A Look Back: May 15

50 Years Ago

■A picture of poverty and sub-poverty level living, and rising unemployment in Hampshire County, was outlined by a study released this week. The study shows almost 9% of the county’s population to be living at or below federal poverty levels while an additional 3% is barely above poverty.

■Public opposition to a 60-day harness racing season here, a sleeping giant up to now, is mobilizing. A petition opposing the proposal has been signed by 300 residents, most of them from the immediate vicinity of the fairgrounds.

25 Years Ago

■Unable to surface from a crippling deficit, StageWest will close following next weekend’s season finale. The theater’s final performance will be “Some Enchanted Evening,” a revue of show tunes by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

■Tri-County High School, which provides special education services for area teenagers, plans to build a new school on East Street in Easthampton. School administrators say the new building will enable Tri-County to increase its enrollment from 50 to 75 students.

10 Years Ago

■High-tech company MicroCal is closing its city plant in the Northampton Industrial Park over the next 18 months in a move that will mean the loss of 40 local jobs. General Electric Healthcare, which bought MicroCal in 2009, is preparing to transfer all activities at the Northampton facility to other company sites.

■On Sunday, the Leeds Civic Association will hold its Fourth Annual Hotel Bridge Bike Ride to raise funds to preserve the historic bridge. Proceeds from participation fees will go toward restoring the bridge, according to the group.

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