PITTSFIELD, Mass. —— Michelle Nichols remembers the phone call.
She was approved to adopt the child she had been fostering for four years. It began seven years ago, when she and her husband first decided they wanted to be adoptive parents. One of her students needed a home and the couple began to foster. Four years later, she was approved by the Department of Children and Families.
"It was a long journey. Our journey was four years for our first adoptive child," Nichols said. "Adoption is a wonderful thing. You face every obstacle with your child together."
It isn't an easy journey, she said. She remembers the feelings and concern. What to do if she sees the biological mother in the store? What if there is a problem?
But, DFC provided her with what she calls her "A-Team" who continues to this day to field questions and concerns to help her along.
"Your journey will be difficult some days," she said.
After the adoption day, the new forever family celebrated with a trip to Disney. There her phone rang, flashing a number she recognized fully by then. It was DCF. There is another baby needing a home. She quickly accepted the "gift" the organization was providing her.
In Berkshire Juvenile Court on Friday, seven other children and new families ended their adoption journeys during the annual National Adoption Day celebration. The day, held every November, brings awareness to adoption. Across the state, 130 children were adopted Friday.
"We celebrate families. We celebrate children. We celebrate courage and we celebrate love," said Judge Joan McMenemy, one of three judges presiding over the local adoptions Friday.
In Berkshire County, there are some 500 children in custody of the Department of Children and Families. Many children are matched up with people whom they know, but are seeking a permanent home. DCF is always looking for families willing to adopt or foster. Nationally, there are some 400,000 in foster care with 100,000 of them awaiting adoption day.
"The key is trying to connect those families with these children," McMenemy said.
Annette Santiago, the are program manager for DCF, said there is a process for those looking to adopt and that adoption day is "not really the day you became a family." That happened early on in the process.
"These children fell in love with their parents and their parents fell in love with their children," Santiago said.
McMenemy said through the process the children deserve credit for being patient throughout it and the parents for being "committed to doing the right thing."
"There is a hero in each of use waiting to come out ... the adoptive parents are not just heroes. They are superheroes," McMenemy said.
Judges Richard A. Simon and Judith A. Locke also presided over Friday's adoptions.
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Pittsfield Celebrates Robert 'Bob' Presutti on Arbor Day
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Bob Presutti, right, is presented the Hebert Award in 2017 for his volunteer efforts at Springside Park. He died in 2023 at age 88.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A tree has been planted next to the Berkshire Athenaeum in honor of local "giant" Robert Presutti.
Officials celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by installing a commemorative plaque next to the American elm sapling. This is a tree that James McGrath, the city's park program manager, said Presutti would have been particularly proud of.
"Today is a day where we yes, celebrate trees, but today is also a day where here in the city we intentionally try to acknowledge the good work of folks in our community who spend their time and their efforts and their talents to make Pittsfield a more beautiful place," he said to a crowd of about 20 people.
"Today we are honoring a longtime community volunteer named Bob Presutti. I'm sure a lot of you here know Bob and know his contributions to the city, not only when it comes to trees and parks but also to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program."
The longtime volunteer passed away last year at the age of 88. He contributed more than 10,600 hours to RSVP and had great impacts on the Parks Department over the years from sharing his knowledge and talents to ensuring that workers were safe when working on trees.
"This morning I went through my emails to see how many emails Bob Presutti sent me since the year 2001 when I started with the city. Bob Presutti sent me 14,000 emails and nearly every single one of those was about trees," McGrath said, prompting laughter and smiles from attendees.
One thread struck him as particularly important because it showed Presutti's empathy when it comes to the safety of city workers while caring for trees.
"There were multiple emails from Bob about the need to get the Parks Department maintenance guys into a program learning about chainsaw safety and learning about ladder safety. He was really into making certain that our city workers were well cared for and had all of the instruction that they needed and in fact, he even offered his own time and services after he became certified to teach our city workers," McGrath said.
Officials celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by installing a commemorative plaque next to the American elm sapling. This is a tree that James McGrath, the city's park program manager, said Presutti would have been particularly proud of.
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Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.
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Between disagreements about site design and a formal funding process not yet established, more time is needed before a decision can be made.
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The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee on Monday unanimously supported a pay raise for election workers, free downtown parking for veterans, and safeguards to better protect wetlands.
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