"It's still undetermined at this point," Wilbraham Fire Capt. Thomas Shaw said, referring to the cause of the Saturday afternoon blaze.

 

"It's still undetermined at this point," Wilbraham Fire Department Capt. Thomas Shaw said Sunday afternoon.

Shaw said there were no injuries in the blaze, which was reported just after 4 p.m. Saturday. Officials said the fire started outside the home, burning along its base and extending to its siding.

The one-story home at 11 Butler Road was fully involved when fire crews arrived at the scene. The 1,450-square-foot house was built in 1953 and was listed for sale at the time of the fire.

Butler Road is off Lebel Avenue, just north of Boston Road, between Maynard and Three Rivers roads.

Police believe Sizemore was crushed to death by a minivan that fell on him after a jack gave way. Sizemore was trespassing and appears to have been illegally scavenging car parts, police said.

 

WORCESTER — Police have identified the man who was crushed to death during a city junkyard mishap as 42-year-old Paul Sizemore of Barre, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.

Sizemore's body was found around 9:34 a.m. Friday at Sam's Pull-A-Part at 210 Granite St. An employee of the used auto parts business told authorities a body was found under a vehicle in the rear storage yard.

Sizemore was apparently scavenging for car parts after the business had closed for the day, according to police, who continue to investigate. His body was found under a minivan that collapsed after the jack he was using gave way, police said.

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

The junkyard is run by Linder's automotive. Christopher DiMarzio, Linder's parts manager, told the Telegram & Gazette that the business has been dealing with ongoing thefts of catalytic converters and other auto parts.

The annual tennis tournament was held at Forest Park.

SPRINGFIELD — For 30 years Sheldon M. Rosenthal shared his love of tennis with children in the Greater Springfield area.

"He played tennis most of his life at Forest Park and Twin Hills and he played in different cities around the country," said his son Lawrence Rosenthal during the awards presentation at the 2014 Sheldon M. Rosenthal Memorial Junior Tennis Tournament, sponsored by MassLive.

Rosenthal's widow Marilyn Rosenthal, his daughter Amy Leon and his granddaughters Katie and Megan Leon attended the event as well.

Rosenthal died in 2000 and the tournament was renamed in his honor in 2001.

"I know my dad is probably looking down smiling knowing that this tournament is still going on," he said.

The tournament is now run by Allen Dunbar and Tom Emery.

"We were good friends. He spent an awful lot of time making sure children had access to tennis," Dunbar said. "This is a free tournament, we usually get about 100 kids participating from all over Western Massachusetts."

The results are as follows:

Boys 12-and-under singles
Matthew Wraga, Springfield

Boys 14-and-under-singles
Daniel Draymore, Longmeadow

Boys 18-and-under -singles
Brian Kavanagh, Wilbraham

Girls 14-and-under-singles
Haley Gurski, Wilbraham

Girls 16-and-under singles
Katie Meon, South Hadley

Girls 18-and-under-singles
Lauren Blanchard, Agawam

Boys 14-and-under doubles
Matthew Adler, Longmeadow and Ben Rush

Boys 18-and-under doubles
Brian and Matt Gurski, Wilbraham

Girls 18-and-under doubles
Emma Armfield, Agawam and Lauren Blanchard, Agawam;

Mixed 14-and-under doubles
Matthew Adler, Longmeadow and James Foster

Mixed 18-and-under doubles
Matt and Haley Gurski, Wilbraham

The Alfred G. Zanetti School on Howard Street was heavily damaged during the 2011 tornado.

SPRINGFIELD — Since the 1950s residents of the South End have played stick ball behind Alfred G. Zanetti School on Howard Street. On Sunday a small group of men ranging from ages 30 to 80 played a final game in the parking lot.

"This area will all be redone once the casino comes in, so we won't be able to play here anymore," said Rico C. Daniele, owner of Mom & Rico Daniele's Specialty Market, 899 Main St.

Daniele has tried to maintain the tradition alive even after the neighborhood began to change and players got older and moved away. He calls friends from as far away as Florida for the annual game.

"It brings back a lot of great memories for us," he said.

Mike DiStefano, of West Springfield, has been playing on and off for nearly 40 years.

"There are some mixed feelings because when the casino comes it will bring new things, but all of this will change, " he said pointing to the historical elementary school.

The group played the game among the broken bricks and glass from the 2011 tornado which heavily damaged the school.

"This was a great school and this is still a great neighborhood," Daniele said.

Daniele's cousin Gerald Daniele, who is now 78-years-old, grew up in the South End and pitched the final game.

The players took group photos and joked and screamed at each other throughout the game.

