AMHERST — Hope Community Church, an African American family church at 16 Gaylord St., is sending off its pastor for a sabbatical that begins this weekend, while having recently installed a new assistant pastor who continues the family’s leadership.
The Rev. Carlos W. Anderson, who is celebrating his 75th birthday, is beginning his first-ever sabbatical following Sunday’s 10 a.m. service. That service will serve as a formal send-off.
The day before, at 4 p.m., a birthday reception and celebration with food and story sharing will take place.
Both the service and the get-together are open to the community.
Meanwhile, last month Minister Xinef Afriam was installed as assistant pastor. He is the grandson of co-founders Laverne Anderson and Dr. Norma Jean Anderson, the son of Rhonda Gordon, vision keeper for the church, and Keith Middleton, the church’s praise and worship leader. He is also the nephew of Anderson, and the nephew of former Pastor Reverend Crystal Roberson.
Hope traces its origins to 1869, when Black families left a predominantly white Congregational church in Amherst to worship under their own leadership. The current building was dedicated June 11, 1912, built with help from a fundraising lecture by W.E.B. Du Bois. Mary McLeod Bethune was among the dignitaries at the dedication. Two of the founders, E. Dwight Newport and his son Edward Foster Newport, were direct descendants of Amos Newport.
Culvert work
Two undersized and failing culverts, located on West Pomeroy Lane over a stream and on Potwine Lane over Plum Brook, will be designed and permitted for concrete box culverts, with natural streambeds, using $296,000 from the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant program.
The work is expected to promote flood resilience, enhance wildlife passage and improve water quality for recreational use, and in the case of the Potwine Lane culvert, eventually fix a failed culvert that has led to the closure of a portion of the road. That closure has affected both residents and those who use the Plum Brook soccer fields.
Before permanent repairs are done, the Department of Public Works expects to make temporary repairs this fall.
“This significant grant will pay for important work on two culverts in environmentally sensitive areas in South Amherst,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman.
The design will meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards to promote safe passage for fish and wildlife.
Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Amy Rusiecki explained the project builds upon two prior MVP Action Grants awarded to the town.
Drinking water improvements
Eight water fountains in the Amherst-Pelham Regional school buildings are being upgraded with a $24,000 award from the Massachusetts School Water Improvement Grant program.
Administered through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, the fixtures to be replaced were identified through lead testing results. Any leftover money will be used to buy water filters.
Adam Feltman, facilities operations manager, said the grant is part of the district’s ongoing work to address facility needs identified through testing and monitoring, and using outside funding.
The district also plans to use the funding to improve water bottle filling stations throughout the district.
“This is a relatively simple improvement that can have a meaningful day-to-day
impact by providing students and staff with convenient access to clean, fresh drinking water throughout our schools,” said Michael Gallo O’Connell, director of
operations.
Zoning Board hearing
The Zoning Board of Appeals is considering whether to change requirements in a special permit for a 28 Shays St. home, issued in 2012, that mandate the two-family residence have one unit owner-occupied.
Property owner Michael Ben-Chaim is retired and mostly lives near New York City, occasionally staying in town for up to a week at a time, and over the summer was issued a zoning violation by the inspections department for no longer living full time at the home.
John McLaughlin, an attorney with Green Miles Lipton of Northampton, said that the owner-occupancy requirement should be lifted. “Those times have changed, and now he’s seeking to change the situation,” McLaughlin said.
While no decision was made, McLaughlin said a professional management company could replace the owner-occupancy requirement.
But the home is causing regular problems in the neighborhood, according to those who live nearby.
Jim Phaneuf, who owns the 38 Shays St. property, said his tenants have found it a neighborhood nuisance, with stray vehicles and trash littering the yard.
“They don’t deserve to have this level of disruption to their lives on a regular basis,” Pheneuf said.
Author talk
Local author Heather Abel will talk about her new novel “The Emilys” in conversation with Eula Bliss, who writes about race, class and nature, at an event at the North Amherst Library, 8 Montague Road, Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Set in Northampton, the novel explores climate change, community and motherhood as a mother becomes obsessed with finding the cure to a mysterious ailment spreading throughout her New England town.
Books will be available for purchase and signing, courtesy of Amherst Books.
