Reminder: Since Feb. 1 is a Saturday, real estate taxes are due Monday, Feb. 3.

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New year greetings to all our Chinese friends and neighbors. The Lunar New Year begins Jan. 29. It is the year of the wood snake. Snakes in the zodiac embody traits such as resourcefulness, self-reliance and determination.

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Janine Roberts of Leverett sent me an email about her reading at the Lava Center, 324 Main St, Greenfield Sunday, Feb. 2. She wrote that she will read about her discoveries that her ancestors enslaved 55 people in Virginia.

She wrote that the open mic mic starts at 1:30. As a featured reader, she said she will read from approximately 2:30 to 3 p.m.

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A COVID and flu clinic will be held Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Bangs Community Center, sponsored by the Amherst Health Department in collaboration with the city of Northampton.

The clinic is for all ages, 6 months and over, according to a release. The clinic includes updated COVID vaccines: Pfizer and Moderna for pediatric patients, Pfizer only for adults (12+).

To register, visit home.color.com/vaccine/register/northampton. It’s a site connected with the Northampton Health Department.

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Singer Jody Spitz sent me an email about a concert that will be held Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at Cherry Hill Cohousing 120, Pulpit Hill Road, Amherst. A local Leonard Cohen tribute band, The Secret Chord, will perform. Tickets are sliding scale, $15-25 at the door.

She wrote, “Many of Cohen’s song lyrics are very germane to our times and all the music soothes the soul!”

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Leverett Together is hosting a community potluck for all residents Saturday, Feb.8 at the Friends Mount Toby Meeting House, 194 Long Plain Road, according to an email from Sharon Dunn.

The goal is to foster community in town, which celebrated its 250th anniversary last year, she wrote. During the event, people will speak about town projects such as the library’s plans for a pocket park, the grant for the North Leverett sawmill, and the Kittredge estate development plans.

RSVP to 367-0239 by Feb. 5.

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