"I won't ever forget the good times we had here," Rico Daniele said.

Motorists heading north are advised to leave the highway at Exit 1.

SPRINGFIELD – A one-car accident on Interstate 91 north has backed up traffic through Longmeadow.

The accident happened shortly before 5 p.m. near Exit 3 under the South End Bridge. Police are still responding, but at least one motorist has been injured, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Brian Gladu said.

Traffic, which is always heavy on a Sunday afternoon, has been reduced to one lane and is backed up past Exit 2.

Gladu is recommending motorists try to get off the highway on Exit 1 or earlier in Enfield, Conn. and find alternate routes to bypass the accident.

It is unclear when more lanes will be open.

Some last-minute controversy arose from those who felt the eating contest sent the wrong message. Watch video

AMHERST — The 23rd annual Taste of Amherst has wrapped up a four-day celebration of food, music, and community on the town common with its first-ever eating contest.

The "Chow Down Challenge" was won by David Huante, a rising junior at Amherst College, who finished eating his pizza, felafel ball, ice cream, donut, and strawberries only seconds before four other finalists Sunday afternoon.  

Huante said he'd never been in an eating contest before, and attributed his success to the encouragement of friends cheering from the sidelines. Huante won a restaurant gift certificate for his efforts.

The Challenge was hosted by Tony Maroulis, Director of Community Relations at UMass-Amherst and former director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.

Maroulis said there had been some last-minute controversy from those who felt the eating contest sent the wrong message.

"In a country where obesity and diabetes are high, there was concern we were promoting bad behaviors. We took that into account and we kept it a very short contest — people really did not have to gorge themselves," said Maroulis.

Maroulis said he was having fun simply working as a volunteer at the Taste this year, now that the Amherst Area Chamber is under new leadership. Don Courtemanche was named director of the 500-member business organization in April, three months after Maroulis accepted his new post at UMass.

Courtemanche, greeting guests and answering questions at the Chamber's information booth, said he was having a good time and was grateful for four days of sunny weather that attracted thousands of visitors.

The Chamber has organized the Taste for the past two decades. The event was presented by Atkins Farm Country Market. For the tenth year, Northampton radio station WRSI 93.9 The River hosted the sound stage, which featured local bands Thursday through Sunday.

Amherst police said there were no arrests and no disturbances.

More than 20 restaurants participated, offering a variety of portable food selections, each priced under five dollars.

Kaitlin Goldstein, 28, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, was found dead Saturday in a remote region of northern India known as Ladakh.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who went missing more than a week ago in northern India has been found dead in a ravine after she reportedly slipped while jogging and fell several hundred feet off a cliff, MIT officials said Sunday.

Kaitlin R. Goldstein.MIT Energy Initiative 

Goldstein, a competitive runner, was working on a doctorate in architecture at MIT in Cambridge. She arrived in India on June 7 to take part in a workshop on energy and development on the campus of the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh near the city of Leh.

The workshop was organized by the MIT-affiliated Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi. She had been scheduled to stay after the workshop and help install solar panels at a nearby Buddhist monastery, MIT officials said.

MIT President L. Rafael Reif sent an email to the members of the MIT community on Sunday notifying them that Goldstein had died and that counseling services were available on campus.

"She was passionately interested in energy solutions for the developing world, a subject she was exploring in a remote region of northern India at the time of her death," Reif wrote. "The death of someone so young and promising is a terrible loss; we should all take time to reach out to those around us."

Goldstein was last seen on June 14 heading out for an early morning run up a mountain trail. When she didn't return, students and instructors at the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh went looking for her.

The search grew to include local police, the Intelligence Bureau of India, the American embassy in New Dehli, the U.S. State Department and the FBI. MIT also hired a private security firm based in Mumbai, MIT officials said.

Goldstein's parents, Drs. Jack Goldstein and Jean Plover, went to India to search for their daughter.

Before her body was found, Goldstein's brother, Adam Goldstein, told WPRI-TV in Providence that he was worried she may have been kidnapped, and was concerned because of highly publicized gang rapes in India.

Adam Goldstein said his sister was "really passionate about helping poorer places out."

John Lanzillotti and Jessica Campbell, 27, died after being struck by a car that crashed into another vehicle

BOSTON -- A 28-year-old man who produced the video and scoreboard entertainment at Fenway Park was killed along with his girlfriend when they were struck by a car in the Back Bay.

John Lanzillotti and Jessica Campbell, 27, died after being struck by a car that crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Beacon and Fairfield streets and rolled over into them Saturday night. Both victims lived in Brookline.

Two people in one of the cars were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Lanzillotti worked for the Red Sox for seven years and was manager of productions and game operations.

