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: 23,435 (+1303)
Last Week: 6439(+1750).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 12,481 (+525)
Last Week: 3384 (+838)

LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END 2021 SUMMARY STATS

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: Catastrophic Failure Of Town Ambulance Underscores Need For New Equipment Replacement Schedule by Ben Graham
2.Taking The Politics Out Of Repaving: Amherst’s Repair Priorities Are Data Driven by Art Keene
3.Dispute At Amherst Hills Subdivision Nears Resolution by Maura Keene
4. Water And Soil Challenges At Wildwood And Fort River Sites Similar And Solvable by Toni Cunningham
5.Opinion: Community Safety Working Group Opposes New Young Adult Services Department At Jones Library by The Community Safety Working Group

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE
NEW /BREAKING
Public Comment: Zero Waste Amherst Proposal For Universal Compost Pickup Will Significantly Reduce Waste And Save Residents Money by Darcy DuMont
Letter: Support The Fair Share Amendment by Rick Last
Letter: Amherst Needs More Collaboration Between Residents And BID/Chamber Of Commerce by Jay Silverstein
Letter:  When Choosing Site Of New School, Consider Traffic by Ira Bryck
Letter: How Will New Housing Development At Sunset And Fearing Transform The Neighborhood? by Constance Gillen
Amherst Residents Protest Supreme Court Decision On Roe vs. Wade by Art Keene
Generation Ratify Amherst Condemns Decision To Repeal Roe vs. Wade
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of May 4, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

ARTS
The Drake Opens A New Era Of Music In Amherst by Stephen Braun
Regina Carter Wows A Packed House At The Drake’s Grand Opening by Steven Kurtz
New At Gallery A3. Nancy Meagher’s COLD WATER and MILLICENT

BUDGET
Inflation Forcing Library Project To Cut Construction Costs. OPM Sees ‘Tough Decisions’ Ahead by Jeff Lee
Ground-Source System Offers Advantages Over Air-Source System, Say School Building Designers  by Maria Kopicki
Public Comment: Amherst Sunrise Members Weigh In On School Budget by Amherst Sunirse
Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. A “Rounding Error” Sized Problem With No Solution by Jennifer Shiao

CAMPUS
UMass Establishes Ellsberg Initiative For Peace And Democracy
UMass Dining Initiates Ground-Breaking Program to Measure Carbon Footprint for Individual Dishes

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE / SUSTAINABILITY
UMass Dining Initiates Ground-Breaking Program to Measure Carbon Footprint for Individual Dishes
Issues & Analyses: EU Circular Economy At A Turning Point by Roberta Arbinolo
Letter:  Build Rooftop Solar First by Chad Fuller
Almanac: Hammerhead by Stephen Braun

DOWNTOWN
The Drake Opens A New Era Of Music In Amherst by Stephen Braun
Regina Carter Wows A Packed House At The Drake’s Grand Opening by Steven Kurtz
Amherst Farmers’ Market Returns To Pre-COVID Format by Meg Gage
Photo Of The Week: Amherst Farmers’ Market Gallery By Meg Gage and Stephen King

EVENTS
Community Forum On The Amherst Elementary School Project
Amherst Invitational Ultimate Disc Tournament Returns
New At Gallery A3. Nancy Meagher’s COLD WATER and MILLICENT
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art Keene

FEATURES
A Better World Is Possible:  Brooklyn Public Library Combats Book Bans By Offering A Free Library Card To Every Teen In America by Art Keene
Almanac: Hammerhead by Stephen Braun
Speak Up! What Should Amherst Do With A Surplus Elementary School? by Jeff Lee
Photo Of The Week: Amherst Farmers’ Market Gallery By Meg Gage and Stephen King
Town Manager Report For April 25, 2022

HOUSING
ZBA Reviews Plans For Townhouse And Apartment Complex On Sunset And Fearing by Hilda Greenbaum
Public Comment: What Is A Neighborhood? by Constance Gillen

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: EU Circular Economy At A Turning Point by Roberta Arbinolo

LIBRARIES
Inflation Forcing Library Project To Cut Construction Costs. OPM Sees ‘Tough Decisions’ Ahead by Jeff Lee
A Quick Guide To Proposed Jones Library Design Changes by Jeff Lee

MEDIA
Amherst Media Struggles To Find Temporary Home by Maura Keene

OPINION
Public Comment: What Is A Neighborhood? by Constance Gillen
Public Comment: Decommissioned School Site Should Be Retained By The Town by Ira Bryck
Public Comment: Amherst Sunrise Members Weigh In On School Budget by Amherst Sunrise
Letter:  Build Rooftop Solar First by Chad Fuller
Opinion:  The Best Use Of The Remaining Elementary School In Amherst by Meg Gage
Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. A “Rounding Error” Sized Problem With No Solution by Jennifer Shiao

PUBLIC HEALTH
Free COVID Vaccine Clinics Continue At Bangs Center And UMass by Maura Keene
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of April 27 , 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

SCHOOLS
Ground-Source System Offers Advantages Over Air-Source System, Say School Building Designers  by Maria Kopick
Water And Soil Challenges At Wildwood And Fort River Sites Similar And Solvable by Toni Cunningham
Community Forum On The Amherst Elementary School Project
Amherst Invitational Ultimate Disc Tournament Returns
Public Comment: Decommissioned School Site Should Be Retained By The Town by Ira Bryck
Public Comment: Amherst Sunrise Members Weigh In On School Budget by Amherst Sunrise
Opinion:  The Best Use Of The Remaining Elementary School In Amherst by Meg Gage
Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. A “Rounding Error” Sized Problem With No Solution by Jennifer Shiao
Speak Up! What Should Amherst Do With A Surplus Elementary School? by Jeff Lee

SOCIAL JUSTICE
New Bylaw Proposed To Address Alleged False Advertising By Crisis Pregnancy Centers. Council Briefed On Open Meeting Law And Conflict Of Interest Rules by Maura Keene
Truth School Will Offer Eight Free In-Person Classes In May
UMass Establishes Ellsberg Initiative For Peace And Democracy

SPORTS & RECREATION
12th Annual Daffodil Run Raises $50,000 For Big Brothers/Big Sisters Of Hampshire County With Return To In Person Race
Amherst Invitational Ultimate Disc Tournament Returns

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Amherst Media Struggles To Find Temporary Home by Maura Keene
New Bylaw Proposed To Address Alleged False Advertising By Crisis Pregnancy Centers. Council Briefed On Open Meeting Law And Conflict Of Interest Rules by Maura Keene
ZBA Reviews Plans For Townhouse And Apartment Complex On Sunset And Fearing by Hilda Greenbaum
Amherst Commemorates Jewish American Heritage Month And Holocaust Remembrance Day by Art Keene
Community Forum On The Amherst Elementary School Project
Public Comment: Decommissioned School Site Should Be Retained By The Town by Ira Bryck
Public Comment: Amherst Sunrise Members Weigh In On School Budget by Amherst Sunrise
Opinion:  The Best Use Of The Remaining Elementary School In Amherst by Meg Gage
Opinion: Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog. A “Rounding Error” Sized Problem With No Solution by Jennifer Shiao
Speak Up! What Should Amherst Do With A Surplus Elementary School? by Jeff Lee
Town Manager Report For April 25, 2022