The Amherst Current

❄️ It may be cold outside, but there’s no shortage of things to do this week, indoors and out! From town meetings to varsity athletics and outdoor activities, there's something for everyone.

Read Amherst Week Ahead and mark your calendars!
https://theamherstcurrent.org/2024/01/22/amherst-week-ahead-01-22-24/

Rising home prices are making ownership unattainable for many, leading to a focus on housing options for the "missing middle" -- meaning development (such as duplexes) that is denser than single-family homes but less than apartment-style developments.

Read Connie Kruger's article about the "missing middle" in Amherst.

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2024/01/18/planning-for-amhersts-missing-middle/

👉 UPDATE: events rescheduled! Some of yesterday's events have been rescheduled due to yesterday's snow.

ARHS Swim & Dive meet rescheduled to TODAY, 4:30pm at ARMS Pool
ARHS Boys Hockey game rescheduled to TODAY, 5:00pm at Orr Rink
Amherst School Committee meeting rescheduled to Thursday, 6:30pm at ARHS Library

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2024/01/15/amherst-week-ahead-01-15-24/

Every week, we spotlight the events around town that caught our eye. We begin this week with several events honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and the National Day of Racial Healing. Later in the week, prowl for owls with The Hitchcock Center or catch the ARHS Cabaret at The Drake!

There's more going on this week ~ read on and mark your calendars!

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2024/01/15/amherst-week-ahead-01-15-24/

There’s always lots going on around Amherst, and this week is no exception.

In this edition of The Week Ahead, we spotlight the town government meetings, and cultural, recreational, and athletics events that caught our eye.

Read on and mark your calendars!

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2024/01/08/amherst-week-ahead-01-08-24/

"For those in the community who say we aren’t going far enough or fast enough, I challenge you to point to another community that is doing more; another community that is having these dynamic discussions and actually enacting change about race and climate; another town that is engaged in deep reflection about public engagement; other municipal staff who see their work for the Town as their mission, not just a job; another police department that serves the Town as well as ours does; another public school system where the students are as fully engaged and making us proud – and one where you would rather send your children. We aren’t perfect – I recognize that – but we are doing the work to make our community better."

Read Town Manager Paul Bockelman's reflections on the town's accomplishments and progress on major goals in today's post.

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2023/12/18/its-a-good-town-bockelman-delivers-2023-state-of-the-town/

In today's post, David Porter provides brief explanations to some common questions about the ARHS track & field project.

The Regional School Committee will be discussing the project and considering whether to rescind its funding support at its meeting tomorrow evening.

Follow the link to read more.

(Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash.)

Q&A: Renovating the ARHS Track & Field The Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee is considering revising funding for a proposal to replace deteriorating athletic facilities at the Amherst Regional High School. Proposed improvements i…

In this opinion post, Nick Grabbe writes about challenges with some proposals for managing student housing issues and proposes different approaches.

Follow the link to read more!

How to live with students next door? Amherst’s issues with undergraduate student rowdiness have lessened over time but continue to bother some residents. Nick Grabbe writes that proposed solutions are problematic and suggests pe…

Our latest post features letters from community members on different topics. Follow the link to read "Community Voices"

Submit your letters to [email protected] to be considered for future editions!

Letters & Opinion Today, we’re launching a new series called “Community Voices.” This occasional series features letters and brief opinion pieces that have been submitted to us. This edition featur…

Today, we're fact-checking the debate about financing the Jones Library Building Project.

Fact Check: 2023 Jones Library Bond Authorization The discussion of raising the borrowing cap for the Jones Library Building Project has brought up several claims. These include believing the town will be financially responsible for the project (f…

Bob Rakoff reflects on the evolution of local politics in Amherst since the 1980s, highlighting the shift from friends influencing voting decisions to the emergence of formal political organizations.

Read why Rakoff views their growth beneficial.

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2023/11/28/political-organizing-in-amherst/

What are you grateful for about Amherst?

Read what some of our neighbors have said and join the conversation by adding your comment!

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2023/11/21/what-are-you-grateful-for-about-amherst/

The Amherst Town Council will discuss funding for the Jones Library renovation and expansion project at its meeting tonight. Read this update from Ginny Hamilton to learn why.

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2023/11/13/keeping-up-with-the-jones/

Photo from Feingold Alexander Architects; https://www.faainc.com/project/jones-library

Preliminary election results are in!

Incumbents win re-election to At-Large and District 1 seats on Town Council.

Read the full results on The Amherst Current.

Steinberg, Walker, Hanneke Re-Elected to At-Large Council Seats Complete Unofficial Election Results The numbers below reflect the preliminary vote totals from all precincts on Election Day. Town Council Councilor-at-Large (top 3 elected) District 1 Councilor (…

Polls are open today until 8:00pm ~ make your plan to vote!

We’ll post unofficial results tonight so be sure to follow or subscribe.

Election Day is Today! Amherst voters will cast ballots today in this year’s biennial town election. The Amherst Current will publish unofficial results tonight after polls close. Subscribe or Follow to be notified…

Read about the revived Amherst Current!

My Vision for The Amherst Current By Allison McDonald Welcome! I am thrilled to be leading the revival of the Amherst Current and am so glad you’re here. As Nick and Sarah wrote in their announcement, I approached them earlier this…

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2023/10/31/amherst-current-revived-under-new-leadership/

Amherst Current revived under new leadership By Nick Grabbe and Sarah Marshall The Amherst Current is returning after an absence of 15 months – and with new, energetic management. We started the Amherst Current in July of 2021 with the goal o…

Should Town Council kill the Jones Library project? No!