The cause of the accident is under investigation and police are urging witnesses to come forward with information. No arrests have been announced.

Concertgoers shared wine and wood-fired pizza as shadows grew long on summer solstice day.

SOUTHAMPTON — More than 500 people set up lawn chairs at the Black Birch Vineyard Saturday for an evening of wine, food, and music by the Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra.

The vineyard at 155 Glendale Road is located on an 80-acre former dairy farm with a majestic view of the red cliffs of Mt. Tom to the west. Owners Mary Hamel, Ed Hamel, Ian Modestow, and Michelle Kersbergen cultivate a dozen varieties of grapes on five planted acres. The vineyard opened to the public in 2012.

The Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra, or HVGO, is the brainchild of music director Peter Blanchette. Twenty guitarists and percussionist Billy Klock perform an eclectic repertoire ranging from compositions by Philip Glass and Bela Bartok to arrangements of Led Zeppelin and Lady Gaga.

While Blanchette conducted his avant-garde orchestra, concertgoers shared bottles of wine and slabs of wood-fired pizza as shadows grew long on summer solstice day.

Blanchette is perhaps best known as inventor of the 11-string archguitar. His discography includes Baroque and Renaissance works, Italian film music, and music of the British Isles. The award-winning artist has played all over the world, and makes Northampton his home.

Money was raised at the event for the non-profit Safe Passage through a premium seating program.  Groups wishing to reserve one of eight picnic tables at the vineyard paid an extra $25, sending $200 to Hampshire County's anti-domestic violence organization.

"We raise money for a different non-profit at every show," said owner Mary Hamel.

On Friday, July 11, the Lonesome Brothers will appear at the vineyard. A full lineup of shows are planned through September, most on Friday evenings from 6-8 p.m.

The Warren County program is getting some $800,000 in state funding help for Vivitrol.

LEBANON, Ohio -- The twice-arrested heroin user listened nervously as the judge reviewed her record, then offered a deal he thinks could save her life.

"You're not a criminal, you're an addict," Judge Robert Peeler told Cynthia Fugate. "Something is driving you to use heroin that is beyond your control. Is that fair to say?"

"Yes, sir," she replied quietly.

Peeler, a common pleas court judge in southwest Ohio's Warren County, is among a growing number of judges and corrections officials across the country trying to combat the fast-growing national heroin problem by fighting heroin needles with treatment needles. Peeler told Fugate he could order monthly injections of the opiate-blocking drug Vivitrol if she were willing.

"I'm 30 years old. I've overdosed four times," Fugate said, her voice quavering. "I want to be clean. I really do."

The shots, the judge said, could keep Fugate from "winding up in a body bag."

Peeler began researching the drug treatment shots last year after a young woman died of a heroin overdose, at least the third heroin user who had stood before him in his courtroom who later died. Nationally, overdose deaths have risen 45 percent from 2006 to 2010. In Ohio, 680 people died of heroin overdoses in 2012, up 60 percent from the previous year.

Vivitrol has its skeptics, with some questioning whether it's effective enough to warrant the time and expense -- shots can cost about $1,000 each -- and suggesting it's a trendy, under-researched attempt at a quick fix. Sheriff Richard Jones in neighboring Butler County has called Vivitrol in jails "a waste of money," citing an earlier pilot program in Warren County in which only three of 12 subjects completed the program and stayed off drugs.

Peeler is among those who say the high toll of heroin-related deaths, crime and prison recidivism make it worth trying.

"To sit back and keep doing what we've been doing just isn't going to get it," Peeler said. "I want to stop people from dying."

The Warren County program is getting some $800,000 in state funding help for Vivitrol, and programs are also underway in dozens of other courts, jails and prisons in at least 21 states, from Cape Cod in Massachusetts to Lane County in Oregon. The programs are usually funded with grants, getting some help from drugmaker donations and discounts, and insurance usually will cover some shots.

Vivitrol, made by Alkermes PLC of Ireland, had been used for alcoholism. But after a Russian study showed it could be effective for users of heroin, morphine and other opiate drugs with once-monthly injections, it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late 2010.

Vivitrol uses naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist, to block heroin's effects on the brain. Unlike the widely used methadone treatment, it doesn't require clinic visits and daily doses and is unlikely to lead to trading one dependency for another, as can happen with other treatments, advocates say. Effective for a month, it eases the daily temptation of people struggling to stay off heroin.

Because Vivitrol is long lasting, it has special importance for former heroin users leaving incarceration, said Mady Chalk, a former federal official on substance abuse who is now with Philadelphia's Treatment Research Institute.

