Kwanzaa greetings to all celebrating African culture, history and community. Kwanzaa runs from Dec. 26-Jan. 1.
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Jan. 1 is New Year’s Day, a holiday. Banks, schools, libraries and town offices are closed. Some organizations have posted early closings on Dec. 31.
I wish a happy and healthy New Year 2026 for all our friends and neighbors. Our country will celebrate its 1776 founding with many events. Take advantage of programs that inform us of our history.
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Orchard Valley knows how to put on a parade. On Saturday afternoon, “Lanterns for Luce, a fundraiser for the LUCE Immigrant Justice Hotline,” held a lantern parade walking around Pondview Drive and Farmington Ave. The crowd carrying homemade lanterns, was huge. Since it was dark I couldn’t get a number count. However, the folks kept coming.
The event included speakers from LUCE and Music from Show Up, Sing Out! Orchard Valley resident Lara Blue organized the event and held lantern making sessions. One neighbor estimated 200 participated.
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Liz Larson of Amherst is the first place winner in the annual Winter Postcard Contest with her email photos from Japan. Marilyn and Jeff Blaustein of Amherst were the second place winners with photos from Croatia. David Bromery and Linda Marston won the domestic card contest with photos of Cape Cod.
The winners received homemade cookies: molasses, molasses with raisins, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodles, peanut butter, peanut butter blossoms and chocolate chip. The first place winner received the most.
With the new year begins the Summer Postcard Contest. Send or deliver a postcard from the greatest distance and win vegetables from the garden. Email photos also count.
I know it is difficult to find a post office or get stamps in some areas of the world. Therefore, bringing a postcard back and hand delivery works as well as email.
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Send items for the Lehrer Report to: phyllehrer@gmail.com.