Today is Thursday, March 26, the 85th day of 2009. There are 280 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Thursday, March 26, the 85th day of 2009. There are 280 days left in the year. On this date in 1979, a peace treaty is signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

In 1804, the Louisiana Purchase is divided into the Territory of Orleans and the District of Louisiana. In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven dies in Vienna. In 1859, English poet A.E. Housman is born in Worcestershire. In 1892, poet Walt Whitman dies in Camden, N.J. In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans become the first U.S. team to win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Montreal Canadiens. In 1958, the U.S. Army launches America’s third successful satellite, Explorer 3. In 1959, American author Raymond Chandler dies in La Jolla, Calif., at age 70. In 1971, East Pakistan proclaims its independence, taking the name Bangladesh.

March 26, 1984: David Shirey, a Youngstown native who is an art critic for the New York Times, returns to his hometown to give a lecture at the Butler Institute of American Art on the work of optical artist Richard Anuszkiewicz. He predicts the artist, once a guiding force in the New York art world, will make a comeback.

Negotiations resume in an attempt to settle the six month old strike at Youngstown Steel Door.

Laura Liu of Austintown Fitch High School wins the Buckeye Elks Lodge 73 speech contest. Runner up was Robin Pesa of Cardinal Mooney. Other contestants were John Maxgay, Chaney; Cordellia Smith, South; Kim Womack, East, and Ricardo Colon, Wilson.

March 26, 1969: Trustees of the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society sign an option to buy the old William McGuffey farm in Coitsville from Julius Laurie. The society plans to raise money to seal the purchase and then donate the farm to the Ohio Historical Society.

A major commercial, apartment and residential complex is proposed for the 165-acre site of Southern Airways on the south side of U.S. Route 224 in Boardman Township.

Patti Petretic, a sophomore majoring in elementary education, is named Pershing Rifle Princess at Youngstown State University.

March 26, 1959: Youngstown City Council accepts a federal grant of $57,500 toward a $115,000 addition to the administration building at Youngstown Municipal Airport.

Fewer Youngstowners are qualified to vote in the May primary election than in any election since World War II, with only 76,000 valid registrations.

Five popular coeds are vying for Youngstown University Prom Queen: Sandra Bailey, Betty Lou Storey, Florine Thompson, Kathryn Whitford and Marcie Potts.

March 26, 1934: Youngstown city councilmen who had expressed support for Mayor Mark Moore’s plan to cut city operations by 50 percent say they have developed objections to the cuts.

President Roosevelt proclaims peace in the automobile industry after auto manufacturers agree that all employees have the right to union organization.

Four East Federal Street businesses are burglarized over the weekend resulting in the loss of about $100 and clothing. The stores are Regent Billiard Parlor, Frye’s Clothing Co., Leder Shoe Co. and Glickstein’s Pet Shop, all in the 28-44 block of East Federal.