Coakley's rival in the governor's race, Steve Grossman, sought Tuesday to use the topic as a wedge issue.

By MATT MURPHY
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

BOSTON -- Martha Coakley, the state’s attorney general and candidate for governor, said Tuesday that she’s “open” to the possibility of licensing undocumented immigrants to drive in Massachusetts, softening her position on an issue her rival Steve Grossman sought Tuesday to use as a wedge between the Democrats.

Grossman, the state treasurer, released a letter on Tuesday that he sent to Coakley’s campaign urging her to drop her “long-standing opposition” to driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.

“I would think that as one of the top officials in the state charged with protecting safety and defending against discrimination of people because of their origins you would share my views,” Grossman wrote.

A spokesman for Coakley told the News Service that she had opposed efforts in the past to offer licenses to undocumented immigrants “with the hope and belief” that the federal government would pass comprehensive immigration reform that would address some of the concerns raised by proponents.

“Because the federal government has failed to act, she is open to working with law enforcement, our elected leaders, and the immigrant community to take common-sense steps on this issue,” spokesman Kyle Sullivan said in a statement. He said Coakley has been expressing her view on the issue when asked about it while campaigning.

Grossman last week testified before the Committee on Transportation in favor of a bill (H 3285) filed by Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Sen. Patricia Jehlen that would eliminate permission for the registrar of motor vehicles to deny a drivers’ license based on an applicant’s failure to provide a Social Security number or evidence of immigration status.

The Patrick administration’s new Registrar Celia Blue testified in support of the bill, arguing it could raise nearly $15 million in new revenue and open insurance to a pool of drivers currently on the road without protection.

"More motorists would be protected from losses from unlicensed drivers because unlicensed drivers are unable to receive insurance," said Blue.

Grossman, in his letter, called it “an extraordinarily simple public safety issue.” Though he said undocumented immigrants should be judged on their contributions to society and not their legal status under a “complex and much-debated federal law,” Grossman said licensing undocumented immigrants to drive would improve public safety for all in Massachusetts.

Rep. Marc Lombardo, a Billerica Republican, said last week the bill would make Massachusetts a "magnet."

"To give identification to those who are illegally here allows our ID to essentially mean nothing. It becomes a form of ID that allows those that are illegally here to hide in society with those who are legally here," Lombardo said.

Holt comes to ICNE from The Hartford, where he was an AARP insurance sales agent. In that role, Holt worked directly with prospective clients regarding their automobile, homeowners, and personal umbrella insurance. Holt holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing from Westfield State University as well as an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Springfield Technical Community College.

AGAWAM, – Insurance Center of New England, Inc., recently announced that Eric Holt of Feeding Hills has joined the company as a small business producer.

Eric Holt 

Holt, an Agawam native, will be working with local businesses to help provide them with better coverage and identify gaps in coverage. He will be based in the Agawam office.

Holt comes to ICNE from The Hartford, where he was an AARP insurance sales agent. In that role, Holt worked directly with prospective clients regarding their automobile, homeowners, and personal umbrella insurance. Holt holds a bachelor of science in Business Management and Marketing from Westfield State University as well as an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Springfield Technical Community College.

“As ICNE continues to serve businesses in Massachusetts, we’re committed to providing the support they need to ensure they have the right coverage,” said William Trudeau, CPCU, President and CEO. “We’re pleased to be able to hire local talent whom we know will give our customers exemplary, knowledgeable service.”

About Insurance Center of New England is s a full-service insurance agency doing business in Agawam and in Gardner, Insurance Center of New England provides solutions for personal, business and group employee benefit customers.

Following an investigation by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Social Work, Hecrtor Rosario acknowledged making sexual advances and touching a patient during therapy session between November 2010 and December 2011.

SPRINGFIELD — A city social worker’s license has been suspended for three years after a patient complained he made sexual advances, exposed himself and drank alcohol during therapy sessions.

Hector Rosario, an East Longmeadow resident with a private practice in Springfield, agreed to the suspension handed down July 31 by the state Board of Registration in Social Work, with the proviso that he can seek reinstatement after serving one year.

Following an investigation by the board, Rosario acknowledged making sexual advances and touching a patient during therapy session starting in November 2010, according to an agreement between Rosario and the board outlining the terms of his suspension.

He also conceded that state board could find that he exposed himself to the patient during one session and drank alcohol during another session, the agreement states. The agreement was released by the board this week in response to a request from The Republican.

Rosario, whose office is at 191 Chestnut St., has been a licensed clinical social worker since 1986 and obtained a doctorate in social work from Smith College in 1998.

He had no previous disciplinary record, according to the board.

In accepting the suspension, Rosario acknowledged that his conduct with the patient broke state law, the board’s regulations and the National Association of Social Worker’s code of ethics.

Rosario could not be reached for comment.

The licensing board launched its investigation after a receiving a complaint from one of his patients in January 2012.

Beginning two to three months after their first session, the patient said Rosario began to tell her she was beautiful, touch her face and “approach me in a sexual manner,” according to the documents.

“He began telling me he was sexually attracted to me and inquired about whether I was attracted to him,” the patient wrote.

