A Look Back, April 28

50 Years Ago

■Coretta Scott King, widow of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, told Smith College women yesterday that they should become part of the “creative, dedicated minority” that is seeking to alleviate poverty, war, racism and other injustices in the world. Speaking at Helen Hills Hills Chapel, Mrs. King told the students that as “privileged women” they had a special obligation to help their fellow human beings.

■The first arrest in Hampshire County under the state’s tough new gun law was made Saturday in Belchertown. A 21-year-old man was arrested on the gun-law charge when a loaded .38-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver was found on the car seat beside him following a one-car accident.

25 Years Ago

■The Northampton Board of Public Works squelched a plan by a group of downtown merchants to bring street entertainment to the Main Street block between Masonic Street and Crackerbarrel Alley. Boards members declined to change the street musician permit to accommodate the request from the business owners who want to obtain a permit under which they would hire local performers, aiming to bring more foot traffic to their section of Main Street.

■On the flagpole in front of Memorial Hall this week, below the American Flag, is the red, blue and orange striped flag of Armenia. The flag is being flown to demonstrate Northampton’s participation with Springfield and Boston this week in commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

10 Years Ago

■Speakers at the largest TEDx event ever convened at the University of Massachusetts explored the theme of pioneering Saturday, defined this way by the event’s chief curator, Nichole Malinowski: “to develop or be the first to use and apply.” “We are living in an age of transformative and powerful pioneering ideas being implemented by people all around the world,” Malinowski added.

■Berkshire Gas Co. spokesman Christopher Farrell made a case last week with the region’s business leaders for what he called the “critical need” for the Northeast Energy Direct project proposed by Tennessee Gas Pipeline. Farrell said it is needed not only to grow the economy, but to keep businesses from leaving.