Berkshire Medical Center is working to reopen at least the emergency room in North Adams, possibly as a precursor to restoring more hospital services.

SPRINGFIELD — Nurses laid off when the North Adams Regional Hospital closed abruptly two weeks ago picketed outside federal bankruptcy court in Springfield on Monday.

A separate hearing in state court that had been set for tomorrow has been postponed.

Inside the federal courthouse on State Street, the bankruptcy court held a status conference in the bankruptcy case filed Thursday by North Adams Regional Hospital's parent organization, Northern Berkshire Healthcare. Northern Berkshire filed for Chapter 7 liquidation Thursday. The hospital closed March 28.

Bankruptcy paperwork field Thursday estimates the hospital's creditors at up to 999; its assets between $1 million and $10 million; and its liabilities as high as $50 million.

U.S. District Bankruptcy Judge Henry J. Boroff has scheduled a meeting of creditors in the matter for May 15.

In a separate court action, lawyers for the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, unions at the hospital and others will appear April 14 before State Superior Court Justice John Agostini in Pittsfield. That hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, but was postponed a week.

At issue Tuesday is a court order Agostini signed at the request of the Attorney General's Office that gives Berkshire Medical Center access to the old North Adams Regional Hospital buildings with a goal of restarting the emergency room first and subsequently restoring other hospital functions.

That order could be moot, blown out by the federal bankruptcy proceedings. That would mean Berkshire Medical Center is trespassing on property controlled by a federal bankruptcy trustee.

However, the largest creditor, Wells Fargo, has expressed an interest in working with the state and reopening North Adams Regional Hospital. Berkshire Medical Center would rent the real estate from the trustee, providing income to make creditors whole.

Read the bankruptcy documents here:

Northern Berkshire Healthcare Bankruptcy

Enterprise Holdings operates a global network of more than 8,100 airport and neighborhood locations. In Hartford/Springfield, Enterprise Holdings’ three-brand car rental network includes more than 50 neighborhood and airport branch locations in the region.

HARTFORD – Enterprise Holdings, the largest car rental company in the world, is hiring more than 60 college-educated, career-oriented men and women in the greater Hartford/Springfield region through its management training and internship programs.

Enterprise Holdings, through its regional subsidiaries, operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands. These new full-time employees are being hired into the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Management Training program or the Management Internship program, which recently was recognized with a Founding Values Award for consistently carrying out the values of company founder, Jack Taylor, according to a news release.

On behalf of each regional team that won the Founding Values Award, the Enterprise Holdings Foundation provides $20,000 in grants to benefit area non-profits. Organizations in the region receiving grants include Hartford Hospital’s Black and Red Gala, the American Heart Association and the Greenfield Kiwanis Charity Auction. In addition to the Founding Values donations, the Enterprise Holdings employees in the greater Hartford/Springfield region, along with an Enterprise Holdings Foundation match, raised more than $100,000 for the local United Way this past year.

Enterprise’s promote-from-within culture is the major driver behind its need to recruit thousands of new employees annually throughout North America. “We put our employees in a position to succeed immediately, and we promote almost exclusively from within,” Kucharski said. “That makes Enterprise an ideal choice for candidates seeking a great, long-term career opportunity.”

Last year alone, nearly 11,000 individuals were promoted or took on new challenges in various positions throughout Enterprise Holdings’ global network, contributing to new opportunities for recently hired management trainees, and a need to add even more. In addition to management trainees and interns, there are also full-time opportunities as customer service representatives, rental agents, shuttle bus drivers and administrative positions available in the Hartford/Springfield area.

Enterprise Holdings operates a global network of more than 8,100 airport and neighborhood locations. In Hartford/Springfield, Enterprise Holdings’ three-brand car rental network includes more than 50 neighborhood and airport branch locations in the region.

For more information about career opportunities at Enterprise, visit www.go.enterprise.com. For more information about Enterprise Holdings, visit www.enterpriseholdings.com.

Two brothers were arrested in Worcester on charges of distributing heroin after police seized over 385 grams of the drug while carrying out a search warrant in the city Friday.

Sam Bonacci, MassLive.com 

"A search of the apartment was conducted which revealed several bags of a tan powder consistent with heroin (approximately 385 grams), cutting agents, a digital scale, packaging materials, cell phones, [and] US currency," according to court records filed with the Worcester District Court by state police.

