AMHERST — Four communities, all named Amherst, are competing to see which town’s inhabitants can walk the greatest distance over the course of February.
Amherst officials were challenged by the towns named Amherst in New York, New Hampshire and Nova Scotia, with the aim of the contest to keep people active during the cold-weather month.
“Here in Amherst, Massachusetts, we are thrilled to answer the call from the other communities and join the Amherst vs. Amherst Walking Challenge this year,” said Brianna Sunryd, the town’s communications manager and community participation officer, in a statement.
Sunryd notes that there are ample recreation areas and trails where people can hike in town.
The latest challenge comes a year after Amherst, Nova Scotia had a goal of getting to Amherst, Texas as fast as possible, while “visiting as many Amhersts in North America as possible.”
“We came in a solid second last year and this year, we’re aiming to walk further than any of our American friends,” said Allison Watson, the active living coordinator of Amherst, Nova Scotia.
At the end of the month, the number of miles members of each community travel will be added up and the winner will be determined on a miles-per-capita basis. The recording is done on the honor system of getting people to log their actual walking, jogging, running or even snowshoeing.
For more information, go to www.amherstma.gov/challenge. People are also encouraged to share any walks or hikes they do to social media, tagging the @TownofAmherst and using hashtags #AmherstMA and #AmherstVSAmherst.
The Town Council is encouraging residents to recognize the Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, that began Feb. 1 and brought in the Year of the Tiger.
A recently adopted proclamation states that, “in Chinese culture, tigers are symbols of dignity, ferocity, sternness, courage, and by itself, is Yin energy.”
The town’s celebration comes a week later so that families who celebrate could appropriately mark their New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. A virtual celebration will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. There will also be a flag-raising ceremony.
A dozen vehicles were towed and 16 vehicles were issued tickets when Amherst declared an overnight winter parking ban during the late January snowstorm.
To keep the streets clear of vehicles, and avoid such actions during future storms, Amherst officials are reminding the public that blue beacons at major intersections flash whenever a parking ban, running from midnight through 7 a.m., is in effect.
The Jan. 29 storm prompted the “Storm and Snow Emergency Parking Ban” that was also announced on the town’s website and through posts to social media accounts. No on-street or parking lot parking is allowed during that period, with exceptions being the lower level of the Boltwood parking garage, the town portion of the Pray Street parking lot and the North Pleasant Street parking lot facing the St. Brigid’s Church parish center.
People can also enroll in town alerts online or by texting the word “Parking” to 38276.
Massachusetts’ Democratic gubernatorial candidates will be participating in a Zoom conference call with the Amherst Democratic Town Committee on Feb. 10 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Danielle Allen, Sonia Chang-Diaz and Maura Healey are the announced candidates. Allen and Chang-Diaz, and either Healey or a representative from her campaign, will speak and answer questions at the virtual meeting.
Each month, the Amherst Democrats are inviting Democratic candidates to participate. Anyone interested in attending should email AmherstMADemocrats@gmail.com to receive Zoom instructions. For more information, visit www.amherstmademocrats.org.
Leverett Elementary School students will be in class during what normally would be February vacation to make up four of the six days lost when a sprinkler broke over the nurse’s office in mid-January, forcing classes to be canceled.
“We’re calling them sprinkler days,” Leverett representative Gene Stamell told his colleagues at this week’s Amherst Regional School Committee meeting.
MONDAY: Town Council, 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY: Amherst School Committee, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY: Joint Capital Planning Committee, 5 p.m.