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

With Valentine’s Day coming up this Friday, enjoy the opportunity to focus on the recognition and affection of your loved ones this week. We can also take time to observe Black History Month.

The Jones Library will screen “Move When the Spirit Says Move: The Legacy of Dorothy Foreman Cotton” on Saturday, February 15 from 2:30 PM – 4:00 AM. The film is a 2023 documentary about Dorothy Foreman Cotton. She was a bold and highly effective civil rights leader, who educated thousands about their citizenship rights and inspired generations of activists with her powerful freedom songs. MORE

ARHS Varsity Athletics at Home – Monday-Friday

Catch ARHS varsity athletes in action at home this week! Boys Basketball vs. Minnechaug on Monday at 4:30 PM (Freshman) and on Tuesday vs. Springfield Central 5:30 PM (Freshman); Boys Hockey vs. Southwick on Monday at 8:20 PM and on Thursday vs Taconic at 8:00 PM; Girls Basketball on Wednesday vs Hoosac 5:30 PM (Jr. Varsity) and 7:00 PM (Varsity). MORE

Town Council – Monday

The Amherst Town Council will vote to enter executive session after calling to order at 6:00 p.m. The Council will reconvene in open session following the executive session. From 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 PM, a Special Town Council and Finance Committee will hold a Public Forum on appropriations outside the Annual Budget. A return to the regular meeting will follow the Public Forum, starting with general public comment. The meeting will take place in person at the Town Hall and via Zoom. MORE

Jones Library, Inc. – Personnel, Planning, and Policy Committee – Tuesday

The above committee will meet via Zoom with the following list of topics: Minutes; Public Comment; Library Governance/System Structure; and JEDI Report. MORE

Superintendency Union 26 Committee & Regional School Committee Joint Meeting – Tuesday

A joint meeting of the Superintendency Union 26 Committee and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee will be held 5:00 PM at the Amherst Regional Middle School Library, 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst. The committees will consider entering executive session to continue discussions about the complaints against the superintendent.

Public Shade Tree Committee – Tuesday

The Public Shade Tree Committee will meet at 5:30 – 7:30 PM via Zoom. The meeting will include the following presentations and discussions: 2nd Saturday workdays – Placing tree protectors; Town Tree Inventory; Environmental Justice Neighborhood Planting; Nursery – Spring work list; Tree City USA; and Massachusetts Envirothon. MORE

Community Safety & Social Justice Committee – Wednesday

The Community Safety & Social Justice Committee will be meeting from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM via Zoom. MORE

Amherst Conservation Commission Public Hearing and Meeting – Wednesday

The Amherst Conservation Committee will meet from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM via Zoom on Wednesday. Public hearing will be held for projects at 25-35 University Drive & 422 Amity Street (Map 13B, Lots 18 27, 28 & 54), 285 Sunderland Road (Map 2C, Lot 3), Old Montague Road (Map 2A, Lot 36) and 742 Main Street (Map 15A, Lot 105). MORE

Housing Subcommittee of the Planning Board – Wednesday

The Housing Subcommittee will meet via Zoom from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM to continue discussions on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and the student home definition, and zoning overlay for existing apartments. MORE

Full Moon Hike to Mount Norwottuck – Wednesday

The Kestrel Land Trust will sponsor a guided night hike on Wednesday, February 12, 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM, featuring a moon-rise climb to the top of Mount Norwottuck on the Mount Holyoke Range. The full moon in February is called the Snow Moon. $ MORE

Amherst Woman’s Club featuring Shalini Bahl – Thursday

Author Shalini Bahl Ph.D. will speak on “Waking Up in the West: How Breaking Free from Default Stories Creates Personal Fulfillment and Collective Good” on Thursday, February 13th at the Woman’s Club at 25 Triangle Street, Amherst. Wine & Cheese at 6 PM, followed by the talk at 6:30 PM. Registration is required. MORE

Board of Assessors – Friday

The Board of Assessors will conduct a regular meeting at the First Floor Meeting Room at Town Hall from 9:15 AM to 11:15 AM. MORE

Cuppa’ Joe with Paul and Tree Warden Alan Snow – Friday

Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockleman continues his Cuppa’ Joe series by hosting Alan Snow, Tree Warden and Division Director for Tree & Grounds. Snow has worked with the Town for over 10 years overseeing maintenance of all the town’s public trees, athletic fields, parks, cemeteries, and other public grounds. Space is limited for this event. Meet at the new West Street Coffee and Tea at 450 West Street, Amherst from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM.

2nd Annual WinterFest Games at the Mill River Recreation Area – Saturday

Amherst’s week of Winterfest kicks off with the 2nd Annual WinterFest Games at the Mill River Recreation Area from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. The Games will entail a fun-filled afternoon with friendly competition, including snowball fights, street hockey with Amherst-Pelham Regional High School Boys Hockey Team, and a Frosty Fun Carnival. Cheer on the return of the exciting Atkins Farms Cider Donut Eating Contest. There’s something for everyone, no matter the weather. This event is organized by Amherst Recreation and sponsored by Amherst Innovative Living and The Mill District General Store & Local Art Gallery. MORE

More Amherst Winterfest events – Saturday

There are nearly a dozen other events on Saturday February 15th, including events at the Hitchcock Center, Jones Library, UMass men’s basketball and hockey games, Amherst Cinema, Amherst Historical Society, Amherst College men’s hockey and basketball games, public skating at the Mullins Center Community Ice Rink, and Amherst College women’s hockey. See details for these and other Amherst Winterfest events HERE

Events at The Drake this Week

This week and the Drake will have Local Mojo with three indie artists: Fai Laci, Skruple, and Grand View Point on Thursday evening. Friday has a sold-out show featuring Fleshwater. Saturday February 15th will feature Oh He Dead with ViRG, defined as upbeat indie soul. The Drake has the doors open at 7:00 PM with an 8:00 PM starts. $ MORE

Amherst Cinema this Week

Amherst Cinema will be showing the movies I”m Still Here, Hard Truths, Flow, The Brutalist, and Nickel Boys, with the new movies Armand and No Other Land opening Friday February 14th! MORE.

Jones Library this Week

The Jones Library has another full week of in-person activities, including Knit/Crochet for a Cause, Sit & Stitch, Community Gaming Group, Reading the Classics, Sing with Your Baby, Storytime and Play, Teen Lounge, and Poetry Club. Children’s Songs and Singing Games with Roger Tincknell will be Saturday from 10:30 – 11:30 AM. Author Hour this week feature bestselling authors Heather Fawcett on Monday 7:00 – 8:00 PM via Zoom, and Christopher Farnsworth on Thursday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, also via Zoom. See their calendar for details HERE

Visual Arts Presentation at the UMass Museum of Contemporary Art – Thursday

Opening reception for Is anything the matter? Drawings by Laylah Ali and High Five/Take Five will be at 5:00 PM Thursday at the University Museum of Contemporary Art, UMass Amherst.
Contemporary visual artist Laylah Ali presents a body of more than a hundred drawings exploring race, gender, and power. And the dynamic, interactive exhibition, High Five/Take Five, invites viewers to slow down, look closely, and engage with five remarkable works from the museum’s permanent collection. MORE

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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.