• Children get healthy lesson
WEST SPRINGFIELD - A Big E grant of nearly $2,000 provided about 35 children who utilize the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club with sports equipment and healthy life skills that promote wellness and physical fitness by having fun.

• Church objects to alarm bylaw
SPRINGFIELD - The city is locked in a legal battle with St. George Greek Orthodox Church, accusing the church of installing a new fire detection system at its cultural center that violates city ordinance.

• Jobless dip brings word of caution
SPRINGFIELD - The state's unemployment rate fell slightly last month for the first time since June 2007, but experts are warning of a "W"-shaped recovery instead of a straight line out of the recession.

• Legislators OK Soldiers Home funds
BOSTON - State legislators approved $500,000 on Thursday to save the outpatient department at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, even as the governor warned that additional budget cuts may be needed.

• Longmeadow police caution drivers to lock vehicle doors
LONGMEADOW - Police are advising residents to lock their car doors at night and remove any valuables from their vehicles after three cars were stolen and numerous others were broken into between Nov. 9 and Nov. 18.

• New fire engine added to fleet
EAST LONGMEADOW - Another lime green fire engine has been added to the Fire Department's fleet.

• Palmer church drops appeal
PALMER - The parish council at St. Bartholomew's Church is no longer moving forward with an appeal to keep the church open.

• Pynchon Award given to 3 for service
AGAWAM - On the day he learned he had been chosen for the William Pynchon Award, Gary L. Fialky thought he was going to be on the committee that selected this year's winners.

• Report raises several housing issues
NORTHAMPTON - The city has slowly been losing population, lags behind the state in median income and needs more affordable rental units.

• Silversmith's exit leaves questions
GREENFIELD - Lunt Silversmiths' decision to sell its brand of gifts and tableware and shut down manufacturing here after 107 years has city officials searching for a productive reuse of the Lunt complex on Federal Street.

• Ware seeks building funds
WARE - Town officials plan to do everything they can to avoid asking voters for $2.2 million for a new fire station.