50 Years Ago
- John Gare, of E. J. Gare and Son Jewelers on Main Street, was elected president of Northampton’s Downtown Business Association (DBA) yesterday. Gare replaces Robert Levitt, of Stewart’s College Towne, as president of the DBA. Frederick Kochapski, of Carlson’s clothing store, was elected vice president.
- A new fire chief and deputy fire chief were appointed at last night’s Easthampton selectmen’s meeting. James Whalen, 58, who has been acting deputy chief since July 1974, was appointed fire chief. Former Capt. William McCaulley was appointed deputy chief.
25 Years Ago
- The Hilltown Community Development Corp. named a Worthington resident with urban-development experience as its new executive director. After a two-month search and 29 candidates, the Board of Directors chose Marie E. Burkart to replace Laura Baker, who leaves the post at the end of the month.
- After 26 years making its home in a church basement on Pomeroy Terrace, the Valley Christian School plans to build a new, 40,000-square-foot school building on the Easthampton-Southampton border. The new facility planned for the Coleman Road site will allow the school to expand from 125 to 180 students, principal David Cashin said this week.
10 Years Ago
- Western Village Ski & Sports will close in January after 37 years in business on Main Street in Northampton, according to messages posted to the store’s website and Facebook page. “It’s time,” owner Paul Tonelli said in one of the messages, noting that the family-owned business has been in operation since 1950, and at its 32 Main St. location since 1978.
- University of Massachusetts Amherst student marched to the administration building following a Survivor’s Bill of Rights rally outside the UMass Student Union on Friday. Students are asking that the university adopt the document, written by survivors for survivors, and post it around campus. The bill outlines ways students would like to see administrators deal with cases of sexual assault and better protect victims.