"Patients return to their community having been detoxed, their systems have been emptied of the drugs; they return to environments that trigger all the things that one would expect," Chalk said. Many are unable to resist the urge to reuse heroin and don't realize they can't tolerate as strong a dose as before.

"The body simply can't handle it, and they die," Chalk said.

Giving users an injection before they leave custody provides a month's buffer to begin post-release counseling and to focus on rebuilding their lives.

Dr. Mark Willenbring, a former National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism official who founded Alltyr addiction treatment center in St. Paul, Minnesota, thinks there is too little evidence of success to consider Vivitrol a panacea. "It's not a wonder drug," Willenbring recently told the Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly.

Peeler doesn't order shots for anyone who doesn't want them. In his courtroom the same day as Fugate, a male drug defendant declined, saying he believed the shots were dangerous -- there are potential risks including liver damage and suicidal depression -- and he didn't want to go through the therapy and probation requirements of the sentencing deal that potentially allows drug defendants to avoid a conviction on their record.

But Sherry Moore believes the shots saved her.

Not long after completing a nine-month sentence for heroin possession, she began using again. She told her probation officer she didn't know what to do, that she had already been through treatments.

"I'm like, 'I'm a mess,'" she recounted. "None of it worked for me."

The officer asked if she wanted to try Vivitrol. After a year of monthly injections, she said she's been drug-free since late 2012.

She and other Vivitrol advocates emphasize that counseling and a strong will to overcome addiction are needed, too. Moore, 53, also credits her return to church.

"I think God helped me with it," she said. "I think I would have died."

Many said they had a difficult time deciding which team to support.

LUDLOW – A cheer erupted from the crowd filling the Gremio Lusitano Club when Portugal came back to tie the World Cup soccer match against the United States shortly before the end of the game.

Although Sunday’s World Cup game was not between the two best-known teams, in the town well known for its Portuguese heritage it was one the most exciting game of the international competition.

“It only happens every four years. It is soccer and we don’t get that too much over here,” said Celso Correia, president of the Lusitano Club. “I think it makes it more special because it is every four years.”

Despite the proliferation of red and green shirts saying “Portugal,” many members who came to watch the game Sunday said they were conflicted between cheering on the country of their heritage or the country where they live now.

“I have mixed feelings,” said Correia who moved to the United States when he was 13. Even as president of the club, Correia said he has been rooting for his adopted country.

Yet he was in the minority Sunday. Mike Dias and his friend Nico Fraga, who were both born in the United States, said they were rooting for Portugal.

“It is our family and we are at the Portuguese club,” Fraga said.

Following the action packed game that ended in a 2-2 tie, Paulo Dias, of Ludlow stepped outside the bar where everyone was glued to the television for the game.

“It was a tough game,” Dias said, adding he felt his home country of Portugal was not aggressive enough against the United States.

Born in Portugal, Dias said he will continue to support the team from his native country, since the tie allowed both teams to move to the next round of play.

“If Portugal doesn’t make it we root for the U.S.,” Dias said.

Joe Bouchie, of Ludlow, said he was Portuguese “by infusion” through his ex-wife and by virtue of living in the town for so long, playing soccer and then coaching the game for 20 years.

Sunday he coached his final game of the season for the Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer league. After the game, all the kids could talk about was the World Cup, the games they have seen and the upcoming match between Portugal and the United States.

“The World Cup is the best thing in the world for every kid in Ludlow. The World Cup is better than sliced bread,” he said.

About 90 percent of the children he was coaching were staying loyal to their family roots and were cheering on Portugal, he said.

The driver was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries

SPRINGFIELD – A one-car accident on Interstate-91 sent the driver to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The accident happened at about 5 p.m. when the driver lost control of his car and hit several guard rails. He was alone in the vehicle. The car was badly damaged in the accident, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Brian Gladu said.

The accident, which happened near Exit 3 under the South End Bridge, forced police to close all but one lane on Interstate 91 northbound, backing up traffic through Longmeadow.

The accident has now been cleared and traffic was flowing smoothly as of 6:40 p.m., Gladu said.

Tonight's feature is Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window," which was released in 1954 and stars James Stewart and Grace Kelly.

LONGMEADOW — The Storrs Public Library in Longmeadow will allow local residents to escape the summer heat and relax in front of some well-loved films in the weeks to come, as it begins its "Classic Summer Movies" series this evening, Monday, June 23rd, at 7.

Tonight's feature is Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, which was released in 1954 and stars James Stewart and Grace Kelly.

Over the summer months, the library will present 9 films on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Local residents are welcome to come enjoy the movies, the air conditioning, and a spot of popcorn for free.

