The Amherst Current

The Amherst Current

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News & Perspective for the Amherst (MA) Community https://theamherstcurrent.org/

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The Amherst Current
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Amherst Week Ahead 05.18.26 It’s Monday and we’re back with our roundup of the week’s events. Here are this week’s town government meetings, and cultural and recreational events that caught our eye. Local Historic District Commission — Monday Town Council — Monday Public Art Commission (APAC) —…

theamherstcurrent.orgAmherst Week Ahead 05.18.26It’s Monday and we’re back with our roundup of the week’s events. Here are this week’s town government meetings, and cultural and recreational events that caught our eye. Local Historic District Commission — Monday Town Council — Monday Public Art Commission (APAC) — Monday Cinema Seminar: “The Delicate Art of Film Restoration” – Monday Finance Committee — Tuesday Amherst School Committee Public Hearing on School Choice — Tuesday Amherst School Committee — Tuesday Energy and Climate Action Committee — Wednesday Public Hearing on the Clean Energy Bylaw — Wednesday Eric Sawyer: Civil Disobedience Album Release Event - Wednesday Valley Green Energy Working Group — Thursday Joint Meeting of the Town Council and Finance Committee — Thursday Annual Plant Sale – Saturday Memorial Day Commemoration – Next Monday
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Marching to Its Own Beat, One Last Time Hampshire College’s final commencement Saturday may have been most memorable for what wasn’t in evidence - bitterness, anger or grief at the school’s pending closure after years of financial struggles. If those emotions were there - and they surely must have…

theamherstcurrent.orgMarching to Its Own Beat, One Last TimeHampshire College’s final commencement Saturday may have been most memorable for what wasn’t in evidence - bitterness, anger or grief at the school’s pending closure after years of financial struggles. If those emotions were there - and they surely must have been - they took a backseat to a ceremony whose joy and optimism matched the picture-perfect spring day. David Porter shares a recap of the event in words and photos.
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Lemon into Lemonade: The sad closing of Hampshire College is symptomatic of massive change in Higher Education, and more broadly across American society. Rather than following the fate of other closed campuses into either oblivion or overly commercial development, Dominic Endicott would like to…

theamherstcurrent.orgLemon into Lemonade:The sad closing of Hampshire College is symptomatic of massive change in Higher Education, and more broadly across American society. Rather than following the fate of other closed campuses into either oblivion or overly commercial development, Dominic Endicott would like to make the case that there is a path to reconceive of the Hampshire Legacy as one of transformation, for the college and campus, for Amherst, for the Pioneer Valley, and perhaps resulting in impact far beyond this region.
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Town Manager Proposes $107M Budget; No Tax Override Planned Amherst’s proposed town budget for Fiscal 2027 envisions a 3.8% increase from 2026, to $107.1 million, and won’t require a property tax override, Finance Director Sean Mangano said during a presentation to the Town Council on May 4. Dave…

theamherstcurrent.orgTown Manager Proposes $107M Budget; No Tax Override PlannedAmherst’s proposed town budget for Fiscal 2027 envisions a 3.8% increase from 2026, to $107.1 million, and won’t require a property tax override, Finance Director Sean Mangano said during a presentation to the Town Council on May 4. Dave Porter recaps the budget presentation and highlights.
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Amherst Week Ahead 05.11.26 It’s Monday and we’re back with our roundup of the week’s events. Here are this week’s town government meetings, and cultural and recreational events that caught our eye. Jones Library Building Committee — Monday Finance Committee Public Hearing on the FY27 Budget —…

theamherstcurrent.orgAmherst Week Ahead 05.11.26It’s Monday and we’re back with our roundup of the week’s events. Here are this week’s town government meetings, and cultural and recreational events that caught our eye. Jones Library Building Committee — Monday Finance Committee Public Hearing on the FY27 Budget — Monday Cherry Hill Working Group — Monday Commission for Persons with Disabilities — Tuesday Finance Committee of the Town Council — Tuesday Cuppa Joe After Hours: FY27 Budget with Finance Director – Tuesday Energy and Climate Action Committee — Tuesday Public Shade Tree Committee — Tuesday Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee of the Town Council — Tuesday Historical Commission Public Hearing — Tuesday Urban Birding for Beginners – Wednesday Amherst Conservation Commission — Wednesday Finance Committee of the Town Council — Thursday The Jones Library, Inc. Board of Trustees — Thursday Cable Television Advisory Committee Public Hearing — Thursday A Wider Lens: An Intergenerational Art Partnership & Community Reception – Monday-Saturday
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The Hampshire Opportunity: How Can It Work for Amherst? Hampshire College's closure has shocked the community, prompting urgent discussions on its impact and future uses of the campus. Bryan Harvey advocates for a clear strategy to reset Amherst's revenue base, arguing the priority should be…

