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.

ARHS Varsity Athletics at Home – Thursday-Saturday

Catch ARHS varsity athletes in action at home this week!  Boys Tennis vs. Frontier, Monday at 4:15 PM and vs. Ludlow on Thursday at 4:15 PM. Boys Lacrosse vs. Pope Francis on Tuesday at 4:15 PM. Coed Ulitmate Frisbee vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion on Tuesday at 4:30 PM. Boys Baseball vs. Mahar on Tuesday at 4:30 PM. Girls Ultimate Frisbee vs. Four Rivers on Wednesday at 3:00 PM. Girls Tennis vs. Belchertown on Wednesday at 4:15 PM. Girls Lacrosse vs. Granby on Friday at 4:15 PM. MORE

Design Review Board — Monday

The board will hold a public meeting on two applications: signage for Zinneken’s Waffles at 28 Amity Street (continued from March), and the addition of two decorative split rail fences for Native Plant Pollinator Gardens at the Summit Academy entrance of Amherst Regional High School at 21 Mattoon Street, and will also hold an internal discussion on Downtown Design Standards. Monday, 4:30–6:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Town Council — Monday

The council will hold a hearing on an Eversource petition for underground conduit at College and Dickinson Streets, receive a zoning introduction and an update on the Hampshire College closure, and take action on a referral of a proposed Clean Energy Infrastructure zoning amendment, the Regional School District borrowing order of $497,000, FY2027 Community Preservation Act appropriations including funding for the Jones Library and the War Memorial Bathhouse, a Charter 2.8(c) request for information on the Town Manager’s executive order on immigration activities, and two Town Manager appointments. The Council will enter an Executive Session at the end of the regular meeting, to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property at 893 West Street, the Red Barn at Hampshire College. Monday, 6:30–10:30 PM, in person at Town Hall, and via Zoom. MORE

The Jones Library, Inc. Buildings and Facilities Committee — Tuesday

The committee will review the monthly buildings and grounds report and discuss library art, including an English Nobleman painting, placement of existing art pieces, donor wall examples, interior and exterior mural options, and new art pieces for the Children’s and Teen Rooms and library card. Tuesday, 9:00–10:00 AM, via Zoom. MORE

Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee of the Town Council — Tuesday

The committee will discuss a Resident Oversight Board, consider proclamations for Jewish American Heritage Month, ALS Awareness Month, and Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, review the Human Rights Commission Bylaw and Charge, take up Charter Review recommendations, and address vacancies on the Bylaw Review Committee including selection guidance, interview questions, and the applicant pool. Tuesday, 6:30–8:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Ideas for Turning “Unrecyclable” Waste into Valuable Products – Tuesday

Have you ever wondered what really happens to a chip bag after you toss it? Have you thought about the hidden price we pay to keep those chips perfectly crispy? Head to UMass Downtown to uncover the fate of multilayer plastic packaging and see how senior UMass Chemical Engineering students are designing innovative re/upcycling processes to turn multilayer plastics into valuable products. Presented in partnership with the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Tuesday, 6:00-7:00 PM at UMass Downtown. MORE

UMass Founders Day – Wednesday

Founders Day is a beloved campus tradition honoring everything that makes UMass special: the people, places, and progress. On Wednesday, UMass Amherst invites the community to explore its museums, galleries, green houses, libraries, and maker spaces. Connect with one another, catch the UMass spirit, take in a performance, and engage with university experts on everything from campus trees and pollinators to the latest research in robotics, social science, and wellbeing.

The Founders Day schedule includes more than 30 activities across 18 locations around campus over 11 hours. From tours and open houses to museums, galleries, and spirit stations, and a free community lunch, there’s something for all to enjoy at Founders Day. Wednesday, 9:00 AM-8:00 PM at locations throughout the UMass campus. MORE

Joint Policy Subcommittee of Amherst Regional Public Schools — Wednesday

The subcommittee will discuss Policy JKAA, a policy about the use of physical restraint and seclusion with students, and begin creating a list of policy suggestions. Wednesday, 5:00–6:00 PM, in person at the Superintendent’s Conference Room, Amherst Regional Middle School. MORE

A Thousand Words presents: A Matter of Life & Death – Wednesday

Amherst Cinema’s series, A Thousand Words, invites writers, poets, and novelists to Amherst Cinema, asking each guest to program a film accompanying a discussion around their use of the written word in relation to the moving image. Poet Peter Gizzi joins for this screening of A Matter of Life and Death. 

A British wartime aviator who cheats death (David Niven) must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American radio operator (Kim Hunter). From the legendary filmmaking team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus), this cosmic romance alternates between rich Technicolor scenes on earth and a starkly beautiful, modernist black-and-white afterlife.

Peter Gizzi is the author of several collections of poetry, most recently Fierce Elegy, Winner of the Massachusetts Book Award (2023). He teaches poetry and poetics at UMass Amherst. Wednesday, 7:00 PM at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Joint Policy Subcommittee of Amherst Regional Public Schools — Thursday

The subcommittee will discuss Policy JKAA and continue developing a list of policy suggestions. Thursday, 5:00–6:00 PM, in person at the Superintendent’s Conference Room, Amherst Regional Middle School. MORE

Senior Sips @ Amherst Oyster Bar – Thursday

Those 60+ are invited to join Amherst Neighbors, Friends of the Amherst Senior Center, and the Amherst Council on Aging for Senior Sips on Thursday. Engage with friends and neighbors and discover local happenings! Learn about available resources. Snacks provided, attendees are responsible for their own beverages. Thursday, 4:00-6:00 PM at Amherst Oyster Bar. MORE

Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Meeting — Thursday

Town officials and consultants will present the draft Hazard Mitigation Plan, which assesses Amherst’s risks from natural hazards and climate change impacts, and will take public feedback that will be incorporated into the final plan before submission to MEMA and FEMA. Thursday, 6:30–8:00 PM, in person at Town Hall, Town Room, 4 Boltwood Ave., and via Zoom. MORE

Don’t Tell Comedy All-Stars – Friday

Head to The Drake on Friday for the Don’t Tell Comedy All-Stars. A unique lineup of heavy hitters straight from our Secret Sets. You’ve seen the clips blow up online — now catch these legends live and unfiltered. Friday, 8:00 PM at The Drake. MORE

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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.