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.

🌱 Why Eric Carle Museum workers in Amherst are pushing to unionize now

Amherst, Massachusetts Patch AM: a 4 min read

Hey hey Amherst! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why Eric Carle Museum workers in Amherst are pushing to unionize now
  • Will Jones Library dip into its endowment to finish renovations?
  • What an Amherst-based report says about Massachusetts’ economic future

Also on today's calendar: Massachusetts Tax Free Weekend at Ethan Allen August 8 & 9 ONLY! and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the cookie go to the Doctor ? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 88 and low of 70 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: Showers and a heavier t-storm, temps: high: 90, low: 70.
  • Saturday: A heavy t-storm in the p.m., with a high of 90 and low of 69 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Eric Carle Museum Staff Seek Union Vote (publishersweekly.com subscription) — Staff at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst are seeking to unionize, citing low pay, safety concerns, and limited advancement. Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers has petitioned federal labor officials for a union vote covering most museum employees, as workers push for more sustainable hours, better conditions, and stronger job security.
   

2. Amherst library trustees discuss tapping endowment to close $6.1M gap in Jones Library project (gazettenet.com) — Amherst’s Jones Library trustees are weighing whether to tap the library’s $9.5 million endowment to close a remaining $6.1 million gap in their share of the $46.1 million renovation project. With fundraising still underway and some residents worried about impacts on future operations, campaign leaders say they’re confident but are also planning for possible temporary endowment withdrawals.
   

3. MassBenchmarks sees ‘moderate' growth in state's future (masslive.com) — An Amherst-based MassBenchmarks report finds Massachusetts’ economy growing slightly faster than the nation’s, even as the state’s labor force shrinks and inflation in Greater Boston runs hot. Analysts say strong consumer spending and productivity gains are offsetting demographic headwinds, and they project modest statewide growth through the end of 2026 despite global and policy uncertainties.
   

4. Massachusetts awards $23 million for campus geothermal and heat pump projects (asumag.com) — Massachusetts is investing $23 million in clean-energy upgrades at public campuses, including $7.35 million for a major industrial heat pump at UMass Amherst’s Central Heating Plant. That project, expected to be running by 2028, would cut campus emissions by more than 12%, positioning Amherst’s flagship university as a regional leader in large-scale decarbonization.
   

📸 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!

🗓 Events Nearby

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

  • Made a friend today while I was gardening in Noho!
    I turned around and there she was just 20-30 feet away sitting there! (I did not approach and respectfully gave her space) (Nextdoor Happy Valley)
  • Blue-fronted dancer
    damselfly. It followed me for at least two hours while I was searching for primrose moths at the East Meadows on Sunday. (Nextdoor West Amherst)
  • Six Flags New England posted a job opening for Fright Fest Scare Actor in NORTH AMHERST. Apply here.
  • Dunkin' posted a job opening for Shift Leader in Hadley. 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: Because he felt CRUMMY ! (Thank you Michelle S. 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.