50 Years Ago
- The Northampton Redevelopment Authority approved a tentative agreement last night to sell the remaining 82.3 acres of the city’s Industrial Park to a private development firm which will market it. There was no debate as the authority members voted unanimously to name the Mega Development Corp., the redeveloper for the remaining land in the 88-acre park.
- Today is Mountain Day for Smith College students. The college chimes rang out at 7 a.m. announcing the annual surprise holiday which traditionally gives students a day off from classes so they may hike and bicycle and picnic in the countryside to enjoy the autumn foliage. The first known celebration of Mountain Day was recorded in an October 1877 student diary.
25 Years Ago
- The City Council expressed sorrow, offered condolences to victims and gave its appreciation to rescuers of the Sept. 11 attacks in a statement read at Thursday night’s meeting. Written and read into the record by William H. Dwight, the declaration also urged Northampton residents to allow for diverse reactions to the events and committed the council to retaining “the integrity of our tolerant and close community in these challenging and sad and troubling times.”
- About 20 supporters cheered Fire Department officials as the chief was reappointed to a two-year post and two acting deputy chiefs were promoted to deputy chief Thursday. Chief Brian Duggan welcomed new deputy chiefs David Gagne and William P. Hurley Jr., while family members snapped pictures and cheered. Both have served as acting deputy chief for 18 months.
10 Years Ago
- Residents fed up with Northampton’s stormwater fee are in the early stages of organizing a campaign against it, arguing the cost to residents should be viewed as a tax, not a fee. “We feel this is a tax, it’s not a fee. We feel it’s unfair and unequally proportioned,” said John Riley, a leader of the group along with Fred Mackler.
- Submarine periscopes are designed and manufactured at an L-3 KEO plant in Northampton. E Ink Corp., which has its global headquarters in Taiwan, produces display screens such as Kindles at a production facility in South Hadley. To celebrate the diverse range of the manufacturing enterprise in Hampshire County, the Franklin Regional Employment Board will host a “Manufacturing Day” for local manufacturers to share information about their products and company.