A Look Back: Sept. 19

■The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has approved the transfer of a liquor license to the Northampton Lodge of Elks, a decision that should allow the Elks to go ahead with the purchase of the Williamsburg Country Club.

■Legislation which would allow 60 days of harness racing in any city or town in Hampshire or Hampden County received favorable treatment in both the state House and Senate this week. Passage of the bill will mean that Northampton voters will have a chance to vote on whether they want the racing dates at the Three County Fairgrounds.

■Nearly 20 Northampton police officers picked up placards and picketed Thursday night in an effort to make their contract fight more public. Officers claim that for its size, Northampton pays its police officers less than any community in the state.

■Workers are converting the former Curtis & Schwartz restaurant at 116 Main St. – most recently the Grills International B.B.Q. – to The Tea Pot restaurant. Three men from New York plan to open a gourmet restaurant specializing in Chinese and Japanese foods.

■Longtime Ward 6 City Councilor Marianne L. LaBarge easily advanced in a preliminary election Tuesday, as did challenger Yvonne Keefe. The two will square off Nov. 5 for a seat on the council. Another challenger, Michael E. Janik, was eliminated from the race Tuesday.

■Northampton High School this week became the second area high school to receive a $2,000 automated external defibrillator, a portable machine that can save lives by quickly treating sudden cardiac arrest. The KEVS Foundation in Southampton donated the defibrillator to the Northampton High sports program.