A Look Back, Dec. 10

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The Amherst Police Department has stopped its practice of permitting the police officers’ private relief organization to sell copies of traffic accident reports for profit, Town Manager A. Louis Hayward said yesterday. Hayward said that the practice of making photocopies of traffic accident reports and selling them to insurance companies, lawyers, and other interested parties has been permanently suspended.
Rose Forrett received a license to operate a taxi business in Northampton from the City Council last week and will open Rose’s Taxi Service Monday at 6 a.m. The business will operate in Northampton and Mrs. Forrett will be the only driver.

Amherst College President Tom Gerety has asked the Hampshire Community United Way to stop funding the regional council of the Boy Scouts of America because of the national organization’s policy against homosexual Scout leaders. Gerety also has encouraged other area private campuses to consider his initiative. The reaction has been mixed, with Smith College showing the most apparent interest.
Several prospective bidders were among about 60 people who showed up Friday for a 1 p.m. auction of the Amherst Cinema building. But the auction never happened. “Somebody else bought it,” the building’s owner, Ronald Goldstein of East Longmeadow, said when reached by telephone later on Friday. Asked who that was, he replied, “It’s confidential. Part of the deal.”

Northampton and other municipalities would gain more control over liquor licenses under a bill proposed Monday by Gov. Charlie Baker, a shift that could have a dramatic impact in a city that has exceeded the state quota on liquor licenses and where businesses have been known to sell them for over $100,000.
A city native who has served in leadership roles at YMCA branches in Springfield and Manchester, New Hampshire, has been named the new CEO at the Hampshire Regional YMCA at 286 Prospect St. Julie Costello was selected following a national search, Hampshire Regional YMCA board chairman Andrew Pollock announced Tuesday. She will begin Jan. 11.