• Monday, June 23rd, 7 p.m. - Rear Window (unrated)
• Monday, June 30th, 7 p.m. - Jaws (PG-13)
• Monday, July 14th, 7 p.m. - Do The Right Thing (R)
• Tuesday, July 22nd, 7 p.m. - Dog Day Afternoon (R)
• Monday, July 28th, 7 p.m. - West Side Story (unrated)
• Tuesday, August 5th, 7 p.m. - A Walk on the Moon (R)
• Tuesday, August 12th, 7 p.m. - Network (R)
• Tuesday, August 19th, 7 p.m. - Picnic (PG)
• Tuesday, August 26th, 7 p.m. - American Graffiti (PG)

Only people of appropriate age, as per the films' ratings, will be admitted.

Greater Springfield will host the 2014 Northeast Shrine Association convention in August, which is expected to draw about 2,000 to Western Massachusetts.

SPRINGFIELD — Greater Springfield will host the 2014 Northeast Shrine Association convention in August, which is expected to draw about 2,000 to Western Massachusetts.

It's the first time the region has hosted the event since 1983. The dates are Aug. 21 through Aug. 24, according to a press release from the organization.

The Northeast Shrine Association was established in 1936 and is composed of 15 centers throughout New England and eastern Canada, including the Melha Shrine in Springfield, according to the release. The convention encompasses a multitude of events including a parade, dinners and brunch, banquet, and a field day at Six Flags New England in Agawam on Aug. 23.

“This convention will bring tremendous attention to Greater Springfield as well as create a great deal of business for local hotels, restaurants and other venues throughout the area,” said Bill Faust, potentate of the Melha Shrine Center and the 2014 president of the Northeast Shrine Association. “We hope that the public will join us for the unit competition and our Northeast Shriners Parade.”

A competition involving the motorized units from several Shrine centers will start Aug. 23 at 8 a.m. on Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield. Following the competition, a parade will take place beginning at 2 p.m. on Route 147 in Agawam – from Agawam Junior High School to Agawam High School.

There were 45 passengers on the train. Those not injured were loaded on a bus and driven to Springfield.

The Amtrak shuttle to New Haven idles at Springfield Union Station in December 2013. Garrett Quinn, MassLive 

BERLIN, Conn. – Five people were injured Monday morning when an Amtrak train bound for Springfield crashed into a truck towing a wood chipper that was across the tracks, according to reports from the scene.

The accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. at private crossing in Berlin, Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz told the Associated Press.

Four of the injured were passengers on the train. The driver of the truck was also injured.

Their conditions were not known Monday afternoon.

There were 45 passengers on the train, which departed from New Haven.

After the accident, the passengers were loaded onto a bus and driven to Springfield.
It was the second serious incident in less than 24 hours involving an Amtrak train striking a vehicle.

Three people were killed late Sunday when an Amtrak train struck a car at a crossing in Mansfield, Mass.

Berlin is about 45 miles south of Springfield.

WFSB Channel 3 in Hartford is reporting the train was travelling at 70 mph just before the accident.

It reports the truck, registered to a company called Trees Incorporated, was involved in tree clearing around the tracks. A worker tried to move the truck as they saw the train approaching but was unable to move it in time to avoid the crash.

The impact caused the locomotive to train to derail, Berlin Fire Chief Jim Simons told WFSB.

The friction caused when the chipper got stuck under the train also caused front end of the train to catch on fire.

According to WTNH, News 8 in New Haven, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy at an
afternoon press conference singled out the train conductor for minimizing the number of injured by his actions.

The governor said the engineer applied the brakes but knew he would not be able to stop in time. He then ran into the train to the train an told passengers in the first car to move back.

“The engineer saw what was going to happen, apparently raced through the two cars, inform people to be ready and moved everyone to the second car,” Malloy said.

Passenger Michael Mohammadi was apparently the first to break the news of the accident. Moments after the accident, he posted a photo of the smoking train on his twitter page with a note reading “So my train just crashed just north of Meriden CT. Most people ok, few minor injuries train on fire.”

Two organizations have estimated that they will resettle a total of 70 refugees in Springfield in the coming year.

SPRINGFIELD – An organization that resettles refugees in Western Massachusetts said Monday the program should not serve as “a scapegoat” for city problems, as Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has renewed a request for a moratorium on new refugees in Springfield.

Jodie Justofin, a spokeswoman for Lutheran Social Services, said Monday that Sarno’s concerns about the resettlement of refugees in Springfield, including his claim that it poses a hardship on city services, was already addressed in a letter from the agency’s president Angela Bovill, in August.

