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By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A mixed-use redevelopment at the corner of Amity Street and University Drive, already approved as a five-story building, could add a sixth floor as a result of a new zoning overlay district.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A Pelham resident and Hampshire College graduate who brings extensive experience as a leader of nonprofits is Amherst Media’s new executive director.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Several residents concerned with Amherst’s government, featuring an elected 13-member Town Council and an appointed town manager, are asking the Charter Review Committee to recommend revisions to the town charter that might include adding a mayor as part of enhanced checks and balances.

By KATHY GREGG

We’re hearing a lot about the Insurrection Act these days. The idea of the president invoking it against citizens of the United States is pretty scary, so I checked a bit into its history.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst is celebrating Disability Pride Month, aiming to end the stigma of disability and make the town inclusive for all by issuing a proclamation, raising a flag in front of Town Hall and taking part in a film festival with two other area communities.

By LUKE MACANNUCO

Piti Theatre Co.’s annual DinoFest is evolving into something larger this year: Dino Trail Week.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst is moving forward with a process for creating a third local historic district, in the East Amherst village center, where homes, buildings and other structures could receive enhanced protections.

As a 14-year resident I am astonished that we have the highest property taxes and the worst roads. Plus our library fell into such disrepair it had to close. School buildings are in bad shape. The town manager doesn't have a clue what to do.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Exactly two months after closing the 43 Amity St. location to the public to make way for an expansion and renovation project, the Jones Library reopens at a temporary site at 101 University Drive on Monday.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Following a performance evaluation that gave her mostly proficient ratings in meeting various standards set by the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and her own goals, Amherst-Pelham Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman is receiving a revised contract that will boost her annual salary above $180,000.

AMHERST — A 19-year-old Amherst man who set off fireworks in front of the Central fire station early on Independence Day morning is being summoned to court on several charges, including illegal possession of fireworks and narcotics, police said.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette has published several editorials about battery energy storage systems (BESS). I would like to provide additional information on the June 23 guest column by Michael DeChiara [“Somerville gets it wrong on battery storage”]. There has been great progress in improving the safety of BESS installations. Newer Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries are chemically stable, have low fire risk, contain less toxic materials, and last 2-3 times longer than traditional Lithium Ion batteries. Fires are rare, and if they occur, they are more easily suppressed with cooling agents or dry chemical sprays that fire departments use.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Vacant land on either side of Atkins Farms Country Market has long been eyed for its development potential to create a village center, where housing, along with shops and restaurants, would serve Applewood Apartments and Upper Orchard residents, as well as students, faculty and staff at Hampshire College.

By RUDY PERKINS

One of the least discussed reasons Donald Trump is pushing tariffs is that wide-ranging tariffs will act much like a regressive national sales tax, shifting more of the national tax burden onto low- and middle-income taxpayers, and away from the wealthy. Lower-income Americans, who spend more of their income on everyday goods, instead of, say, corporate stocks, will end up paying a disproportionate share of the tariffs.

We are all the good Samaritan.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Despite a concern from the teachers union’s executive board that school staff are continuing to be hired and retained without state licenses, Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman is confirming a commitment to being in compliance with state law and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regulations when making appointments.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst is another step closer to ensuring that those residents whose ancestors were enslaved in the United States and who continue to be impacted by the harms caused by slavery and post-reconstruction discrimination will benefit from a stabilization fund for reparations.

By TSULTRIM DOLMA

I want to say happy 90th birthday to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, whose birthday is July 6. He has been my inspiration since I first went with my father on a religious pilgrimage to Lhasa, Tibet, at about age 7 in the early 1980s. It took us about three months to walk there from our village in the Khampa region of eastern Tibet. When we got inside the Jhokang Temple, I was truly amazed to see huge statues and also pictures on a wall of the Dalai Lama and other religious leaders.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A memorial concert at Wildwood Cemetery recently recognized what would have been the 95th birthday of Fred Tillis, a composer, poet and educator who led the Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts for almost 20 years.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — With some members of the Town Council suggesting the need for younger voices who are more supportive of housing development initiatives that can encourage families to come to town, two residents who moved to Amherst with their own families in the past year will be joining the Planning Board.