What’s In This Issue?

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ANALYTICS
Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 60,907 (-3,311)
Last Week: 14,170 (-5060)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 27,796 (-951)
Last Week: 6690 (-2085)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES IN THE MONTH OF MARCH
1. Lynnfield Demonstrates Danger of Juggling Building Projects by Jeff Lee
2. Opponents Of Gaza Resolution Seek To Nullify Meeting Where Measure Was Approved by Maura Keene
3. President of Black Business Association Calls for Resignation of Town Manager Black Business Association of Amherst Area
4. Middle School Nurse Claims Transfer to the High School is Retributive by Art Keene
5. Hate Speech Invades Town Meetings by Maura Keene

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. School Committee Names Superintendent Finalists  by Art Keene
2. Friends of the Jones Library Wield Power Without Public Accountability by Jeff Lee
3. Groundbreaking at New Elementary School Ushers in Town’s First Net-zero Building by Maria Kopicki
4. ZBA Approves Plans for Trails at Hickory Ridge. Mexicalito Taco Bar Moving to North Amherst by Maura Keene
5. Town Council Retreat Takes on Meeting Management and Setting Priorities for 2024 by Maura Keene

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

ARTS
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

BUDGET
Bid Deadline for Library Project Slips Again Without Explanation by Jeff Lee
Finance Committee Skeptical About School Budget  by Art Keene
Robust Public Support for Revised Regional School Budget by Maura Keene
Opinion: Does the Town of Amherst Still Value K–12 Education?  Some Thoughts on the Amherst School Budget Crisis by Art and Maura Keene
From Other Sources: News for and About Amherst:  This Week – News from Across the Commonwealth, The Teen Social Media Crisis, and Eclipse Tips by Art Keene

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Letter: Public Comment Deadline Approaching on FirstLight Relicensing by Sarah Matthews
Opinion: Using Bad Climate News and Good Climate News by Russ Vernon-Jones
Adventures of a Native Plant Gardener: Scilla in the Spring. by Laura Quilter
From Other Sources: News for and About Amherst:  This Week – News from Across the Commonwealth, The Teen Social Media Crisis, and Eclipse Tips by Art Keene
Poem: The Giant Black Walnut Tree by Lauren Mills

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Dear Reader by Art and Maura Keene
Indy Seeks Respondents to Survey on Town Committee Appointments
Eighteen Candidates Vie for Nine Spots on Charter Review Commission by Maura Keene
New ZBA Members Recommended by Maura Keene

EVENTS
North Amherst Library Grand Opening May 2
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
Adventures of a Native Plant Gardener: Scilla in the Spring by Laura Quilter
From Other Sources: News for and About Amherst:  This Week – News from Across the Commonwealth, The Teen Social Media Crisis, and Eclipse Tips by Art Keene
Poem: The Giant Black Walnut Tree by Lauren Mills
Photo of the Week: An Indy April Gallery compiled by Art Keene

HISTORY / HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Robust Public Support for Revised Regional School Budget by Marua Keene
Historical Commission Reviews Plans for Affordable Housing in East Amherst by Hilda Greenbaum

HOUSING
Affordable Housing on Belchertown Road: Planning Board Likes the Concept but Not the Plan by Maura Keene
Historical Commission Reviews Plans for Affordable Housing in East Amherst by Hilda Greenbaum
Letter: Inspections Mandated by New Bylaw Violate Renters Rights by Dinah Kudatsky

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Bid Deadline for Library Project Slips Again Without Explanation by Jeff Lee
Tax Returns Offer Small Window onto Friends of the Jones Library Operations by Jeff Lee

LIBRARY
Bid Deadline for Library Project Slips Again Without Explanation by Jeff Lee
Jones Library Collections to Be Moved to 101 University Drive
North Amherst Library Grand Opening May 2
Tax Returns Offer Small Window onto Friends of the Jones Library Operations by Jeff Lee
Letter: Operations of the Friends of the Jones Library Should Be Publicly Disclosed by Michael Pill
Opinion: Does the Town of Amherst Still Value K–12 Education?  Some Thoughts on the Amherst School Budget Crisis by Art and Maura Keene

MEDIA
The Indy Is Going on Vacation by Art Keene
Dear Reader by Art and Maura Keene
From Other Sources: News for and About Amherst:  This Week – News from Across the Commonwealth, The Teen Social Media Crisis, and Eclipse Tips by. Art Keene

OPINION
Letter: Inspections Mandated by New Bylaw Violate Renters Rights by Dinah Kudatsky
Letter: Operations of the Friends of the Jones Library Should Be Publicly Disclosed by Micahel Pill
Letter: One Lawyer’s Answer to Councilor Ryan’s Question, “Is a Lawsuit Worth It?” by Michael Pill
Letter: Public Comment Deadline Approaching on FirstLight Relicensing by Sarah Matthews
Opinion: Does the Town of Amherst Still Value K–12 Education?  Some Thoughts on the Amherst School Budget Crisis by Art and Maura Keene
Opinion: Using Bad Climate News and Good Climate News by Russ Vernon-Jones
Opinion: Thoughts on Conflicts in Amherst and Abroad by John Varner

SCHOOLS
Finance Committee Skeptical About School Budget  by Art Keene
Robust Public Support for Revised Regional School Budget by Maura Keene
Opinion: Does the Town of Amherst Still Value K–12 Education?  Some Thoughts on the Amherst School Budget Crisis by Art and Maura Keene

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Bid Deadline for Library Project Slips Again Without Explanation by Jeff Lee
Finance Committee Skeptical About School Budget  by Art Keene
Robust Public Support for Revised Regional School Budget by Maura Keene
Affordable Housing on Belchertown Road: Planning Board Likes the Concept but Not the Plan by Maura Keene
Historical Commission Reviews Plans for Affordable Housing in East Amherst by Hilda Greenbaum
Indy Seeks Respondents to Survey on Town Committee Appointments
Eighteen Candidates Vie for Nine Spots on Charter Review Commission by Maura Keene
New ZBA Members Recommended by Maura Keene
Town Property Inspections To Begin in April
Tax Returns Offer Small Window onto Friends of the Jones Library Operations by Jeff Lee
Letter: Inspections Mandated by New Bylaw Violate Renters Rights by Dinah Kudatsky
Letter: Operations of the Friends of the Jones Library Should Be Publicly Disclosed by Michael Pill
Letter: One Lawyer’s Answer to Councilor Ryan’s Question, “Is a Lawsuit Worth It?” by Michael Pill
Opinion: Does the Town of Amherst Still Value K–12 Education?  Some Thoughts on the Amherst School Budget Crisis by Art and Maura Keene
Opinion: Thoughts on Conflicts in Amherst and Abroad by John Varner
Town Manager Report for April 1, 2024