■A state agency, at the urging of local residents, is quietly moving to acquire 1,400 acres of land in the Mount Holyoke Range as a “holding action” until Congress passes legislation to establish a national park in the area. The proposed acquisition of land here is intended to protect the Mount Holyoke Range from possible encroachment by housing developers.
■The resignation of Charles F. Lyons as the first chairman of the Northampton Solid Waste Management Committee was announced last night at the group’s meeting. Mrs. Julie Saner was elected to succeed Lyons, and William Warren to succeed Mrs. Saner as vice chairman.
■Residents living near Turkey Hill Road say they already have a problem with water drainage. They fear the problem will get worse if six houses are built on a nearby hill. The Planning Board is continuing to review plans by developers who want to build six houses off Turkey Hill Road, a street in the far western section of the city.
■The days of having Bill Nagle’s Honor Court sweep the streets and sidewalks for free appear to be over. To keep downtown clean, after years of free help, merchants may have to sweep it themselves — or at least pay for the service.
■Northampton is facing up to $800,000 in unfunded federal mandates this fiscal year to upgrade and maintain its stormwater and flood control systems and make other repairs, a figure that could jump to $2.3 million next year.
■Sunderland resident Michelle Brooks-Thompson was the first performer on NBC’s singing competition “The Voice” on Monday — and offered up a rendition of “Proud Mary” that let the judges vying for her to be on their teams.