■Northampton Police are allegedly looking for three young suspects in connection with a weekend fire in a woodworking shop on Pleasant Street. The shop, owned by Rudison and Routhier Engineering Co., was destroyed.
■Three of Northampton’s oldest downtown merchants are closing their doors for good this summer. After more than 70 years of continuous family management, Todd’s department store will close in June, while Lucius LaFleur stated that the closing of LaFleur Brothers Paints this summer will end more than 83 years of the family business. And The Globe Market on Pleasant Street went out of business on Thursday.
■Supporters of mayoral hopeful Raymond Boucher gathered at the Pulaski Club in Easthampton on Sunday for an official announcement of Boucher’s candidacy. Boucher, who led the Charter Commission in drawing up a document that is to provide Easthampton with a new form of government, said he wants to provide the town with a change in leadership.
■Northampton Superintendent Bruce E. Willard last night named Gwen Agna as principal of the Jackson Street School. “The people at Jackson Street are lucky,” said veteran Bridge Street School teacher Thomas J. Parent. He said that what impressed people about Agna there — when she was an interim principal — was the way she connected to students. “Rapport with kids is one of the most important things a principal can have.”
■Northampton teachers and other school employees will receive no raises or cost-of-living increases next year, according to a proposed $28.1 million school budget. The money was cut from an earlier budget draft to avoid laying off a half-dozen teachers, but the move has upset some in the school ranks who were expecting raises after labor talks earlier this year.
■After six years as coordinator of Easthampton City Arts Plus, Briana Taylor announced this week that she is stepping down from the position. Taylor, a painter and quilter, said she is resigning to spend more time on her art.