AMHERST — Logos for both the new K-5 Amethyst Brook School and the Chestnut Street Academy, where sixth-graders will study in a section of the Amherst Regional Middle School, have been unveiled, about a month before both locations open.
The designs were selected through a public vote. They were created by a recent fifth-grade student at Fort River School who will be attending Chestnut Street in the upcoming school year, but was otherwise not identified by the district.
The Amethyst Brook logo shows a flowing brook surrounded by amethyst crystals, while the logo for Chestnut Street features a chestnut tree with green and blue leaves.
Both logos wil be used in school communications, apparel, signs and various branding materials.
Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman praised the logos, noting that the Amethyst Brook imagery represents everything that schools aim to inspire in students, including “creativity, pride, collaboration and a deep connection to community.”
The details in the Chestnut Street logo, she said, “perfectly captures the purpose of education.”
“The image of a tree growing from strong roots reminds us that every child begins their educational journey with unique strengths and possibilities,” Herman said.
Purple Heart ceremony
Amherst is honoring its designation as a Purple Heart Community, honoring those killed or wounded in combat for the United States, with a ceremony in front of Town Hall Aug. 14 at 3 p.m.
The hour-long event will include remarks from town officials and community leaders, a proclamation reading, unveiling of the new signs that will be put up in town and recognition of Purple Heart recipients.
In March, the Town Council passed a proclamation supporting the Purple Heart Community designation, which was approved by the Military of the Purple Heart.
Speakers at the event will include Al Varelas, a U.S. Marine and Vietnam War veteran from the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Daniel P. Nye, director of Central Hampshire Veterans’ Services.
The ceremony comes a week after the Aug. 7 Purple Heart Day when it was suggested residents and organizations fly the American flag and offer other public expressions to recognize Amherst’s Purple Heart recipients.
Candlelight vigil
The Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts recently held a candlelight vigil and prayer gathering on the Town Common as part of the Global Day of Action for Pawo Lobga Rangzen, who died in self-immolation outside the United Nations headquarters on July 2.
His protest occurred a day after China’s new “Ethnic Unity and Progress Law” entered into force.
The assocation used the vigil to call on the U.S. government, the United Nations, other democratic governments and international human rights institutions to publicly oppose China’s law and demand its repeal; press China to end policies aimed at erasing Tibetan language, religion, culture and identity; support fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people; hold Chinese authorities accountable for systematic repression in Tibet; and take meaningful diplomatic action toward a peaceful and just resolution for Tibet.
“Pawo Lobga Rangzen devoted his life to advocating for Tibet through peaceful action,” Tenzin Nyima, secretary of the association, said in a statement. “His sacrifice must not be met with silence. It must strengthen our collective determination to defend truth, freedom, justice and the survival of the Tibetan people.”
Historic preservation at Goodwin Church
Goodwin Memorial Church is receiving $48,000 in Community Preservation Act funding to deal with water damage at the Woodside Avenue building.
Town Council recently approved the spending, the last of this year’s CPA requests on which it needed to act.
Water infiltration has caused masonry deterioration and created mold and spores at the church, according to the application.
“We are facing the need to restoring the basement and the chimney our our church,” the application states. “This is a matter of safety. The brick and stone has water seeping through the cracks.”
University Drive
While most of University Drive between is being rebuilt and resurfaced this summer, the access road that runs along most of the west side of the street is not being paved.
Unlike the main road, the access road is privately owned, despite being located in front of the U.S. post office and the Slobody Building, where the Jones Library is temporarily housed.
The town, according to Town Manager Paul Bockelman, periodically gets complaints about potholes and other issues with the access road that are outside the scope of its responsibilitieis.
Meeting
TUESDAY: Personnel, Planning and Policy Committee of the Jones Library, 9 a.m.
