Amherst Cinema to present rare Bob Dylan short films
AMHERST — Amherst Cinema welcomes Bob Dylan Center Director Steven Jenkins for “Stepping Into the Unknown: Films From the Bob Dylan Center,” on Saturday, April 11, at 4 p.m.
Spanning decades and musical styles, this far-ranging one-hour program of short films and videos from the Bob Dylan Archive features rare and previously unreleased clips of Dylan on stage and in the studio.
Selections include Dylan’s first film soundtrack for 1961s “Autopsy on Operation Abolition;” a devastating solo rendition of “Ballad of Hollis Brown” from the 1963 TV special “Folk Songs and More Folk Songs;” a rollicking 1976 take on “I Pity the Poor Immigrant” with Joan Baez; a gospel-infused “Blowin’ in the Wind;” an apocalyptically rocking “When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky” with Dylan backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; loving tributes to Johnny Cash and Tony Bennett; a glimpse into the Archive’s film restoration project with never-before-seen footage of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” from 1966; and many more treasures.
Jenkins will present the program and engage in a post-screening discussion and audience Q&A about the films and the mission and activities of the center. Special guest Frozen Corn, an Americana trio from Amherst, consisting of Anthony Pasquarosa, Chris Carlton, and Joshua Burkett, will round out the event with a performance of Dylan covers.
Tickets to this special screening are $20 for general admission and $18 for Amherst Cinema members. Tickets can be purchased at the Amherst Cinema box office or online: https://amherstcinema.org/films-and-events/bob-dylan-films.
Sidewalk work near Puffton Village underway
AMHERST — Construction on a renovated sidewalk along North Pleasant Street, in the area of Puffton Village Apartments and between Hobart Lane and Fisher Street, resumed Monday.
Taylor Davis Construction is handling the work, which will take place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The work will impact a single lane of traffic, with detail officers and flaggers directing vehicles.
The town is investing $568,750 in this year’s Community Development Block Grant money to extend the project along the corridor from Fisher Street to Fairfield Street, tying into the University of Massachusetts sidewalk system.
The project includes the removal and reconstruction of the 5-foot wide sidewalk on the east side and removal and expansion of the sidewalk on the west side to become an 8-foot multi-use path.
For more information, contact the Amherst Department of Public Works at 413-259-3050 or at publicworks@amherstma.gov.
PVPC seeks volunteers for regional energy coaching pilot
SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) is starting up a regional energy coaching pilot program for participating communities with funding from Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), as part of a $140,700 grant awarded to PVPC through the DOER’s Regional Energy Planning Assistance (REPA) program. Almost 20 communities will be participating in the pilot program.
PVPC is partnering with HeatSmart Alliance and MassEnergize to develop and run this program, which will help homeowners learn about energy-efficient heating and cooling technologies and better understand the process and benefits of installing heat pumps in their homes. Clean energy technology such as heat pumps, also sometimes called mini-splits, can be confusing or overwhelming for consumers. The energy coaching program is designed to reduce those barriers and help homeowners through the decision-making process.
The HeatSmart Alliance will train volunteer clean energy coaches who will guide homeowners through the process of exploring heat pump installations. Clean energy coaches will take a no-cost six session training course focused on weatherization, heating and cooling systems, heat pumps, and incentives. Once trained, volunteer coaches will be matched with homeowners who request assistance, and there will be a website where homeowners can sign up for coaching services. Recruitment for the heat pump coach training program is currently underway, with training sessions beginning April 23. To learn more about becoming a volunteer heat pump coach and register for the training, see here: Pioneer Valley Energy Coaching.
GCC to host civic engagement conference
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College will host “Bridging Generations: A Civic Engagement Conference” on Friday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the GCC Dining Commons. This intergenerational event will bring together students, community members, and local leaders for a dynamic half-day of dialogue, learning and connection.
At a time when civic life can feel increasingly divided, the conference invites participants to explore how defining cultural and historical moments have shaped our worldviews and civic engagement. Through shared conversation and interactive learning, the event aims to strengthen understanding and build civic trust across generations in rural communities.
The morning will feature a panel discussion, “From Woodstock to TikTok: How History Shapes Our Worldviews,” where participants from diverse generations will reflect on pivotal political and cultural moments, from the moon landing to social media movements, and how they influence perspectives today. The panel will also highlight the importance of curiosity, listening, and shared purpose in building stronger, more connected communities.
Following the panel, attendees will participate in guided lunch conversations before choosing from a series of interactive workshops designed to foster respectful dialogue and critical thinking, including talking about religion and politics, media literacy and building empathy for real-world change.
The conference is free for students, with a suggested $10 donation for community members. Participants are welcome to attend the full event or drop in for individual sessions. RSVP is requested. For more information or to RSVP, please visit the GCC events page.