A Look Back, Jan. 8

50 Years Ago

■Two students from Hawley Junior High School have been selected to perform in the 17th Annual Western District Concert Festival of the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association. The students are Patrick Sheehan and Patricia Tyler. Sheehan has also been selected for the All-State Chorus.

■Dr. and Mrs. Wilson Smith of West Hartford, on behalf of the heirs of the Northampton artist Charles C. Burleigh Jr., presented 16 of his paintings to the Northampton Historical Society recently. The late Gertrude Burleigh Coffin, daughter of the artist, in recent years has given to the society many paintings and memorabilia belonging to her father, making possible the permanent exhibition which is on view in the Damon House on Bridge Street.

25 Years Ago

■Hoping to create an event that will appeal to both children and adults, members of Mayor Mary Clare Higgins inaugural committee have organized a community celebration and potluck to be held this weekend at the JFK Middle School. The celebration, open to the entire community, will include entertainment, food and socializing.

■The hunt is on for people who would like to share their recollections of two of the city’s most illustrious former citizens, Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace. Organized by a volunteer at the Coolidge Memorial Room in the Forbes Library, the project will record people’s memories of the couple on audio tape for permanent placement in the museum’s collection.

10 Years Ago

■Another prominent downtown business has announced it will close in the coming weeks. Iris Photo & Digital owner Michael Figarsky intends to close the longtime business at the end of February after 33 years downtown, including the last 21 years at the corner of Main and Old South streets.

■The bitterly cold weather expected overnight Wednesday prompted shelters in Northampton and Amherst to remain open longer and expand capacity to get more homeless people off the streets. The Interfaith Winter Shelter at 43 Center St. in Northampton remained open all day Wednesday and will do so again on Thursday, according to site manager Ali Pinschmidt.