When she rebuffed his advances, Rosario would apologize, but continued making sexual comments and discussing his own sex life in subsequent sessions.

“He continued to tell me I was beautiful ... and I would be in danger of him stalking me if I was to lose weight as that would lead to him to be even more desirous of me physically,” she wrote.

When bad weather prevented her from getting to an appointment, Rosario picked the patient up at home; after arriving at his office, Rosario exposed himself to her, she said.

“I slapped him hard across the face,” she added.

During that session and others, Rosario smelled of alcohol; on at least occasion, he drank alcohol during a session, she said.

The patient eventually stopped seeing Rosario and filed the complaint to prevent him from behaving the same way with other female clients, she said.

“I have a significant trauma history ... and I feel like I was retraumatized repeatedly due to his behavior,” she wrote.

If Rosario applies for reinstatement, he may have to undergo psychological evaluation and practice under the supervision of another licensed clinical social worker, the agreement states.

The suspension took effect Sept. 14, giving Rosario time to transfer patients to other therapists.

A Hampden County District Attorney's investigation report released Wednesday found there are no grounds for criminal charges in the death of 12-year-old Marlon Brown, who accidentally drowned in February 2013 at the Kiley Middle School swimming pool.

Marlon Brown 

SPRINGFIELD — The following is a summary of events that occurred on Feb. 15, 2013, pertaining to the drowning death of Marlon Brown at the Kiley Middle School Pool in Springfield. The summary is based on a report from the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, which found no criminal wrongdoing in the 12-year-old's death.

• Approximately 45 students and two teachers were in the pool area at Kiley during the final afternoon class, including six to 10 students not participating and sitting in the bleachers.
• Teachers decided to give the students in the class permission for a free swim. The students were previously tested and assigned to different areas of the pool based on their abilities. Marlon Brown was assigned to the shallow end “consistent with his ability.”
• At one point children were playing and splashing water and the play was getting rough. The teachers intervened and the behavior stopped.
• A child was being dismissed early, at about 2 p.m., and became sick while getting out of the pool and vomited on the pool deck. A custodian was called by a teacher using a cell phone and came during the class.
• The teachers reported splitting up and walking around the pool to deal with the sick student incident and watching students.
• The teachers had moved back near each other in the general area of the deep end when they heard yelling about Marlon Brown being at the bottom of the pool. He was motionless between the shallow and deep end.
• One teacher was assisted by the other in removing Brown from the water, and Brown immediately began to vomit. Cardiopulmonary compression and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation began.
• The custodian used his radio to inform the administration office and call for an ambulance. The emergency phone in the pool area was not working to call 911. A police officer who was at the school as part of the Quebec Team, also called for an ambulance upon learning of the incident, and went to the pool.
• Nurses arrived within minutes of the custodian's call and used the school’s defibrillator machine, and Brown was taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center and declared dead at 3:30 p.m.

Hampden County DA’s report on Kiley Middle School Drowning

Levine has been a Wilbraham based Realtor since 1991 and has worked in the greater Springfield area and surrounding towns. She joins more than 16,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the SRES® designation. All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in understanding the needs, considerations, and goals of real estate buyers and sellers aged 55 and older.

Sherry Levine 

Sherry Levine, who works with Re/Max Prestige, has been awarded the Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation by the Seniors Real Estate Specialist Council of the National Association Of Realtors.

Levine has been a Wilbraham based Realtor since 1991 and has worked in the greater Springfield area and surrounding towns. She joins more than 16,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the SRES® designation.

All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in understanding the needs, considerations, and goals of real estate buyers and sellers aged 55 and older.

The woman was stuck as she crossed Boston Road near the Jiffy Lube, police said.

File photo | The Republican 

SPRINGFIELD - A 55-year-old woman was struck and killed by a car as she crossed Boston Road near Five Mile Pond just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

She was taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, said Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William Fitchet.

Her name was not being released to the press until her family was notified.

She was hit crossing Boston Road near the Jiffy Lube at 1130 Boston Road, Delaney said.

The vehicle that hit her was operated by a 60-year-old man. His name was also not released.

Delaney said no charges have been filed against the driver but the investigation is ongoing.

The case is being investigated by officer Robert Kalin of the Traffic Bureau's fatality squad, he said.

The Hampden District Attorney's Office is also involved in investigation. District Attorney Mark Mastroianni said the case is an active investigation.

The mayor and City Council president rejected the option of making the authority a funded city department.

HOLYOKE -- Despite pleas to avoid giving false hope, the Holyoke Geriatric Authority board of directors Wednesday discussed options to keep the nursing home open even though a state-set closing date is May 13 and officials say the facility is broke.

Discussion about seeking a loan and petitioning the mayor and City Council to make the authority a funded city department came in a meeting room jammed with weeping residents in wheelchairs and employees at the 45 Lower Westfield Road facility.

Meanwhile, a spokesman said Attorney General Martha Coakley is aware of the authority issues but declined to comment on a request Mayor Alex B. Morse made Tuesday to appoint a receiver to manage the authority.

