AMHERST — A series of proposals to improve lighting in certain areas of downtown, both through providing more visibility for pedestrians and having lower color temperature bulbs, were recently presented to the Town Services and Outreach Committee.
Ben Coderre, a masters student at the University of Massachusetts’ School of Public Policy, joined by UMass seniors Belle White, Finnegan Hobart, Keith Sereda and Gianeishka Rivera Solano, outlined the ideas in a proposed Streetlights Policy and Equity and Implementation Plan to the Town Services and Outreach Committee earlier in May.
“The town of Amherst’s streetlight policy is relatively outdated, not having been updated since 2001,” Coderre said.
Part of a capstone project overseen by faculty member Bridgette Davis, the proposal is based on safety, responsibility, equity and character and included interviews, review of existing policies and collection of data.
The students learned that a greater amount of light is needed on North Pleasant Street between Orchard Hill and downtown.
“We found that area was incredibly dark, which is a major issue because a lot of students walk through there,” White said.
Another dark area was Main Strreet east of the train tracks. Many of the bus stops also need general lighting fixes.
Coderre said the implementation of lower color temperature bulbs has a high impact on overall intensity of lighting and gel covers can be a cost effiective way to create a warmer tone. There are also shielding requirements that can be in place to direct light.
Sereda said Northampton has strict shielding requirements that could be adopted in Amherst.
District 4 Councilor Jennifer Taub said along Lincoln Avenue and other streets, students need to use their cellphone lights because it is so dark.
“It’s hard in terms of my personal experience for me to imagine there’s anyplace that’s too bright,” Taub said.
Taub said the committee would love to come up with a plan to have more light at the lowest possible glare.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the town’s current lighting system is based on decisions made over a period of decades.
Bockelman is expected to consult with Department of Public Works Superintendent Guilford Mooring and Town Engineer Jason Skeels to get their input on the report and its recommendations.
A memo from George Ryan, the District 3 councilor who chairs the panel, indicates that it’s uncertain whether changes will be made.
“There are clearly staffing and cost implications of any policy changes which need to be thought through carefully,” observing that town has one electrician. “He also stated that staff has limited capacity to undertake a revision of the existing policy, which is over 20 years old, though some of the recommendations could perhaps be implemented if deemed appropriate and cost effective.”
Nakba Remembrance Day
Several councilors recently read a statement in honor of Nakba Remembrance Day, held on May 15 as a way to recognize what they say is the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian and Lebanese people.
Councilors Jill Brevik, Amber Cano-Martin and Ana Devlin-Gauthier read the statement, which also was supported by Councilors Hala Heather Lord and Ellisha Walker.
“May 15, 2026 was the 78th commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba, meaning catastrophe in English, a term which refers to the violent dispossession and exile of more than 750,000 Palestinian people from their homeland in 1948 by Zionist militias, in order to form the state of Israel,” Brevik said. “For almost eight decades, Palestinians, their culture, their resilience, and their suffering have been invisible in spaces like this Town Room.”
“Displacement, an ongoing nakba, is still the reality for millions of people today who have been forced to leave their homes again and again, in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. In Lebanon as well, a country the size of Connecticut that is connected to Palestine by shared borders and traditions, villages are being ethnically cleansed and civilians are being killed on sight for leaving their homes,” Brevik said. “With U.S. backing and weapons, the Israeli military continues to attack civilians, and has done so more than 2,400 times after the ceasefire that began in October 2025, in the same way that it has violated all ceasefires before that.”
Heat pump program
Amherst’s Heat Pump Incentive Program, in partnership with local nonprofit CET, is at the midpoint of its installation goal, with 15 homeowners participating in the program that launched in April 2025.
“The biggest benefit for us is knowing that we’ve made a change in our home that is benefiting the future,” said participant Katie Lazdowski, who had the heat pumps installed at her home last fall. “With the rebates, we’ve been able to afford this investment.”
The program aims to support residents in adopting energy-efficient heat pump technology through financial incentives and expert guidance.
“Successfully transitioning people off fossil fuels is a major step in meeting the town’s carbon reduction goals,” said Amherst Director of Sustainability Stephanie Ciccarello.
Homeowners participating in the program can receive up to $3,500 to help offset the upfront costs of a whole-home heat pump installation.
Go to amherstma.gov/HeatPumpProgram for more information.
Water restrictions
Amherst is continuing to impose a water-use restriction, focused on banning all nonessential outdoor water uses, due to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs declaring the Connecticut River Valley to be in a Level 2 Significant Drought.
While the town’s water supply is stable and not threatened, its Water Management Act Registration requires the prohibition of outdoor watering, with exceptions of watering ornamental and flower gardens with drip irrigation handheld hose or water cans.
The Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force will meet again in June to reassess conditions.
Shutesbury native in Navy
A 2018 Amherst Regional High School graduate, Shutesbury native Leo Kahan, a lieutenant junior grade, is in the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Scranton, a fast-attack submarine based out of Naval Base Point Loma.
Kahan joined the Navy four years ago, after graduating from the College of the Holy Cross, serving as assistant weapons officer.
“One of the lessons I carry with me is taking the time to get out and enjoy nature, and finding the moment of calm when you can,” Kahan said in a statement. “In the Navy, we have busy jobs, so if you aren’t looking for a way to maintain your mental health, it could definitely get you down.”
Meeting
MONDAY: Town Council and Finance Committee, hearing on Capital Improvement Program, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
