• Ex-con father sent to prison
SPRINGFIELD - A former defendant in a high-profile white-collar case must serve two years in federal prison after wrapping up a seven-year state sentence for a break-in with gruesome undertones.

• House serves as classroom
WESTFIELD - With only finish work remaining, carpentry students from Westfield Vocational-Technical High School spent Friday preparing to show off the house they built on Allen Street.

• Longtime Sinai Temple member to receive award
Jay Berger, of Agawam, will be honored with the Rabbi Herman Elliot Snyder Service Award for 2010 from the Men of Sinai at Sinai Temple, 1100 Dickinson St., Springfield, on March 26.

• Patrick visits area, touts computer center, jobs
SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Deval L. Patrick cited the proposed high-performance computer center in Holyoke Friday as a sign of the Pioneer Valley's economic recovery, but had few details to share on how the project is progressing.

• Politicians join social networks
AMHERST - Not long after her April 2008 election to the School Committee, Catherine A. Sanderson thought she'd create a simple, little blog to keep voters informed about what the committee was doing and to gain voter feedback.

• Politics stirs landfill debate Gag order, politics stir landfill debate
NORTHAMPTON - The City Council narrowly endorsed a resolution to terminate further action on the landfill expansion and move on to other alternatives Thursday, despite some lingering doubts about the motion.

• Stanley Park damage estimated at $10,000
WESTFIELD - Damage caused this week by vandals at Stanley Park was estimated at about $10,000 by director Robert C. McKean on Friday.

• St. Patrick's Parade president roasted
HOLYOKE - Men and women in green jackets and other kinds of semi-formal wear gathered on Friday for a kindly roast of James M. Leahy, this year's president of the St. Patrick's Parade Committee.

• Teen recalled as 'inspiration'
SPRINGFIELD - Conor W. Reynolds, 17, was remembered Friday for his bright smile and his intelligence. He was "the kind of person who lit up the world."

• Wales school panel trims budget 3.2%
WALES - The Wales Elementary School Committee is supporting a budget for the coming fiscal year of $1,479,897, which is 3.2 percent lower than the budget for the current fiscal year that ends June 30.