Such outside oversight is needed, Morse said, because the authority has neither the food in its kitchen to feed the remaining 70 or so residents nor the money to meet payroll for the 120 employees to last until May 13.

The discussion comes after years of financial problems at the authority that officials have said was a combination of not enough government reimbursements to cover costs of care and mismanagement as cited in a state audit in September.

"We don't have money to pay our bills," board member Joseph T. O'Neill said.

Joseph T. O'NeillDave Roback, The Republican 

Board Chairman Fred Glidden said he was willing to risk clashing with city officials to pursue a loan. Board member James Brunault said he supported that.

"Because these people deserve it. ...This whole thing is a moral issue and, damn it, we have to try to keep this place open," Glidden said.

Brunault said his view was that while the reality is that the authority will close, a loan to keep it open temporarily helps because the authority is more valuable open than closed if a buyer can be found.

"No matter what happens, the Geriatric Authority is going out of business," Brunault said.

O'Neill said workers and residents could contact elected officials and ask that an order be filed in the City Council to make the authority a department eligible for funding.

"We could become a city department if the elected officials in this town wanted to do it," O'Neill said.

Morse and City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain, reached later, both said that making the authority a funded city department was extremely unlikely and that pursuit of a loan also was inadvisable.

"The city of Holyoke does not have the resources financially or otherwise to enter into the nursing home business. For decades Holyoke taxpayers have taken on the burden of keeping the facility afloat, but due to the gross financial mismanagement of the board, this is a practice that can no longer continue," Morse said.

Jourdain said making the authority a funded department was well intentioned but not feasible.

"The city is not in the business of running a nursing home," Jourdain said.

The authority has 80 nursing-home beds and 80 day-care slots for elderly people. It is overseen by a board consisting of three people appointed by the City Council and three appointed by the mayor, with those six choosing a seventh member.

The authority doesn't have a line item in the city budget, O'Neill said. But other officials and O'Neill himself note that the city has had to bail out the authority such as with $146,973 for health insurance costs in June. The state audit put the authority's debt to city agencies at more than $2.2 million.

Board member Catina Galanes Grass urged the employees in the room that as they return to their work stations, "please don't give false hope to these residents. ... We are still proceeding with a closure plan."

Morse agreed.

"Tonight's meeting served no other purpose than to cause false hope. My thoughts are with the families of residents and employees, who deserve an honest and realistic approach moving forward," Morse said.

Employees such as Certified Nursing Assistant Magda Delvalle said the facility's end is heartbreaking.

"The toughest part is seeing the residents leave. It's tough," said Delvalle, an 11-year veteran.

Cristina JoubertMike Plaisance, The Republican 

Cristina Joubert, a licensed practical nurse who marks a year at the authority April 19, was among those questioning how officials could have failed to plan over the years to avoid a pending closure.

"I think it's really sad, and it's been harder and harder to come to work," Joubert said.

City Solicitor Heather G. Egan issued an opinion that said it would be illegal for the authority board to pursue a loan for two reasons. One is that a loan would require using authority property as collateral, and that step requires prior City Council approval. And if the board received council approval, it then must abide by the state competitive-bidding law to seek the lowest interest rate, not simply enter into an arrangement with a chosen lender, she said.

Cronin comes to AIC from Goddard College, Plainfield, Vt., where she served as the Associate Academic Dean for Undergraduate Studies.

Michaelene Cronin 

SPRINGFIELD - Michaelene Cronin of West Chesterfield, N.H., has been named Executive Director of the Curtis Blake Center at American International College. The announcement was made recently by AIC Provost Todd G. Fritch, Ph.D.

Cronin comes to AIC from Goddard College, Plainfield, Vt., where she served as the Associate Academic Dean for Undergraduate Studies.

In her new position, Cronin will oversee the Curtis Blake Day School (K-9 special education school serving students with language based learning disabilities), Tutorial Services, AIC Supportive Learning Services, (fee for service program supporting college students with learning disabilities), Diagnostic Services, and a Summer Instructional Clinic.

Jose expressed his pleasure in joining the staff of the Holyoke Public Library and is looking forward to establishing workshop programs that will initially be geared to assisting the very young, as well as senior citizens who are just beginning to join the world of computers.

HOLYOKE - Maria G. Pagan, Director of the Holyoke Public Library, has announced that the Library Board of Directors has appointed Jose Silva as coordinator of
the library's new computer lab.

Jose Silva has an extensive background in computer technology acquired through close to 20 years operation of his own business. This encompassed
research, personal training, educational instruction, networking and the
application of knowledge gained through practical experience in computer
servicing and repair applications.

Prior to moving to Holyoke, Jose spent several years as IT supervisor at a
local community library on the island of Viques, part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Silva's background includes extensive experience as a designer of computer
graphics. He also spent an extended period as a security officer
in Orlando, Fla.

Jose expressed his pleasure in joining the staff of the Holyoke Public
Library and is looking forward to establishing workshop programs that will
initially be geared to assisting the very young, as well as senior
citizens who are just beginning to join the world of computers.