Worcester and State Police carried out search warrants at the residences of Harling Risk, 24, of 18 Brookside Ave. Apt. 20, and 23-year-old Jorge Risk, of 46 Orient St. Apt. 2. Police searched Harling's apartment at 6:18 a.m. and located Harling as well as a woman and two small children, according to court records. Police reportedly found money, four small bags of tan powder consistent with heroin, cutting agents and a cell phone during the search.

"Risk stated he was not a heroin user and told officers how he and his brother conducted their heroin distribution operation," according to a statement from state police filed with the Worcester District Court.

The search of Jorge's apartment took place at 6:20 a.m., according to court documents, with police finding Jorge and a woman in the apartment. Jorge reportedly told police after he had been read his Miranda rights where the heroin was stored in the apartment. During a search of the apartment, police located 385 grams of what is believed to be heroin, according to court records, along with other items such as packaging material and cutting agents.

The drugs seized are being analyzed at the State Police Drug Lab and the money along with an SUV covered by the search warrant have been seized.

Harling and Jorge Risk have both been charged with trafficking in 200+ grams of a class A substance, possessing class A drugs to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Bail was set for both at $2,000 cash.

The initiative relies on military counterinsurgency techniques

SPRINGFIELD — Incoming Police Commissioner John Barbieri said he hopes to expand the Massachusetts State Police C3 policing initiative — a community-based strategy drawn from military counterinsurgency techniques honed in Iraq that has proven successful in the North End — to other areas of the city.

Barbieri, a deputy chief and 26-year veteran of the department, said he would like to expand the program to the South End, Forest Park and Mason Square neighborhoods of the city. C3 is an acronym that stands for Counter Criminal Continuum,

Barbieri spoke of his plans Friday during an editorial meeting with The Republican and MassLive. He said that collaboration with community groups and residents will be a key department priority under his leadership.

Barbieri will make a formal public presentation Monday night on his five strategic priorities for the department. His presentation will be held in Van Sickle Middle School auditorium, 1170 Carew St., from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

It will be recorded and broadcast on the city’s public access channel, Focus Springfield, on channel 17, and will be available on the city’s website.

The C3 initiative, which Barbieri has overseen along with state police, relies heavily on collaboration with residents and numerous other facets of the neighborhood – including representatives from schools, churches, businesses, health care providers, the courts and other legal systems. It started late in 2009 and works with the Safe Neighborhood Initiative.

“I think we have seen improvement,” Barbieri said.

The incoming commissioner said he hopes to “morph” existing BADGE programs in the Forest Park neighborhood and Mason Square area into C3 programs.

The BADGE (Business and Domicile Geographic Enforcement) programs, a collaborative effort with Hampden District Attorney Mark G, Mastroianni, include more walking patrols in key areas.

The North End’s C3 initiative caught national attention last May when CBS's 60 Minutes” aired a piece on it that featured interviews with Barbieri and state Trooper Michael Cutone as they talked about how they used military counterinsurgency tactics — which rely heavily on building relationships with community members — to combat drugs and gangs. Cutone served a tour of duty on Iraq.

Mayor Domenic Sarno, who also attended Friday's editorial board meeting, said Barbieri has since “been across the country elaborating on (the C3 initiative.)”

Sgt. John M. Delaney, who will continue in his role as departmental spokesman when Barbieri takes the reins from Commissioner William Fitchet, said the incoming commissioner has gone to such places as Chicago, Detroit and Flint, Mich. to meet with law enforcement and discuss the successes of the initiative.

Springfield Police Lt. Edward Geier Sr. speaks during a recent meeting of the C3 policing or Counter Criminal Continuum initiative in the North End. The collaborate between city, state police and North End residents and others uses military counterinsurgency techniques to combat gangs and drugs. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN) 

A key component of it is weekly neighborhood meetings in which participants discuss problems, air grievances, form new networks and brainstorm potential solutions.

During a recent meeting, Springfield Police Lt. Edward H. Geier Sr., who headed up the session in Barbieri’s absence, ran through some of the recent incidents in the North End that police had been dealing with. That included a juvenile male being harassed by schoolmates, a dispute between neighbors, a parking problem involving a neighborhood restaurant, a juvenile female who twice ran away from home.

Jose Claudio, chief operating officer for the New North Citizen’s Council, praised Barbieri at the close of the session and said the North End has come a long way since the inception of the C3 initiative.

