Garden report: The geranium I brought inside is blooming. The wave petunia that I put in the garage was still blooming Monday.

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This weekend offers many activities for people to get out and get together.

The annual Merry Maple festival will be held Friday, Dec. 1 on the Town Common across from the Lord Jeff (aka the Inn at Boltwood). The event begins at 3 p.m. and includes an open house at the Central Fire Station, horse-drawn wagon rides and refreshments. The Amherst Regional Middle School Chorus will sing on the inn steps at 4:30 p.m. The tree is lit at 5 p.m.

The UMass Marching Band comes into town at 5:30 p.m. with Santa riding on a firetruck.

The next day, Dec. 2, is shopping day, formerly known as card day, when merchants offer discounts on purchases. Please support our local businesses, not just in December but year-round.

In addition, Gigi Barnhill, president of the Amherst Historical Society, is presenting “David Peck Todd’s Amherst College — An Architecture and Walking Tour” on Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. The group is limited to 20 people and reservations are required. It is a fundraiser for the society. Visit the website at amhersthistory.org for reservations.

Todd was an astronomer who was interested in eclipses and traveled the world to see and study them. The Amherst College observatory is on the tour.

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Also on Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m., the UMass Choirs will present their annual “Holiday Card to Amherst” featuring an audience sing-along at the Fred Tillis Performance Hall at the Bromery Center for the Arts. Tickets are $15 for the public and $5 for seniors.

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Gallery A3 will hold a holiday show and sale from Dec. 7 through Dec. 30. The gallery is open Thursday-Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. The opening reception is Dec. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m.

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I have three pounds of butter in my freezer. I am ready for baking. The butter will be used to make cookies for the postcard winners. There is still time to enter. If you traveled anywhere, email me a photo from your trip. The images/cards from the greatest distance earn cookies for the senders.

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