The Maple Hill Rest Home reached an agreement to voluntarily close after a state inspection found alleged conditions including filth and bed bugs

SPRINGFIELD – The Maple Hill Rest Home closed this week on Mill Street, listed as voluntary, but occurring after a state inspection in October found conditions that were alleged to include bed bug infestations, rodent droppings and filth.

Michael Joseph, the rest home administrator and owner, said the last residents had moved out and the facility closed as of Tuesday. He intends to keep the building as his home.

“I’m happy that we served the public for 54 years,” Joseph said. “Everything happened for the best. I hope they (former residents) settle down and find a place in life.”

About 30 residents lived in the rest home as of late last year and gradually found or were helped with finding new lodging, including living with family or going to other care facilities, Joseph said.

Joseph said he voluntarily chose to close after turning 65 years old, but still operates the Ellen Rice Rest Home on Warner Street, serving 12 residents.

Unlike a nursing home, a rest home is not a facility for the elderly, Joseph said. The rest home provides supervision for adult residents and pill dispensing but not skilled care, he said.

An inspection in October by the state Department of Public Health found evidence of rodent droppings and filth at the Maple Hill Rest Home and said the facility’s efforts to address the conditions included “stomping’ on mice and setting up pans of water in one room underneath the bed posts to try to drown the bugs. Joseph said there were problems of residents not following “simple rules.”

The rest home was licensed and monitored by the state.

Joseph’s father opened the rest home 54 years ago, and Joseph took over 28 years ago.

“I tried my best,” Joseph said. “I went to work every day for 10,000 days.”

Joseph said there were residents in the rest home who were angry and did not have “the ability to follow simple rules.”

Joseph said he had prepared a plan to correct any problems in the rest home, but then decided that it was for the best to retire and close. A state letter, dated Oct. 9, 2013, two days after the inspection, was sent to Joseph’s lawyer, saying it was intended to confirm the telephone agreement for Joseph to voluntarily close as soon as possible.

With the closure taking a few months, a state spokeswoman said recently that it was known that finding appropriate placement for each of the residents “can be challenging.”

The new principal holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Bates College in Maine. He earned a master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of New England.

WARE – Darren Elwell was promoted to high school principal last week.

Superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach made the appointment.

Elwell, who was named assistant principal a year ago, will assume the job held by Marlene DiLeo.

DiLeo was recently named to replace Beach as superintendent. Beach announced in August that she plans to retire at the end of June.

Prior to working in Ware, Elwell was a communications teacher at Mohawk Regional school district. He taught journalism, public speaking and archaeology.

Elwell grew up in Gardner, and formerly taught English, astronomy, and environmental science at the city’s public high school.

The new principal holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Bates College in Maine. He earned a master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of New England.

Elwell is an admirer of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Elwell makes use of a Churchill quote on the school website: “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

They got him.

They got him.

Less than 24 hours after panic set in following the departure of Aqib Talib, the New England Patriots managed to upgrade the position by agreeing to terms with cornerback Darrelle Revis on a one-year, $12 million contract.

The deal, which is arguably the biggest free agent signing made by the Patriots since acquiring linebacker Adalius Thomas in 2007, was first reported by ESPN.

"I've never played against anyone who is as good as him," quarterback Tom Brady said prior to facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. "He's as good as there is that I've ever played against."

New England was long rumored to have interest in Revis, 28, when word spread that he was going to be made available by the Buccaneers, but his hefty price tag of $16 million per season made a deal seem unlikely. Tampa Bay was unable to find a trade partner, and Revis was released a little before a $1.5 million roster bonus became due at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Patriots quickly pounced on Revis, who built a reputation as the league's best cornerback while playing for the New York Jets from 2007-2012, and locked him down to a deal a little more than four hours after he was let go.

When compared to the six-year, $57 million contract Talib signed with the Denver Broncos Tuesday night, the move represents a good value for New England. While Talib is slightly cheaper with an average annual value of $9.5 million, Revis costs only slightly more than the $11.8 million it would have taken to retain Talib on the franchise tag.

Statistically speaking, the bump in salary over what Talib received from the Denver Broncos is justifiable. Talib has been targeted slightly more often than Revis (5-foot-11, 198 pounds) since 2010 (5.1 times per game vs. 4.46), but holds a wide edge in interceptions (14-7) over that span despite playing in the same number of games (56).

However, the differences begin to emerge when looking at what happens when they are targeted. Over the aforementioned span, Revis allowed only 100 receptions for 1,334 yards. Talib surrendered 156 receptions for 2,422 yards.

That boost in production performance should help an New England passing defense that finished 18^th in the NFL last season with a respectable 239 passing yards allowed per game. Prior to Talib's arrival in 2012, the Patriots ranked 31^st in passing defense in 2011 (294 yards per game), and 30^th in 2010 (259 yards per game). With Revis' ability to lockdown his side of the field, New England should continue to improve moving forward.

While the deal feels like a bargain in terms of ability and what he was due to make in Tampa Bay, Revis now carries the second-highest salary cap charge on the Patriots behind Brady, who is due to count $14.8 million against the cap next season.

After also releasing defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga Wednesday, a move that saves the team $2.5 million, New England now has around $5 million in cap space to play with. It is expected the team will make other moves to create additional flexibility. 

