(1/19/07)  It's been a woefully inadequate news week here at inAmherst.com, but at least we have some nuggets for you.

Candidates keep coming:  New nominees this week in Town-wide races are Nancy Gordon, a challenger for the Moderator position, and Leeta Bailey, a challenger for the Jones Library Trustees.  They join the previously reported list of those who have taken out nomination papers:  Gerry Weiss, Robie Hubley, Alisa Brewer and David Keenan, all for Select Board; Tom Flittie for School Committee; Kathleen Wang and Nonny Burack for Jones Library Trustees; Joan Ross Logan for Housing Authority; Harrison Gregg for Moderator and David Farnham for Oliver Smith Will Elector.  Papers with signatures from at least 50 registered voters of Amherst are due back to the Town Clerk's office by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 6th. [Correction: This had said Friday. Whoops.]

Gotta get some ghee:  Amherst Grocery Store has opened on Main Street, across from the Dickinson Homestead. In one of life's odd coincidences, I went to check its status this afternoon.  There was a “grand opening” banner outside and a sign on the door saying it would open at 3:00.  That was at 2:58.  I guess that makes me their first official customer.  The store stocks plenty of convenience items – soda, coffee, toiletries, phone cards, batteries, chips, candy, etc.  They also have a range of western-style groceries – pastas, soups, peanut butter, milk, juice, sandwich bags, laundry detergent and so forth.  The dominant category is Indian grocery items – ghee, spices, rice, beans, oils, chutneys, sauces, papadums, and more.  It's an impressive collection.

How cool is this:  Suppose you could have a literary professional create a list of suggested books for you, personalized to fit your exact reading interests.   Sounds like a service for the rich and famous, eh?  It may well be, but it's one we plain folk can enjoy as well, thanks to the staff of the Jones Library.  Just fill out this form, and you will receive your personalized reading list by e-mail within a week.  And did you know you can sign-up for e-mail newsletters as well, for news and reviews in a variety of book categories?  Such a great library.  Don't forget to say “thank you” with a contribution to their annual fund drive.

Focus on the Select Board:  This week's Focus will be hosted by Molly Turner, and will feature the four candidates vying for two Select Board seats.  Alisa Brewer and David Keenan are challenging incumbents Gerry Weiss and Robie Hubley, and listeners can get their first impressions of each candidate's views and visions for the future of Amherst at noon Sunday, January 21st on 91.1 FM WMUA.

Water, water everywhere:  The Board of Health will hold a public hearing on the proposed Haskins View subdivision at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 23rd, in the Glass Room at the Bangs Center.  They will be considering issues of water quality associated with the residential wells called for in the development plans.

No snow anywhere:  Due to our distinct lack of fluffy white stuff, the Winter Fest event at Cherry Hill Golf Course isn't happening January 20th.  The make-up date is Saturday, January 27th.  Keep an eye on the forecasts though, because LSSE says they need about six inches of snow for the planned activities. 

Get lectured:  Amherst College is hosting a series of lectures on important social topics, as part of its “Interterm Colloquium,” and all are free and open to the public.  On Sunday, January 21st, historians Andrew Bacevich and Ronald Steel will discuss the American empire; on Tuesday, January 23rd, Mexican-American journalist Richard Rodriguez and classicist and historian Victor Davis Hanson will discuss immigration; and Saturday, January 27th, public school advocate Wendy Puriefoy and educational theorist William Howell will discuss public education.  All three lectures will be held at the Cole Assembly Room in Converse Hall, and all begin at 7:30 p.m.   

Get lectured, part II:  Batteries powered by microbes – is this science fiction?  No, it's a promising area of research at UMass which has received more than $20 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.  The Hitchcock Center will host a lecture by Professor Derek Lovley on his team's Geobacter research and its potential for microbial fuel cells, as well as the microbe's current usage cleaning underground oil spills and removing uranium from groundwater.  This lecture will be held at the Hitchcock Center at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24th, and is free to members and $5 for non-members.  Pre-registration is recommended.  Call 256-6006.

Get lectured, part III:  “Blacks in Amherst 1750-1875” will be the topic of a lecture by Jim Smith at the Amherst Women's Club on Monday, January 22nd from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Before retiring, Smith was Town Engineer for Amherst.  The lecture is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.  The Amherst Women's Club is located at 35 Triangle Street.  

Death and taxes:  Ok, just taxes.  It's that time again.  Property taxes are due February 1st.  You can pay them on-line – makes it fun, kind of like iTunes or eBay.  Kind of.  If you want to know more about how that process works first, you can read all about it.

And they've got a bridge to sell ya:  The Fire Department is warning residents about phone calls seeking donations in support of Amherst firefighters.  The Fire Department has nothing to do with this.  According to the posted warning, the Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighter Association has hired fundraisers who are misrepresenting themselves as Amherst personnel, and erroneously suggesting that donations will benefit the local department. 

Singing for peace:  The Soapbox Conspiracy will hold an Anti War Sing on Saturday, January 27th from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the Common.  For more information, call Thomas Jones at 549-4516.

Zombies invade Amherst:  You can't make this stuff up. Ahh, youth.

-- Stephanie O'Keeffe