring Student Art Sale and Open Studios, March 27](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/24/umass-spring-student-art-sale-and-open-studios-march-27/): Source: UMass News and Media The UMass Department of Art in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts invites the local community to shop and support emerging artists at its spring Student Art Sale and Open Studios event on Friday, March 27, from noon-4 p.m. at the Studio Arts Building at 110 Thatcher Rd. This event offers a unique opportunity for
- [Federal Funding Cuts Could Hurt Massachusetts Economy for More Than a Decade](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/24/federal-funding-cuts-could-hurt-massachusetts-economy-for-more-than-a-decade/): Source: UMass News and Media A new study by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute provides a first-of-its-kind analysis of the commonwealth’s research & development ecosystem, which includes jobs in scientific research and development activities plus the high-tech innovation industries (e.g., life sciences, semiconductors, computer systems, etc.). This sector thrives due to cutting-edge research underway in
- [When We Fight for Public Schools, We Fight for Democracy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/24/when-we-fight-for-public-schools-we-fight-for-democracy/): by Kumar Rao The following article appeared originally in Waging Nonviolence on March 19, 2026 and is reposted here under Creative Commons license CC. 4.0 International. A “non-permission slip” is the first step in a new nationwide campaign training thousands of local organizers to defend public education.Every morning, across the nation, in red states and
- [UMass Organizers Seek Unity in Latest Popular Assembly](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/23/umass-organizers-seek-unity-in-latest-popular-assembly/): by Colin Weinstein The following article, "UMass Organizers Seek Unity in Latest Popular Assembly," by Colin Weinstein, appeared originally in The Shoestring on March 22, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons license. The fourth event of its kind in recent years brought organizers together to discuss coordinated efforts between parallel movements on campus.
- [What Parental Control Apps Miss That Predators Exploit](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/23/what-parental-control-apps-miss-that-predators-exploit/): The following article appeared in The Queen Zone on March 15, 2026. It is reposted here with permission. Parental control apps are marketed as essential shields against online dangers, but a growing body of research, litigation, and expert analysis reveals that these tools contain significant blind spots when it comes to preventing child grooming and
- [How to Run a Drive: From Idea to Impact](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/how-to-run-a-drive-from-idea-to-impact/): Source: UMass Amherst Community Campaign Have you ever wanted to collect food, diapers, or supplies for a local organization but weren't sure where to start? Join us for How to Run a Drive: From Idea to Impact; - a panel discussion with people experienced in running diaper drives (United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire
- [Planning Board: Downtown Design Standards Constrain New Housing Construction](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/planning-board-downtown-design-standards-constrain-new-housing-construction/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Planning Board, March 18, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Doug Marshall (Chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Angus McLeod, Jesse Mager, and Jerah Smith. Absent: Johanna Neumann Staff: Nate Malloy (Senior Planner) and Pam Field Sadler (Assistant) Planning Board Responds to Proposed Downtown
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/whats-in-this-issue-275/): 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
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/14/whats-in-this-issue-274/): 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
- [Rural Schools Speak up About Funding Challenges](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/rural-schools-speak-up-about-funding-challenges/): by Divina Cordeiro Organizers of a week of action believe state intervention can help prevent financial “death spirals” in shrinking districtsThe following article, Rural Schools Speak up About Funding Challenges by Divina Cordiero appeared originally in The Shoestring on March 18, 2026. It is reposted here under a Creative Commons license. Last week, 36 school
- [An Afterword for "Views on Views": Community Playgrounds & Community Gardens](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/an-afterword-for-views-on-views-community-playgrounds-community-gardens/): This is an afterward to the 10-part series, "Views and Views". Read previous columns in the series here. I thought my series about landscape design was complete. But one topic emerges as a radical corrective to some of what I have featured up to now. While I have touched on community gardens in Amherst in
- [Opinion: In Defense of Priorities – What Amherst Actually Demands of Its Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/opinion-in-defense-of-priorities-what-amherst-actually-demands-of-its-schools/): Social Injustice Goes Global Recently, in the Amherst Indy, Michael Greenebaum, a longtime principal of Mark’s Meadow School, framed the issue in an elegant analogy like this: “This piece of music is lovely, but it contains 17,642 notes so we can’t afford to learn it…” It captures that quiet frustration with systems that reduce beauty
- [Opinion: ICE is the Most Watched Show in America](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/opinion-ice-is-the-most-watched-show-in-america/): Social Injustice Goes Global We grew up on reality TV. On Survivor, people schemed for a million dollars, on American Idol, someone’s shaky high note could change their life and even on The Bachelor, heartbreak came with commercial breaks. But now the most watched show in America doesn’t air at 8 p.m. It drops in real time. No
- [Contract Settlement with DPW Workers May Be Near](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/contract-settlement-with-dpw-workers-may-be-near/): The Amherst DPW Workers Association (ADPWA) announced at a rally on the town’s North Common on March 19 that the town and the union are nearing an agreement on a new contract. ADPWA President Andrew Brace described the last bargaining session as “the most productive meeting that we have ever had.” He said he hopes
- [Opinion: Rural Areas Deserve Safe Drinking Water Too](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/opinion-rural-areas-deserve-safe-drinking-water-too/): The following column appeared previously in the Amherst Bulletin. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of construction on the first phase of the Quabbin Reservoir — the massive public works project that involved the flooding of four former towns to create a vast water supply for Metropolitan Boston. Many people in eastern Massachusetts don’t give
- [Photo of the Week: South Amherst at Night](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/photo-of-the-week-south-amherst-at-night/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week, a new picture by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [School Committee, Staff, Parents, and Students Are Unhappy with Elementary School Cuts](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/20/school-committee-staff-parents-and-students-are-unhappy-with-elementary-school-cuts/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, March 17, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall. It was recorded. PresentBridget Hynes, Andrew Hart, Laura Jane Hunter, Deb Leonard, and Sarah MarshallStaff: Tonya McIntyre (Curriculum Director) and Shannon Bernacchia (School Finance Director). There were 57 attendees in the Town Room and
- [Town Will Study Culverts to Prepare for Climate Change](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/18/town-will-study-culverts-to-prepare-for-climate-change/): Amherst has partnered with four other towns in the Fort River watershed to evaluate the more than 1000 culverts in Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Pelham, and Shutesbury. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) received a $616,000 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to study all culverts in
- [Pelham Rallies in Support of Rural Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/17/pelham-rallies-in-support-of-rural-schools/): As part of Rural Schools Week of Action, the Pelham Elementary Parent Teacher Organization hosted a community advocacy event on March 13 in the Pelham Elementary School gym. The meeting included a presentation by Massachusetts Association of School Committees representative Tracy Novick on advocacy for beginners. State Senator Jo Comerford, Pelham Elementary parents, grandparents, students,
- [Opinion: Reflecting on the School Budget – Specials or Essentials?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/18/opinion-reflecting-on-the-school-budget-specials-or-essentials/): Imagine a music class in which the teacher explains “this piece of music is lovely, but it contains 17,642 notes so we can’t afford to learn it. Instead, we will learn this other piece which is quite nice and only contains 9,807 notes.” Absurd? Of course, but quite analogous to the discussion the Amherst School
- [Letter: ARPS Friends of the Performing Arts Warn of Impending Cuts to Specials](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/18/arps-friends-of-the-performing-arts-warn-of-impending-cuts-to-specials/): by Oliver Waldman In advance of the March 17 Amherst School Committee Annual Budget Hearing for FY27, Oliver Waldman, President of the ARPS Friends of the Performing Arts, emailed the following appeal to the performing arts community. Next year, Amherst Public Schools are proposing major cuts to elementary “specials” programs, including eliminating one of the three
- [Immigration Rights and What Bystanders Can Do – A League of Women Voters Conversation](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/18/immigration-rights-and-what-bystanders-can-do-a-league-of-women-voters-conversation/): Source: League of Women Voters Amherst The League of Women Voters Amherst will host a discussion, Immigration Rights and What Bystanders Can Do, on Thursday, March 26, on Zoom. The event is free and open to all and is part of the League’s Judy Brooks Conversation Series. Advance registration is not required; just click on
- [Five UMass Food Science Ice Cream Competition Flavors Unveiled at Herrell's](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/18/five-umass-food-science-ice-cream-competition-flavors-unveiled-at-herrells/): Source: UMass News and Media Last week, Herrell’s Ice Cream introduced five new flavors from the UMass College of Natural Sciences Food Science Department’s 2025 Ice Cream Competition. The new flavors will be sold in both the Mill District and Thornes Marketplace locations. The flavors being served are: $treet Nut$ (latest winner), a smoky molasses-cinnamon base with peanut butter, caramel
- [Opinion: Against War, Again](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/17/opinion-against-war-again/): Love, Justice and Climate Change In Tehran, the largest city in Iran, one day last week the air became so filled with toxic smoke for many hours that it seemed more like night than day. This was the result of U.S./Israeli bombardment of four major oil storage facilities and an oil distribution center. The effect
- [Good News About Regional School Budget at Four Towns Meeting](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/17/good-news-about-regional-school-budget-at-four-towns-meeting/): Report on the Four Towns Meeting, March 14, 2026 This meeting was held in person in the Amherst Regional Middle School Library and was recorded. Present Representing AmherstTown Councilors: Mandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Andy Churchill (at large), Cathy Schoen (District 1), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord (District 3), Ana Devlin Gauthier, and
- [Amherst Dessert Crawl Brings Sweet Treats to Downtown on March 28](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/amherst-dessert-crawl-brings-sweet-treats-to-downtown-on-march-28/): Source: Amherst Business Improvement District An afternoon of sweet treats and downtown exploration awaits at the Amherst Dessert Crawl on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. The event invites community members to sample desserts from participating businesses while discovering the shops and restaurants that make up downtown Amherst. Guests will receive a wristband that grants
- [DPW Will Rally Thursday for Fair Wages and Full Staffing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/14/dpw-will-rally-thursday-for-fair-wages-and-full-staffing/): Source: Western Mass Area Labor FederationThe Amherst DPW Association will hold a rally on the Town Common on Thursday, March 19, at 5:30 p.m. to demand fair wages and full staffing. Since the last rally on March 2, DPW workers have been working without a contract for more than seven months. The Town Manager has
- [Amherst May Soon Lose its Only Remaining Bookstore](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/12/amherst-may-soon-lose-its-only-remaining-bookstore/): On March 10 the Daily Hampshire Gazette ran a story announcing that the co-owners of Amherst Books, Shannon Ramsay and Nat Herold. have decided to sell the business after 23 years. In an email to Friends of Amherst Books that same day, they wrote that they hoped to sell it to someone who would continue
- [Opinion: Amherst for Palestine Condemns the U.S.-Israeli War on Iran, Israel’s Wars on Lebanon and Palestine, and U.S. Militarism at Home and Abroad ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/opinion-amherst-for-palestine-condemns-the-u-s-israeli-war-on-iran-israels-wars-on-lebanon-and-palestine-and-u-s-militarism-at-home-and-abroad/): On February 28th, 2026, in the midst of ongoing diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, the United States and Israel launched a war on Iran with coordinated airstrikes on cities across the country. They have continued to bombard the country with increasing intensity, striking military installations, essential infrastructure, and oil depots that have unleashed thick clouds
- [CSSJC to Advocate for Larger CRESS and DEI Budgets ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/cssjc-to-advocate-for-larger-cress-and-dei-budgets/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, March 11, 2026 The meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Debora Ferreira (Co-Chair), Allegra Clark (Co-Chair), Everald Henry, Erica Piedade, Lissette Paredes. Two vacancies. Staff: DEI Director Pamela Nolan Young and CRESS Project Manager Daniel Garcia At their March
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-21/): Table of Contents THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTRAININGS & WORKSHOPSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 3/13/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Thanks to all
- [Pat Ononibaku Honored with 2026 Fearless Woman Award](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/pat-ononibaku-honored-with-2026-fearless-woman-award/): Amherst's Pat Ononibaku, President of the Black Business Association of Amherst Area, was a recipient of the 2026 Fearless Woman Award, presented by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) on March 4, 2026. The award honors extraordinary women who embody courage, resilience, and empowerment across five inspiring categories: Bravery: Recognizing women who embrace vulnerability as a source
- [Updated: Big Night Amphibian Migration Is at Hand](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/big-night-amphibian-migration-is-at-hand-2/): Source: Amherstma.gov Every year, the Town of Amherst partners with the Hitchcock Center for the Environment during the "Big Night" amphibian migrations. Portions of Henry Street will be temporarily closed to through traffic on anticipated migration dates to ensure safety for amphibians and volunteers. Current weather forecasts indicate that migrations could begin Saturday night (March
- [Council Continues to Evaluate Revisions to Town Charter](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/council-continues-to-evaluate-revisions-to-town-charter/): Report of the Town Council Meeting, March 9, 2026, Part 2 This meeting was held in a hybrid format in the Town Room at Town Hall. It was recorded. Read Part 1 of the meeting here. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District
- [Council Allocates $10 Million of Free Cash](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/12/council-allocates-10-million-of-free-cash/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, March 9, 2026, Part 1 This meeting was held in a hybrid format in the Town Room at Town Hall. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and
- [Photos of the Week: Scenes from the Iran War](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/photos-of-the-week-scenes-from-the-iran-war/): We're going to change things up a bit this week, and instead of featuring a local photographer, we are going to provide access to a few photo galleries offering scenes from the ongoing war in Iran.Trump’s and Netanyahu's war in Iran continues without a clear stated objective and hence without any indication of what might
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/whats-happening-in-amherst-218/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS. SATURDAY MARCH 14: SPECIAL MEETING OF THE REGIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE, TOWN COUNCIL AND AMHERST FINANCE COMMITTEE – FOUR
- [Elementary School Building Project Update](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/elementary-school-building-project-update-4/): Amethyst Brook Elementary School now has permanent power. The Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) received assurances at their monthly meeting on March 13 that good progress in construction, both inside and outside the building, continues, and the school will be ready to open this fall. The next committee site tour will take place on April
- [The Cost of War: Iran Edition](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/the-cost-of-war-iran-edition/): by Eric Morrissette Every dollar on this war of choice against Iran is a dollar that did not go toward schools, bridges, or health care. The following column appeared originally in Common Dreams on March 12, 2026 and is reposted here under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). On Saturday, February 28, Americans woke up
- [CRESS Hires New Project Manager and Fifth Responder](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/cress-hires-new-project-manager-and-fifth-responder/): CRESS (Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service) has hired Project Manager Daniel “Dan” Garcia and a fifth responder, Terrell “TJ” Jones. Garcia and Jones spoke about their new positions with the Indy last week. Project Manager Daniel (Dan) GarciaGarcia, the department’s first project manager, relocated to Amherst from Houston and has spent 25 years
- [Jones Library Project Nears Halfway Point, but Delay May Loom. Fundraising Still $9M Short](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/10/jones-library-project-nears-halfway-point-but-delay-may-loom-capital-campaign-still-9m-short/): Report on the Meeting of the Jones Library Building Committee, March 9, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. As the renovation and expansion of the Jones Library nears the halfway point, Owner’s Property Manager (OPM) Trey Logie of Colliers Engineering and Design hinted that a problem with the design for the
- [Leverett Residents Rally for Rural School Aid During Statewide Action Week](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/leverett-residents-rally-for-rural-school-aid-during-statewide-action-week/): Dozens of Leverett residents gathered Thursday, March 12, outside Leverett Elementary School (LES) to call attention to the need for stronger state support for rural schools. Parents, teachers, and community members stopped by during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup to pose for photos holding signs reading “Leverett Says: Save Our Schools!”The event was part of Rural
- [A New Direction for Amherst Media: Organization Will Remain in Current Location as Plans for New Building Become Unaffordable](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/13/a-new-direction-for-amherst-media-organization-will-remain-in-current-location-as-plans-for-new-building-become-unaffordable/): There is a For Sale sign on the lawn of the Main Street property that Amherst Media purchased as a new headquarters when its long-term lease of the studio on College Street was set to end. Amherst Media purchased the half-acre parcel on Main and Gray Streets for $350,000 in 2013, but did not obtain
- [Celebrate the Spring Equinox at the UMass Sunwheel](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/12/celebrate-the-spring-equinox-at-the-umass-sunwheel/): Source: UMass News and Media The public is invited to celebrate the spring equinox, which marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, at the standing stones of the UMass Amherst Sunwheel on Friday, March 20 at 6:45 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. These hour-long Sunwheel events, at sunrise and sunset, mark the astronomical
- [18th Annual Empty Bowls at Amherst Survival Center](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/12/18th-annual-empty-bowls-at-amherst-survival-center/): Source: Amherst Survival Center The Amherst Survival Center invites the public to join them at the 18th Annual Empty Bowls, on Saturday April 18, from 12-4 p.m. at the Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Empty Bowls is a beloved community tradition. Spend the afternoon enjoying a delicious, hearty soup prepared by your favorite local restaurants
- [The Railways in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2024/02/09/the-railways-in-amherst/): Amherst History Month by Month “Now I’ve been crying lately, thinking about the world as it is/ Why must we go on hating, why can’t we live in bliss? / ‘Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train/ Oh, peace train take this country, come take me home again.”
