50 Years Ago

• A majority of the members of the City Council said today they are opposed to the county commissioners’ plan to construct a $6 million county jail on the grounds of Northampton State Hospital on the north side of Route 66. Six members of the council said today they will oppose the plan; two have not made up their minds.
• Thaddeus A. Boruchowski of Easthampton yesterday announced his candidacy for county commissioner. Boruchowski, a Democrat, is seeking one of the two positions on the three-member commission. John H. Breguet, a Democrat, has announced that he is not seeking re-election.

25 Years Ago

• Bicyclists using Bridge Street got a little more elbow room this week when a half-mile section of the roadway was converted from four to two travel lanes with 8 feet of shoulder on both sides of the road. The redesign of that portion of Bridge Street by the state Department of Highways was applauded by a member of the Massachusetts Bike Coalition.
• After two months with a vacancy, the Northampton Board of Health got a new member, Richard Brunswick. The City Council voted Thursday night to appoint Brunswick to the board to replace Anne Bures who resigned in March.

10 Years Ago

• A divided Select Board Thursday named Maria Capriola as Amherst’s next town manager, with members who supported her selection saying she could bring positive change to the college town after spending a decade working in the host community of the University of Connecticut.
• Northampton’s water supply and infrastructure is to remain in public hands after the City Council voted 8-1 Thursday to prohibit its privatization. The ordinance was brought to the council floor by Ward 3 City Councilor Ryan R. O’Donnell, vice president of the council, with backing from the mayor.