What’s In This Issue?

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ANALYTICS 
(numbers in parentheses reflect the + or – change compared with the previous week.
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 24,503 (-2341)
Last Week: 4842 (+132).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 10,613 (-937)
Last Week: 2131 (+272)

TOP FIVE MOST READ STORIES LAST WEEK
1. Library Leaders Foresee Need For More Town Funds by Jeff Lee
2. One-Way Traffic Mulled For Part Of North Pleasant Street; Performance Shell On Town Common Endorsed by Art Keene
3. Court Hears Additional Oral Argument in Amherst Voting Rights Case by Sarah McKee
4. Patience Wears Thin At Fifth Consecutive Weekly Town Council Meeting by Maura Keene
5. A Cold Day In Hell by Stephen Braun

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

BUDGET
School Override Pushed Back To March 2023 by Toni Cunningham

TSO Recommends Town Adopt Civilian Responder Agency And Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Department by Art Keene

CAMPUS
UMass Amherst Decarbonization Collaboration Wins “Leading by Example” Award from Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Town Police And Fire Respond To Report Of Unresponsive Women At UMass Fraternity House

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Wetlands Boundaries Disputed At Site Of The Proposed Eruptor Project In North Amherst by Maura Keene

State Conference On Sustainability In School Building Projects Emphasizes Early Planning, Engagement With Communities, And Commitment By Municipalities by Maria Kopicki

UMass Amherst Decarbonization Collaboration Wins “Leading by Example” Award from Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Almanac: Winter Thunder by Stephen Braun

Photo Of The Week: Connecticut River By Jennifer Kramer

EVENTS
Mark Human Rights Day With Speakers From Amnesty International

International Human Rights Day Celebration

FEATURES
Almanac: Winter Thunder by Stephen Braun

Speak Up! Should North Prospect Lot Be Rezoned To Permit Parking Garage? by Jeff Lee

Photo Of The Week: Connecticut River By Jennifer Kramer

Town Manager Report For December 6, 2021

HISTORY / HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
Community Preservation Act Committee Recommends Grants For FY2023 by Maura Keene

Local Historic District Commission Approves Renovations At 77 McClellan. Continues Public Hearing For Town Houses At Sunset & Fearing by Hilda Greenbaum

HOUSING
Community Preservation Act Committee Recommends Grants For FY2023 by Maura Keene

Local Historic District Commission Approves Renovations At 77 McClellan. Continues Public Hearing For Town Houses At Sunset & Fearing by Hilda Greenbaum

OPINION
Public Comment: Amherst Pelham Education Association Supports Full Funding For Community Responders Program by Jonathan Sivel

Public Comment: Proposed Zoning Amendments Are Not Ready For A Vote by Janet McGowan

Letter: Glut of Hastily Scheduled Meetings Represents Lame Duck Effort By Town Council by Darcy DuMont

Letter:  The Attached Image Shows How Proposed Garage Would Overpower Buildings On North Prospect Street by Suzannah Muspratt

Letter: Strong Community Opposition Appears To Dwarf Support For Garage On North Prospect Street by Rani Parker

Letter: Town Council Seeks To Force Garage Into Residential Neighborhood Without Public Support by Jay Silverstein

Letter: Repair Town Lot Behind CVS And Build Garage (If Truly Needed) Elsewhere by Ira Bryck

Letter: An Exchange Between Steve Bloom and Town Councilor Andy Steinberg On The Garage And Downtown Development by Steve Bloom and Andy Steinberg

Opinion: Thumbs Down To The Town Manager Evaluation Process by Darcy DuMont

PARKING
Votes On Parking Garage And Mixed-use Building Amendments Delayed Until December 20 by Maura Keene

Letter:  The Attached Image Shows How Proposed Garage Would Overpower Buildings On North Prospect Street by Suzannah Muspratt

Letter: Strong Community Opposition Appears To Dwarf Support For Garage On North Prospect Street by Rani Parker

Letter: Town Council Seeks To Force Garage Into Residential Neighborhood Without Public Support by Jay Silverstein

Letter: Repair Town Lot Behind CVS And Build Garage (If Truly Needed) Elsewhere by Ira Bryck

Speak Up! Should North Prospect Lot Be Rezoned To Permit Parking Garage? by Jeff Lee


PUBLIC HEALTH
Board of Health Hits Pause On Zero Waste Initiative. Notes Uptick In COVID Cases In Amherst by Art Keene

COVID-19 Update For The Week Of December 8, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene

SOLID WASTE
Board of Health Hits Pause On Zero Waste Initiative. Notes Uptick In COVID Cases In Amherst by Art Keene

SCHOOLS
School Override Pushed Back To March 2023 by Toni Cunningham

State Conference On Sustainability In School Building Projects Emphasizes Early Planning, Engagement With Communities, And Commitment By Municipalities by Maria Kopicki

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Members Of Amherst Reparation Assembly Attend National Symposium In Evanston,Illinois

TSO Recommends Town Adopt Civilian Responder Agency And Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Department by Art Keene

Mark Human Rights Day With Speakers From Amnesty International

International Human Rights Day Celebration

Public Comment: Amherst Pelham Education Association Supports Full Funding For Community Responders Program by Jonathan Sivel


TOWN GOVERNMENT
Members Of Amherst Reparation Assembly Attend National Symposium In Evanston,Illinois

TSO Recommends Town Adopt Civilian Responder Agency And Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Department by Art Keene

Wetlands Boundaries Disputed At Site Of The Proposed Eruptor Project In North Amherst by Maura Keene

Community Preservation Act Committee Recommends Grants For FY2023 by Maura Keene

Local Historic District Commission Approves Renovations At 77 McClellan. Continues Public Hearing For Town Houses At Sunset & Fearing by Hilda Greenbaum

Votes On Parking Garage And Mixed-use Building Amendments Delayed Until December 20 by Maura Keene

Letter: Glut of Hastily Scheduled Meetings Represents Lame Duck Effort By Town Council by Darcy DuMont

Opinion: Thumbs Down To The Town Manager Evaluation Process by Darcy DuMont

Town Manager Report For December 6, 2021

ZONING
Votes On Parking Garage And Mixed-use Building Amendments Delayed Until December 20 by Maura Keene

Public Comment: Proposed Zoning Amendments Are Not Ready For A Vote by Janet McGowan

Letter:  The Attached Image Shows How Proposed Garage Would Overpower Buildings On North Prospect Street by Suzannah Muspratt

Letter: Strong Community Opposition Appears To Dwarf Support For Garage On North Prospect Street by Rani Parker

Letter: An Exchange Between Steve Bloom and Town Councilor Andy Steinberg On The Garage And Downtown Development by Steve Bloom and Andy Steinberg