AMHERST — As the Amherst Boys & Girls Club expands programming for the first full summer at its Cottage Street location, the organization is offering thanks to the community for continued financial support.
Kim Alli, vice president of the club’s board, said a complimentary cookout, from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the 29A Cottage St. site, is a way to appreciate the community business owners and other individuals who have helped build the growth and visibility of the club over the past year.
“We are so fortunate to have the support of so many donors,” Alli said.
In addition, Alli said a successful spring fundraising campaign is helping the club meet its mission of having all local youths reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible people.
During the cookout, wagon rides will be provided by Barry Roberts’ Muddy Brook Farm, Stephanie O’Keeffe’s Hoop Joy will offer demonstrations of hooping and Thomas Farm & Dairy will be bringing some furry friends, Alli said. The Hangar Pub and Grill is handling the grilling.
The K-9 units from the Amherst, Chicopee and Easthampton police departments will do a demonstration of police dog behaviors at 1 p.m., showing how the dogs assist with suspect apprehension and find lost people.
Those interested in coming to the cookout should go online amherstbgc.org or call 413-461-2171 to register.
Amherst officials intend to seek a state grant that would provide funding for construction of a playground at Kendrick Park.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said he expects the town to submit a proposal the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities program to build a “tot lot” that would help activate a portion of the 3.3-acre green space, bounded by East Pleasant, North Pleasant and Triangle streets, at the northern end of downtown.
In 2011, plans were unveiled for up to $2 million in improvements,
A year later, a 20-pound concrete resin rabbit sculpture was put in the park to begin creating a natural children’s playground, but was stolen within a week of its installation.
Registered Democrats in Amherst will hold a caucus in the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library Saturday from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
The caucus will select delegates to the 2019 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention, which will be held Sept. 14 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
Up to 21 delegates and five alternates will be elected in the meeting
For more information about the Amherst Democratic Town Committee, contact Bob Pam at 860-309-6383.
A new passport processing procedure at the town clerk’s office at Amherst Town Hall begins Monday.
Rather than having walk-ins, appointments will be required.
People can call 259-3035 or send email to townclerk@amherstma.gov to schedule an appointment.
Other passport acceptance facilities can be found at www.travel.state.gov.
A community meeting for residents who live in District 3 will be held at the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library June 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Councilors George Ryan and Dorothy Pam will give brief talks on their committee work and council-wide matters, while Alisa Brewer, a councilor at large and member of the Cannabis Control Commission’s Social Consumption Working Group, will give a brief report on recreational marijuana in town.
Refreshments will be served.
In addition, Pam is holding office hours every first Wednesday of a month from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Amherst Room at the Jones.
MONDAY: Transportation Advisory Committee Subcommittee, 5 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
TUESDAY: Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, 6 p.m, Woodbury Room, Jones Library.
WEDNESDAY: Governance, Organization and Legislation Committee, 10:30 a.m., and Community Resources Committee, 2:30 p.m., Zoning Board of Appeals, 5 p.m., and Planning Board, 7 p.m., all at Town Room, Town Hall; Local Historic District Commission, 4 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Historical Commission, 6 p.m., Conservation and Development Library, Town Hall.
THURSDAY: Joint Capital Planning Committee, 8:30 a.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
