What’s in This Issue?

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ANALYTICS
Analytics are back!
Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 54,498 (coming soon)
Last Week: 17,524 (+3354)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 23,342 (coming soon)
Last Week: 7229 (+539)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES IN THE MONTH OF APRIL
1. Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit Filed Against Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools by Amherst Indy
2. Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget by Maria Kopicki
3. Search for ARMS Principal Curtailed. Finalist Charges Discrimination by Art Keene
4. Library Construction Docs in Disarray as Town Payments Pass $2M by Jeff Lee
5. Bid Deadline for Library Project Slips Again Without Explanation by Jeff Lee

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Lone Library Project Bid Soars $7 Million over Budget by Maria Kopicki
2. E. Xiomara Herman Selected as New School Superintendent by Maura Keene
3. Search for ARMS Principal Curtailed. Finalist Charges Discrimination by Art Keene
4. School Committee Interviews Superintendent Candidate E. Xiomara Herman by Maura Keene
5.Interim School Superintendent Refuses to Share Info on Budget Cuts by Amherst Pelham Education Association

WHAT’S In THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
Open Call for Artists for Galley A3’s Annual Juried Show
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

BUDGET
Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate by Maura Keene
Regional School Committee Will Pursue Eight Lane Track with Grass Infield for High School by Maria Kopicki
Letter: Repairs To Jones Library Could Cost Less Than You Think by Craig Meadows
Time to Change Direction on the Jones Library by Ken Rosenthal
Opinion: Town Leaders Need to Get Real by Jeff Lee

CAMPUS
Amherst College Wayfinding Sign Approved for Amherst Center by Maura Keene
ACLU Warns Against Violation of Free Speech Rights in Crackdown on Campus Encampments by Art Keene
UMass People’s Assembly Continues Protests in Support of Palestine, Divestment, and Free Speech by Art Keene
UMass Anti-war Encampment Dismantled by Art Keene
UMass Students Establish Encampment in Support of Palestine by Art and Maura Keene
Public Invited to UMass Food Science Students’ 10th Annual Ice Cream Flavors Competition
Award Winning Journalist Max Blumenthal Will Speak at UMass on Crackdown on Campus Protests
Pulitzer Prize-Winner Colson Whitehead to Deliver Keynote at UMass Amherst Commencement
Opinion: Day 2 -People’s University for Gaza at UMass by Tyler Smart

CHARTER
Latest Charter Review Considers Town Manager, Incorporation of Powers, and Elections by Art and Maura Keene

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Amherst College Wayfinding Sign Approved for Amherst Center by Maura Keene
Reservations Remain about Shutesbury Road Solar Project by Maura Keene
ValleyBike Share to Relaunch in May
Wood Heating Eclipses All Other Sources of PM2.5 Pollution in Massachusetts by Laura Haight
Letter: Repairs To Jones Library Could Cost Less Than You Think by Craig Meadows
Opinion: Record Heat Threatens Life as We Know It. A Call to Action by Russ Vernon-Jones

DEMOCRACY
ACLU Warns Against Violation of Free Speech Rights in Crackdown on Campus Encampments by Art Keene
UMass People’s Assembly Continues Protests in Support of Palestine, Divestment, and Free Speech by Art Keene
UMass Anti-war Encampment Dismantled by Art Keene
UMass Students Establish Encampment in Support of Palestine by Art and Maura Keene
Award Winning Journalist Max Blumenthal Will Speak at UMass on Crackdown on Campus Protests

EVENTS
Public Invited to UMass Food Science Students’ 10th Annual Ice Cream Flavors Competition
Award Winning Journalist Max Blumenthal Will Speak at UMass on Crackdown on Campus Protests
Cuppa Joe with Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Cress Director Camille Theriaque
Pulitzer Prize-Winner Colson Whitehead to Deliver Keynote at UMass Amherst Commencement
Asian American Pacific-Islander Heritage Festival May 19
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
Dear Reader by Art Keene
In Memoriam: William T. Strickland
Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library by Maura and Art Keene

HOUSING
Planning Board Reviews Carriage House Plans for Emily Dickinson Museum. Hears Criticism of Triplex for Fearing Street by Maura Keene

