AMHERST — A barn preservation program aimed at protecting iconic and historically valuable barns across Amherst is being introduced by the Historical Commission.

An initiative that may be the first of its kind in the state, the program is designed to assist property owners in identifying resources for repair, restoration and reuse, while also providing money for historical assessments.

“Barns represent the history of many people who were instrumental in making Amherst the community it is today,” Jan Marquardt, who formerly chaired the Historical Commission, said in a statement. “As farming techniques evolve and many traditional barns give way to modern development, these structures are quickly becoming cherished historical landmarks.”

Marquardt points out that some barns have been demolished, despite the town’s demolition delay bylaw, due to neglect.

As part of the program, the commission will cover half the cost, up to $500, for historical assessments, to determine a building’s structural integrity, offer estimates for needed repairs, and provide other details.

Amherst’s Community Preservation Act account is supporting the initiative with $10,000 provided in 2023 to help owners of historic barns and outbuildings complete the assessments. Qualifying buildings must be at least 75 years old, owned by an Amherst resident, and may include barns, garages, carriage houses and other non-residential outbuildings.

For more information, go to www.amherstma.gov/3824/Barn-Preservation or contact Amherst Planner Walker Powell at powellw@amherstma.gov.

Plant sale

The Garden Club of Amherst is holding its annual plant sale on the Town Common Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Woodland and native plants, perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, plants for shade and sun will all be available. With a tent set up on the green, the event will be held rain or shine, next to the weekly Amherst Farmers Market.

Jewish American Heritage Month

The Town Council recently proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month in Amherst, encouraging “all to celebrate the history and contributions of Jewish Americans to our culture and society.”

The proclamation recognizes that the University of Massachusetts in the 1950s and 1960s was open to hiring Jewish faculty, that the institutions of higher education in Amherst have been leaders in developing programs in Jewish Studies, including Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and also calls attention to the presence of both the Jewish Community of Amherst and the Yiddish Book Center, where Yiddish language and modern Jewish literature and culture are recovered and celebrated.

Possible Main Street rezoning

Building Commissioner Rob Morra recently provided both the Planning Board and Community Resources Committee updates on what planning staff are working on for the rest of the year, including the extension of the neighborhood business zoning district to include three additional properties on Main Street across from the Emily Dickinson Museum.

The Amherst Inn at 257 Main St. is the driving force for this, Morra said. The bed and breakfast there is an accessory use, limiting the property to four guests and requiring owner occupancy, even though the building has eight guest bedrooms and space for a ninth guest room

“There’s an opportunity here to support this business in a way that it needs to be sustainable for the future,” Morra said.

Also being rezoned are an occupied duplex at 229 Main St. that has the potential for more expansion and a bigger footprint, and 285 Main St., an existing six-unit, multi-family property, renovated after being damaged in fire several years ago.

A Better Chance conversation

The mission of A Better Chance, the residential high school program that prepares academically talented and motivated African American, Latino, Asian and Indigenous American students from educationally underserved school districts for college and future leadership roles, will be the topic of discussion at the Amherst League of Women Voters Judy Brooks Conversation Series May 22 at 7 pm.

ABC House resident directors Tem Blessed Ferreira and Nancita Alejandro and Rika Clement, co-president of the board, will be joined by Frank Partida and Joel Jacintho, who came to pursue their education in Amherst.

Since the Amherst program began in 1969, over 120 ABC scholars have graduated from Amherst Regional High School. This year, five scholars are at the home.

To participate in the conversation, register at lwvamherst.org.

Church musician celebrates 65 years

Dick Matteson, minister of music at First Church Amherst, will have an informal celebration concert marking 65 years as a musician Saturday at 2 p.m. at the 165 Main St church.

A graduate of Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, Matteson played the organ for the first time at age 12 in his home church in Cohasset. He has been minister of music at First Church Amherst for the past 17 years.

Youth Hero Awards

The Human Rights Commission is accepting nominations for the 2025 Human Rights Youth Hero Awards, awards that recognize Amherst youth who demonstrate kindness, selflessness, social courage, and community service within their families, schools and neighborhoods.

Nominations can be submitted online at amherstma.gov/youth-hero-awards through May 23.