On February 8, 2017 from 7:00-8:15pm in the Leeds School Music Room, Leeds author, John I. Clapp, will read from his latest book, The Lost Village of Roberts Meadow: Northampton’s Forgotten Settlement. John will reveal the little known history of the small village of Robert’s Meadow that was located in the northwest corner of Northampton on Kennedy, Sylvester and Chesterfield roads. John will read selected parts from his book, discussing some of the early history, industries and characters that inhabited this small community. These individuals include Colonel William Edwards who was the grandson of Jonathan Edwards, the famous and controversial minister of Northampton in the 1730s and 40s. Edward’s large tannery helped put Northampton on the map by trading finished leather with Boston. Nathaniel Edwards III, cousin of William, owned Edward’s Tavern, a popular stop-off for the stagecoach traveling the turnpike from Boston to Albany. Nathaniel Edwards III hosted a banquet for General Lafayette during his return tour of the United States in 1825. Another colorful character who frequented this tavern was Captain Elijah Ayers; his documented stunts included riding his horse into the bar as he called for a drink.
Every winter the Leeds Civic Association organizes a pizza party and raffle to cheer up the neighborhood and benefit the Civic Association. One way you can help with this event is by doing a winter cleaning before or after Christmas and donating any new or almost-new items to the raffle. If you find something someone else in the neighborhood might love or you receive a gift that you cannot use, you can donate it to the Leeds Civic Association! If you knit, sew, or otherwise create items, those items are welcome, too. If you’re a local business, please consider donating a gift certificate to the cause. The LCA crew of post-Christmas elves will artfully arrange items into themed baskets, and those attending the pizza party will purchase raffle tickets in hopes of winning one of the many prizes on display. Recycling gifts you don’t need not only diverts items from the waste stream, but also benefits the many projects of the Leeds Civic Association, including the Historic Bridge Preservation Project, the Mulberry Street Garden Project, the Leeds newsletter, and the many neighborhood parties that take place throughout the year. For drop-off information, please call 585-9923.
https://leedscivic.org/leeds2/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCAlogotrans2.png00justinhttps://leedscivic.org/leeds2/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCAlogotrans2.pngjustin2016-12-04 15:58:102016-12-04 15:58:10Presents for Leeds
The Leeds Civic Association created supply lists, decided on voting categories and prizes. Advertising was designed, printed, posted and delivered. Pumpkin entry give-aways were ordered (LED flare copters and glow necklaces), logistical details were reviewed. A call for volunteers for food contributions and other help went out via neighbor to neighbor, the LCA newsletter, website, and email blasts.
ON THE EVE OF THE PARTY…
6 people were busy stringing colorful lights along Chestnut Ave. Thank you: Steve McDonough, Tom Quinn, Penny Geis, David Rondina and his dad.
ON THE MORNING OF THE PARTY…
12 people were prepping the pumpkin roll course and party site.
(Loading up, transporting and setting up tables and grills, numbering 98 pumpkins). Thank you: Marc Freedman, Jason Johnson, Steve McDonough, David Rondina and family, Brenda and Jim Ryan, Justin O’Connor, and Tom and Amy Quinn.
SOMETIME ALONG THE WAY…
47 people in Leeds were busy carving a pumpkin entry to share. Thanks! Without you, it wouldn’t be a pumpkin party.
1 person was carving the Lollipop Raffle Pumpkin.
Thank you Jaiden Marney
5 people were busy baking pies for prizes. Thank you: Nancy Cheevers, Jason Johnson (x3), Ananda Lennox, Tom Quinn and Chad Marney.
15 people were making a big pot of their favorite soup or chili to share. Thanks: Julie Akeret, Joshua Birk, Sarah Casey, Leslie Chalmers, Ruth Ever, Marc Freedman, Jason Johnson, Alisa Klein and Amy Stamm, Susan Torrey, Steve McDonough, Carol Patterson, Alison Wood, Amy and Tom Quinn.
6 people were readying breads to share. Thank you: Leslie Skantz-Hodgson, Kevin Hale, Linda Butler, Kim Wojcik, Rachel Agoglia and Sarah Hines.
2 people baked dozens of potatoes with all the fix-ins to share.
Thank you Brenda and Jim Ryan.
