It’s Memorial Day and we’re back with our Monday roundup of the week’s events. Here are this week’s town government meetings, and cultural and recreational events that caught our eye.

Memorial Day Commemoration – Monday

Join The Town of Amherst for the annual Memorial Day Ceremony to honor and remember our fallen heroes. The annual procession has been canceled due to the inclement weather forecast. The ceremony will feature guest speakers and a special performance by the Amherst Chorale. Monday, 9:30-11:30 AM at the Bangs Community Center. MORE

ARHS Varsity Athletics at Home – Tuesday

Catch ARHS varsity athletes in action at home this week! Boys Tennis vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, Tuesday at 4:00 PM. MORE

Cable Television Advisory Committee — Tuesday 

No agenda topics had been posted at the time of publication. Tuesday, 1:00–3:00 PM, in person at Town Hall, Town Room, and via Zoom. MORE

Finance Committee — Tuesday 

The committee will review a draft FY27 budget report to the Town Council and discuss proposed FY27 water and sewer rates. Tuesday, 1:00–3:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee — Tuesday

The GOL committee of the Town Council will review the Human Rights Commission Charge and Bylaw 3.3, and discuss Charter Review Committee beyond-the-charter recommendations. Tuesday, 6:30–8:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Regional School Committee – Tuesday

The Regional (secondary) School Committee will review and vote on proposed increased fees in FY27 for athletics, instrumental rentals, and meals; accepting a large gift to create a fund to provide annual funding for the high school cross country team; and a proposed advanced Spanish course at the middle school. The committee also will review the FY26 3rd quarter budget, the FY27 Student Handbook, School Committee FY27 goals & objectives, and Sun Tubes at the middle school. Tuesday, 6:30 PM in the library at the high school and on Amherst Media. MORE

Department of Public Works Building Committee — Wednesday

The committee will review RFQ evaluation forms and discuss the RFQ interview procedure and questions for the selection of a designer. Wednesday, 2:00–4:00 PM, in person at Town Hall, Town Room. MORE

Amherst Conservation Commission — Wednesday

The commission will hold a Request for Determination for soil boring and sampling at the former Manufactured Gas Plant site on Pelham Road on behalf of Eversource Energy, 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 compliance updates for Olympia Drive, 105 Pondview Drive, and 6–22 University Drive. Wednesday, 7:00–10:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Science on Screen: The City Dark – Wednesday

What do fireflies, breast cancer, crime, and the Milky Way have to do with each other? The City Dark is a lyrical and haunting ode to natural darkness at night and the magic it offers, and a piercing warning about what we lose when we banish darkness at night with uncontrolled artificial lighting. Filmmaker Ian Cheney interviews medical doctors, cancer victims, conservation biologists, astronomers, police officers, lighting professionals, and historians around the world in a quest to understand why we are so obsessed with banishing darkness at night, and what the costs—both the obvious and the hidden—of light pollution really are. 

Join Smith College astronomy professor James Lowenthal for an engaging discussion and talk-back after the screening, including how the Dark Sky Movement is defending the night right here in the Valley. Wednesday, 7:00 PM at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Camille Thurman with Northampton Jazz Workshop – Wednesday

Camille Thurman is an accomplished composer, esteemed  saxophonist, vocalist, and unique interpreter of the jazz tradition, and is quickly becoming one of the leading standard bearers of the art  form. Her distinct musical approach to classic and original repertoire is a captivating blend of tradition and innovation. Featured Set at 7:30 followed by a jazz jam session–bring your axe to sit in!! Wednesday, 7:30 PM at The Drake. MORE

Community Resources Committee — Thursday

The Community Resources Committee of the Town Council will interview six candidates for the Planning Board — Andrew Smith, Evan Naismith, Frederic Hartwell, Glenn Hazelton, Jesse Mager, and Roy Johnson — and vote on the sufficiency of the pool of Zoning Board of Appeals candidates. Thursday, 1:00–3:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Finance Committee — Thursday

The committee will finalize its FY27 budget report and recommendations to the Town Council and discuss proposed FY27 water and sewer rates. Thursday, 1:00–3:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Community Wellness & Resilience Conversation – Thursday

Join the Town of Amherst for the first session of this four part series focusing on topics that have impacted our community. This session will be an open conversation about the journey through harm and hurt to repair, facilitated by community leader Andrea Battle.

The Town of Amherst is hosting a series of community conversations designed to acknowledge harm, provide support, and promote wellness in response to multiple recent events in Town. Topics will focus on the impacts of domestic violence, racism, and the closure of Hampshire College, as well as overall community wellness and resiliency. 

The four-part series includes events on May 28, June 11, June 18, and June 25, each facilitated by a local community member. This series is hosted by the Town’s Public Health, CRESS, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Departments. The Town will be providing a light meal and childcare during these events. Registration is required to ensure sufficient food and staff. Thursday, 5:30-7:00 PM at Bangs Community Center. MORE

Community Preservation Act Committee — Thursday

The committee will review current financials, consider a revised proposal for a restoration project at Goodwin AME Zion Church, and discuss CPA practices and processes. Thursday, 6:00–8:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Zoning Board of Appeals — Thursday

The board will hold a public hearing on a special permit request at 66 Bridge Street to modify a preexisting non-conforming home by improving energy efficiency, replacing exterior siding, and increasing functional living space under Section 9.2 of the Zoning Bylaw. Thursday, 6:00–9:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

The Hive Collective Grand Opening – Saturday

The Hive Collective will officially open its doors on Saturday at 49 Boltwood Walk, a new multifunctional creative hub dedicated to increasing arts participation and cultural access in Downtown Amherst. 

Bringing together an arts market, gallery, and makerspace under one roof, The Hive Collective is designed to be a place where local artists, makers, and educators can connect, create, and share their work with the community. Join the Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, from 2:00-4:00 PM. 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.