Town of Amherst, MA

11/01/2026

🔶🚧 Construction Notice: During the week of November 2, crews will be working on Grantwood Drive, Blackberry Lane, and the Roundabout at University Drive and Amity Street. All roads will remain open to traffic but delays should be expected. All work is weather dependent.

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁
On Monday, crews will be paving the sidewalks and multi-use path connections at the roundabout. They will also be milling the approach roadways on Amity Street. On Tuesday, crews will be placing the final top coat of asphalt on the roundabout and Amity. Pavement markings will be placed later this fall.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗲
On Monday and Tuesday, crews will be adjusting manholes and catch basins to prepare for the final top coat of asphalt. On Wednesday, crews will place the final top coat of asphalt. Driveway aprons will be completed later this fall.

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween from the Town of Amherst! 🎃👻

Our team spent this week celebrating with the community at our annual Halloween Spooktacular and at various Trunk or Treats across town. Thank you to all the families who came out!

💖 Big thanks to all of our partners, sponsors, and volunteers who made these events possible! Amherst Recreation, Amherst Police Department (Official), Amherst Massachusetts Fire Department, Amherst CRESS, Amherst Department of Public Works, Jones Library & Branches, Amherst Business Improvement District, Amherst Media, The Mill District, Miss Saigon, Amherst Innovative Living, LLC, Encharter Insurance, Atkins Farms Country Market, Crazy Noodles, Sandy's Barber Shop

10/30/2026

😎 Do you want to help your neighbors save money while reducing their carbon footprint? Become an Energy Coach!

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC MA) has launched an Energy Coach Program and is seeking Amherst residents interested in volunteering within their community. Coaches will help their neighbors with the process of switching to heat pumps for their homes and provide resources for saving money. By becoming an Energy Coach, volunteers will receive free Heat Pump Coach training through the HeatSmart Alliance.

What's the commitment?
⭐ Attend 6 online training sessions starting November 5.
⭐ Volunteer hours are flexible volunteer, just a few hours per month.
⭐ Join a team of other Energy Coaches and receive ongoing support from HeatSmart Alliance.
⭐ Empower community members to cut costs and cut carbon.

🔗 Learn more and sign up here: https://heatsmartalliance.org/volunteers/coaching-resources/heat-pump-coaching-basics-course/

📸 Photo features Lori Goldner, Chair of the Amherst Energy & Climate Action Committee, at the Amherst Sustainability Festival a few years ago.

10/29/2026

📸 Snapshots from this year's Civic Academy so far! Over 8 weeks, participants are learning about our local government, connecting with Town staff, and enjoying behind-the-scenes tours. Take a look at what we've been up to the past 4 weeks!

🏛 Week 1: All About Amherst! This session featured the Town Manager's Office and the Finance Department. We learned about Amherst's history, structure of government, and the town budget.

🚒 Week 2: Keeping Amherst Safe Part 1 with the Amherst Massachusetts Fire Department! Participants got a tour of North Station, learned about emergency equipment, and even went up in the new ladder truck.

💖 Week 3: Supporting a Vibrant Amherst Community! This session focused on our Public Health, Town of Amherst Senior Center, Veterans Services, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Departments. Plus, there was a tour of the recent upgrades and upcoming renovations at Bangs Community Center.

🌍 Week 4: Balancing Conservation and Development in Amherst! During this session, we did a site visit at the construction of a new apartment building on the corner of Amity Street and University Drive. Participants got a full overview of the process for developments in Amherst including site plan reviews by the Planning Department, wetlands considerations by the Conservation Department, and the permitting process by the Building Commissioner and Inspections Services.

Interested in being a participant? Message us and we will notify you when the application is open for Fall 2027!

10/27/2026

🗳 One week until Election Day! Have you voted or made your plan to vote yet? Amherst voters have many options to cast their ballot in this year's State Election.

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆
In-person early voting is taking place at Town Hall in the First Floor Conference Room from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm everyday this week through Friday, October 30.

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗹
Voting by mail remains a safe and secure option. However, it is recommended that voters return their ballots as soon as possible to ensure they are received and processed. Ballots must be received by 8:00 pm on Election Day to be counted.

Return your ballot:
📬 By mail (today is the last day we recommend using this option)
🏛 In person at the Town Clerk’s Office (first floor of Town Hall at 4 Boltwood Ave)
🗳 Drop it in the secure ballot drop box located outside the Main Street entrance of Town Hall

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆
⏰ Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3.
📍 Find your polling location: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA

If you requested a mail-in ballot and did not return it, you may vote in-person during Early Voting or on Election Day. Your unused mail-in ballot can be discarded at home.

Questions? Call the Amherst Town Clerk's Office at 413-259-3035.

