AMHERST — The Amherst Farmers Market is returning to downtown Amherst this month, and in its 51st year will again be set up on the grass of the Town Common.
But unlike the past two years when social distancing and other precautions were in place, and vendors were spread out, the market will be taking up only about half the greenspace when it starts April 23 at 7:30 a.m.
The Town Council recently authorized the market to have exclusive use of that section of downtown until 1:30 p.m. each Saturday, along with 15 spaces in the Spring Street parking lot, six parking spaces on Boltwood Avenue and five spaces on South Pleasant Street.
The market will have a maximum of 40 vendors, with a variety of products including meats, cheese, fruits and vegetables, honey, nuts, mushrooms, breads, and prepared foods and cut flowers.
After more than a half a century, the weekly market remains an attraction during the spring, summer and fall, with Town Manager Paul Bockelman, who has authority to implement any changes to the market’s use of the common, noting in a memo to councilors that last July 10, the market tallied 2,400 visitors.
The Amherst Farmers Market will again use grants from organizations including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Peoples Bank and Cooley Dickinson Hospital to support income-eligible shoppers. In addition, the market accepts food assistance provided through such programs as WIC, SNAP and HIP.
Nov. 19 will be the final market of the 2022 season.
Nominations are due this week for the Human Rights Youth Heroism Awards, which will be given out by the Amherst Human Rights Commission for the 16th time next month.
The commission is hoping to identify youths who represent the ability to love and care for one another, and achieve the commission’s goals of promoting a community of mutual respect and honoring the diversity of Amherst.
Youths nominated should have demonstrated acts of kindness, usefulness, social courage and/or community service within their families, their schools or the community.
The Human Rights Commission, collaborating with the Julius Ford Harriet Tubman Healthy Living Community, will celebrate the winners with a community picnic at Mill River Recreation Area May 7.
To make a nomination, go to https://bit.ly/3jy3CZg.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is holding a “Fresh Check Day” April 19 that will serve as a mental health check-in for students.
Being held at the Campus Center Auditorium from 2 to 5 p.m., the expo-like event, with interactive exhibits featuring peer-to-peer messaging, prizes and food, is a concept created by the Jordan Porco Foundation.
Music and entertainment will also take place during the event.
An Amherst resident will be supporting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute by running in the Boston Marathon on Monday.
Chaz Adams will be part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team at the 126th event.
Joining with more than 500 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge teammates from across the United States and around the world, Adams will run from Hopkinton to Boston, with the hope of collectively raising $5.5 million for cancer research.
Applications for affordable apartments at Aspen Heights, to be rented to households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income, are being accepted on a rolling basis.
Located at 408 Northampton Road, the former site of the Amherst Motel, Aspen Heights includes 88 units, each with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Residents there also have access to a 24-hour fitness center, a clubroom and a computer lounge with private meeting spaces.
For more information, call 617-782-6900 ext. 1. For an application, go to https://bit.ly/369cOAe.
WEDNESDAY: Historical Commission, 6:30 p.m.