AMHERST — Projects to improve access to Groff Park, modernize several affordable apartments and assist local businesses are being funded through an $825,000 Community Development Block Grant.
Amherst officials recently learned that the town will get the money to pay for a new multi-use path on Mill Lane, get the Watson Farms apartments up to current specifications, and have 25 microenterprise businesses receive technical assistance provided by Valley Community Development.
Five service programs are also benefiting, including the food pantry at the Amherst Survival Center, youth mentoring by Big Brothers Big Sisters, housing services for those experiencing homelessness by Amherst Community Connections, family stabilization support from Family Outreach of Amherst and English for Speakers of Other Languages and career preparation assistance for immigrants offered by the Center for New Americans.
The activities will begin this spring and summer.
“The town is very pleased to receive this competitive funding, as it helps us fund and support projects that are a major priority for our community,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman.
Assistance is provided to qualifying cities and towns for projects that assist low- and moderate-income residents, or revitalize blighted areas.
The Amherst Farmers Market will again have vendors set up on the Town Common this spring, summer and fall following approval from the Town Council this week.
The market, entering its 50th season, is scheduled to run from April 17 to Nov. 20.
Last year, the market moved onto the grass from the pavement of the Spring Street parking lot as a way to create more space and to keep customers safe during the pandemic, including having a one-way direction for shoppers. That is likely to continue, though District 3 Councilor Dorothy Pam asked if it was possible to allow customers to move in two directions.
Market manager David Machowski said though the setup means more work for vendors, the farmers also feel like being on the grass is bringing the market back to its agrarian roots.
John Spineti, who founded the market, said his only concern is that last year was dry and wet weather could create mud issues.
Though the common typically is heavily scheduled, Bockelman said he doesn’t anticipate that the Rotary Community Fair, the Taste of Amherst or other events will be held on it this year.
Former Hadley Town Administrator David Nixon, who left his position after more than 15 years at the end of the year, is serving as interim town administrator in Hubbardston.
Nixon will be in that role while Ryan McLane, the current administrator, is deployed overseas for the next several months.
A Three-Minute Thesis competition by University of Massachusetts graduate students will be presented by the Jones Library at 4 p.m. March 18.
The students are challenged to communicate the significance of their research, from food safety to improved water delivery systems to election reform, to a general audience in less than three minutes.
Audience members will have the chance to vote on the $500 People’s Choice award winner.
People should visit the library’s online calendar for the link to the free event. For more information, send email to Janet Ryan, head of programming and outreach, at ryanj@joneslibrary.org.
The Jewish Community of Amherst is among organizations sponsoring a panel discussion and showing of the film “To Right the Wrong” related to asylum seekers at the United States-Mexico border.
The four panelists, representing immigration justice organizations around the country, include Melanie Nezer of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Charlene D’Cruz of Lawyers for Good Government’s Project Corazon, Sergio Cordova from Team Brownsville and Eddie Calderon of Arizona Jews for Justice.
To watch the film and register for the discussion, go to https://conta.cc/3u6zubn Monday at 7 p.m.
TUESDAY: Residents Advisory Committee, 11 a.m., via Zoom.
WEDNESDAY: Planning Board, 6:30 p.m., via Zoom.
THURSDAY: Amherst Cultural Council Accessibility Subcommittee, 6 p.m., and Joint Capital Planning Committee, 7 p.m., both via Zoom.