What’s in This Issue?
Photo: Dreamtime. Creative commons
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
Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 60,615 (-128)
Last Week: 13,046 (-3091)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 32,465 (+613)
Last Week 7350 (+418)
TOP FIVE MOST-READ LAST WEEK
1. Amherst College Makes $2.5 Million Gift to the Town of Amherst by The Amherst Indy
2. Letter: Correcting Councilor Ryan on the Regional School Budget by Cathleen Mitchell for Support Our Schools Amherst
3. Letter: Fire Station at Hickory Ridge a Bad Idea by John Hornik
4. All Town Budgets Stressed by Health Insurance Costs: Schools Plead Their Case by Maura Keene
5. Dear Reader by Art Keene
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
ARTS
- What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene
BUDGET
- Town Council Calls for More Assurances on Library Project Funding by Maria Kopicki
- Town Council Dismisses Open Meeting Law Complaint by Maura Keene
- All Town Budgets Stressed by Health Insurance Costs: Schools Plead Their Case by Maura Keene
- Rising Health Insurance Costs Squeeze Town Budgets for FY2026 by Maura Keene
- Bid for New Track and Field Comes in Under Budget. RSC Authorizes Contract by Maria Kopicki
- Amherst School Budget Hearing Set for February 27 by Jennifer Shiao
- Public Comment: Righting the Last Three Years’ Financial Improprieties by Vincent O’Connor
CAMPUS
CLIMATE / ENEGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
- Lecture by Varshini Prakash – UMass to Sunrise: Building the Youth-Led Movement for Climate Justice
- Opinion: 2024 – A Year of Climate Wakeup Calls by Darcy DuMont
EVENTS
- Housing Production Plan Workshop February 18
- Town of Amherst Winterfest 2025: Eight Days of Fun
- Amherst School Budget Hearing Set for February 27 by Jennifer Shiao
- Lecture by Varshini Prakash – UMass to Sunrise: Building the Youth-Led Movement for Climate Justice
- What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene
FEATURES
- The History of Housing in New England Part 5: Post World War II to the Present by Hetty Startup
- Photo of the Week: Skating at the Oxbow by Jasper Polin
HISTORY / HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
- Library Project Preservation Agreement Needs More Work Advises MHC by Jeff Lee
- The History of Housing in New England Part 5: Post World War II to the Present by Hetty Startup
HOUSING
- Guidelines for Student Occupation of Accessory Dwelling Units to Be Explored by Maura Keene
- Housing Production Plan Workshop February 18
ISSUES & ANALYSES
LIBRARY
- Town Council Calls for More Assurances on Library Project Funding by Maria Kopicki
- Library Project Preservation Agreement Needs More Work Advises MHC by Jeff Lee
OPINION
- Public Comment: Righting the Last Three Years’ Financial Improprieties by Vincent O”Connor
- Opinion: 2024 – A Year of Climate Wakeup Calls by Darcy DuMont
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
- Most Public Hearing Testimony Supports Tightening Tobacco Regulations by Maura Keene
- Public Health Update: Bird Flu, Respiratory Illness, and Norovirus
SCHOOLS
- All Town Budgets Stressed by Health Insurance Costs: Schools Plead Their Case by Maura Keene
- APEA Responds to Gazette Article on Rift with Rank and File by Amherst Pelham Education Association
- Bid for New Track and Field Comes in Under Budget. RSC Authorizes Contract by Maria Kopicki
- Elementary School Construction Proceeding Uneventfully by Maria Kopicki
- Amherst School Budget Hearing Set for February 27 by Jennifer Shiao
- Public Comment: Righting the Last Three Years’ Financial Improprieties by Vincent O’Connor
TOWN GOVERNMENT
- Library Project Preservation Agreement Needs More Work Advises MHC by Jeff Lee
- Town Council Calls for More Assurances on Library Project Funding by Maria Kopicki
- Town Council Dismisses Open Meeting Law Complaint by Maura Keene
- All Town Budgets Stressed by Health Insurance Costs: Schools Plead Their Case by Maura Keene
- Rising Health Insurance Costs Squeeze Town Budgets for FY2026 by Maura Keene
- Guidelines for Student Occupation of Accessory Dwelling Units to Be Explored by Maura Keene
- Bid for New Track and Field Comes in Under Budget. RSC Authorizes Contract by Maria Kopicki
- Elementary School Construction Proceeding Uneventfully by Maria Kopicki
- Most Public Hearing Testimony Supports Tightening Tobacco Regulations by Maura Keene
- Amherst School Budget Hearing Set for February 27 by Jennifer Shiao
- Ask Peplexity AI: When Will Amherst’s Roads Be in Good Condition? by Ira Bryck
- Public Comment: Righting the Last Three Years’ Financial Improprieties by Vincent O’Connor
TRANSPORTATION / ROADS / SIDEWALKS