The Amherst Current

What are you grateful for about Amherst?

It’s Thanksgiving and though we are surrounded by heavy news and piles of work, it’s a time to pause and reflect on the things for which we are grateful. 

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

We at the Current want to know what our neighbors are grateful for about Amherst. Whether you’ve lived here for two months or two decades (or more!), there are likely things about Amherst that you appreciate. Sure, there are things we decidedly do not appreciate. But what about Amherst keeps us here?

We asked around and here is what some have told us. We invite you to share what you’re grateful for about Amherst in the comments!

I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many people who care deeply about their community and are working diligently to make it better. I’m especially grateful to have youth in my life who are hopeful and proactive about what is possible even during a time when optimism is taking hits.  ~ Bridget Hynes

I’m grateful for Amherst’s engaging community and the plethora of amenities it provides to make it a great place to work, play, and live. ~ Jack Jemsek

The Staff, Friends, Volunteers, JEDI Committee, Burnett Art Gallery Committee, Capital Campaign Committee, Building Committee, & Trustees of the Jones Library System!  Amherst Authors!  The Amherst Regional School District Libraries!  The Amherst College, Hampshire College, and UMass Libraries and Archives!  The Amherst Historical Society and Museum, Amherst Cinema, Ancestral Bridges, EmbraceRace, Emily Dickinson Museum, Beneski Museum of Natural History, Mead Art Museum, and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art!  The BID and Chamber!  The Mill District!  Our fellow Town of Amherst employees! ~ Sharon Sharry, Library Director, Jones Library

@amherstareacc

I’m grateful for the Amherst Survival Center, which supports neighbors in need and provides volunteers with the opportunity to help out. I’m grateful for the Jones Library, its friendly staff and variety of books, videos and programs. And I’m grateful to live in a town that gave only 8 percent of its votes to Donald Trump. ~ Nick Grabbe

I do think we’re all blessed to call Amherst home; a historic New England town, in immediate proximity to nature with enough cultural activity to fill the calendar. The icing on the cake is a diverse community of welcoming and super interesting residents. I’m thankful to live in our little (blue) corner of New England. ~ Jennifer Taub

I am grateful for our quality of life. The colleges bring the energy and culture of a city, while the bucolic New England setting brings beauty, healthy food, and moments of peace. And I am thankful for the diverse, smart, and engaged people I get to hang out with here. ~ Andy Churchill

Many things! Residents’ commitment to making the community a better and more welcoming place; deeply caring and committed educators and school administrators; the energy of young people; recent improvements to the physical landscape (Kendrick Park playground, North Common redesign, traffic circles, for example), the Drake, and, this year, a spectacular autumn. ~ Sarah Marshall

Its diversity of views, even when I do not agree with some of them. ~ Austin Sarat

When my son and I moved here back in 2001, I honestly had no idea what to expect. But right from the start, it was the trees that got me. There’s just something about them – the smell of the pines on my morning walks, the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze, and don’t even get me started on how stunning they are in the fall! I especially love that time of day when the sun’s going down and hits the leaves just right, making everything look golden – I call this the golden hour ✨️ 

The  trees actually led me to start meditating. There’s something so peaceful about being around them – they’ve got this quiet presence that just helps me slow down and breathe. I’ve watched them through so many seasons now, and they never fail to amaze me with how they transform throughout the year.

One of the things that makes me really proud to live here is how our town is serious about protecting our green spaces. We’ve committed to permanently conserving 30% of our land, which is pretty amazing when you think about it.

Having five colleges in the area is another huge plus. Not only does it help keep our economy stable when other places are struggling, but it brings so much culture and energy to the town. I mean, we can just pop over to the Fine Arts Center at UMass anytime we want to see world-class performances! I feel pretty lucky that I get to be part of it too – teaching mindful marketing at the UMass business school based on my book, “Return to Mindfulness.”

But honestly, what really makes this place special is the people. Over the years, I’ve met so many folks who genuinely care about making Amherst better for everyone who lives here. It’s not just talk – people here actually show up and do the work to make things happen.

Sometimes I can’t believe it’s been 23 years since we moved here. This town has been such a perfect fit for us, and I’m just really grateful we ended up here. ~ Shalini Bahl-Milne

I am grateful for the dedicated team of people on the editorial board for The Amherst Current–and for the passion and ideas they bring to our work together. I’m grateful for the many writers who contribute to the Current and make it an engaging resource for our community. And, I’m incredibly grateful to all of you, for reading and following the Current, and for sharing your feedback, criticism, and ideas so that we can evolve and be a trusted resource for our community. ~ Allison McDonald, managing editor for The Amherst Current

What are you grateful for about Amherst? Let us know in the comments!

Happy Thanksgiving!