Skip to main content

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Amherst

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

🌱 Could streets beside UMass make room for more housing?

Amherst, Massachusetts Patch AM: a 4 min read

Hi there, Amherst! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Could streets beside UMass make room for more housing?
  • Meet the UMass scholars connecting Renaissance history with today’s world
  • UMass biologist wins a year to focus on research

Also on today's calendar: UMass Amherst Men's Basketball vs UMass Lowell and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What are the two sides of a circle? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Clouds and sun, with a high of 56 and low of 42 degrees.
  • Thursday: Cloudy with afternoon rain, temps: high: 49, low: 37.
  • Friday: Colder with occasional rain, with a high of 40 and low of 35 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Planning Board looks to areas around UMass Amherst for denser housing (gazettenet.com) — Amherst's Planning Board is exploring whether to allow denser housing along East Pleasant and Fearing streets near UMass. Members see potential for newer apartments and additional town revenue, but protected land and anticipated neighborhood opposition complicate the idea. Any rezoning would need Town Council approval, and construction would not be guaranteed.
   

2. Who We Are (umass.edu) — At UMass Amherst, Marjorie Rubright’s Renaissance of the Earth Project connects early modern history with questions about today’s environmental challenges. A staff overview introduces her alongside fellow scholar Joseph Black, librarian Jeffrey Goodhind and arts collaborators whose work spans historical books, a printing press and contemporary interpretations of Renaissance culture.
   

3. Duncan Irschick Awarded Samuel F. Conti Faculty Fellowship (umass.edu) — UMass Amherst biologist Duncan Irschick has won a Samuel F. Conti Faculty Fellowship, giving him a year free from teaching duties to focus on research. One of three 2026 recipients, he studies animal movement and biological design and helped develop technology for creating detailed 3D models of living creatures.
   

4. Amherst Girls XC Win Fifth Consecutive Western Mass Title (amherstindy.org) — Amherst Regional’s girls cross-country team claimed its fifth straight Western Massachusetts Class A title, placing all seven runners in the top 17 and beating Northampton 29–37. The Hurricanes now head to the Nov. 14 divisional meet seeking a state championship berth, while Amherst’s boys advance after finishing second in Western Mass.
   

5. History of Art and Architecture Alumni Lecture: "Virgin of Copacabana" with Ximena A. Gómez, AG11 (tufts.edu) — UMass Amherst art historian Ximena A. Gómez will speak in Medford on November 12 about how Indigenous communities shaped the meaning of a colonial religious statue in Lima. Her lecture explores how local beliefs flourished through devotion to the Virgin of Copacabana, despite Spanish colonial rule.
   

📸 Around Amherst

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Amherst

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Amherst Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi all, my awesome cleaners are looking for work.
    They are efficient, thorough, and friendly. Rosa coordinates the team: 413-658-8541. (Nextdoor Amherst)
  • is anyone looking for a leaf cleanup from 2 umass students that work at golf courses?
    Fair and competitive prices while doing quality work. (Nextdoor Umass Residential)
  • Amherst College posted a job opening for Second Cook in Amherst. Apply here.
  • CVS Health posted a job opening for Store 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: "What are the two sides of a circle?" — The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

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.