“If you were to come here five years ago there were shootings and stabbings just about every day,” said Claudio. “Now, it’s quality of life issues.”

“Progress is definitely being made,” said North End resident Ted Cupac.

The preliminary estimate of damages was $100,000 to the building and $50,000 to materials.

This is an update of a story posted at 12:07 p.m.

WESTFIELD — A fire on the loading dock at a South Broad Street company Monday morning caused an estimated $150,000 damage, but firefighters managed to contain the blaze before it spread to several nearby propane tanks, Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Kane said.

The 9:15 a.m. fire at J.C. Danczak Inc., 66 South Broad St., caused damage to a loading dock, a parked trailer, a doorway, and also some materials inside, Kane said. The heat also tripped eight overhead sprinklers inside the warehouse, he said.

No one was injured.

He estimated the damage to the building at $100,000 and another $50,000 for materials.

Workers were melting wax in two 55-gallon drums that were hooked up to a propane heater. At one point, the melting wax overflowed from one of the drums and melted the plastic hose to the heater, which started fire, Kane said.

The fire spread to some wooden pallets, and then to the trailer and overhead door leading inside the warehouse.

Kane said 10 100-pound propane tanks were just inside the door. Some of them were damaged in the fire and began leaking. Officials were still on scene Monday afternoon removing the tanks bringing them to where they could be rendered harmless, he said.
Westfield fire was aided through mutual aid by Holyoke and West Springfield, which each sent personnel for station coverage.

J.C. Danczak is a leading distributor of quality packaging supplies. As part of its
operation, it also recycles wax for use in candles.

Danczak officials posted on the company blog that they are relieved no one was injured, but it is unclear when the company will be back in operation due to the fire, smoke and water damage.

“At this point we are not sure when we will be back up and running at full capacity. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to each and every one of our loyal customers. Any orders placed over the weekend and up until the time of this announcement/post will not be processed,” the statement reads.

Springfield police and members of the city Arson and Bomb Squad are investigating the theft and arson of the vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call (413) 787-6370.

SPRINGFIELD - A pickup truck that was stolen over the weekend from a Springfield industrial cleanup company was found torched Monday morning in an isolated field behind 459 Main St. in Indian Orchard, a fire official said.

Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said the truck, a 2002 Ford, had apparently been set on fire hours earlier during the night. Because of the remote location, no one spotted it until Monday morning.

By the time firefighters arrived, the fire was mostly out except for the melted rubber tires that were still smoldering, he said. The vehicle is a complete loss.

Leger said it looked like whoever stole the truck had been using it for off-road driving through the field and wooded area before setting it on fire.

The truck was registered to Clean Harbors Environmental Services, 190 Brookdale Drive, Springfield.

Springfield police and members of the city Arson and Bomb Squad are investigating the theft and arson of the vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call (413) 787-6370.

Comedian, Arthur Robinson, 55, was arrested and charged with malicious damage to a motor vehicle.

SPRINGFIELD – How do you spot a comedian with a short temper?

He’s the one who allegedly just threw a large rock through that other guy’s windshield.

Arthur RobinsonSpringfield police photo 

The comedian, Arthur Robinson, 55, of 28 Alden St., Springfield, was arrested and charged with malicious damage to a motor vehicle.

When it comes to the destruction of someone else’s property, Springfield police find it to be no laughing matter.

“That was no joke,” Delaney said.

Police were called to the Boston Road café just before 2 a.m. for a reported fight. When they arrived, they found two men, Robinson and another man who worked that night as the DJ, engaged in a dispute.

Both men were escorted outside, but the dispute continued in front of the police. Moments later, officers heard a loud noise and found what Delaney called “a large boulder” through the DJ’s truck window. Robinson was taken into custody.

The name of the DJ was not released, as he was not arrested.

Delaney said the source of the dispute was the distribution of money from a comedy show that had taken place at the café that night.

Some of America's Olympic athletes say they were asked to keep their cellphones in their pockets last week when they visited the White House and met with President Barack Obama.

A handshake? Sure. A selfie? No way.

Some of America's Olympic athletes say they were asked to keep their cellphones in their pockets last week when they visited the White House and met with President Barack Obama.

The request came after the selfie Boston Red Sox slugger David "Big Papi" Ortiz took with the president during his team's visit to the White House. Many criticized it as a marketing ploy after Samsung, the maker of the phone Ortiz used, used the picture in an advertisement. Ortiz denied taking the picture with the knowledge it would be part of a promotion.

