By ED RUNYAN

Staff writer

YOUNGSTOWN — The undisputed highlight of the sixth annual Adoption Day celebration Friday at the Mahoning County Courthouse was when Nathan Cain, 5, uncorked a surprising remark into a microphone about his new family.

Probate Judge Robert Rusu Jr. had questions for Nathan’s parents during the ceremony, which blends legal adoption requirements with fun opportunities for families, children services workers and the public to celebrate the formal joining of child and family.

It took place in the huge rotunda of the Mahoning County Courthouse, which was packed with family, musicians providing entertainment and onlookers on the balconies of the upper floors.

Judge Rusu first asked Nathan’s new father, whose name is also Nathan, if he had any reservations about the adoption.

“No reservations,” the elder Nathan said. Same question for his wife, Amy, and the same answer from her. Nathan was sitting in her lap.

“No reservations,” the boy interjected.

It was a sentiment shared by the Mahoning County Children’s Services adoption worker who has worked with the Cain family and offered a testimonial on how well the couple from near Dayton has bonded with Nathan. The couple also has a biological son, Tanner, 3.

“They are so very connected,” adoption worker Constance Massey-Hight said of Nathan, his mom, dad and brother.

Children services likewise gave its blessing to Tamara and David Gilmartin of Austintown for adopting their new son, Jackson, 5.

Judge Rusu asked if the time span from when Jackson first came to live with them in May until they and children services started making plans for his adoption about a month later turned their lives “upside down.”

“It did, but in a wonderful way,” Tamara responded.

“Jackson has thrived in their home, and he has acclimated to this family,” said Elizabeth Kollar, an adoption assessor for the agency.

At the end of each adoption ceremony, Nathan and Jackson enjoyed another highlight: getting to bang the gavel of Judge Rusu and announce “Adoption granted” to bring his adoption hearing to a close.

Nathan’s parents said he learned several months ago that he was going to be adopted. He looked forward to that day so much, he started asking the very next morning if it was his adoption day yet, said Atty. Robert Christian, who served in a legal capacity regarding the adoption.

And, Nathan kept asking every day after that.

Amy Cain said she found Nathan on a page on the children services web site.

“We reached out to our case worker, and she submitted our home study showing we are licensed foster parents,” Cain said of the process that connected them to their son from many miles away.

Nathan is on-target developmentally, which was significant to the couple because their other son, Tanner, is developmentally disabled. The couple wanted to ensure that they had enough time and energy to give to two children, Amy said. “We wanted Tanner to have a sibling,” she said.

Children services officials say about 25 percent of Mahoning County adoptions involve families from outside of the county. It doesn’t matter whether they come from Mahoning County, elsewhere in Ohio or even outside the state, officials said.