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! Girls Lacrosse vs. Chicopee, Monday at 4:15 pm, vs. Belchertown, Tuesday at 4:15 pm, and vs. Granby, Friday at 4:15 pm. Boys Baseball vs. Chicopee, Monday at 4:30 pm and vs. Mount Greylock, Wednesday at 4:30 pm. Girls Tennis vs. Westfield, Monday at 5:15 pm. Girls Softball vs. Westfield Tech, Monday at 5:15 pm and vs. Smith Voc, Friday at 4:30 pm.  MORE

Recreation Commission – Monday

The Amherst Recreation Commission meets on Monday to review and discuss the War Memorial pool and aquatics, the track and field project at the high school, the Cherry Hill (golf course) Working Group, and planning for Independence Day 2025. Monday, 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

Town Council – Monday

The Town Council meets on Monday, beginning with a special joint meeting with the Finance Committee. The joint meeting is to host a public forum on the Community Preservation Act proposed appropriations and appropriations from Free Cash for the Charter Review Committee to hire a consultant. During its regular meeting afterward, the Council will hear a presentation and discuss impacts of FY26 financial decisions and potentially vote on the FY26 Regional Schools assessment, operating budget, and capital debt authorization. After the Town Council rejected the assessment recommended by the Regional School Committee (RSC), the RSC met on March 31 and made no changes to its FY26 operating budget but revised the approach it uses to allocate costs to the four member towns to the statutory assessment method. This method requires the approval of three of the four member towns to pass.

The Town Council will also discuss proposals to revise its guidelines for building the FY26 budget and to create a Fiscal Stabilization and Planning Task Force.

And, the Council will consider a vote on the proposed zoning overlay on University Drive that’s intended to significantly increase housing, particularly affordable housing. Monday, 6:30-10:30 pm in Town Hall and on Zoom. MORE

Commission for Persons with Disabilities – Tuesday

The new Commission for Persons with Disabilities holds its first meeting on Tuesday. At this meeting, the Commission will elect officers, review its website, and discuss supporting legislation proposed by Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, collaboration with Northampton and Easthampton on a film series, as well as support for accessible trails. Tuesday, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee – Tuesday

The Town Council committee on Governance, Organization, and Legislation meets on Tuesday to review and potentially vote on the charge for a successor body to the African Heritage Reparations Assembly. They’ll also discuss and potentially vote on the process and timeline for filling current vacancies on the Finance Committee and the Charter Review Committee. Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom. MORE

Amherst & Regional School Committees Joint Meeting – Tuesday

The Amherst School Committee and the Regional School Committee meet jointly with the Pelham School Committee on Tuesday. The Regional SC will convene first and consider entering Executive Session to discuss strategy related to its contract negotiation with the APEA, the union representing teachers, paraeducators, and clerical staff. After returning to open meeting, the Amherst and Pelham SCs will join to review the Central Office staffing chart, appoint a Finance Director, and discuss a mid-year evaluation of the Superintendent. The SCs also will review several proposed policies, including a new draft policy about handling public complaints. Tuesday, 6:30 pm in the library at ARHS and on Amherst Media. MORE

Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival – Tuesday

Presented by the Springfield JCC and now in its 19th year, the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival proudly continues its tradition of showcasing award-winning films from around the globe. PVJFF presents critically-acclaimed films that not only entertain, but also provide opportunities for reflection, discussion, and a deeper understanding of our complex, diverse world. The festival concludes on Tuesday with a screening of The Blond Boy from the Casbah followed by a discussion with Dr. Simon Sibelman, Professor Emeritus, French and Holocaust Studies, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Tuesday, 7:00 pm at Amherst Cinema. MORE.

Amherst Oyster Bar Ribbon-Cutting & After-5 Networking – Wednesday

The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its April “After 5” Networking Event at the newly-opened Amherst Oyster Bar on Wednesday. The event will bring together local business owners, community leaders, and stakeholders to foster meaningful connections and explore new opportunities. A highlight of the evening will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of Amherst Oyster Bar, which officially opened its doors on April 1. Guests will enjoy a sampling of the restaurant’s coastal-inspired menu, including oysters on the half shell, baked oysters, fried calamari, burnt end-style mushrooms, and more. Open to all. Find out more and reserve your spot: MORE

Community Safety & Social Justice Committee – Wednesday

The CSSJ Committee meets on Wednesday to hear updates on multiple topics, including CRESS & DEI, ROB, and YEC. (Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; and the proposed Resident Oversight Board and Youth Empowerment Center) Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom. MORE

Zoning Board of Appeals Public Hearing and Meeting – Thursday

The ZBA hosts a public hearing about a request related to parking at 63-65 Salem St. and about a request for a special permit for a solar installation on Shutesbury Rd. At the ZBA public meeting, the board will review a presentation of a new owner’s management plan at a property at 120 Belchertown Rd. Thursday, 6:00-10:00 pm on Zoom. MORE  

Cuppa Joe with Paul and Director of Recreation Rey Harp – Friday

Join Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman for this month’s Cuppa Joe with Director of Recreation Rey Harp. Amherst Recreation’s mission is to enrich the quality of life for all members of the community by providing the highest level of recreational programs, facilities, and services. They host special events, summer camps, swimming lessons, after-school programs, and other recreation initiatives for community members of all ages. Amherst Recreation also oversees Amherst’s public swimming pools, recreation areas, and the Cherry Hill Golf Course. Friday, 8:00-9:30 am at Coronation Cafe. MORE

Joint Capital Planning Committee – Friday

The JCPC meets on Friday to continue work on its draft FY26 recommendation and to discuss the impact of FY26 financial decisions on the five-year capital plan. Friday, 2:00-4:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

History Bites: Stained Glass in Amherst – Friday

The Amherst Historical Society’s lunchtime series, History Bites, continues on Friday with a presentation about stained glass in Amherst. Downtown Amherst is fortunate to have a great deal of interesting stained glass within a tight geographic area, not only in its churches but also at the Mead Art Museum, Town Hall, and in private homes. Suzannah Fabing Muspratt, retired director of the Smith College Museum of Art, will lead an armchair tour, explaining how these works fit into the history of stained glass as it evolved, first in Europe and later in America. Friday, 12:30-1:30 pm at Bangs Community Center. MORE

Tank and the Bangas – Friday

Head to the Drake on Friday to hear Grammy-winning Tank and the Bangas. New Orleans-based Tank and the Bangas rose to fame in 2017 following their unanimous NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest victory. Bringing their blend of poetry, R&B, gospel and pop to a worldwide stage, Tank and the Bangas have been praised as one of the “best live bands in America” by NPR Music. In 2019, the band released their major label debut, Green Balloon to critical praise earning the band a Best New Artist nomination at that year’s Grammy Awards. Their third studio album Red Balloon received a nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Their most recent album, The Heart, The Mind, The Soul earned the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album. Friday, 8:00 pm at The Drake. 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.