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🌱 Which Amherst athletes dominated the first indoor track meet of winter?

What's up Amherst! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Which Amherst athletes dominated the first indoor track meet of winter?
  • Are UMass Amherst buildings too easy to enter after the Brown shooting?
  • Step inside Emily Dickinson’s Amherst home without leaving your couch

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Amherst? Post it to Amherst photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Increasing cloudiness, with a high of 31 and low of 21 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Breezy with clouds and sun, temps: high: 43, low: 24.
  • Thursday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 42 and low of 37 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Indoor track: Hampshire County athletes compete in PVIAC's first meet of the season (gazettenet.com) — Amherst High’s indoor track team opened the season strong at Smith College, with the girls winning four events including the 4×200 relay and standout performances from Ololara Baptiste and Juliana Albo. Several Hurricanes placed in distance, jumps, and shot put, while neighboring schools like Northampton, Hampshire, South Hadley, and Holyoke also logged impressive early-season results.
   

2. Brown University shooting raises concern among UMass Amherst students (wwlp.com) — UMass Amherst students are voicing fresh concerns about campus security after a deadly mass shooting at Brown University, noting that many campus buildings here remain open without key-card access. With finals underway, students say they have not yet seen visible security changes and want more communication, awareness, and safety measures from university leaders in Amherst.
   

3. 9 Historical Figures' Homes You Can Tour Virtually or in Person (nicenews.com) — Emily Dickinson’s historic home in Amherst is featured among nine famous residences you can tour in person or virtually, letting you step inside the poet’s world from your couch. The article briefly explains her life in the house and notes that it’s furnished to resemble her era, with an online tour available for curious visitors.
   

4. Local road crews learn new techniques before winter storms hit (boston25news.com) — Local DPW crews across Massachusetts, including those trained through UMass Amherst, are learning new winter road techniques before major storms arrive. A UMass Amherst specialist is teaching best practices and newer methods like beet-juice-treated salt to improve safety, cut costs, and reduce environmental impacts. These workshops wrap up by January as crews put the training into action.
   

5. Poverty wages: TJX and BJ's are heavily reliant on part-time workers, making their median employee pay qualified for government food assistance (wbjournal.com subscription) — UMass Amherst researchers are spotlighted for documenting how low-wage, part-time retail jobs across Massachusetts leave many workers, including hundreds at TJX and BJ’s, relying on SNAP benefits. Their report underpins criticism of corporate pay practices, anti-union strategies, and the disproportionate impact on women and people of color statewide, including in Western Massachusetts.
   

📸 Around Amherst

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • "Walmart Central Pharmacy" scam warning.
    They immediately ask for personal info to validate a non-existent prescription. There is no "Central Pharmacy". If I have concerns with my Walmart… (Nextdoor Happy Valley)
  • Does anyone have a transport wheelchair I can borrow ?
    Family member is having multiple falls . Thank you (Nextdoor Amherst)
  • Dunkin' posted a job opening for Team Member in Amherst. Apply here.
  • Cumberland Farms posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate in Amherst. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Amherst here.

Ok Amherst! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Amherst

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Amherst

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.