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-Saturday

Catch ARHS varsity athletes in action at home this week!  Girls Softball vs. Pope Francis, Monday at 4:00 pm, vs. Gateway on Tuesday at 4:00 pm, vs. Belchertown on Thursday at 7:00 pm and vs. Lee on Saturday at 12:00 pm. Boys Tennis vs. Chicopee, Monday at 4:15 pm, and vs. Longmeadow on Thursday at 4:15 pm. Girls Lacrosse vs. Lee, Wednesday at 7:00 pm and vs. Belchertown on Saturday at 12:00 pm. Boys Baseball vs. Ludlow, Wednesday at 7:00 pm. Boys Ultimate Frisbee vs. Northampton, Thursday at 7:00 pm. Boys Lacrosse vs. W. Springfield, Saturday at 2:30 pm.  MORE

Public Hearing on FY26 Budget – Monday

The Town Council and the Finance Committee jointly host a public hearing on Monday about the proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The Town Manager presented the budget to the Town Council at its May 5 meeting. The Finance Committee will review the proposed budget in detail and prepare its analysis and recommendation to the Town Council on May 27. The Town Council is expected to discuss the budget at its meetings on June 2 and June 16, and will vote on June 16. For more information, go to the Town website. Monday, 6:30-10:30 pm in Town Hall and on Zoom. MORE

Finance Committee – Tuesday and Thursday

The Finance Committee continues its detailed review of the proposed FY26 budget and capital program at two meetings this week. On Tuesday, the Committee reviews the budgets for multiple municipal departments, including the Town Manager Office, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, and Facilities. On Thursday, the Committee reviews the public safety budgets, including Police, Fire, Dispatch, and CRESS. Tuesday, 2:00-4:00 pm on Zoom, MORE; and Thursday, 9:00-11:00 am on Zoom, MORE.

Regional School Committee & Amherst School Committee – Tuesday

The Regional School Committee meets jointly with the Amherst School Committee on Tuesday to continue discussions of follow-ups to the Superintendent’s mid-year evaluation and to hear an update on the Student Opportunity Act. Prior to the joint meeting, the Regional SC will meet to hear a presentation from the middle school student council and will enter Executive Session to discuss strategy related to negotiations with the APEA, the union representing teachers, paraeducators, and clerical staff in the Regional, Amherst, and Pelham districts. Tuesday, 6:30 pm in the library at ARHS and on Amherst Media. MORE

Community Safety & Social Justice Committee – Wednesday

The CSSJ Committee meets on Wednesday to discuss updates on the Town’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department, the Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service (CRESS), the proposed Youth Empowerment Center, and more. Wednesday, 6:30-9:30 pm on Zoom. MORE

Music from Ukraine & for Ukraine – Wednesday

Music From Ukraine and for Ukraine, at The Drake, brings together powerful works by a remarkable group of Ukrainian composers whose voices reflect the country’s rich cultural legacy, artistic innovation, and enduring spirit. From the trailblazing electroacoustic explorations of Alla Zahaikevych—a  pioneer in Ukraine’s contemporary and multimedia music scene—to the  dramatic sound-world of Leonid Hrabovsky, a composer praised by Shostakovich himself, this concert features a wide cross-section of  Ukrainian musical brilliance.

All  proceeds from this concert will go directly to support the Kharkiv University of the Arts, a vital cultural institution rebuilding and preserving Ukraine’s artistic future in the face of war and  displacement. Wednesday, 7:00 pm at The Drake. MORE

Amherst Artisans Market – Thursday

Get ready to experience the vibrant arts scene of Amherst like never before! The Amherst Artisans Market invites you to join them every Thursday on the lawn in front of the Amherst History Museum.

Each week, enjoy a wide variety of handcrafted goods, meet talented local artisans, and celebrate the creativity that makes our community special. The market runs every Thursday through October, rain or shine! Thursday, 3:00-7:00 pm at the Amherst History Museum. MORE

Town Hall Art Exhibit Opening Reception – Friday

During May and June, the Amherst Town Hall Art Gallery will show paintings by Celeste Sze. The public is invited to meet the artist at a free reception in the gallery on Friday. Refreshments will be served. Celeste is a local painter with a painting and art history degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her current theme is the spirits of the plains, inspired by time spent with her fiancé and his family in South Dakota. Friday, 6:00-7:30 pm in Town Hall. MORE

Gold Dust w/ The Croaks, Silvie’s Okay, Mibble – Friday

Head to The Drake on Friday evening for a local album release show for the new album from Gold Dust. The album, In the Shade of the Living Light, embraces you with captivating guitar squalls and warm vocal harmonies, steady rhythms, and an innovative blend of influences, from traditional folk to West Coast psych, alternative punk, jangle-rock, and ‘90s college rock. 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.