It is not known how much competition the Patriots had for Revis. Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht told NFL Network earlier in the day that he came close to making a trade a few times, but the other teams never became comfortable enough to pull the trigger.

Shortly after his release, reports began to emerge that Revis was open to returning to the New York Jets, who traded him to Tampa Bay last April, and that he would "love" the opportunity to once again play for head coach Rex Ryan. If true, that story never had the opportunity to gain momentum.

Other reports have since emerged that the door is open to add additional years on the one-year deal agreed upon by Revis and the Patriots. But for now, the Talib problem is solved and Revis is now a member of the New England Patriots.

Satellite images on a Chinese government website may show debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner floating a few days ago off the southern tip of Vietnam.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Satellite images on a Chinese government website may show debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner floating a few days ago off the southern tip of Vietnam near the plane's original flight path, China's Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.

The revelation could provide searchers with a focus that has eluded them since the plane disappeared with 239 people aboard just hours after leaving Kuala Lumpur for Beijing early Saturday. Since then, the search has covered 35,800 square miles (92,600 square kilometers), first east and then west of Malaysia and even expanded toward India on Wednesday.

The Chinese sighting, if confirmed, would be closer to where the frantic hunt started.

The Xinhua report said the images from around 11 a.m. on Sunday appear to show "three suspected floating objects" of varying sizes in a 20-kilometer radius, the largest about 24-by-22 meters (79-by-72 feet).

The images originally were posted on the website of China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. That site reports coordinates of a location in the sea off the southern tip of Vietnam and east of Malaysia.

But since the satellite images were taken four days ago, it is far from certain that whatever they show would be in the same location now.

No other governments have confirmed the Xinhua report, which did not say when Chinese officials became aware of the images and associated them with the missing plane.

Two-thirds of the passengers were Chinese, and the Chinese government has put increasing pressure on Malaysian officials to solve the mystery of the plane's disappearance.

Malaysia's civil aviation chief, Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, said Malaysia had not been officially informed by China about the images, which he said he was learning about from the news.

He said if Beijing informs them of the coordinates, Malaysia will dispatch vessels and planes immediately.

"If we get confirmation, we will send something," he told The Associated Press early Thursday.

Until then, he urged caution. "There have been lots of reports of suspected debris."

On Wednesday, it was revealed that the last message from the cockpit of the missing flight was routine. "All right, good night," was the signoff transmitted to air traffic controllers five days ago.

Then the Boeing 777 vanished as it cruised over the South China Sea toward Vietnam, and nothing has been seen or heard of the jetliner since.

Those final words were picked up by controllers and relayed in Beijing to anguished relatives of some of the people aboard Flight MH370.

The Chinese reports of the satellite images came after several days of confusing and conflicting statements from Malaysian officials.

Earlier Wednesday, the Malaysian military officially disclosed why it was searching on both sides of country: A review of military radar records showed what might have been the plane turning back and crossing westward into the Strait of Malacca.

That would conflict with the latest images on the Chinese website.

For now, authorities said the international search effort would stay focused on the South China Sea and the strait leading toward the Andaman Sea.

Chinese impatience has grown.

"There's too much information and confusion right now. It is very hard for us to decide whether a given piece of information is accurate," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing.

"We have nothing to hide," said Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. "There is only confusion if you want to see confusion."

Flight MH370 disappeared from civilian radar screens at 1:30 a.m. Saturday at an altitude of about 35,000 feet above the Gulf of Thailand between Malaysia and southern Vietnam. It sent no distress signals or any indication it was experiencing problems.

If all those on board are confirmed dead, it would be the deadliest commercial air accident in 10 years.

The amount of time needed to find aircraft that go down over the ocean can vary widely. Planes that crash into relatively shallow areas, like the waters off Vietnam, are far easier to locate and recover than those that plunge into undersea canyons or mountain ranges.

Much of the Gulf of Thailand is less than 300 feet (91 meters) deep.

The Malaysian government said it had asked India to join in the search near the Andaman Sea, suggesting the jetliner might have reached those waters after crossing into the Strait of Malacca, 400 kilometers (250 miles) from the flight's last-known coordinates.

Malaysian officials met in Beijing with several hundred Chinese relatives of passengers to explain the search, and to relay the last transmission that Malaysian air traffic controllers received before the plane entered Vietnamese airspace, according to a participant in the meeting.

Aviation officials in Vietnam said they never heard from the plane.

Its sudden disappearance led to initial speculation of a catastrophic incident that caused it to disintegrate. Another possibility is that it continued to fly despite a failure of its electrical systems, which could have knocked out communications, including transponders that enable the plane to be identified by commercial radar.

Authorities have not ruled out any possible cause, including mechanical failure, pilot error, sabotage and terrorism, and they are waiting to find any wreckage or debris to determine what went wrong.

Two U.S. Federal Aviation Administration technical experts and a regional representative are in Kuala Lumpur as part of a National Transportation Safety Board team supporting the investigation. Experts in air traffic control and radar are providing technical help, the board said.