- [Amherst Community Band Seeks Guest Conductors for 2026 Summer Season](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/12/amherst-community-band-seeks-guest-conductors-for-2026-summer-season/): Big changes are in the offing for the 2026 summer season of the Amherst Community Band. With a new board of directors and a generous contribution from the Amherst and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the hundred-member band is seeking qualified guest conductors for the upcoming season. “ With the award from the cultural council, we’re able
- [Cathleen Mitchell and Jeffrey Robert Recommended as Non-Voting Members of Finance Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/12/cathleen-mitchell-and-jeffrey-robert-recommended-as-non-voting-members-of-finance-committee/): Report on the Meeting of the Governance, Organization and Legislation Committee, March 10, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentAna Devlin Gauthier (Chair, District 5), Amber Cano-Martin (District 2), Lynn Griesemer (at large), and Hala Lord (District 3). Absent: George Ryan (District 3)Staff: Athena O’Keeffe (Clerk of Council) The Governance, Organization,
- [Views on Views: Amherst’s Conservation Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/11/views-on-views-amhersts-conservation-commission/): This is the final column in a ten-part series. View the previous articles in the series here. The reason we have a Conservation Commission in Amherst is principally due to the passage in 1972 of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. c. 131, § 40.) Most people now agree that wetlands are valuable natural resources that
- [Town Will Explore Future Use of Wildwood School Building](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/11/town-will-explore-future-use-of-wildwood-school-building/): Report on the Meeting of the Joint Capital Planning Committee, March 4, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentCathy Schoen (District 1 Town Councilor, Chair), Andy Churchill (at large Town Councilor), Jill Brevik (District 1 Town Councilor), Bridget Hynes (Amherst School Committee), Lee Edwards and Eugene Goffredo (Library Trustees) Staff: Sean
- [Town Manager Issues Executive Order Prohibiting Collaboration with ICE](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/10/town-manager-issues-executive-order-prohibiting-collaboration-with-ice/): Town Manager Paul Bockelman signed an executive order on March 3, reaffirming the town’s commitment to protect the constitutional rights of all residents, regardless of their immigration status. The order states that immigration enforcement is solely the province of the federal government, and the Amherst Police Department shall not participate in Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: Tupliptree](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/09/amherst-arbor-spotlight-tupliptree/): by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee This is the third in a series of 12 articles produced by the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) under the title “Amherst Arbor Spotlight.” The series focuses on the town’s 12 species of shade trees and features a different tree each month. New articles will be posted
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/whats-happening-in-amherst-217/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS.SATURDAY MARCH 7: AMHERST DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS. 11am, Bangs Community Center (new location!), 70 Boltwood Walk, Registered Democrats will gather
- [Finding Our Place in the Connecticut River (Kwinitekw) Valley: Beginning to Heal after 400 Years of Settler Colonialism](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/09/finding-our-place-in-the-connecticut-river-kwinitekw-valley-beginning-to-heal-after-400-years-of-settler-colonialism/): Source: John Gerber The Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst’s (UUSA) Indigenous Awareness Circle is sponsoring a series of educational presentations and workshops this spring to learn about the rich history, worldviews and lifeways of the valley’s Indigenous peoples, past and present – and the traumas that 400 years of settler-colonizer violence have done, and continue
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-20/): Table of Contents THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTRAININGS & WORKSHOPSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 3/6/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Thanks to all
- [Finance Committee Gets Briefing on Library Project Finances: Big Questions Remain](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/finance-committee-gets-brief-briefing-on-library-project-finances-big-questions-remain/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Finance Committee, March 3, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentCathy Schoen (Chair, District 1), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Ana Devlin Gauthier and Sam MacLeod (District 5). Tom Porter (nonvoting member). Absent: Jill Brevik (District 1) and Joseph Jayne (nonvoting member) Staff: Sean Mangano
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/whats-in-this-issue-273/): 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
- [Shutesbury Plans Demonstration to Support Funding of Rural Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/shutesbury-plans-demonstration-to-support-funding-of-rural-schools/): Source: Susie Mosher On Tuesday March 10, at 2:00 p.m., teachers, students, staff, and community members are planning to join together to encircle Shutesbury Elementary School, 23 West Pelham Rd. and urge Governor Maura Healey and legislators on Beacon Hill to address the current fiscal crisis faced by rural school districts. The goal: to increase funding for rural schools to
- [Director of Senior Services Resigns](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/director-of-senior-services-resigns/): Lisa Borchetta, the town's Director of Senior Services, has resigned, effective Friday, March 6, 2026. Borchetta took on the duties of director on September 8, 2025. She replaced Haley Bolton, who left to become Town Manager in Shutesbury.Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman reported that he will initiate a search for a new director immediately and
- [New State Solar Permitting Rules Limit Local Control](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/04/new-state-solar-permitting-rules-limit-local-control/): Report on the Joint Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Conservation Commission, March 3, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Alex Weisheit, attorney for KP Law, met with members of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and Conservation Commission on March 3 to discuss the implications of new solar
- [Cherry Hill Working Group Recommends Revolving Fund for Golf Course Finances](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/04/cherry-hill-working-group-recommends-revolving-fund-for-golf-course-finances/): Report on the Meeting of the Cherry Hill Working Group, March 2, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentMichele Miller (Chair), Sanjay Arwade, Ryan Diplock, Sarah Goff, Hilary Matheson, Chris Pariseau, Anurag Sharma Staff: Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) and Rey Harp (Recreation Director) At the February 4 meeting of the
- [Beavers Star in Jones Library Activities for All Ages This Month](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/beavers-star-in-jones-library-activities-for-all-ages-this-month/): 14th Annual On the Same Page Community Read Source: Joneslibrary.org The 2026 book chosen for the 14th On the Same Page community reading program is Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America by Leila Philip. There are activities highlighting beavers for all ages throughout March. All are free and open to the public. Paperback copies of the book are available
- [Trash Hauler Bylaw Stalled by Consultant Change. TSO Will Examine Appointment Process for Town Committees](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/trash-hauler-bylaw-stalled-by-consultant-change-tso-will-examine-appointment-process-for-town-committees/): Report on the Meeting of the Town Services and Outreach Committee, March 5, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentGeorge Ryan (Chair, District 3), Andy Churchill (at large), Hala Lord (District 3), Pam Rooney (District 4), Jennifer Taub (District 4)Staff: Athena O’Keeffe (Clerk of Town Council). Paul Bockeman (Town Manager) Trash
- [Town Plans Study on How to Increase Housing in East Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/town-plans-study-on-how-to-increase-housing-in-east-amherst/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Planning Board, March 4, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Doug Marshall (Chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Angus McLeod, Jesse Mager, Johanna Neumann, and Jerah Smith Staff: Nate Malloy (Senior Planner) and Pam Field Sadler (Assistant) East Amherst Housing StudyThe town has received a
- [Three Residents Nominated for New Transportation and Parking Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/three-residents-nominated-for-new-transportation-and-parking-commission/): Town Manager Paul Bockelman has nominated three residents to serve on the town’s new Transportation and Parking Commission All three were recommended unanimously, 5-0, at the March 5 Town Services and Outreach Committee meeting and will come to a vote before the full Town Council on Monday, March 9. Bockelman noted that there were many
- [Photos of the Week: Winter Bike Ride Home by Rob Kusner](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/photos-of-the-week-winter-bike-ride-home-by-rob-kusner/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week, a new photo or photos by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [Amherst and Pelham Democratic Town Committees Will Meet to Select Delegates to State Convention](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/amherst-and-pelham-democratic-town-committees-will-meet-to-select-delegates-to-state-convention/): Amherst Town CommitteeThe Amherst Democratic Town Committee will meet at the Bangs Community Center (new location!), 70 Boltwood Walk, on Saturday, March 7, at 11:00 a.m. Registered Democrats will gather to elect 17 delegates and 4 alternates to represent Amherst at the 2026 State Democratic Convention. Please RSVP for the caucus via this link . Individuals aged
- [Letter: Thanks to Amherst Community for Supporting Goodwill Industries](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/letter-thanks-to-amherst-community-for-supporting-goodwill-industries/): I am writing to thank the residents of Amherst for demonstrating their community spirit and commitment to sustainability by donating nearly 700,000 pounds of clothing and household goods to Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries in 2025. Goodwill is a community-based nonprofit that relies on these donations to support its mission. Each year, it provides job training
- [Community Meeting on Flooding and Culverts, March 16](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/06/community-meeting-on-flooding-and-culverts-march-16/): Residents are invited to join the Town of Amherst for a community meeting and discussion about flooding and culverts. Dinner will be served. Your local knowledge is crucial to help the town identify problem areas and develop plans for a resilient future. Most flooding is caused by failing or undersized culverts, which are the pipes
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-19/): Table of Contents THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTRAININGS & WORKSHOPSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 2/27/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Thanks to all
- [Cuppa Joe with Library Director Sharon Sharry, March 13](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/04/cuppa-joe-with-library-director-sharon-sharry/): Source: amherstma.gov The public is invited for coffee and conversation with Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Library Director Sharon Sharry. All community members are welcome to join this informal event to connect with some of our town leaders. The month's event will be held at Amherst Coffee, 28 Amity Street, from 8:00 a.m until
- [Amherst Downtown Design Standards: Presentation & Open House](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/04/amherst-downtown-design-standards-presentation-open-house/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst invites the community to attend an upcoming presentation and open house focused on the Amherst Downtown Design Standards, which are guidelines that will shape the future of downtown. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 11, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Social Hall of the Unitarian Universalist Society. “After nearly two years of community input, deep discussion by a dedicated working group, and the support of consultants
- [UMass History Department’s Distinguished Annual Lecture Presents Howard W. French: Africa’s Struggle for a Place in the World](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/04/umass-history-departments-distinguished-annual-lecture-presents-howard-french-africas-struggle-for-a-place-in-the-world/): Source: UMass Department of HistoryHoward W. French, Visiting Writer in the UMass/Five College Graduate Program in History, will present this year’s Distinguished Annual Lecture, "Africa’s Struggle for a Place in the World", on Tuesday, March 24, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the UMass Amherst Integrated Learning Center, 650 N. Pleasant Street, Room N151. The event is
- [Amherst’s East Village: Where History Happened](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/04/amhersts-east-village-where-history-happened/): On Wednesday, March 4, the town’s Planning Board will take up a proposal from the town’s Local Historic District Commission (LHDC) that Amherst’s East Village become its own Local Historic District. As defined by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this is a “geographically defined area protected by municipal ordinance to preserve its historic, architectural or aesthetic
- [Integrity Development Takes Over Rise Dispensary Site](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/03/integrity-development-takes-over-rise-dispensary-site/): Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, February 26,2026 By Maura Keene This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentEverald Henry (Chair), David Ahlfeld, Craig Meadows, and Philip White. Hilda Greenbaum (Associate member) Staff: Jacinta Williams (Planner) Integrity Development and Construction is slated to take over the one-time site of
- [Town Council President’s Attempt to Silence DPW Workers Fails. Union Condemns Deplorable Working Conditions and Low Wages](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/03/town-council-presidents-attempt-to-silence-dpw-workers-fails-union-condemns-deplorable-working-conditions-and-low-wages/): The air was brisk but the spirit was heated as about 150 people gathered on the North Common across from Town Hall on Monday evening, March 2, to support the Amherst DPW (Department of Public Works) Association’s call for a fair contract. The union has been working without a contract for seven months, after beginning
- [Opinion: Trump's Undermining of the EPA is Endangering Us All](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/03/03/trumps-undermining-of-the-epa-is-endangering-us-all/): Love, Justice, and Climate Change In 2009 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that climate pollution endangers public health and welfare. The EPA carefully reviewed the scientific evidence and found that greenhouse gases produced by burning coal, oil, and gas worsen deadly climate change – increasing catastrophic heat waves, droughts, floods, etc. and also affect
- [Amherst’s Neighboring Towns: Pelham (Part 2). “Upon an Eminence”](https://www.amherstindy.org/2024/12/20/amhersts-neighboring-towns-pelham-part-2-upon-an-eminence/): This column is the last in a 10-part series about towns surrounding Amherst. Previous columns explored Pelham, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Leverett (Part 1), South Hadley, and Leverett (Part 2). For a listing of all previous “Amherst History Month by Month” columns, look here. When I started this series, I began by looking at Pelham because of one particular house and the
- [Letter: Amherst’s DPW Workers Have Our Backs, It’s Time We Had Theirs](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/amhersts-dpw-workers-have-our-backs-its-time-we-had-theirs/): by Julian Hynes, Marisol Bonifaz, Amrita Rutter, Alex Franz, Mia Cielak, Maria Kopicki, Brooks Ballenger, Jennifer Shiao, Meredith Simpson, Cass Wei, Heidi Frantz-Dale, Susan Heitker, David Ruderman, Allegra Clark, Jade Alicandro, Shoshona King, Monika Brodnicka, Ellen Jedrey-Guidera, Erica Foley, Esther Azar, Bridget Hynes, Ellen Keiter, Hannah Caruso, Kristen Ripley, Stella Dee, Duško Cejic, Lidia Suni,
- [Photos of the Week: Fire and Ice Festival 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/photos-of-the-week-fire-and-ice-festival-2026/): by David Jeffway Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week, a new photo or photos by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited. Amherst Fire and Ice Festival, February 21, 2026. All photos by David Jeffway,
- [Letter: Here’s How To Protest Trump’s Renovation of the White House. We Have Until March 4](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/24/letter-heres-how-to-protest-trumps-renovation-of-the-white-house-we-have-until-march-4/): Last week, I published an article in the Indy about threats to our public art and architecture and the effort to save the Wilbur J. Cohen building in Washington, D.C. from demolition. But the issue is broader than the fight to save this building. There are a number of onslaughts on public history more generally. These
- [Councilors Move Toward Adopting Small Tweaks to Town Charter](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/councilors-move-toward-adopting-small-tweaks-to-town-charter/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, February 23, 2026, Part 2 This meeting was held exclusively over Zoom due to the blizzard and was recorded.Read Part 1 here. In the fourth and final hour of its February 23 Zoom-based meeting, Town Council completed the discussion of the Charter Review Committee’s recommendations begun
- [Finance Committee Recommends Using Free Cash to Replace Middle School Auditorium Roof. FY27 Budget Outlook Slightly Improved](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/finance-committee-recommends-using-free-cash-to-replace-middle-school-auditorium-roof-fy27-budget-outlook-slightly-improved/): Report on the Meeting of the Finance Committee, February 24, 2026 By Maura Keene This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentCathy Schoen (Chair and District 1). Jill Brevik (District 1), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Sam MacLeod and Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5), Joseph Jayne (nonvoting resident member) Staff: Sean Mangano (Finance Director),
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/28/whats-in-this-issue-272/): 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
- [School Committees Approve COLA Increases and Modifications to APEA Contracts](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/28/school-committees-approve-cola-increases-and-modifications-to-apea-contracts/): Report on the Joint Meeting of Union 26, Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees, February 27, 2026 By Kiera McLaughlin This meeting was held in the library of the Amherst Regional High School and simulcast over Amherst Media Channel 15, and was recorded. PresentRegional School Committee: Sarahbess Kenney (Chair, Pelham), Andrew Hart (Amherst), Laura
- [Town Plans Puffer's Pond Restoration](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/28/town-plans-puffers-pond-restoration/): The Town of Amherst was awarded a $250,000 grant from the Massachusetts Dam and Seawall Repair Program for design and repair of the dam and dike at Puffer’s Pond. The existing dam and dike keeping Puffer’s Pond in place are both high-hazard structures and in need of repairs due to vegetation growth, erosion, and structural
- [Updated: Amherst DPW Workers Will Rally for a Fair Contract](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/26/amherst-dwp-workers-will-rally-for-a-fair-contract/): A special meeting of the Amherst Town Council has been scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, at 7:00 p.m in the Town Room of Town Hall to address issues in the Department of Public Works (DPW). Amherst Department of Public Works unions have been working under an expired contract for over seven months and have been
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/whats-happening-in-amherst-216/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27: PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY. 8 p.m., Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. The Paul Taylor Dance Company
- [Beacon Development Update: Process, Timeline, and Opportunities for Public Input](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/beacon-development-update-process-timeline-and-opportunities-for-public-input/): By Robin Jaffin The proposed Beacon development in North Amherst has generated significant discussion among nearby residents, particularly those living in and around the North Amherst Village Center area. The concept, as presented to date, envisions a four-story building containing approximately 140 fully affordable units. Because of the scale of the proposal and its proximity
- [Town Council Calls for ICE Accountability.  Recommends Repair of Entire Middle School Roof](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/town-council-calls-for-ice-accountability-recommends-repair-of-entire-middle-school-roof/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council February 23, 2026, Part 1 This meeting was held exclusive over Zoom due to the blizzard conditions and was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District
- [Marathon School Committee Meeting Takes up Elementary School Restructuring, Budget Priorities, and Policies on Restraints ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/marathon-school-committee-meeting-takes-up-elementary-school-restructuring-budget-priorities-and-policies-on-restraints/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, February 24, 2026 This was the Amherst School Committee’s first Zoom hybrid meeting. It was held at Town Hall, was accessible on Zoom, and was recorded. Future meetings will also be hybrid meetings using the Zoom platform. PresentDeb Leonard (Chair), Andrew Hart, Bridget Hynes, Sarah Marshall,
- [PVFS Monthly Song and Story Swap Will Feature Folk Singer Debra Cowan and a Salute to Women](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/pvfs-monthly-song-and-story-swap-will-feature-folk-singer-debra-cowan-and-a-salute-to-women/): Source: Pioneer. Valley Folklore Society Folk singer Debra Wowan is the guest artist at the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s March Song and Story Swap. The monthly performance will take place at First Church, 165 Main St. in Amherst on Saturday March 7, from 7-9 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested minimum donation to the
- [The Drake Announces Transformational $250,000 Gift to Endow Director Position and Secure Long-Term Growth](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/the-drake-announces-transformational-250000-gift-to-endow-director-position-and-secure-long-term-growth/): Source: Downtown Amherst Foundation The Drake, Amherst's downtown live music and performance venue, has received a game-changing $250,000 donation that will allow the organization to hire and endow a new director position, marking a significant milestone after four successful artistic and financial years. The generous gift was made by Amherst residents who have supported The
- [Hampshire College's Enrollment Dilemma is a Solvable Problem](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/27/hampshire-college-enrollment-dilemma-is-a-solvable-problem/): Hampshire College enrollment declined from 844 to 750 students (an 11% decrease) in Fall 2025, despite a 79% increase from 2021 to 2024. Hampshire missed its admission goal for that year by nearly half, enrolling only 168 students instead of the expected 300. What happened and why is this a solvable problem? A recent article
- [Town Manager Report for February 23, 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/26/town-manager-report-for-february-23-2026/): Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the second Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 16 pages in length, provide up-to-date information on what is happening within and across town departments. The Manager Report is usually one of the last items
- [East Amherst Local Historic District Proposal Ready for Town Council Approval](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/26/east-amherst-local-historic-district-proposal-ready-for-town-council-approval/): Report on the Meeting of the Local Historic District Commission, February 23, 2026 By Hilda Greenbaum This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentSteve Bloom (acting chair), Elizabeth Sharpe, Nicole Miller, Greta Wilcox, and Bruce Coldham. Absent: Nancy Ratner (chair) Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) Walker Powell, Planning Staff East Amherst Local Historic District
- [Views on Views: Incidentals in Our Landscapes ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/25/views-on-views-incidentals-in-our-landscapes/): By Hetty Startup This is the ninth column in a ten-part series. View the previous articles in the series here. I’m going to venture that there are two broad historic traditions within landscape design history: 1) a romantic approach where it might seem that nature could reclaim whatever we have planned for us at any moment
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/whats-happening-in-amherst-215/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21: PINE CONE GNOME MAKING AND SNOWFLAKE DECORATING. Mill DistrictLocal Art Gallery and General Store, 91
- [Auditions for Missoula Children’s Theater’s The Secret Garden, March 23](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/24/auditions-for-missoula-childrens-theaters-the-secret-garden-march-23/): Amherst Community Theater will hold auditions for The Missoula Children’s Theater’s production of The Secret Garden. Auditions will be held at the Middle School on Monday, March 23 at 4 p.m. The production will go from rehearsal to stage in just one week with two performances scheduled for Saturday March 28 at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- [New Appointments to Cable Television Advisory Committee and Transportation and Parking Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/23/new-appointments-to-cable-television-advisory-committee-and-transportation-and-parking-commission/): Cable Television Advisory Committee In a memo to the Town Council and the Town Clerk dated February 17, 2026, Town Manager Paul Bockelman nominated five voting members to the Cable Television Advisory Committee for one-year terms expiring December 31, 2026. This committee provides advice and assistance in negotiating and complying with the cable television license
- [First in the Nation, Amherst Town Council Passes Resolution Urging State and Local Officials to Hold Federal Agents Accountable For Violations of Massachusetts Criminal Law](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/24/first-in-the-nation-amherst-town-council-passes-resolution-urging-state-and-local-officials-to-hold-federal-agents-accountable-for-violations-of-massachusetts-criminal-law/): by Free Speech for People Amherst Town Council voted Monday night (2/23/26) to pass a resolution urging Massachusetts state and local officials to hold federal officers, including federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, accountable when they violate Massachusetts criminal law. Of the councilors who voted, the vote was unanimous with 9 councilors in support.
