A Look Back, Feb. 14

50 Years Ago

■Northampton police are investigating a break and theft at the Pro Brush Division of Vistron Corp. in Florence early Monday morning. A little more than $2,000 was taken, Charles A. Gaudry, Pro Brush personnel manager, said. The money was taken from a filing cabinet in the plant’s main office.

■A new conservation officer for Northampton was introduced to the members of the Conservation Commission at a meeting last night. Charles Dauchy of 8 Valley View Drive in Amherst was named to the newly-created post which was requested by the commission. He began work today in the planning board office.

25 Years Ago

■After 14 years as principal of the R.K. Rinn Ryan Road School and 36 years in the school system, Walter R. Crowther Jr. will retire June 30. Crowther, 59, said this morning that after more than three and a half decades with the Northampton school system, he decided it was time to step down.

■The Hampshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross will welcome its new director, Ron Speakes, at a reception Sunday. A longtime employee of the Red Cross, Speakes began working at the Hampshire County chapter Jan. 24, after serving most recently as director of volunteer services at the Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C.

10 Years Ago

■Northampton school officials in favor of a later start time face the dilemma of how to pay for the change without cutting teachers or programs. “I see this as a trade-off,” Ann Hennessey, school committee member, said. She added that she is concerned that if the high school cut, for example, art classes to pay for the later start, the schools would then lose money because students would choose to attend charter schools.

■WinterFest will bring a host of activities and demonstrations to Easthampton on Saturday to raise awareness and support for Nashawannuck Pond. For its second year, the festival will deliver 14 events to nine venues across the city.