AMHERST — Salamanders, frogs and other amphibians recently made their way from the woods on the east side of Henry Street, in the Cushman section of town, to wetlands on the other side as part of their annual migration.
For the event known as Big Night, this year on March 16, residents, town officials and representatives from the Hitchcock Center for the Environment participated. That was an evening when the mild and wet weather allowed for the crossing to take place in the vicinity of the two salamander tunnels.
Estimates show that at least 170 amphibians migrated from the uplands to temporary vernal pools to the west that evening, though it’s likely many more made it both before and after Big Night.
During the event, the road was closed to traffic by the Department of Public Works, allowing the 150 or so volunteers, including children, to provide personal attention to the animals, with some getting an escort in the palms of a person’s hands.
Big Night takes place at the salamander tunnels, built beneath the road in 1987 and opened for use by salamanders in 1988. Those tunnels were among the first places in the United States to offer such a protection to amphibians, after the town in earlier years had responded to appeals to close the road to through traffic, on some evenings, during the mating season.
Dessert Crawl
The Downtown Dessert Crawl returns at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Put on by the Amherst Business Improvement District, people will be able to sample desserts at a dozen locations throughout the commercial district.
The event is family-friendly and open to all ages. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth 12 and under.
Belgian waffles
Zinneken’s restaurant will be bringing Belgian waffles to the Amherst Cinema building on Amity Street.
Using space where the studio theater for the Amherst Cinema had been located, Walter Frederics recently told the Design Review Board his hope is to open a franchise in town.
Zinneken’s slogan, according to its website, is “Belgian waffles made by actual Belgians.” In fact, the dough used in the waffles is imported from Belgium, Frederics said.
Brick-and-mortar Zinneken’s are located in Harvard Square in Cambridge, as well as in Glastonbury, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island, with a food truck operating in Boston.
Guest conductors sought
The Amherst Community Band is seeking qualified guest conductors for the summer season.
A new board of directors and a contribution from both the Amherst and state cultural councils is prompting the 100-member band to put out this call.
“With the award from the cultural council, we’re able to offer a small stipend to guest conductors,” said John Decker, president of the board.
Concerts at Sweetser Park in Amherst Center are scheduled for 6 p.m. on June 27, July 25 and Aug. 15, and promoted by the Amherst BID. Additional appearances include a performance at the Fourth of July fireworks display on July 3, and a “best-of-season” finale concert at the South Amherst Common on Aug. 18.
“Because we’re in the middle of five colleges, all with extensive music programs, we know there are many potential conductors in the area,” Decker said. The idea would be to have a permanent conductor for the 2027 season.
The band rehearses on Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. in the George N. Parks Band Building on the University of Massachusetts campus, and features musicians of all abilities and ages. For more information, go to amherstband.org or call Decker at 603-770-5340.
