AMHERST — A long-time employee at the Big Y Supermarket in Amherst is being recognized by Amherst Police for saving a young child’s life in the store’s University Drive parking lot last month.
Wole Abiodun was collecting carriages April 21 when he observed a young child walk away while the child’s mother was loading groceries into her car. An adjacent vehicle began backing from its spot, with the driver not seeming to notice the child. That prompted Abiodun to motion to the driver and knock on a window to get the driver to stop the vehicle.
Capt. Gabriel Ting said Detective Nicholas Chandler was at the store at the time and observed Abiodun’s actions.
“Detective Chandler shared what he saw with other members of the Amherst Police Department who thought that it would be nice to recognize Wole, not only for his heroic act, but for being a great person and friend in our community,” Ting said in an email.
At a brief ceremony this week, Abiodun was given in-person thanks from officers and a department T-shirt and challenge coin, and a detective bureau challenge coin.
A three-year partnership between the Amherst Farmers’ Market and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is giving people who are part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and Healthy Incentives programs more opportunities to purchase produce, meats, eggs and other items from vendors.
An allotment through the Healthy Living Match begins Saturday, giving low-income people a better opportunity to buy food at the market.
The program, including the Blue Cross Blue Shield underwriting and $35,000 to increase outreach to the Amherst community, was announced last week, with state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, attending.
“Access to food is a human right, but too many of our neighbors — both in Amherst and across Massachusetts — lack access to affordable, healthy food,” Domb said.
Market manager David Machowski said the match will improve healthy living and is another resource to those who are food insecure.
The market, on Spring Street, is open Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. until Nov. 19.
Don Courtemanche, who served as the executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce from 2014 to 2016, died earlier this month in Springfield at the age of 41.
Georgia Moore, former president of the Chamber’s board of directors, said Courtemanche’s outgoing personality will be missed. “I was so sorry to hear of Don’s passing over the weekend and extend my warmest condolences to his husband, his family and friends,” Moore said.
Current president Peter Vickery also offered his sympathies. “On behalf of the board, we thank him for his service and wish for peace and solitude for those he left behind,” Vickery said.
A celebration of Courtemanche’s life is being held at Trinity on Main in New Britain, Connecticut Friday from 6 to 10 p.m.
The Garden Club of Amherst is holding its annual plant sale on the Town Common Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The plants, donated by local gardeners, include perennials, hostas, woodland plants, grasses, shrubs and trees.
The Town Common will be filled with amusement rides, carnival games and a variety of food as the annual community fair returns Memorial Day weekend.
The fair commences May 23 at 3 p.m., and will run through Memorial Day, May 27.
The Amherst Rotary Club, which uses the fair as a major fundraiser, will have a tent where beverages will be sold.
Proceeds from the fair fund scholarships and provide assistance to local nonprofits.
A recent community cleanup organized by the Community Participation Team brought out about 50 volunteers, including members of the football teams at Amherst Regional High School and Amherst College.
Brianna Sunryd, communications manager for the town, said the cleanup collected 340 pounds of trash and 100 pounds of material to be recycled.
MONDAY: Local Historic District Commission, 9 a.m., Conservation and Development Library, Town Hall; Jones Library Budget Committee, 9:05 a.m., Goodwin Room, Jones Library; Outreach, Communications, and Appointments Committee, 9:30 a.m., and Town Council, 6:30 p.m., both at Town Room, Town Hall.
TUESDAY: Amherst School Committee, 6 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall; Finance Committee and Town Council budget hearing, 6:30 p.m., Large Activity Room, Bangs Community Center.
WEDNESDAY: Governance, Organization and Legislation Committee, 10:30 a.m., Town Room, Town Hall; Transportation Advisory Committee, 5 p.m., community room, police station.
THURSDAY: Ad Hoc Goals Committee, 9:30 a.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Finance Committee, 2 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.