Ramadan greetings to all our Muslim friends and neighbors.

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Mardi Gras is Tuesday, a time of revelry in some areas (think New Orleans) and eating up the food that is limited during Lent, which begins Ash Wednesday, March 5 for Christians. Eggs were such a staple during Lent when meat consumption was limited and fasting encouraged. With limited egg supplies, this is a challenge. In addition, baskets will have to be filled with jelly beans and wooden eggs.

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Gerry Harvey of Hadley sent me the following news. “I brought in forsythia on Feb. 7 and it started blooming Feb 19. I am optimistic the flowers still outside survived the January -11 F temperatures.”

The forsythia I brought in modestly bloomed on Feb. 24. However, I can’t remember when I cut them, so can’t compare times with Gerry. I did send a photo of the blooms to the Bulletin, but don’t know if there will be space to print it.

With the mild temperatures, some forsythia may actually bloom outside.

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March begins Saturday. We can now count down to spring!

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Mary Carey of Amherst sent me a photo of her mailing me a postcard at a red mailbox in New Zealand. She is wearing a short-sleeve T-shirt. The seasons are reversed on the other side of the equator.

She also sent a photo of the postcard message. She wrote it is a beautiful country with mountains, glaciers, rainforest, lakes, rivers and fiords. She and Brian visited Hobbiton, where the movies were filmed.

She said it will be interesting to see how long it takes for the card to be delivered.

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A house in our Orchard Valley neighborhood burned Saturday morning. Fortunately no one was hurt. However, the house is a total loss. Pondview Drive neighbor Adrienne Terrizzi has created a list of needed items that was distributed to our Markert’s Pond neighborhood list.

If you would like to help, send her an email at Amterrizzi@gmail.com and she will share the list.

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