Dear Councilors: Don’t disempower voters! By Sarah Marshall Less than one year ago, 65% of voters decisively affirmed Council’s vote to proceed with the $36 million plan for the Jones Library expansion and renovation. The funding plan envi…

We interrupt our summer break to bring you the following PSA:

Don’t assume you know where to vote next month! By Sarah Marshall According to Town Clerk Sue Audette, precincts and polling locations have changed for about 80% of residents since we last went to the polls. If you want to vote in the state prim…

It’s our birthday tomorrow! https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/30/a-look-back-and-a-look-forward/

A look back and a look forward By Nick Grabbe and Sarah Marshall The Amherst Current is marking its first birthday this week with a look back at the past year and with news about the future. First, we want to thank our subscribe…

Today, residents of Applewood describe efforts to be good stewards of the land.
https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/27/applewood-residents-make-strides-to-eliminate-pesticides/

In today’s post, Nick writes about the rise of local blogs - including this one - as print newspapers faced declining readership and offered less local coverage.

https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/23/amherst-blogs-have-provided-online-news-and-personal-views/

Summertime is construction time! Today’s post reviews profress on some town projects. https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/20/several-projects-about-to-bear-fruit/

Nick takes us to the final stops on the Writers Walk in today’s post. https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/16/many-years-ago-amherst-writers-sought-justice-for-native-tribes/

Juneteenth Celebrations in Amherst
Save the date for the Heritage Walking Tour on Saturday, June 18th. starting at the West Cemetery at 11:00 am!

Breaking news: https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/13/new-3-story-elementary-school-to-be-built-at-fort-river-site/

New 3-story elementary school to be built at Fort River site By Sarah Marshall In a unanimous vote, the Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) decided Monday morning to nominate a new, 3-story building at the Fort River School site that will consolidate…

We’re posting a day early in order to get this review of recent assertions about the Elementary School Building Project to the community ahead of tomorrow’s Community Forum. https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/08/lets-separate-fact-from-fiction/

Let’s separate fact from fiction By Allison McDonald When it comes to the elementary school building project in Amherst, by all means – advocate with elected and public decision makers. The project will be all the better with more…

Amherst people, read this!

When it comes to the elementary school building project in Amherst, by all means – advocate with elected and public decision makers. The project will be all the better with more voices and perspectives in the mix.

But, effective advocacy should not rely on misleading statements or false claims. This post is to fact-check a number of these statements and claims.

A petition is going around, created by a PAC in Amherst, that compares the two potential building sites, providing some accurate info but leaving out other critical information and including statements that are misleading or false. Specifically:

Yes, the project designers have recommended a roundabout be constructed at the Wildwood entrance to accommodate the increased traffic from the consolidated school.

But they also recommended construction to widen the road in front of Fort River to accommodate the increased traffic at that site.

Importantly, the traffic study (completed by traffic engineers) demonstrates that the traffic around the Fort River site is significantly worse than around the Wildwood site, both today and after potential construction at either location.

No, Fort River will not “most likely be sold or leased for development” were Wildwood selected as the site for the consolidated school. There has been no such discussion. In fact, multiple Town Councilors have stated in public meetings their commitment to retaining both properties for the town.

No, it’s not true that the community fields at the Fort River location “would likely be lost.” Again, there has been no such discussion. If the Wildwood location were to be selected for the building project, improvements to fields at the Fort River location will not be part of the project but they will by no means “be lost.”

(Since the latest estimates show that the building costs at the Wildwood location could be approximately $2 million lower than at Fort River, the community could use some of those savings to improve the community fields at Fort River should it choose.)

Yes, decisions eventually will need to be made about what to do with the site that is not selected for the school building project, and there are many interesting and worthy ideas that have already been proposed.

But, both Wildwood and Fort River buildings are failing – it’s why we are consolidating the two schools in this building project after all. Repurposing either one of the buildings would cost millions in renovations and repairs - and in the case of Wildwood, removal of hazardous materials - that are not part of this school building project. And, any such decision can only be made after the decision is made about which location is best for the consolidated elementary school.

I personally am concerned about the limited access to outdoor play and learning spaces for students during construction at the Wildwood location, but the choice of building location is far from a “clear choice” or a “no-brainer” as some would have you believe.

The facts and professional analyses both demonstrate that while there are pros and cons associated with each location, both are workable. The Elementary School Building Committee has a tough decision to make when it meets on June 13, and I will support them whatever choice they make. Because the most important thing is that we get our students into a new school building as soon as possible.

Today, Nick continues the story of journalism in Amherst, describing some of the big stories (that is, controversies) of the 1990’s and the beginning of consolidation of papers. https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/06/only-in-amherst-stories-as-two-newspapers-merge-1988-2003/

Only-in-Amherst stories as two newspapers merge, 1988-2003 This is the second part of series on Amherst newspapers and blogs from 1977 to the present. Here’s a link to Part One. By Nick Grabbe Amherst news stories attracted national attention four ti…

Did you know that the Town owns an arboretum? Many people don’t. Find out where it is and what you can see in today’s post. https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/02/the-orchard-arboretum-a-little-known-amherst-gem/

The Orchard Arboretum: a little-known Amherst gem By John Armstrong Located between Spencer Drive, Russett Lane, and McIntosh Drive in South Amherst lies a six-acre plot of Amherst Conservation Land.  The middle two acres of this plot compris…