- [Public Comment: None of Us Is Safe When We Prioritize the Rights of Some over Others](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/23/public-comment-none-of-us-is-safe-when-we-prioritize-the-rights-of-some-over-others/): This comment is adapted from a public comment offered at the meeting of the Amherst Town Council on February 23, 2026. One of the early ICE incidents noted in the Resolution Calling for Federal Immigration Agents to be Held Accountable for Violations of Massachusetts Criminal Law was the kidnapping of Rümeysa Öztürk—a Tufts PhD student and student
- [Public Comment: Four Good Reasons for Amherst to Adopt ICE Accountability Resolution](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/23/public-comment-there-are-good-reasons-for-amherst-to-adopt-ice-accountability-resolution/): The following public comment was submitted to the Amherst Town Council for their meeting on February 23, 2026 I am writing in support of the resolution that will come before you this evening, calling upon state, county, and local officials to hold accountable federal agents who violate the law in our state, to investigate them
- [Public Comment on the Resolution Calling for Federal Immigration Agents to Be Held Accountable for Violations of Massachusetts Criminal Law](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/22/public-comment-on-the-resolution-calling-for-federal-immigration-agents-to-be-held-accountable-for-violations-of-massachusetts-criminal-law/): The following public comment was submitted to the Amherst Town Council for their meeting on February 23, 2026. My name is Margaret Smith, I live in Amherst’s District 4, and I’m a retired teacher. My family moved to Amherst in 1968, I graduated from ARHS, and I studied at Hampshire College and earned a B.A.,
- [Rally for ICE Accountability Cancelled](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/22/rally-for-ice-accountability-cancelled/): Organizers of the rally for ICE accountability have cancelled it due to the impending storm and the Town Council's move to an online-only meeting on Monday, February 23.
- [New Protective Gear and Hybrid Pickup Truck Among Fire Department Capital Requests](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/new-protective-gear-and-hybrid-pickup-truck-among-fire-department-capital-requests/): Report on the Meeting of the Joint Capital Planning Committee, February 18, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentCathy Schoen (Chair), Jill Brevik and Andy Churchill (Town Councilors), Deb Leonard and Bridget Hynes (School Committee), and Lee Edwards (Jones Library). Absent: Eugen Gioffredo (Jones Library) Staff: Sean Mangano (Finance Director) After
- [Opinion: Public Art Murals Under Threat](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/opinion-public-art-murals-under-threat/): A significant building in Washington DC, home to the nation’s Social Security Administration (SSA), is under threat from the Trump administration. It’s called the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building and it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a D.C. historic landmark known as the "Sistine Chapel of the New Deal." It
- [Living Under a Concentration Camp Regime - and Fighting Back](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/living-under-a-concentration-camp-regime-and-fighting-back/): by Kelly HayesThe following podcast transcript appeared originally in Truthout on February 19, 2026, and is reposted here under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. In the latest episode of “Movement Memos,” host Kelly Hayes talks with journalist Andrea Pitzer, author of One Long Night: A Global History of Concentration Camps, about what it means to
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-18/): Table of Contents THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTRAININGS & WORKSHOPSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 2/20/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Thanks to all
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/whats-in-this-issue-271/): 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
- [ROMANUM: A New Exhibit at Gallery A3 in March](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/romanum-a-new-exhibit-at-gallery-a3-in-march/): Source: Gallery A3 Gallery A3 presents in the month of March ROMANUM, a collection of mixed media works by Ron Maggio, inspired by the wall paintings (or frescos) from houses and villas of Rome, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Boscoreale, dating from the second century B.C. and the first century A.D. The exhibit opens on Thursday, March
- [Solidarity and Radical Transformation During End Times, a Panel Discussion](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/solidarity-and-radical-transformation-during-end-times-a-panel-discussion/): Source: Building Solidarity Economies Building Solidarity Economies, an assemblage of teaching and research projects in and outside of UMass, will offer a panel discussion entitled "Solidarity and Radical Transformation During End Times" at the Old Chapel on the UMass Campus from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, March 2. The discussion will focus on building resilience and
- [Photos of the Week: New Reflections from Dave Madeloni](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/photos-of-the-week-new-reflections-from-dave-madeloni-2/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week, a new picture by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [LWV Birthday Luncheon: “Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors in a Time of Crisis”](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/18/lwv-birthday-luncheon-supporting-our-immigrant-neighbors-in-a-time-of-crisis/): Source: League of Women Voters Amherst The League of Women Voters Amherst (LWVA) will host its annual Birthday Luncheon on Friday, February 28, from Noon to 2:00 p.m. at Ginger Garden, 351 Northampton Road, Amherst, featuring a timely presentation titled “Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors in a Time of Crisis.” Guest speaker Millicent Thayer of the Pioneer Valley Workers Center and
- [Steel Rising, Endowment Falling? Jones Library Leaders Wrestle with Uncertain Future](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/steel-rising-endowment-falling-jones-library-leaders-wrestle-with-uncertain-future/): The February 18, 2026, meeting of the Jones Library Board of Trustees presented a study in contrasts: the physical structure of the new library has begun taking shape, yet the financial foundation supporting it remains under intense pressure. While "steel is rising" at the Amity Street site, the board is simultaneously agonizing over an endowment
- [Rally to Support Resolution Calling for ICE Accountability, February 23](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/rally-to-support-resolution-calling-for-ice-accountability-february-23/): Source: Free Speech for People The Amherst Town Council will be considering the Resolution Calling for Federal Immigration Agents to be Held Accountable for Violations of Massachusetts Criminal Law on Monday, February 23. A rally will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in front of Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Walk, to show support for this resolution.
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/whats-happening-in-amherst-214/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SINGLE DAY EVENTS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20 THROUGH SUNDAY APRIL 26 : MABEL LOOMIS TODD EXHIBIT TO BENEFIT THE EMILY DICKINSON MUSEUM.
- [Public Comment: Local Resolutions on ICE Are Not Enough](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/public-comment-local-resolutions-on-ice-are-not-enough/): The following public comment was submitted for the Amherst Town Council meeting of February 23, 2026. My name is Ahmad Esfahani and I live in Greenfield. I am a former employee of the Town of Amherst. My educational background includes a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University. My supervising professor, Robert Friedmann,
- [Renovations Underway at Bangs Community Center](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/renovations-underway-at-bangs-community-center/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst has begun work to renovate the Bangs Community Center located at 70 Boltwood Walk. The building will remain open and accessible throughout construction though sections of the building will be off-limits during certain construction activity. Completion is expected in early 2027. This renovation project involves health and safety improvements, including a new sprinkler system, electrical upgrades, HVAC improvements, and ensuring full access throughout the building to comply with the Americans
- [Opinon: Here's My Opinion](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/20/opinon-heres-my-opinion/): I’ve been writing opinion pieces for the local press since 1986. My first bailiwick was education, because that was my work. When I retired in 1991, I added local government to my remit because I had come to value the New England tradition of Town Meeting, especially Representative Town Meeting, as foundational to democracy. With the dissolution
- [Local Residents Protest Target’s Collaboration with ICE](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/18/local-residents-protest-targets-collaboration-with-ice/): A group of 11 Western Mass locals interrupted business as usual at the Target store at the Hampshire Mall on Valentine's Day to protest the corporation's collaboration with ICE's ongoing campaign of violence. The protestors entered the store at around 3 p.m. and spent about 25 minutes moving down the aisles singing songs, holding signs with anti-ICE slogans,
- [Opinion: Apocalypse Prep: Pooling Community and Campus Resources ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/18/opinion-apocalypse-prep-pooling-community-and-campus-resources/): Local and Green The following column appeared previously in the Amherst Bulletin. From Conway’s washed‑out roads to Hadley’s flooded fields, it’s getting harder to pretend that “apocalypse” is just a Netflix genre. Climate events, pandemics, political instability, and war‑related supply chain shocks are already affecting our lives in the Valley. And the news on many
- [Letter: State Government Must End Its Collaboration with ICE](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/16/letter-state-government-must-end-its-collaboration-with-ice/): Every day, we see horrific violence by ICE agents across the country, including right here in Massachusetts. A Tufts Graduate Student was illegally abducted and transported across the country. ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) kidnapped an 18-year-old and detained him for a week in Worcester. From January 20, 2025, through May, Plymouth County
- [Munson Library Accessible Entrance on Tap for This Year](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/18/munson-library-accessible-entrance-on-tap-for-this-year/): Report on the Meeting of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, February 10, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Myra Ross (Chair), James Kruidenier, Ian Rhodewalt, Cody Rooney, Reginald Andrade, Seren Derin, and Pamela Nolan Young (Staff Appointee) Munson Library Accessible Entrance a “Go” This YearAfter the town was unable
- [Logo Design Contest for Town's New Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/18/logo-design-contest-for-towns-new-schools/): Source: Amherst Regional Public Schools. The Amherst Regional Public School District has announced a contest to design logos for its two new elementary schools: Chestnut Street Academy and Amethyst Brook Elementary. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to help shape the look and spirit of our new school communities by submitting design ideas.
