AMHERST — A survey to better understand the needs of Amherst’s older adults, the challenges they face and how they are accessing services at the Senior Center is underway.
The Council on Aging is partnering with Amherst Senior Services on the initiative to identify areas where services can improve for an aging population.
“We want to hear directly from our older residents so we can better address their needs and
ensure they feel supported and connected,” Jeanne Horrigan, who chairs Amherst’s
Council on Aging, said in a statement. “This survey is an important step in shaping the future of senior services in Amherst.”
All residents ages 50 and older are invited to complete the anonymous survey, which is online at amherstma.gov/senior-survey, with physical copies available at the Bangs Community Center. The survey is open through Nov. 15.
Results of the survey will be shared with the public on the Senior Services website and information collected will aim to improve the Senior Center and its outreach to town elders.
Lisa Borchetta, the new director of Senior Services, recently joined Town Manager Paul Bockelman for a Cuppa Joe event, explaining to those present that she is still in the absorbing phase, looking for holes in programming and ways to spread resources while serving a wider span of ages.
Borchetta also outlined the possibility of someday having a small cafe where people could get sandwiches and coffee.
Bockelman explained that Senior Services is beyond just what is inside the Bangs Community Center, a building that will be disrupted during an upcoming project to overhaul the mechanical and fire suppression systems.
ABC fundraiser
Amherst A Better Chance program will benefit from the annual Fall Foliage and Cider Run and Walk, taking place on Saturday.
The 53rd annual event begins at 10 a.m. from the Town Common, before runners and walkers head onto the Amherst College campus. Money raised during the event supports the residential high school program, located in a house on North Prospect Street, that prepares academically talented young men of color from educationally underserved school districts for college and future leadership roles.
Go to AmherstABetterChance.org to register and get more information.
Reproductive health care
Amherst Feminist Generation and Translate Gender will be joined by state Reps. Mindy Domb and Lindsay Sabadosa and state Sen. Jo Comerford in an event Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Northampton, in which panelists will discuss digital privacy and telehealth as
they relate to reproductive health care.
Among those speaking will be State Rep. Kate Libber-Garabedian, co-sponsor of the Location Shield Act, and representatives from the state Attorney General’s office, the Abortion Rights Fund of Western Mass, Translate Gender and TransHealth.
To RSVP, and get the address where the panelists will be speaking, go to: https://forms.gle/ZNSsTMFnoeF3fXri6.
North Common opens
The North Common revitalization project will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting Wednesday at noon.
While the greenspace in front of Town Hall has been open for several months, the final aspects were recently completed, including installation of lights and seating.
Musical Coffee House
The Burgoff / Ricker Trio will be performing at South Congregational Church, 1066 South East St., Sunday at 3 p.m.
Mark Ricker will be on jazz guitar, Jimmy Burgoff on fretless bass ukulele and Julian Burgoff on congas. Refreshments will be served and there is a suggested donation of $20 per person.
To make a reservation, send email to office@staff.amherstsouthchurch.org or call 253-2977.
Garden Club donations
The Garden Club of Amherst is donating $4,500 in proceeds from its annual plant sale, held in the spring, to support several initiatives.
A student majoring in sustainable food and farming at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts is earning a $1,500 scholarship, while another $1500 is going to the Hitchcock Center for the Environment to help nurture the next generation of environmental leaders.
Finally, the Amherst elementary schools are getting $1,500 for tools, plants, seeds and new
picture books for the gardening library, and to create stipends for high school students to again act as stewards of the gardens during the summer.