10/25/2026

🔶🚧 Construction Notice: Beginning on October 28, crews will be paving Station Road, Wildflower Drive, Old Farm Road, and Gatehouse Road. All roads will remain open to traffic but delays should be expected. All work is weather dependent.

This is the start of our work to pave and repair over 20 roads across town, backed by a nearly $4 million investment into our pavement management plan for fiscal year 2027 (FY27). This plan outlines the roads that will be paved and repaired during the fall and spring seasons, with completion expected by June 30, 2027.

🔗 See the full list of roads scheduled for repair using the link in the comments ⬇

10/23/2026

‼ Update: Emily has been found!

ICYMI – Last week, residents discovered Emily Dickinson’s metal silhouette in a wooded area on Seelye Street and reported it to the Amherst Police Department (Official). Officers safely transported Emily to the Department of Public Works (DPW), where she’s now reunited with Robert Frost.

Emily sustained a few minor injuries, but both figures are expected to return to their original home on the corner of Main and Churchill Streets soon. Until we can better secure them to their bases, they’ll remain in protective custody with the DPW.

These metal silhouettes are part of a public art installation called "Poetic Dialogue." The installation depicts famous New England Poets Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost engaged in a literary dialogue that never actually happened. The two poets never met in real life, but both spent significant time in Amherst. It was designed and installed by artists Michael J. Virzi and Scot Charland in 1996, and restored in 2022 by local artist Kamil Peters.

Thank you to all our local Amherst residents for your help and vigilance in finding Emily! 💖

10/20/2026

The Town of Amherst and Kestrel Land Trust are teaming up to make a series of improvements at the Amethyst Brook Conservation Area located at 132 Pelham Road. Key elements of this project include parking improvements, trail changes, culvert replacements, and increased accessibility. 🚧🥾♿️

1️⃣ Phase I starts this week with improvements to the parking area and trail entrance. This work includes adding parking guard rails, painted parking spots, an accessible parking space, a crosswalk, a new double kiosk, and trail wayfining signs.

‼️ This phase is expected to take several weeks. Vehicle access to the parking lot will be temporarily closed for certain periods during active construction.

In addition, the Robert Frost Trail is being permanently rerouted to follow the main trail entrance and allow restoration of the previous route. The original section of the trail along the bank of the Amethyst Brook will be permanently closed to allow for critical ecological restoration. Years of foot traffic have impacted the ecosystem along this area, causing erosion and compaction. Visitors are asked to follow the signs and stay on designated trails to allow for native plant species to be re-stablished and the riverfront to be restored.

Looking ahead: 2️⃣ Phase II, planned for the spring, will include the replacement of two culverts at the trail entrance, as well as shifting the existing main trail entrance out of the low-lying wetland area. 3️⃣ Phase III will include the eventual installation of a small accessible trail which is still in the planning and funding phases.

🤝 The Town of Amherst and Kestrel Land Trust have partnered on this project to highlight the Town’s Amethyst Brook Conservation Area as a “gateway” trail entrance for the Kestrel’s Amethyst Brook Nature Retreat. This area hosts the Dorie Goldman Memorial Trail and the 1,084-acre Sarah Cowls Forest at Pelham Hills, which was recently protected as a wild forest through a partnership The Trustees and Kestrel Land Trust.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this improvement project!

10/15/2026

Don't miss this event! Join us to explore programs and services that can support aging in place for you or someone you know.

Come out this Saturday, October 17, 2026 to the Munson Library (1046 S East St, Amherst, MA 01002) to the Aging in Place Fair sponsored by the Amherst Council on Aging and the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center. There will be 15+ booths with businesses and Services that support our seniors in the community. The Amherst Senior Services Center will be providing a shuttle to and from the Bangs Community Center starting at 1:00PM with the last drop off at 3:30 PM. Anyone needing transportation can meet us at the stop in front of the Bangs Community Center.

10/14/2026

🍂🌍 Attention Amherst residents! The Department of Public Works' curbside leaf collection starts on Monday, October 26.

Make sure to have your bagged leaves in 30-gallon paper biodegradable bags at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled pickup day. Leaf bags are no longer sold at the DPW or Transfer Station, but they are available from many local retailers. Please note: there is no curbside collection of loose leaves, they can be brought to the Transfer Station if you have a current sticker.

🍁 Monday, October 26: East and West Amherst
🍁 Tuesday, October 27: South Amherst
🍁 Wednesday, October 28: North Amherst
🍁 Thursday, October 29: Central Amherst
🍁 Friday, October 30: This day is reserved as a make-up day.
🍁 Weather permitting; the same routes will be used for a second collection during the week of November 30.

Find more details at https://www.amherstma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/4009