■Those who happened to be on the fourth floor of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital yesterday were treated to a surprise visit by former New York Yankee great Lawrence “Yogi” Berra. Yogi and his wife were visiting son Tim, who underwent an emergency appendectomy Tuesday. Tim was a two-way performer on the University of Massachusetts freshmen football team this fall.
■A serious drug problem exists on the University of Massachusetts campus but it is not greater there than in any other university throughout the country, District Attorney John M. Callahan said today. “The only way we can effectively combat the drug pusher is to get some money in the hands of our state and local police departments so that undercover agents can make some buys from the pusher so we can arrest, prosecute and imprison them for pushing drugs.”
■Members of a city church made a joyful noise yesterday afternoon when they welcomed a new pastor with music, song and dance. Nearly 200 people crowded into the Edwards Church for the installation of the Rev. Peter Kakos, the 22nd leader of the 163-year-old congregation.
■Vicki Hicks of Northampton has been named director of business development for Dependable Business Alternatives and manager of the company’s Northampton office. She joined the company in 1993 after 10 years in the professional staffing industry in New York City.
■The Forbes Library trustees will honor three volunteers on Saturday. Mo and Cher Willems and Gerald Budgar will be recognized in a ceremony in the library’s Calvin Coolidge Presidential Museum, followed by a reception in the Hosmer Art Gallery.
■Jeffrey Udall of Northampton accepted the offer from Superintendent Nicholas Young to become the new principal of Hadley Elementary School on Friday. Udall has been principal of Memorial Elementary School in West Springfield since 2006.