A Look Back, Jan. 23

Published: 01-22-2025 11:01 PM |
■A Northampton man has been named to a one-year term on the Springfield Regional Advisory Council for special education. C. Bradley McGrath of 20 Washington Ave. will serve on the council, which is responsible for assessing the adequacy of provisions for special education within this region.
■The Northampton Conservation Commission elected new officers last night. Richard Carnes was re-elected as chairman, Timothy Tessier was chosen as vice chairman, Dr. Allen M. Fisher was elected as recording secretary, and Robie O. Hubley as corresponding secretary.
■Ronald Paul Speakes, a published poet and fiction writer, will take up leadership of the Hampshire County chapter of the American Red Cross on Monday, hopefully ending what one board member characterized as a disappointing year of turnover in the organizationÕs top position.
■Anyone interested in contributing to the Northampton High School renovation project may do so, after the City Council voted Thursday to open a “gift account” to accept donations. The resolution that passed unanimously allows the Northampton High School Building Committee to accept donations of cash, equipment, trees and shrubs and artwork.
■Police believe a truck hauling refuse from hospitals early Wednesday morning spilled several large bags of medical waste on streets around the city. The mess was cleaned up later Wednesday morning.
■Valley residents had mixed reactions to Deflategate, the controversy involving the New England Patriots and whether the team willfully supplied under-inflated footballs during the AFC championship game Sunday. According to reports, an NFL investigation discovered 11 out of the 12 footballs provided by the Patriots prior to their 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts were not properly inflated.