"I was a little bummed," said Nick Goepper, a bronze medalist in slopestyle skiing. "I thought about trying to sneak one, but they were pretty adamant about it. I'm sure if they would've allowed it, there'd be 150 people with selfies with the president right now."

The Olympians were visiting the White House after competing in Sochi, Russia, in February. The president typically invites high-profile sports teams and athletes to Washington to congratulate them on their performances.

The White House confirmed that the athletes were asked not to take their own photos with Obama. The White House said that in the interest of efficiency, it has been practice for years for an official White House photographer to take pictures for large groups instead. It insisted there was no outright prohibition of selfies.

"There's no discussion of a ban," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

It isn't clear if similar instructions were given to the Red Sox when the team visited Washington. The Olympians' visit came right after the Ortiz selfie ricocheted around the Internet.

The White House was not amused. Spokesman Jay Carney said at the time that the White House objects any time the president's image is used for commercial purposes. On an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, White House Senior Advisor Dan Pfeiffer said the White House expressed its concerns to Samsung about the ad.

"Maybe this will be the end of all selfies," he joked.

Turns out, it was -- at least for the Olympians.

Aerials skier Emily Cook said nobody barred general pictures during the general visit to the White House. But when they were in line to meet the president, they were told to keep their phones in their pockets.

"It would have been fun but I wasn't too bummed," Cook said. "He is the president, after all."

The Federal Trade Commission says the website harvested personal information from Facebook to create profiles labeling people a "Jerk" or "not a Jerk".

WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission says the operators of a website called Jerk.com are the ones behaving badly.

 

Jerk allegedly charged consumers $25 to email the company's customer service department. Consumers were then told they could pay $30 to revise the online profile but got nothing in return. The site also made consumers believe the content had been created by other users, not the company.

The FTC estimates that Jerk LLC, the Boston-area based parent company behind the site, and John Fanning, its operator, created profiles for more than 73 million people — including children — between 2009 and 2013.

Attempts to contact Fanning were unsuccessful, and his attorney could not be reached for comment Monday.

The FTC is seeking an order that would bar the company from such deceptive practices, prohibit them from using improperly obtained personal information and require them to delete the information. A hearing is scheduled to begin before an administrative law judge in January of 2015.

Facebook said in a statement that it applauds the FTC's work and will continue to work with the commission as it pursues Jerk.com and others that abuse its service. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based social media company sent a cease and desist letter to the site in 2012 and disabled some of its applications that violate its terms.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister says he's asking his family and constituents for forgiveness

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Freshman U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister says he's asking his family and constituents for forgiveness after a West Monroe, La., newspaper published a video that it says shows the congressman kissing a woman who wasn't his wife.

In a statement issued Monday, the Republican congressman said, "There's no doubt I've fallen short and I'm asking for forgiveness."

The Ouachita Citizen posted a video Monday of what it said was Dec. 23 surveillance video from inside McAllister's congressional office in Monroe, showing McAllister and a member of his staff.

The newspaper says the video is dated Dec. 23, 2014, just a little more than a month after McAllister was elected to Louisiana's 6th Congressional District and was sent to the Citizen by an anonymous source, according to NOLA.com.

"I promise to do everything I can to earn back the trust of everyone I've disappointed," McAllister said.

McAllister has represented Louisiana's 5th District since November. He attracted national attention because of his endorsement from the bearded men of the "Duck Dynasty" reality TV show.

Here's the surveillance video:

Mihos' then-wife Andrea Mihos accused him two years ago of threatening her and pushing her during an argument at their Yarmouth home several months earlier.

BARNSTABLE, Mass. — Former Massachusetts candidate for governor and convenience store magnate Christy Mihos has reached an agreement with prosecutors for pretrial probation in a domestic assault and battery charge.

Christy Mihos has reached an agreement with prosecutors for pretrial probation in a domestic assault and battery charge.The Republican, File 

Under the agreement approved in court Monday, the charge would be dismissed in nine months if Mihos follows conditions including staying away from his ex-wife and getting a mental health evaluation and any prescribed treatment.

The couple divorced last year in a contentious case in which Andrea Mihos' attorney said her husband blew through $25 million on failed bids for governor and hiring prostitutes. Christy Mihos is appealing the divorce judge's financial award to Andrea Mihos.

Here's a November video from WBZ-TV in Boston on the case.

