Count ‘em up:  Tuesday is Election Day.  Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.  For more information on where to vote, or how to make your decision, click here. 

Atkins Corner:  Wednesday, March 28th the Department of Public Works will give a presentation of plans for redesigning the Atkins Corner intersection.  This will take place in the East Lecture Hall at Hampshire College's Franklin Patterson Hall at 7:00 p.m.  To learn more about the plans and see video simulations of redesign options, click here.   

Busy week:  Can't stay home Thursday night either, because that's the Community Choices event – the latest step in the Master Plan process.  It takes place at 7:00 p.m. in the High School cafeteria.  Don't miss it.

Take that:  SustainableAmherst.org, the recently-launched web site that rates Town Meeting members by their voting records according to specific criteria, has inspired a protest blog, the coincidentally named SustainableAmherst.blogspot.com.  The blog offers criticism, but doesn't refute or reinterpret Sustainable Amherst's rankings.  As of this writing, there is no “about us”-type information, but those digging into the comments will find it was created by Ian Camera, who among his identifying information notes that he is Gerry Weiss' stepson.  

We're not alone:  Another new blog is from Boston.com, and it is monitoring many towns facing Proposition 2 ½ overrides.  When it first launched last week, it included Amherst in a long list of communities it was covering, but the focus seems to have shifted to the Greater Boston area.  It is still interesting to read about how other areas are facing similar issues.

Beg your indulgence:  It has nothing to do with Amherst per se, but because the subject is of vital import to many Amherst residents, I would be remiss if I didn't pass along word about the most extraordinary new blogosphere offering:  38 Pitches.  This is Curt Schilling's personal blog where he deconstructs in great detail his pitching, opponents' hitting, Red Sox Nation and more.  It will turn sports journalism upside-down.    

New day, new place:  The April 2nd Select Board meeting has been cancelled, and a new meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday, April 4th at 6:15 p.m.  The Town web site lists the first floor meeting room as the location, instead of the usual Town Room.   

Facelift:  Hastings, a downtown landmark since 1914, is getting a makeover.  The “Swiss Chalet”-style dark wood façade it has sported for some 40 years is being replaced with a fresh new exterior.  Stay tuned for the new look.

Such a deal:  If you find yourself in the market for a rain barrel, this will be good news indeed.  The Town has received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to provide rain barrels at a special discounted price of $56.50 for the first 20 barrels sold, and $66.50 thereafter.  The regular retail price of this “New Englander” model is $89.  Learn more here.

Top Doc:  Vice Admiral Richard Carmona, the recently retired U.S. Surgeon General, will give a talk titled “Parting Words from a Surgeon General: Addressing Public Health Concerns,” at Amherst College on Sunday, April 1st.  Dr. Carmona will discuss his work to eliminate health disparities and increase health literacy in underserved communities.  The talk will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Cole Assembly Room at Converse Hall, and is free and open to the public. 

Drive safely:  The Amherst Police Department is conducting a “traffic enforcement mobilization” from March 23rd to April 8th called “Road Respect.”  This is an annual program conducted in partnership with the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau. According to the Police Department, it aims to reduce aggressive driving through education and traffic law enforcement.  The Amherst PD urges people to call 911 if they witness or are involved in serious aggressive driving incidents, or to fill out a vehicle complaint form at any Registry of Motor Vehicles office.

On the move?:  Payne Building Movers, the same New Hampshire firm that in December moved a house from Common School property on South Pleasant Street to Potwine Lane, was seen checking out the last house remaining on the Kendrick Park parcel this past week.  There were surveyors at that site last week also, but they claimed to be dealing with land behind the North Pleasant Street properties they had marked.  We'll keep an eye on this.

-- Stephanie O'Keeffe