Town Election on Tuesday, March 27

Tuesday, March 27 is a local election day for Amherst. 

Fort River Elementary School is the polling location for Precinct 6. Turnout is anticipated to be higher than normal for local town elections. Expect additional traffic on North East Street and in the parking lot through out the day. Drop-off and pick-up are typically high volume times for precincts.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can find your polling place here: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema//bal/myelectioninfo.aspx

Additional Amherst voter information is here: https://www.amherstma.gov/81/Voter-Information

You can view the two sided sample ballots here (varies by precinct):

https://www.amherstma.gov/650/Upcoming-and-Past-Election-Information

Not registered? Be sure to do so by November: https://www.amherstma.gov/154/Voter-Registration

Holiday Events in Amherst including Craft Bazaars on December 3

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN AMHERST on December 3

TWO fun holiday shopping events benefitting community churches PLUS 20% discounts at many local stores and restaurants! Visit www.amherstdowntown.com for details.

St. Nicholas Bazaar - Grace Episcopal Church

9am - 3pm 

14 Boltwood Avenue (on the Common)

Marketplace - Antiques and Collectibles, White Elephant, Toys and Games, Holiday Decorations, Baked Goods, Fresh Wreaths, Books, CDs & DVDs, Textiles, Framed Art, and Handmade gifts.

Lunch - Chili and fixings with beverage and brownie.

For more information go to www.gracechurchamherst.org or contact jobrien82@gmail.com

Stone Soup Bazaar & Cafe - Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst 

10am – 4pm 121 

N. Pleasant Street

Arts and Crafts Fair - pottery, fabrics, wood, jewelry, mixed-media prints, greeting cards, photography, artisan soaps, honey, gourmet brownies and more. Parents, grandparents and people of all ages are sure to find that special something for the people on their list.

Raffles - themed gift baskets and congregation made queen-size quilt.

Food - homemade soups and breads. For more information go to www.uusocietyamherst.org or contact sandysladen@gmail.com

Tour of Hawthorne Property

Town Election Information

The next town election will take place on TUESDAY March 23rd.  

In addition to voting on the Proposition 2 1/2 Override, there are candidates running for many town offices.

There are several ways of learning more about the candidates:

Thursday 3/11, Noon - 1pm @ ARMS - The Family-School Parntership is hosting a Meet The School Committee Candidates Brown Bag Lunch at ARMS.

Thursday 3/11 7-9pm - League of Women Voters host the candidates for all town offices at ARMS.

Here is a list of candidates and issues (I have included links to campaign websites, when I have found them!--AFM):


Proposition 2 1/2 Override:
YES - http://voteyesforamherst.org

NO - http://nomoreoverrides.com

Amherst Select Board: 

Alisa V. Brewer

James J. Wald

Amherst School Committee:

Kathleen Dequence Anderson

Ernest J. Dalkas

Richard Blake Hood

Vincent J. O'Connor

Robert A. Spence

Jones Library Trustee:

Emily G. Lewis

Kathleen Wang

Town Meeting Moderator: Harrison L. Gregg

Oliver Smith Will Elector: John W. Coull

All 10 precincts will be electing at least 8 Town Meeting Members to 3 year terms as well. You can view sample ballots on the Town of Amherst website here: http://www.amherstma.gov/index.aspx?NID=650.

Calling All Fort River Kids: Be In the Amherst 250th Parade!

Please note: this is not a Parent Council Sponsored Event.


Calling all Amherst Elementary School Students!


Be in AMHERST’s 250th Anniversary PARADE on SUNDAY, September 27th, 2009
And be part of Your Town and Public Libraries’ History!


Parents from Crocker Farm, Fort River, Mark’s Meadow and Wildwood schools are helping organize a walking float to celebrate the impact the town Libraries have on all children’s lives!

What to wear: Costume! Come as your favorite storybook or literary character. Wear comfortable shoes.

What to bring: A favorite book to carry, if you wish. Water; portable snack.

Where to meet: Kirby Theater, Amherst College Campus, east side of Route116, South of the Amherst Common (Enter from 116 South at Admissions Office sign; follow circular drive.)

When to arrive: Noon. Parade steps off sharply at 1 p.m.

Where it ends: Near the Mullins Center on the UMass Campus (2 mile walk)

All students, siblings and families are welcome! Strollers included!

Kids under 9: A parent or guardian must accompany you. Costumes encouraged but not required!

Kids/teens 9 – 15 years old: A parent or guardian must meet you at parade’s end, near the Mullins Center.

