Dozens of vendors, numerous Earth-friendly demonstrations and a variety of musical performances will be part of Saturday’s Sustainability Festival, which will remember late Town Manager John Musante for his achievements in making Amherst a greener town.
“He truly believed that sustainability and energy efficiency were the right thing to do, and we thank him for his leadership that led Amherst to become a Green Community, as well as his many other lasting legacies,” Stephanie Ciccarello, the town’s sustainability coordinator, said in a statement.
The seventh annual event, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Town Common, will feature more than 100 vendors of renewable energy, energy efficiency products, advocacy groups and artists selling their hand-crafted sustainable works.
Several solar companies will have booths to provide information to those interested in putting photovoltaic arrays on homes or businesses.
“We have a few more companies than usual this year so it is a great opportunity for folks to shop around a bit for a solar installer,” Cicarelo said.
Demonstrations will include Henry Wilhelm on beekeeping, Scully Wilhelm on constructing a solar oven and David Lovler on growing, sprouting and saving bean seeds.
The Piti Theatre Company will stage “Innocenzo,” followed by performers the Valley Women Drummers, Incus, Carrie Ferguson, Chris Scanlon and The Connotations.
Others features include draft horses from Bluestar Equiculture, goats from the Goat Girls, facepainting by Cyndee Boehmer, Henry the Juggler and a stilt walker.
The Select Board will hold a hearing at 10 p.m. Tuesday on two liquor license violations at an Amherst restaurant discovered by Amherst Police.
Interim Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner said it’s a serious enough matter that the board couldn’t put off a hearing until June, which it would have done due to a busy schedule in advance of Town Meeting.
“It’s obviously a cause for concern,” Hechenbleikner said of the alleged violations.
In January, the Select Board suspended the license of Panda East restaurant for two days following allegations it served 17 minors last fall.
Students of Latino heritage in kindergarten and grades 6, 8 and 12 will be honored at the 10th annual Latino Achievement Awards Night at the Campus Center auditorium at the University of Massachusetts at 6 p.m. Friday.
Co-sponsored by the Amherst, Pelham and Regional public schools and the UMass Center for Multicultural Advancement & Student Success (CMASS), the program will include spoken word, music and dance presentations by students and staff of the public schools.
In addition, Amherst Regional High School seniors will be presented with a traditional graduation stole to be worn over their robes at the graduation ceremony in June.
Shelly Perdomo, interim assistant vice chancellor for advocacy, inclusion and support for the University of Massachusetts Amherst, will speak during the event.
Meanwhile, CMASS, the Josephine White Eagle Cultural Center and the UMass Native American Community will hold its 35th annual Powwow at Curry Hicks Cage from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Admission is free to the event that celebrates American Indian cultures through dancing, drumming, and traditional Native American artisans.
Renovation of bathrooms at the Bangs Community Center is behind schedule, though it should be complete by the end of April.
“It’s been a frustration, and it’s really on the tile contractors,” said Ralph Hathaway, the maintenance supervisor for the building.
The project to renovate the two bathrooms on the main floor began in February, but the wrong tile was shipped from Mexico, delaying the work.
TUESDAY: Public Art Commission, 2 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Amherst Housing Authority, 4:30 p.m., Select Board, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
WEDNESDAY: Planning Board, 7 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
