■Miss Marian C. Billings, honorary chairman of the 300th anniversary of the incorporation of Hatfield, tossed the first spadeful of earth on the root area of the London Plane Tree, to be known as the Tercentenary Tree, at ceremonies early last evening in front of the Hatfield Elementary School.
■A kickoff party for David B. Musante Jr., Democratic candidate for Hampshire County Commissioner, will be held Saturday at the Eagles Home on Pleasant Street. Musante will discuss frankly the issues at stake in the race for commissioner with his supporters and will be available to answer any questions.
■After a yearlong search, a new principal has bene selected for the Williamsburg elementary schools. Alfred Venne of Northampton was appointed principal yesterday by Superintendent William Erickson, following the recommendations of a seven-person search committee.
■Michael V. O’Brien of Easthampton was unanimously elected chairman of the Hampshire County Commission last night. He succeeds Frieda N. Howards of Amherst, who steps down from the executive committee while remaining a commissioner.
■Northampton is moving to buy a parcel in the Mineral Hills Conservation Area officials call the “linchpin” needed to connect tracts of conservation land into one contiguous piece. The 25-acres targeted, located on the city’s border with Westhampton, are surrounded by some 430 acres the city has acquired or secured conservation restrictions for in its attempt to preserve the Mineral Hills.
■Moviegoers in downtown Amherst will soon be able to have a glass of wine or beer while watching independent films. The Select Board on Monday unanimously approved a seasonal beer and wine license for the Amherst Cinema Arts Center that will allow the institution to serve patrons between April 1 and Jan. 15.