Don’t have a costume? Attend a costume making session:

· Session 1 will be held at the Jones Library on Sat., September 19th from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

· Session 2 will be held at the Munson Library on Wed., September 23rd from 4:30 PM until 5:30 PM

To sign up for the parade or receive additional information, please contact

Becky Demling at beckydemling@yahoo.com

Candidates' Night Wednesday, March 18th at the ARMS Auditorium

The League of Women Voters of Amherst will hold a Candidates' Night on Wed. Mar. 18 in the Amherst Regional Middle School auditorium. There will be light refreshments at 7 p.m. and the program will begin at 7:30 p.m. The forum will include candidates for both contested and uncontested positions. Uncontested races: Town Meeting Moderator: Harrison Gregg Select Board: Aaron Hayden Housing Authority: Peter Jessup Uncontested candidates will make an opening statement only. Contested races: School Board -- 2 positions: Irvin Rhodes Steven Rivkin Megan Rosa Redevelopment Authority -- 1 position: John Coull Robert Kusner Jones Library Trustee -- 2 positions: Carol Gray John McDonald III Sarah McKee Lucy McMurrer Oliver Smith Elector -- 1 position: John Coull David Farnham Contested candidates will make an opening statement, followed by a question period and closing statements. Joan Temkin will serve as moderator. All those interested in meeting and questioning candidates are urged to attend. Please note that political advertisements, including campaign buttons, signs, t-shirts, etc. are not permitted inside the auditorium. The forum will be taped and broadcast on Channel 17 several times before the election on Mar. 31. Check your newspaper or the community calendar on ACTV Channel 12 for viewing schedule. For more information call 253-0633.

Amherst's Community Choices: Let Your Voice Be Heard!

The Facilitation of Community Choices Committee was appointed by the Amherst Select Board last May with the task of reviewing the components of Amherst's budget, formulating alternative scenarios for the next 5 years, and presenting their results to us, the citizens of Amherst. In turn we are being asked to study and debate their findings, and to provide our own feedback. The Committee with then use these results to make recommendations to the Finance Committee and Town Meeting. At last night's Parent Council meeting, Fort River parent and committee member, Alison Donta, gave an informative presentation about the outlook for our Town's budget for the next 5 years (hint: it's not pretty!). It is important that we, as parents of children in the public schools, be aware of the budget outlook, not only for the town as a whole, but also of the schools, which make up a large portion of the town's overall budget. If you weren't able to attend last night's meeting, you can view a lot of information about the budget and the various funding scenarios on the committee's website: www.amherstchoices.org. Please take some time to look at their site and to give feedback on their online questionnaire. You can also download paper copies of the questionnaire from the website. The deadline for submitting feedback is November 4th. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same! There are also several more upcoming budget presentations by the committee that are open to the public: Monday October 20, Bangs Center Room 101, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesday October 21, ACTV Studio with the TMCC, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Tuesday October 28, Amherst Club, 12:30 p.m.

FYI...Downtown Street Closings April 15 and 17

The Amherst Police Department has issued the following message: Street closings and parking issues will occur on April 15 and 17 due to two homes being moved. Closed to parking and traffic on Tuesday and Thursday mornings will be: Spring St. will be closed from Boltwood Ave. to Dickinson St., Boltwood Ave. will be closed from Spring St. to Main St. Main St. will be closed from Boltwood Ave. to Gray St. They are moving the Tuttle Farm House on Tuesday, the 15th and 23 Spring St. on Thursday. the 17th. The streets as well as parking will be opened back up once the houses pass and the utilities are re-hung. Everything will be bagged (no parking signs etc.) early each morning. We are hoping that each house move will be completed by 1 pm if not sooner.

Upcoming Events

Buy-a-Brick Forms Dues. Monday, March 31st. Last chance to order a brick! Click here for more information and forms: Buy-a-Brick Info. Town Election. Tuesday, April 1st. Polls open 7am-8pm. See below for more info. Dean's Beans/Fort River Roasters Orders Due. Friday, April 4th. Click here for form. Media, Body Image and Our Kids. Tuesday, April 8th, 6:30-8:00pm. Amherst Regional Middle School Cafeteria. See below for more info. Sponsored by the Diversity and Social Justice Committee. Coffee With A Principal – Friday, April 11th, 8:30 to 9:15 am, cafeteria. Book Fair - Week of April 14th to 18th. Spring Recess. Week of April 21st. Parent Council Meeting – Wednesday, April 30th, 8:30 to 9:30 am, cafeteria.

It's No Joke: Town Elections on April 1st!

Town elections are being held this coming April Fool's Day (Tuesday). Polls are open 7am-8pm. Given the budget problems in town, it's vitally important that parents with kids in the public schools make their voices heard. Also, both candidates for the open School Committee seat are Fort River parents!

For more information on who is running, check out the Amherst Bulletin website at http://amherstbulletin.com/. The Amherst Town Government website also has a wealth of voter information including candidates, sample ballots, polling places, etc.: http://www.amherstma.gov/voter_information.asp.

Public Forum on the Town Budget

It's important for all Amherst citizens to come together to discuss the town's priorities in this challenging time!

Here's a link to the Town's Budget Coordinating Committee: http://www.amherstma.gov/departments/Budget_Coordinating_Group/default.asp?id=77&mypage=77&myName=Budget+Coordinating+Group