Amherst Welcomes New Senior Services Director Daniel Garcia
AMHERST — Amherst's Senior Services division is welcoming a new director this week, while the Jones Library and Amherst Public Library round out a busy stretch of summer programming for residents.
TOWN HALL
The town is hosting a welcome reception on Friday, July 31, for Daniel Garcia, the new director of Senior Services, according to the town's community calendar. The reception will be held to introduce Garcia to residents who use the town's senior programming.
Separately, the Bangs Community Center renovation project remains underway, with the town confirming the building will stay open throughout construction and that improvements to health and safety, accessibility, and Senior Center space are expected to wrap up in early 2027.
SCHOOLS
Amherst Public Schools continues to roll out summer hiring and preparation news ahead of the fall term. The district is promoting its Substitute & Jobs Expo, set for August 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., open to applicants for all grades and buildings, with online applications due by August 5.
The district also flagged upcoming Board of Education meetings on August 4 and August 18, both at 6 and 7 p.m. respectively in the District Board Room, as the district prepares its calendar for the new school year.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Amherst Public Library's "Plant a Seed, Read!" summer reading program continues through its final stretch, wrapping up with a Summer Reading Program Finale Ice Cream Social scheduled for Friday, August 7, at 2 p.m.
This week's library calendar also includes a virtual talk on American Revolutionary-era painter Gilbert Stuart on Thursday, July 30, at 2 p.m., and an Andy's Playhouse kids performance on Friday, July 31, at 10 a.m. The Friends of the Library will host an Artist Reception on Saturday, August 8, at 1 p.m.
Downtown, the town's Summer Art Gallery Opening and the Downtown Summer Concert Series are both set for Friday, July 31, giving residents a full evening of cultural programming to close out the week.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"UMass Lowell River Hawks vs UMass Minutemen Box Score - November 11, 2026" — The Athletic, via The New York Times, published a box score referencing a UMass Minutemen basketball game slated for the Mullins Center in Amherst later this year (read it at https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/college-basketball/game/umass-lowell-river-hawks-vs-umass-minutemen/2tJIZYQ89TMemLFL/).
COMING UP
- Thursday, July 30: Jones Library, Inc. Board of Trustees meeting.
- Thursday, July 30: American Revolutionary Painter Gilbert Stuart (Virtual talk), 2 p.m., Amherst Public Library.
- Thursday, July 30: Open-Play Pickleball at Mill River; Senior Sips at the Inn on Boltwood.
- Friday, July 31: Welcome Reception for new Senior Services Director Daniel Garcia.
- Friday, July 31: Downtown Summer Concert Series and Summer Art Gallery Opening.
- Friday, July 31: Andy's Playhouse Kids Performance, 10 a.m., Amherst Public Library.
- Monday, August 4: Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m., District Board Room.
- Tuesday, August 4: Sprinkler Storytime, Amherst Public Library.
- Thursday, August 6: Let's Play Mahjong!, Amherst Public Library.
- Friday, August 7: Summer Reading Program Finale Ice Cream Social, 2 p.m.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.