AMHERST — As the United States marks its 250th birthday, various celebrations and events will mark Independence Day in Amherst.
After the annual fireworks show takes place Friday evening in the area near McGuirk Alumni Stadium on the University of Massachusetts campus, people are invited to other activities for the holiday.
Saturday’s events start around 9 a.m. at the Fiddlers Green, the common in South Amherst, where the annual South Amherst Community July 4th celebration takes place.
Organized by those who live in the neighborhood and dating back more than a century, there will be a children’s costume parade, games and free watermelon, lemonade and ice cream, though per-family donations are suggested. Volunteers are welcome to assist with the set up and then the clean up.
Following that, the Amherst Historical Society is hosting a community reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon, from the steps of Town Hall.
The event will include the ringing of church bells throughout town and the blowing of a replica conch shell, a device once used to call residents to conduct town business.
Members of the Town Council will present a proclamation and State Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, will read the preamble. The event concludes with a non-denominational benediction from the Rev. Valentine Nworah of St. Brigid’s Church and a musical offering.
Weekend events culminate with the reading of “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July,” the speech delivered by Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852 in Rochester, New York.
For the fourth time, South Congregational Church is hosting this reading, at 3 p.m. at the 1066 South East St. site, in partnership with the town’s Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and with support from the Jones Library and the League of Women Voters of Amherst.
Along with the reading will be a performance by the Amherst Area Gospel Choir, a panel discussion of the speech, free books by African-American writers and a reception with refreshments.
The program is part of the church’s Arts and Social Justice Series, which also features a community book group discussion of Yaa Gyasi’s novel “Homegoing” on Sept. 30.
New high school principal
Springfield educator Marc Gomes will be the next principal at Amherst Regional HIgh School.
An assistant principal at Van Sickle Prep/Academy Middle School, Gomes was selected by Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman over two other finalists to succeed Talib Sadiq in the role.
Gomes has done school turnaround work, instructional leadership and improved student achievement and engagement at various school districts, according to a letter sent to families in May.
Gomes was recently introduced to the Regional School Committee, where Herman explained her decision.
“Throughout the processs, he demonstrated a strong commitment to student success, educational excellence, collaborative leadership and fostering an inclusive school environment,” Herman said.
Book sale
With Fort River School closing and to be demolished at some point in the coming months, the League of Women Voters of Amherst is moving its annual book sale collection to the Hampton Inn Village Shops in Hadley, 41 Russell St.
Before senior housing goes up on the site, the former Hadley Farms Meeting House will be used as the drop-off site for books, DVDs, compact discs and other items.
Donations will be welcome until July 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, though closed on Saturday.
Individual donations are limited to five boxes a day and people should only make drop offs when volunteers are on site.
Downtown concerts
The Downtown Amherst Summer Concert Series, held on the Town Common during four Fridays in July, begins July 10 at 5 p.m. with performances by HWY 91 and Downtown Amherst Contra Dance.
Other performers will be the Berkshires and Muswell Hillbillies on July 17, UMass Jazz in July Program: All Stars Concert on July 24 and the GemsTones and Hendersons Blues Band on July 31.
Finally, on Aug. 7 at 5:30 p.m., Kimaya Diggs will perform at the The Emily Dickinson Museum on Main Street.
Local beer, wine, cider and seltzers will be available for purchase for those 21 and older, and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.
The concerts are organized by the Amherst Business Improvement District in partnership with New England Public Media and Amherst Center Cultural District.
“Amherst’s arts and culture scene truly comes alive in the summer, adding to the
year-round economic vitality and cultural richness of our downtown,” said Amherst BID Executive Director John Page.
Also on tap is the ongoing Amherst Community Band Concerts at Sweetser Park. Guest conducted by Dave Morris, Alexandria Black, Juli Sansoucy and Richard Cuoco, the next concert will be on July 26, with works by Sousa, Schumann and others, and the final one is scheduled for Aug. 16, with more rousing band tunes.
UMass programs recognized
Both the Agricultural Sciences and Food Sciences and Technology programs have again been ranked among the top 10 worldwide in the Best Global Universities by U.S. News & World Report.
The rankings were released on June 16, with data and metrics weighing factors measuring a university’s global and regional research reputation and academic research performance.
The Department of Food Science ranked first in the United States and fifth globally out of 250 institutions in the Food Science and Technology category.
“The Department of Food Science is not only a world leader in food chemistry, safety and processing, but is leading in how we envision the future of food for a healthier planet,” said Mike Fox, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, which oversees both programs.
Meetings
MONDAY: Jones Library Building Design Subcommittee, 4 p.m.
THURSDAY: Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.
