AMHERST — A rally in support of changing gun laws and promoting gun safety will be held in downtown Amherst Saturday.
The March for our Lives event, which will coincide with other local actions in Northampton and Greenfield and a national march in Washington, D.C., begins at 10 a.m. at Kendrick Park, near Bertucci’s. From there, participants will walk to the Town Common.
Cynthia Brubaker, a member of the League of Women Voters of Amherst, said in an email that the League has promoted gun safety since 1990, and that it considers proliferation of handguns and semi-automatic assault weapons a major health and societal threat.
The League advocates for federal measures to limit access to guns and to regulate ownership of weapons, including universal background checks.
The LWV of Massachusetts is a member of the Massachusetts Coalition to prevent Gun Violence.
In addition to the march, the League will be registering voters, the Raging Grannies will perform songs and there will be several speeches, including one by retired state Rep. Ellen Story.
The League is expected to be joined by other groups, including include Moms Demand Action and University of Massachusetts students.
The Amherst Survival Center invites residents to drop off food at all polling places in Amherst during Tuesday’s town election.
Between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., collection barrels will be set up where canned food and personal care items can be placed. These items then go to food pantry recipients.
For information on what is most needed at the food pantry, go to https://amherst survival.org/mostwanted
The Amherst Woman’s Club holds its annual spring flower show March 29 from noon to 4 p.m. at its 35 Triangle St. building.
Fresh flower arrangements, potted plants, French pussy willow branches, forced bulbs, dried arrangements, herbs and miniature gardens will be among items on displaye. Refreshment siwell be available.
Admission is $5 and automatic entry to win a floral arrangement. Proceeds benefit the Amherst Woman’s Club scholarship program and vasrious community service projects.
The Amherst-Pelham Regional School District is being recognized by the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute for what it calls a “model policy” for collection of food service fee balances.
The policy, adopted last June by the regional school committee, has an objective of working collaboratively with families who have overdue balances through ongoing communication, while ensuring that every student receives a daily meal regardless of any money owed.
Founded in 1968, the institute is a statewide nonprofit poverty law and policy center that advances economic, racial and social justice through a multi-pronged strategy that includes legal action, policy advocacy and community engagement.
Ken Johnston, who is walking from Selma, Alabama to Memphis, Tennessee in what he calls the Walk to Freedom, this week crossed into Mississippi, with an anticapted completion of the trek march 31.
Johnston, of Amherst, is aiming to be in Memphis for reflecting the 50th anniversary of the death of covil rights Maryin Luther King.
Writing from Sulligent, Alabama on Sunday, Johnston said he was riding out a thunderstorm and possible tornadoes before embarking toward Tupelo and completing the final 150 miles of his journey.
Anyone interested in following his walk can do so at http://ourwalktofreedom.com/
Two events planned in the coming days have been called off.
Sunday’s second Valley’s Got Talent, with proceeds to benefit the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center, was canceled after too few people came out for the two tryouts last month.
The Jones Library has postponed Monday’s talk by author Jill Lepore as part of its “On the Same Page” event. Unlike the Valley’s Got Talent show, Lepore’s talk is expected to be rescheduled.
Meetings
MONDAY: Dog Park Task Force, 6 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall;
WEDNESDAY: Transportation Advisory Committee, 4:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
THURSDAY: Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall; Finance Committee, 7 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall.