News Briefs

Published on January 25, 2008

Benefit to be held

The second annual Soup and Song dinner and concert to benefit Not Bread Alone will be held Feb. 9, at the First Congregational Church. Five homemade soups - beef chili, vegetarian chili, clam chowder, spicy blackeye pea soup and curry lentil soup - and corn bread baked from scratch will be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sarah Pirtle, a nationally-known folksinger, will perform in the sanctuary at 7 p.m.

Not Bread Alone is a free weekend meal program held at the First Congregational Church that serves more than 5,000 meals and distributes 3,000 bags of groceries annually. Dinner is also served on Wednesdays. On site social workers assist guests find housing, employment, fuel assistance and register for health insurance.

The annual budget is less than $50,000 a year with fundraising providing almost 60 percent of that total. The remainder comes from the town of Amherst, Shelter Sunday and faith communities.

Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults in advance and are available at AJ Hastings and Food for Thought Bookstore. Tickets are $7/$12 at the door. The snow date is Feb. 10. For information, call 253-4882.

Habitat home to be dedicated

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity will dedicate construction of a new home in Amherst Jan. 27 with a ceremony and an open house from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The home is the second of four on land donated by Amherst College off Stanley Street. The first homeowner Kathryn Perry will give tours of the house and field questions from visitors. The event is free and open to the public.

Cardboard box races heat up

The two Larrys (Town Manager Shaffer and businessman/martial artist/watchdog Kelley) will slide in the snow at the Cardboard Classic race Feb. 9 at Cherry Hill Golf Course. Select Board Chairman Gerry Weiss will be the third racer in that heat at Winterfest '08 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While it won't solve the Boy Scout Christmas Tree sale issue, it will give viewers a chance to express their opinion through their cheers.

The five Select Board candidates will also race against each other as will Fire Chief Keith Hoyle and Police Chief Charles Scherpa, Building Inspector Bonnie Weeks and David Keenan, whose former home was condemned by the inspection department.

In addition, Big Brothers will challenge Big Sisters. Racers must only use cardboard, tape, paint and string.

Cinda Jones, president of the chamber's Board of Directors, said her entry will be in the shape of a bull, "Since I ride so much for the chamber these days." She is looking for a challengers and others are welcome such as restaurants, stores, nonprofits, students and neighborhoods.

The event is sponsored by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, the town's Leisure Service department and the Friends of Amherst Recreation.

The event includes a craft fair from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., chili cook off, Swift Kicks Band, beer and wine tasting, and ends with fireworks at 7 p.m.

Fun family events include sledding, tubing, skiing, snow sculpture contests and golf putting contests.

For information and to register for the Cardboard Classic visit www.winterfestamherst.com or call Jones at 549-1403, ext. 350.