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: 23,875 (-681)
Last Week: 5915 (+1030).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 12,442 (-197)
Last Week: 3043 (+384)

LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END 2021 SUMMARY STATS

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Opinion: A Fork in the Road – Whither Amherst? by Jennifer Taub
2. Affordable Housing Units Still Available At Aspen Heights In Amherst
3. Letter: A Plea To Save Amherst’s Old Trees by Rani Parker
4. School Budget Vote Leaves Art and Technology Teachers In Limbo by Toni Cunningham
5. Letter: Proposed Head Of Young Adult Services Position At Jones Library Is Unjustifiable by Natalie Barber

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

NEW / BREAKING
UMass Events Will Honor 150th Anniversary Of Arbor Day
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of April 13, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
Jones Library Will Host Stolen Beam Series On Reparations by Maura Keene
Final Performance Of Hair At ARHS Canceled Due To COVID by Maura Keene
Hundreds Rally To Oppose New Natural Gas Pipeline From Longmeadow To Springfield

ARTS
Grand Opening Of The Drake On April 28 Will Feature Regina Carter
Pioneer Valley Virtual Passover Film Festival

CAMPUS
Activists Rally For Student Debt Cancellation
UMass Study Finds Disbelief in Human Evolution Linked To Greater Prejudice And Racism
UMass Will Give Away Free Seedlings
Spring Forums Will Highlight Health Equity Stories By People Of Color

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
No Mow May Aims To Protect Pollinators by Art Keene
IPCC Report: ‘Now Or Never’ If World Is To Stave Off Climate Disaster by Fiona Harvey (for the Guardian)
Microplastics Found In Human Blood For First Time by Damian Carrington (for the Guardian)
UMass Will Give Away Free Seedlings
Panel: Connecting the Dots: Intersection of Environment, Health, And Social Justice
Letter:  There Are More Effective Ways To Protect Pollinators Than Not Mowing In May by John Root
Opinion: Love, Justice and Climate Change. A Useful Idea With Practical Implications by Russ Vernon-Jones
Photo Of The Week: Eagles On Lake Wyola Ice At The End Of Winter by Susan Panlilio

EVENTS
Grand Opening Of The Drake On April 28 Will Feature Regina Carter
UMass Will Give Away Free Seedlings
Rally Against Proposed Springfield-Longmeadow Natural Gas Pipeline, Saturday April 9
Cuppa’ Joe With Paul Bockelman And CRESS Director Earl Miller
Pioneer Valley Virtual Passover Film Festival
Spring Forums Will Highlight Health Equity Stories By People Of Color
Panel: Connecting the Dots: Intersection of Environment, Health, And Social Justice

FEATURES
Photo Of The Week: Eagles On Lake Wyola Ice At The End Of Winter by Susan Panlilio
Town Manager Report For April 4, 2022

HOUSING
Affordable Housing Units Still Available At Aspen Heights In Amherst

LIBRARY
Library Building Project Plans Outreach Event. Rising Costs Pressure Budget by Jeff Lee

OPINION
Letter:  There Are More Effective Ways To Protect Pollinators Than Not Mowing In May by John Root
Letter: Senior Center Lacks Necessary Space, Budget, And Staffing To Meet Needs Of Amherst’s Older Residents by Richard Yourga, Dennis Vandal, Mary Elmer, Barbara Slovin, Norma Hallock, Kay Weinberg, Rosemary Kofler, Mary Hough and John Magarian
Letter: Amherst’s Reparations Story Shared At National Conference by Michele Miller
Opinion: Love, Justice and Climate Change. A Useful Idea With Practical Implications by Russ Vernon-Jones

PUBLIC HEALTH
Free Covid Vaccines And Rapid Tests Still Available Through Town Health Department by Maura Keene
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of April 6, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
Ticks Are Active In Western Massachusetts
Microplastics Found In Human Blood For First Time by Damian Carrington (for the Guardian)
Spring Forums Will Highlight Health Equity Stories By People Of Color
Panel: Connecting the Dots: Intersection of Environment, Health, And Social Justice

PUB LIC WORKS
New Sewer Bylaw Will Determine Who Pays For Water Line Repairs by Art Keene
Town Council OK’s Increased Parking Permit Fees, Changes To North Pleasant Street, And Revised Plan For Polling Places by Maura Keene

SENIORS
Letter: Senior Center Lacks Necessary Space, Budget, And Staffing To Meet Needs Of Amherst’s Older Residents by Richard Yourga, Dennis Vandal, Mary Elmer, Barbara Slovin, Norma Hallock, Kay Weinberg, Rosemary Kofler, Mary Hough and John Magarian

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Nine Percent Of Amherst Residents Identify As African American According To Census by Maura Keene
Town Raises Flag For Child Abuse Awareness Month
Activists Rally For Student Debt Cancellation
Rally Against Proposed Springfield-Longmeadow Natural Gas Pipeline, Saturday April 9
Cuppa’ Joe With Paul Bockelman And CRESS Director Earl Miller
Spring Forums Will Highlight Health Equity Stories By People Of Color
Panel: Connecting the Dots: Intersection of Environment, Health, And Social Justice
Letter: Amherst’s Reparations Story Shared At National Conference by Michele Miller

SOLAR
Volunteers Sought To Help Write Town’s Solar Bylaw

TOWN GOVERNMENT
New Sewer Bylaw Will Determine Who Pays For Water Line Repairs by Art Keene
Volunteers Sought To Help Write Town’s Solar Bylaw
Fees For Legal Ads May Increase For Planning Board Hearings by Maura Keene
Town Council OK’s Increased Parking Permit Fees, Changes To North Pleasant Street, And Revised Plan For Polling Places by Maura Keene
Nine Percent Of Amherst Residents Identify As African American According To Census by Maura Keene
Town Raises Flag For Child Abuse Awareness Month
Cuppa’ Joe With Paul Bockelman And CRESS Director Earl Miller
Letter: Amherst’s Reparations Story Shared At National Conference by Michele Miller
Town Manager Report For April 4, 2022

WORLD NEWS
IPCC Report: ‘Now Or Never’ If World Is To Stave Off Climate Disaster by Fiona Harvey (for the Guardian)
Microplastics Found In Human Blood For First Time by Damian Carrington (for the Guardian)