AMHERST — Crocker Farm School reopened for regular school days this week, along with its after-school program, as work crews completed repairs to the building’s fire safety system.

With a final inspection completed by the Amherst Fire Department, both the early dismissals in place for the beginning of the school year, and a fire watch that included assistance from Amherst Recreation to ensure the safety of students and staff, has ended.

In communication to families, Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman thanked them for their patience in advance of the fixes being done to the deteriorating system.

“As we prepare to open Crocker Farm School next week, I want to assure everyone that the safety and well being of our students and staff remains my top priority,” Herman wrote in a her message.

Herman told the Amherst School Committee Tuesday that she was thankful to the firefighters as unsung heroes.

“Basically the final stages are in, and I think Crocker Farm is going to be very pleased to continue the school year without continuous fire alarms going off,” Herman said.

Since the issue was identified over the summer, more than 30 false alarms had rung in the building, with a handful during the school days. Herman explained that the system’s deterioration accelerated, and that while inconvenient for families, she wanted to keep students and staff safe.

Herman informed at least one family that delaying the project until winter recess was not possible for safety reasons.

Volunteer fair

Area students and community members can learn about volunteer opportunities available from local organizations during an annual Amherst Volunteer Fair being held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in conjunction with the weekly Amherst Farmers Market.

Representatives from the Amherst Senior Center, the Jones Library and its English as a Second Language Center, the town’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion department, Amherst Recreation, Amherst Historical Society and Museum and Amherst Neighbors will be set up near the Town Common.

For more details about volunteering, contact Senior Services Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Julia MacFadzen at macfadzenj@amherstma.gov or 413-259-3060.

That same day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a tag and bake sale is being held at the Hadley Senior Center, 46 Middle St.

Hot yoga business

Resonance Hot Yoga + Massage and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce are holding a ribbon cutting for the new business at 181A University Drive Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

The new business, in the Amherst Shopping Plaza near Big Y Supermarket, will have a free yoga class at 4 p.m. and other activities throughout the weekend.

Homecoming at UMass

Homecoming Weekend at the University of Massachusetts will include a visit by British artist Julia Gash at the UMass Store on Saturday, where she will conduct a live painting session from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a signing of her Massachusetts- and UMass-inspired art.

Gash creates hand-drawn illustrations using brush and ink, collaborating with retailers and licensees worldwide to produce sustainable gift and souvenir collections.

Woman’s Club events

“Triumphs and Laments” is the title of the Cantabile Vocal Ensemble’s concert at the Amherst Woman’s Club, 35 Triangle St., Sunday at 3 p.m.

The program explores how composers of the late European Renaissance expressed emotions in both secular and sacred music utilizing just five or six unaccompanied voices.

Admission is $15.

On Monday at 1:30 p.m., a free event takes place at the club titled “Spam, Scams and AI! What is real?”Amherst police officer Lindsay Carroll is presenting the program.