11 people were preparing desserts to share. Thank you: Vin and Beth Perotta, Lynn Shumann-Hobbs, Greg and Tricia Reidy, Penny Geis, K. Chambers, Heather Punska, Pamela Cobb, Melissa Ratcliffe and Deb Jacobs.
1 person was prepping his play-list and equipment. Thank you Shawn Gunderson for being our Emcee.
DURING THE PARTY…
By the time 4:30 rolled around the party site was teeming with people, some eagerly awaiting the start of the pumpkin roll, some checking-in their pumpkins, some dropping off food contributions. Fifty-four kids rolled pumpkins hoping to win one of two prize gift cards to A to Z. The lucky winners were Lucas Tikkala-Cutler and Ryan Wade.
After the Pumpkin Roll, folks checked out the pumpkin entries, enjoyed the food and hot cider. As the warm night darkened and pumpkins lit up, voting began. Folks filled out ballots, choosing their favorite Funny, Gross, Scary, and Classic pumpkin. They also chose a favorite from the Master category, which was a special $5 buy-in category for people who really get into carving. Votes were logged into an Excel spread sheet for faster tallying (Thank you Amy Quinn for setting that up and Amy Stamm and Alisa Klien for logging in the votes of 90 people!) Thank you to Pamela Cobb for taking photos during the party, and thank you to anyone else who brought an item to share.
The winners in each category were called out and their pumpkins were brought up to the winners table to be ahhhhed over and applauded. Each winner chose a home-made pie to take home, the Master winner also won half of the buy-in dollars. The other half went to the Hotel Bridge Fund.
AFTER THE PARTY…
Many folks helped make swift work of breaking down the party. Tablecloths have already been washed and stored with the rest of the party supplies. Grills and tables have been returned to owners. The trash has been sorted and brought to the reclamation center. The lights are neatly coiled for the next LCA event (see article below). As you can see from reading the lists of people who contributed in some way, it takes participation to make a party successful. You also may take away from the lists that more than enough people are helping. That is not the case (note the same names listed multiple times.) We would love to have new volunteers! If you were unable to contribute, maybe next year you can carve out some time (pun intended) and join in!
https://leedscivic.org/leeds2/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCAlogotrans2.png00justinhttps://leedscivic.org/leeds2/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCAlogotrans2.pngjustin2016-11-03 20:44:582016-11-03 20:44:58Pumpkin Party – Leeds Community at its Best!
Book Reading & Author’s Signing
On February 8, 2017 from 7:00-8:15pm in the Leeds School Music Room, Leeds author, John I. Clapp, will read from his latest book, The Lost Village of Roberts Meadow: Northampton’s Forgotten Settlement. John will reveal the little known history of the small village of Robert’s Meadow that was located in the northwest corner of Northampton on Kennedy, Sylvester and Chesterfield roads. John will read selected parts from his book, discussing some of the early history, industries and characters that inhabited this small community. These individuals include Colonel William Edwards who was the grandson of Jonathan Edwards, the famous and controversial minister of Northampton in the 1730s and 40s. Edward’s large tannery helped put Northampton on the map by trading finished leather with Boston. Nathaniel Edwards III, cousin of William, owned Edward’s Tavern, a popular stop-off for the stagecoach traveling the turnpike from Boston to Albany. Nathaniel Edwards III hosted a banquet for General Lafayette during his return tour of the United States in 1825. Another colorful character who frequented this tavern was Captain Elijah Ayers; his documented stunts included riding his horse into the bar as he called for a drink.
Presents for Leeds
Every winter the Leeds Civic Association organizes a pizza party and raffle to cheer up the neighborhood and benefit the Civic Association. One way you can help with this event is by doing a winter cleaning before or after Christmas and donating any new or almost-new items to the raffle. If you find something someone else in the neighborhood might love or you receive a gift that you cannot use, you can donate it to the Leeds Civic Association! If you knit, sew, or otherwise create items, those items are welcome, too. If you’re a local business, please consider donating a gift certificate to the cause. The LCA crew of post-Christmas elves will artfully arrange items into themed baskets, and those attending the pizza party will purchase raffle tickets in hopes of winning one of the many prizes on display. Recycling gifts you don’t need not only diverts items from the waste stream, but also benefits the many projects of the Leeds Civic Association, including the Historic Bridge Preservation Project, the Mulberry Street Garden Project, the Leeds newsletter, and the many neighborhood parties that take place throughout the year. For drop-off information, please call 585-9923.
