It’s Monday and we’re back with our roundup of the week’s events. Here are this week’s town government meetings, and cultural, recreational, and athletics events that caught our eye.

ARHS Varsity Athletics at Home – Monday-Friday

Catch ARHS varsity athletes in action at home this week! Boys Basketball vs. South Hadley, Monday at 7:00 pm; Girls Basketball vs. Holyoke, Wednesday at 7:00 pm and vs. Hoosac Valley, Thursday at 7:00 pm. MORE

Amherst Recreation Commission – Monday

The Amherst Recreation Commission meets on Monday and will discuss Winterfest 2025 planning and disc golf. They’ll also hear updates on pickleball and youth empowerment programming, including the Morning Movement & Mentoring program. Monday, 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

Historical Commission – Monday

The Amherst Historical Commission also meets on Monday evening. The Commission will review a preservation restriction for the Jewish Community of Amherst, discuss next steps with barn preservation applications, and review historic signs and a mural at West Cemetery. Monday, 7:00-9:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

Finance Committee – Tuesday

The Town Finance Committee meets on Tuesday to review the 1st quarter financials (FY25), health insurance projections, as well as “Cherry Sheet” (state funding) projections. The Committee also will discuss the response from the Regional School Committee regarding the FY26 budget guidelines and the Town Council order appropriating funds to the Amherst Capital Program. Tuesday, 2:00-3:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

Town Council Retreat – Tuesday

The Town Council meets for its annual special meeting and retreat on Tuesday. The Council will continue its discussions about the 2025 goals for the Town Manager. Tuesday, 6:00-10:00 pm in Town Hall and on Zoom. MORE

Regional School Committee & Superintendency Union 26 Committee – Tuesday

The Regional (secondary) School Committee and the Superintendency Union 26 Committee meet jointly on Tuesday to continue discussions in an Executive Session about complaints brought against the superintendent. Tuesday, 7:00 pm in the library at the Middle School.  MORE

Budget Coordinating Group – Wednesday

The Budget Coordinating Group meets on Wednesday to review and discuss updated projections for the FY26 budget. The Budget Coordinating Group coordinates the process of the town’s budget development, including calendars and guidelines. It is comprised of representatives from Town Council, Amherst School Committee, Regional School Committee, Jones Library Board of Trustees, and the Town Manager. Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

Planning Board – Wednesday

The Planning Board meets on Wednesday to discuss the process for making updates to the 2024 Open Space & Recreation Plan. The Board will continue its discussions about the updated State law regarding ADUs and changes to Amherst zoning that may be needed to align with that law. They’ll also continue its general housing discussion, including “footnote m” – a part of Amherst zoning bylaw that specifies the minimum lot size required for new apartments or dwelling units. Wednesday, 6:30-9:30 pm on Zoom. MORE

Board of Health Public Hearing – Thursday

The Amherst Board of Health is hosting a public hearing on Thursday about proposed amendments to the Town’s regulations restricting the sale of tobacco and vape products. Thursday, 5:00-7:00 pm at Bangs Community Center. MORE

National Girls & Women in Sports Day – Saturday

The Amherst College Athletics Department, in partnership with the Town of Amherst and Amherst Recreation Department, is proud to host National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on Saturday, February 8, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Alumni Gym.

The program will kick off in Middleton Gymnasium at 11:30 am with some pizza and then a chat with current scholar-athletes followed by a dynamic stretch warm-up. Girls will then be divided into groups so they can try different sports and games through a continuous timed rotation. Parents are able to drop-off their children at 11:30 am and pick them up at the conclusion of the event (2:30 pm). For parents who choose to stay, there will be a yoga class for adults offered by Christine Paradis in the Friends of Amherst Athletics Room at 12:30 pm. Find more information and a link to register: MORE

Amherst Historical Society Annual Meeting & Conch Shell Award – Sunday

The Amherst Historical Society holds its annual meeting on Sunday featuring the presentation of the annual Conch Shell award and the Mabel Loomis Todd Lecture featuring Samuel Redman, Professor of History at UMass Amherst.

This year, the Society’s Arthur F. Kinney Conch Shell award will be presented to members of the organizing committee for Cambodians in Amherst: a History of the Khmer Community. The annual award, named after the late Dr. Kinney who was a trustee of the Society and creator of the award, honors individuals and organizations that have made a valuable contribution to the preservation and appreciation of Amherst’s history.

The meeting and award presentation will be followed immediately by the Mabel Loomis Todd Lecture featuring Samuel Redman, Professor of History at UMass Amherst.  Professor Redman will be discussing his book The Museum: A Short History of Crisis and Resilience which traces how cultural institutions responded to episodes of crisis over the past century in the United States. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will follow the lecture. Sunday, 2:00-4:00 pm in the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library. MORE

Note: this post was updated to add a notice of the Budget Coordinating Group meeting on Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 pm.

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Want more? We’ve gathered the event and program calendars from the many organizations and committees in Amherst onto Community Calendars. Check it out to find even more upcoming events.

Have an event you’d like us to spotlight? Email us TheAmherstCurrent@gmail.com.