AMHERST — The first station in Amherst that will become part of the Valley BikeShare program that launches this spring is being installed at the corner of South Pleasant and Main streets this week.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the Department of Public Works is putting in the concrete foundation at the prominent corner in downtown.
Valley BikeShare will have locations where people can get bicycles in downtown Amherst and on the University of Massachusetts campus, as well as in Northampton, Springfield and Holyoke.
Located on the perimeter of the the Main Street parking lot, and next to a PVTA bus shelter, construction on the station required moving one of the three tree boxes that line the lot.
That tree box has moved to the South Pleasant Street sidewalk, near Bank of America.
Other trees are also being planted on sidewalks throughout downtown this week as part of the town’s Arbor Month events.
Bockelman said Tree Warden Alan Snow and DPW crews did extensive work to remove stumps and enlarge the spots on the sidewalks before putting in the trees.
Jamie P. Reardon is the newest sergeant for Amherst Police, being promoted to the position Monday after serving as a detective since 2011.
Police Chief Scott Livingstone announced Reardon’s promotion following a written examination and interviews with Livingstone, Bockelman and Human Resources Director Deborah Radway.
Reardon, a member of the department since Aug. 14, 2000, fills the position vacated when Brian Johnson became a lieutenant.
While assigned to the detective bureau, Reardon conducted criminal investigations of major incidents and crimes and was the department’s sexual assault and domestic violence investigator. He has also been a member of the Crisis Intervention and Search and Rescue teams, and the bicycle patrol.
Reardon graduated in 1991 from Northampton High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1995 from Western New England College, and a master’s degree in criminal justice in 2000 from Westfield State University, before graduating in 2001 from the Municipal Criminal Justice Training Academy in Agawam, a member of the 34th Municipal Police Officer Class.
Reardon lives in Belchertown with his wife, Beth, and two children.
The Amherst Regional Public Schools this week announced the first cohort of ARPS Futures, a partnership with Mount Holyoke College that gives paraeducators an opportunity to become fully licensed teachers in Massachusetts.
Futures is funded through a grant from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts that helps a coalition of organizations led by the Five College Schools Partnership address the need to further diversify the teachers educating our students.
The grant was approved in January of this year.
To date, three paraeducators have applied to be part of the cohort.
The Futures program meets a district goal of providing support and resources necessary for the advancement of staff.
The Amherst Human Rights Commission is seeking nominations for the 13th annual Human Rights Youth Heroism Awards.
These youth, who should live in Amherst or attend school in town, should demonstrate acts of kindness, unselfishness, social courage and community service within their families, schools or community.
Groups of young people may also be nominated to share an award.
Nominations may be submitted through May 18 to humanrights@amherstma.gov or to the Commission through Deborah Radway, Amherst Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Ave., Amherst, 01002.
Those recognized will be honored at a community picnic June 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mill River Recreation Area.
William Bolcom and Joan Morris, favorites of the Mohawk Trail Concerts for 45 years, will be making a cameo performance at the Amherst Woman’s Club, 35 Triangle St., on the evening of May 1.
The benefit, which features limited seating and an open wine bar, food and a raffle, takes place from 5 to 8 p.m.
Tickets are $75 and reservations can be made by sending email to info@mohawktrailconcerts.org or calling 625-9511.
MONDAY: Recycling and Refuse Management Committee, 4:30 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Select Board, 6 p.m., middle school band room; Finance Committee, 6 p.m., middle school arts room; Town Meeting, 7 p.m., middle school auditorium.
WEDNESDAY: Local Historic District Commission, 4:30 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Planning Board, 5 p.m., and Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m., both at Town Room, Town Hall; Select Board, 6 p.m., middle school band room; Town Meeting, 7 p.m., middle school auditorium.
