A Look Back, Dec. 26

50 Years Ago

■Officials at Northampton State Hospital are still in the dark today as to whether seven foreign-trained physicians who have not passed the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates test will continue to be allowed to work here after Dec. 31. The seven account for almost half the facility’s medical staff.

■Despite a rise in unemployment and an increasing concern over the general economy, a Gazette random sampling of county merchants show holiday retail sales were good. Robert Levitt, president of the downtown Business Association, said business at his store was “unbelievable” over the final three sale days of the holiday season. Levitt owns the Stewart’s College Towne clothing store at 6 Main St.

25 Years Ago

■First Night revelers in Northampton will greet the new millennium in what promises to be a dazzle of light from the roof of the Hotel Northampton, where a new “high-tech” ball will rise at the stroke of midnight, followed by a fireworks display. Organizers of First Night Northampton 2000 anticipate record crowds for the celebration, which is marking its 15th anniversary this year.

■Fire crews were called to the site of the Northampton High School addition this morning after a passing motorist spotted smoke billowing from the construction site. Project representative William Letendre said several greasy tarpaulins had caught fire and were smoldering within the addition’s plastic-enclosed steel frame.

10 Years Ago

■A decision earlier this month to close the Berkshire Trail Elementary School leaves some students facing a one-way bus trip of 55 minutes next year, and town officials considering other options for educating Cummington children.

■The second-longest serving member of the Northampton City Council will not run for a seventh term next year, capping a 12-year career representing Ward 2. Paul D. Spector announced that he will not seek re-election in next November’s municipal election during a discussion at last week’s meeting about whether to give the next council pay increases.