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 Baseball vs. Monument Mountain, Monday at 4:30 pm and vs. Southwick, Friday at 4:30 pm. Boys Lacrosse vs. Pope Francis, Monday at 4:30 pm. Girls Tennis vs. Ludlow, Monday at 5:00 pm. Girls Ultimate Frisbee vs. Northfield Mount Hermon, Wednesday at 4:15 pm. Girls Lacrosse vs. Hampshire, Thursday at 4:15 pm. Boys Tennis vs. Ludlow, Thursday at 5:00 pm. MORE

Freedman Lecture: How can Universities Navigate the Current Moment? – Monday

The College of Social & Behavioral Science at UMass presents this year’s Freedman Lecture on Monday. In anticipation of the upcoming April 17th Day of Action for Higher Ed, this year’s lecture – How Can Universities Navigate the Current Moment? – promises to be an intense discussion of the future of higher education and academic freedom. The lecture is by Robert Shibley, Special Counsel for Campus Advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), and Hank Reichman, Former Chair of the American Association of University Professors’ (AAUP) Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure, The talk will be moderated by Jamie Rowen, Associate Professor of Legal Studies at UMass Amherst. Refreshments will be served. Monday, 4:00-5:30 pm in the Great Hall in Old Chapel at UMass. MORE

Recreation Commission – Monday

The Amherst Recreation Commission canceled its meeting last week and meets instead 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

Special Meeting of the Town Council & Jones Library Trustees – Monday

The Town Council meets virtually and jointly with the Jones Library Trustees on Monday for the specific purpose to consider a proposal to rescind the appropriations and borrowing authorization for the Jones Library Renovation & Expansion Building Project. The special meeting was called by Councilors Robert Hegner (District 5), Cathy Schoen (District 1), and Jennifer Taub (District 4) in an April 9th memo to Council President Lynn Griesemer (District 2). Monday, 6:30-10:30 pm on Zoom. MORE

Finance Committee – Tuesday

The Finance Committee meets on Tuesday to review the Regional School FY26 budget items, including the assessment to Amherst, the operating budget, and the capital spending budget, that were referred to the committee by the Town Council. The committee also will consider the proposal to revise FY26 budget guidelines that also was referred by the Council. Tuesday, 2:00-4:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

Amherst School Committee Meeting – Tuesday

The Amherst School Committee meets on Tuesday to hear an update on the Early Education Center and review the FY25 3rd Quarter budget update. The SC also will consider entering an Executive Session to discuss strategy related to unspecified litigation or negotiation. Tuesday, 6:30 pm on Amherst Media. MORE

Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home – Tuesday

The Jones Library continues its series that celebrates the rich tradition of Latino poetry with an event on Tuesday evening, The Chaos Beneath Returns: Public Reading by U.S. Latino Poets. María Camila Vera Arias, Magdalena Gómez, and Elías Villanueva Gomez share their works in this event moderated by Dr. Ilan Stavans, the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities and Latin American and Latino Culture at Amherst College. Tuesday, 7:00 pm in the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library. MORE  

Planning Board Public Hearing and Meeting – Wednesday

The Planning Board hosts two public hearings on Wednesday. The first hearing is about a preliminary subdivision plan proposed by W.D. Cowls for property on Shutesbury Rd. The second hearing is about the site plan review and special permit application by Archipelago Investments related to its proposed mixed-use development at Atkins Corner in South Amherst. After the public hearings, the Board will continue its general housing discussions, including the Housing Production Plan Goals & Strategies, the proposed ADU bylaw, and a potential overlay district for existing apartment complexes. Wednesday, 6:30-9:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

2025 James Baldwin Lecture: Steven Salaita – Wednesday

The James Baldwin Lecture at UMass addresses issues connected to social, economic, and political justice and underpinnings in institutional racism. The lecture honors the late James Baldwin, who taught at UMass for several years. In this year’s talk, Steven Salaita will draw on his recent memoir, An Honest Living, to explore questions of honesty and dishonesty on campus. Is it possible for a professor to pursue an honest living? What might it look like? Conversely, are there forms of dishonesty that can be considered ethical or necessary amid the predominant cultures of academe? Salaita will consider these questions through analysis of labor, inequality, alienation, and political violence on and off campus. Steven Salaita is professor of English and comparative literature at the American University in Cairo. Wednesday, 6:00 pm at UMass Old Chapel and on Zoom. MORE

ARPS Music Fundraiser with Yasu & Friends – Thursday

Head to The Drake on Thursday for this musical fundraiser for the Amherst elementary schools instrumental music program, hosted by Yasu & Friends. For the past five years, Yasu & Friends  has brought their vibrant, original sound to the Pioneer Valley, blending rock, funk, and J-pop influences. Their performances have been a staple at local festivals and events such as the Fall Festival, Early Apple Festival, Garlic and Arts Festival, and the Amherst Block Party. The event also features student and staff musicians from the elementary and high schools. Thursday, 7:00 pm at The Drake. MORE

Amherst League of Women Voters Series: Market with Purpose – Thursday

Join the conversation on how the Amherst Mobile Market fills a gap in access to fresh produce while building community and promoting local economic development. Rossana Salazar, Rani Parker, Isabel Ramirez Balderas, and Elizabeth Castro Sanchez will describe how the mobile markets are designed to ensure that no one has to go without healthy and affordable food. Thursday, 7:00-8:30 pm on Zoom. MORE

A Thousand Words Film & Conversation Series: Legend – Thursday

Amherst Cinema presents a new series that invites writers, poets, and novelists to program a film accompanying a discussion around their use of the written word in relation to the moving image. Discover how the selected film inspires them, and where it intersects with their practice. On Thursday, see Ridley Scott’s Legend and a post-film discussion with #1 New York Times bestselling fantasy author Holly Black. In this epic dark fantasy adventure, Darkness (Tim Curry) seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack (Tom Cruise) will do everything possible to save the world—and his paramour, Princess Lili (Mia Sara). Thursday, 7:00 pm at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Amherst College Artist Connections Concert – Saturday

Head to the Jones Library on Saturday for live music performed by four Amherst College seniors, part of the Amherst College Artist Connections initiative! They will perform a string quartet by Haydn, along with several solo works. Performers will be Hannah Kim (violin), Daniel Martin (violin), Harry Panner (viola), and Oren Tirschwell (cello). Saturday, 3:30-4:30 pm in the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library. MORE

Note: this post was updated. The Town Council joint meeting with the Jones Library Trustees on Monday is a virtual-only meeting; there will be no in-person meeting in Town Hall. Also, the Amherst School Committee meeting on Tuesday is a virtual-only meeting.

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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.