Pumpkin Party – Leeds Community at its Best!
WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF THE PARTY…
The Leeds Civic Association created supply lists, decided on voting categories and prizes. Advertising was designed, printed, posted and delivered. Pumpkin entry give-aways were ordered (LED flare copters and glow necklaces), logistical details were reviewed. A call for volunteers for food contributions and other help went out via neighbor to neighbor, the LCA newsletter, website, and email blasts.
ON THE EVE OF THE PARTY…
6 people were busy stringing colorful lights along Chestnut Ave. Thank you: Steve McDonough, Tom Quinn, Penny Geis, David Rondina and his dad.
ON THE MORNING OF THE PARTY…
12 people were prepping the pumpkin roll course and party site.
(Loading up, transporting and setting up tables and grills, numbering 98 pumpkins). Thank you: Marc Freedman, Jason Johnson, Steve McDonough, David Rondina and family, Brenda and Jim Ryan, Justin O’Connor, and Tom and Amy Quinn.
SOMETIME ALONG THE WAY…
47 people in Leeds were busy carving a pumpkin entry to share. Thanks! Without you, it wouldn’t be a pumpkin party.
1 person was carving the Lollipop Raffle Pumpkin.
Thank you Jaiden Marney
5 people were busy baking pies for prizes. Thank you: Nancy Cheevers, Jason Johnson (x3), Ananda Lennox, Tom Quinn and Chad Marney.
15 people were making a big pot of their favorite soup or chili to share. Thanks: Julie Akeret, Joshua Birk, Sarah Casey, Leslie Chalmers, Ruth Ever, Marc Freedman, Jason Johnson, Alisa Klein and Amy Stamm, Susan Torrey, Steve McDonough, Carol Patterson, Alison Wood, Amy and Tom Quinn.
6 people were readying breads to share. Thank you: Leslie Skantz-Hodgson, Kevin Hale, Linda Butler, Kim Wojcik, Rachel Agoglia and Sarah Hines.
2 people baked dozens of potatoes with all the fix-ins to share.
Thank you Brenda and Jim Ryan.
11 people were preparing desserts to share. Thank you: Vin and Beth Perotta, Lynn Shumann-Hobbs, Greg and Tricia Reidy, Penny Geis, K. Chambers, Heather Punska, Pamela Cobb, Melissa Ratcliffe and Deb Jacobs.
1 person was prepping his play-list and equipment. Thank you Shawn Gunderson for being our Emcee.
DURING THE PARTY…
By the time 4:30 rolled around the party site was teeming with people, some eagerly awaiting the start of the pumpkin roll, some checking-in their pumpkins, some dropping off food contributions. Fifty-four kids rolled pumpkins hoping to win one of two prize gift cards to A to Z. The lucky winners were Lucas Tikkala-Cutler and Ryan Wade.
After the Pumpkin Roll, folks checked out the pumpkin entries, enjoyed the food and hot cider. As the warm night darkened and pumpkins lit up, voting began. Folks filled out ballots, choosing their favorite Funny, Gross, Scary, and Classic pumpkin. They also chose a favorite from the Master category, which was a special $5 buy-in category for people who really get into carving. Votes were logged into an Excel spread sheet for faster tallying (Thank you Amy Quinn for setting that up and Amy Stamm and Alisa Klien for logging in the votes of 90 people!) Thank you to Pamela Cobb for taking photos during the party, and thank you to anyone else who brought an item to share.
The winners in each category were called out and their pumpkins were brought up to the winners table to be ahhhhed over and applauded. Each winner chose a home-made pie to take home, the Master winner also won half of the buy-in dollars. The other half went to the Hotel Bridge Fund.
AFTER THE PARTY…
Many folks helped make swift work of breaking down the party. Tablecloths have already been washed and stored with the rest of the party supplies. Grills and tables have been returned to owners. The trash has been sorted and brought to the reclamation center. The lights are neatly coiled for the next LCA event (see article below). As you can see from reading the lists of people who contributed in some way, it takes participation to make a party successful. You also may take away from the lists that more than enough people are helping. That is not the case (note the same names listed multiple times.) We would love to have new volunteers! If you were unable to contribute, maybe next year you can carve out some time (pun intended) and join in!