It’s Memorial Day Monday, the unofficial kickoff to summer, 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.

Finance Committee – Tuesday

The Finance Committee completed its detailed review of the proposed FY26 budget and capital program over several meetings across the last two weeks. On Tuesday, the Committee meets to discuss the overall FY26 budget and its recommendation to the Town Council. The Town Council is expected to discuss the budget on June 2 and will vote on the budget on June 2 or June 16. For more about the budget, including the Town Manager presentation and the complete budget documents, go to the Town website. Tuesday, 2:00-4:00 pm on Zoom, MORE

Charter Review Feedback Subcommittee – Tuesday

The subcommittee of the Charter Review Committee that’s charged with outreach and feedback (the “Feedback Subcommittee” or the “Outreach Subcommittee”) meets on Tuesday to discuss its plans for collecting input from the public regarding the Town’s charter. Tuesday, 4:30-6:30 pm on Zoom. MORE.

Joint School Committees – Tuesday

The Regional School Committee meets on Tuesday, beginning with an executive session to discuss strategy related to ongoing negotiations with the APEA, the union representing teachers, paraeducators, and clerical staff in the Regional, Amherst, and Pelham school districts.

Later, the RSC meets jointly with the Amherst SC and the Pelham SC to discuss and vote on a revised school calendar for the upcoming school year as well as the timeline for the superintendent evaluation. The SCs also will discuss plans for an upcoming meeting with the four towns of the Regional school district about the future of education funding. 

The Regional SC will later consider entering executive session, jointly with the superintendency Union 26 committee, to discuss strategy related to contract negotiations with the superintendent. Tuesday, 6:30 pm in the library at ARHS and on Amherst Media. MORE

Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee – Tuesday

The Town Council committee on Governance, Organization, and Legislation meets on Tuesday to discuss a variety of topics, including the committee charge for the Amherst Black Reparations Committee and changes to rates and regulations for water and sewer service. Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom. MORE

Benny Benack III with Northampton Jazz Workshop – Wednesday

Head to The Drake on Wednesday to hear “fiery trumpet player” and singer Benny Benack III with the Northampton Jazz Workshop. Benack was recognized by the 2025 Downbeat Readers Poll where he won the category of Rising Star Male Vocalist and placed #8 as a Rising Star Trumpeter as well. Wednesday, 7:30 pm at The Drake. MORE

Maya and the Wave – Wednesday

Also on Wednesday, Amherst Cinema presents Maya and the Wave, a film that tells the extraordinary story of Maya Gabeira, the first woman to surf the giant wave in Nazaré, Portugal. She nearly drowns—and is ridiculed by the male big wave surfers who dominate the sport.

Three spine surgeries and five years later, she surfs the biggest wave a woman has ever surfed. When her accomplishment is disregarded, Maya enlists the help of her fans to fight for recognition—and becomes the first female surfer honored with a Guinness World Record in big wave surfing.

This special screening includes an exclusive pre-taped Q&A with surfer Maya Gabeira, executive producer Rashida Jones, and director Stephanie Johnes. Wednesday, 7:00 pm at Amherst Cinema. MORE

ARPS Performing Arts Events – Wednesday-Sunday

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and the NAMM Foundation recently named Amherst Regional Public Schools one of 1,000 “Best Communities for Music Education.” The award comes with funding between $5K-$25K and recognizes schools and districts for their support and commitment to music education. 

Come out for one of ARPS’ end of year events! On Wednesday (7:00-8:00 pm), the high school orchestra presents a concert at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Hadley. On Friday and Saturday (7:30 pm), the middle school Drama Club presents its Spring Scene Festival at the middle school auditorium. And, on Sunday (1:00-3:00 pm), head to the high school auditorium for the Community Bombazo, a relaxed community jam and meal, open to the public (no experience necessary!) MORE

Exhibition on Screen: Michelangelo-Love and Death – Saturday

In celebration of the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo’s birth, Amherst Cinema presents this encore screening of Michelangelo: Love and Death. The film offers a cinematic journey through the great chapels and museums of Florence, Rome and the Vatican, to the print and drawing rooms of Europe, to explore Michelangelo’s tempestuous life. The film goes in search of a greater understanding of this charismatic and enigmatic figure, both through his relationships with his contemporaries and his ongoing artistic legacy. Saturday, 1:30 pm at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Call for Volunteers: UMass Civic Initiative

The UMass Civic Initiative is seeking families or individuals to participate in the Summer 2025 Homestay Program. A homestay brings together one or two international undergraduate students with local individuals or families in the Pioneer Valley. The experiences are overnight. Homestay students are from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, and Tunisia. An eligible family will live no more than an hour’s drive from Amherst. Besides meals, hosts can arrange local activities like a movie, a hike, or sporting event. A typical guest number is two students per home. Homestay dates are one-night stays from June 27 to July 14. Those interested should email Theresa or call 413-575-1709. Learn more about the Civic Initiative, HERE.

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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.