- [Resolution to Hold ICE Accountable Will Be Considered at Town Council Meeting, February 23](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/16/resolution-to-hold-ice-accountable-will-be-considered-at-town-council-meeting-february-23/): The Town Council’s Government, Organization, and Legislation (GOL) Committee reviewed and unanimously approved as “clear, consistent, and actionable” a "Resolution Calling for Federal Immigration Agents to be Held Accountable for Violations of Massachusetts Criminal Law" at its Feb 10 meeting. The resolution is now on track to come before the council for discussion and approval
- [Letter: All School Personnel Must Be Trained How to Respond to an ICE Presence](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/letter-all-school-personnel-must-be-trained-how-to-respond-to-an-ice-presence/): by It Takes a Village Amherst-Pelham The following letter will be sent to Dr. E. Xiomara Herman, Superintendent of the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, the Amherst Regional School Committee, and the Amherst Town Council. Members of the Amherst Regional community who wish to add their names to those of the 117 who had signed the letter
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/14/whats-in-this-issue-270/): 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
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-17/): Table of Contents THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTRAININGS & WORKSHOPSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 2/13/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Thanks to all
- [Meet Bella Astrofsky, The Indy's New Intern](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/meet-bella-astrofsky-the-indys-new-intern/): The Indy is pleased to introduce Bella Astrofsky, our new intern for the Spring 2026 semester. Bella is a senior journalism major with a minor in political science and specialization in creative writing at UMass. At the Indy, she will be covering the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) and working on feature stories. Bella also
- [Library Project Sees Progress and Snags in January](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/library-project-sees-progress-and-snags-in-january/): The Jones Library Building Committee approved renovation-expansion invoices totaling $1,209,093.42 at its February 9 meeting. The largest payouts were $1,052, 325 to general contractor Fontaine Bros., $63,250 to designer Finegold Alexander Architects, $33,547 to Colliers Project Leaders, and $21,078 for monthly rent of library space at 101 University Drive. Additional work for the project consisted
- [After More Than 18 Months Without a Contract, PSU and UMass Reach a Tentative Agreement](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/after-more-than-18-months-without-a-contract-psu-and-umass-reach-a-tentative-agreement/): Late in the evening on Thursday, February 12, the Professional Staff Union (PSU) bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with the UMass Amherst administration on their 2024–2027 contract. PSU represents 2,400 employees across the Amherst and Boston campuses with 1600 members at UMass Amherst. They have been negotiating their new contract with UMass administration since
- [New Owners Submit Management Plan for Montague Road Battery Storage Facility](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/new-owners-submit-management-plan-for-montague-road-battery-storage-facility/): Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, February 12, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentEverald Henry (Chair), David Ahlfeld, David Sloviter, and Philip White. Absent: Craig Meadows Staff: Jacinta Williams (Planner) Lodestar Energy and its subsidiary, LSE Fornax LLC, applied to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)
- [Fashion Meets Illustration at the Eric Carle Museum](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/fashion-meets-illustration-at-the-eric-carle-museum/): After-hours Runway, Karaoke, and Collage Draw Families and Students The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst hosted on the evening of Feb. 5, Through the Lens, an after-hours event combining fashion, live piano karaoke, photography, and interactive illustration. Part of the museum’s Carle After Dark series, the evening brought together museum staff, members
- [CSSJC Will Co-sponsor Town Council Resolution Condemning ICE](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/cssjc-will-co-sponsor-town-council-resolution-condemning-ice/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, February 11, 2026 The meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present Debora Ferreira (Co-Chair), Allegra Clark (Co-Chair), Everald Henry, Erica Piedade, Lissette Paredes. Two vacancies. Staff: Assistant DEI Director Philip Avila. At their meeting on Feb. 11, the Community Safety and
- [Amethyst Brook Elementary School Building Project Update](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/amherst-brook-elementary-school-building-project-update/): The Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) held its monthly meeting on February 13, 2026. The meeting was recorded. Construction UpdateThe Dinisco design team reported that interior work is progressing, with millwork, plumbing fixtures, tile, and ceilings installed. The foundations for the solar canopies are about half done, and the transformer has been installed and is
- [Photos of the Week: The Rimes of Pelham](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/photos-of-the-week-the-rimes-of-pelham/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week a new picture by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited. rime /rīm/nounfrost formed on cold objects by the rapid freezing of water vapor in cloud or fog.verbcover (an object) with hoarfrost."he does not brush
- [Strong Support Among Educators for Earlier Start Time for District’s Secondary Schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/12/strong-support-among-educators-for-earlier-start-time-for-districts-secondary-schools/): Report on the Meeting of Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, February 10, 2026This meeting was held in the library of the Amherst Regional High School and simulcast over Amherst Media Channel 15, and was recorded. PresentRegional School Committee: Sarahbess Kenney (Chair, Pelham), Andrew Hart (Amherst), Laura Jane Hunter (Amherst), Anna Heard (Shutesbury), Bridget Hynes (Amherst), Deb
- [Letter: Middle School Auditorium Ceiling Needs a Safety Inspection](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/13/letter-middle-school-auditorium-ceiling-needs-a-safety-inspection/): On February 6 2026, I attended a student concert at Amherst Regional Middle School. Attached is a picture of the compromised sheetrock ceiling located directly above the head of the Music teacher directing the band. The ceiling near the stage is all sheetrock, not hung tiles. There are several damaged areas in this location. Could
- [Heat Pump Program Information Session Set for February 24](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/12/heat-pump-program-information-session-set-for-february-24/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst, in partnership with CET, invites residents to attend a virtual information session about the Amherst Heat Pump Incentive Program on Tuesday, February 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Zoom. The town launched the Amherst Heat Pump Incentive Program in April 2025. This initiative is designed to help homeowners install energy-efficient heat pump systems
- [Becoming Beloved Community: Conversation with Community Heart & Soul](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/12/becoming-beloved-community-conversation-with-community-heart-soul/): Source: amherstma.gov The Department of Equity and Inclusion (DEI)will continue the Becoming Beloved Community series on Thursday, February 26 with “Conversation with Community Heart and Soul.” Community Heart & Soul is a resident-driven process that invites people from across Amherst to share what they love most about their community, envision the future they want, and
- [Council Discusses 9 of 22 Proposed Changes to the Town Charter](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/12/council-discusses-9-of-22-proposed-changes-to-the-town-charter/): Report on the Work Session of the Amherst Town Council, February 9, 2026 This meeting was held in person, was accessible via Zoom, and was recorded. PresentThe Town Council’s Work Session was attended by all thirteen Town Councilors; Mandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn
- [Historical Commission Denies Permission to Demolish House on East Amherst Common](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/12/historical-commission-denies-permission-to-demolish-house-on-east-amherst-common/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Historical Commission, February 9, 2026 By Hilda Greenbaum This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentRobin Fordham (Chair), Pat Auth, George Baitinger, Joel Greenbaum, Mackenzie Landsittel, and Hetty Startup (1 vacancy) Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) The Amherst Historical Commission (AHC) denied owner Agnes Ting permission to
- [Free Tickets to "The Voice of Hind Rajab"](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/12/free-tickets-to-the-voice-of-hind-rajab/): Source: Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace Western Mass (JVP) is sponsoring free tickets for local organizers and community members to see the Oscar-nominated documentary, The Voice of Hind Rajab, now showing at Amherst Cinema. See the film now through Feb. 19, and then join JVP for a discussion on February 24 at
- [Opinion: Five Shifts for Our Climate Conversations](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/10/opinion-five-shifts-for-our-climate-conversations/): Love, Justice and Climate Change In my previous post, I shared six items of good climate news. It’s a remarkable list, and it would be good for us to remember them and to be able to share each of these good news facts. There are good things happening on the climate front all around the world.
- [Reflections on Grief After Watching "Hamnet" and "The Voice of Hind Rajab"](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/09/reflections-on-grief-after-watching-hamnet-and-the-voice-of-hind-rajab/): This column appeared originally in the blog "Tell Me Another" by Josna Rege, on February 6, 2026, under the title "634. Representing Grief." Learn more about the blog, find its archives, and subscribe here. My book group read Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, Hamnet, in the fall of 2021, at a time when we were emerging, shellshocked, from
- [Alternatives Proposed for Funding Cherry Hill Golf Course](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/10/alternatives-proposed-for-funding-cherry-hill-golf-course/): Report on the Meeting of the Cherry Hill Working Group, February 4, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentMichele Miller (Chair), Sanjay Arwade, Ryan Diplock, Hilary Matheson, Chris Pariseau, and Anurag Sharma. Absent: Sarah Goff Staff: Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) and Rey Harp (Recreation Director). After the last meeting of
- [Opinion: An Elected Mayor Won't Fix Everything, but It Might Help](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/09/opinion-an-elected-mayor-wont-fix-everything-but-it-might-help/): Social Injustice Goes Global Recently, Raymond La Raja, a professor of political science at UMass, made this case in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, not that Amherst lacks democracy, but quite the opposite. We have public comment, committees, subcommittees, listening sessions, working groups, task forces—an abundance of voice. His concern is that all this participation doesn’t reliably
- [Regional School Committee Asks Town To Fund Repairs on Middle School Roof. Affirms District Bullying Policy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/30/regional-school-committee-asks-town-to-fund-repairs-on-middle-school-roof-affirms-district-bullying-policy/): Report on the Joint Meeting of Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees, January 27, 2026, Part 2 This meeting was held at the Amherst Town Hall due to the snowstorm and was simulcast over Amherst Media Channel 15, and recorded. PresentRegional School Committee: Sarabess Kenney (Chair, Pelham), Anna Heard (Shutesbury), Bridget Hynes (Amherst), Deb
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/06/whats-happening-in-amherst-213/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6: OPENING RECEPTION FOR THE NEW EXHIBIT WINTER GARDEN GROUP SHOW. 7 p.m. Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D, Amherst Cinema
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/06/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-16/): THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTSCALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL ACTIONSOTHER LISTINGS & CALENDARSACTIVE BOYCOTTSTRAININGS & WORKSHOPSGOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 2/6/26, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. We’re back again! We were unable
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/07/whats-in-this-issue-269/): 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
- [Photos of the Week: Stream Ice Magic](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/06/photos-of-the-week-stream-ice-magic/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week a new picture by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited.
- [Chapter 70: Some of What You Need to Know to Understand the School Budget Process](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/05/chapter-70-some-of-what-you-need-to-know-to-understand-the-school-budget-process/): Chapter 70, the primary Massachusetts state aid program for public elementary and secondary schools, is supposedly designed to ensure equitable education funding across all districts. But the formula that allocates these funds can be unintelligible to the average person. When I first heard it casually referenced in a Regional School Committee (RSC) meeting, my brain
- [Cuppa' Joe “After Hours” Featuring Police Chief Gabriel Ting and Emergency Communications Center Supervisor Jason Rushford   ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/06/cuppa-joe-after-hours-featuring-police-chief-gabriel-ting-and-emergency-communications-center-supervisor-jason-rushford/): The Town of Amherst invites community members for coffee and conversation with Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman, Police Chief Gabriel Ting, and Emergency Communications Center Supervisor Jason Rushford on Wednesday, February 11 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the Community Room of the Amherst Police Station. This will be the first Cuppa’ Joe with Paul “After Hours” event. The goal is to host some of these community engagement sessions on weeknights, rather than just the traditional Friday mornings, to ensure
- [Views on Views: Water Features in Landscape Design: Fountains, Ponds, and Waterfalls](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/06/views-on-views-water-features-in-landscape-design-fountains-ponds-and-waterfalls/): This is the eighth column in a ten-part series. View the previous articles in the series here. Before I retired, I lived and worked with college students in Amherst. They were mostly sorority women, and I remain in touch with some of them as their former house director. I fully expect to continue this kind of
- [CPAC Recommends High Spending for FY27 but Pickleball Gets Nothing](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/06/cpac-recommends-high-spending-for-fy27-but-pickleball-gets-nothing/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Community Preservation Act Committee This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. The Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) voted on February 5, 2026 to recommend spending essentially their entire $3.1 million budget plus $1.5 million in future debt on 14 projects that applied for funds for FY27.
- [What Zoning Changes Would Promote Housing Growth in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/06/what-zoning-changes-would-promote-housing-growth-in-amherst/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Planning Board, February 4, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Present: Doug Marshall (Chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Angus McLeod, Jesse Mager, and Johanna Neumann. Absent: Jerah Smith Staff: Nate Malloy (Senior Planner) and Pam Field Sadler (Assistant) Senior Planner Nate Malloy presented the
- [Chris Smalls Lecture at UMass: From Amazon to Gaza: Organizing, Solidarity, and Civic Courage](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/06/chris-smalls-lecture-at-umass-from-amazon-to-gaza-organizing-solidarity-and-civic-courage/): Source: Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Justice at UMass Amherst The Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is pleased to announce that Chris Smalls will serve as its 2026 Ellsberg Activist-in-Residence. As part of his residency, Smalls will deliver a public lecture, entitled "From Amazon to Gaza: Organizing, Solidarity,
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/30/whats-happening-in-amherst-212/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SATURDAY JANUARY 31: LAUNDRY DAY: THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE TOUR. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Laundry Day was
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: Dawn Redwood](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/06/amherst-arbor-spotlight-dawn-redwood/): by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee This is the second in a series of 12 articles produced by the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) under the title “Amherst Arbor Spotlight.” The series focuses on the town’s 12 species of shade trees and features a different tree each month. New articles will be posted
- [Hundreds of UMass Employees Picket Boston and Amherst Campuses to Demand Fair Wages](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/05/hundreds-of-umass-employees-picket-boston-and-amherst-campuses-to-demand-fair-wages/): Source: UMass Professional Staff Union (PSU) After 20 months of bargaining, UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes threatens governor-guaranteed cost-of-living adjustments Members of the University of Massachusetts’s Professional Staff Union (PSU), which represents 2,400 employees across the Amherst and Boston campuses, have been negotiating their new contract with UMass administration since July 2024. On Wednesday, February 4, and
- [State Reps Seek to Equalize Aid to Western Mass, Prioritizing Education, Health, and Climate](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/05/state-reps-seek-to-equalize-aid-to-western-mass-prioritizing-education-health-and-climate/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, February 2, 2026, Part 1 Read Part 2 of this report here. This was a hybrid meeting, held in person in theTown Room of Town Hall and on Zoom. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber
- [Procedural Delays Prevent Decision on Repairing Middle School Auditorium Roof](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/05/procedural-delays-prevent-decision-on-repairing-middle-school-auditorium-roof/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, February 2, 2026, Part 2Read Part 1 of this report here. This meeting was a hybrid meeting in theTown Room of Town Hall and on Zoom. It was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano-Martin and Lynn
- [Opinion: Will Jones Library Request for CPAC Money Prevent Funding for Preservation of Goodwin A.M.E. Zion Church?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/03/opinion-will-jones-library-request-for-cpac-money-prevent-funding-for-preservation-of-goodwin-ame-zion-church/): Two issues related to historic preservation are really riling me up these days. First, in an address about the status of his proposed East Wing addition to the White House, it seems that our President has decided to take aim at the National Trust for Historic Preservation (see also here). He’s now going after the
- [Cherry Hill Is Not a Failing Golf Course](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/28/cherry-hill-is-not-a-failing-golf-course/): Report on the Meeting of the Cherry Hill Working Group, January 21, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentMichele Miller (Chair), Sanjay Arwade, Ryan Diplock, Sarah Goff, Hilary Matheson, Chris Pariseau, Anurag Sharma, Staff: Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) and Rey Harp (Recreation Director) Members of the Cherry Hill Working Group
- [Views on Views: Conservatories, Greenhouses and Roof Gardens](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/27/views-on-views-conservatories-greenhouses-and-roof-gardens/): By Hetty Startup This is the seventh column in a ten-part series. View the previous articles in the series here. So far, I’ve covered landscape design from a number of perspectives such as the importance of roads/rivers; the presence of our public parks and our town trails; the significance of our stone walls; our town’s shade
- [UMass Amherst Lion Dragon Club to Celebrate Lunar New Year with Downtown Amherst Parade](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/05/umass-amherst-lion-dragon-club-to-celebrate-lunar-new-year-with-downtown-amherst-parade/): Source: Amherst Business Improvement District The UMass Amherst Lion Dragon Club will welcome the Lunar New Year with a vibrant New Year’s Parade through downtown Amherst on Sunday, February 8, from 2 p.m to 3:30 p.m. The celebration will feature traditional lion dances performed throughout downtown Amherst, with stops at several Asian restaurants. Lion dance is
- [Strong Community Opposition to Possible Closing of Pelham Elementary School](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/29/strong-community-opposition-to-possible-closing-of-pelham-elementary-school/): Report on the Joint Meeting of Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees, January 27, 2026, Part 1 This meeting was held at the Amherst Town Hall due to the snow storm and was simulcast over Amherst Media Channel 15, and was recorded. PresentRegional School Committee: Sarabess Kenney (Chair, Pelham), Anna Heard (Shutesbury), Bridget Hynes
- [Keep Busy During School Vacation Week with Winterfest Events](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/04/keep-busy-during-school-vacation-week-with-winterfest-events/): The Recreation Department has partnered with community organizations to provide a variety of activities for the week of February vacation, February 14-21. Many of the activities are free. The week culminates in the Fire and Ice Festival and Luminaria, beginning at 3 p.m. on the Town Common. This event features ice sculptures and luminaria. A
- [Opinion: Time to Say No to More Town Money for the Jones Library Demolition-Expansion Project](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/03/opinion-time-to-say-no-to-more-town-money-for-the-jones-library-expansion-project/): On Thursday, February 5, the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) is scheduled to continue its deliberations, and possibly vote, about its recommendation on how to distribute $3.1 million for FY27. Their preliminary figures included $577,000 for the Jones Library Demolition-Expansion Project, which would represent 20% of the total budget for a project that ranked 15
