News Briefs

Published on October 31, 2008

Alternative gift fair to be held

The North Congregational Church, UCC, will hold an alternative holiday gift fair Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Church Parish Hall, 1195 North Pleasant St. Residents can purchase more meaningful gifts this year, instead of simply more gifts, with a chance to make a world of difference with one-stop shopping.

Setting up shop at the fair will be: the Amherst Survival Center, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Pioneer Valley Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the Heifer International Project, Collective Copies making available Worker Cooperative Products, the Brookfield Institute, Olive Branch Olive Oil, SERRV International, Foundation Honor for Haiti, Church World Service, United Church of Christ Global Ministries and the Hitchcock Center for the Environment and other local and national organizations. A light lunch available of hot soup, quiche, bread sticks, mulled cider, coffee, tea, cider and doughnuts will be available.

For information, call 253-2929.

Hop Brook Road to remain closed

Hop Brook Road in Amherst Fields will remain closed to through traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to repair the cross culvert and side slopes beneath the roadway, according to the Department of Public Works. One lane will be opened after working hours and in the event of inclement weather.

The road will remain closed through Oct. 31 when work is expected to be completed. If the project isn't finished, an updated schedule will be released.

Number 8 on Hop Brook Road is the only address that will need to be reached via Kestrel Lane. All other Hop Brook Road addresses will need to be reached via the Old Farm Road entrance.

Students raise $600-plus for Darfur children

Amherst Regional High School Students raised over $600 with a bike ride held on Sunday that attracted 45 people, according to organizer Sasha Lansky. The proceeds will go to Save the Children's work in South Sudan and Darfur. The event was held on the Town Common and included free refreshments and a performance by the Amherst Regional High School Jazz Workshop.