A Look Back: Nov. 10

50 Years Ago

■Western Massachusetts residents have been buying hundreds of wood-burning stoves in recent weeks, while local firewood salesmen say the public demand for cut logs has set them weeks behind on their orders. The clamor for wood-generated heat is part of an apparent attempt by many to fight the national oil shortage.

■Fluoridation of Northampton’s water supply was approved by a margin of 52 votes in the recent election, while the adoption of a new city charter was defeated by 152 votes. Due to the closeness of both referendum votes, movements have begun to place both questions on the 1975 ballot.

25 Years Ago

■After years of failing to rein in runaway overtime pay at the Fire Department, the city has called in help. The Human Resources Department has hired Meditrol Inc., a private Chicopee company specializing in injury claims from firefighters and police officers, to help save the city some of the $250,000 a year it spends on overtime pay at the Fire Department.

■The Forbes Library now offers a computer that can help visually impaired and dyslexic people to read. The computer, donated by the Friends of Forbes, an organization devoted to assisting the library, contains a program that enlarges the text of a book or periodical so a viewer can read the words more easily.

10 Years Ago

■While many communities in the state are imposing temporary moratoriums on medical marijuana facilities within their borders, Northampton officials opened their arms to the idea Thursday. In a unanimous vote, the City Council approved a resolution that supports the award of a license by the state Department of Health for a Hampshire County marijuana dispensary in the city.

■Embattled Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle announced Friday afternoon he is retiring from his post effective immediately. In a letter to the trustees, Dobelle wrote, “It is with a tremendous sense of accomplishment that, after 25 years in higher education, I have decided to retire from my position as president of Westfield State University.”