- [Opinion: What Will We Do When ICE Comes to Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/03/opinion-what-will-we-do-when-ice-comes-to-amherst/): It was extremely encouraging to see so many young protestors willing to brave the cold at the ICE Out rally on the Town Common on January 30. There is a sense of building momentum, but we must be ready to be more involved. Here in our "Amherst bubble", we have little to fear, so
- [Letter: Is Amherst Destined to Become an Extension of the UMass Campus?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/02/03/letter-is-amherst-destined-to-become-an-extension-of-the-umass-campus/): The following letter was sent to the Planning Board, Planning Department and Amherst Town Council on February 3, 2025. I’m writing because I care deeply about Amherst remaining a livable town for year‑round residents as well as students. Our housing decisions are increasingly driven by a large, transient student population, while a much smaller year‑round
- [Resistance Is Not Futile: Finding Resistance, Resilience, and Hope in Cinema](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/30/resistance-is-not-futile-finding-resistance-resilience-and-hope-in-cinema/): This column also appeared in Eben Shapiro's Substack on February 1, 2026. Earlier this week, Eben Shapiro wrote in the Indy about the collective trauma engendered by authoritarianism, a trauma that rips the fabric of society and that often lasts for decades. He illustrated this generational damage with examples from two recent films. Just as
- [Opinion: An Elected Mayor for Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/20/opinion-an-elected-mayor-for-amherst/): Many friends and colleagues who share my dislike of our current Home Rule Charter and the governance that emanates from it believe that an elected mayor should replace our current appointed town manager. Recently, Raymond La Raja, a professor of political science at UMass, has advocated this in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. I do not
- [Opinion: Welcome to Amherst - Everytown USA](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/opinion-welcome-to-amherst-everytown-usa/): Recently The New Yorker had a cartoon about Amherst. A road sign says “Welcome to Your Home Town”. Under that, a panel: “Please describe what every building used to be.” And under that, two panels: “They finally fixed that pothole. Took them long enough.” and “What’s with all the roundabouts?” All over America I imagine folks saying
- [Opinion: Children and Performance](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/30/opinion-children-and-performance/): I was not able to attend Amherst Community Theater’s The Wizard of Oz last week, but my spies tell me that both the stage and the house of Bowker Auditorium were filled with children, and that report warms my heart. I congratulate and thank the company both for the pleasure they gave and the service
- [Amherst Joins the Nation in Saying ICE Out for Good](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/30/amherst-joins-the-nation-in-saying-ice-out-for-good/): by Maura Keene, Art Keene, and Josna Rege Hundreds of people gathered on the Amherst North Common in the freezing cold and blustery wind on Friday, January 30, to join Indivisible’s nationwide ICE Out shutdown. The local rally was organized by Amherst College Democrats and other community members to “protest the terror that ICE and
- [Superintendent Explains Why Pelham School Budget Discussion Was Not Broadcast by Amherst Media](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/30/superintendent-explains-why-pelham-budget-discussion-was-not-broadcast-by-amherst-media/): School Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi) issued a press release today (01/30) explaining why the meeting of the Pelham School Committee on January 29 was not broadcast on Amherst Media and was not recorded. The meeting was not an official school committee meeting but rather a special session for caregivers to provide additional information
- [Photos of the Week: An Indy January Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/30/photos-of-the-week-an-indy-january-gallery/): Our feature, Photo of the Week, presents each week, a new picture by a local photographer. We invite local photographers to share their photographs here. Please include a description/caption and an indication of who is to be credited. This week we offer a gallery of photos that we have received during the month of January, 2026. We
- [What's in This Issue](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/31/whats-in-this-issue-268/): 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
- [Town's Morning Movement and Mentoring Program Wins Award for Innovation](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/30/towns-morning-movement-and-mentoring-program-wins-award-for-innovation/): Source: amherstma.gov The Town of Amherst was recognized with the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s 2026 Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Award for the Morning Movement and Mentoring Program. Various town staff and officials accepted this award at the MMA’s Connect 351 annual conference on Friday, January 23, 2026. The Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Award recognizes municipalities that have
- [WINTER GARDEN: A New Exhibit at Gallery A3 in February](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/30/winter-garden-a-new-exhibit-at-gallery-a3-in-february/): Source: Gallery A3 The month of February is short, but nights are long, temperatures are low, and winter seems to go on forever. To counter these dark times, Gallery A3 presents WINTER GARDEN, a group show of work by members of this local fine art cooperative gallery. Paintings, prints, photographs, collage, and mixed media, mostly
- [Following Angst-filled Discussion, School Committee Accepts Sixth-Grade Move to Middle School for Fall 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/22/following-angst-filled-discussion-school-committee-accepts-sixth-grade-move-to-middle-school-for-fall-2026/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, January 20, 2026 This meeting was held in the library of Amherst Regional High School, was simulcast on Amherst Media Channel 15, and was recorded.PresentAmherst School Committee: Deb Leonard (Chair), Andrew Hart, Laura Jane Hunter, Bridget Hynes, and Sarah MarshallStaff (all participating remotely): E. Xiomara Herman
- [ICE Out Protest on Town Common Friday](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/28/ice-out-protest-on-town-common-friday/): The Amherst College Democrats are organizing an ICE Out Protest to be held on the Amherst Town Common, Friday, January 30, at 3 p.m. This action is part of a nationwide general strike, called in response to recent federal ICE enforcement actions, and is meant to bring the community together to raise awareness and show
- [Virtuoso Michael Nix at PVPS February Song and Story Swap](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/28/virtuoso-michael-nix-at-pvps-february-song-and-story-swap/): Source: Pioneer. Valley Folklore Society Composer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Nix is the featured artist at the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s February Song and Story Swap. The monthly performance will take place at First Church, 165 Main St. in Amherst on Saturday February 7, from 7-9 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested minimum donation to
- [Opinion: Good Climate News to Share](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/27/opinion-good-climate-news-to-share/): Love, Justice and Climate Change The daily news is full of accounts of the latest violence by ICE, undermining of the international order, increased threats of war by Trump, and continued destruction of basic human rights and needed services by the MAGA forces. At the same time, we all know that the climate crisis, probably
- [Opinion: It Will Happen Here Unless State Officials Speak Out](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/26/opinion-it-will-happen-here-unless-state-officials-speak-out/): After the brutal murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota and the deaths of at least 32 others in ICE custody in 2025, there can be no doubt that the federal government is waging a brutal, malicious and reckless war on U.S. citizens and residents alike. Here in Massachusetts, when Rümeysa Öztürk,
- [Downtown Parking Ban Extended](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/26/downtown-parking-ban-extended/): Source: amherstma.gov Even though the snowstorm is over, our Department of Public Works crews are still hard at work clearing snow from the downtown area. To ensure safe and efficient snow removal, we encourage drivers to minimize on-street parking over the next few days. We are not able to clear snow from under or around
- [Letter: On the School Committee's Obligation to Protect LGBTQIA+ Students](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/26/letter-on-the-school-committees-obligation-to-protect-lgbtqia-students/): The following letter was sent to the Amherst Regional School Committee on January 18, 2026. This is an open letter to the Amherst Regional School Committee. On December 9, 2025, at Amherst Regional High School, I was moved by the words of Ali Wicks-Lim, of ROAR, at the school committee meeting of December 9, 2025,
- [There Is No Snapping Back from The Trauma of Authoritarianism](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/26/there-is-no-snapping-back-from-the-trauma-of-authoritarianism/): Two Powerful Films Depict How the Trauma Inflicted by Brutal Regimes Lasts for Decades. by Eben ShapiroThe following column appeared originally in Eben's Substack on January 25, 2026 and is posted here with permission. After a year of denial, I’m finally terrified. The unfolding events in Minneapolis, my beloved hometown, are a turning point. My
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-15/): Table of Contents (internal hyper links coming back soon) THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION AND LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS CALENDAR OF UPCOMING ACTIONS OTHER LISTINGS AND CALENDARS ACTIVE BOYCOTTS TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS GOOD READS THIS WEEK’S INTRODUCTION & LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 1/23/26, a listing of resistance actions in
- [Opinion: A Warm Welcome for the New Emergency Shelter in Northampton](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/20/opinion-a-warm-welcome-for-the-new-emergency-shelter-in-northampton/): A shorter version of this column appeared previously in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Last week, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Northampton signaled something far bigger than a new emergency shelter opening: it marked an affirmation of our community’s values. On January 8, local leaders, volunteers, and neighbors gathered to bless and
- [CPA Committee’s First Pass Still Nearly $1.6 Million over Budget](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/cpa-committees-first-pass-still-nearly-1-6-million-over-budget/): This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentKatie Zobel (Chair), Marc Barrette, Jonas Cox, Jason Dorney, Robin Fordham, Angus McLeod, Tim Neale, Bob Saul, and Ellen Keiter Staff: Leah Carver (Senior Accountant), Sean Mangano (Finance Director), and Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) The Community Preservation Act Committee continued its deliberations on January 22,
- [What's Happening in Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/whats-happening-in-amherst-211/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. SATURDAY JANUARY 24 and SUNDAY JANUARY 25: AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER’S “THE WIZARD OF OZ”. 7:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. matinees on Saturday and
- [Photos of the Week: ICE Out for Good Standout in Hadley](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/photos-of-the-week-ice-out-for-good-in-hadley/): About 60 people with homemade signs lined up along the intersections of Rt. 9 and Bay Road in Hadley on Friday afternoon, January 23, 2026, in conjunction with the ICE Out for Good! National Solidarity Day of Action. The honking, waving, and thumbs-ups did not stop for two hours as, it seemed, the vast majority of those
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/whats-in-this-issue-267/): 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
- [Our House: UMass DesignBuild Students Send Forth House To Holyoke](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/our-house-umass-designbuild-students-send-forth-house-to-holyoke/): Source: UMass News and Media November 13 was moving day at the DesignBuild Site at UMass Amherst—which means that three giant flat-bed trucks and three enormous tow trucks, plus a crane and a crew of a dozen hard-hatted operators to manage it, were ready for work. Instead of people moving into a house, though, moving day for
- [Hours For Local Warming Centers](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/21/hours-for-local-warming-centers/): Source: amherstma.gov During these extremely cold temperatures, the town wants to remind you about the warming centers available. The Town of Amherst has activated daytime warming centers for anyone who needs a safe, warm space during the winter season. Daytime Warming Centers The following locations have been identified as daytime warming centers. These are municipal buildings
- [A Better World is Possible: Here’s How We Pressured an Airline to End Its Contract With ICE](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/20/a-better-world-is-possible-heres-how-we-pressured-an-airline-to-end-its-contract-with-ice/): by Umme Hoque and Daniel Hunter ICE is not invulnerable. The Avelo Airlines win proves what happens when we refuse inevitability and fight together. This article was published originally by Truthout on January 14, 2026. It is reposted here under Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The same day that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- [Improvements On Tap for Puffer's Pond, Mount Pollux, Hickory Ridge, and Sweet Alice](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/21/improvements-on-tap-for-puffers-pond-mount-pollux-hickory-ridge-and-sweet-alice/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Conservation Commission, January 14, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentBruce Stedman (acting chair), Jason Dorney, Andrey Guidera, Tina Smith, Sarah Matthews, Carol McNeary, and Rachel Loeffler. Staff: Erin Jacque (Conservation Agent) and Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) Safety Improvements Planned for Puffers Pond
- [Beacon Presents Plan for a Multi-Generational Housing Development in North Amherst.](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/beacon-presents-plan-for-a-multi-generational-housing-development-in-north-amherst/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, January 22, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentGaston de los Reyes (chair), Alex Cox, Allegra Clark, Karla Rasche, and Heejae Kim. Absent: Rob Allingham, and Bob Pomeroy Staff: Greg Richane (Housing Coordinator) Darcy Jameson, Vice President of Development for
- [Town Declares Parking Ban Beginning Sunday Night](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/town-declares-parking-ban-beginning-sunday/): Source: amherstma.gov Due to inclement weather, the Town of Amherst Department of Public Works has declared a Town Parking Ban. Parking is prohibited from 11:59 pm on Sunday, January 25 to 7:00 am on Monday, January 26 on all town streets and in all parking lots, with three exceptions. During a declared parking ban, the following lots
- [Downtown Design Standards, East Amherst Study, and Professional Research Park Zones will Be Top Priorities for Planning Department in 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/downtown-design-standards-east-amherst-study-and-professional-research-park-zones-will-be-top-priorities-for-planning-department-in-2026/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Planning Board, January 21, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentDoug Marshall (Chair), Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Angus McLeod, Jesse Mager, Jerah Smith, and Johanna Neumann. Staff: Nate Malloy (Assistant Director of Planning and Economic Development) and Pam Field Sadler (Assistant). Jeff Bagg, who
- [Opinion: Charter Review Committee’s Recommendations Are Deeply Flawed: A Response to Ray LaRaja ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/opinion-charter-review-committees-recommendations-are-deeply-flawed-a-response-to-ray-laraja/): I stand by my criticisms of the Charter Review Process (see here, here,and here), that it included both deeply insufficient outreach and a failed recommendation process. The Charter Review Committee’s final report was not “imperfect” due to garden-variety governmental ineffectiveness as Ray LaRaja implies (see also his comment in the Indy here). It violated the
- [Public Comment: Charter Review Was So Flawed It Requires a Redo](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/14/public-comment-charter-review-was-so-flawed-it-requires-a-redo/): The following public comment was submitted in writing to the Amherst Town Council for their meeting of January 10, 2025. My name is Darcy DuMont and I live in District 3. I’m commenting on the Charter Review Final Report as a former councilor and former member of the League of Women Voters of Amherst Charter
- [Amherst College Celebrates National Women & Girls in Sports Day](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/amherst-college-celebrates-national-women-girls-in-sports-day/): Source: Amherst College Athletics The Amherst College Department of Athletics, in partnership with the Town of Amherst and Amherst Recreation Department, is proud to host National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) for the third year in a row, on Saturday, February 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Alumni Gym. This
- [Amherst Cultural Council Announces Grant Recipients](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/23/amherst-cultural-council-announces-grant-recipients/): Source: amherstma.gov The Amherst Cultural Council has awarded 60 grants, totaling just over $57,000, for cultural programs in Amherst and the region. Proposals centering on community building, participatory activities, music, theater events, visual artists, and programs featuring the natural environment were supported. Grant recipients represent a broad range of organizations and institutions. The largest grant of $7,000 will be awarded to the 6th Annual Odenong Powwow. Grants of $2,000 or more will
- [Slavery and Freedom in Northampton, 1654-1783: An Exhibit](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/21/slavery-and-freedom-in-northampton-1654-1783-an-exhibit/): Historiography (the study of the writing of history) is a complicated thing, especially as we live in times, to paraphrase Tom Paine, that try our souls. Coming of age as I did in the 1970s, I learned that much of women’s history had been hidden from us, and that “us” was also worth unpacking. A
- [FY 2026 Town Finances on Target. No Decision on Replacement of Middle School Auditorium Roof](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/22/fy-2026-finances-on-target-no-decision-on-replacement-of-middle-school-auditorium-roof/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Finance Committee, January 20, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentJill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Sam MacLeod and Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5), Tom Porter (nonvoting resident member). Absent: Joseph Jayne (nonvoting resident member). Staff: Sean Mangano (Finance
- [Historical Commission Supports CPA Funds for Goodwin Church Repairs](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/21/historical-commission-supports-cpa-funds-for-goodwin-church-repairs/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Historical Commission, January 20, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentRobin Fordham (Chair), Pat Auth, George Baitinger, Joel Greenbaum, Mackenzie Landsittel, and Hetty Startup. Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) Goodwin Church Repairs Deemed Priority for CPA FundsRobin Fordham, the Community Preservation Act (CPA) committee representative
- [Amherst Again in Mild Drought](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/21/amherst-again-in-mild-drought/): Source: mass.gov The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs declared on January 12 that the Connecticut River Valley is in a Level 1 Mild Drought. According to the town’s website, Amherst's water supply has remained stable and is not threatened by the drought. However, in accordance with the town's Water Management Act Registration,
- [School Committee Tables Indefinitely Decision on Repair of Middle School Auditorium Roof](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/school-committee-declines-to-authorize-repair-of-middle-school-auditorium-roof/): Report on the Meeting of the Regional School Committee, January 13, 2026 This hybrid meeting was held at Amherst Regional High School and recorded. School Finance Director Shannon Bernacchia told committee members that an Amherst town councilor had approached her about adding the auditorium roof replacement to the remaining roof work scheduled for this summer
- [Multiple Change Orders Submitted for Library Building Project](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/20/multiple-change-orders-submitted-for-library-building-project/): The Jones Library Building Committee met on January 12 to review construction progress and approve outstanding invoices. The Town of Amherst received seven invoices totaling $920,057.28 in December. The largest was from general contractor Fontaine Brothers for $782,343. The Fontaine invoice included $35,223 billed for “change order” work outside of the construction contract. Handling of
- [Public Shows Interest in Creating East Amherst Historic District](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/20/public-shows-interest-in-creating-east-amherst-historic-district/): Report on the Public Hearing of the Local Historic District Committee, January 12, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentNancy Ratner (Chair), Steve Bloom, Bruce Coldham, Nicole Miller, and Greta Wilcox Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) The Local Historic District Commission (LHDC) and public attendees heard a presentation by historic preservation consultant
- [Library Director Seeks Funding for Three New Hires](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/16/library-director-seeks-funding-for-three-new-hires/): At their January 14 meeting, Jones Library Director Sharon Sharry presented the Board of Trustees with three possible budget scenarios for Fiscal Year 2027, reflecting the hiring of one, two, or three new staff, depending on the availability of funds. Sharry opted not to consider a scenario that left staffing at the level that it
- [Amherst Rallies to Protest ICE](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/13/amherst-rallies-to-protest-ice/): On the sunny Sunday afternoon of January 11, an estimated 400 people gathered on the Amherst Town Common, carrying signs, singing and cheering on an assortment of speakers. The event was organized by Indivisible-West Quabbin to protest ICE abuses in Massachusetts and around the country. and the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis last week.
