Adoptive Parents

katec@herald-mail.com The Daveler family took a pre-Christmas trip to New York City six years ago. They went to the top of the Empire State Building. Bobby and Debbie Daveler waited in line with their three foster children to see Santa Claus at Macy's department store of "Miracle on 34th Street" fame. They made the jolly old elf cry. With Debbie and the kids - Kelly, Matthew and Emily - gathered around, Bobby Daveler sat on Santa's lap and put his arm around St. Nick's neck.

Adoption information session set CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Mountain Valley Adoption Services will hold an informational meeting about adoption Thursday, Sept. 5, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Mountain Valley Center, 449 Lincoln Way East. Participants will learn about the need for adoptive parents, the kind of children waiting to be adopted, and the process of adoption. There is no obligation to become adoptive parents at this meeting. Call 1-717-263-7295 for reservations. Hospice: Read a book MARTINSBURG, W.Va.

Parenting classes Beginning Tuesday, April 16, 6 to 8 p.m., Presbyterian Church of Hagerstown, corner of West Washington and South Prospect streets. A wide variety of topics will be covered. Classes are free to the public and a playroom is available for children. Call the Parent-Child Center, 301-791-2224. Anyone interested in parenting classes specifically for teen parents are asked to call the same number. Amyloidosis Support Group Wednesday, April 17, 12:30 p.m., Antrim House Restaurant, Pennsylvania Avenue, Hagers-town.

by Ric Dugan / staff photographer see the enlargement Couple retires for second time Carl and Velma Shafer retired from teaching more than 25 years ago. On Friday, Carl, 90, and Velma, 89, gave up second careers as volunteers at the Adventist Community Center in Hagerstown. Carl Shafer helped found the charity 15 years ago to provide clothing, food and other household goods to the needy. Before that, each of the four Seventh-day Adventist churches in Washington County had small operations.

Letters to the editor Caring for kids makes a lasting difference To the editor: November was National Adoption Awareness Month. It's time to acknowledge and celebrate all those people who have chosen to enlarge their families through adoption, opening their hearts and homes to children in need of families. I especially wish to say thank you to those families who have adopted children through the Foster Care Program of the Washington County Department of Social Services.

Despite the rising number of children being born out of wedlock, too many would-be parents who can't conceive can't find a child to adopt. That fact alone would be reason to applaud a Berkeley County delegate's proposal to improve the adoption process in West Virginia. Del. Vicki Douglas, D-Berkeley, said she and Barbara Fleischauer, co-chair of the judiciary subcommittee, want to overhaul the state's adoption law because it's now so poorly written adoptive parents can never be certain an adoption is final.