AMHERST — Accessibility improvements are being made to the parking and trails at Mount Pollux Conservation Area, the glacial drumlin in South Amherst that offers panoramic views of the Mount Holyoke Range.
Beginning this week, crews are expanding the parking lot off South East Street, adding parking that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and constructing a new accessible path that will lead to a viewing area and benches for those with mobility challenges.
Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek told the Conservation Commission at a recent meeting that the “modest improvements” will make it easier for more people to enjoy the site.
The two weeks of work includes removing and replacing some of the old guardrails that were falling down, installing new hardpack in the lot and making an accessible trail extension, as well as adding a new kiosk.
But Ziomek said the accessible trail will not get people to the peak, due to the challenges of the grade at Mount Pollux.
During the project, vehicular access to the parking lot will be temporarily closed for certain
periods while construction is going on. Visitors, though, will still be able to walk into the conservation area at all times.
Those with questions should contact the town manager’s office at townmanager@amherstma.gov or 413-259-3002.
Community Breakfast
The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and the University of Massachusetts are co-hosting the 58th Annual Community Breakfast at the Student Union Ballroom Tuesday from 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Marking the beginning of the academic year, with student move-in happening later in the week, the breakfast is a chance for representatives of the local, academic and business communities to connect with one another and share common goals and highlights for the coming year.
Tickets for the Community Breakfast, which sold out last year, are available in advance for $20 per person until noon on Monday. Free parking will be available in the Campus Center Garage.
Backpacks for students
The Amherst Rotary Club, joined by members of the UMass hockey team, recently filled 144 backpacks during its 15th annual Amherst Regional Public Schools Backpack Project.
Done during a luncheon at the Inn on Boltwood, Rotary members and athletes took various school supplies and such as three-ring binders, notebooks, packets of lined paper, folders, pencil cases, erasers, pencils and pens.
In a similar vein, both Amherst Police and UMass Police dropped off a truck bed filled with school supplies at the Family Center at the middle school and the Clinical & Support Options Bridge Family Resource Center.
Chef of the Year
UMass chef Jeff MacDonald recently earned distinction as Chef of the Year from the
American Culinary Federation.
Awarded on July 31 at the Annual National Convention held in Las Vegas, the award follows other accomplishments, including being named the Northeast Regional Winner of the National Association of College & University Food Services Culinary Challenge and receiving a gold medal from the federation.
“Being honored as Chef of the Year by the ACF is an incredible
milestone,” MacDonald said. “I’m grateful for the support of my
colleagues at UMass Dining and the inspiring culinary community that
I’m fortunate to be part of.”
Literacy Project expands
The Literacy Project is launching a new in-person HiSET class, or high school equivalency credentials class, to be held at the parish center at St. Brigid’s Church, 122 North Pleasant St.
Enrollment for the in-person option, which supplements the online classes in Amherst and in-person classes in both Northampton and Easthampton, begins Monday.
For more information, go to https://www.literacyproject.org/contact-us/
Meeting
THURSDAY: Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.