Hishammuddin described the multinational search as unprecedented. Some 43 ships and 39 aircraft from at least eight nations were scouring an area to the east and west of Peninsular Malaysia.

"It's not something that is easy. We are looking at so many vessels and aircraft, so many countries to coordinate, and a vast area for us to search," he told a news conference.

Confusion over whether the plane had been seen flying west prompted speculation that different arms of the government might have different opinions about its location, or even that authorities were holding back information.

Choi Tat Sang, a 74-year-old Malaysian, said his family is still holding out hope that the plane and all on board are safe. His 45-year-old daughter-in-law, Goh Sock Lay, was the chief flight attendant. Her 14-year-old daughter, an only child, has been crying every day since the plane's disappearance.

"We are heartbroken. We are continuing to pray for her safety and for everyone on the flight," he said.

Carlos Gonzalez ran against Cheryl Coakley-Rivera in 1998 in a Democratic caucus to replace longtime state Rep. Anthony Scibelli on the ballot for the Springfield seat.

SPRINGFIELD — Carlos Gonzalez, the president of the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce, has announced he will seek the state representative seat vacated Wednesday by Springfield Democrat Cheryl A. Coakley- Rivera.

Coakley-Rivera, who served 15 years on Beacon Hill, will take a job as an assistant clerk with the Hampden County Superior Court Clerk's office. She has already endorsed Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who served as a legislative aide to Springfield Mayor Michael Albano from 1996 to 2004, ran against Coakley-Rivera in 1998.

“It was a contentious race, but since then we have become good friends and have worked well together,” Coakley-Rivera said.

Gonzalez said he is honored to run and hopes to continue serving the community. He founded the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce in 2004 along with Benjamin Ramos.

“During the period of time I worked in government I saw so much funding go to social service programs that kept people in the same place,” he said. “I felt there was a need for economic development and we created a way to help build people up by helping them become self-sufficient and self-employed.”

He plans to take out nomination papers as soon as Coakley-Rivera officially announces her resignation on Friday.

In 2011, Coakley-Rivera applied for the Springfield District Court Clerk-Magistrate position and did not get it. She will now work for Hampden County Clerk of Courts Laura Gentile, who was elected in 2012, succeeeding former State Sen. Brian P. Lees. Coakley-Rivera backed Gentile's opponent, Thomas Ashe, at the time.

"I didn't even think I was going to get an interview, not because I'm not qualified, but because I did not back her," Coakley-Rivera said.

Gentile said her priority when hiring a new clerk was finding the best person for the job.

"She is extraordinarily qualified and had a great interview. It did not matter that she supported Tom Ashe, she is going to be an asset to this office," Gentile said.
As an assistant clerk, Coakley-Rivera will assist judges with civil and criminal case loads, she will prepare court documents and docket records and participate in hearings and conferences, among other duties.

According to state records Coakley-Rivera made $74,779 in 2013. As an assistant clerk she will make between $80,000 to $90,000.

Coakley-Rivera grew up in the North End of Springfield with her four siblings. She is the daughter of a well-known community activist, the late Barbara Coakley Rivera, who served as executive director of the New North End Citizens Council, and Evaristo Rivera.

Coakley-Rivera attended Northeastern University in Boston, during which time she interned at the Hampden District Attorney's office, and that got her interested in law. She obtained a law degree from the School of Law at Western New England University. She is looking forward to using her law degree once more.

"I'm 50 years old and this is a new challenge for me," she said. “I love my constituents and I love my job, but I’m ready for something new.”

Coakley-Rivera was 34, working as a lawyer and vice president of Brightwood Development Corp., when the Democratic ward committee caucus voted to put her name – and not Gonzalez' – on the November 1998 ballot for the 10th Hampden District. She was the replacement for long-time representative Anthony M. Scibelli, who died shortly after his win in the primary.

Rivera beat write-in opponent Carmen Rosa by a 3-to-1 margin, receiving 3,030 votes to Rosa's 1,030 write-in tallies to become the first Hispanic woman elected to the Massachusetts Legislature. Republican write-in candidate Matthew Kline received fewer than two dozen votes. She has retained the seat ever since.

"When I came in I was green. All I had was a passion for my community and a passion to help," she said. "What an honor it has been to serve."

She credited her family and her staff, including Minerva Rodriguez and Shannon Giordano, with helping her keep in touch with residents.

“They have been instrumental, they answer every call and are at the district office everyday helping people,” she said.

Springfield police said Jacqueline Perez was selling heroin from her vehicle as if she was "making pizza deliveries."

SPRINGFIELD — A 26-year-old city woman was arrested on drug charges Tuesday night after narcotics detectives spotted her selling heroin from her vehicle, police said.

Jacqueline Perez of 38 Clifton Ave. was charged with distribution of heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William Fitchet, said Perez would take orders over her cell phone from customers and then deliver what they wanted “like she was making pizza deliveries.”

Delaney said narcotics officers under the command of Sgt. Martin Ambrose and Sgt. Steven Kent learned she would be making deliveries and began to follow her. Just after 7 p.m. on Derryfield Avenue, they watched her stop in front of an address and saw a customer come out to give her money in exchange for drugs.

