Jim Bridgman

50 Years Ago

  • John J. Rockett Jr. of 23 Upland Road, yesterday formally announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for councilor at large. Rockett is a graduate of Northampton High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in science, and a master’s degree in guidance and counselling. He is presently principal of the Florence Grammar School.
  • John C. H. Richards III of 56 Cross St., Florence, has been selected to appear in the 1975 edition of the “Outstanding Young Men of America.” Richards has been active locally in Mainstream, a project sponsored by the Hampshire Action Commission, working to run a mobile medical health van for the county.

25 Years Ago

  • City and school leaders are looking for an inexpensive way to install voice mail at Northampton High School, after realizing two weeks ago that the convenience was never included in the renovation budget. “As it stands now the secretaries in the main office are going to have to take all of the messages,” said Carole A. Stuart, the city’s communications director.
  • When he heard about the city’s plans to place a cot shelter in the basement of Memorial Hall, city businessman William Muller thought he could do something that might work better, so he bought the former Elks building on Center Street. Now in the midst of renovations, the building will have many uses — in addition to the winter shelter, it will house offices, a Quaker meeting room and apartments.

10 Years Ago

  • Barbara “Bobbie” Carle, who co-founded the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art with her husband, died Monday at her home in North Carolina following a brief illness. She was 76. The museum opened on Barbara Carle’s birthday in 2002. Eric Carle attributed the initiative to his wife, saying, “When I began to do well, Bobbie was the one who said, ‘We have to give back.'”
  • Police Officer Jared LaValle has been appointed one of three community outreach officers on the Northampton force. LaValle is assigned to Florence, while the other two officers, Ryan Tellier and Adam Van Buskirk, will focus on connecting with people and addressing issues in downtown Northampton.