EASTHAMPTON

City Clerk Barbara LaBombard is predicting a "busy day" of voter turnout Tuesday, the city's bi-annual Election Day when residents will elect their next mayor, city councilors and school committee members.

LaBombard said this week that voter registrations this month were "nothing out of the ordinary" and absentee ballots that have come in so far have been on par with previous elections. But she said she is certain that a high-profile contest for mayor and a seven-way race for four councilor-at-large seats will bring out the city's registered voters in stronger numbers than in recent local elections.

"I'm sure it will," LaBombard said. "Probably higher than recent elections."

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who live in precincts 1, 2 and 5 can vote at White Brook Middle School and voters from precincts 3 and 4 can vote at Easthampton High School.

Day-care bear

If you think you liked the Easthampton Bear Fest bears that are now noticeably absent from the city's sidewalks after being auctioned Oct. 15, think of the children.

Christine Little of Christy's Corner Family Daycare in Southampton knows what the bears meant to her small charges.

"I've had some friends tell me their kids were in tears when they were gone," Little said.

Little, the children's parents and area businesses all pitched in and raised more than $1,000 last month. The kids helped make chocolate bear pops for donors.

In the end, they got to bid on one of their favorites: "Metamorphosis Bear" by Julie Kirk and Cindy Bow. The bear's nickname is "Mori."

"This bear was one of our favorites, but we never thought we would actually take him home," Little said. Still, they cast the winning bid this month for $1,300 and breathed a sigh of relief. Now, the children can see the bear every day at the home daycare.

"It's special for us," she said.

Little said that she is keeping the bear inside for fear of theft and said she is looking for a larger space to open a larger child care facility.

And Mori is going to come along. "It can be our little mascot," she said. The name she has in mind for the new business? Little Bear Child Care.

Matt Pilon can be reached at mpilon@gazettenet.com.