- [Town Council Elects New Officers, Receives Final Charter Review](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/14/town-council-elects-new-officers-receives-final-charter-review/): Report on the Special Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, January 5, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held in Town Hall and was not recorded. PresentLynn Griesemer (Outgoing President, District 2), Andy Churchill, Mandi Jo Hanneke, and Ellisha Walker (at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano Martin (District 2), George
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/16/whats-in-this-issue-266/): 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
- [Elementary School Construction on Target to Finish on-time and Under Budget](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/16/75007/): Report on the Meeting of the Elementary School Building Committee, January 16, 2026 This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. The Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) convened on January 16, 2026 for its monthly meeting. Tim Cooper from DiNisco Design (architects) reported that other than the doors, the building should be completely enclosed
- [Dear Reader - We're Back!](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/16/dear-reader-were-back/): Dear Reader, The Indy is back in business after a gratifying two-week break. There's much to catch up on and this week's dispatch offers a start. We have not yet pulled together our Western Mass Resistance Calendar and our Photos of the Week but they will be back next week, along with news that we
- [CPAC Begins Deliberations on FY27 Applications](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/16/cpac-begins-deliberations-on-fy27-applications/): This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. PresentKatie Zobel (Chair), Marc Barrette, Jonas Cox, Jason Dorney, Robin Fordham, Angus McLeod, Tim Neale, Bob Saul, and Ellen Keiter Staff: Leah Carver (Senior Accountant), Sean Mangano (Finance Director), and Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager) The Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) met on January 15, 2026
- [Four Towns in Regional School District Balk at Proposed Budget Increases: $2 Million Shortfall Projected](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/16/four-towns-in-regional-school-district-balk-at-proposed-budget-increases-2-million-shortfall-projected/): Report on the Four Towns Meeting, January 10, 2026 This meeting was held in person at the Amherst Regional Middle School and was recorded. School Finance Director Shannon Bernacchia’s presentation of the preliminary FY27 budget for the regional school district was met with sympathetic resistance from representatives of the four member towns. Representatives from all
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/16/whats-happening-in-amherst-210/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16 THROUGH SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 : AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER’S “THE WIZARD OF OZ”. 7:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. matinees on
- [UMass Webinar on the US Incursion in Venezuela](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/umass-webinar-on-the-us-incursion-in-venezuela/): Source: UMass College of Social and Behavioral Sciences The UMass College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) will sponsor a webinar on the US intervention in Venezuela and beyond on Tuesday, January 20, at 4 p.m. over Zoom. The webinar features UMass SBS faculty with expertise on Venezuelan politics, Latin American politics, and international and
- [UMass Amherst Earns ‘Community-engaged University’ Designation for Third Time](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/umass-amherst-earns-community-engaged-university-designation-for-third-time/): Source: UMass News and Media The University of Massachusetts Amherst has earned the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification, a designation by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement. The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing
- [Fire at Bridge Street Residence in North Amherst Displaces Two](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/fire-at-bridge-street-residence-in-north-amherst-displaces-two/): Source: Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren Amherst Fire Department received a call via 911 from a passerby reporting smoke coming out of the front door of a house at #116 Bridge Street in North Amherst on January 6. A second caller reported smoke coming from a second-floor window. A box alarm was sounded to summon all
- [Craig's Doors Welcomes New Executive Director](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/craigs-doors-welcomes-new-executive-director/): Source: Craig's Doors Following an extensive search, Craig’s Doors has appointed Shari Carlson (she/her/hers) as its new Executive Director, officially beginning her role on December 15, 2025. Shari brings 30 years of experience in social services and housing, supporting a diverse range of communities and populations. Shari began her professional journey as a Peace Corps
- [Town Manager Report for January 12, 2026](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/town-manager-report-for-january-12-2026/): Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the second Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 16 pages in length, provide up-to-date information on what is happening within and across town departments. The Manager’s Report is usually one of the last items
- [Letter: A Long List of Questions About Proposed North Amherst Apartment Complex](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/14/letter-a-long-list-of-questions-about-proposed-north-amherst-apartment-complex/): The following letter was sent to Darcy Jameson, Vice President of Development for Beacon Communities LLC on January 7, 2026. Thank you for meeting with me and several others last month and sharing the current proposed plans for the development of the Mitchell Property into an apartment complex. I have put together a set of
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight: White Oak](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/amherst-arbor-spotlight-white-oak/): by The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee This is the first in a series of 12 articles produced by the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) under the title "Amherst Arbor Spotlight." The series will focus on the town's 12 species of shade trees and feature a different tree each month. New articles will be
- [Second Annual Community Food Drive on MLK Day To Honor King's Legacy and Benefit the Amherst Survival Center](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/second-annual-community-food-drive-on-mlk-day-to-honor-kings-legacy-and-benefit-the-amherst-survival-center/): Source: Office of State Representative Mindy Domb The Second Annual Light and Love Amherst Community Food Drive, organized by State Representative Mindy Domb (D-Amherst), will be held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 19, 2026, to benefit the Amherst Survival Center. The food drive is inspired by Dr. King’s words: “Darkness cannot drive out
- [Amherst Community Theater Presents the Wizard of Oz](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/amherst-community-theater-presents-the-wizard-of-oz/): Source: Amherst Community Theater Click your heels and follow the Yellow Brick Road to UMass Bowker Auditorium for Amherst Community Theater’s production of The Wizard of Oz! January 15-18 and 22-25. Join the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy on their musical journey to the Emerald City. Featuring favorite songs from the MGM film like
- [Opinion: MAGA Attacks on Racial Justice](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/15/opinion-maga-attacks-on-racial-justice/): Love, Justice and Climate Change We are all well aware of the many, many disastrous harms the Trump Administration has wreaked on our society. Today, I’d like to look specifically at the impact their actions have had on our long struggle for racial justice in this country. Chattel slavery was introduced to what is now
- [Town Council Condemns Killing of Renee Good by ICE. Plans to Discuss Proposed Charter Revisions on February 9](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/14/town-council-condemns-killing-of-renee-good-by-ice-plans-to-discuss-proposed-charter-revisions-on-february-9/): Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, January 12, 2026 This was a hybrid meeting held at Town Hall and was recorded. PresentMandi Jo Hanneke (President, at large), Jill Brevik and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Amber Cano- Martin and Lynn Griesemer (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Pam Rooney and
- [Opinion: Jones Library Request for More CPAC Funding Unjustifiable](https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/01/13/opinion-jones-library-request-for-more-cpac-funding-unjustifiable/): The Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) will begin deliberations on January 15 regarding how to distribute an available $2.4 million among 16 projects that total $6.5 million in requests. One of those requests is from the Jones Library Trustees for over $1.2 million (fully half of the total available funds) and described as “fundraising” toward
- [The Indy Is Going on Vacation](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/16/the-indy-is-going-on-vacation-3/): The Indy will soon go on vacation and will not publish between December 26 and January 14. There will be no Saturday email dispatch on January 3 or January 10. We'll be back with new content on January 15 and with a new email dispatch on January 17.. We will post new content through Christmas
- [Upcoming Forum Is the Last Chance for Public to Hear Proposed Changes to Town Charter](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/09/upcoming-forum-is-the-last-chance-for-public-to-hear-proposed-changes-to-town-charter/): With less than a month to go until the January 5 deadline to complete its work, the Charter Review Committee ) has submitted its Preliminary Report to Town Council on December 7. and is seeking feedback before completing its Final Report. A Public Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. to present
- [Review Committee Recommends 18 Amendments to Town Charter](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/24/review-committee-recommends-18-amendments-to-town-charter/): The Charter Review Committee convened its required public forum on December 18, to receive comments and suggestions to its Preliminary Report which was released on December 7, 2025. The sparsely attended hybrid gathering began with a short presentation, describing the committee’s process as well as an overview of the contents of the Preliminary Report. The
- [Year in Review. The Indy by the Numbers. Most Read Articles in 2025](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/24/year-in-review-the-indy-by-the-numbers-most-read-articles-in-2025/): Below you will find listings of our most-read articles in 2025 by category. Since its inception on February 25, 2019, the Indy has published 7311 articles by 468 unique contributors producing 9,552 accepted reader comments. All of this supports our aspiration to be a project of, by, and for the Amherst community. The most-read article in 2025,
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/25/western-mass-resistance-calendar-and-supplemental-reading-list-14/): Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 12/26/25, a listing of resistance actions in response to the depredations of the Trump administration. Please note, the Indy will be on vacation until January 15 and the calendar will not be updated again until then. But please send us your listings (amherstindy@gmail.com) and
- [What's Happening in Amherst?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/25/whats-happening-in-amherst-209/): by Art and Maura Keene You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com. TUESDAY DECEMBER 30: ASC 2026 NEW YEAR’S DANCE PARTY. 4 to 6 p.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Music from Peterson
- [Photos of the Week: A 2025 Favorites Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/25/photos-of-the-week-a-2025-favorites-gallery/): Compiled by Art Keene Last year, we published 224 photos that were contributed by our readers over the course of the year. This week we offer a gallery of 16 of our favorite Photo of the Week photos from the past year. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the photographers who shared their
- [What's in This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/25/whats-in-this-issue-265/): 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
- [Happy New Year from the Amherst Indy](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/25/happy-new-year-from-the-amherst-indy/): To all of our readers, We wish you a joyful holiday season and a new year filled with good health, happiness, peace, and justice. The Amherst Indy
- [A Better World is Possible: Assemblies, A Path to Co-Governance and Democratic Renewal](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/25/a-better-world-is-possible-assemblies-a-path-to-co-governance-and-democratic-renewal/): by Ben Palmquist A hybrid model of assemblies may be the key to bringing in vast numbers of people into the process of forging a new world and governing the one we have. The following article appeared originally in Convergence on December 5, 2025 and was reposted in Portside on December 23, 2025. Democracy should
- [Holiday Shoppers Are Flexing Political Power Through Big Boycott Campaigns ](https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/12/25/holiday-shoppers-are-flexing-political-power-through-big-boycott-campaigns/): by Victoria Valenzuela Genocide in Gaza, raids on immigrants and attacks on DEI have spurred urgent calls to boycott companies like Home Depot, Target, Chevron and Microsoft. Protesters in the Netherlands support the BDS call to boycott McDonald’s. (Instagram/eindhoven4palestine) This holiday season, the BDS movement is focusing on McDonald’s and 11 other priority targets who

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## Tags

- [recreational marijuana](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/recreational-marijuana/)
- [local business](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-business/)
- [Open Meeting Law (OML)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/open-meeting-law-oml/)
- [Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/massachusetts-school-building-authority-msba/)
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- [local events](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-events/)
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- [media](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/media/)
- [capital projects](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/capital-projects/)
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- [Finance Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/finance-committee/)
- [capital plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/capital-plan/)
- [Planning Board](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/planning-board/)
- [ZBA](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zba/)
- [police and fire](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/police-and-fire/)
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- [schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/schools/)
- [Town Manager](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-manager/)
- [Amherst Forward](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-forward/)
- [libraries](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/libraries/)
- [Amherst Media](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-media/)
- [neighborhood associations](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/neighborhood-associations/)
- [housing](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/housing/)
- [landlords](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/landlords/)
- [seniors](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/seniors/)
- [students](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/students/)
- [development](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/development/)
- [architecture](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/architecture/)
- [arts](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/arts/)
- [budget](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/budget/)
- [campuses](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/campuses/)
- [economy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/economy/)
- [elections/voting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/elections-voting/)
- [environment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/environment/)
- [energy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/energy/)
- [diversity](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/diversity/)
- [historic preservation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/historic-preservation/)
- [recreation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/recreation/)
- [social justice](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/social-justice/)
- [taxes](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/taxes/)
- [tourism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/tourism/)
- [volunteering](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/volunteering/)
- [Community Preservation Act (CPA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-preservation-act-cpa/)
- [downtown](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/downtown/)
- [education](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/education/)
- [Outreach Communications and Appointments Committee (OCA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/outreach-communications-and-appointments-committee-oca/)
- [Voting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/voting/)
- [LSSE](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/lsse/)
- [appointments](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/appointments/)
- [committees](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/committees/)
- [transparency](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/transparency/)
- [rules and procedures](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/rules-and-procedures/)
- [transportation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/transportation/)
- [North Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/north-amherst/)
- [parking](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/parking/)
- [curriculum](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/curriculum/)
- [School Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/school-committee/)
- [athletics](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/athletics/)
- [Town Meeting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-meeting/)
- [policy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/policy/)
- [campaign finance](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/campaign-finance/)
- [bylaws](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/bylaws/)
- [race](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/race/)
- [zoning](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zoning/)
- [neighborhoods](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/neighborhoods/)
- [advisory committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/advisory-committee/)
- [tax](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/tax/)
- [campaign finance reform](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/campaign-finance-reform/)
- [Community Resources Committee (CRC)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-resources-committee-crc/)
- [UMass](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/umass/)
- [LGBTQ](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/lgbtq/)
- [JCPC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jcpc/)
- [DPW](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dpw/)
- [From Other Sources](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/from-other-sources/): series
- [civil rights](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/civil-rights/)
- [immigration](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/immigration/)
- [protest](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/protest/)
- [free speech](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/free-speech/)
- [organizing](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/organizing/)
- [agriculture](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/agriculture/)
- [technology](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/technology/)
- [Board of Health](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/board-of-health/)
- [youth](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/youth/)
- [water](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/water/)
- [planning](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/planning/)
- [resistance](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/resistance/)
- [climate change](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/climate-change/)
- [public service](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-service/)
- [A Few Questions For](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/a-few-questions-for/): interview series
- [people](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/people/)
- [democracy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/democracy/)
- [regional schools](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/regional-schools/)
- [climate](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/climate/)
- [District One Neighborhood Association (DONA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/district-one-neighborhood-association-dona/)
- [photo](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/photo/)
- [impeachment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/impeachment/)
- [trees](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/trees/)
- [school superintendent](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/school-superintendent/)
- [Photo of the Week](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/photo-of-the-week/): series
- [Master Plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/master-plan/)
- [sanctuary](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sanctuary/)
- [roads](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/roads/)
- [Amherst College](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-college/)
- [human rights](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/human-rights/)
- [sustainability](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sustainability/)
- [PAC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pac/)
- [ranked choice voting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ranked-choice-voting/)
- [activism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/activism/)
- [Hampshire College](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hampshire-college/)
- [proclamations](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/proclamations/)
- [accountability](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/accountability/)
- [Charter](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/charter/)
- [community](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community/)
- [cycling](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cycling/)
- [public comment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-comment/)
- [sidewalks and roads](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sidewalks-and-roads/)
- [preschool](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/preschool/)
- [racism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/racism/)
- [food](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/food/)
- [population](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/population/)
- [recycling](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/recycling/)
- [solid waste](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/solid-waste/)
- [GOL](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gol/)
- [grants](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/grants/)
- [ECAC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ecac/)
- [public health](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-health/)
- [parks](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/parks/)
- [Town Services and Outreach Committee (TSO)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-services-and-outreach-committee-tso/)
- [history](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/history/)
- [COVID-19](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/covid-19/)
- [Conservation Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/conservation-commission/)
- [workers](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/workers/)
- [commons](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/commons/)
- [events](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/events/)
- [license commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/license-commission/)
- [children](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/children/)
- [hope](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hope/)
- [zero waste](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zero-waste/)
- [poverty](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/poverty/)
- [accessibility](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/accessibility/)
- [Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-development-block-grant-cdbg/)
- [land trust](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/land-trust/)
- [Right to Repair](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/right-to-repair/)
- [legislation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/legislation/)
- [consumer rights](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/consumer-rights/)
- [Library](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/library/)
- [Community Preservation Act CPAA](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-preservation-act-cpaa/)
- [CPA Committee (CPAC)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cpa-committee-cpac/)
- [parents](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/parents/)
- [police](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/police/)
- [unions](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/unions/)
- [Historical Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/historical-commission/)
- [religion](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/religion/)
- [Black Lives Matter](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/black-lives-matter/)
- [teachers](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/teachers/)
- [culture](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/culture/)
- [literature](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/literature/)
- [citizen oversight](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/citizen-oversight/)
- [human services](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/human-services/)
- [hunger](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hunger/)
- [polls](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/polls/)
- [sports](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sports/)
- [dogs](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dogs/)
- [elections](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/elections/)
- [Michael Morris](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/michael-morris/)
- [Paul Bockelman](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/paul-bockelman/)
- [Northampton](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/northampton/)
- [testing site](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/testing-site/)
- [reopening committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/reopening-committee/)
- [renters](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/renters/)
- [crime](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/crime/)
- [Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/transportation-advisory-committee-tac/)
- [zoom](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zoom/)
- [Design Review Board](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/design-review-board/)
- [homeless](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/homeless/)
- [union](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/union/)
- [heritage](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/heritage/)
- [Town of Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-of-amherst/)
- [Chamber of Commerce](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/chamber-of-commerce/)
- [Amherst Business Improvement District (BID)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-business-improvement-district-bid/)
- [Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-area-chamber-of-commerce/)
- [Dinner Delights](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dinner-delights/)
- [Town Clerk](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-clerk/)
- [Shavena Martin](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/shavena-martin/)
- [reparations](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/reparations/)
- [Reparations for Amherst (R4A)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/reparations-for-amherst-r4a/)
- [Kathleen Anderson](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/kathleen-anderson/)
- [Sean Mangano](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sean-mangano/)
- [Cathy Schoen](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cathy-schoen/)
- [Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/elementary-school-building-committee-esbc/)
- [Steve Schreiber](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/steve-schreiber/)
- [Crocker Farm Expansion Study](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/crocker-farm-expansion-study/)
- [Rupert Roy-Clark](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/rupert-roy-clark/)
- [Jones Library](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-library/)
- [Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/chancellor-kumble-subbaswamy/)
- [Governor Charlie Baker](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/governor-charlie-baker/)
- [reopening plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/reopening-plan/)
- [restaurants](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/restaurants/)
- [gatherings](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gatherings/)
- [retail](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/retail/)
- [Stephanie Hockman](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/stephanie-hockman/)
- [Amherst Regional School Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-regional-school-committee/)
- [Amherst Pelham Education Association (APEA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-pelham-education-association-apea/)
- [Lamicka Magee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/lamicka-magee/)
- [Parents and Guardians for ARPS Safe Reopening](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/parents-and-guardians-for-arps-safe-reopening/)
- [State of the Town](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/state-of-the-town/)
- [Amherst Regional Public Schools (ARPS)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-regional-public-schools-arps/)
- [distance learning centers](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/distance-learning-centers/)
- [Lauren Mills](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/lauren-mills/)
- [Heather Sheldon](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/heather-sheldon/)
- [Mill River Recreation Area](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mill-river-recreation-area/)
- [Amherst Regional High School (ARHS)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-regional-high-school-arhs/)