“As you’ll note, Angela put this political issue in the context of the many challenges facing Springfield,” Justofin said. “In a city of 150,000 residents, the relatively small number of refugees (about 1 percent of the population) residing in Springfield should not be made a scapegoat for the city’s problems. Many of these refugees are contributing members of society, working, paying taxes and enriching the community.”

A second refugee resettlement agency, Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, said in a prepared release on Monday that it will continue to work with the city.

“The Springfield area community has always been welcoming,” said Robert Marmor, president and chief executive officer of Jewish Family Service. “JFS is committee to our ongoing work with officials, refugees and the community to support a safe, welcoming environment for all legal immigrants including refugees.”

The comments from both organizations follow a letter last week from Sarno to U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, in which he asked Neal for assistance in encouraging the area agencies to have a moratorium on new refugees in Springfield. That moratorium should last “until the city is able to adequately address the impact of further refugee replacement, and, in the interest of fairness to all involved, until other communities accept some percentage of the displaced refugees,” Sarno said in the letter to Neal.

Neal said Monday that Sarno "has raised a number of issues surrounding the refugee replacement program in Western Massachusetts that need to be addressed."

"And one of the most important is the issue of adequate housing," Neal said "The City of Springfield simply cannot continue to have refugee families living in substandard or condemned housing. The refugee resettlement issue in the region clearly needs to be resolved, and I am hopeful that local stakeholders can work together to find common ground.”

Sarno, who also publicly called for a moratorium last year, raised the issue again after learning that possibly 70 more refugees will be resettled in Springfield in the coming year. Jewish Family Service and Lutheran Social Services estimated they would resettle 35 refugees each, including adults and children, after being asked for numbers by city officials

Sarno has stated that the influx of refugees stains city services including the school system and code enforcement department, and said there has been insufficient aid from the federally funded organizations to the refugees and the city.

Bovill, in the letter last August, stated that her agency wanted to build a stronger working relationship with the city.

At that time, Bovill said in part: “I trust you don’t mean to imply that in a city with a population of more than 150,000, Springfield’s longstanding struggle with a weak economy, high unemployment, crime, proverty, inadequate housing, and low high school graduation rates are a direct result of the 250-300 refugees resettling to the City annually,”

Sarno, in comments last week, said the city did have meetings in the past year with representatives of the organizations, but was not able to get answers and information it needed about the refugee program, and how the organizations would be held accountable.

Sarno said last week he was not being “cold-hearted” about the matter and wants to help.

“You just can’t continue concentrating poverty on top of poverty,” Sarno said.

The money-saving deal for the Northampton Housing Authority with SunEdison is expected to save $1.3 million over 20 years.

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Housing Authority is going solar, although there won't be any photovoltaic panels on its buildings, and the authority itself won't own a solar farm.

The NHA will instead purchase 1.6 megawatts of net-metering credits from a 6-megawatt SunEdison solar facility in Monson over the next 20 years. The credits will translate to reduced electricity bills from National Grid, NHA director Jon Hite said at a Monday press conference.

Net metering allows customers to receive credits to their electric bill for generating solar power. Under the contract, SunEdison will sell electricity from the solar farm to the grid, and the housing authority will purchase the credits at a locked-in rate. Purchasing the solar credits will save the housing authority an estimated $1.3 million over 20 years, said Hite.

The money-saving deal was brokered by the non-profit PowerOptions, a Boston-based energy-buying consortium that serves Massachusetts non-profits and government entities.

"What we do is we streamline the process for the customer so they don't have to hire consultants and lawyers," said PowerOptions CEO Cynthia Arcate. "By leveraging our consortium at the negotiating table, we've been able to get the best terms and pricing for our members."

Arcate said electricity from the Monson facility will go into the grid, and its value will be credited to the housing authority. She said the agreement with SunEdison will serve as a hedge against future electricity costs because the market value of the credits rises with the price of electricity.

Last year the housing authority's electricity costs neared $343,000. The solar power credits will represent about 85 percent of the authority's electricity usage.

Under the deal, 25 percent of the savings will go to the Northampton Housing Authority, and 75 percent to the state.

Hite said that's because the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development pays the housing authority's utility bills above and beyond what's covered by rent revenue. In fact, the idea for working with PowerOptions came from DHCD, said Hite.

"By reducing our electricity costs, that saves the state money in its payments to the Housing Authority," said Hite.

Hite said by signing on to the solar program, the authority is "doing the right thing for the environment as well as buying electricity from people who don't hate us."

When asked what rate the Housing Authority will now pay for its electricity, Arcate said that was "proprietary information."

