Garden report: The wave petunia and begonia are still in bloom on my porch Nov. 3. What a gift of beauty and color.
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A quartet of minions, a trio of sharks and a pair of kings came to my house on Halloween. I had 73 trick-or-treaters, a smaller number than usual. The wind was exceedingly gusty, which may have limited the numbers.
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The annual Fall Fair will be held at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Hadley Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes vendors, silent auction, handmade quilts, baked goods and lunch. Santa is expected to make an appearance. The event is free.
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Kathy Zieja of Hadley sent me an email about the annual Pierogi Fest at Most Holy Redeemer Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Besides frozen potato/cheese and cabbage pierogi the event includes a raffle, Christmas holiday tag sale, bake sale, silent auction as well as a sale of gently used purses.
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The League of Women Voters, of which I am a member, continues its Judy Brooks Conversation Series, Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. via Zoom, according to Bonnie Isman of Amherst. Recreation Dept. Director Rey Heap and Outreach Director Becky Demling will speak on Morning Movement, RISE and other youth empowerment programs. To register: visit LWVAmherst.org.
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Linda Prothers sent me a email about Harkness Road residents who conducted a food drive for The Amherst Survival Center. “This will be the fifth year that the residents have generously contributed to fill our car. We hope the idea will be ‘contagious’ and other neighborhoods, or business in Amherst will support those experiencing food insecurities,” she wrote. Thank you Linda and your neighbors.
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Artists from Gallery A3 in Amherst will have an exhibit at the North Gallery in Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton from Nov. 5 to Dec. 27. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A percentage of sales will be donated to fund hospital programs.
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The Lighting of the Merry Maple Ceremony will be superfluous this year since the lights were turned on before Halloween! The element of surprise and magic is gone with the lights on every night until the first Friday in December. Things that are seen everyday fade into the background and don’t get noticed. Lights every night will become ho hum.
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