(4/2/07) Here's a collection of bits and pieces of news and information for the first week of April.
Write-In Win: It isn't listed yet with the Town's unofficial election results, but Larry Kelley apparently won his write-in campaign for the Redevelopment Authority. His blog gives interesting accounts of why he ran and what might have happened if he hadn't won.
Cannes on Campus: The Wind that Shakes the Barley, winner of the 2006 Cannes Film Festival Palme D'Or, will be shown at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4th in room 101 of the UMass Campus Center. An introduction to the events and characters will be given by Professor William Matthews, who has lectured on the era of Ireland's independence movement and civil war that are depicted in the film. The showing is free and open to the public. It will be preceded at 6:30 p.m. by traditional Irish music and refreshments, and an opportunity to ask questions will take place after the film.
April Flush: Water main flushing begins April 2nd, weather permitting. Flushing will take place Mondays through Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m., over four weeks or until the whole system is done. To see the order in which each section of town's water mains will be dealt with, click here. The DPW says that residents might experience discolored water and low pressure during this process, and advises running the water briefly to get rid of discoloration.
Location, location: As reported in last week's nugget, the Select Board meeting has been moved from Monday, April 2nd to Wednesday, April 4th. As of last week's writing, the meeting was to be held in Town Hall's first floor meeting room, but the Town's web site is now listing room 101 at the Bangs Center as the new location. The Planning Board will be meeting in the Town Room that evening, necessitating the change. (Thanks also to Gerry Weiss, for noting the new location in a comment here.)
Book 'em: The League of Women Voters is collecting books for its annual book sale through April 26th. Books in good condition – no magazines! – can be dropped off at collection points around town: all three Town libraries; Stop & Shop in Hadley; The UPS Store on University Drive; or the League's sorting and pricing center at 7 Pomeroy Lane, #7 and #8. The book sale is the group's primary fundraiser, and it finances their programs and publications. The sale will be held on the Town Common May 4th - 6th. For more information, call the League at 253-0633.
Be frightened and depressed: “Terrorism and Defense of the Food System” is the title of a lecture by Frank Busta, Director of the National Center for Food Protection and Defense, to be presented Tuesday, April 3rd at 3:30 p.m. in the Cape Cod Lounge of the UMass Student Union. The lecture is free and open to the public, and is part of the spring lecture series put on by the University's Environmental Institute.
Ken Burns: WAMC's Alan Chartock interviewed the Hampshire College alum and America's favorite documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. He talks about his life, career and influences, his new series “The War,” and how much he loved his experiences at Hampshire. Click here to listen.
Police Honors: Amherst Police Officers Richard P. MacLean, Dominick A. Corsetti and Scott E. Gallagher were honored recently by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for their work enforcing drunk driving and underage drinking laws. The three officers made 77 of the Department's 153 OUI arrests in 2006, and Officer MacLean has made more than 100 such arrests in the last three years, earning him recognition as a charter member of MADD's Law Enforcement 100.
Cool Cartography: Among the attractions of the Master Plan's well-attended Community Choices event last week were all the amazing maps. The ones showing historical development – a color-coded representation of when every single structure in town was built – and another showing all the town's tax-exempt land, were particularly fascinating. Check out all the maps in Planning Amherst Together's Map Gallery.
Fruit CSA: Bob and Sally Fitz run Small Ones Farm on Bay Road and will be offering their organic peaches, pears and apples through CSA shares this year. For $150, shareholders will receive 8 to 10 pounds of fruit each week during the season – mid-August to mid-October – as well as the opportunity to “U-pick” half a bushel of fruit and the opportunity to purchase cider, cider vinegar, eggs, and other farm products. In addition to enjoying fresh local organic fruit, shareholders help sustain a family farm. For more information or to receive an application, send them an e-mail or call 253-6788.
Got a nugget? Send it along.
-- Stephanie O'Keeffe