Michelle Mathieson, the mother of Amanda Plasse, has donated money from fund-raisers to help the Boys and Girls Club enhance the arts programs.

CHICOPEE – Pointing to her acrylic painting of a sunflower, Yaritza Peguero explained she didn’t use brush or even her fingers to create it.

No, she used a potato cut in half.

“We used it like a paintbrush,” the 8-year-old said. “Trust me, we got messy.”

Sunflowers were prevalent last week in the many works of art students at the Boys and Girls Club displayed in the Spring Creative Arts Show, which was named in tribute to Amanda Plasse, who was killed in her School Street apartment on Aug. 26, 2011. Dennis Rosa-Roman was arrested five months ago and has been charged with her homicide.

Plasse was a talented artist and, in her memory, her mother, Michelle Mathieson, has been holding a fund-raising event every year and has used some of the proceeds to donate boxes and boxes of paints, paper, jewelry-making items and other art supplies to the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club to enhance the after-school arts programs.

Because Plasse loved sunflowers a number of pieces of art were done with that theme in mind. Paper sunflowers made by students hung from the ceilings and candy sunflowers were handed out to visitors. During a presentation thanking Mathieson, children also read an acrostic poem they wrote using each letter of Amanda’s name as the start of each line of the poem, said Amy Underwood, the project manager for the club.

Along with the donation from Mathieson, the club also received a $1,500 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council through the Chicopee Cultural Council to help support the art program. A $4,500 from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America also funded photography equipment.

The art show, which was organized by Courtney Drzyzga, a youth development counselor, displayed a wide variety of works ranging from origami that a volunteer taught students, simple pencil drawings some of the youngest students did, sculpture and photography by some of the teenage members.

Kaylee Guyotte, 7, had several different type of art work in the event, including the painting of a sunset and a multi-media coloring using felt tip pens and paint that is based on the style of Andy Warhol.

“I like art, especially painting and drawing. Everyone loves painting,” she said.

Many of the work on display was based on art done by famous artists throughout history that students studied and then did their own work based on their style. Along with Warhol, students studied Henri Matisse, Vincent Van Gogh and copied the style of Michelangelo while laying on their backs and painting on paper taped to the underside of tables to get a feeling for what it was like when he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Underwood said.

Those paintings were displayed on the ceiling of the hallway of the club.

The photography club had its own displays in the gymnasium.

“Every week we have a theme and I try to teach them a different technique,” said Marissa Jones, a youth development counselor who runs the photography and diversity clubs.

In one lessons, she had members model different emotions and body language when she wanted to teach children how to use the zoom, she said.

Another display showed students dressing up with different props and staging photographs to fit with the theme “Stay in school because it is cool”.

The state comptroller has finished a review on Westfield State University containing a long list of ways the school meets state standards but highlighting a past problem with the offices of administration and finance.

Interim Westfield State University President Elizabeth Preston looks to restore stability to school.

WESTFIELD — The state comptroller has finished a review on Westfield State University containing a long list of ways the school meets state standards but highlighting a past problem with the offices of administration and finance.

The report was released Monday by a university spokeswoman.

Acting President Elizabeth Preston requested the review of the administration and financial offices following the resignation of President Evan Dobelle in November over a controversy over his spending habits. The matter is under investigation by two state agencies, and Dobelle has filed two suits against the school stating he was forced out and WSU should pay his legal bills.

In a Friday interview, Preston said she had seen a draft of the review. During that interview she announced the naming of Kimberly Tobin as vice president of administration and finance.

She issued the following statement after the release of the report Monday. "While the report identifies areas for improvement, as we expected it would, it also validates many of the steps we have taken proactively to improve understanding and compliance with financial policies and procedures and confirms that we are moving in the right direction."

The review listed the many ways the university is meeting state standards.

In the executive summary highlighted high-level turnover including in the position of vice president of administration and finance, stating:

"There has been significant turnover at the executive levels of the organization and specifically A&F over the last 6 years.

"This turnover has negatively impacted the career managers and employees, their mission and value to the University. ...There have been 6 different VP's of A&F in the last six years.

"Each brought different talents and focus and most lacked strong financial backgrounds ... There were statements of disregard of A&F policies by prior Vice Presidents weakening these policies to users across the University and demoralizing staff trying to maintain them."

Preston said Friday the school is creating two new positions to replace the job of director of budget and internal audits — an associate director for risk management and an associate director for financial accounting. The split was recommended in the audit.

