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... Blue and gold banners in downtown Amherst this January
announced the start of Amherst's 250th. The 23,000 daffodils planted
last Fall will welcome Amherst in Bloom and May's celebration of Neighborhoods and
Neighbors. Founders Day, lectures, readings and musical performances
were early highlights. Diverse and accessible programming fill the
months ahead, including a May 9th evening of performing arts by our
cultural groups, a September 27th parade, and a culminating celebration gala on December 5th.
Charged by the Amherst Select Board to recommend a
commemorative program for Amherst's anniversary, a 21 member committee
of town representatives and at-large members began its planning on
January 24, 2004.
The Committee since its inception has been dedicated to
ensuring the broadest possible inclusion of ideas in the planning
process, seeking and coordinating the participation of community
groups, showcasing annual town events, as well as undertaking our
own. Monthly historical themes were set, Arts & Literature,
Community Week, History, Marketing, and Parade Subcommittees were
established, and this website launched.
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Our business and higher education partners serve as major sponsors, host fundraisers and receptions; the Amherst Historical Society and Strong Museum, Jones Library, the Emily Dickinson/Homestead Museums, UMASS Fine Arts Center, MFA Program and Juniper Festival, and the Nacul and Wunderarts galleries have provided programming and mounted special exhibits; Amherst Cinema, the Jewish Community and National Yiddish Book Centers, and town churches serve as venues for our readings, lectures and performances.
In acknowledgement of Amherst's 250th, Jones Library introduced "Digital Amherst" (www.digitalamherst.org), organizing their vast historical and literary resources around our themes. Eagerly awaited are forthcoming publications, including "Amherst A-Z," "Streets and Families of Amherst," "Slavery in Colonial Amherst," and "Harvest of Stories: Amherst Farms 1700-2010." Amherst Cable Television records our events and stream on-demand viewing in their special "250th Showcase." (www.actvamherst.com)
The 250th Committee is privileged to be involved in Amherst's anniversary celebrations and greatly appreciates the support of our educational, civic and cultural community as well as the enthusiastic attendance at our events, regularly updated here.
Committee Charge
The 21 member committee is charged with preparing and recommending to the Select Board a program of celebrations to commemorate Amherst's 250th anniversary in 2009, and to implement recommendations approved by the Select Board. To ensure the broadest possible inclusion of ideas in the planning process, membership includes representatives from the Historical Commission, Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Commission, Town/Commercial Relations Committee, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, Amherst Historical Society, Council on Aging, Amherst School Committee, Farm Committee, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College and Hampshire College, Five Colleges, Inc. and several members at-large.
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Committee Officers:
Barry Roberts, Chair
Stan Ziomek, Vice Chair
Richard Mathews, Treasurer
Janice Ratner, Clerk
Linda Chalfant, Staff Liaison
Alisa Brewer SB Liaison
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Committee Members:
Isabelle Callahan
Lyle Denit
Caroline Hanna
Ann Grose
Robert Grose
Carol Johnson
Dolly Jolly
Wendy Kohler |
Joan Ross Logan
Martha Nelson Patrick
Lorna Peterson
Maureen Raab
Fiona Russell
Adrienne Terrizzi
John Thibbetts
Michelle Tourangeau
Pat Wagner
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Contact the committee via email and your correspondence will be forwarded to the appropriate member of the committee
amherst250@yahoo.com
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