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 dropping us a note with your contact information at amherstindy@gmail.com. The subscription is free and will deliver to your inbox a listing of all new content, each Saturday at 6 a.m. We promise 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
Analytics are back!
Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 73,068 (-4772)
Last Week: 13,173 (-1,771)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 36,358 (-1983)
Last Week: 5,976 7077 (-1,101)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Significant Cost Savings Remain Elusive for Jones Library Expansion Project by Art Keene
2. Designers Propose Cuts to Library Sustainability and Historic Preservation by Jeff Lee
3. School Committee Rejects Proposal for Budget Oversight Committee by Maura Keene
3. Letter: Protect Town’s Interests from Jones Trustees by Gerald Friedman
4. Here Are Some of the Challenges Facing Jones Expansion Bidders by Ken Rosenthal

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
Call For Artists: Electrify Amherst 2024 – Celebrating Amherst Youth
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

BUDGET
Amherst CPA Committee Lifts Restrictions on Track & Field Funding by Maria Kopicki
Public Urges Rejection of Capital Improvement Plan at June 3 Council Meeting by Maura Keene
Letter: Amherst Bulletin Headline Claims Jones Repairs Will Be Too Expensive. That Is Neither Correct nor Appropriate by Lou Conover
Letter: Jones Expansion is No Longer Affordable. It’s Time to Pivot to Repair and Renovate by Peggy Matthews-Nilsen

CAMPUS
New Poll Shows Bay Staters View Housing Crisis as Most Serious Challenge Facing Residents

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Explore and Celebrate the Fort River on June 15
Letter: Climate Leaders Object to Jones Expansion Redesign by Julian Hynes, Andra Rose, Darcy DuMont, Felicia Mednick, Deb Neubauer, Anne Perkins, John Root, Lydia Vernon-Jones and Russ Vernon-Jones
Photos of the Week: Wyola Wildlife by Susan Panlillio

EVENTS
Free Food from The Mobile Food Bank, First Wednesdays at the Boulders
Public Forum on New Community Shelter, June 10
Explore and Celebrate the Fort River on June 15
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
Potluck Pride Season by Hetty Startup
A Shareable Explainer: What Is the Solidarity Economy by Emily Kawano (c/o Shareable)
Town Manager Report for June 3, 2024
Photos of the Week: Wyola Wildlife by Susan Panlillio

FOOD
Free Food from The Mobile Food Bank, First Wednesdays at the Boulders

HISTORY / HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Historical Commission Approves Two Demolitions. Agrees to Discuss Revised Plans for Jones Library Interior by Hilda Greenbaum
Potluck Pride Season by Hetty Startup

HOUSING
Planning Board Moving Closer to Consensus on More Housing for University Drive by Maura Keene
New Poll Shows Bay Staters View Housing Crisis as Most Serious Challenge Facing Residents
Public Forum on New Community Shelter, June 10

LIBRARY
Six-Month Extension Granted to Jones Library Expansion Project by Maura Keene
Council Narrowly Defeats Move to End Jones Library Expansion Project by Maura Keene
Building Committee Approves Deep Cuts to Library Design by Jeff Lee
Letter: Climate Leaders Object to Jones Expansion Redesign by Julian Hynes, Andra Rose, Darcy DuMont, Felicia Mednick, Deb Neubauer, Anne Perkins, John Root, Lydia Vernon-Jones and Russ Vernon-Jones
Letter: Amherst Bulletin Headline Claims Jones Repairs Will Be Too Expensive. That Is Neither Correct nor Appropriate by Lou Conover
Letter: Jones Expansion is No Longer Affordable. It’s Time to Pivot to Repair and Renovate by Peggy Matthews-Nilsen
Letter: Trust in Town Leaders Withering with Increased Jones Spending by Lyons Witten
Letter: Town Council is Not Authorized to Throw Unlimited Funds at Jones Library Expansion by Michael Burkart

OPINION
Letter: Climate Leaders Object to Jones Expansion Redesign by Julian Hynes, Andra Rose, Darcy DuMont, Felicia Mednick, Deb Neubauer, Anne Perkins, John Root, Lydia Vernon-Jones and Russ Vernon-Jones
Letter: Amherst Bulletin Headline Claims Jones Repairs Will Be Too Expensive. That Is Neither Correct nor Appropriate by Lou Conover
Letter: Jones Expansion is No Longer Affordable. It’s Time to Pivot to Repair and Renovate by Peggy Matthews-Nilsen
Letter: Trust in Town Leaders Withering with Increased Jones Spending by Lyons Witten
Letter: Town Council is Not Authorized to Throw Unlimited Funds at Jones Library Expansion by Michael Burkart

SCHOOLS
Amherst CPA Committee Lifts Restrictions on Track & Field Funding by Maria Kopicki
Girls Middle School Track Team Wins State Championship by Art Keene

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
A Shareable Explainer: What Is the Solidarity Economy by Emily Kawano (c/o Shareable)

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Six-Month Extension Granted to Jones Library Expansion Project by Maura Keene
Council Narrowly Defeats Move to End Jones Library Expansion Project by Maura Keene
Building Committee Approves Deep Cuts to Library Design by Jeff Lee
Amherst CPA Committee Lifts Restrictions on Track & Field Funding by Maria Kopicki
Planning Board Moving Closer to Consensus on More Housing for University Drive by Maura Keene
Public Urges Rejection of Capital Improvement Plan at June 3 Council Meeting by Maura Keene
GOL Nominates Nine  for Charter Review Committee by Maura Keene
Five Candidates to Be Interviewed for Appointments as Finance Committee Nonvoting Members  by Maura Keene
Historical Commission Approves Two Demolitions. Agrees to Discuss Revised Plans for Jones Library Interior by Hilda Greenbaum
Public Forum on New Community Shelter, June 10
Letter: Trust in Town Leaders Withering with Increased Jones Spending by Lyons Witten
Letter: Town Council is Not Authorized to Throw Unlimited Funds at Jones Library Expansion by Michael Burkart