The Lehrer Report, May 1, 2025

Garden report: the forget-me-nots have bloomed. The Solomon seal is many inches high. Radish and snow pea seeds have sprouted.

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Cinco de Mayo greetings to all our Mexican friends and neighbors.

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Unfortunately last week, I forgot to remind residents that real estate taxes are due Thurs., May 1. For those who get the Bulletin on Thursday the reminder works. For those who get the paper Saturday, it’s too late. Sorry.

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Arcadia Players will perform Venetian Vespers Sat. May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Church on the Amherst Town Common. Tickets at arcadiaplayers.org or at the door.

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The Hands Across the Valley Quilt Show will be held May 3 and 4 at Hampshire College. This is not to be missed. The workmanship is incredible!

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“Curiosity, Connections and Conversations — A Sneak Peek” will be held Wed., May 7 at 4:30 p.m. at Ancestral Bridges, 29A Cottage St., Amherst.

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DeCamera Singers will present “Teenagers” May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Hadley, according to an email from Rebecca Curzon. It’s music by teenage superstars such as Mozart. No tickets required, donations welcome.

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Heidi Nortonsmith, the Northampton Survival Center director, is looking for volunteers to distribute bags for the letter carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.” Local letter carriers in all communities collect food Sat., May 10 to donate to local agencies.

Heidi would like to get help in distributing bags before May 8 to make the collection easier. Contact [email protected] to help. She wrote it’s a good way to “get steps in.”

If you want to participate in any community, leave non-perishable food in bags next to the mailbox. Thanks.

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The Northampton Education Foundation Plant Sale will be held Sat., May 10 from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. on the lawn at the Smith Vocational School. The sale funds materials for the Northampton public schools and the Smith School, according to an email from Mandy Gerry.

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The Sustainability Festival will be held Sat., May 10 on the Amherst Town Common. It was postponed last week because of the rain.

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Ruby Austin, the daughter of Jeremy and Mary Lee Austin of Amherst, and the granddaughter of Joyce and Allan Austin of Amherst, received a Gold Key and Silver Key in the Boston Globe Arts and Writing Awards, according to an email from Joyce. Ruby’s candid portrait is featured in the paper. She is a senior at Amherst Regional High School.

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Bruce and Val Penniman of Amherst dropped off a postcard from their trip to India, where they visited a cafe in Agra. There, survivors of acid attacks are making a new lives for themselves, they wrote. The postcard featured a photo of smiling women.

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Send items for the Lehrer Report to: [email protected].