theamherstcurrent.orgThe Hampshire Opportunity: How Can It Work for Amherst?Hampshire College's closure has shocked the community, prompting urgent discussions on its impact and future uses of the campus. Bryan Harvey advocates for a clear strategy to reset Amherst's revenue base, arguing the priority should be managing this opportunity wisely for fiscal sustainability.
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Hampshire YPC Director Takes Her Final Bow After 27 Years On Sunday, May 3, the Hampshire Young People’s Chorus (YPC) wrapped its 2025-2026 season with a Spring concert at the Wesley Methodist Church in Hadley. Not only did it conclude a packed schedule that included performances in Amherst,…

theamherstcurrent.orgHampshire YPC Director Takes Her Final Bow After 27 YearsOn Sunday, May 3, the Hampshire Young People’s Chorus (YPC) wrapped its 2025-2026 season with a Spring concert at the Wesley Methodist Church in Hadley. Not only did it conclude a packed schedule that included performances in Amherst, Deerfield, South Hadley, and Worcester, it also marked the end of KC Conlan’s 27-year tenure as YPC’s founding Artistic Director.  Freke Ette writes about Conlan's work and legacy.
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Town Council Rejects CPA Funds for Library, Discusses Impact of Hampshire College Closure At its meeting on Monday, the Amherst Town Council rejected a recommended grant of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for part of the Jones Library building project and considered potential actions the…

theamherstcurrent.orgTown Council Rejects CPA Funds for Library, Discusses Impact of Hampshire College ClosureAt its meeting on Monday, the Amherst Town Council rejected a recommended grant of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for part of the Jones Library building project and considered potential actions the Town could take in the wake of the recently announced closing of Hampshire College. Councilors also advanced a new clean energy zoning bylaw, and scheduled a public discussion of town policy on immigration enforcement. 
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Wishful Thinking Isn’t a Budget Strategy Allison McDonald argues that Amherst is again facing budget challenges as the School Committee proposes an unrealistic spending increase. She emphasizes the need to of make budgetary decisions based on current fiscal reality rather than relying on uncertain…

theamherstcurrent.orgWishful Thinking Isn’t a Budget StrategyAllison McDonald argues that Amherst is again facing budget challenges as the School Committee proposes an unrealistic spending increase. She emphasizes the need to of make budgetary decisions based on current fiscal reality rather than relying on uncertain future funding.
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Celebrating the Town’s Remarkable Trees Amherst is a town of extraordinary trees. Its canopy covers roughly 53% of town land — some 9,462 acres — yet many residents pass by the exceptional species around them without a second glance. To change that, the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC)…

theamherstcurrent.orgCelebrating the Town’s Remarkable TreesAmherst is a town of extraordinary trees. Its canopy covers roughly 53% of town land — some 9,462 acres — yet many residents pass by the exceptional species around them without a second glance. To change that, the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee (APSTC) has launched Amherst Arbor Spotlight, a monthly series devoted to the remarkable trees growing in and around town.  For Earth Day, here's a summary of the first four tree spotlights.
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Two Can Live Cheaper Than One Terry Masterson writes that, as the Town of Amherst begins to plan for a new Department of Public Works facility, it should also simultaneously plan for the construction of the long overdue Fire Station either alongside the DPW Center or in another location.

