A Look Back, Jan. 10

50 Years Ago

■Twenty-four employees at Pro Brush Division, Vistron Corp. were notified this week that today is their last day at work there for an indefinite period. The figure brings to 146 the number of fulltime employees who have been laid off since the plant began a trial cutback Dec. 1, personnel manager Charles Gaudry said today.

■The Heights Grocery Store on Bridge Road suffered its second robbery in three weeks this morning. Bernard Gaynor, owner of the variety store, reported a black and white portable television and $1,000 of cigarettes were taken when the store was broken into Friday. The store was also robbed at gunpoint two days before Christmas.

25 Years Ago

■Area police chiefs say last month’s shooting death of Holyoke police officer John A. DiNapoli likely will not alter policies in some departments that allow officers to choose to wear bullet-proof vests. In some communities, officers are required to wear the vests. But other departments leave the decision to the individual officer.

■Charter school students usually benefit from accelerated learning, more structured teaching hours and earlier exposure to foreign language. However, those innovations aren’t spilling over into neighboring public schools as originally planned, according to a study to be released today. The spillover effect was one of the main goals of supporters of charter schools when they opened in 1995.

10 Years Ago

■New traffic lights at the intersection of Damon Road and Industrial Drive in Northampton, installed to safeguard travelers with the return of passenger rail service, are being blamed for traffic tie-ups. It can now take 30 minutes at any time of day to get from the Coolidge Bridge to King Street, said one driver.

■Hampshire Register of Probate Michael J. Carey took his oath of office in Boston on Wednesday. Carey, a partner for 25 years in the Carey Family Law Practice in Easthampton, was sworn in by Secretary of State William F. Galvin during a ceremony at the Statehouse.