■Northampton High School student William Gutowski of Florence Road, Florence, and science teacher Albert Levit, of Amherst, are among the top science students and teachers from 21 states, Japan, Australia, Canada and Korea who are participating in the 15th International Edison Birthday Celebration at Bentley College, Waltham, today and tomorrow.
■At the annual meeting of shareholders of Northampton National Bank yesterday, two retirements were announced. George H. Hartling, senior vice president, associated with the bank since 1925, has reached retirement age, and E. Otto Kollmorgen, member of the board of directors since 1952, has declined renomination because he now lives in Florida for much of the year.
■Linda L. Skorupski of Easthampton has been promoted to assistant vice president of retail banking at Springfield Institution for Savings. She started at SIS Bank in 1994 at the Nonotuck Office in Northampton.
■Holyoke Mayor Daniel J. Szostkiewicz announced today that his “preference” would be to site a proposed casino in downtown Holyoke. However, he said he would not rule out another proposed site at the former Mountain Park.
■The Yankee Candle Co.’s flagship store closed its doors on Wednesday and Thursday while crews removed snow and ice buildup from the roof. With the amount of snow already on the roof and the potential of more on the way before a thaw, the snow was removed as a precautionary measure for the safety of the store’s guests and employees.
■University of Massachusetts President Jack Wilson says the university is facing a $54.5 million budget gap for the next fiscal year and student fees may be raised to close it. Wilson said Thursday he anticipates a 2 to 3 percent increase in student fees to cover inflation, but a decision on anything beyond that depends on the legislative budget process.