- [graffiti](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/graffiti/)
- [Talib Sadiq](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/talib-sadiq/)
- [Jeffrey Riley](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jeffrey-riley/)
- [No Confidence Vote](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/no-confidence-vote/)
- [vaccine](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/vaccine/)
- [Cooley Dickinson Hospital](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cooley-dickinson-hospital/)
- [Estevan Garcia](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/estevan-garcia/)
- [dissent](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dissent/)
- [Town Common](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-common/)
- [gay rights](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gay-rights/)
- [social change](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/social-change/)
- [holidays](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/holidays/)
- [journalism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/journalism/)
- [books](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/books/)
- [rule of law](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/rule-of-law/)
- [racial equity](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/racial-equity/)
- [public safety](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-safety/)
- [real estate](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/real-estate/)
- [Peter Demling](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/peter-demling/)
- [Margaret Todd](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/margaret-todd/)
- [Mangala Jagadeesh](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mangala-jagadeesh/)
- [later start time](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/later-start-time/)
- [communication](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/communication/)
- [Fort River](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/fort-river/)
- [sixth grade](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sixth-grade/)
- [enrollment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/enrollment/)
- [Margaret Stancer](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/margaret-stancer/)
- [Amherst Regional Middle School (ARMS)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-regional-middle-school-arms/)
- [music](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/music/)
- [White Supremacy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/white-supremacy/)
- [Zoning Subcommittee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zoning-subcommittee/)
- [film](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/film/)
- [conservation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/conservation/)
- [Juneteenth](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/juneteenth/)
- [African American](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/african-american/)
- [Local Historic District Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-historic-district-commission/)
- [Community Safety Working Group (CSWG)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-safety-working-group-cswg/)
- [pedestrians](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pedestrians/)
- [BIPOC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/bipoc/)
- [fascism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/fascism/)
- [Town Manager Report](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-manager-report/)
- [nature](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/nature/)
- [pollution](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pollution/)
- [enterprise fund](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/enterprise-fund/)
- [games](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/games/)
- [civic engagement](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/civic-engagement/)
- [fossil fuels](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/fossil-fuels/)
- [outreach](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/outreach/)
- [capitalism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/capitalism/)
- [fire](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/fire/)
- [cybersecurity](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cybersecurity/)
- [Culture Club](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/culture-club/): opinion series
- [Almanac](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/almanac/): series
- [Juvenescence](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/juvenescence/): series
- [Local and Green](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-and-green/): series
- [service-learning](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/service-learning/)
- [Climate Action Plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/climate-action-plan/)
- [consumers](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/consumers/)
- [farmers market](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/farmers-market/)
- [consensus](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/consensus/)
- [Amherst Community Land Trust](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-community-land-trust/)
- [Human Rights Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/human-rights-commission/)
- [North Amherst Library](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/north-amherst-library/)
- [horticulture](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/horticulture/)
- [racial justice](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/racial-justice/)
- [League of Women Voters](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/league-of-women-voters/)
- [Racial Equity Task Force](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/racial-equity-task-force/)
- [remote learning](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/remote-learning/)
- [Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/massachusetts-teachers-association/)
- [Love Justice And Climate Change](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/love-justice-and-climate-change/)
- [North Common](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/north-common/)
- [social welfare](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/social-welfare/)
- [Jewish Community of Amherst (JCA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jewish-community-of-amherst-jca/)
- [In This Issue](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/in-this-issue/)
- [leadership](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/leadership/)
- [awards](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/awards/)
- [What's In This Issue](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/whats-in-this-issue/)
- [trails](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/trails/)
- [Munson Library](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/munson-library/)
- [Sunrise Movement](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sunrise-movement/)
- [MCAS](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mcas/)
- [health equity](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/health-equity/)
- [vote](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/vote/)
- [reviews](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/reviews/)
- [Defund 413](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/defund-413/)
- [What's Happening In Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/whats-happening-in-amherst/)
- [Community Responders for Equity Safety and Service (CRESS)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-responders-for-equity-safety-and-service-cress/)
- [theater](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/theater/)
- [war](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/war/)
- [African Heritage Reparations Coalition](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/african-heritage-reparations-coalition/)
- [opinion](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/opinion/)
- [science](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/science/)
- [The Guardian](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/the-guardian/): publication source
- [litigation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/litigation/)
- [KP Law](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/kp-law/)
- [Amherst Survival Center](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-survival-center/)
- [Food Bank](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/food-bank/)
- [Issues & Analyses](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/issues-analyses/): series
- [Dear Reader](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dear-reader/): series
- [critical race theory](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/critical-race-theory/)
- [families](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/families/)
- [cooperatives](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cooperatives/): co-operatives coops
- [classes](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/classes/)
- [tax override](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/tax-override/)
- [infrastructure](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/infrastructure/)
- [hisotry](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hisotry/)
- [wage theft](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/wage-theft/)
- [participatory budgeting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/participatory-budgeting/)
- [DEI](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dei/)
- [US opinion](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/us-opinion/)
- [travel](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/travel/)
- [documentary films](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/documentary-films/)
- [US Arts and Culture](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/us-arts-and-culture/)
- [public hearings](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-hearings/)
- [Mobile Markets](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mobile-markets/)
- [economic justice](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/economic-justice/)
- [JLBC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jlbc/)
- [plastics](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/plastics/)
- [educators](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/educators/)
- [Archipelago](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/archipelago/)
- [referendum](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/referendum/)
- [Jones Borrowing](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-borrowing/)
- [petition](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/petition/)
- [Voter Veto](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/voter-veto/)
- [public way](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-way/)
- [greenhouse gas emissions](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/greenhouse-gas-emissions/)
- [global climate talks](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/global-climate-talks/)
- [world news](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/world-news/)
- [UK Environment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/uk-environment/)
- [Climate Action Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CAARP)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/climate-action-adaptation-and-resilience-plan-caarp/)
- [Green New Deal](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/green-new-deal/)
- [Gallery A3](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gallery-a3/)
- [eviction](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/eviction/)
- [Police Resident Oversight Board](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/police-resident-oversight-board/)
- [Frequently Unanswered Questions](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/frequently-unanswered-questions/): series
- [traffic](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/traffic/)
- [social movements](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/social-movements/)
- [Sojourner Truth School](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sojourner-truth-school/)
- [Jones referendum](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-referendum/)
- [districts](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/districts/)
- [Town Hall](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-hall/)
- [candidates](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/candidates/)
- [abortion](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/abortion/)
- [Law (US)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/law-us/)
- [public records](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-records/)
- [Eruptor](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/eruptor/)
- [Mill District](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mill-district/)
- [economic development](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/economic-development/)
- [ethics](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ethics/)
- [public forum](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-forum/)
- [gifts](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gifts/)
- [library trustees](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/library-trustees/)
- [housing authority](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/housing-authority/)
- [net zero](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/net-zero/)
- [Speak Up!](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/speak-up/): polling series
- [vision](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/vision/)
- [possibility](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/possibility/)
- [mutual aid](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mutual-aid/)
- [optimism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/optimism/)
- [solidarity economy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/solidarity-economy/)
- [Becoming Human](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/becoming-human/): series
- [redistricting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/redistricting/)
- [Districting Advisory Board (DAB)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/districting-advisory-board-dab/)
- [public/private partnership](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-private-partnership/)
- [imagination](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/imagination/)
- [survey](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/survey/)
- [Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gallery/)
- [television](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/television/)
- [community land trust](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-land-trust/)
- [indigenous nations](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/indigenous-nations/)
- [Cultural Council](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cultural-council/)
- [polarization](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/polarization/)
- [Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-safety-and-social-justice-committee-cssjc/)
- [corruption](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/corruption/)
- [sexual assault](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sexual-assault/)
- [checks and balances](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/checks-and-balances/)
- [money](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/money/)
- [representation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/representation/)
- [ARPA](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/arpa/)
- [compost](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/compost/)
- [Speak Up! Results](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/speak-up-results/): polling series
- [authoritarianism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/authoritarianism/)
- [inequality](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/inequality/)
- [immigration and asylum](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/immigration-and-asylum/)
- [The far right](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/the-far-right/)
- [workshop](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/workshop/)
- [coops](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/coops/)
- [deliberation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/deliberation/)
- [white privilege](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/white-privilege/)
- [jobs](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jobs/)
- [Amherst Neighbors](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-neighbors/)
- [drugs](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/drugs/)
- [Jones Trustees](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-trustees/)
- [inclusion](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/inclusion/)
- [developers](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/developers/)
- [Universal Basic Income](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/universal-basic-income/)
- [cooperation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cooperation/)
- [budgets](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/budgets/)
- [voters](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/voters/)
- [PGO](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pgo/)
- [Amherst History Museum](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-history-museum/)
- [Leverett](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/leverett/)
- [climate justice](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/climate-justice/)
- [performance shell](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/performance-shell/)
- [solar](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/solar/)
- [Pelham](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pelham/)
- [Shutesbury](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/shutesbury/)
- [PVTA](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pvta/)
- [US politics](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/us-politics/)
- [permits](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/permits/)
- [floods](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/floods/)
- [insurance](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/insurance/)
- [cars](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cars/)
- [Hickory Ridge](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hickory-ridge/)
- [responsive government](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/responsive-government/)
- [green infrastructure](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/green-infrastructure/)
- [outdoors](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/outdoors/)
- [climate crisis](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/climate-crisis/)
- [COP26](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cop26/)
- [Amherst Cinema](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-cinema/)
- [Board of Registrars](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/board-of-registrars/)
- [reproductive rights](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/reproductive-rights/)
- [greenwashing](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/greenwashing/)
- [community service](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-service/)
- [Disability Access Advisory Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/disability-access-advisory-committee/)
- [The Graphic](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/the-graphic/): publication source
- [Jones Library Litigation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-library-litigation/)
- [North Amherst Community Farm](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/north-amherst-community-farm/)
- [African Heritage Reparations Assembly (AHRA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/african-heritage-reparations-assembly-ahra/)
- [wetlands](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/wetlands/)
- [feminism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/feminism/)
- [obituaries](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/obituaries/)
- [conflict of interest](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/conflict-of-interest/)
- [primer](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/primer/): series
- [Jones Library Building Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-library-building-committee/)
- [A Better World Is Possible](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/a-better-world-is-possible/): series
- [COVID-19 testing](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/covid-19-testing/)
- [Trump administration](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/trump-administration/)
- [race in education](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/race-in-education/)
- [sheltering](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sheltering/)
- [Yes Magazine](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/yes-magazine/)
- [The Drake](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/the-drake/)
- [masks](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/masks/)
- [Jennifer Shiao's School Committee Blog](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jennifer-shiaos-school-committee-blog/): editorial series
- [student debt](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/student-debt/)
- [special eduction](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/special-eduction/)
- [demolition](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/demolition/)
- [Reflections of a Former Town Councilor](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/reflections-of-a-former-town-councilor/): series by Darcy Dumont
- [renewable energy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/renewable-energy/)
- [deforestation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/deforestation/)
- [debt](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/debt/)
- [consultants](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/consultants/)
- [preventative maintenance](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/preventative-maintenance/)
- [Destination Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/destination-amherst/)
- [utilities](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/utilities/)
- [gender](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gender/)
- [turnover](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/turnover/)
- [data](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/data/)
- [deregulation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/deregulation/)
- [public art](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-art/)
- [museums](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/museums/)
- [performance space](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/performance-space/)
- [carbon footprints](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/carbon-footprints/)
- [pesticides](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pesticides/)
- [foreign policy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/foreign-policy/)
- [peace](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/peace/)
- [geothermal](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/geothermal/)
- [circular economy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/circular-economy/)
- [community chats](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-chats/)
- [Kestrel Trust](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/kestrel-trust/)
- [kindness](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/kindness/)
- [empathy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/empathy/)
- [trees and forests](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/trees-and-forests/)
- [public participation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-participation/)
- [literacy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/literacy/)
- [astrology](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/astrology/)
- [revolution](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/revolution/)
- [poetry](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/poetry/)
- [philosophy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/philosophy/)
- [Jo Comerford](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jo-comerford/)
- [Massachusetts law](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/massachusetts-law/)
- [education program](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/education-program/)
- [Local Energy Advocates of Western MA (LEA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-energy-advocates-of-western-ma-lea/)
- [sustain](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sustain/)
- [the common good](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/the-common-good/)
- [dialogue](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dialogue/)
- [The Amherst Current](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/the-amherst-current/): publication source
- [trust](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/trust/)
- [Kendrick Park](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/kendrick-park/)
- [Amherst Current](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-current/): publication source
- [open source](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/open-source/)
- [engineering](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/engineering/)
- [historical preservation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/historical-preservation/)
- [settler colonialism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/settler-colonialism/)
- [local democracy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-democracy/)
- [multicultural](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/multicultural/)
- [multilingual](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/multilingual/)
- [moratorium](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/moratorium/)
- [Evanston Illinois](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/evanston-illinois/)
- [local history](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-history/)
- [Carlie Tartakov](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/carlie-tartakov/)
- [Gary Tartakov](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gary-tartakov/)
- [Jean Haggerty Award for Community Service](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jean-haggerty-award-for-community-service/)
- [resources](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/resources/)
- [fire station](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/fire-station/)
- [Energy Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/energy-committee/)
- [Net Zero Bylaw](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/net-zero-bylaw/)
- [Solar Siting Bylaw](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/solar-siting-bylaw/)
- [forests](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/forests/)
- [what you can do](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/what-you-can-do/)
- [living wage](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/living-wage/)
- [Voter Veto petition litigation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/voter-veto-petition-litigation/)
- [legal fees](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/legal-fees/)
- [overlay zoning](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/overlay-zoning/)
- [parking garage](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/parking-garage/)
- [traffic safety](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/traffic-safety/)
- [solar siting moratorium](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/solar-siting-moratorium/)
- [Sunrise Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sunrise-amherst/)
- [Wampanoag Tribe](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/wampanoag-tribe/)
- [UMass Science Fiction Society](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/umass-science-fiction-society/)
- [Progressive Coalition of Amherst (PCA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/progressive-coalition-of-amherst-pca/)
- [local politics](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-politics/)
- [Pat Ononibaku](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pat-ononibaku/)
- [Jennifer Shiao](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jennifer-shiao/)
- [Demetria Shabazz](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/demetria-shabazz/)
- [Allegra Clark](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/allegra-clark/)
- [Maria Kopicki](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/maria-kopicki/)
- [local PACs](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-pacs/)
- [Emma Dragon](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/emma-dragon/)
- [Jennifer Brown](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jennifer-brown/)
- [temporary building moratorium](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/temporary-building-moratorium/)
- [Puffers Pond](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/puffers-pond/)
- [Wentworth Conservation Area](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/wentworth-conservation-area/)
- [eviction moratorium](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/eviction-moratorium/)
- [Emily Dickinson Museum](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/emily-dickinson-museum/)
- [zoning primer](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zoning-primer/)
- [land use](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/land-use/)
- [community planning](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-planning/)
- [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zoning-bylaw/)
- [Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zoning-board-of-appeals-zba/)
- [zoning districts](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zoning-districts/)
- [building permits](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/building-permits/)
- [affordable housing](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/affordable-housing/)
- [inclusionary zoning](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/inclusionary-zoning/)
- [Janet McGowan](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/janet-mcgowan/)
- [National Pollinator Week](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/national-pollinator-week/): series
- [stream ice](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/stream-ice/)
- [IPCC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ipcc/)
- [Town Council for Noobs](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-council-for-noobs/): series
- [Solar Bylaw Working Group](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/solar-bylaw-working-group/)
- [Hope and Feathers Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hope-and-feathers-gallery/)
- [Strong Towns](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/strong-towns/): publication source
- [Portal Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/portal-gallery/)
- [solar bylaw](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/solar-bylaw/)
- [flood maps](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/flood-maps/)
- [home insurance](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/home-insurance/)
- [civil disobedience](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/civil-disobedience/)
- [Global Majority and Indigenous (GMI) people](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/global-majority-and-indigenous-gmi-people/)
- [wildlife](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/wildlife/)
- [women](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/women/)
- [precincts](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/precincts/)
- [environmental justice](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/environmental-justice/)
- [The Good Society](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/the-good-society/): series
- [Fort River Elementary School](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/fort-river-elementary-school/)