Police stopped her car moments later. They found an undisclosed amount of heroin inside her car plus $850.

Police also detained the customer, charging him with possession of heroin.

Perez denied the charge at her arraignment Wednesday in Springfield District Court. She is due back in court for a pre-trial conference on April 10. Bail was originally set at $25,000 but was then revoked because she is already out on bail while awaiting trial for another drug arrest.

Police also arrested a second suspected drug dealer at 8:30 p.m. inside the Saratoga Mini Mart, 293 Dwight Street Ext., Delaney said.

Anthony L. Rivera, 25, of 56 Fort Pleasant Ave. was charged with possession of heroin and possession of cocaine, each with intent to distribute.

Members of the Street Crimes Unit, under command of Lt. Robert Tardiff, watched Rivera enter the store and walk into the back. When they followed they spotted him attempting to sell to another man. Rivera was found in possession of 73 packets of heroin and 15 packets of cocaine. He was also carrying $644, Delaney said.

He denied the charges at his district court arraignment Wednesday. He was ordered held in lieu of $10,000 cash and is due back in court on April 11.

Opponents said they are bewildered the hearing went forward absent an approved stormwater management plan required by local bylaws – given the housing proposal has been before the board going back more than two years.

South Hadley Planning Board Public Hearing on Rivercrest Condominium proposal on March 10 2014Jim Russell 

SOUTH HADLEY - Concerns about possible water problems drowned out most other public comments directed against a controversial 31-unit condominium project proposed on Ferry St. during Monday’s 2.5 hour public hearing at a packed South Hadley town hall.

Opponents said they are bewildered the hearing went forward absent an approved stormwater management plan required by local bylaws – given the housing proposal has been before the board going back more than two years.

Jodi Miller of 111 Brockway Lane told the planning board it would be a mistake to close the public hearing without a final determination on whether the development meets the town’s stormwater management requirements.

“We are not trying to be the bad guys,” said Norma Monast of 2 Ferry St. “Listen to us. I don’t want to see my new neighbors slogging in the muck.”

Rivercrest Condominiums, LLC, of Chicopee is seeking a special permit from the planning board to allow them to build the $10.5 million housing development of 1,400 to 1,700 square feet town house and ranch-style homes.

The permit is needed partly because the large number of proposed units to be built on 5 acres does not comport with the much lower housing density of single family homes allowed by zoning rules along Ferry St. – where surrounding lots are an acre or more.

A similar proposal to build 27 condominiums sparked outrage and vociferous community opposition in 2011 -- when South Hadley Planning Board unanimously rejected the Rivercrest idea.

But this time the developers hold a trump card.

Rivercrest sought and obtained permission from the state last year to use the 40B law. It exempts a builder from complying with local zoning when less than ten percent of a municipality’s housing is deemed affordable.

Rivercrest then proposed a 60-unit development on the property – that includes 15 affordable condos -- currently pending before the Zoning Board of Appeals.

At the request of senior town officials, Rivercrest agreed to submit their 31-unit proposal to the planning board again, but should that board reject it or attach conditions not to the developer’s liking, they will resume their 60-unit development request with the ZBA.

At the Monday hearing officials from Rivercrest and the town agreed that the state review board overseeing 40B projects is “developer friendly” and rarely rejects a proposal.

Judith Dyjach of 6 Ferry St. said, “I can’t imagine the state will allow this to get built if the neighbors get flooded.”

South Hadley town administrator Michael Sullivan has also weighed in on the 40B issue.

Although Sullivan did not attend the planning board meeting, at a recent public forum on community economic development attended by 100 residents, he said the law is bad public policy for rural western Massachusetts and should be changed. Sullivan said 40B may achieve its goal of increasing affordable housing in the urban greater Boston region but is a mistake in this part of the state because of small differences here between affordable and market rate housing costs.

Neighbors opposed to the Rivercrest project nonetheless praised the fine work of landscape architect Robert M. Levesque’s drawings on behalf of the company that showed details of what it would look like. He owns R Levesque Associates, Inc. based in Westfield.

The planning board continued the Rivercrest hearing until March 24, 6:45 p.m. at town hall.

One thing the University of Massachusetts could do a better job of is in hiring women and minorities to faculty positions, Caret said . He feels faculty needs to reflect the student body in that regard.

AMHERST — University of Massachusetts President Robert L. Caret said the performance review the five-campus system released Wednesday explaining how it is doing in 21 key areas is a tool to make the University better.

“We are not just accepting what occurs, we are trying to change what occurs,” Caret said Wednesday after releasing the report online at www.umass.edu.

The report looks at all five campuses together as a whole and covers almost every aspect of the University's operations. Everything got one of four grades: excellent progress, good progress, some progress or limited progress. None of the 21 categories got a "limited progress", a fact that Caret, who took office in 2011, said he knows will open the process up to criticism.

"These are subjective," he said. "But I sat in on the meetings were these were evaluated and we took a look at every category, particularly those that got "some progress and "good progress" to see if they really deserve that lowest grade."

He said people also need to keep in mind that everyone knows these are the University's top 21 priorities.

