■Anthony F. Gonski, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. William W. Gonski, 116-A Hawley St., Northampton, has been commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from the Officer Candidate School at the Army Artillery and Missile Center, Ft. Sill, Okla.
■Parents Night of Boy Scout Troop 116 was highlighted last week by presentation of the Eagle Award to John Ebel III. The program featured slide show of Ebel’s scouting activities since his first “overnight” to his Eagle Board.
■A storied history could not pay the bills at the Iron Horse – and its owners said today that after struggling financially for a year, they will close the music hall in June. Saying they couldn’t survive on “idealism alone,” Craig Blaine and Jo Thomas said that unless a buyer is found soon, they will present the club’s last show June 4.
■Amid cheers and enthusiastic applause from students, faculty and staff, Mount Holyoke College named its 17th president yesterday afternoon, ending an eight-month search. Joanne V. Creighton, interim president of Wesleyan University, was selected from a pool of nearly 300 candidates for the position.
■As negotiations to buy the Bean and Allard farms continue, the City Council Thursday is expected to give its final blessing to spend nearly $1 million in Community Preservation Act money on the acquisition. The council unanimously approved spending the money at its last meeting, but a second vote is required.
■Amherst Superintendent of Schools Alberto Rodriguez has scheduled 40 days off between last Aug. 10 and this April 26, raising some eyebrows as the town struggles with budget cuts. Rodriguez is using up his 25-day vacation allotment this week, less than eight months into the fiscal year.