Some folks go out of their way to help others. The Amherst Club is a case in point. Every year around this time, the organization hosts a musical fundraiser called "Love Notes" that benefits organizations that offer various forms of assistance to local people. Proceeds from the shows are given to non-profit agencies that help the Amherst community meet important health and welfare needs, said Ruth Miller, the publicity chair for the Amherst Club. Over the last 28years, the Amherst Club has raised over $310,000.

When it's Mardi Gras time the go-to place in Brazil is Rio de Janeiro; in Italy, it's Venice; in Spain, it's Cadiz, and in the United States it's decidedly New Orleans. But, when Mardi Gras comes Feb. 21, most of us will remain right here in the Valley.

For me, the hardest part about each year's annual visit is convincing my family to believe in the F----Up Fairy. (Note: Although she is real, I can't print her full name.) In these days of teenagers and tired backs, how I long for more innocent days when the fairy was a part of our lives.

One of the most seminal years in baseball history was 1947, and even people who don't recognize that date likely remember the name associated with it: Jackie Robinson. It was during that year that Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first black player to break a long-standing color barrier in major league baseball. Yet even as he opened the door to baseball for a wave of talented black and then Latino players, Robinson's ascent to the big leagues marked the beginning of the end of another thriving institution - Negro league baseball.

In honor of Black History Month and Abraham Lincoln's birthday, works by Kadir Nelson will be on display this month at the R. Michelson Galleries, located at 132 Main St. in Northampton.

Euphonium

Euphonium player Phil Giampietro will perform with UMass faculty member Nikki Stoia on piano Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. in the Bezanson Recital Hall at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

For a full list of upcoming health events visit www.GazetteNET.com/healthbriefs.

CANCER - A support group for adults with cancer in the Amherst area, offered by Cancer Connection, meets every other Friday. It is open to anyone living with a cancer diagnosis and meets at the South Congregational Church at midday. Registration is required; call 586-1642. For more information about Cancer Connection go to www.cancer-connection.org.

Dance

 · Hampshire College Dance Concert - FRIDAY and SATURDAY, Feb. 17-18, 8 p.m., Hampshire College Dance Studio Theater, Amherst. $10 general; $5 students and seniors. 559-5889.

Film / Movies

It began with a dream. While trying to imagine how she could follow Old Deerfield Productions' original opera "The Captivation of Eunice Williams" with another success, artistic director Linda McInerney dreamed she was sitting in Northampton's Academy of Music with composer Paula Kimper. They were watching singer Evelyn Harris, who was onstage, wearing a mid-19th century costume and about to sing.

Standing silently for more than 200 years, a house in Westhampton has been witness to the joys and tragedies of many families. It has heard the laughter of children, the music of pump organ and guitar, and the voices of adults raised in anger and in jubilation.

Farmer Timothy Phelps built his Colonial-style house in 1796.

Trick question: What's the connection between Mardi Gras, Teddy Boys and winkles?

Mystery writer Kate Flora learned a lesson growing up in a small town in Maine: Everyone has secrets. And secrets are hard to keep.

"Everyone who lives in a small town knows everything about everybody," Flora said during a panel discussion at Jones Library in Amherst last week called "Writing New England Mysteries, Long and Short."

Please send arts news items to MuseFlashes, in care of Kathleen Mellen, Box 299, Northampton, MA 01061, or email them to kmellen@gazettenet.com.

Performance art

"BelReso Curvus," the senior project of Amherst College Phil Dupont, will be performed Feb. 9-11 at 8 p.m. in Holden Theater on the college campus.

CLUTTER - A clutterers anonymous 12-step group meets Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst. Free. For information call Mike at 345-5115.

Dance

 · Hampshire College Dance Concert - THURSDAY, Fri., Sat., Feb. 16-18, 8 p.m., Hampshire College Dance Studio Theater, Amherst. $10 general; $5 students and seniors. 559-5889.

Film / Movies

 · Notorious - 1946 Hitchcock thriller TUESDAY, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity St., Amherst. 253-2547, www.amherstcinema.org

In Great Britain, it's the show of the year - perhaps of the century thus far. For the first time, rare paintings and drawings by Leonardo da Vinci have been brought together in an exhibit at London's National Gallery. Since the show opened in November, "Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan" has been viewed by record numbers. Now a filmed virtual tour of the exhibit - also the first of its kind - is coming to the Amherst Cinema and Cinemark in Hadley.

There's one thing Sueann Townsend has learned over the years: It's good to be flexible.

Brooks Williams has always had something of the blues coursing through his music. After all, the one-time Valley guitarist and songwriter was born in Statesboro, Ga., the setting for the classic song "Statesboro Blues" by Blind Willie McTell, which has been covered by numerous musicians including the Allman Brothers, Chris Smither, Taj Mahal - and Williams himself.

With the Patriots in Super Bowl MMCMLXVIII, it's time to stockpile for the big party. You've filled enormous bowls with Wing-dings and Ho-blos and other crisp, fat-filled snacks. But what about the trivia?

Please send arts news items to MuseFlashes, in care of Kathleen Mellen, Box 299, Northampton, MA 01061, or email them to kmellen@gazettenet.com.

Song & Story Swap

Singer-songwriter Carrie Ferguson will perform at this month's Song & Story Swap at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4 at The Nacul Center, 592 Main St. in Amherst