The Northampton Housing Authority maintains 614 units of public housing at the McDonald House, Forsander and Cahill Apartments, Tobin Manor, Salvo House, and Hampshire and Florence Heights.

Tenants at Hampshire and Florence heights pay their own electricity bills using a state-issued utility allowance, said Hite, so those two developments won't be part of the program.

The purchase of net-metering credits is part of about $1.5 million in energy conservation projects the NHA has done in the last six years, said Hite, including water and sewer conservation, electricity conservation, and gas conservation in the form of high-efficiency boilers.

The state's net metering solar credit program was first established in 2008 as part of the Green Communities Act, and was re-authorized in 2012. The program provides a financial incentive for producing renewable energy.

Not everyone is thrilled with the program, though.

Associated Industries of Massachusetts published a recent editorial saying a proposed revamp of the state's solar subsidy program could cost ratepayers $1.5 billion over the next 15 years. AIM opposes a move to lift the cap on the net-metering subsidy in parts of the state, saying the resulting "rate shock" for commercial and industrial customers would place a damper on the economy.

AIM spokesman John Regan said net metering "only benefits those who are able to install solar panels on their roofs" and excludes low-income people.

Speaking Friday, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz said that's not true: "By establishing this program, Northampton's low-income community will have a chance to participate in the benefits of solar energy as well."

A handful of other housing authorities in Massachusetts have also signed deals with PowerOptions, said Arcate, adding up to around 1,600 residential units. PowerOptions boasts more than 500 members and offers supply programs for electricity, natural gas and solar power.

“This is our first solar project, and our first investment in Massachusetts,” First Wind’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Gaynor said. “Thank you very much to the town of Warren.”

WARREN – First Wind company representatives along with state and local officials were beaming at Monday’s ceremonial ribbon cutting ushering in a 13 megawatt solar farm containing 57,000 panels on 75 acres at the former Scottish Meadow golf course located at 360 Little Rest Road.

Senior officials from Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration in attendance lauded First Wind’s first Massachusetts solar farm, and said the governor’s commitment to green energy would not be possible without the investment private firms have undertaken.

First Wind executives attending inauguration of their 13 MW solar farm in Warren on June 23 2014, L-R, President and Chief Financial Officer Michael Alvarez, Vice President of Development, Matt Kearns, Vice President, Operations, E.J. Martin, and Chief Executive Officer Paul Gaynor JIM RUSSELL PHOTO 

“This is really just a fabulous, fabulous site,” said Maeve Bartlett, secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “Congratulations to the people at First Wind.”

According to Bartlett, there are now 518 megawatts of solar generating in the state – “enough energy to power 89,000 homes,” she said.

The Warren facility’s opening marks the Boston-based company’s entry into solar energy; they operate 16 wind farms in six other states.

“This is our first solar project, and our first investment in Massachusetts,” First Wind’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Gaynor said. “Thank you very much to the town of Warren.”

Completed on May 31 at a cost of $60 million, the facility created 100 construction jobs

State Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren, who grew up in Palmer, attended the ceremony along with Rep. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer.

State Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren, speaking at the First Wind solar farm opening JIM RUSSELL PHOTO 

“I am a new resident to the town of Warren,” Smola said. “I have been here almost two years now. This is a wonderful thing for the community.”

Warren Selectman Dario Nardi said, “There is much more to come with our relationship with First Wind.”

Among the dignitaries was Andrew Reed, a vice president at Borrego Solar,
a solar photovoltaic energy financing and contracting company.

He provided data showing the national growth in solar energy.

Twelve years ago the U.S. had a total of 32 megawatts of solar energy being produced; that is now at 12,000 megawatts, Reed said.

The businessman also shared a prediction with the approximately 75 people in attendance.

“It is inevitable that fossil fuels will play second fiddle in this century” to renewable energy sources, Reed said.

In an interview, the state’s commissioner for energy resources, Mark Sylvia, said that when Patrick was first elected governor in 2006, there was 3 megawatts of solar generation. That has increased to 518 megawatts.

He said going green has been part of a three-pronged pillar of the administration: local renewable energy generation; decrease in emissions; and economic development.

The three “are not mutually exclusive. They work hand in had,” Sylvia said.

The state has already taken over one school because of persistently poor student academic performance and an official more could follow if changes aren't made.

Updated at 9:31 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2014 to include how School Committee members voted on the budget, additional comments from Superintendent Sergio Paez, additional public comments and details about prekindergarten plans.

HOLYOKE -- Budget-cut protesters packed the School Committee meeting Monday urging that 15 to 20 reading and other positions be restored while officials said such slashing was unavoidable to close a $4.5 million deficit.

