50 Years Ago

• A program which started out seven years ago as a straightforward program to provide new traffic lights in the city has escalated into a beautification plan for the central business district. Officials say the TOPICS (Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety) plans proposed for the city are expected to provide a $1.2 million “face lift” for the downtown.
• The fourth hold-up of a city business in two weeks was staged last night at Cooper’s Dairyland on Main Street in Florence. A lone man who said he had a gun, but who did not show it, made off with an undisclosed sum of money, police reported today.

25 Years Ago

• Mayor Clare Higgins, who has yet to announce a run for re-election to a second term, nevertheless is holding a picnic next week, hosted by none other than the Committee to Elect Higgins. The event may be a forum for the mayor to announce her plan to run. Higgins isn’t saying.
• Ward 7 City Councilor Raymond W. LaBarge has filed nomination papers with the City Clerk’s office to run for the second time in a row. LaBarge served as councilor from Ward 7 from 1984 to 1995 and on the School Committee from 1978 to 1983.

10 Years Ago

• Thriving in the categories of Abraham Lincoln quotes and rock ‘n’ roll, Easthampton resident Lisa Evans won $34,401 on the TV game show “Jeopardy!” Wednesday night. Evans, a 1982 graduate of Smith College, will return for Thursday’s show as defending champion.
• Giant puppets, activists and a variety of performers will march through Northampton for the second annual “Inter-Dependence Day” celebration on July 1 to encourage residents and businesses to reduce their energy consumption. The event started last year as a way to begin the conversation about climate change and local gas leaks.