theamherstcurrent.orgTwo Can Live Cheaper Than OneTerry Masterson writes that, as the Town of Amherst begins to plan for a new Department of Public Works facility, it should also simultaneously plan for the construction of the long overdue Fire Station either alongside the DPW Center or in another location.
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Film Series Exceeded Expectations.  Amherst Cinema’s film series, Best Picture ‘76, has completed its run. Every Sunday and Tuesday in March, five bona fide American classic films, all different in scope and ambition, screened to fans and the merely curious alike. Audiences of all ages turned up,…

theamherstcurrent.orgFilm Series Exceeded Expectations. Amherst Cinema’s film series, Best Picture ‘76, has completed its run. Every Sunday and Tuesday in March, five bona fide American classic films, all different in scope and ambition, screened to fans and the merely curious alike. Audiences of all ages turned up, filled the seats and stayed around for conversations afterwards.  Freke Ette reviews 3 films in the series and describes how they all gave him much to reflect on.
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DPW Workers Enter 10th Month Without Contract; Push To Move Them Out of Dilapidated HQ Gains Momentum Department of Public Works employees in Amherst have passed nine months working without a contract, though the head of the union representing the workers told the Current that recent developments…

theamherstcurrent.orgDPW Workers Enter 10th Month Without Contract; Push To Move Them Out of Dilapidated HQ Gains MomentumDepartment of Public Works employees in Amherst have passed nine months working without a contract, though the head of the union representing the workers told the Current that recent developments have given him cause for optimism that an agreement can be reached.  Meanwhile, the Town Council took two actions at its April 6 meeting to address the potential relocation of DPW workers to temporary space while discussions continue on replacing the current DPW building on South Pleasant Street. David Porter provides an update.
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An Open Challenge: Get Your Facts Straight, Town Councilors Recently, a group of Amherst residents, including seven of Amherst's 13 Town Council members, sent a letter to UMass Chancellor Reyes and others asking them to commit to build more housing on campus for students, claiming student housing…

theamherstcurrent.orgAn Open Challenge: Get Your Facts Straight, Town CouncilorsRecently, a group of Amherst residents, including seven of Amherst's 13 Town Council members, sent a letter to UMass Chancellor Reyes and others asking them to commit to build more housing on campus for students, claiming student housing exacerbates local issues. Evan Naismith argues their assertions are unfounded and driven by NIMBYism, incorrectly attributing demographic and financial challenges to UMass students. He underscores the need for evidence-based housing policies to improve the situation.
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School Committee Backs $30M Budget–More Than a Half Million Over Town Guidance The Amherst School Committee, meeting in a special one-topic session on Tuesday, debated four different budget “scenarios” for the FY27 Amherst elementary schools before ultimately unanimously approving a package that…

theamherstcurrent.orgSchool Committee Backs $30M Budget–More Than a Half Million Over Town GuidanceThe Amherst School Committee, meeting in a special one-topic session on Tuesday, debated four different budget “scenarios” for the FY27 Amherst elementary schools before ultimately unanimously approving a package that maintains specials teachers and interventionists while trimming central office costs. The nearly $30 million budget, a 5.87% increase over the current year, is $572 thousand higher than the Town Council guidance, setting up another contentious process to develop a final town-wide budget by June. 
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Town Council Unanimously Approves “Tariff Sanctuary” Status for Amherst In an emergency session Monday night that drew nearly four hundred residents to Town Hall — including seventeen people who had been waiting since 6:00 PM to speak about an unrelated compost bin rebate program — the Amherst…

theamherstcurrent.orgTown Council Unanimously Approves “Tariff Sanctuary” Status for AmherstIn an emergency session Monday night that drew nearly four hundred residents to Town Hall — including seventeen people who had been waiting since 6:00 PM to speak about an unrelated compost bin rebate program — the Amherst Town Council voted 13-0 to declare Amherst a "Tariff Sanctuary Municipality," making it the first town in the Commonwealth to formally refuse to acknowledge federal import duties on goods it finds "philosophically inconsistent with community values."
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Town Council Advances Package of Charter Changes, Refers CPA Recommendation to Finance Committee At its meeting on Monday, the Amherst Town Council voted to advance a package of changes to the Town’s home-rule charter, forwarding eight of the 22 changes recommended by the Charter Review Committee…

