A Look Back, Dec. 10

50 Years Ago

■The Northampton Conservation Commission last night approved plans for the Meadow Street bridge over Mill River in Florence to be reconstructed in its present location, “hopefully” by next summer. Two weeks ago, commission members rejected a proposal for the bridge which would have required the Mill River to be rechanneled to the east and would have required extensive formal stonework along the banks and riverbed.

■Charles F. Lyons has been named a director of Northampton National Bank by a recent vote of its board. Lyons, 35, is an agent for the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. and treasurer and clerk of the Francis P. Lyons Insurance Agency, Inc.

25 Years Ago

■Improvements in curriculum development, teacher training and academic resource materials are the reasons for improvements in city students scores on the MCAS tests this year. Overall, city students, with the exception of the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, topped the statewide average in all grades, although tenth-grade scores declined slightly from last year.

■Citing insufficient staffing within the department, John Bennett, Northampton’s senior planner, tendered his resignation to Mayor Mary L. Ford Wednesday. Bennett, who started working under director Wayne Feiden at the Office of Planning and Development in 1998, quit effective Jan. 1, saying “There’s too much work for one person to do.”

10 Years Ago

■A change in ownership is underway at the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealership on Damon Road, marking the second time the business has changed hands in two years. The Mitchell Auto Group, which owns and operates seven car dealerships in Connecticut, is acquiring the business from Anthony F. Troiano and Robert Artioli, both of whom operate Chrysler, Dodge, Ram dealerships in Connecticut.

■Northampton’s newly appointed tree warden is a familiar figure at the Department of Public Works and vows to work in lockstep with a new tree advisory commission to help reinvigorate the city’s tree canopy. Highway Superintendent Richard Parasiliti Jr. has been named by Mayor David J. Narkewicz to serve as tree warden, one of many changes now in the works as part of the mayor’s larger reorganization of city government.