50 Years Ago
- University of Massachusetts students who had been occupying a building in protest of the presence of military on the campus yesterday voluntarily ended their 24-hour occupation shortly before 5 p.m. deadline set by the university. The group had said they would not leave the building until the university had met a series of demands which included excluding the military from the campus, publicly opposing military flights over the campus, and disclosing how all federal grants and contracts were being spent.
- With four days left until the election, John H. Matteson, the independent candidate who is challenging Democrat Robert R. Patenaude for the Ward 5 council seat, has virtually conceded. Matteson, a 45-year-old chemist at the University of Massachusetts, who was defeated in 1973 when he attempted to unseat Patenaude in the Democratic primary, said yesterday that he has “no hope, realistically, of beating him this time.”
25 Years Ago
- Diners hooked on Thai Kitchen’s sweet, tangy Pad Thai don’t have to wait any longer for their fix: After a two-month closure, Thai Kitchen is again open for business. The restaurant, at 36 Main St. for seven years, opened Thursday at 2 Bridge St., a spot co-owner Phongsri Kwanmuang said she loves.
- A hand grenade thrown through a second-floor window of a Clark Street home Monday forced the evacuation of the home and a sweep by the State Police Bomb Squad. The couple who lives at the apartment were sitting on their couch when the hand grenade flew through a living room window, smashing the glass, and landed in the middle of the room. The grenade was found to be hollow, devoid of any explosives.
10 Years Ago
- A fast-moving fire Friday destroyed a barn at Manheim Farm on Route 47 near the Hadley town line. There were several explosions during the blaze, but no injuries were reported. Four employees of the farm rushed from the barn when it caught on fire.
- Describing a contentious atmosphere and lack of responsible oversight by station management, two community members recently resigned from their roles at the University of Massachusetts radio station WMUA. Ken Irwin, jazz music director and host of “Java Jazz,” and Dee Michel, a volunteer and host of “A Little Stage Music” have given up their shows and memberships at the station over conflicts that began in April.