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 and recreational events that caught our eye.

Finance Committee of the Town Council — Tuesday

The committee will review the third quarter budget report, take up a Community Preservation Act appropriation for the Jones Library project, consider the Amherst Pelham Regional School District borrowing order of $497,000 for building repairs and equipment, review the committee’s draft report to Council, continue discussions about questions to ask of town departments and schools, and finalize the budget calendar for May and June. Tuesday, 1:00–3:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Energy and Climate Action Committee — Wednesday

The committee will prepare questions for an upcoming meeting with Representative Mindy Domb, discuss Sustainability Festival planning, and hear an Education Series presentation on decarbonizing local campuses from representatives of Amherst College, Hampshire College, and UMass Amherst, as well as updates on heat pumps, the draft solar bylaw (also referred to as the Clean Energy Bylaw), transportation, the UMass Climate Plan, and regional and state policy. Wednesday, 5:30–7:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Planning Board — Wednesday

The board will review and discuss the Downtown Design Standards and Clean Energy Bylaw, take up the East Amherst Local Historic District with a possible vote on recommendations to Town Council, discuss potential zoning amendments to allow housing in the Professional and Research Park district, conduct a final review of the Open Space and Recreation Plan, and review a draft memo to Town Council on mixed-use building zoning amendments. Wednesday, 6:30–9:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Amherst Conservation Commission — Wednesday

The commission will hold a wetlands hearing on a Notice of Intent for the construction of a two-family duplex at 174 Amity Street on behalf of the Amherst Community Land Trust, and will discuss the Conservation Land Management Policy final draft, the commission’s correspondence protocol and budget, a letter of review for the Open Space and Recreation Plan, and a request to amend an Order of Conditions for 37 Bay Road. Wednesday, 7:00–10:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

“Why Compassion Matters in Challenging Times” – Wednesday

The Amherst College Department of Religion will host a lecture on Wednesday with Geshe Thubten Jinpa, Ph.D.. Thupten Jinpa is a renowned Tibetan scholar, author, and the principal English translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A leading voice in compassion training, Buddhist thought, and the dialogue between contemplative practice and science, he brings deep insight to the question of why compassion matters, especially in challenging times. Wednesday, 7:00 PM in Johnson Chapel at Amherst College. MORE

ARHS Varsity Athletics at Home – Thursday-Saturday

Catch ARHS varsity athletes in action at home this week!  Boys Lacrosse on Thursday vs. Northampton at 4:00 PM and on Saturday vs. Oakmont at 11:00 AM. Boys Baseball on Friday vs. Frontier at 4:00 PM.  MORE

Amherst Arts Night Plus — Thursday

The Amherst Business Improvement District and Amherst Center Cultural District are proud to announce the return of Amherst Arts Night Plus, a vibrant celebration of the town’s creative community, taking place this Thursday. After a 6 year hiatus, Arts Night Plus returns with renewed energy, inviting residents, students, and visitors to experience an evening filled with art, culture, and connection. The event will feature 15+ local artists showcasing their work across a variety of downtown businesses. Free parking is available in all metered spaces and lots in Downtown Amherst during the event. Thursday, 5:00-8:00 PM throughout downtown Amherst. MORE

Zoning Board of Appeals — Thursday

The board will hold a public meeting with Valley Community Development Corporation to review affirmative fair marketing plan and deed documents per conditions of a prior special permit, and will conduct a public hearing on a request at 43 South Prospect Street to modify a special permit condition by removing an owner-occupancy requirement. Thursday, 6:00–9:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Talking Tech: Nothing to Hide? Privacy in the Age of Oversharing – Thursday

In the third installment of the Talking Tech series at UMass Downtown, UMass faculty Francine Berman and Laura Haas will tackle privacy in the digital age. How much privacy do you have and how can you protect it? Sponsored by Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences and Public Interest Technology Initiative at UMass, Talking Tech aims to demystify the technology that drives our world. 

Francine Berman is Director of Public Interest Technology in the Manning College of Computer and Information Sciences at UMass, as well as a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. Laura Haas is Professor and former Dean of the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences at UMass. Haas was formerly an IBM Fellow, leading research and development in data management and data science. Thursday, 6:00 PM at UMass Downtown. MORE

History Bites: Frederick Law Olmsted – Friday

To celebrate Frederick Law Olmsted’s 204th birthday weekend, the Amherst Historical Society welcomes Mark Roessler, recent author of Fairsted, Reflections on how Olmsted helped heal a fractured democracy, published by Levellers Press.

Roessler’s History Bite lecture will provide a brief overview of Olmsted’s work in Amherst and a video tour inside Olmsted’s home and office in Brookline, MA. He will conclude with the story of how Olmsted quit Central Park, vowing never to return to park design, and the journey he and his family went on that changed his mind. In the last 30 years of his life, Olmsted helped design over 40 public parks across America and Canada. Some see this as the evolution of a successful career in landscape architecture. Friday, 12:00-1:00 PM at the Bangs Community Center. MORE

Thee Sinseers @ The Drake – Friday

Straight out of East L.A. and led by multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer-songwriter Joseph Quiñones, Thee Sinseers feature a full brass section led by Eric Johnson (Tenor sax), Steve Surman (Bari sax) and Joseluis Jimenez (trombone). The line up also includes sweet harmonies and a tight rhythm section consisting of Christopher Manjarrez (Bass), Francisco Flores (Guitar), Bryan Ponce (Guitar/vox), Luis Carpio (Drums/vox) and Adriana Flores (Vox). Together they are a part of a community of musicians who are tying together the nostalgic and the classic with the innovative and the new to bring a unique sound to soul music. Friday, 8:00 PM at The Drake. MORE

Amherst Sustainability Festival – Saturday

The Amherst Sustainability Festival brings the community together on Saturday for a day of family fun, education, and entertainment as we celebrate our collective efforts towards a more sustainable future. This free and family friendly event brings together local farmers, environmental vendors, advocacy groups, live entertainment, hands-on demonstrations, sustainable crafts, and much more. The event is hosted by the Town of Amherst Sustainability Department and the Town of Amherst Department of Public Works Tree and Grounds Division. Saturday, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM on the Town Common. MORE

Big Brothers Big Sisters 16th Annual Daffodil Run – Sunday

Join CHD’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County for the 16th Annual Daffodil Run! This event helps sustain the power of youth mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters by connecting adult mentors with young people in our community. 

This community event has become the first marker of spring for the town of Amherst and draws hundreds of people to the area to participate and cheer on their family and friends. The post-race party includes music and tasty food offered from local favorites. There will be yellow kites for flying on the Common, entertainment, and (weather permitting) picnic-style games. Sunday, Registration begins at 8:30 AM, Races begin at 10:00 AM from the Town Common. Learn more and sign up.

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Have an event you’d like us to spotlight? Email us TheAmherstCurrent@gmail.com. We publish the Amherst Week Ahead on Mondays; events that are submitted by Friday at midnight will be considered for the following Monday’s post. If your event is on a weekend, please submit it at least 10 days before the event.