■A 32-foot steel framed steeple covered with fiberglass and weighing 1,500 pounds was hoisted into place yesterday morning at the new Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church on Main Street in Hatfield. The white cross and steeple will be lighted at the completion of the church which is now projected for Aug. 1.
■July 12 has been set as the date for the sixth annual Gazette-Kiwanis Soap Box Derby, according to Kirk Parsons, derby director. The racing event “the gravity grand prix” for schoolboys 11-15 years of age has attracted more than 30 young drivers who will compete for a $500 savings bond and the right to represent this city in The World Gravity Grand Prix at Akron, Ohio in August.
■A new coffee house will open Saturday in the Village Commons on College Street in South Hadley, replacing Cafe at the Commons. Though the Thirsty Mind is scheduled to open for business this week, owner Joe Jerasaty said he plans to make a big “splash” when area college students return in the fall.
■Reacting to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Monday that says groups can be excluded from parades, organizers of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Holyoke said the issue of allowing gay and lesbian marchers has been no issue at all. John Ferriter, president of the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, said Holyoke has not had to face the issue of barring or allowing gay groups to march — because none has asked to participate.
■For the second straight year, Northampton residents are being asked to raise their property taxes beyond the limit allowed by state law, only this time the money would be used to build a new police station rather than to prop up government services. It will be the eighth time since Proposition 2½ went into effect in 1982 that residents will be asked to increase their taxes via an override.
■Massachusetts could expect an annual revenue jackpot of up to $460 million by licensing three resort-style casinos, including one in western Massachusetts, according to an economic report released by the state Senate Friday. The report estimates that the casinos would generate up to $1.8 billion in total annual gambling revenue each year.