A Look Back, Feb. 17

50 Years Ago

■The first two days of the Northampton Winter Festival were blessed with excellent to adequate weather and large crowds. The eight-day festival continues today with a day-long George Washington’s Birthday sale in the Downtown Business area and a sports luncheon at the Hotel Northampton featuring the area’s two college men’s basketball teams, the University of Massachusetts and Amherst College.

■The co-directors of the Hampshire United Way Fund drive for 1975, Kathleen M. Sheehan and Everett W. Ladd Jr., were named citizens of the year at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce dinner dance Saturday. It was the first time in the 10-year history of the awards that a woman has been selected as a recipient.

25 Years Ago

■More than 400 people filled the Hopkins Academy cafeteria Tuesday night to protest developer Ronald Bercume’s plans to build 40 to 60 luxury homes on the slopes of the Mount Holyoke Range. Following a brief presentation of Bercume’s plans, a stream of speakers stepped up to the microphone to argue against the project.

■Starting next month, Northampton will have its first drop-in center that will serve as a safe haven for gay and lesbian teenagers and their friends. Pride Zone, which has been meeting weekly at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, will open March 2 at 43 Maple Ave., located in the Maplewood Shops.

10 Years Ago

■The University of Massachusetts Amherst has banned Iranian nationals from admission to specific graduate programs, a move university officials say brings their policies into accord with U.S. Sanctions against Iran. But representatives of Iranian students are calling the action unfair and unnecessary.

■Smith College President Kathleen McCartney received an unusual Valentine’s Day card Friday in the form of 30 singing students all advocating for the college’s divestment from fossil fuels. Students with Divest Smith College and members of the campus a capella group The Notables descended on McCartney’s office in College Hall singing an original song, “Breaking Up with Fossil Fuels,” based on the tune of “Breaking Up is Hard to Do.”