A Look Back: May 26

50 Years Ago

■Two local men, working through national service organizations, are seeking to turn a portion of Chicopee’s Westover Air Force Base into a national cemetery. Joseph S. Demaradzki of Amherst and retired Army Col. William Foerster of Pelham are hoping to get congressional approval for a cemetery in the northern section of the SAC facility, which is being largely phased out by the federal government.

■The cornerstone of Alexander Graham Bell Hall, new Upper School dormitory at The Clarke School for the Deaf, will be laid on June 13 following commencement exercises. Officiating will be Lilian Grosvenor Jones, a granddaughter of Alexander Graham Bell.

25 Years Ago

■The Northampton Board of Health has agreed to stiffen penalties for food service establishments that repeatedly violate the city’s ban on smoking. Peter McErlain, the city’s health agent, said the board last week agreed that repeat violators should lose their licenses to serve food.

■Sewer rates in Northampton could increase by 9.5 percent and water rates by 5.5 percent in the coming fiscal year. If the proposed rate increases are approved this week by the Board of Public Works, a typical Northampton homeowner’s yearly cost for water and sewer service will rise by approximately $20, from $260 to $280.

10 Years Ago

■Pioneer Valley Family Medicine expects to move its bustling Conz Street office into a much larger King Street complex Tuesday, the first of several medical office expansions or relocations in the city brought on in part by health care reform.

■Sal Canata, 45, associate principal at the JFK Middle School, has been appointed principal of the Leeds Elementary School. He will replace Joseph Smith, who is resigning June 30 after two years in the position.

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