theamherstcurrent.orgTown Council Advances Package of Charter Changes, Refers CPA Recommendation to Finance CommitteeAt its meeting on Monday, the Amherst Town Council voted to advance a package of changes to the Town’s home-rule charter, forwarding eight of the 22 changes recommended by the Charter Review Committee to be developed into a local ballot question, tabling one of the recommended changes, and referring the rest to committees for further review. The Council discussed the roughly $3 million in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding recommendations before voting to refer the proposal to the Finance Committee for further analysis and recommendation.
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Survival Center Marks 50 Years of Helping Neighbors in Need Fifty years ago, Jane Holappa founded the Amherst Survival Center to support those in need by distributing food and necessities. Now, it serves over 1.5 million meals annually and offers diverse social services. Nick Grabbe writes about…

theamherstcurrent.orgSurvival Center Marks 50 Years of Helping Neighbors in NeedFifty years ago, Jane Holappa founded the Amherst Survival Center to support those in need by distributing food and necessities. Now, it serves over 1.5 million meals annually and offers diverse social services. Nick Grabbe writes about what's changed--and what hasn't--in 50 years at the Amherst Survival Center.
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Amherst School Committee Hears Passionate Testimony, Presses for Details on FY27 Budget At its March 17 meeting and public hearing, the Amherst School Committee discussed the FY27 budget which includes a $1.1M increase but proposes cuts to specialist and special education positions, facing…

theamherstcurrent.orgAmherst School Committee Hears Passionate Testimony, Presses for Details on FY27 BudgetAt its March 17 meeting and public hearing, the Amherst School Committee discussed the FY27 budget which includes a $1.1M increase but proposes cuts to specialist and special education positions, facing criticism from educators and parents. Public comments emphasized the negative impact of these reductions on students, particularly those with high needs. The committee asked for further budget detail, including options for increasing the budget above the Town Council guidance.
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The Proposed East Amherst Historic District would be a Taxpayer-Funded HOA  In this opinion post, Evan Naismith advocates against the proposed local historic district in East Amherst, arguing that it misuses taxpayer resources. With only eight out of 120 surveyed residents in favor and pressing…

theamherstcurrent.orgThe Proposed East Amherst Historic District would be a Taxpayer-Funded HOA In this opinion post, Evan Naismith advocates against the proposed local historic district in East Amherst, arguing that it misuses taxpayer resources. With only eight out of 120 surveyed residents in favor and pressing budget cuts affecting education and services, he believes the town should prioritize future needs over preserving the past.
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Smaller Enrollment, Greater Needs: Four Towns Weigh Regional School Budget The region’s four towns got a detailed look at the financial future of their schools at the Four Towns meeting on Saturday, March 14, where district leaders walked through a draft budget that tries to balance rising student…

theamherstcurrent.orgSmaller Enrollment, Greater Needs: Four Towns Weigh Regional School BudgetThe region’s four towns got a detailed look at the financial future of their schools at the Four Towns meeting on Saturday, March 14, where district leaders walked through a draft budget that tries to balance rising student needs, higher costs, and the fiscal limits of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, and Shutesbury. Allison McDonald recaps the presentation and budget summary.
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Town Council Approves Over $5M For Capital and Other Spending During the Amherst Town Council meeting on March 9, financial orders totaling millions were approved for capital projects, including $1.6 million for the regional school district and $2.7 million for roads and sidewalks. Concerns about…

theamherstcurrent.orgTown Council Approves Over $5M For Capital and Other SpendingDuring the Amherst Town Council meeting on March 9, financial orders totaling millions were approved for capital projects, including $1.6 million for the regional school district and $2.7 million for roads and sidewalks. Concerns about prioritizing funding for roads and schools were raised amid discussions for better funding strategies and infrastructure investment.
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Council Backs Resolution Demanding Accountability for Federal Immigration Agents, Approves Additional Funds to Fix School Roof On February 23, the Amherst Town Council unanimously passed a resolution to hold federal immigration agents accountable for violations of Massachusetts criminal law. The…

theamherstcurrent.orgCouncil Backs Resolution Demanding Accountability for Federal Immigration Agents, Approves Additional Funds to Fix School RoofOn February 23, the Amherst Town Council unanimously passed a resolution to hold federal immigration agents accountable for violations of Massachusetts criminal law. The Council also approved $1.6 million in additional funding for the Regional schools to replace the middle school auditorium roof.
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The Town Council Should Embrace the Tedious Task of Legislation On Monday, the Amherst Town Council will vote on a resolution to hold federal immigration agents accountable for violations of Massachusetts criminal law. In this opinion post, Ndifreke Ette asserts that without additional debate and…

