■Abbie Cerruti has been crowned the new Ladies’ Club Champ at the Williamsburg Golf Club after solid rounds of 38-45-83 and 43-44-87 for a total of 170 gross Saturday. It was a two-way race going into the final 18 holes with Sue McClellan just two strokes back on her first round play of 44-41-85.
■In City Council races, the biggest upset of the day came as political newcomer Harry S. Chapman defeated incumbent Ward 6 Councilor Joseph H. Bonneau. The big question around City Hall last night was, “Who is Harry Chapman?” For the record he is a 25-year-old sales representative for M. and M. Mars candy manufacturers, and he lives on Beattie Drive in Florence.
■The Hampshire Regional YMCA is halfway home in raising the more than $1 million it needs to add what the agency’s executive director calls a “family center” to the existing Prospect Street building. Suzanne Walker, executive director of the local YMCA, said $550,000 has been donated this year.
■Superintendent Bruce Willard says the Northampton school system’s future looks bright. “I think the schools here have a tremendous future,” he said Thursday night, as he presented his annual report to the School Committee. “I’m not trying to overdo this, but I just feel so good about this school system.”
■State officials and technology industry executives Wednesday announced the expansion of the University of Massachusetts’ nanotechnology research center, saying it will be a cornerstone for the future competitiveness of manufacturing in the commonwealth, thanks to a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
■Massachusetts is one step closer to bringing gambling to the state after House lawmakers approved a bill licensing casino gambling in the state. The 123-32 vote followed eight hours of debate on the bill that would spread three resort-style casinos across the state and license one slots parlor.