According to a press release from the university, " President Preston and Interim Vice President of Administration & Finance (A&F) Kimberly Tobin have made it clear to faculty and staff that adhering to policies and procedures related to spending and managing resources is critical to the university with administration leading by example. ... the university is implementing a more proactive risk management financial strategy to address and evaluate exposures that can affect the university's ability to achieve its stated educational and business objectives.

"Additionally, the university has improved access and visibility of all university policies on the website to reinforce awareness and create an environment of compliance. Future plans include creating an interactive "Ask Kim" tool on the website, which allows staff and faculty to ask questions pertaining to policy directly to Vice President Tobin.

"As was also recommended in the report, the university is also strengthening its own internal audit capabilities to help identify and address potential issues before they become problems through creation of an internal auditor position. The Board of Trustees is in the process of establishing its own audit committee, and the internal auditor will be reporting directly to the audit committee as soon as that committee is established."

WSU Report Final

The proposed police station would be built adjacent to the senior center on Allen Street.

HAMPDEN - Voters at the April 28 annual Town Meeting will be asked to consider an article on the Town Meeting warrant approving $2.975 million for a new police station.

The approval would be contingent on passage of a debt exclusion question at the May 5 annual town election.

The proposed police station would be built on town-owned land adjacent to the senior center at 104 Allen St.

To keep down the costs, the one-story building would be modular construction and would be pre-built in sections, Richard Green, spokesman for the Police Station Building Committee, said.

The proposed police station would be 6,360 square feet with an 1,100-square-foot carport to keep the snow off police cruisers and would have a secure entrance for prisoners.

In the current 900-square-foot facility which is located within the Hampden Town House, there is no secure entrance for prisoners, Green said. Prisoners must be guided by police officers down some concrete steps, he said.

If there were a struggle between a prisoner and a police officer, a prisoner could escape through the Town Hall or the library, which also is located in the Town House, Green said.

The current police station has no private space to interview victims, no separate dispatch area and no separate male and female lockers, showers or rest rooms, Green said. It has only one prison cell.

The computer equipment and the 911 equipment is located inside the rest room, Green said.

If a new facility is built, the showers could be made available for the public in the event the senior center is turned into an emergency shelter for the community, Green said.

Town officials are proposing that payments be made on the interest only for the first four years until the town pays down some debt on the new Minnechaug Regional High School.

Initial calculations show that in year five, the added cost of a debt exclusion vote would be $125 per year on the average $260,842 home in town, with the payments gradually declining each year for 20 years.

“We are cognizant of the tax ramifications to individual property owners,” Green said. He said residents, in spite of financial challenges, in the past have approved needed capital building projects in the community.

United Airlines has had to make do with lemons on some flights, saying the California drought has limited its lime supply.

NEW YORK -- Airline passengers might notice something missing these days from their vodka tonics or Diet Cokes: the lime.

A recent shortage and spike in price has caused some airlines -- for now -- to stop offering the fruit in their beverage service.

"We temporarily pulled limes about two weeks ago, due to skyrocketing lime prices," says Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Halley Knigge. She says the airline normally goes through about 900 limes a day.

Lime growers in the Mexican state of Michoacan have reduced their supply because of unrest caused by drug cartels and flooding from heavy rains. That, combined with drought in California and an overall growing demand for limes for margaritas, tacos and other dishes, has driven up prices to a three-year high.

The average advertised price of a lime in U.S. supermarkets was 56 cents last week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That's up from 37 cents the week ending March 28 and 31 cents a year ago.

United Airlines has had to make do with lemons on some flights, saying the California drought has limited its lime supply.

"We still serve limes, though they're more difficult to source. So, on some flights we're substituting with lemons," says spokesman Rahsaan Johnson.

For frequent fliers like Ben Schlappig, author of the travel blog One Mile at a Time, that won't cut it. "There are lots of cocktails where lemon simply isn't a substitute for lime," he says.

One of United's largest caters told the airline that it has 15 to 20 percent of the typical lime inventory. The airline expects to have a normal supply of limes by late May.

Not all airlines are changing their drink service.

Delta Air Lines and American Airlines both say they haven't made any changes at this point. JetBlue has never provided fresh fruit with its drinks, offering crystallized citrus additives True Lemon and True Lime instead.

"Ultimately it's just a minor annoyance," Schlappig says. "But as someone that's addicted to Diet Coke with lime, it does make my beverage selection a little tougher."

Springfield Police Department Deputy Chief John Barbieri, who will become police commissioner on June 1, outlined his five priority objectives on Monday night in a public presentation at Van Sickle Middle School.

Updates a story posted Monday at 4:19 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Police Department Deputy Chief John Barbieri, who will become police commissioner on June 1, outlined his five priority objectives on Monday night in a public presentation at Van Sickle Middle School.

Barbieri gave a PowerPoint presentation of his goals, which he summarized under his overall Project Goals:

Re-engineer police services to positively impact crime, quality of life and fear of crime issues. Improve quality of service and stakeholder satisfaction.

His five priority objectives are:

• Initiate a movement towards a proactive patrol centered department ideology
• Delivery of improved response times
• Create increased levels of service through clearer lines of delegation of authority and responsibility for line supervisors
• Building relationships with stake-holders for collaborative problem solving; enhanced communications and unified effort
• Development and implementation of measurement and feedback processes to modify and enhance operations as required regarding calls for service

Details of Barbieri's objectives and goals are outlined in his PowerPoint below, as provided by the office of Mayor Domenic Sarno:

Barbieri Presentation Slides

Public access TV, Focus Springfield, will broadcast the presentation on Springfield Comcast channel 17. It also will be available via the city's website.

The days of Boston's Public Health Commission operating is own methadone clinic are numbered as city officials are in the process of searching for a private entity that they can transfer its operations to.

BOSTON — The days of Boston's Public Health Commission operating its own methadone clinic are numbered.

The city, in the middle of reevaluating how it provides services to residents struggling with addiction, is trying to free itself of the Frontage Road clinic's $2.4 million budget so it can open a new Office of Recovery Services that officials say will do a better job of assisting the residents in need.

Boston public health officials are hopeful that they can transfer ownership and operation of the city's only city run methadone clinic to a private provider rather than close it down.

"We're not in the business of providing methadone and I don't think we should be in the business of providing methadone," said Walsh on Monday at City Hall.

Walsh said the city is better equipped to help people find and get access to treatment than actually provide the treatment.

Still, Health Commission Press Secretary Nick Martin said that the city would not close the clinic if they could not find a private operator.

"The intention is to redirect resources to areas of need where the city is better able to provide services, like the Office of Recovery Services," said Martin.

The commission will vote on the future of the clinic at an April 17 meeting. Officials speaking on background said that there will be no disruptions in treatment during the transition from public to private.

The Boston Globe reported on Monday that Bay Cove Human Services is one of the contenders to take over the clinic.

There are six methadone clinics in the city: one run by the the city, one run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and four run by private entities. The city run methadone clinic was the Boston's first when it opened 40 years ago.

The Office of Recovery Services that Walsh wants to open will act in many ways as a referral service for those needing a bed in a clinic or access to treatment. In a statement Walsh released as candidate Walsh emphasized the referral aspect. "My Office of Recovery Services will focus on navigating the system for addicts, enabling their use of the services critical to recovery," said Walsh.

In March, the Westfield State University Board of Trustes authorized interim President Elizabeth Preston to pay up to $1.5 million in Evan Dobelle-related legal expenses with funds from reserve accounts.

WESTFIELD — Westfield State University trustees will meet Thursday to discuss searching for a successor to ex-president Evan Dobelle.

Five months after Dobelle resigned amid state investigations into his travel expenses, the 11-member board of trustees is preparing to launch a search to fill the post currently held on interim basis by Elizabeth Preston, the school’s dean of academic affairs.

An obstacle to finding Dobelle’s replacement emerged in February when Higher Education Commissioner Richard M. Freeland said several vacancies on the board should be filled before the search begins.

The terms of two board members have already expired, and two others members, including board chairman John F. Flynn III, are expected to step down in June.

Meeting with The Republican editorial board last week, Preston the search will likely take a year and begin in the summer.

Also on Thursday, the board will hear an update on its Dobelle-related legal fees, which have ballooned to about $1.2 million since September.

After two state agencies opened investigations into spending by Dobelle and other officials, the school hired the Boston law firm of Fish & Richardson to respond to dozens of subpoenas issued by investigators.

In March, the board authorized Preston to pay up to $1.5 million in legal expenses with funds from reserve accounts.

The figure does not include Dobelle’s legal fees, including two lawsuits he filed against the school.

His lawyer, Ross Garber, insists the school is responsible for any of his client’s Westfield State-related legal fees, an assertion the school rejects.

WSU Board of Trustees Agenda April 10, 2014

The developer's price for the Bay Street properties of up to $1 million will be minus environmental cleanup costs.

SPRINGFIELD – A local company has offered to pay up to $1 million – subject to multiple conditions – to purchase four tax-title properties on the Bay Street corridor for a proposed automobile recycling-used auto parts retail center.

LivingStone, LLC submitted the sole proposal for the four sites, sold as a package and totaling approximately 14 acres. The sites include the former Cohen Bros. Metals Recycling facility at 846 Bay St. and the former Roy’s Towing Used Auto Parts at 876 Bay St.

Local developer and lawyer Raipher D. Pellegrino, a former Springfield city councilor, is listed as the principal of LivingStone LLC.

LivingStone stated in its proposal that it is evident that environmental conditions on the properties “will require extensive remediation” due to past uses as a scrap and junk yard. There will also be a need for a new fencing and drainage.

“Despite these major concerns, the bidder is willing to pay the city up to $1,000,000 less any and all environmental and related remediation costs to bring the property in compliance with the Department of Environmental Protection and for the final closure on the property,” LivingStone stated within its proposal.

The proposal has been submitted for consideration by a review committee, and the sale will need approval from the mayor and City Council. The properties were being offered for sale "as is," and the city is not obligated to accept any bid, under the guidelines.

LivingStone states it will develop the property for use by PICK-n-PULL, the brand name for Auto Parts Group Southwest LLC, a division of Schnitzer Steel Industries.
LivingStone in conjunction with PICK-n-PULL, plans to invest $3 million-plus for the development of the project. In addition, the project will generate 25 to 30 jobs, the company said.

Another condition of the sale is that LivingStone is seeking a “150-day non-binding due diligence period to conduct environmental testing and to better develop the extent of environmental contamination, a scope of work and the costs: related to the environmental cleanup," LivingStone said.

On or before that testing is done, LivingStone would confirm if it will, or will not move forward, LivingStone said.

As another condition, LivingStone is seeking to have the city help it obtain “brownfield” funds or other state or federal funds if the environmental cleanup exceeds $1 million.

LivingStone is also asking the city to “actively cooperate” with the developer to recommend a 10-year tax incentive agreement, known as tax-increment financing, for the properties. Such an agreement needs local and state approval.

The parking area in question was the deck behind City Hall on the lot above the old police station.

HOLYOKE -- It benefits taxpayers to have the city reserve parking spaces for certain municipal employees because otherwise paid-time gets wasted trying to find a vehicle spot, city councilors said Tuesday.

"To me, it's really about the productivity that we lose," Ordinance Committee Chairwoman Rebecca Lisi said.

The committee asked General Superintendent William D. Fuqua of the Department of Public Works to poll department heads to determine how many employees have jobs that require frequent comings and goings from City Hall.

The Ordinance Committee tabled the order that was under discussion and will discuss the polling results April 29, Lisi said.

The parking spaces officials were discussing were the 50 to 60 on the open-air deck outside the back entrance to City Hall on top of the old police station.

The order filed by Lisi asked:

"City Council review all of the parking spaces on the deck behind city hall and create ordinances that assign at least five, 15-minute spaces to visitors and reserve additional spaces for all of the city hall employees who merit a space based on the frequency with which they travel to and from their offices."

The deck in back of City Hall, accessible by Dwight Street, has four or five, 15-minute spaces reserved for people who visit a city office such as the city clerk. Another four spaces are for handicapped people, Fuqua said.

The discussion was prompted by an order the council considered to reserve a parking space for City Solicitor Heather G. Egan. Lisi said that made sense, especially if Egan had to get to a court appearance, and got her thinking whether other employees merited reserved parking spaces.

"We can't afford to have her spend 15 minutes looking for a parking spot," Lisi said.

Ward 5 Councilor Linda L. Vacon said that she appreciated Lisi's thinking but that her belief was councilors' priority should be making City Hall convenient for the public to visit.

"I think of City Hall as the people's building," Vacon said.

City employees currently park for free, Fuqua said.

"It's been a long-standing (part) in collective bargaining," he said.

It could be a challenge for department heads to designate which employees' jobs merit reserved parking spots and which don't, he said.

"That's a good one," Fuqua said.