Garden report: Now it can be said — I have to water the garden, the first time in at least six or seven weeks. The grass still looks good but the flowers, herbs and veggie leaves are drooping. I froze onions and tomatoes, not together.

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Check all the events people sent me. You know it’s September, and groups and organizations have started their activities. Calendars are filling up. Enjoy all the many things that are offered.

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The Arcadia Players kicks off its 35th season with a concert “Music for Friends” on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. at the South Amherst Congregational Church. The program introduces new artistic director Andrus Madsen. A reception follows. Tickets are $25 and at the door.

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Amy Gates of Amherst sent me an email about the third season of Chamber@the Drake series.

Solomiya Ivakhiv, violin, and Melvin Chen, piano, will perform works of Ukrainian composers on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. Romie de Guise-Langlois will join them for a trio by French composer Darius Milhaud, she wrote. Tickets are at the door.

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The Black Roots Festival, presented by 80 Acres, will be held Sunday, Sept.8 from noon to 6 p.m. on the Town Common with crafts and food vendors. Performers include Amherst Area Gospel Choir, storytelling with Nancy Tolson, Back in Time, Aimee Salmon, DJ Cancer, DJ Mikey Don, Jazz Quintet, Kamal Peters, Maria Del Carmen, and Lost Tribe.

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Bruce Penniman of Amherst sent me an email about the continuing South Church Arts and Social Justice Series in honor of the church’s 200th anniversary.

David Brule, a member of the Nehantic Tribal Council, will speak on “Indigenous Lifeways, Loss, and Renewal in the Central Connecticut River Valley” on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The evening includes dinner at 5:30 p.m. with a charge of $5 per person up to a maximum of $15 per family. Reservations are required. Call 253-2977.

Brule, president of Nolumbeka Project, a Greenfield-based organization committed to honoring the Northeastern tribes, speaks at 7 p.m. You can just attend the presentation, which is free.

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Phoebe Hazzard of Amherst sent me an email about auditions for “Newsies,” the Amherst Community Theater musical that will be performed in January. The auditions will be held Sept. 20-22. She didn’t say where, but visit www.amherstacts.org to get details. ” Actors, singers and dancers ages 7-107 encouraged!” she wrote.

Besides sending out releases, she also performs in the shows.

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The League of Women Voters, of which I am a member, will hold its opening meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12 with refreshments at 6:30 p.m. and the speaker at 7 p.m. at the Amherst Woman’s Club on Triangle Street. Professor Angel Ahmed will speak on “What is lost and what is gained by abolishing the Electoral College?”

The program is free and open to the public.

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Send items for the Lehrer Report to Phyllehrer@gmail. com.