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 Baseball vs. Gateway on Monday at 4:30 PM. Girls Tennis vs. E. Longmeadow on Monday at 5:00 PM. Girls Lacrosse vs. Belchertown on Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Girls Ultimate Frisbee vs. Northampton on Wednesday at 6:30 PM. MORE

Local Historic District Commission — Monday 

The commission will hear public comment on draft Design Guidelines and discuss the East Amherst Local Historic District report. Monday, 3:00–5:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Town Council — Monday 

The council will hear a presentation on the Rental Registration Program, take up the Human Rights Commission Charge and Bylaw on first read, vote on relocating the Precinct 2-B polling location to Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, consider an optional tax exemption for qualifying taxpayers, and discuss Charter Review Committee beyond-the-charter recommendations, and will pass proclamations for LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Juneteenth, and Race Amity Day. Monday, 6:30–10:30 PM, in person at Town Hall and via Zoom. MORE

Public Art Commission (APAC) — Monday 

The commission will hear updates on the Percent for Art program, Electrify Amherst electrical box paintings, the Town Hall Gallery, and a membership vacancy, and will discuss a Business Improvement District proposal for the Boltwood Parking Lot, funding for painting two electrical boxes, and Electrify Amherst material costs. Monday, 7:00–8:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Cinema Seminar: “The Delicate Art of Film Restoration” – Monday

Milestone Films co-founders Dennis Doros and Amy Heller join us in person to discuss the art of film restoration and the journey of QUEEN KELLY, a decades-long passion project that resurrected one of history’s legendary unfinished films.

It should have been a dream collaboration: a glamorous world-famous movie star Gloria Swanson and her financier lover Joseph P. Kennedy hired the most celebrated director of the time Erich von Stroheim to make a groundbreaking independent film. Instead, QUEEN KELLY was canceled mid-production. The movie was shot chronologically and after filming just a few of the scandalous African sequences, Swanson, the film’s star and producer, shut it down. This unfinished film became Hollywood legend. Basing his new reconstruction on von Stroheim’s original scripts, Milestone Films’ Dennis Doros has recreated the film’s dénouement. Monday, 7:00 PM at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Finance Committee — Tuesday

The committee will review the FY27 budget for Library and Community Services. Tuesday, 1:00–3:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Amherst School Committee Public Hearing on School Choice — Tuesday

The committee will hold a public hearing and take public comment on school choice. Tuesday, 6:00–6:30 PM, in person at Town Hall. MORE

Amherst School Committee — Tuesday

The committee will discuss the Q2 and Q3 budget reports, vote on relinquishing Wildwood Elementary School, vote on school choice, consider forming an ASC Finance Committee, discuss Chestnut Street Academy (6th grade at the middle school) schedule and logistics, hear an update on “Blue Rooms” safety and wellbeing actions, and discuss school start times and the DESE district review. The committee also will consider entering executive session to discuss “the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual.” Tuesday, 6:30–9:30 PM, in person at Town Hall and via Zoom. MORE

Energy and Climate Action Committee — Wednesday

The committee will debrief the Sustainability Festival, discuss the landlord heat pump initiative, and review updates on the UMass Climate Plan, Clean Energy Bylaw, transportation, the Climate Bank, and regional and state policy, and will also discuss a possible change to the committee’s meeting time. Wednesday, 5:30–6:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Public Hearing on the Clean Energy Bylaw — Wednesday

The Planning Board and Community Resources Committee of the Town Council will jointly hold a public hearing to consider adopting Article 18, Clean Energy Infrastructure, as a Zoning Bylaw amendment, along with associated changes to dimensional regulations, renewable energy accessory installations, fences, and definitions. Wednesday, 6:30–9:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Eric Sawyer: Civil Disobedience Album Release Event – Wednesday

You are invited to an album release party at The Drake! A Singing Celebration for Civil Disobedience, a new album of music for orchestra and soloists by Eric Sawyer. Party to include performances by Kristen Watson, Krista River, Ann Moss, Liam Shannon, and Eric Sawyer. Sawyer is chair of the music department at Amherst College. Wednesday, 5:00-6:30 PM at The Drake. MORE

Valley Green Energy Working Group — Thursday

The group will review and vote on minutes from the October 2025 and April 2026 meetings, hear Valley Green Energy and Local Energy Advocates updates, and plan agenda items for the next meeting. Thursday, 1:00–2:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Joint Meeting of the Town Council and Finance Committee — Thursday

The council and committee will jointly review the FY27 budget for Public Works and Enterprise Funds and discuss proposed FY27 water and sewer rates. Thursday, 3:30–5:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Annual Plant Sale – Saturday

The Garden Club of Amherst hosts its annual plant sale on Saturday. The sale will feature hundreds of fabulous perennials, shrubs, and small trees—including woodland and native plants as well as plants for both shade and sun—all donated by local gardeners. Sales help support town beautification projects, an annual University of Massachusetts scholarship and contributions to local conservation and education organizations. Saturday, 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM on the Town Common. MORE

Memorial Day Commemoration – Next Monday

Join The Town of Amherst for the annual Memorial Day Procession and Ceremony to honor and remember our fallen heroes. The procession will begin at 9:30 AM, starting at the intersection of Spring Street and Boltwood Avenue. The procession will travel up South Pleasant Street, turn right onto Triangle Street, and finish at the War Memorial Pool in front of Amherst Regional High School. After the procession, please join us at the War Memorial Pool for a ceremony featuring guest speakers and a special performance by the Amherst Chorale. Next Monday, 9:30-11:30 AM in Downtown Amherst and at War Memorial Pool. 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.