A Look Back: July 9

50 Years Ago

■Over 1,500 canines will compete for top dog at the Holyoke Kennel Club annual dog show at the Three County Fairgrounds this week. Pewter trophies will be awarded for the first place, blue ribbon, group winners and best in show.

■Dr. Ruth Hemenway, 80, longtime physician and surgeon, missionary and artist, died early today at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Born in Williamsburg, she spent 18 years in China, and with the assistance of a Chinese doctor, she managed a 100-bed hospital. She learned to speak Chinese to aid her in caring for her patients who were mostly rice growers, boatsmen, carpenters and the like.

25 Years Ago

■A registered nurse at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Cynthia Galante, has received the 1998 Secretary’s Hands and Heart Award. As a staff nurse in the ambulatory care department, one of Galante’s important functions is to act as a liaison for veterans. VA officials said she always demonstrates outstanding nursing judgment.

■The trustees of Forbes Library agreed Tuesday to sell a small piece of land to Smith College, paving the way for the college to build a 350-space parking garage on West Street. The garage is expected to provide critical parking in a congested area.

10 Years Ago

■Andrew Linkenhoker, former principal at Monson High School, is the new principal at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. Linkenhoker replaces interim principal John Kelly, who took up the post in August 2013. Kelly replaced Tracy Lyon, who had served as principal since 2009 but left after her contract was not renewed for the 2013-14 school year.

■Despite controversy, members of the downtown Business Improvement District resoundingly renewed the organization Wednesday for another five years. The 40-0 vote, required by recent changes in state law that force nearly all property owners within the downtown district to become members, means the BID will more than triple the number of fee-paying property owners from 66 to 216. The number of parcels within the district is also expected to grow considerably, from 112 to 279.