Garden report: The radishes I planted last week have all popped up. I made two batches of refrigerator pickles. I used my cucumbers, my dill and onion. I add salt, the only item that is not grown in my garden. Both batches were shared with friends. I will make more.

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Dinner and a concert to mark the end of summer. The South Congregational Church is holding its annual chicken barbecue Tuesday, Aug. 22 with pickup only at the church from 5 to 6 p.m. For reservations call 253-2977 or email office@southchurch.org. Rain date is Aug. 23. In all the years I have attended, it has never rained. Let us hope that tradition continues.

The Amherst Community Band, directed by Tim Anderson, will perform its final concert of the season that evening, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. on the South Amherst Common. The concert is free, but donations are welcome. Bring a chair or blanket.

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While the barbecue and concert mark the end of the summer, the annual UMass Community Breakfast marks the beginning of the academic year.

The breakfast, which is open to the public, will be held Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 a. m. in the UMass Student Union Ballroom. For reservations call 413-577-1101 or email events@umass.edu.

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David Chevan, the son of Janet and Al Chevan of Amherst, founded the musical ensemble the AfroSemitic Experience decades ago. The group will perform Thursday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. at The Drake, 44 N. Pleasant St. For tickets visit thedrakeamherst.org/events/the-afro-semitic-experience.

I saw the group last month at the Porter Phelps Huntington Museum. They have performed in the area over the years.

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Send items for the Lehrer Report to phyllehrer@gmail.com.

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