HISTORY / HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Planning Board Reviews Carriage House Plans for Emily Dickinson Museum. Hears Criticism of Triplex for Fearing Street by Maura Keene
Mill River History Trail Project Seeks Two Part-time Consultants by Meg Gage

MEMORIAL
In Memoriam: William T. Strickland

LIBRARY
Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate by Maura Keene
Letter: Too Many Irregularities in Oversight of Jones Library Expansion by Sarah McKee
Letter: Repairs To Jones Library Could Cost Less Than You Think by Craig Meadows
Time to Change Direction on the Jones Library by Ken Rosenthal
Opinion: Town Leaders Need to Get Real by Jeff Lee
Photos of the Week: Town Celebrates Improvements to North Amherst Library by Maura and Art Keene

MEDIA
Dear Reader by Art Keene

OPINION
Letter: Too Many Irregularities in Oversight of Jones Library Expansion by Sarah McKee
Letter: Repairs To Jones Library Could Cost Less Than You Think by Craig Meadows
Time to Change Direction on the Jones Library by Ken Rosenthal
Opinion: Town Leaders Need to Get Real by Jeff Lee
Opinion: Day 2 -People’s University for Gaza at UMass by Tyler Smart
Opinion: The Truth About Time Spent on MCAS Testing by MTA Retirees Against MCAS
Opinion: Record Heat Threatens Life as We Know It. A Call to Action by Russ Vernon-Jones

PARKS AND RECREATION
Regional School Committee Will Pursue Eight Lane Track with Grass Infield for High School by Maria Kopicki
Public Restroom Proposed for Kendrick Park by Maura Keene

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
Wood Heating Eclipses All Other Sources of PM2.5 Pollution in Massachusetts by Laura Haight
Cuppa Joe with Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Cress Director Camille Theriaque

SCHOOLS
E. Xiomara Herman Selected as New School Superintendent by Maura Keene
Regional School Committee Will Pursue Eight Lane Track with Grass Infield for High School by Maria Kopicki
APEA Condemns Superintendent’s Intervention In Middle School Principal Hire
ARMS Dean of Students Seeks Medical Leave by Art Keene
Opinion: The Truth About Time Spent on MCAS Testing by MTA Retirees Against MCAS

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
ARMS Dean of Students Seeks Medical Leave by Art Keene
ACLU Warns Against Violation of Free Speech Rights in Crackdown on Campus Encampments by Art Keene
UMass People’s Assembly Continues Protests in Support of Palestine, Divestment, and Free Speech by Art Keene
UMass Anti-war Encampment Dismantled by Art Keene
UMass Students Establish Encampment in Support of Palestine by Art and Maura Keene
Award Winning Journalist Max Blumenthal Will Speak at UMass on Crackdown on Campus Protests
Opinion: Day 2 -People’s University for Gaza at UMass by Tyler Smart
Opinion: The Truth About Time Spent on MCAS Testing by MTA Retirees Against MCAS

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Jones Library Expansion Project on Hold. Town Manager and Public Respond to High Cost Estimate by Marua Keene
E. Xiomara Herman Selected as New School Superintendent by Maura Keene
Regional School Committee Will Pursue Eight Lane Track with Grass Infield for High School by Maria Kopicki
APEA Condemns Superintendent’s Intervention In Middle School Principal Hire
Amherst College Wayfinding Sign Approved for Amherst Center by Maura Keene
Public Restroom Proposed for Kendrick Park by Maura Keene
Reservations Remain about Shutesbury Road Solar Project by Maura Keene
ValleyBike Share to Relaunch in May
Planning Board Reviews Carriage House Plans for Emily Dickinson Museum. Hears Criticism of Triplex for Fearing Street by Maura Keene
Latest Charter Review Considers Town Manager, Incorporation of Powers, and Elections by Art and Maura Keene
Town Seeks Nominations for Annual Youth Hero Awards
Cuppa Joe with Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Cress Director Camille Theriaque
Letter: Too Many Irregularities in Oversight of Jones Library Expansion by Sarah McKee
Time to Change Direction on the Jones Library by Ken Rosenthal
Opinion: Town Leaders Need to Get Real by Jeff Lee

TRANSPORTATION / ROADS
Amherst College Wayfinding Sign Approved for Amherst Center by Maura Keene
ValleyBike Share to Relaunch in May