Garden report: Tulip and daylily shoots are up in my backyard. I have seen crocus in bloom in neighbor’s yards and buildings around town.
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Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan Sunday, March 30, with the feast of Eid Al-Fitr.
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The District One Neighborhood Association is organizing a series of Conversations with Amherst Authors, according to an email from Nancy Bair of Amherst.
The series was slated to begin with Cassandra Clare and Holly Black this Sunday at the North Amherst Library, but is being postponed due to an injury suffered by Clare, and “while she’ll be fine … We are postponing the event … to a date later this spring,” Bair wrote. Black declined the option of going ahead without Clare, which “makes sense as a large part of the event is the dynamic relationship and collaboration between the Amherst authors.” she added.
Among her 27 published novels, Clare is best known for her lengthy series “The Mortal Instruments.” Black is well known for “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” a series of children’s fantasy books.
“Not only do Clare and Black live in Amherst, they are also good friends and their novels occasionally overlap with characters moving back and forth. The Magisterium Series, a five-book children’s fantasy, is their first full collaboration,” Bair wrote.
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The Amherst League of Women Voters, of which I am a member, will present a program on the challenges facing local schools, including how diversity equity and inclusion is handled in Amherst, on April 2 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Jennifer Shiao, chair of the Amherst School Committee, and Deb Leonard,committee secretary, will discuss the issues. Register at lwvamherst.org.
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Judy Larsen of Northampton sent me a email about learning to play bridge classes sponsored by the Northampton Bridge Club. The eight-week beginner course will be held Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. starting April 3. The course includes lessons and playing hands. “At the end of the course you will be able to enjoy the game in any social setting or duplicate bridge club, ” she wrote.
The cost is $80. To register, contact Sheila Ryan at Ryandahl108@gmail.com.
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Leverett artist Rhoda Juels died unexpectedly, leaving behind a large body of art. Her daughter, Dara, is offering all of it — free — to the community at an Open House Celebration of Life and Art on April 4 and 5 from noon to 5 p.m. at 20 Lawton Road, Leverett, according to an email from Janet Kaplan-Bucciarelli.
Items can be previewed at tinyurl.com/RJuelsArt. RSVP would be appreciated. For information, contact djuels@gmail.com.
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Save the date: The Empty Bowls fundraiser for the Amherst Survival Center is Saturday, April 5, from noon to 4 p.m. More details next week.
Save the date: The Global Village Festival will be held Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Amherst Town Common with food, music, dance, activities and vendors.
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Send items for the Lehrer Report to phyllehrer@gmail.com.
