Garden report corrected. Many thanks to a reader who sent me an email about the yellow bush in bloom that I thought was forsythia. She said it was probably winter jasmine, which blooms at the time of year. She is correct. I drove by and saw yellow. I am not familiar with winter jasmine except via photos.

The calendar page has turned to March. This is the month of spring. Count the days.

We have 11 hours of daylight.

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Kari Ridge of Leverett sent me an email about events starting at the Leverett Co-op after a winter hiatus. March 1 began March Madness with games, giveaways and samples and chances to win prizes all month! A different raffle basket filled with co-op goodies and donated by local businesses will be raffled off each week, she wrote.

“Starting in March, come in on your birthday and receive 10% off your purchases (with a few item exceptions),” she wrote.

Visit the website for details on the fun, food and community planned each day, or call 413-367-9794. The co-op, which is open every day, is at 180 Rattlesnake Gutter Road.

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My earliest memory of John Olver was seeing him at the South Amherst school where the Crocker Farm kindergarten was located. Our children were in the same class and it was a parent visiting day. He wore a suit and tie and stood against a wall holding a N.Y. Times newspaper. He was very, very tall and towered over these 5-year-olds. I am short and he towered over me as well.

The Amherst Democratic Committee held its summer picnics at his home and I went, as did so many others. He showed me his garden, which was fenced because of the deer.

As a reporter, I attended his reception fundraisers and parties held on election nights.

He served his constituents, his community and his country well.

Sincere condolences to his family and his many friends.

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Katharine Oxman of Amherst is one of 70 female artists to be featured in the exhibit, “Womanish: Audacious, Courageous,Willful” at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas. She has an aqu tint, “Upon the Window Pane.”

The exhibit runs from March 4 through July 2. The McNay was the first modern art museum in Texas.

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Author Thomas Johnson will speak about his book, “Common Places,” Saturday, March 4 at 11 a.m. at the Munson Memorial Library in South Amherst. The book, published by Levellers Press, is about public libraries and the Munson Library is featured. This event is free. The talk was scheduled earlier but had to be postponed because of the weather.

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A follow-up to the AARP income tax preparers at the Bangs Center. I brought my forms in at 8:30 a.m. and they were done by 12:15 p.m. The service is free for anyone. You don’t have to be a senior citizen to have your taxes done for free. Time is money and I saved a lot by not doing it myself.

The packets for having your returns done are in the Senior Center lounge.

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

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