"It's not surprising that the 21 things you pick as most important are things were you turn out to be doing doing well. We put a lot of energy into them," Caret said.

For this, the first ever report, Caret had the University compare itself with the past three years.

Besides being a internal tool, he said the report helps UMass tell its story.

"Well it's important for us as dollars become more scarce at the state level particularly that we be able to justify what we ask for, Caret said. "The state begins to understand the budget better, trust us more, feel that we are using the money well."

That is especially important when it comes to admitting high quality students and maintaining high two-year and four-year graduation rates and research and technological development .

The University of Massachusetts research and development base has grown at a rate faster than the U.S. average and now generates nearly $600 million in annual R&D expenditures and $30 million to $40 million in technology licensing income.

The report also addresses ethnic diversity on UMass campuses. The 29
percent enrollment of African, Latino, Asian, and Native American students is higher than that of the Commonwealth’s high schools which is 27 percent.

One thing the University of Massachusetts could do a better job of is in hiring women and minorities to faculty positions, Caret said. He feels faculty needs to reflect the student body in that regard.

"If you talk with minority students. They will tell you how important it is for them to see themselves in the front of that classroom," Caret, a chemist, said. "That may seem trite to some people. But I think it is important. We won't have any quotas but it is something we need to address."

Caret said making the report card public adds to the University's public accountability.

"I think it keeps us on track," he said. "Once you start publishing things publicly you are accountable for it. You want to look good."

Umass Performance 2014 by masslive

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said on Thursday that he is against the city hosting any kind of hearing on the Boston Marathon bombings the week before the race.

CAMBRIDGE — Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said on Thursday that he is against the city hosting any kind of hearing on the Boston Marathon bombings the week before the race.

A rare on-site congressional hearing on the Boston Marathon bombings is planned but a date has not yet been set. Congressman Bill Keating, according to the Boston Globe, was hopeful that a hearing would occur before the running of the 2014 Boston Marathon but Walsh said no to the idea.

Walsh said that a congressional hearing on the bombing was proposed for April 11, 2014 in Boston and that it would distract attention from the memorial while straining law enforcement resources.

"We have a lot of preparation here in the city of Boston, dealing with April 15, the commemoration in the Copley area and also Marathon Monday on April 21 when we're going to have 3,500 police officers in the street," said Walsh to reporters in Kendall Square.

Walsh rejected suggestions that he was against hosting a hearing in Boston because it would bring Republican congressmen to the city and give them a platform to go after President Obama.

"That has nothing to do with it. I have a great relationship with my colleagues and my former colleagues in the legislature, many of them helped me on my campaign. My concern was having a hearing here on April 11, four days before the one-year anniversary," said Walsh.

A hearing in Boston on the Boston Marathon bombing is something Walsh said he would welcome. "I am a former legislature, I understand that it is important. It's important to bring as many hearings to our city as possible, I think it's a good thing for our city," said Walsh.

The victim of an apartment fire at the Heywood Place has been identified as Paul B. McKenna, 58, according to the district attorney's office.

The victim of an apartment fire at the Heywood Place has been identified as Paul B. McKenna, 58, according to the district attorney's office.

About 30 residents were temporarily evacuated from the four-story former furniture factory on March 4 as firefighters responded to a call for a blaze in one of the apartments at 61 Lake St. Although the cause fire is still under investigation, fire personnel determined that the fire began in apartment C301, which was McKenna's apartment, according to the District Attorney Joseph Early's office and a report in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner made the positive identification, according to Paul Jarvey with the district attorney's office.

McKenna is formerly of Concord, where he grew up and attended school, and served two years in the Navy before completing college, according to an obituary on Legacy.com. In Gardner, he worked for several years as a property manager, according to the obituary.

Memorial and burial services are scheduled for March 15 in Concord.

The Worcester Division of Public Health and Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance received $28,400 that will go towards making Worcester's the first health accredited health department in the state.

WORCESTER — The Worcester Division of Public Health and Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance received $28,400 that will go towards making Worcester's the first accredited health department in the state.

“Worcester is on track to be the first accredited health department in MA,” said City Manager Edward Augustus in a press release Thursday. “The allocation of funds from the ASI will help the division establish a national standard to hold ourselves accountable to and assist our dedicated team with building on the momentum of the community health improvement plan.”

The funding came from the Accreditation Support Initiative (ASI). The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) is the first and only voluntary national accreditation program for public health departments.

The department will use the grant to provide staff training, develop a departmental performance management plan and pay part of accreditation application fees.

“These funds will help us continue to prepare for national accreditation and at the same time improve the quality and efficiency of our services throughout the region,” said Derek Brindisi, Director of the Worcester Division of Public Health, lead agency of the Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance. “This opportunity supports our organizational vision of becoming a nationally recognized model for an efficient, effective, and equitable regional public health system in the healthiest region in New England.”

Funding for the ASI is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (CDC) and administered by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).

The Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance was one of 29 local health departments from 19 states to receive this funding through the Accreditation Support Initiative (ASI). A total of 147 local health departments of all sizes and types, ranging from rural to urban applied for funding.