A Look Back, Sept. 5

50 Years Ago

■The food stamp program, which began July 1 in this state, already faces a backlog of thousands of applications, coming in statewide at the rate of 2,500 a week while only 1,500 a week are being processed. In Western Massachusetts alone, the number of people waiting to be certified for food stamps is “probably in the thousands,” said David Johnson, director of the Neighborhood Center.

■The Florence Grammar School today started using its two new resource centers and its new kitchen to serve hot lunches for the hot lunch program beginning this year. The city probably saved $5,000 by using school department craftsmen on the building project rather than hiring outside craftsmen, according to school custodian Robert Powers.

25 Years Ago

■Hampshire and Hampden counties were designated this week as a single federal “economic development district” by the Economic Development Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce. The designation will allow economic development projects in the 42 cities and towns of the two-county area to quality for U.S. grants.

■Despite objections from business owners, the City Council approved an ordinance Thursday that limits the kind of renovations and building allowed downtown. The Central Business Architecture Ordinance is designed to “maintain the historic, architectural, and pedestrian-scale character of the downtown” by imposing regulations on developers renovating buildings in the district.

10 Years Ago

■In honor of their son Todd Davis Pease, who died in a drowning accident in 1991, Tom and Peggy Pease have thrown their energy into promoting youth sports — and one of their biggest contributions of the year is the annual “Salute2Summer.” On Saturday, the Pease family and a team of helpers will hold the third Salute2Summer at Pines Theater in Look Park. Proceeds will go to the Northampton Recreation Department to help build a playground on Florence Fields.

■The founder and leader of Grow Food Northampton will put down her proverbial spade after several years at the helm of the largest community farm in the state. Grow Food announced this week that Lilly Lombard will step down at the end of the year to pursue other goals that are still in the “percolating” stages.