50 Years Ago
Jan. 3, 1950
 Edward J. Roche of Lenox passed his state board examination for licensed embalmer. He passed his state board exam for funeral director in June 1947, and is now associated with the Bencivenga Funeral Home.

 James C. ''Cleve'' Carr was named the manager of Kelsey's Dalton Store at 401 Main St., Dalton. He succeeded Alan B. Knickerbocker.

 Ted Truskowski of Adams snagged a 20-pound northern pike while ice fishing at St. Catherine Lake in Wells, Vt.

25 Years Ago
Jan. 3, 1975
 A masked man, armed with a handgun, who forced his way into a Montgomery Avenue home, was frightened off empty-handed by the occupants of the house, Mrs. Sarah Taylor and her 29-year-old twin daughters, Sally and Mary Elizabeth.
Not only did Mrs. Taylor refuse to hand over any money, she told the robber to get a job rather than rob people and tried unsuccessfully to unmask him. The robber fled when he realized Sally was calling the police.

Mrs. Julie Parker, manager of the Goodwill Industries Store on North Street, was given a party yesterday in honor of her 80th birthday. Mrs. Parker had founded the local store in May 1953.

10 Years Ago
Jan. 3, 1990
 Pittsfield native Gordon H. Mansfield became one of the highest ranking disabled Vietnam veterans in the Bush administration. Last month he was named as an assistant secretary of Housing & Urban Development and would be responsible for fair housing and equal opportunity.

 The Lee Wildcats defeated Mount Everett, 60-50, in high school boys' basketball action last night. Jared Carty led the Lee offense with 15 points and Chris Thompson had 18 for the Eagles.

 Monterey resident Jerry F. Fenton returned in November from an eight-month stay in Nicaragua where he was a coordinator for Habitat for Humanity International. Fenton directed the building of three-room houses that would cost their owners about $500 each.