Teachers and members of the firefighters and food and commercial workers unions argued against cuts that include Agustin Morales, the president-elect of the teachers union, as they asserted his and others' jobs were cut because they criticized certain decisions.

School employees and others filled the 30 audience seats, stood two- and three-people deep and sat on the floor as the School Committee discussed the proposed $90.5 million budget in the Fifield Community Room at Dean Technical High School, 1045 Main St.

Morales got sustained applause as he walked to the microphone to speak.

"First and foremost, I am here on behalf of the teachers that have been laid off....At a time when we are in crisis mode in Holyoke we are losing teachers. I realize we have budget issues...But at the same time we need to address the state. They are taking over schools...I asked you a question about a month ago, are we being set up to fail? And it seems increasing clear that we are," Morales said.

Teacher morale is "miserable," he said, "And now you're going to cut teachers?"

Morales is an English teacher at Donahue School on Whiting Farms Road. He has been teaching for seven years, most of the past three here.

The lay off of Morales was retaliation for criticisms he has made about standardized testing, the posting of "data walls" in classrooms that shows students how they are doing in competition with each other and other reforms, Morales and supporters said,.

"It beats down the morale," said Erin DuFresne, a Donahue School teacher.

"The firefighters union is 100 percent with the teachers and as the firefighters union president, I'm very concerned with how Gus Morales is being treated," said Christopher Butler, firefighters union president.

Annie Rodriguez, who said she has grandchildren in the schools here, questioned whether the budget cuts would hit Hispanic families harder than others given that Hispanics comprise the majority of student enrollment.

"This is about accountability," Rodriguez said.

Superintendent Sergio Paez said the cuts and other decisions were made to try to keep delivering strong programs to students while having to fill the $4.5 million gap.

"We are focusing on how to be able to help kids," said Paez, who said he understands the anger and criticism.

"It's totally understandable. I totally understand," he said.

Paez and other officials declined to address why Morales or other specific employees would be laid off.

The budget Paez presented to the 10-member committee was balanced. A $4.5 million deficit officials projected a month ago would be closed by cutting 15 to 20 positions and making changes such as establishing system-wide standards for all the school buildings for class sizes and for number of custodians.

The challenge of officials was to establish a spending plan that would provide strong services to students while controlling spending, committee member Dennis W. Birks said.

The budget preparations that began in January focused on keeping class sizes from being unmanageably large and ensuring all students get get art, music,health and computer education, he said.

The School Department central office at 57 Suffolk St. were included in the downsizing with staff there to be cut to seven from the present 15, he said.

Assistant Superintendent Paul Hyry-Dermith said the $4.5 million deficit is as serious as it sounds. The state has already taken over Morgan School on South Bridge Street because of persistently poor student academic performance and additional take-overs could happen,%

The committee also agreed to a building use request by LinguaLinks, an after-school foreign language program, recommended cleaning up budget lines for fiscal year '14, and approved the minutes of the four most recent meetings.

 

LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow School Finance Subcommittee in a series of unanimous votes last week recommended raises for several staff members throughout the district that do not belong to a collective bargaining group.

“What the salary increase reflects is a 2 percent (raise), which is the cost of living increase that was agreed to in all of our collective bargaining agreements,” said Thomas Mazza, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations. “Same would be the case with the central office administrative support staff ... the courier ... and the METCO support position.”

The finance subcommittee collectively chose to support this rationale, although they were not contractually obligated to do so.

They also agreed to take a look at the wage paid to lunch consumption supervisors, which according to the recollection of Mazza and School Committee member Elizabeth Bone has not been raised in seven to 10 years.

An amendment to the district’s contract with Whitsons Culinary Group, which provides the food service at Longmeadow schools, was also recommended unanimously. It suggests changing to the dates covered by the contract to those of the next school year, the management administrative fee, the expected price per meal used to calculate Whitsons' pricing structure, and the number of students expected to take part in the program.

The food service program is expected to run a deficit of $49,753.

“I think we’re positioned where we need to be in terms of student pricing,” Mazza said in response to a question by School Committee member John J. Fitzgerald about the deficit. “The goal needs to be increase participation and minimize expenses.”

Fewer servers will be used during lunch at Blueberry and Center elementary schools in the upcoming year, as was done at Wolf Swamp Elementary this past year, which will lessen the cost of the program.

The committee also:

• agreed to a building use request by LinguaLinks;
• OK'd an after-school foreign language program;
• recommended cleaning up budget lines for fiscal year 2014;
• and approved the minutes of the four most recent meetings.

The next School Finance Subcommittee meeting will take place July 2 at 1:15 p.m.