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 — Tuesday

Catch ARHS varsity athletes in action at home this week! Girls Volleyball (15–3) vs. West Springfield (6–12), Tuesday at 5:30 PM. MORE

Local Historic District Commission — Monday

The commission will hold public hearings on two requests: one from Gina Etheredge at 253 Lincoln Avenue to replace a concrete and brick front stoop and stairs with a wider, deeper wood stoop and stairs, and one from Neal Parks at 76 Fearing Street to convert a south-side deck to a three-season porch and enclose a west-side porch as a year-round room. Monday, 3:00–4:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Amherst Housing Authority — Monday

The authority will receive its regular financial, property management, leased housing and facilities reports, and will discuss and vote on a management services agreement with the Hadley Housing Authority and related management matters. Monday, 4:00–5:00 PM, in person at the Jean Elder Community Room. MORE

Rapaport Lecture Series: An-My Lê — Monday

Photographer An-My Lê visits Amherst College to give a talk titled “Landscapes and Lessons” as part of the Art and Art History Department’s Rapaport Lecture Series. Open to the public. Monday, 5:30–6:30 PM, in Pruyne Lecture Hall (Room 115) in Fayerweather Hall at Amherst College. MORE

Water Supply Protection Committee — Tuesday

The committee will welcome new member Rich MacLean and receive updates on water supply status, the finalized Water Management Act permit renewal, and the Centennial Water Treatment Plant. It will also review 2026 PFAS and lead and copper sampling (the lead and copper round is planned for Oct. 28 and 29), 2026–27 water main replacements including South Valley Road in Pelham, and proposed watershed projects, including National Grid and Eversource transmission line work and a solar project on Tower Road in Pelham. Tuesday, 8:30–10:30 AM, in person at the DPW Meeting Room. MORE

Amherst School Committee — Tuesday

The committee will hear the Finance Director’s first-quarter report and capital plan, receive a transportation update and the Superintendent’s update, and take up a presentation of the school system under policy CM. It will vote on a May 7 motion on neuro-affirming training under the safety and well-being commitment, review the Superintendent’s SY26-27 goals and post-evaluation plan, consider forming a new Communications Working Group and Finance Working Group, and consider a data request of the Superintendent for the Nov. 17 meeting. It will also vote on a letter of thanks to the MSBA, the Elementary School Building Committee, DiNisco Design, and Accenture (Anser Advisory). Tuesday, 6:30–9:00 PM, in person at Town Hall, Town Room, and via Zoom. MORE

Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee — Tuesday

The GOL committee of the Town Council will work on recommending appointments to the Bylaw Review Committee, including updating selection guidance, assessing the applicant pool, and setting interview questions and a date. It will also set its remaining 2026 meeting dates, continue discussing the Resident Oversight Board, and review evaluation tools for the Town Manager for use by councilors, staff, and the community. Tuesday, 6:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

The Patriotism of Peace and Democracy: The 5th Annual Ellsberg Lecture with Congressman Jim McGovern — Tuesday

UMass Amherst’s Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy hosts U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern for the fifth annual Ellsberg Lecture. McGovern will speak on “The Patriotism of Peace and Democracy,” discussing what he sees as the erosion of democracy in the United States and his vision for a more just world at home and abroad, followed by audience questions. The talk comes days before the 2026 midterm elections. Open to the public. Tuesday, 7:00–8:30 PM, Campus Center Auditorium at UMass. MORE

Amherst Conservation Commission — Wednesday

The commission will receive the chair’s report on drought status and the director’s report, welcome a new member, and hear land use updates. It will hold two hearings: an amended Notice of Intent from PureSky Energy for a change to the transformer containment system at the solar facility at 191 West Pomeroy Lane (7:15 PM), and a request for determination from Bacon Wilson, P.C., on behalf of Barry Roberts, on whether paving parking spots over a vegetated landscape island at 100 University Drive is subject to the Wetlands Protection Act and the town’s wetlands bylaw (7:20 PM). The commission will also review the final clean draft of the Conservation Land Management Policy and Regulations, take up an emergency certification for 19 The Hollow/Old Farm Road and compliance updates for Canton Avenue and Olympia Drive, and reorganize. Wednesday, 7:00–10:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Atla DeChamplain & Felipe Salles: Jazz Workshop at The Drake — Wednesday

Vocalist Atla DeChamplain and saxophonist Felipe Salles join the Green Street Trio for a featured set, followed by an open jam session. Wednesday, 7:30 PM at The Drake. MORE

Senior SIPS at La Veracruzana — Thursday

Amherst Neighbors, the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center, the Amherst Business Improvement District, and the Council on Aging sponsor an afternoon Senior SIPS gathering at La Veracruzana. Thursday, 4:00–6:00 PM at La Veracruzana. MORE

Amherst Education Foundation Trivia Bee — Thursday

The Amherst Education Foundation’s Trivia Bee turns 32 this year, with pizza, trivia, and prizes in support of Amherst-area public schools. Teams of players age 15 and older are welcome ($15 per team member), and the raffle is open to everyone, whether or not you attend. Proceeds fund education grants for students in Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, and Shutesbury. Thursday, 6:30–8:30 PM at The Drake; doors open at 6:00 PM. Register a team or buy raffle tickets HERE. MORE

Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee — Thursday

The committee will hold public hearings on a draft update of the Community Development Strategy, a plan of action for community development goals over three to five years, and on a proposed amendment to the FFY2024 grant that would transfer up to $567,766.02 in unused funds to Phase 3 of the North Pleasant Street Pedestrian Improvement project. That final phase would improve sidewalks and crosswalks and add a multi-use path from Fairfield Street to Hobart Lane. Subgrantees will also give progress updates on FY2025 grant activities: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, Amherst Mobile Food Market, Amherst Survival Center, Center for New Americans, Family Outreach of Amherst, and the Town’s Kendrick Park Pedestrian Improvements. Written comments will be accepted before the meeting by email to Planner Walker Powell at powellw@amherstma.gov. Thursday, 7:00–9:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Nosferatu Live-Scored by the Andrew Alden Ensemble — Thursday

F.W. Murnau’s 1922 vampire classic gets a live soundtrack from the Andrew Alden Ensemble, whose original score weaves together strings, piano, synthesizers, percussion, and electric guitar. A second show at 9:30 PM has been added. Thursday, 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Halloween Weekend Films at Amherst Cinema — Friday and Saturday

Amherst Cinema’s Spooky Season series continues with a black-and-white presentation of The Mist, in which locals trapped in a New England supermarket face monsters hidden in the fog (Friday, 9:45 PM), and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Saturday, 1:30 PM and 7:00 PM). Both at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Leenalchi with Underground System at The Drake — Saturday

South Korean band Leenalchi brings its pansori pop to The Drake on Halloween night. Pansori is a centuries-old style of sung storytelling that the group stretches into a dance-floor show with a distinctive lineup: two bassists, drums, keys, four singers, and no guitar. Bandleader Young-Gyu Jang has also composed scores for Korean horror films including The Wailing and Train to Busan. Underground System opens with a DJ set. Saturday, 7:30 PM at The Drake; doors open at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $28. MORE

Walking Tour: Upper Mill River Factory Hollow — Sunday

Bryan Harvey leads a walk along the Mill River conservation trail in North Amherst, once the site of paper, grist, saw, textile, and metalworking mills, plus the Puffer family’s ice business at the pond. The tour also looks at how the river itself has changed. About 1.25 miles round trip. Sponsored by the Amherst Historical Society. Sunday, 2:00–3:30 PM. Register HERE. MORE

Want more? Check out our Community Calendars page to find even more upcoming events.

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.