A Look Back, Aug. 13

50 Years Ago

■The Northampton High School football team will be allowed to schedule one night football game this fall. Edwin Warner cast the lone dissenting vote, noting that “there is nothing more educational about playing at night than playing in the afternoon.” Warner warned that a trial night game would be a “forerunner” to having a whole season of night football games.

■Most people interviewed in Hampshire County are optimistic about Gerald Ford’s ability to take the reins of the nation, but all say they know very little about the man who has now been sworn in as the 38th President of the United States.

25 Years Ago

■Now that Tony Long’s mayoral candidacy has been cleared of challenges, he says he’s ready to campaign on a platform that includes “being a real solid voice of representation for the working class.” The Board of Registrars of Voters ruled unanimously Wednesday that Long is a legitimately registered voter in Northampton, having moved from Hatfield on July 26.

■Northampton resident Dina E. Fein, an attorney who practices with the Springfield law firm Fein, Pearson, Emond & Fein, has been nominated to be a housing court judge. Gov. Paul Cellucci nominated Fein to fill the position of Associate Justice of the County Housing Court.

10 Years Ago

■A five-story building with 78 apartments, 36 garaged parking spots and space for four retailers has been proposed to replace the Amherst Carriage Shops. The plans for 1 East Pleasant, the name Archipelago Investments LLC of Amherst has given the project, were submitted to the town’s Planning Department on Aug. 5.

■While still in its infancy, an idea by a city resident to paint a downtown crosswalk red, white and blue as a way to honor veterans is stirring their emotions as they are divided over whether it’s a good idea or offensive. Many veterans strongly oppose the idea because they believe it violates a federal code governing display of the U.S. flag, with some vowing never to walk across or drive over such a crosswalk if it gets painted downtown later this year.