A Look Back, May 2

50 Years Ago

■William A. Burke, president of the First National Bank of Northampton, announced at the monthly meeting of the bank held in the banking room yesterday that Gordon A. Woodward Jr. was elected a member of the board of directors to succeed his father, Gordon A. Woodward Sr., who died March 9.

■The Gazette in cooperation with the Northampton Bicentennial Committee is beginning a contest today to find a slogan for the city to use in its 1976 Bicentennial celebration. All area residents are urged to submit entries for a slogan which would either reflect the city’s heritage or hopes for the future, or both.

25 Years Ago

■Northampton High School’s fledgling crew club will host the first annual “Oxbow Regatta” here Sunday, when high school-age teams from three New England states will compete in rowing races. The event will take place at the Oxbow Marina on Island Road.

■The Omasta family on West Farms Road in Northampton has opened a new retail farm store, part of an attempt, aided by the state Department of Food and Agriculture, to keep the land in agricultural use. The Omastas’ Hickory Dell Farm is one of almost two dozen area farms taking part in the 4-year-old Farm Viability Enhancement Program.

10 Years Ago

■Hampshire County received another failing smog grade in a new report released Wednesday by the American Lung Association. Hampshire County was one of three counties in Massachusetts to earn an F grade for the number of days it experienced high ozone levels.

■After six years of leading Northampton-based National Priorities Project to international acclaim that included the nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize, Jo Comerford is stepping down as executive director this month. Comerford said the decision is being driven by her desire to spend more time with her family, including two young children, and a yearning to return to her roots as a community organizer.