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: 24,956 (+1403)
Last Week: 5219-(-1391).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 11,855 (+615)
Last Week: 2551 (-856)

LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END 2021 SUMMARY STATS

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: Is There Really “No Room” For New Businesses In Downtown Amherst?  by Ira Bryck
2. Trustee Finds Jones Library Historic Structures Report ‘Incredibly Restrictive’ by Jeff Lee
3. Opinion: Another Year, Another Steep Price Increase For Trash Pickup by Christina Platt
4. High School Track Replacement Vies For Funding With Other Projects by Toni Cunningham
5. Potential For Geothermal And Solar Power To Factor Into Site Selection For New School by Toni Cunningham

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
NEW / BREAKING
COVID-19 Update For The Week Of February 2, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

ARTS / CULTURE
Amherst Cultural Council Awards Grants To 65 Recipients

Burnett Gallery Invites Applications For Monthly Exhibits

New Exhibit At UMass: Theater Of The Streets. Social Landscapes Through The Lens Of Jill Freedman

Interwoven: Words & Images. A New February Exhibit At Gallery A3

Photo Of The Week: A January Gallery edited by Art Keene

CAPITAL PROJECTS
Jones Library Building Committee Chooses Officers, Recommends Field Trip by Jeff Lee

Letter: Consultants’ Approach To High School Track And Playing Fields Has Become A Boondoggle by Eric Nazar

Opinion: Dreaming About An Elementary School. Spaces by Michael Greenebaum

Opinion: Amherst Elementary School Building Project Moves Forward by Allison McDonald and Cathy Schoen

CAMPUS
UMass Amherst Earns Top U.S. News And World Report Rankings For Online Programs

Ruth E. Carter To Offer Keynote At Commonwealth Honors College Annual Black Heritage Month Celebration

New Exhibit At UMass: Theater Of The Streets. Social Landscapes Through The Lens Of Jill Freedman

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Opinion:Love Justice And Climate Change. White Supremacy And Climate Change In The U.S. by Russ Vernon-Jones

Indy Poll Shows Most Fear Climate Change But Are Less Clear About Solutions by Jeff Lee

A Better World Is Possible: The Ultimate Guide To Creating Walkable Streets by Strong Towns

DOWNTOWN
A Few Questions For Town Manager Paul Bockelman. Destination Amherst, What Is It? by Kitty Axelson-Berry

Indy Poll Shows Most Fear Climate Change But Are Less Clear About Solutions by Jeff Lee

Indy Poll Shows Most Fear Climate Change But Are Less Clear About Solutions

EVENTS
Black History Month Flag Raising Ceremony

Elementary School Building Committee Community Forum Set For February 3

New Exhibit At UMass: Theater Of The Streets. Social Landscapes Through The Lens Of Jill Freedman

Interwoven: Words & Images. A New February Exhibit At Gallery A3

Town Offers COVID Vaccine Clinic Every Thursday

Letter: District 3 Meeting January 30, Will Include Presentation On Reimagining Aging In Amherst by Jennifer Taub and Dorothy Pam

Letter: Councilors Will Meet With District 1 Residents Sunday, January 30 by Michele Miller and Cathy Schoen

FEATURES
A Few Questions For Town Manager Paul Bockelman. Destination Amherst, What Is It? by Kitty Axelson-Berry

Indy Poll Shows Most Fear Climate Change But Are Less Clear About Solutions by Jeff Lee

A Better World Is Possible: The Ultimate Guide To Creating Walkable Streets by Strong Towns

Photo Of The Week: A January Gallery edited by Art Keene

HISTORY
Black History Month Flag Raising Ceremony

Ruth E. Carter To Offer Keynote At Commonwealth Honors College Annual Black Heritage Month Celebration

LIBRARIES
Jones Library Building Committee Chooses Officers, Recommends Field Trip by Jeff Lee

Burnett Gallery Invites Applications For Monthly Exhibits

Town Seeks Residents To Serve On Building Committees For Elementary School Or Jones Library

