Amherst Recreation Department Moves to Wildwood Effective Immediately
Amherst Recreation has a new home this summer, and residents heading downtown for holiday and Pride festivities will find a packed community calendar through the weekend.
TOWN HALL
Amherst Recreation has officially moved to Wildwood, the town announced Friday morning. The department's new location takes effect immediately; residents seeking Recreation services or programs should plan to visit the Wildwood site rather than any previous downtown address. The town's News Flash did not include additional detail on the move, but the announcement is posted at the town's official alerts page (https://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=3965).
Also on the town's radar: a Level 2 water use restriction remains in effect across Amherst. The town notes its water supply is stable and not currently threatened, but the restrictions are required under the town's Water Management Act Registration in response to the Connecticut River Valley drought. Residents should follow outdoor water use guidelines until further notice.
Separately, Town Manager Paul Bockelman has named Daniel Garcia as the new Director of Senior Services. Garcia is expected to begin on July 20. The town is also still accepting applications for a resident seat on the DPW Building Committee, which advises on the design and construction of a new Department of Public Works facility; application review begins July 6.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Amherst Town Library's summer reading program, "Plant a Seed, Read!," is underway through Friday, August 7, with books, challenges, prizes, and events for all ages. Looking ahead to the library calendar: the ATL Reads Fiction Book Club meets in person on Tuesday, June 30 at 1 p.m.; Parade Bike Decorating and a Slow Doodling virtual session are both scheduled for Thursday, July 2; and the Mahjong group also meets July 2 in person. The library will be closed Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, reopening Monday, July 6.
COMING UP
- **Saturday, June 27:** Amherst Farmers Market; Open-Play Pickleball at Mill River; Celebrate Pride at The Mill District General Store & Local Art Gallery; 5th Annual Queer Artisan Market; Community Meeting on Flooding & Culverts; Salsa in the Park. - **Monday, June 29:** Amherst Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meeting; Little Art Makers at the library, 3:30 p.m. - **Tuesday, June 30:** Virtual Joint meeting of Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee (note: a separate in-person joint session has been canceled); Public Art Commission meeting; ATL Reads Fiction Book Club, 1 p.m.; Sprinkler Storytime at the library, 10 a.m. - **Thursday, July 2:** Parade Bike Decorating and Tots & Tunes at the library; Slow Doodling (virtual); Let's Play Mahjong! (in-person) — all at Amherst Town Library. - **Friday, July 3:** Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks at UMass Amherst's McGuirk Alumni Stadium South Lawn (free event; food vendors, live entertainment, family activities). - **Wednesday, July 1:** Downtown Design Standards public feedback deadline.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
No new coverage from Patch, MetroWest Daily News, or The Boston Globe in this cycle.