A Look Back, March 19

50 Years Ago

■A Northampton miss has been selected as Colleen of Providence Hospital in Holyoke, and will have the position of honor aboard the hospital’s float during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sunday. Miss Betsy P. Blish, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanford C. Blish, is secretary in the nursing service office at Providence Hospital.

■A letter calling for the “early impeachment” of President Nixon by some 250 Hampshire County residents has not yet been received by Rep. Silvio O. Conte. Timothy Goggins, of Conte’s Holyoke district office, said Conte would reserve comment on the letter until it has arrived in his Washington office and he has a chance to study it.

25 Years Ago

■William F. O’Connor marked his 25th year as master of ceremonies at the St. Patrick’s breakfast this week. In the audience was a crew from CBS “Sunday Morning,” which is working on a story about Tracey Kidder’s book, “Home Town,” in which O’Connor’s son Thomas is featured.

■Intent on his goal of adding a bit more decorum into City Council proceedings, Ward 1 City Councilor William H. Dwight is officially asking each council member to make a commitment to the idea of debating with civility. Dwight is asking councilors to make a voluntary “statement of agreement,” which says, “We will strive to perform our duties as councilors effectively and in a way that assures the dignity of the City Council.”

10 Years Ago

■Nearly five years after adopting a controversial Northampton Business Improvement District, the City Council is expected to consider a petition Thursday that would lower fees for most members by 50 percent. The BID’s decision to seek council permission to drop fees comes in response to a 2012 state law that requires the BID to take a renewal vote that would force all property owners within the downtown district to become members.

■Three finalists for William E. Norris School principal are elementary school principals in Holyoke, Springfield, and Ware. They are Aliza Pluta of Morgan Elementary School in Holyoke, Jackie Mendonsa of Lincoln Elementary School in Springfield, and Daniel Somes of Stanley M. Koziol Elementary School in Ware.