AMHERST — Before the budget season commences in Amherst, two citizen groups, including one focused on issues affecting youth, will host a conversation about where spending should be prioritized.

Sunrise Amherst and the Progressive Coalition of Amherst are sponsoring the Zoom discussion about budget priorities from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, with town unions, grassroots organizations, elected officials and the public invited to comment on the town’s fiscal year 2023 spending.

Julian Hynes, co-hub lead for Sunrise Amherst, wrote in an email that the discussion will be about how the budget supports Amherst values. That will then be used as the basis of a letter sent to town government.

Progressive Coalition Chairwoman Pat Ononibaku said advocacy for programs and services that align with the organizations’ views is important.

Some of the ideas that could be supported would include funding for Barbara Love, a social justice educator, to serve as a consultant to help heal community divisions, and the establishment of a BIPOC Cultural Center.

Ononibaku said other opportunities for dialogue will be coming, including public comment at Town Council meetings.

“We’re encouraging people to also try to advocate for funding for the issues they care about,” Ononibaku said. “We want our tax dollars to be fairly used.”

In May, Town Manager Paul Bockelman will present his budget proposal, which will be reviewed by the Finance Committee and go to a budget hearing before the Town Council in late spring. 

Daffodil Run

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, a program of the Center for Human Development, is holding its 12th Annual Daffodil Run on the Town Common on Sunday.

Beginning at 10 a.m., runners can choose from the 5-kilometer or 10-kilometer race. There will also be a virtual event as in the past two years. To register to run or walk, or participate virtually, sign up at runreg.com/daffodilrun.

Money raised from the event supports mentoring services for youths.

Bathroom policy

Beginning Monday, high school students will have to sign in to use the bathrooms, and an adult monitor will be present at those facilities, according to a letter from Principal Talib Sadiq.

The school will limit bathrooms to two students at once in multi-stall bathrooms.

“This has been a year of adjustments, and if it turns out that students are waiting for long periods of time to use the bathrooms, we will adjust the number of students we allow in them together,” Sadiq wrote.

High school musical

Delayed by a COVID-19 outbreak, Hair the Musical will have its final performance at the high school on April 29.

Superintendent Michael Morris told the Amherst Regional School Committee that the postponement of the third performance was due to a number of positive cases in the crew and cast.

Because revenue from ticket sales pays for the next year’s production, and COVID-19 has cut turnout at shows, Morris said the committee could examine the school’s performing arts budget for shortfalls this spring.

Autism conference

Autism Connections, with an office in Hadley and serving families and individuals in the four westernmost counties, is holding its 31st annual Autism Conference April 28.

The virtual educational conference for the program of Springfield-based Pathlight will bring together parents, caregivers, educators, people with autism, self-advocates, professionals, organizations and service providers to build awareness and knowledge, be inspired and make meaningful connections.

Two keynote speakers will address the conference: Alix Generous, an advocate for advancing mental health reform and institutional treatment of autistic people; and Jed Baker, director of the Social Skills Training Project, an organization serving people with autism and social communication problems.

Visit AutismConnectionsMa.org or send email to autismconnections@pathlightgroup.org for more information.

Arbor events at UMass

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Arboretum Committee is holding three events to mark the 150th anniversary of the nation’s first Arbor Day, celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872.

This week, on Earth Day, the committee is planting the class of 2022 tree at noon on the east side of Curry Hicks. From noon to 4 p.m., seedlings are being given away on the Goodell Lawn, the second distribution following one on April 15. The seedlings were grown in the UMass nurseries from local seeds, many of which came from historic and champion trees on campus, such as the black tupelo.

On April 29, Arbor Day itself will feature a tree walk on campus from 10 a.m. to noon. Those interested in participating should meet at the southeast corner of South College. A tree-climbing demonstration follows.

Staff Writer Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com. 

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