AMHERST — The town’s Transportation Advisory Committee is supporting completion of the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail to improve accessibility, safety and commuting routes for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The committee’s unanimous support for the project at its Aug. 1 meeting comes after the Northampton City Council appealed in July to the state Department of Transportation to finish the 104-mile stretch connecting Northampton to Boston.

Rob Kusner, a longtime advocate for bicycle transportation who served on the Amherst Select Board, said the hope is to get support from the 26 communities along the trail route, as well as other cities and towns near the trail. “The idea is that this isn’t just a single rail trail, it’s a network,” Kusner said.

Kusner said enhanced bike paths and bike lanes and extensions, such as the Swift Connector to the University of Massachusetts campus, can attract people locally and from around the world for a “touristic exploration as well as practical transportation.”

The Town Council and its Governance, Organization and Legislation Committee expect to take up a similar resolution to Northampton’s with the endorsement from the transportation committee.

Committee Chairwoman Tracy Zafian said rail trail tourism is important, observing that the trail on Cape Cod has created significant economic development and that economic development studies have “showed how much of an impact the other trails have.”

Zafian said more connections are important, with Amherst riders and walkers already able to use the Norwottuck Rail Trail to get to Northampton, Florence and Easthampton. She also points to the relaunch of ValleyBike Share on Monday as important so UMass and Amherst College students can easily commute to the shopping malls in Hadley and to Northampton.

The resolution in Northampton states that the build-out of the rail trail will cost upward of $100 million to complete. Currently, 60 miles of the trail are open for walking, with another 34½ miles under public protection.

Absentee ballots

Absentee ballots for the Sept. 3 state primary are available at the town clerk’s office, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Applications can be made in person or for a mailed absentee ballot, which should be done in writing and must include the voter’s name, voting address, voting precinct, the address to which the ballot should be mailed, contact information and the voter’s signature.

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is Aug. 27 at 5 p.m.; and to vote buy mail is Aug. 30 at 5 p.m.

In-person early voting takes place Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the First Floor Meeting Room at Town Hall.

Concert series postponed

Strings @ the Strong, the summer classical music concert series that had been set to begin Saturday at the Strong House garden, 67 Amity St., will instead start on Aug. 24.

This week’s concert with the FIKA Quartet will be pushed back to Sept. 14 at 2 p.m., due to a forecast for remnants from Tropical Storm Debby to pass over the area. The Aug. 24 concert features the Amethyst String Quartet. Then, on Aug. 31 the Wistaria String Quartet will perform, followed on Sept. 7 by the Cushman String Quartet.

The Amherst History Museum will open before each 2 p.m. concert so visitors can see the “Cambodians in Amherst: The History of the Khmer Community” exhibit.

“We are so lucky to have the Strings at the Strong series in Amherst, which gives many wonderful local string quartets an opportunity to share their love of chamber music with the community,” said violinist Amanda Stenroos, who serves as the artistic director of the series. The series is supported by the Amherst Cultural Council, Stamell Stringed Instruments and PeoplesBank.

Jigsaw puzzle swap

Inspired by the conservation message of the Summer Reading Program theme of “Read. Renew. Repeat,” a jigsaw puzzle swap takes place in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library on Saturday at 3 p.m.

People should bring jigsaw puzzles with 500 pieces or more to the Jones Library reference desk through Friday, in exchange for a ticket that will be used at the swap on Saturday.

For more information, contact Janet Ryan, head of programming and outreach, at 259-3223.

Mindfulness classes

Former town councilor Shalini Bahl-Milne, who has written “Return to Mindfulness: A Roadmap for Real-World Transformation,” leads an introductory class to live and lead a life with more clarity, purpose and impact.

To join the free events via Zoom, running Aug. 14 and Aug. 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., go to https://tinyurl.com/yanxdmt3/.

Pelham Historical Complex

A craft demonstration of knitting and crocheting with Hope Rodkey takes place at the Pelham Historical Complex, located at the corner of Amherst Road and Daniel Shays Highway in Pelham, on Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Knitters and crocheters are invited to bring their projects, while others can tour the historical site.

Meetings

MONDAY: Recreation Commission, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY: Public Shade Tree Committee, 4:30 p.m., and Community Resources Committee, 6:30 p.m.