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.

Design Review Board — Monday 

The board will hold a general public comment period and discussion on Downtown Design Standards. Monday, 4:30–6:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Town Council — Monday 

The council will vote on the adoption of the FY2027 budget, take a second read and vote on FY2027 water and sewer rates and regulation amendments, refer a Community Preservation Act appropriation for Goodwin Memorial Church preservation, approve a slate of FY2027 intergovernmental agreements, and act on Town Manager and Town Council appointments including a new Senior Services Director and several Zoning Board of Appeals members. The council also will consider proclamations for Banned Books Week and for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a citation for the Black Business Association of Amherst Area’s 10th anniversary, and a resolution in support of a proposed state law related to rent control. Monday, 6:30–10:30 PM, in person at Town Hall and via Zoom. MORE

Finance Committee of the Town Council — Tuesday 

The committee will discuss and potentially vote on a recommendation regarding a Community Preservation Act appropriation of $48,000 from reserves for Goodwin Memorial Church preservation, discuss a process and timeline for reviewing the budget document format, and review proposed changes to the summer and fall meeting schedule. Tuesday, 1:00–3:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Amherst School Committee — Tuesday 

The committee will discuss the Amherst School District FY27 budget, vote on relinquishing Wildwood Elementary School to the Town starting Fall 2027, consider a CPAC funding application for the Crocker Farm Playground, receive updates on the Caminantes Dual Language Program and the i-Ready math curriculum that was adopted in the 2022/23 school year, and discuss student safety and wellbeing and a community volunteer program for student help in math and reading. Tuesday, 6:30–9:00 PM, in person at Town Hall and via Zoom. MORE

Cherry Hill Working Group — Tuesday 

The group that’s working on recommendations about the long-term viability of golf operations at Cherry Hill Golf Course will receive an update from the Recreation Director and discuss the future management structure for golf operations, potential community partners, and Friends Group follow-up. Tuesday, 7:30–9:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Human Rights Commission — Wednesday 

The commission will discuss an update to its charge and Town bylaw, an update on the commission’s appeal to Sudan for clemency for Sudanese attorney Abubakr (Bakri) Mansour Abdela, a debrief from its joint meeting with the Town Council and Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, a proposal to the commission, Youth Hero Awards planning, diversity, equity, and inclusion updates, and retreat planning. Wednesday, 6:00–8:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Summer Seminars @ UMass Downtown – Wednesday

UMass Downtown and the UMass Amherst Graduate School invite you to the Summer Seminar Series, a new public speaker series connecting campus research with the community. Each Wednesday evening, UMass graduate student presenters will share their research, ideas, and work in an engaging and approachable format designed to spark conversation, curiosity, and connection. This week: A Female Voice in Medieval Academia: Mechthild of Magdeburg and Her Editors. 

Even though the medieval period is popularly known as the “Dark Ages,” academia as we know it was instituted during that time. Medieval academics were avid researchers of some of the most pressing questions of the day, such as: When would the end times begin, and what would they be like?

In this talk, PhD candidate in Comparative Literature Genny Dorgan will explain how medieval universities produced knowledge and discuss the rare case of a female writer, the thirteenth-century German mystic Mechthild of Magdeburg, who became an accepted source of authority on matters of theology. Wednesday, 6:00-7:30 PM at UMass Downtown. MORE

Joint Meeting of Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees — Wednesday 

The committees will receive reports from liaisons and subcommittees, hear a presentation of the SY25-26 Superintendent’s “artifacts” (which is a report from the Superintendent on her progress on her annual goals), vote to appoint a Director of Student Services, discuss a Students’ Bill of Rights, and take a second read and potential vote on Policy JKAA regarding physical restraint and behavior support. Wednesday, 6:30–9:00 PM, in person at the Library at Amherst Regional High School and on Amherst Media. MORE

Planning Board and Community Resources Committee of the Town Council — Wednesday 

The boards will review signage, bike rack, and bench plans for 70 South East Street, hold a continued joint public hearing on the proposed Article 18 Clean Energy Infrastructure zoning amendment, review revisions to the proposed East Amherst Local Historic District, and discuss potential zoning amendments to allow housing in the Professional and Research Park zoning districts. Wednesday, 6:30–9:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Time and Water with Post-Screening Q&A – Wednesday

This Wednesday, Amherst Cinema welcomes Amherst Regional High School graduate Elijah Stevens to the stage for a Q&A following a screening of his acclaimed new documentary film, Time and Water. Renowned Icelandic poet and author Andri Snær Magnason is chasing something elusive. As the glacial ice of his homeland melts, he constructs a time capsule to hold onto this moment and send it to the future, before everything he loves slips away.

From Academy Award®-nominated director Sara Dosa (Fire of Love), Time and Water is a universal reflection on the power of home and what it means to be alive amid profound epochal change. Wednesday, 7:00 PM at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Community Wellness and Resiliency Conversation – Thursday

Join the Town of Amherst for this session of our Community Wellness and Resiliency Conversation series focusing on topics that have impacted our community. This session will focus on the impacts of racism in Amherst facilitated by Dayna Campbell, Co-Executive Director of the Women of Color Health Equity Collective. Thursday, 5:30-7:00 PM at Bangs Community Center. MORE

Juneteenth Jubilee – Friday

The Black Business Association of Amherst Area (BBAAA) & Sankofa Gumbo proudly present the 17th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee incorporating Mass Humanities’ Reading Frederick Douglass Together program featuring keynote speaker renowned historian Dr. Amilcar Shabazz. Rep. Mindy Domb will give remarks during the award ceremony when the inaugural Extraordinary Leadership Award and the Youth Excellence Award will be awarded. Other program highlights include drumming, dancing, an interactive fashion show and a vendor marketplace. There will be open mic for spoken word, hip-hop performances and inspiring gospel music. Africana Bowl and Talk of the Town will prepare food for the community buffet. Friday, 3:00-6:00 PM at St. Brigid’s Parish Auditorium (43 N. Prospect St.) 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.