■The flood of 1,200 housing units that was supposed to inundate Northampton in 1972 may not turn out to be a flood at all. None of the six major housing projects planned for the city this year has yet begun and despite assurances by developers, there is evidence that construction on only one project will begin by the end of the year. That project is called “Meadowbrook.”
■Political activity picks up in Northampton this week. Today at noon Democrats are holding a rally on the City Hall steps in Northampton and tomorrow Gov. Francis Sargent appears at the Hotel Northampton to boost the chances of area Republicans in general and Sen. John Barrus, R-Goshen, in particular.
■Members of the board of the Northampton Community Music Center have appointed a new director — their third in two years. Lucia Miller of Northampton begins work later this month as the center’s new leader.
■Police say they have recovered six motorcycles stolen from a city business last weekend. The thefts were reported from Valley Motorsports Inc., 216 North King St., where last weekend seven motorcycles valued at a total of $24,000 were stolen from a storage shed.
■A white powder contained in an envelope delivered to a King Street business Tuesday morning was not toxic or life-threatening, emergency officials said. An employee at Fazzi Associates, a home care and hospice consulting firm, called the Fire Department after discovering the powder in an envelope.
■Tattoo artist David Sloan said he thinks Easthampton may be just the right place to realize his dream of owning his own tattoo studio. Sloan told the Planning Board Tuesday about his vision to turn 28 Union St., the former home of Riff’s Joint, into a small tattoo shop and art gallery.