AMHERST — Amherst officials are renewing appeals to residents to step up to fill numerous vacancies on municipal boards and committees.

With many terms set to expire on June 30, Town Manager Paul Bockelman is hoping to have those interested in serving to fill out community activity form applications by May 18, though those who do so after that date will still be considered.

“The beauty of our town government is its ability to engage residents in the decision-making process through our various boards and committees,” Bockelman said in a statement. “By participating in these volunteer opportunities, residents are not only contributing to the betterment of our community, but they are also helping to create a more responsive and representative government.”

Amherst has more than 30 boards and committees, with typical terms being three years, and people being allowed to serve for up to two consecutive terms. Some multi-member groups may have vacancies available for Amherst Regional High School students, as well, including the Human Rights Commission and the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee.

Among boards Bockelman is looking to make appointments to are the Affordable Housing Trust, Board of Health, Board of License Commissioners, Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee, Design Review Board, Public Art Commission and Transportation Advisory Committee.

Town Council President Lynn Griesemer announced Monday that councilors, too, are looking for residents to apply to serve on council-appointed committees, including the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Finance Committee and Charter Review Committee.

Applications are available at www.amherstma.gov/CAF and those with questions should reach out to the town’s community participation officers at getinvolved@amherstma.gov or 413-259-3292.

West African take-out meals

The Sene-Gambian Scholars at Amherst Regional High School are partnering with the South Congregational Church to offer West African meals, in take-out containers, that will be available at the 1066 South East St. site May 17 starting at 5 p.m.

People can choose from the gluten-free Vegan Domoda, a savory peanut stew, with mixed vegetables, served over jasmine rice, and Chicken Yassa, chicken legs with a sauce of onions, olives, mustard and spices, served with jasmine rice and a side of roasted vegetables.

Meals are $16 each and should be ordered online at https://tinyurl.com/SGSmeals by Monday.

Proceeds from the meals and donations support scholarships for students whose families cannot afford the full cost of the Sene-Gambian Scholars exchange trip to Senegal and The Gambia, as well as the Amherst Survival Center and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Those with questions can contact Bruce Penniman at pennimanb@arps.org.

Rescheduled SustainabilityFestival

Amherst’s Sustainability Festival, the family-friendly celebration of eco-conscious living, takes place on the Town Common Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The festival, postponed from April, will have numerous vendors, workshops and music.

Amherst’s role inAmerican Revolution

With the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord recently marked, the Jones Library posted on social media information about how Amherst residents responded to the Lexington Alarm by sending several companies of the Hampshire County regiment to Cambridge in 1775.

The library showed an undated copy of the Minute Roll of the company under the command of Capt. Reuben Dickinson and the 26 men from Amherst who joined “Col. R. Woodbridge’s Regiment.”

District 4 Councilor Pam Rooney at a recent Town Council meeting reflected on this armed resistance to the British king, unjust laws and tariffs and taxes with no representation for those in the colonies. Rooney referenced Amherst’s representation by Nathaniel Dickinson to the First Massachusetts Provincial Congress in October 1774 and then the company, with about 60 residents, who marched to Cambridge upon the event of the battle.

Apology offered

District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen recently offered a public apology to residents for bringing forward a proposal to rescind funding for the $46.1 million expansion and renovation of the Jones Library, but then voting against the measure.

Schoen said while her vote didn’t matter, with just three councilors supporting the rescinding and short of the nine needed, she is concerned about not being financially accountable.

“I voted against myself and my best judgment,” Schoen said.

The project is to get underway sometime in June, with the library closing operations from the 43 Amity St. site after May 14. On Saturday, the library celebrates the current building with volunteers in the atrium from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. presenting information about project plans and leading a scavenger hunt.

Pasture Day

Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery, 172 Hockanum Road, Hadley, is holding its annual Pasture Day Saturday, the first opportunity of the season for cows to get out of the barn and into the field.

The heifers will be released at 1 p.m., with walking tours at the farm starting at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Live music will be performed from the porch by Old Country Road from noon to 2 p.m.

Meetings

MONDAY: Finance Committee, budget hearing, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY: Finance Committee, 2 p.m.; Public Shade Tree Committee, 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Finance Committee, 4 p.m.