■Fish stories always have been known to wilt a little under the hard light of day, but for Lester and John LaFlam of Bliss Street, Florence, a recent day of ice fishing in the Berkshires yielded a catch which out-fished the fishiest of fish stories. John hooked an 18¾-pound pike which reportedly is the biggest fish ever caught in Hoosac Lake in Cheshire.
■A public hearing on changing the minimum lot size requirements in Residence “A” zones in Northampton from 10,000 to 15,000 square feet as recommended by the Planning Board will be held in conjunction with tonight’s City Council meeting at City Hall.
When the CDH Follies debuts Thursday, the dozens of people singing, dancing and hamming for the audience will be masking a serious purpose backstage — raising money for a machine to aid the seriously ill. The $20,000 that the show’s organizers say they hope to raise will be put toward a computerized ventilator that can treat patients who are having trouble breathing.
■A Virginia couple has bought and plans to open the Country Cricket Village Inn and Restaurant in Worthington, which has been closed for two years. Judi Sutter and Edward McCall purchased the Huntington Road property Friday from United Bank of Greenfield.
■Signs that read “We are Wisconsin” and “Tax the rich” were held high, old union songs were sung, and Sen. Scott Brown’s name was booed as loudly as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s on Tuesday as some 200 residents crammed the lawn and sidewalks in front of Memorial Hall and proclaimed solidarity with Wisconsin’s workers.
■Scott Goldman, principal of Smith Academy in Hatfield and former principal of Amherst Regional High School, was chosen on Tuesday to head the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School by a vote of 8-1. Goldman left ARHS in 2001 and became president of Holyoke Community Charter School. He has been principal of Smith Academy since 2003.