AMHERST — Amherst marked its first COVID-19 Memorial Day this week following the adoption of a resolution to remember victims and survivors of the virus.

The Town Council recently adopted a proclamation submitted by community members and sponsored by District 2 Councilor Pat DeAngelis to recognize the first Monday of each March as a day to honor those who suffer from the impacts of the illness.

The resolution, as read by DeAngelis, also urges local residents to take preventive measures to protect vulnerable members and mitigate the spread of COVID, as well as to celebrate essential workers.

Jennifer Ritz Sullivan of Goshen spoke to councilors last month, asking them to remember over 20,000 Massachusetts residents and 1.3 million U.S. residents who have died from COVID, saying that the memorial day can help heal.

One of those who died from the illness is her mother, Earla Dawn Dimitriadis. “We cannot prevent what we are unwilling to acknowledge,” Ritz Sullivan said.

Ritz Sullivan is the COVID justice leader for Marked By COVID in Massachusetts. Marked by COVID is a national group making sure the needs of those harmed are listened to and met.

Amherst’s resolution expresses support for the creation of a national COVID–19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day on the first Monday of every March.

Solar in Amherst

Amherst’s efforts to develop more renewable energy, being led by Sustainability Director Stephanie Ciccarello, will include workshops this month.

To kick off the project, Adrienne Dunk from GZA Geoenvironmental on Tuesday at 7 p.m. will present virtually the results of a communitywide solar survey and the ways in which residents may engage in sharing their opinions regarding solar development in Amherst at coming workshops. The link for the initial meeting is on the town website.

Demolition delay imposed for historic home

A 19th-century home at 260 Leverett Road will have to remain standing for at least the next year.

The Historical Commission on Feb. 27 unanimously imposed a yearlong demolition delay on the Austin Loomis House, calling for the building to be preferably preserved.

Kevin O’Brien, who along with Mary O’Brien purchased the home for $760,000 six years ago, said that he wants to take down the 1830 Greek Revival and build a new post and beam home on the same footprint. Gutting the home and putting an addition on is not practical, he said.

“It’s just not tenable right now,” O’Brien said. He said the building is cold, the bedrooms are upstairs and the bathroom is downstairs, and the stairs are steep. “It’s my intention to age in place here. The house just doesn’t fit what we want to do, what we need to do.”

O’Brien said he would have appreciated being apprised that the house would face scrutiny from a town board.

“This seems very unfair to find out about this five years after I bought the place,” O’Brien said.

“The house is in good shape, it’s been maintained,” Senior Planner Nate Malloy said.

Malloy said the town can work with the O’Briens to come up with alternatives to demolition, such as using Community Preservation Act money.

O’Brien said his purchase prevented the former farm from being subdivided. “It’s a beautiful property and would be a sin to chop it up into buildable lots,” O’Brien said.

Judy Brooks Conversation

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director Pamela Nolan Young and Assistant Director Jennifer Moyston will be speaking in the League of Women Voters of Amherst conversation series Tuesday at 7 p.m.

For the link to the virtual presentation, go to lwvamherst.org.

On the Same Page

The Jones Library’s 11th On the Same Page community reading program features the novel “Olga Dies Dreaming” by author Xochitl Gonzalez.

As part of the lead-up to the author event on March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Amherst Regional Middle School, several events are being held.

On Saturday at 3 p.m in the Woodbury Room will be a screening On March 16 at 7 p.m. at the same location will be a book discussion led by Linda Wentworth, a Jones librarian.

Meetings

TUESDAY: Disability Access Advisory Committee, 11:30 a.m., Public Shade Tree Committee, 5 p.m., Cultural Council, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY: Joint Capital Planning Committee, 1 p.m.

]]>