What’s In This Issue

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ANALYTICS 
(numbers in parentheses reflect the + or – change since last week)
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 19,118 (-76)
Last Week: 4481 (-1609)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 9549 (+198)
Last Week: 3292 (-1100)

MOST READ: TOP FIVE MOST READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Active COVID-19 Cases At UMass Climb Past 600 – by Marla Goldberg Jamate
2. Elementary School Project Cleared For Next Phase –by Maria Kopicki
3. Opinion: Proposed Jones Library Demolition/Expansion Project: More Costly, More Confused Than You Think – by Sarah McKee
4. Calling The Question: Town Council Considers New Rules To Cut Off Debate – by Maura Keene
5. UMass-Amherst Logs Over 400 Active COVID-19 Cases Within Days Of Reopening, Imposes New Restrictions – by Marla Goldberg Jamate

WHAT”S IN THIS ISSUE?

ARTS
Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival To Screen Award-Winning Film on Post-Hurricane María Puerto Rico, Host Conversation with Director

Photo Of The Week: Bike Trail Reflection By Dave Madeloni

CAMPUS
UMass Amherst Will Lower COVID-19 Risk Status from “High” To “Elevated” On Monday by Marla Goldberg Jamate

Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival To Screen Award-Winning Film on Post-Hurricane María Puerto Rico, Host Conversation with Director

CAPITAL PLAN
Finance Director Introduces New Plan To Complete Four Major Building Projects Over Next Five Years by Art Keene

Average Water/Sewer Bills Projected To Rise By $420/year by 2025 by Toni Cunningham

COVID-19
School Reopening Plan Is Very Limited As Most Teachers Choose to Stay Remote by Marla Goldberg Jamate

UMass Amherst Will Lower COVID-19 Risk Status from “High” To “Elevated” On Monday by Marla Goldberg Jamate

Widespread Frustration As Massachusetts Vaccine Scheduling Site Crashes by Art Keene

State Expands Vaccine Eligibility To Those 65 And Over Or With Multiple Underlying Medical Conditions by Art Keene

new column : Juvenescence: In Response To Pandemic Lockdown, Area Youth Start Businesses by Annalise Peterson

COVID-19 Daily Update by Art and Maura Keene

ENVIRONMENT
Western Mass Residents Gather At Governor Baker’s Office To Protest Biomass Rules Rollback

new column: Almanac by Stephen Braun

EVENTS
Fundraiser Supports Furloughed School Workers by Toni Cunningham

Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival To Screen Award-Winning Film on Post-Hurricane María Puerto Rico, Host Conversation with Director

FEATURES
new column : Juvenescence: In Response To Pandemic Lockdown, Area Youth Start Businesses by Annalise Peterson

new column: Almanac by Stephen Braun

From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst (#32). This Week’s Focus – News From Amherst That You Might Have Missed And More On Alternatives To Policing And On Reopening The Schools by Art Keene

Photo Of The Week: Bike Trail Reflection By Dave Madeloni

LETTERS / OPINION
Letter: Amherst Media Can Pick Up The Slack In Posting Recordings Of Town Committee and Board Meetings by Jim Lescault

Open Letter To Town Councilors: Late Questions About The Jones Library by Michael Greenebaum

Letter: A More Modest Jones Renovation Would Allow Prioritizing Schools And Social Justice Concerns by Mary Hoyer

Letter: Councilors Should Reject Library Expansion by David Nielsen

Letter: How Will The Jones Library Expansion Impact Other Needed Capital Spending? by Elissa Rubinstein

Opinion: Don’t Ignore The Needs Of Crocker Farm by Maria Kopicki

Opinion: Gratitude For Frontline Workers by Ben Herrington

LIBRARY
Open Letter To Town Councilors: Late Questions About The Jones Library by MIchael Greenebaum

Letter: A More Modest Jones Renovation Would Allow Prioritizing Schools And Social Justice Concerns by Mary Hoyer

Letter: Councilors Should Reject Library Expansion by David Nielsen

Letter: How Will The Jones Library Expansion Impact Other Needed Capital Spending? by Elissa Rubinstein

POLICE
Barbara Love Advises Community Safety Working Group On Implicit Bias Training by Art Keene

From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst (#32). This Week’s Focus – News From Amherst That You Might Have Missed And More On Alternatives To Policing And On Reopening The Schools by Art Keene

SCHOOLS
School Reopening Plan Is Very Limited As Most Teachers Choose to Stay Remote by Marla Goldberg Jamate

Fundraiser Supports Furloughed School Workers by Toni Cunningham

Opinion: Don’t Ignore The Needs Of Crocker Farm by Maria Kopicki

Opinion: Gratitude For Frontline Workers by Ben Herrington

From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst (#32). This Week’s Focus – News From Amherst That You Might Have Missed And More On Alternatives To Policing And On Reopening The Schools by Art Keene

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Barbara Love Advises Community Safety Working Group On Implicit Bias Training by Art Keene

Fundraiser Supports Furloughed School Workers by Toni Cunningham

Western Mass Residents Gather At Governor Baker’s Office To Protest Biomass Rules Rollback

Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival To Screen Award-Winning Film on Post-Hurricane María Puerto Rico, Host Conversation with Director

Letter: A More Modest Jones Renovation Would Allow Prioritizing Schools And Social Justice Concerns by Mary Hoyer

Opinion: Gratitude For Frontline Workers by Ben Herrington

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Finance Director Introduces New Plan To Complete Four Major Building Projects Over Next Five Years by Art Keene

Average Water/Sewer Bills Projected To Rise By $420/year by 2025 by Toni Cunningham

Planning Board Continues Discussion of Proposed Zoning Changes by Maura Keene

Historic Commission Mulls Criteria For Mandating Preservation by Hilda Greenbaum

ZBA: Hearing On Contested Garage Conversion At Corner of Strong and East Pleasant Continued Until March 25 by Hilda Greenbaum

Letter: Amherst Media Can Pick Up The Slack In Posting Recordings Of Town Committee and Board Meetings by Jim Lescault

ZONING
Planning Board Continues Discussion of Proposed Zoning Changes by Maura Keene

Historic Commission Mulls Criteria For Mandating Preservation by Hilda Greenbaum

ZBA: Hearing On Contested Garage Conversion At Corner of Strong and East Pleasant Continued Until March 25 by Hilda Greenbaum