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.

Town Offices are closed Monday, October 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. MORE

Commission for Persons with Disabilities — Tuesday

The commission will receive a report from the Transportation and Parking Commission and discuss acoustics in the North Amherst Library meeting room, the ADA transition plan for the War Memorial Pool, and Town website accessibility. It will also continue its review of the Amherst ADA Transition Plan, plan the application for the FY28 Massachusetts Office on Disabilities grant for the Munson bathroom, and discuss a sensory light behind Town Hall, an ADA complaint, and a tour of Amethyst Brook Elementary School. Tuesday, 11:30 AM–1:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Hampshire Public Health Preparedness Coalition — Tuesday

The coalition will vote to approve its July and September meeting minutes and receive an update on distribution of CERC toolkits. It will continue discussing possible PHEP Coalition training topics for FY27 and check in on the status of each municipality’s Emergency Response Framework (ERF) and conversations with emergency management directors about Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans (CEMP). The group will also hear updates from recent WAG, DPH, and LSAC meetings, get an update on the status of RFQs for FY27 work and other HMCC and FRCOG news, review a recent WebEOC drill and assess the need for further training, and review a recent request for representative designation forms. Tuesday, 11:30 AM–1:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee — Tuesday

The committee will approve its September meeting minutes, hear reports from the Chair, Vice Chair, Tree Warden, Treasurer, and social media and website lead, and discuss Second Saturdays, the APSTC 50th anniversary in 2027, and the Significant Tree Ordinance. It will also follow up on the 250th anniversary tree planting, the food forest, tree tags, wood bank donations, state-level initiatives, the Merry Maple table, and the Adopt a Tree program. Tuesday, 5:30–7:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Amherst School Committee — Tuesday

The committee will approve minutes, review the warrant report and gifts and donations, and hear the Chair’s update and subcommittee announcements. It will also discuss the Superintendent’s SY26-27 goals and post-evaluation plan, superintendent search groundwork, and the possible formation of a new Communications Subcommittee and Finance Working Group. Tuesday, 6:30–9:00 PM, in person at Town Hall, Town Room, 4 Boltwood Ave., and via Google Meet. MORE

Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee — Tuesday

The GOL committee of the Town Council will discuss the Town Manager evaluation process and timeline, continue its discussion of the Resident Oversight Board, and consider a proposed change to the Bylaw Review Committee’s charge. It will also approve minutes from its September 15 meeting. Tuesday, 6:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Restorations & Rediscoveries Presentation of Manhunter: The Final Cut — Tuesday

Amherst Cinema screens a new 4K restoration of Michael Mann’s 1986 thriller Manhunter, adapted from Thomas Harris’s novel Red Dragon. Retired FBI profiler Will Graham (William Petersen) is pulled back in to track a serial killer the press has nicknamed the Tooth Fairy. His hunt leads him to consult the imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox), in the character’s first screen appearance. The restoration was scanned from the original 35mm negative and follows a new final edit by Mann. Tuesday, 7:00 PM at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Community Safety and Social Justice Committee — Wednesday

The committee will receive updates from CRESS and DEI, discuss an update on work to create a Resident Oversight Board from the Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee, and discuss funding and a possible location for the proposed Youth Empowerment Center. It will also hear an update on ICE activity in Amherst, address membership, follow up on its September 26 retreat, plan for Town Council meetings, and plan an in-person meeting on October 28 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Wednesday, 6:30–8:30 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Amherst Conservation Commission — Wednesday

The commission will receive a chair’s report on drought status and a director’s report, hear land use updates, and hold three hearings: a Notice of Intent from Berkshire Design Group on behalf of the Kestrel Land Trust for trail improvements, bog bridging, and resource area restoration at 495 Flat Hills Road; 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; 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 wetlands protections. It will also review the final clean draft of the Conservation Land Management Policy and Regulations, and take up correspondence, compliance updates for Canton Avenue and Olympia Drive, a request for a certificate of compliance for the 246 College Street substation, requests to amend Orders of Conditions for 30 Wildflower Drive and 37 Bay Road, and monitoring reports. Wednesday, 7:00–10:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Town Services & Outreach Committee — Thursday

The TSO Committee of the Town Council will meet on Thursday at 10:00 AM. The agenda had not been posted as of this publication time; however, the Committee is expected to continue its work on an RFP for municipal waste hauling services. The agenda should be available by Tuesday morning, HERE.

Jones Library, Inc. Board of Trustees — Thursday

The board will approve minutes from its August 13, September 10, and October 5 meetings, hear the President’s report on the Civil War Tablets and Trustee/Friends memoranda of agreement and the Grand Re-Opening, and receive committee reports covering the building project update, buildings and grounds, the Annual Fund and Capital Campaign, and a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion report. It will also hear the Budget and Investment Committee’s report on the FY25 audit and FY26 and FY27 budgets, including a vote to approve the FY25 audit, followed by Friends and Director’s reports. At 5:00 PM, the board will go into executive session to discuss litigation strategy and will not return to open session. Thursday, 4:00–6:00 PM, via Zoom. MORE

Photography Exhibit Reception: Gene Rork and Evelyn Villa — Thursday

The public is invited to meet the artists behind a new photography exhibit at a free reception on Thursday, with refreshments. The Amherst Town Hall Art Gallery is showing photographs by Gene Rork and Evelyn Villa through the end of November. The two photographers, inspired by the work of Eliot Porter and Ansel Adams, capture plants and wildlife across the seasons, mostly in local scenes along with some from their travels to Australia. Thursday, 5:00–7:00 PM at Amherst Town Hall. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. MORE

The First Amendment Is Dangerous: That Is Why We Should Support It — Thursday

Join the Jones Library for this timely event. The only speech that needs protection is offensive, heretical speech. That is why threats to the First Amendment are so frequent and often popular. This talk reviews the history and purposes of that amendment and current threats to it, presented by Dr. Austin Sarat of Amherst College.

Austin Sarat is William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence & Political Science at Amherst College. Author or editor of more than 90 books, his latest book is entitled The Death Penalty on the Ballot: American Democracy and the Fate of Capital Punishment. Thursday, 7:00-8:00 PM at the North Amherst Library. MORE

Aging in Place Fair — Saturday

Many seniors want to stay in their homes as they age. Come and explore programs and services that can support aging in place for you or for someone you know. Vendors will have information and resources about: Home Modification and Repair; Home Health Care; Senior Services; Programs in Amherst, and more! Saturday, 1:30-3:30 PM at Munson Memorial Library. MORE

Oh He Dead at The Drake — Saturday

Washington, DC, soul band Oh He Dead plays The Drake on Saturday, debuting songs from Vertigo, their fourth studio album. Frontwoman CJ Johnson’s raspy, powerful voice leads a group that NIVA named one of the must-see live performers of 2023. The band releases its music on its own label, Wally Baba Records. Saturday, 8:00 PM at The Drake; doors open at 7:00 PM. General admission standing, $20 in advance and $25 day of show. MORE

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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.