A Look Back, Dec. 17

50 Years Ago

■Philip Greco, part-owner of the Bluebonnet Diner in Northampton, appeared unruffled today at the news that he had won $50,000 in the state lottery. Asked why it was “business-as-usual” for him at the restaurant, Greco said that it was “too busy these days to think of time off here.”

■Police today said they are investigating a possible connection between Monday morning’s $12,000 theft from the Anderson-Little Co., Inc., on North King Street and two break-ins earlier this year. Over the weekend of Oct. 19 thieves gained entrance to the Bernier Package Store at 180 North King St. and the Northampton Motors at 240 King St. Police said the breaks into these businesses were similar to the latest theft at the clothing store.

25 Years Ago

■Administrators at the University of Massachusetts are asking professors to turn in student grades before the Jan. 3 deadline to head off any Y2K computer glitches in the new year. According to a memo sent by Provost Cora B. Marrett to all faculty members this week, although university computers have been fully vetted for Y2K compliance, the submission of grades by Dec. 28 will ease the yearly scramble in the Registrar’s Office.

■A controversial development project on 24 acres near the city’s northern boundary won Planning Board approval Wednesday. The board’s unanimous approval of a plan to build three luxury homes on land off Coles Meadow Road came only after developers again offered to donate three acres of land to the city.

10 Years Ago

■With its move to Springfield next week, an Amherst company that has developed online video games for Facebook and smartphones is poised to launch its own channel from which gamers can select the new content they wish to play. The relocation of HitPoint Studios is prompted by a $1.25 million investment from local investors.

■City officials plan to conduct a study of all city crosswalks in light of safety concerns after a Northampton woman was critically injured when she was struck by a car in a crosswalk on Bridge Street last week. The study will pay attention to aspects such as visibility of the crosswalks and volume of traffic in the area, said City Councilor Ryan R. O’Donnell, who is also chair of the city’s Transportation and Parking Commission.