theamherstcurrent.orgThe Town Council Should Embrace the Tedious Task of LegislationOn Monday, the Amherst Town Council will vote on a resolution to hold federal immigration agents accountable for violations of Massachusetts criminal law. In this opinion post, Ndifreke Ette asserts that without additional debate and discussion, the resolution-should it pass- will fail to achieve its purpose.
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Amherst Comes Up Short on Housing When Compared to Peer Municipalities.  In this opinion post, Evan Naismith argues that Amherst's housing policies are overly conservative compared to similar towns like West Lafayette, Indiana. With a better supply of housing, West Lafayette boasts lower housing…

theamherstcurrent.orgAmherst Comes Up Short on Housing When Compared to Peer Municipalities. In this opinion post, Evan Naismith argues that Amherst's housing policies are overly conservative compared to similar towns like West Lafayette, Indiana. With a better supply of housing, West Lafayette boasts lower housing costs and superior public services. Naismith advocates for hiring a dedicated Housing Director in Amherst to improve coordination, resource allocation, and affordability.
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Housing: Amherst’s Worst Self-Inflicted Injury  Amherst's housing crisis persists despite expert recommendations for increased affordability and development, as only 400-500 units were built over five years instead of the targeted 1,100. In this opinion post, Evan Naismith argues that all of…

theamherstcurrent.orgHousing: Amherst’s Worst Self-Inflicted Injury Amherst's housing crisis persists despite expert recommendations for increased affordability and development, as only 400-500 units were built over five years instead of the targeted 1,100. In this opinion post, Evan Naismith argues that all of Amherst's civic woes are directly related the housing shortage, and that addressing it must be the top priority for the Town Council.
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Amherst Week Ahead 02.09.26 Happy Monday, Amherst! Here's your look at the week ahead in town government and community life. It's a busy one — fourteen civic meetings span the full workweek and many community events offer something for everyone from book lovers to coffee drinkers to fans of the…

theamherstcurrent.orgAmherst Week Ahead 02.09.26Happy Monday, Amherst! Here's your look at the week ahead in town government and community life. It's a busy one — fourteen civic meetings span the full workweek and many community events offer something for everyone from book lovers to coffee drinkers to fans of the great outdoors.
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Town Council Discusses Fiscal Challenges with State Legislators The Town Council got a dose of tough love sprinkled with some guarded optimism at its weekly meeting that featured a presentation and Q&A session with state Rep. Mindy Domb and state Sen. Jo Comerford. David Porter summarizes the…

theamherstcurrent.orgTown Council Discusses Fiscal Challenges with State LegislatorsThe Town Council got a dose of tough love sprinkled with some guarded optimism at its weekly meeting that featured a presentation and Q&A session with state Rep. Mindy Domb and state Sen. Jo Comerford. David Porter summarizes the discussion in this recap of the Town Council meeting on February 2.
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Pelham School Committee to Consider Closing School, Sending Students to Amherst At a special meeting of the Pelham School Committee (SC) on Thursday, January 22, district superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman presented an update on the Pelham elementary school FY27 budget that projected a…

theamherstcurrent.orgPelham School Committee to Consider Closing School, Sending Students to AmherstAt a special meeting of the Pelham School Committee (SC) on Thursday, January 22, district superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman presented an update on the Pelham elementary school FY27 budget that projected a significantly larger deficit than previously estimated and proposed that the Pelham SC begin to plan for the eventual closure of its single elementary school.
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In Defense of the Charter Review Committee In this opinion post, Ray La Raja writes that disagreement with the Charter Review Committee's report is not about democracy versus exclusion, but about how democratic institutions balance public participation with the capacity to govern effectively.

theamherstcurrent.orgIn Defense of the Charter Review CommitteeIn this opinion post, Ray La Raja writes that disagreement with the Charter Review Committee's report is not about democracy versus exclusion, but about how democratic institutions balance public participation with the capacity to govern effectively.