Network Amherst: The Lehrer Report

By Phyllis Lehrer

Published on November 09, 2007

Downtown Amherst was lively with many costumed children and adults on Halloween participating in the Trick or Treat program when merchants welcomed the youngsters to their stores. The event was sponsored by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and the town's Leisure Services department. Orchard Valley, where I live, was lively as well. I had 105 devils, hobos, ghosts, beautiful princesses, several Spider Men, two Thing 1 and Thing 2, and one trick-or-treater in a Yankee shirt come to my door.

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The Rev. Christopher Raker, of Amherst, is the new pastor of the Central Congregational Church in New Salem, where he was installed last week. He was the pastor of the Agape Community Church in Amherst for 15 years. He teaches at the Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies in Lenox.

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Tom McGuire of Big Brothers Big Sisters shared a story of local nonprofit organizations forming partnerships for mutual aid in difficult times. He said Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County volunteered at the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival at Look Park this summer. The Festival Committee granted the agency $7,000, which will be used to create and support at least seven new matches for children. Each child will receive over 200 hours per year of one-on-one time with a big brother or sister. McGuire said his organization is appreciative of the opportunity to help with the festival and to be the recipient of its generosity.

My thought is that it's the classic example of one good turn deserves another.

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Isaac Ben Ezra, of Amherst, sent a card depicting a covered farmer's market in Barcelona, Spain. He said would like to see something similar in Amherst but such an endeavor would need a lot of space. He said his hosts make him feel at home and he loves it.

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The following area students won awards at the Hampshire County 4-H awards banquet: Brian Dionne, of Amherst, won the state horse show and junior hippology award; Leigh Apanell, of South Deerfield, won the senior bowl, the senior hippology and national horse hippology team awards; Elizabeth Niedziela, of Hadley, won a county junior sheep medal; Kelsey Howe, of Amherst, and Katelyn Parsons, of Hadley, won county senior community service medals; Chris Parsons, of Hadley, won a county senior achievement medal; Brooke Matuszko and Elizabeth Unaitis, both of South Deerfield, won state horse show awards.

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The Montague Congregational Church is holding its Fete Noel Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with raffle, crafts, bargain nook and Christmas shop, lunch and baked goods.

Have you observed a random act of kindness, or something that was just plain funny? The Bulletin invites readers to send brief, true tales of life in Amherst to Network@gazettenet.com, for possible use in Phyllis Lehrer's weekly column. Please include your name.