What’s In This Issue?

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ANALYTICS 
(numbers in parentheses reflect the + or – change compared with the week of AUG 6 (before we went on vacation)
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 16,665 (-5115)
Last Week: 3322 (-1863)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 8373 (-1931)
Last Week: 1711 (-1116)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ STORIES IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS IN AUGUST
1. Judge To Decide If Lawsuit Against Town Over Petition Signatures Goes Forward by Art Keene
2. Letter: Too Many Unanswered Questions About Rezoning Lot Behind CVS For A Parking Garage by Jennifer Taub
3. Town Of Amherst And UMass Adopt Indoor Mask Requirements
4. Opinion: The Threats Caused By “Pure Trash” Lies by Marty Nathan
5. Letter: Fort River Watershed Needs Retention Dams With Navigable Spillways by John Boothroyd

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

NEW / BREAKING
Benjamin Cowdan’s Interstitial Zigzags Opens At The New Portal Gallery On Boltwood Plaza

No Swimming At Town Beaches Due To High Bacteria Counts

COVID 19 Update For The Week Of August 25, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene

ARTS
Benjamin Cowdan’s Interstitial Zigzags Opens At The New Portal Gallery On Boltwood Plaza

Photos Of The Week: Visitors To The Garden by Annique Boomsma

CAMPUS
Town Of Amherst And UMass Adopt Indoor Mask Requirements

CLIMATE /ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Opinion: The IPCC’s Latest Climate Report Is Dire. But It Also Included Some Prospects For Hope by Rebecca Solnit

Almanac: Lichens In The Pigpen by Stephen Braun

COVID-19
COVID 19 Update For The Week Of August 25, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene

COVID 19 Update For The Week Of August 18, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene

Town Of Amherst And UMass Adopt Indoor Mask Requirements

Photos Of The Week: Visitors To The Garden by Annique Boomsma

EVENTS
Benjamin Cowdan’s Interstitial Zigzags Opens At The New Portal Gallery On Boltwood Plaza

Kendrick Park Playground Ribbon Cutting On August 24

Outdoor Cinema Series Presents Mamma Mia On August 25

The Future of Housing In Amherst

FEATURES
Almanac: Lichens In The Pigpen by Stephen Braun

HOUSING
The Future of Housing In Amherst

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: Illinois City’s Reparations Plan Was Heralded – But Locals Say It’s A Cautionary Tale by Kiran Misra

LIBRARY
Jones Library Will Deaccess Part Of Its Fine Arts Collections, Expand Hours by Terry S. Johnson

Appointment Recommendations For Jones Library Building Committee, Other Town Bodies, To Come Before Council This Week by Art Keene

LITIGATION
Letter: Town Attorney Insults Amherst Voters by Sarah McKee

OPINION
Letter: Town Attorney Insults Amherst Voters by Sarah McKee

Letter: When It Comes To Zoning, Town Government Appears To Reject Public Input And The Concept of Planning by Ira Bryck

Opinion: Frequently Unanswered Questions: A Municipal Parking Garage Behind CVS by Art Keene

Opinion: The IPCC’s Latest Climate Report Is Dire. But It Also Included Some Prospects For Hope by Rebecca Solnit

PARKING
Opinion: Frequently Unanswered Questions: A Municipal Parking Garage Behind CVS by Art Keene


PUBLIC HEALTH
No Swimming At Town Beaches Due To High Bacteria Counts

COVID 19 Update For The Week Of August 25, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene

Amherst Water Testing Finds No “Forever Chemicals”

COVID 19 Update For The Week Of August 18, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene

Town Of Amherst And UMass Adopt Indoor Mask Requirements


SOCIAL JUSTICE
Update On Community Safety Working Group by Brianna Owen

Issues & Analyses: Illinois City’s Reparations Plan Was Heralded – But Locals Say It’s A Cautionary Tale by Kiran Misra

Letter: Town Attorney Insults Amherst Voters by Sarah McKee



TOWN GOVERNMENT
Planning Board Recommends Amendments To Zoning Bylaw by Maura Keene

Appointment Recommendations For Jones Library Building Committee, Other Town Bodies, To Come Before Council This Week by Art Keene

Update On Community Safety Working Group by Brianna Owen

Letter: When It Comes To Zoning, Town Government Appears To Reject Public Input And The Concept of Planning by Ira Bryck



ZONING
Planning Board Recommends Amendments To Zoning Bylaw by Maura Keene

Letter: When It Comes To Zoning, Town Government Appears To Reject Public Input And The Concept of Planning by Ira Bryck

Opinion: Frequently Unanswered Questions: A Municipal Parking Garage Behind CVS by Art Keene