What’s In This Issue?

Welcome to our Table of Contents. You can also receive a listing of all new items in the Indy each week by signing up here. The subscription is free and will deliver to your inbox a listing of all new content, each Saturday at 6 a.m. We can assure you that we will not share your email address, nor will we send you any additional emails to clog up your inbox (except in the case of truly urgent breaking news, in which case we’ll send out a special dispatch).

ANALYTICS  .
(numbers in parentheses reflect the + or – change compared with the previous week.
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 24,060 (+625)
Last Week: 6219 (-220).
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 12,856 (+525)
Last Week: 3384 (-213)

LOOK HERE FOR OUR YEAR-END 2021 SUMMARY STATS

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES IN THE MONTH OF APRIL
1.Letter: Catastrophic Failure Of Town Ambulance Underscores Need For New Equipment Replacement Schedule by Ben Graham
2. East Street And Belchertown Road Affordable Housing Plans Unveiled by Maura Keene
3. Opinion: A Fork in the Road – Whither Amherst? by Jennifer Taub
4. Taking The Politics Out Of Repaving: Amherst’s Repair Priorities Are Data Driven by Art Keene
5. Opinion: Community Safety Working Group Opposes New Young Adult Services Department At Jones Library by The Community Safety Working Group

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Inflation Forcing Library Project To Cut Construction Costs. OPM Sees ‘Tough Decisions’ Ahead by Jeff Lee
2. Regina Carter Wows A Packed House At The Drake’s Grand Opening by Steven Kurtz
3. The Drake Opens A New Era Of Music In Amherst by Stephen Braun
4. Amherst Media Struggles To Find Temporary Home by Maura Keene
5. Amherst Invitational Ultimate Disc Tournament Returns

WHAT”S IN THIS ISSUE?
NEW / BREAKING
A Better World Is Possible:  Creating Towns That Are Bicycle Friendly by Art Keene
Amherst Names First Director Of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion
Amherst Joins COVID Wastewater Surveillance Program
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of May 11, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene

BUDGET
Library Project Dilemma – Reduce Costs, Raise More Funds, Or Both by Jeff Lee
Council Approves $1.5 Million For Repair Of High School Track by Maura Keene
Public Comment: Defund The Police And Fund CSWG Initiatives In FY23 by Defund 413
Letter: Town Must Re-envision Its Budget Priorities by Amherst Sunrise Movement

CAMPUS
Expect Heavy Traffic, Delays During UMass Moveout And Commencement, May 11-14
UMass Union Calls On President Biden To Cancel All Student Debt
First Annual Energy Transition Symposium Held at UMass Amherst

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
First Annual Energy Transition Symposium Held at UMass Amherst
Opinion: Why Can’t We Move Faster On Climate Change? by Russ Vernon-Jones

EVENTS
Bears Oh My!  Community Chat Explores Everything You Need To Know About Bears In Amherst  by Art Keene
Expect Heavy Traffic, Delays During UMass Moveout And Commencement, May 11-14
First Annual Energy Transition Symposium Held at UMass Amherst
Amherst Senior Center Will Hold Open House On May 11
People’s Town Hall With State Senator Jo Comerford
Community Gathering To Meet CRESS And DEI Directors
Stolen Beam Series On Reparations Posponed Until Fall 2022
What’s Happening In Amherst? by Art Keene

FEATURES
Becoming Human: Moving At The Speed Of Trust.  Greenfield’s Stone Soup Café by Boone Shear
Speak Up! Results And Comments: Senior, Childhood, And Teen Centers Are Most Suggested Uses For Elementary School Building by Jeff Lee
Photo Of The Week: Rainy Daze By Joy Jarme
Town Manager Report For May 2, 2022

LIBRARY
Library Project Dilemma – Reduce Costs, Raise More Funds, Or Both by Jeff Lee
Stolen Beam Series On Reparations Posponed Until Fall 2022

NEIGHBORHOODS
Letter: How Will New Housing Development At Sunset And Fearing Transform The Neighborhood? by Constance Gillen

OPINION
Public Comment: Defund The Police And Fund CSWG Initiatives In FY23 by Defund 413
Public Comment: Zero Waste Amherst Proposal For Universal Compost Pickup Will Significantly Reduce Waste And Save Residents Money by Darcy DuMont
Letter: Town Must Re-envision Its Budget Priorities by Amherst Sunrise Movement
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
Opinion: Why Can’t We Move Faster On Climate Change? by Russ Vernon-Jones

PARKING
North Pleasant Street Parking Plan Will Have More Spaces For Kendrick Park Users by Art Keene
Letter: Amherst Needs More Collaboration Between Residents And BID/Chamber Of Commerce by Jay Silverstein

PUBLIC HEALTH
Board Of Health Votes To Join Mosquito Control District.   Splits On Decision To Opt Out of Aerial Spraying Program by Maura Keene
COVID-19 Weekly Update For The Week Of May 4, 2022 by Art and Maura Keene
Public Comment: Zero Waste Amherst Proposal For Universal Compost Pickup Will Significantly Reduce Waste And Save Residents Money by Darcy DuMont

SCHOOLS
Both Fort River And Wildwood Sites Present Traffic Challenges by Maura Keene
Council Approves $1.5 Million For Repair Of High School Track by Maura Keene
Letter:  When Choosing Site Of New School, Consider Traffic by Ira Bryck
Speak Up! Results And Comments: Senior, Childhood, And Teen Centers Are Most Suggested Uses For Elementary School Building by Jeff Lee

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
UMass Union Calls On President Biden To Cancel All Student Debt
Amherst Residents Protest Supreme Court Decision On Roe vs. Wade by Art Keene
Generation Ratify Amherst Condemns Decision To Repeal Roe vs. Wade
Community Gathering To Meet CRESS And DEI Directors
Stolen Beam Series On Reparations Posponed Until Fall 2022
Public Comment: Defund The Police And Fund CSWG Initiatives In FY23 by Defund 413
Letter: Town Must Re-envision Its Budget Priorities by Amherst Sunrise Movement
Letter: Support The Fair Share Amendment by Rick Last
Becoming Human: Moving At The Speed Of Trust.  Greenfield’s Stone Soup Café by Boone Shear

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Both Fort River And Wildwood Sites Present Traffic Challenges by Maura Keene
North Pleasant Street Parking Plan Will Have More Spaces For Kendrick Park Users by Art Keene
Board Of Health Votes To Join Mosquito Control District.   Splits On Decision To Opt Out of Aerial Spraying Program by Maura Keene
Council Approves $1.5 Million For Repair Of High School Track by Maura Keene
Nine Lots In Amherst Hills Released For Sale After Funds For Road Completion Placed In Escrow by Maura Keene
Public Comment: Zero Waste Amherst Proposal For Universal Compost Pickup Will Significantly Reduce Waste And Save Residents Money by Darcy DuMont
Speak Up! Results And Comments: Senior, Childhood, And Teen Centers Are Most Suggested Uses For Elementary School Building by Jeff Lee
Town Manager Report For May 2, 2022