National Adoption Day: In a courthouse in Hadley, 14 children and their families formalize their bond

HADLEY - The Blair family keeps on growing. Friday, Martha and Wayne Blair of Leeds officially adopted 3-year-old Savannah. It was a big to-do, attended not only by mom and dad, her big sister and two big brothers, but also by the people she calls grandma and papa and uncle and aunt. And there were plenty of stories just like Savannah's: Adoptions for 13 other children from Hampshire and Franklin counties were finalized at the courthouse Friday as part of National Adoption Day.
--Judge cites desperate need in region for foster families
--Trumpeting the value of foster care adoption

Judge cites desperate need in region for foster families

HADLEY - "We need - desperately, desperately need in this region - foster families," Judge Lillian Miranda told a crowd gathered Friday to celebrate National Adoption Day at Franklin/Hampshire Juvenile Court.

Although virtually anyone can be a foster parent, the judge said, it takes "commitment and selflessness."

Trumpeting value of foster care adoption

Today, about 2,500 children in foster care are awaiting adoption across the state, according to the Massachusetts Trial Court system. Nationwide, the number is 129,000.

Pledge a thorny issue in Amherst

AMHERST - Superintendent Alberto Rodriguez and the School Committee would much rather deal with educational issues than get tangled up in the question of whether teachers have to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day.

'Frumpy hippie to Fashionista': Granby woman ambushed by Today show makeover crew

GRANBY - The television cameras were rolling when a sleepy Susie Slater answered the loud, incessant knocking at her front door at 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Slater had been ambushed, makeover-style.

New funding found for Holyoke Soldiers Home outpatient clinic

HOLYOKE - Area lawmakers say they've been able to restore $500,000 in funding for the Holyoke Soldiers Home to save its outpatient clinic.

Lilly book sale this weekend

NORTHAMPTON - Friends of the Lilly Library in Florence will host an indoor book sale today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the library's community room.

Classics, collectibles and books recently removed from the library collection will be offered for sale. Prices will range from 50 cents to about $5, and books will be sold by the bag later in the day, said Friends member Alton Neal.