50 Years Ago
- A hospital administrator has blamed skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs as one villain in the latest round of room rate increases announced today by The Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Starting tomorrow, two-bed rooms in the adult medical/surgical west wing will cost $80 per day instead of $74. The cost of four-bed rooms will increase from $70 to $75 per day.
- Air Force T. Sgt. Leonard P. Matlovich told an audience of 500 at the University of Massachusetts last night that “gays are American citizens; they deserve no more and no less than the general public.” Matlovich, 32, gained national prominence when he proclaimed his homosexuality — and tried to stay in the service.
25 Years Ago
- State Highway Commissioner Matthew J. Amorello said Friday a study to determine whether another bridge is needed over the Connecticut River will begin next summer now that advertisements for bids to rebuild and expand the Coolidge Bridge have been made. Amorello said he will convene a second bridge task force after work begins on constructing a fourth lane and new deck on the 61-year-old structure next spring.
- The Cooley Dickinson Hospital has agreed to resume its four-year practice of paying for an athletic trainer position for the sports teams at Northampton High School. The hospital has funded the position for the past four years as a way to contribute to the community.
10 Years Ago
- In the first full year of its “test-blind” application process, in which Hampshire College did not accept SAT or ACT results, the college saw an increase in the proportion of students who were admitted and decided to enroll from 19 percent to 26 percent, according to Meredith Twombly, dean of enrollment and retention. “We couldn’t help but notice there was no correlation between their test scores and their likelihood to succeed at Hampshire,” she said.
- A wider road, bicycle lanes and sidewalks are in the works for Route 9 in Hadley, where the Massachusetts Department of Transportation wants to improve safety, ease congestion and bolster the Northampton-Amherst bus route that travels along it. The project will take place over the coming five years.