A Look Back, June 23

By JIM BRIDGMAN

For the Gazette

Published: 06-23-2025 5:01 AM
50 Years Ago

■Eugene H. Arnold, a member of the City Council for 14 years, has announced that he will not be a candidate for re-election this year. Arnold, who will be 70 in November, said that he is retiring because of his age and a desire to spend more time with his family.

■John Richards of 56 Cross St., Florence, has announced his candidacy for the position of councilor-at-large in the Democratic primary. Richards was born in Northampton and graduated from Northampton High School and Boston Architectural Center. He was a campaign coordinator for Boston Mayor Kevin White and also a member of the Young Democrats of Boston.

25 Years Ago

■Nearly three weeks after hail and high winds wiped out early crops at the Food Bank Farm in Hadley, the season is returning to normal. After hundreds of hours of work and with the help from thousands of donations from farms as far away as New York, the Food Bank Farm is set to begin distribution Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

■Eight of at least 20 people protesting the planned execution of Texas death row inmate Gary Graham were arrested just before 7 p.m. Thursday, after they handcuffed themselves together and blocked the intersection of Main, King and Pleasant streets. Graham was executed about two hours later by lethal injection, vehemently maintaining his innocence.

10 Years Ago

■George Zimmerman, former city treasurer, died suddenly on Saturday at the age of 59. Mayor David Narkewicz said in a statement Sunday that he was shocked and saddened by Zimmerman’s death. He served Northampton as treasurer for 10 years before his retirement last year and the loss of this kind and gentle man will be felt deeply in our community, Narkewicz wrote.

■A stalwart of local activism, Rose Arky Markham turned 100 years old Sunday amid a celebration and fundraiser for the charitable foundation she helped create. Marty Nathan, co-founder of the Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice, recounted Markham’s storied life as the woman herself looked on at the Smith College Conference Center.