A Look Back, Dec. 11

50 Years Ago

■Christmas wreaths prepared by florists as far away as New Jersey will be lush this year at the expense of woodland areas in Hatfield. Hatfield is apparently becoming a popular spot for gathering greenery. In an effort to discourage trespassing greenery collectors, many of whom appear to be out-of-state florists, the commission has tacked up 30 signs along Hatfield woodland trails banning the practice.

■Jennifer Seton, a senior at Northampton High School, has been selected to receive this year’s DAR Good Citizen Award. Open to girls in the senior classes of accredited public and private high schools in Massachusetts, the 1974 program provides for the selection of a girl of outstanding character.

25 Years Ago

■Elizabeth Street residents woke up to a surprise Tuesday. Overnight, the street had been papered with hundreds of fliers depicting a screaming woman admonishing residents to “clean up your act.” Some of the messages said, “Fix yo’ nasty house,” “What did we do to cause such a constant state of filth?” and “Two, four, six, eight, we demand a renovate.” Nobody has taken responsibility for the act.

■Gov. Paul Cellucci has a plan in the works to send the potentially thousands of high school students who might flunk the MCAS tests in 2003 to community colleges to obtain the remedial skills they lack. The idea is yielding mixed responses in the community college system.

10 Years Ago

■In its third year, Valley Gives Day brought more than $2.6 million to non-profit organizations in Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties with around 14,000 donors. Last year, Valley Gives raised $2 million with 11,000 donors. In its first year, it raised $1 million with 6,000 donors.

■Tess Grogan of Greenfield, who graduated earlier this year from Smith College, has received a Marshall Scholarship. Grogan works in Hadley on teacher license exams with Pearson Education, a publishing and assessment service. Now she has the opportunity to work on her master’s degree in the United Kingdom.