50 Years Ago
A spokesman for the University of Massachusetts campus said today that he is “extremely pleased” that the John F. Kennedy Library will be located at UMass in Boston. The Amherst campus had been under consideration as a possible site, but early this spring the library corporation announced that Amherst was no longer among the possible sites.
The owners of a private downtown parking lot which the City Council voted last week to take by eminent domain have obtained a temporary restraining order to block the taking of the property. Standick Trust, owners of the parking lot off Old South Street, obtained the restraining order from Superior Court Judge John McNaught yesterday as part of its suit to block the taking.
25 Years Ago
The switch was thrown Friday to illuminate 14,000 lights — including those of a new dragon and shooting star — to brighten Look Park for the holiday season. In an annual ritual, the park is once again sponsoring “Spirit of the Holidays,” a combination of the light display and Santa’s Workshop.
In honor of the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade’s 50th anniversary, parade officials have chosen the Most Rev. Joseph J. Maguire, bishop emeritus of the Springfield Roman Catholic Diocese as grand marshal. “He’s a quintessential member of the Holyoke community,” said parade spokesman Ray Feyre. “People of all ages gravitate to him because of his warm approach.”
10 Years Ago
Radio personality Monte Belmonte’s 42-mile anti-hunger march wound its way through the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Tuesday, where it was joined by Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy. The march began in Springfield on Monday with a destination of Greenfield by the end of Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, more than $150,000 was raised.
A Northampton High School graduate will march Thursday in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the second time. Graham Spencer-Orrell, 21, a trumpet player, marched with Macy’s Great American Marching Band for the first time in 2011. This year, in commemoration of the marching band’s 10th year in the New York City event, he is among some 60 alums of the parade who have returned to march again.