- [Crocker Farm Elementary School](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/crocker-farm-elementary-school/)
- [Wildwood Elementary School](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/wildwood-elementary-school/)
- [community choice agregation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-choice-agregation/)
- [UMass polling](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/umass-polling/)
- [Puerto Rico](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/puerto-rico/)
- [Palestine](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/palestine/)
- [public lecture](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-lecture/)
- [Racial Justice Task Force](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/racial-justice-task-force/)
- [village center](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/village-center/)
- [Massachusetts Legislature](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/massachusetts-legislature/)
- [committee appointments](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/committee-appointments/)
- [COVID-19 relief funds](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/covid-19-relief-funds/)
- [South Common](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/south-common/)
- [Mindy Domb](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mindy-domb/)
- [water and sewer](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/water-and-sewer/)
- [census](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/census/)
- [Downtown Amherst Foundation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/downtown-amherst-foundation/)
- [pollinators](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pollinators/)
- [labor](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/labor/)
- [What's In This Issue?](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/whats-in-this-issue-2/)
- [ticks](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ticks/)
- [Amherst Cultural Council](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-cultural-council/)
- [Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (ODEI)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/office-of-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-odei/)
- [CRESS](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cress/)
- [Stolen Beam Study Series](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/stolen-beam-study-series/)
- [district meeting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/district-meeting/)
- [mentoring](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mentoring/)
- [community forum](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-forum/)
- [refugees](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/refugees/)
- [Finance Director](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/finance-director/)
- [footnote m](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/footnote-m/)
- [civic space](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/civic-space/)
- [develppment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/develppment/)
- [Zero Waste Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/zero-waste-amherst/)
- [community safety](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-safety/)
- [hhousing](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hhousing/)
- [UMass dining](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/umass-dining/)
- [State Government](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/state-government/)
- [CSWG](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cswg/)
- [resolutions](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/resolutions/)
- [memorial](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/memorial/)
- [Roe v Wade](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/roe-v-wade/)
- [Republicans](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/republicans/)
- [US supreme court](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/us-supreme-court/)
- [Comment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/comment/)
- [guns](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/guns/)
- [mass shootings](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mass-shootings/)
- [surplus buildings](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/surplus-buildings/)
- [health department](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/health-department/)
- [inspection services](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/inspection-services/)
- [community center](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-center/)
- [psychology](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/psychology/)
- [identity](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/identity/)
- [Health](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/health/)
- [Society](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/society/)
- [Features](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/features/)
- [Democrats](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/democrats/)
- [US news](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/us-news/)
- [Journal](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/journal/)
- [UK Opinion](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/uk-opinion/)
- [regulations](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/regulations/)
- [video](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/video/)
- [mental health](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mental-health/)
- [permit fees](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/permit-fees/)
- [spirituality](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/spirituality/)
- [Going Deeper](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/going-deeper/)
- [monkeypox](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/monkeypox/)
- [Moira Donegan](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/moira-donegan/)
- [Amherst History Month-By-Month](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-history-month-by-month/)
- [public history](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-history/)
- [Waste](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/waste/)
- [design](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/design/)
- [health & wellness](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/health-wellness/)
- [censorship](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/censorship/)
- [Go Fund Me](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/go-fund-me/)
- [US Congress](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/us-congress/)
- [Fair Share Amendment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/fair-share-amendment/)
- [historic district](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/historic-district/)
- [Community Supported Agriculture](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-supported-agriculture/)
- [Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/massachusetts-board-of-library-commissioners-mblc/)
- [Council on Aging](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/council-on-aging/)
- [Residents' Advisory Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/residents-advisory-committee/)
- [ecnomy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ecnomy/)
- [redistribution](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/redistribution/)
- [evaluations](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/evaluations/)
- [Indy Investigation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/indy-investigation/)
- [geology](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/geology/)
- [restorative justice](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/restorative-justice/)
- [US healthcare](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/us-healthcare/)
- [Jones Library budget](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-library-budget/)
- [nautre](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/nautre/)
- [energy transition](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/energy-transition/)
- [PFAS](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pfas/)
- [Boston](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/boston/)
- [News](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/news/)
- [Tom Perkins](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/tom-perkins/)
- [Jones Library renovation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-library-renovation/)
- [Native American](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/native-american/)
- [Mode Shift: Sustainable and Equitable Transport](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mode-shift-sustainable-and-equitable-transport/)
- [lighting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/lighting/)
- [socialism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/socialism/)
- [due diligence](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/due-diligence/)
- [Family Outreach](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/family-outreach/)
- [Emily Dickinson](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/emily-dickinson/)
- [COVID](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/covid/)
- [regionalization](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/regionalization/)
- [Smith Charities](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/smith-charities/)
- [antisemitism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/antisemitism/)
- [global south](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/global-south/)
- [finance](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/finance/)
- [fundraising](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/fundraising/)
- [post-capitalism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/post-capitalism/)
- [Coronavirus](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/coronavirus/)
- [Air pollution](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/air-pollution/)
- [Infectious diseases](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/infectious-diseases/)
- [UK news](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/uk-news/)
- [George Monbiot](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/george-monbiot/)
- [BIPOC Youth Center](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/bipoc-youth-center/)
- [Radical thinking](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/radical-thinking/)
- [Ideas for equality](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ideas-for-equality/)
- [ARHS track and field renovation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/arhs-track-and-field-renovation/)
- [Kendrick Park playground](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/kendrick-park-playground/)
- [UMass pavilion plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/umass-pavilion-plan/)
- [UMass history](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/umass-history/)
- [sixth grade migration](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sixth-grade-migration/)
- [landscapes](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/landscapes/)
- [social media](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/social-media/)
- [Pioneer Valley Workers Center](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pioneer-valley-workers-center/)
- [community responders](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-responders/)
- [US education](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/us-education/)
- [Ron DeSantis](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ron-desantis/)
- [Jason Stanley](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jason-stanley/)
- [US Features](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/us-features/)
- [intersectionality](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/intersectionality/)
- [hsitory](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hsitory/)
- [Indy Rewind](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/indy-rewind/)
- [elementary school building project](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/elementary-school-building-project/)
- [override](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/override/)
- [Local Art Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-art-gallery/)
- [Burnett Gallery](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/burnett-gallery/)
- [quilts](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/quilts/)
- [WinterFest](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/winterfest/)
- [Cherry Hill Golf Course](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cherry-hill-golf-course/)
- [Kwanzaa](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/kwanzaa/)
- [imperialism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/imperialism/)
- [Global development](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/global-development/)
- [International Women's Day](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/international-womens-day/)
- [Women's rights and gender equality](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/womens-rights-and-gender-equality/)
- [Life and style](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/life-and-style/)
- [Sarah Johnson](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sarah-johnson/)
- [UK Global Development](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/uk-global-development/)
- [conference](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/conference/)
- [wages](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/wages/)
- [Higher education](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/higher-education/)
- [class](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/class/)
- [APEA](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/apea/)
- [murals](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/murals/)
- [Society books](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/society-books/)
- [Politics books](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/politics-books/)
- [Inside Saturday (newsletter signup)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/inside-saturday-newsletter-signup/)
- [Samuel Moyn](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/samuel-moyn/)
- [Saturday](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/saturday/)
- [Saturday Magazine books](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/saturday-magazine-books/)
- [Saturday Magazine](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/saturday-magazine/)
- [content-neutrality](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/content-neutrality/)
- [First Amendment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/first-amendment/)
- [Massachusetts Constitution](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/massachusetts-constitution/)
- [STEM](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/stem/)
- [public education](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-education/)
- [Governor Maura Healey](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/governor-maura-healey/)
- [inflation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/inflation/)
- [abolition](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/abolition/)
- [Planning Department](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/planning-department/)
- [LGBTQA](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/lgbtqa/)
- [tachers](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/tachers/)
- [Connecticut River](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/connecticut-river/)
- [Greenpeace](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/greenpeace/)
- [Damien Gayle](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/damien-gayle/)
- [Main section](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/main-section/)
- [Portside](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/portside/)
- [East Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/east-amherst/)
- [Law](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/law/)
- [petitioms](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/petitioms/)
- [Climate science](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/climate-science/)
- [Extreme weather](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/extreme-weather/)
- [Jazz](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jazz/)
- [Food & drink industry](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/food-drink-industry/)
- [United Nations](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/united-nations/)
- [Politics](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/politics/)
- [Climate crimes](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/climate-crimes/)
- [Vaccines and immunisation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/vaccines-and-immunisation/)
- [History books](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/history-books/)
- [Black Business Association Of Amherst Area](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/black-business-association-of-amherst-area/)
- [PILOT payments](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pilot-payments/)
- [Verbatim](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/verbatim/)
- [Easthampton](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/easthampton/)
- [webinar](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/webinar/)
- [staffing](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/staffing/)
- [pubic hearing](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pubic-hearing/)
- [language](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/language/)
- [Latinx](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/latinx/)
- [transfer station](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/transfer-station/)
- [plicy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/plicy/)
- [Hadley](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hadley/)
- [CSSJC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cssjc/)
- [Title IX](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/title-ix/)
- [Rail Trail](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/rail-trail/)
- [federal government](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/federal-government/)
- [Amherst Firefighters 1764](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-firefighters-1764/)
- [community engagement](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-engagement/)
- [affirmative action](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/affirmative-action/)
- [broadband](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/broadband/)
- [election](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/election/)
- [bylaw](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/bylaw/)
- [correction](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/correction/)
- [veterans](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/veterans/)
- [Valley CDC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/valley-cdc/)
- [priorities](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/priorities/)
- [political cartoon](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/political-cartoon/)
- [Jones Library Capital Campaign](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-library-capital-campaign/)
- [hicko](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hicko/)
- [COP](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cop/)
- [search committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/search-committee/)
- [anti-racism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/anti-racism/)
- [outoors](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/outoors/)
- [recommended reads](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/recommended-reads/)
- [Year in Review](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/year-in-review/)
- [analytics](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/analytics/)
- [public safet](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-safet/)
- [conflict](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/conflict/)
- [Senior Center](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/senior-center/)
- [Government](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/government/)
- [Government Organization and Legislation Committee (GOL)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/government-organization-and-legislation-committee-gol/)
- [solidarity](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/solidarity/)
- [First Nations](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/first-nations/)
- [school choice](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/school-choice/)
- [maps](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/maps/)
- [story telling](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/story-telling/)
- [Israel](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/israel/)
- [plas](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/plas/)
- [RESOL](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/resol/)
- [town-wide solar assessment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-wide-solar-assessment/)
- [Gaza Ceasefire Resolution](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gaza-ceasefire-resolution/)
- [revenue](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/revenue/)
- [Town Assessor](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/town-assessor/)
- [gardening](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gardening/)
- [invasive plants](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/invasive-plants/)
- [native plants](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/native-plants/)
- [UMass events](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/umass-events/)
- [colonialism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/colonialism/)
- [divestment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/divestment/)
- [pales](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/pales/)
- [global warming](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/global-warming/)
- [ISRAE](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/israe/)
- [campus](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/campus/)
- [marriage equality](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/marriage-equality/)
- [neoliberalism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/neoliberalism/)
- [Smith College](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/smith-college/)
- [MBLC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mblc/)
- [astronomy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/astronomy/)
- [Amherst Young Feminist Party](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-young-feminist-party/)
- [good government](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/good-government/)
- [building codes](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/building-codes/)
- [justice](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/justice/)
- [EMS](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ems/)
- [gaza](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/gaza/)
- [cli](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cli/)
- [humanities](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/humanities/)
- [civility](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/civility/)
- [environmental impact](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/environmental-impact/)
- [Five Colleges](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/five-colleges/)
- [sstudents](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/sstudents/)
- [80 Acres](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/80-acres/)
- [childcare](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/childcare/)
- [Belchertown](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/belchertown/)
- [nonviolence](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/nonviolence/)
- [Board of Assessors](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/board-of-assessors/)
- [social services](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/social-services/)
- [amherst community theater](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-community-theater/)
- [democ](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/democ/)
- [AI](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ai/)
- [land back](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/land-back/)
- [procurement](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/procurement/)
- [public private partnership](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-private-partnership-2/)
- [public information](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-information/)
- [What Now?](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/what-now/)
- [Budget Coordinating Group (BCG)](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/budget-coordinating-group-bcg/)
- [Ask Perplexity AI](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ask-perplexity-ai/)
- [Ask Perpelxity AI](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ask-perpelxity-ai/)
- [Practicing Democracy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/practicing-democracy/)
- [art](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/art/)
- [Commission for Persons with Disabilities](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/commission-for-persons-with-disabilities/)
- [commemoration](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/commemoration/)
- [Special Education](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/special-education/)
- [food insecurity](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/food-insecurity/)
- [privacy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/privacy/)
- [tools for activists](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/tools-for-activists/)
- [investments](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/investments/)
- [Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/get-growing-with-mickey-rathbun/)
- [Daily Hampshire Gazette](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/daily-hampshire-gazette/)
- [fact check](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/fact-check/)
- [Western Mass Resistance Calendar](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/western-mass-resistance-calendar/)
- [digital self defense](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/digital-self-defense/)
- [energy independence](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/energy-independence/)
- [resilience](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/resilience/)
- [genocide](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/genocide/)
- [equality](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/equality/)
- [youth empowerment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/youth-empowerment/)
- [conservation area](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/conservation-area/)
- [The Conversation](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/the-conversation/)
- [Amherst Black Reparations Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-black-reparations-committee/)
- [international law](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/international-law/)
- [hunting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/hunting/)
- [The Shoestring](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/the-shoestring/)
- [equity](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/equity/)
- [disinvestment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/disinvestment/)
- [strategic plan](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/strategic-plan/)
- [research](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/research/)
- [conservation department](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/conservation-department/)
- [LLC](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/llc/)
- [Views on Views](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/views-on-views/)
- [Social Injustice Goes Global](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/social-injustice-goes-global/)
- [TSO](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/tso/)
- [local event](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/local-event/)
- [public meeting](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/public-meeting/)
- [four towns](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/four-towns/)
- [Chancellor Javier Reyes](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/chancellor-javier-reyes/)
- [redevelopment](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/redevelopment/)
- [South Amherst](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/south-amherst/)
- [emergencies](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/emergencies/)
- [boycott](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/boycott/)
- [interview](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/interview/)
- [academic freedom](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/academic-freedom/)
- [rituals](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/rituals/)
- [Amherst Arbor Spotlight](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amherst-arbor-spotlight/)
- [community partnership](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/community-partnership/)
- [Amethyst Brook Elementary School](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/amethyst-brook-elementary-school/)
- [general strike](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/general-strike/)
- [photography](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/photography/)
- [Transportation and Parking Commission](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/transportation-and-parking-commission/)
- [collaboration](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/collaboration/)
- [mass incarceration](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mass-incarceration/)
- [design standards](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/design-standards/)
- [Chestnut Street Academy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/chestnut-street-academy/)
- [charity](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/charity/)
- [disability](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/disability/)
- [school finance director](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/school-finance-director/)
- [Mass General law](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mass-general-law/)
- [DPW Building Committee](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dpw-building-committee/)
- [Cartoon](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/cartoon/)
- [archive](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/archive/)
- [men](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/men/)
- [business](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/business/)
- [enegry](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/enegry/)
- [data centers](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/data-centers/)
- [islamophobia](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/islamophobia/)
- [dance](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dance/)
- [Mass Supreme Judicial Court](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mass-supreme-judicial-court/)
- [surveillance](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/surveillance/)
- [democratic socialism](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/democratic-socialism/)
- [Mt Holyoke College](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/mt-holyoke-college/)
- [jones debt](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/jones-debt/)
- [Summer Wanderings](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/summer-wanderings/)
- [medicare](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/medicare/)
- [dog park](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/dog-park/)
- [recr](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/recr/)
- [Summit Academy](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/summit-academy/)
- [Photos of the Week](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/photos-of-the-week/)
- [Ballot Questions](https://www.amherstindy.org/tag/ballot-questions/)