■Hadley is preferred, but where and how are still the questions as far as the state-financed ice-skating rink for Hampshire County is concerned. A meeting is planned for Sunday at the Hadley Town Hall to try to get some action started on the selection of a site for the $1.2 million rink.
■Santa’s Workshop at Look Park will close early on Christmas Eve, Look Park Manager Brian Elliott announced today. “Obviously the reason is that Santa has to go all around the world to deliver his toys,” Elliott said when questioned about the early closing.
■A study by a health data firm and a media group recognized Cooley Dickinson Hospital this week as one of the nation’s top 100 regional hospitals. Hospital president and CEO Craig N. Melin said the hospital is “honored” to receive the recognition.
■Investigators say they are working around the clock to investigate the beating death of Whately farmer Howard Hoxie but report no new leads. Hoxie, 80, owner of the Quonquont fruit farm, was killed Dec. 15 at his 6 North St. home. He died of multiple blows to the head and back.
■The Easthampton City Council unanimously approved a $5,000 increase in the mayor’s salary Wednesday. The mayor currently earns $70,000 annually. The 7.14 percent increase to $75,000 will take effect in January 2016, after the first term of Mayor Karen L. Cadieux ends.
■Saying the natural gas pipeline that provides gas to much of the Pioneer Valley is nearing capacity, Berkshire Gas Co. has imposed a moratorium on new customers in Greenfield, Deerfield, Montague and Whately. The decision has the potential to stifle economic development in the affected towns by preventing businesses that have plans to move into the area or expand their current operations from doing so while using natural gas.