OPINION
Letter: Why Amherst Needs A Temporary Moratorium On The Permitting And Approval Of Large-Scale Ground Mounted Solar Installations by Gerry Weiss

Letter: Consultants’ Approach To High School Track And Playing Fields Has Become A Boondoggle by Eric Nazar

Letter: District 3 Meeting January 30, Will Include Presentation On Reimagining Aging In Amherst by Jennifer Taub and Dorothy Pam

Letter: Councilors Will Meet With District 1 Residents Sunday, January 30 by Michele Miller and Cathy Schoen

Opinion: Amherst Needs A Solar Siting Bylaw by Janet McGowan

Opinion: Just Because You Say It Does Not Make It So by Maura Keene

Opinion: Dreaming About An Elementary School. Spaces by Michael Greenebaum

Opinion: Amherst Elementary School Building Project Moves Forward by Allison McDonald and Cathy Schoen

Opinion: Amherst College And Local Public Schools by Kate Queeney

Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. Amherst And Regional School Committee Meetings by Jennifer Shiao

Opinion:Love Justice And Climate Change. White Supremacy And Climate Change In The U.S. by Russ Vernon-Jones

PARKING
Council Recommends Increase In Parking Permit Fees, Reaffirms Decision For In-Person Meetings by Maura Keene

PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 Update For The Week Of February 2, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

COVID-19 Update For The Week Of January 26, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

Town Offers COVID Vaccine Clinic Every Thursday

Opinion: Just Because You Say It Does Not Make It So by Maura Keene

RECREATION
Amherst Massachusetts Joins Walking Challenge With Three Other Amherst Communities

Letter: Consultants’ Approach To High School Track And Playing Fields Has Become A Boondoggle by Eric Nazar

SCHOOLS
Town Seeks Residents To Serve On Building Committees For Elementary School Or Jones Library

Elementary School Building Committee Community Forum Set For February 3

Letter: Consultants’ Approach To High School Track And Playing Fields Has Become A Boondoggle by Eric Nazar

Opinion: Dreaming About An Elementary School. Spaces by Michael Greenebaum

Opinion: Amherst Elementary School Building Project Moves Forward by Allison McDonald and Cathy Schoen

Opinion: Amherst College And Local Public Schools by Kate Queeney

Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. Amherst And Regional School Committee Meetings by Jennifer Shiao

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Enthusiasm For Implementation of Alternative Responders Program Evident At Community Forums by Art Keene

New Exhibit At UMass: Theater Of The Streets. Social Landscapes Through The Lens Of Jill Freedman

Opinion:Love Justice And Climate Change. White Supremacy And Climate Change In The U.S. by Russ Vernon-Jones

SOLAR
CRC Endorses Temporary Solar Moratorium by Art Keene

Letter: Why Amherst Needs A Temporary Moratorium On The Permitting And Approval Of Large-Scale Ground Mounted Solar Installations by Gerry Weiss

Opinion: Amherst Needs A Solar Siting Bylaw by Janet McGowan

TOWN GOVERNMENT
CRC Endorses Temporary Solar Moratorium by Art Keene

Jones Library Building Committee Chooses Officers, Recommends Field Trip by Jeff Lee

Council Recommends Increase In Parking Permit Fees, Reaffirms Decision For In-Person Meetings by Maura Keene

Enthusiasm For Implementation of Alternative Responders Program Evident At Community Forums by Art Keene

Town Seeks Residents To Serve On Building Committees For Elementary School Or Jones Library

Letter: District 3 Meeting January 30, Will Include Presentation On Reimagining Aging In Amherst by Jennifer Taub and Dorothy Pam

Letter: Councilors Will Meet With District 1 Residents Sunday, January 30 by Michele Miller and Cathy Schoen

Opinion: Amherst Needs A Solar Siting Bylaw by Janet McGowan

Opinion: Just Because You Say It Does Not Make It So by Maura Keene

A Few Questions For Town Manager Paul Bockelman. Destination Amherst, What Is It? by Kitty Axelson-Berry