AMHERST – A new outreach effort for municipal staff to listen and talk to residents over pizza, and provide information about what is happening in Town Hall and at town departments, begins next week.
The “Town Hall Roadshow” starts April 13 at 6 p.m. at the cafeteria at Crocker Farm School, 280 West St., with the second event April 19 at 6 p.m. at the community room at the University of Massachusetts Police Station, 585 East Pleasant St.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman told the Select Board this week that these two-hour sessions ensure residents will have a place to meet neighbors and get insights into town operations from staff at Town Hall, the Department of Public Works, public safety departments, and also receive provide updates and explanations about various issues.
These roadshows will focus on neighborhoods, Bockelman said, and may include topics such as how police officers and firefighters will respond to off-campus incidents during the spring, roadwork planned by the DPW and development projects being permitted by the Planning Department.
Another new initiative at getting into the community is the “Cuppa Joe with Paul” that will rotate among coffee shops, beginning April 14 at 7:30 a.m. at Black Sheep Deli and Bakery, 79 Main St.
For the first, Bockelman will be joined by Police Chief Scott Livingstone, with other department heads and town officials coming in the future. Bockelman hopes to establish a consistent schedule so the public will know when he is available.
“I wanted to be more in the community and more easily accessible to people so I can listen to concerns, compliments and, yes, complaints,” Bockelman said.
Beginning this week, the Leisure Services and Supplemental Education department is under the temporary leadership of Barbara Bilz, who since 2000 has been a part of the department and overseen the aquatics program and Cherry Hill Golf Course.
Bilz takes over following the retirement of Linda Chalfant, who worked in the department since 1987.
Bilz said she is looking forward to leading what she described as an exceptional staff and volunteers.
“My vision for Leisure Services is that it becomes an organization that fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration and excellence,” Bilz said.
Bockelman said he is pleased with the enthusiasm Bilz brings to the job and her ability to oversee the various spring and summer programs,
“Our goal is to get programs operating and running this summer,” Bockelman said.
She will also hire a new sports director after a recent hire took the job, but then resigned.
In the fall, Bilz will work with Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek on a strategic planning process for LSSE.
More than a year after plans were announced, the center of North Amherst has a new pharmacy.
The North Amherst Pharmacy at Riverside Park Shopping Plaza opened this week.
John Nikitas, who also runs the Amherst Pharmacy on College Street, said the pharmacy will fill prescriptions and offer over-the-counter medication to North Amherst.
The store fills space vacated by Captain Video, the town’s last video rental store, which closed in June 2015.
A long-running day camp organized by the Jewish Community of Amherst, but open to children of all faiths, will accept 5-year-olds for the first time this year.
Camp Shemesh is entering its 32nd year and is based on the Hampshire College campus, where campers and counselors use a dormitory for cooking projects and restrooms and have access to the nearby fields, woods, swimming pool and other outdoor spaces.
“We foster an inclusive and accepting environment,” said Keren Rhodes, director of education at the JCA. “Our returning campers come from a wide variety of family backgrounds.”
Rhodes said sometimes campers get to go on special tours of Hampshire College facilities, such as the Kern Center, the living building, and the Eric Carle Museum.
Prior to leaving the Amherst School Committee after choosing not to run for reelection, Katherine Appy was saluted by former colleague Rick Hood for her six years of service and devotion to students and educators.
“I congratulate you for getting your life back,” Hood said.
Appy said it was an honor to work with educators and staff, and singled out for praise Debbie Westmoreland, assistant to the superintendent, who is at every meeting.
As words of wisdom in departing, Appy said her great hope is School Committee members will find a way to work together to support schools and employees.
MONDAY: Lincoln-Sunset Local Historic District Study Committee, 3 p.m., Planning Department library, Town Hall.
TUESDAY: Kanegasaki Sister City Committee, 4 p.m., Garrabrants Conference Room, Bangs Community Center.
WEDNESDAY: Select Board, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall; Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, 6:30 p.m., high school library.
THURSDAY: Board of Health, 5 p.m., Room 101, Bangs Community Center; Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall; Finance Committee, 7 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall.