Happy New Year to all our Asian friends and neighbors.

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Reminder: Real estate taxes are due Feb. 1

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Garden report: The paper whites did not get too leggy thanks to the addition of rubbing alcohol to the water. They are still in bloom. A cactus with lovely rose-colored flowers has bloomed. The forsythia branch I brought in to force took weeks to open. I now have bright yellow blossoms that are lovely to see on those cold windy days.

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Irwin and Martha Spiegelmanof Amherst sent me an email reminding me about Thomas Paine Day. The 18th annual celebration, sponsored by Thomas Paine Friends Inc., will be held Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Jones Library on Amity Street. It includes toasts to Paine at the 275th anniversary of his birth (Jan. 29, 1737), music and birthday cake. Michael Moore's film, "Capitalism: A Love Story," will be shown at 1:45 p.m. It's free. For information call 253-7934.

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Cathy Butterfield of Amherst sent an email about the Immanuel Lutheran Church celebrating its 50th anniversary. The celebration begins with a commemorative service and coffee hour Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the church on North Pleasant Street. The service will be liturgically similar to the first local Lutheran service that was held Jan. 7, 1962, at the former Odd Fellows Hall on Kellogg Avenue.

All are welcome to attend the service and coffee hour. As Garrison Keillor says, Lutherans have great coffee hours. I know that for a fact.

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Lucy McMurrer, president of the Friends of the Jones Library System, sent an email saying the annual Chocolate, Books and Baskets silent auction will be held from Feb. 3 to Feb. 14. Donations of large laundry-sized baskets, new items to place in them and gift certificates are welcome.

People can also donate filled baskets. Each must include chocolate and a book, but the Friends can tuck those in if donors leave them out, she said. Groups can also create baskets around their particular passions.

Donations can be dropped off at the front office in the Jones Library. McMurrer can be contacted at llmcmurrer@gmail.com.