A Look Back, March 9

50 Years Ago

• A recently released flood management study says that Northampton should consider relocating 20 permanent residences outside the Connecticut River flood plain and flood-proofing at least 150 other structures in the city as a means of cutting potential flood loses.
• Moody’s Investor Service, the prestigious investment rating company, has dropped its rating of NorthamptonÕs municipal bonds from AAA to AA. The reduced bond rating is not expected to hamper the sale of $9,095,000 in bonds that the city plans to make tomorrow. However, it may cost taxpayers slightly more in interest payments over the life of the bonds.

25 Years Ago

• The owners of La Cazuela on Old South Street no longer plan to sell the restaurant to city businessman Eric Shuer and will continue to operate it as they have in the past Ð at least for the time being. Barry Steeves and Rosemary Schmidt said Wednesday a tentative contract that would have allowed Suher to buy the restaurant had expired. Suher could not be reached for comment.
• City officials are concerned that the stock of affordable housing Ð already deemed inadequate by low-income housing advocates Ð will diminish even further if a planned sale of Meadowbrook Apartments takes place. Douglas Lash of Fall River, owner of the apartments, plans to sell the Bridge Road complex to a West Springfield real estate firm.

10 Years Ago

• A Massachusetts State Police helicopter equipped with a camera was among the tools used by law enforcement to maintain peace in Amherst on Saturday. The helicopter provided live views of large-scale parties and assorted dangerous behavior, such as college-age people consuming alcohol on the roofs of off-campus homes.
• As the second annual Daily Hampshire Gazette “Person of the Year,” Yvonne Freccero, 86, of Florence is being lauded by many for her continued commitment to sheltering those who find themselves without a home they can count on. Since handing over the presidentÕs role of the Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals, she has focused on raising money for the organization, which is now looking to purchase a home for unaccompanied homeless youth.

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