Online voting in the 75 categories will run through May 5.
SPRINGFIELD - Got a favorite youth sports coach out there who's getting a Little League team into shape for the season ahead?
Is there a favorite college professor you'll miss when you graduate in May?
The Republican and MassLive.com will extend voting through May 5 in its summer-fall edition of Reader Raves. Reader Raves is now a twice-a-year survey of Western Massachusetts happenings, highlights and hidden gems. From farm stands to fairs and bartenders to the most responsive elective officials, the Raves gives readers a chance to weigh in on the best of what's happening in the region.
"In light of the extraordinary events that have touched us all recently, we recognize that our audience’s attention was appropriately elsewhere over the past two weeks," said Mark French, advertising director for The Republican and El Pueblo Latino, who oversees the effort. "It's with that in mind that we've decided to extend the voting for another week and hope our readers can find good things to celebrate through Reader Raves."
Readers are able to vote on their favorite businesses, summer activities, or best place to get in a round of golf.
Reader Raves began in April 2012 and has fast become a fun way for thousands of readers to rave about their favorite Western Massachusetts people, places and activities online at readerraves.com.
It's different from other best-of polls in that the participants can write in whatever they wish, rather than choose from a list of candidates which has been assembled for them.
The winter-spring edition of Reader Raves concluded on Dec. 2 with more than 11,500 votes cast, a 400 percent increase from the debut with the first summer-fall edition a year ago.
In addition to actual votes, online page views increased by 64 percent to more than 90,000, and Facebook recommendations went up 174 percent.
For the summer-fall edition, there are 75 separate categories in four separate areas: business, news and entertainment, Pioneer Valley Life and sports.