■Northampton’s new leaf sweeper vacuum was taken out for a trial run Tuesday as Board of Public Works employees learned to operate the new equipment. The leaf vacuum, which is not yet in operation, will clean up leaves following a schedule to be announced.
■Planners, local geologists and conservationists can’t agree on whether the Florence Meadows — the proposed site for 212 townhouse apartments — is a flood plain of the Mill River. Apparently, there is no engineering data establishing the flood plain of the Mill River and the disagreement remained unresolved at the Tuesday night meeting of the Planning Board.
■At long last, the new pool at JFK Middle School opens for community use this weekend. The grand opening of the Northampton Aquatic and Family Center, based at the new pool at the JFK Middle School, is set for Saturday.
■The Northampton Democratic City Committee will honor Arky and George Markham as Democrats of the Year at its annual breakfast to be held Sunday at the Depot Restaurant. The keynote speaker will be Meline Kasparian of Amherst, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
■Tapestry Health has joined forces with fair trade coffee importer Dean Cycon of Leverett and the Black Sheep Deli of Amherst. They are selling a new brand of coffee beans called Tapestry E.C. Roast, with a portion of the money going to the nonprofit organization.
■With three weeks to go before voters elect a new mayor, candidates David J. Narkewicz and Michael R. Bardsley met up in a polite, almost staid, forum Wednesday night, answering questions about city budgeting, the balance of power, and whether they support plowing bike paths.