A Look Back: May 29

50 Years Ago

■Secretary of Human Services Peter C. Goldmark Jr. submitted a report to Gov. Sargent today which criticized actions and procedures of top Belchertown State School administrators during the period late last year when four residents died at the school. The report calls for “disciplinary action” to be taken against five state school administrators.

■If the rain doesn’t let up within the next two weeks, it could signal a second consecutive year of disaster for the Pioneer Valley’s farmers. County extension agents and farmers alike are crossing their fingers and hoping for the sun these days. If the fields can dry up, most of the crops will be saved, or at least time will remain for the farmers to replant.

25 Years Ago

■A proposal to locate a cold-weather homeless shelter in Northampton’s Water Department building on Prospect Street met with resistance Wednesday night from the Board of Public Works. Operating the Hampshire County Interfaith Emergency Cot Shelter out of the building would bring substantial disruptions to the department and might pose hazardous to homeless people, said Robert Reckman, a board member.

■Patrons of the Eastside Grill accustomed to visiting around noon will soon have to wait until evening. The Strong Avenue restaurant plans to stop serving lunch as of Monday to focus on its dinner menu. The restaurant’s lunch trade has been one of the busiest in Northampton.

10 Years Ago

■A majority of the City Council is calling for the return of six public benches to Main Street, saying the mayor’s decision to remove them will do little to solve a problem that has vexed the city for years. Mayor David J. Narkewicz ordered the removal of about one-third of the 16 public benches along some of the most congested areas of Main Street after receiving complaints that people occupy the benches for extended periods.

■Bob Newcomb and Eric Heller of Amherst are planning to ride their bicycles across the country starting next month to raise money for the Pan-Mass Challenge. Newcomb and Heller will be among an estimated 5,500 cyclists, from 26 states and eight countries and ranging in age from 13 to 88, expected in this year’s bike-a-thon.

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