Healing Mass scheduled Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Maronite rite, where relic is on view through Sept. 14.

SRINGFIELD - What makes someone want to venerate a relic?

The question neither surprises, nor stumbles the Rev. Alessandro Ratti, one of two Franciscan friars, who traveled from their basilica in Padua, Italy, with the relic of St. Anthony of Padua, for its nine-day presentation at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Maronite rite.

The presentation, which concludes Sept. 14, has drawn, to date, some 6,000 visitors, many of whom stand in line to kiss, or touch, the glass reliquary that encloses the relic, and an additional Mass has been added on Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. Other liturgies include a healing Mass, on Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., in the Maronite rite, followed by the praying over of individuals by the Rev. George Zina, pastor, and the Rev. Anthony Gramlich, liaison, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Springfield diocese.

Ratti, and Franciscan Friar Enzo Poiana, also from Padua, will celebrate a 4:30 p.m. Sunday Vigil Mass, in English and Italian, on Sept. 13, as part of the Italian Cultural Center of Western Massachusetts veneration of the relic.

Ratti has accompanied the relic to many continents, and easily relates, in fairly fluent English, that some five million pilgrims traveled each year to view the saint's tomb in the Padua basilica. He sees their pilgrimages, and their veneration of a relic, that is, a part of a saint that has remained "incorrupt," meaning has not decayed, as tied to their faith in the body's eternal life.

"I think that, in the Catholic Church, relics are closely linked to our faith in the resurrection of the body," Ratti said. "They are the part of the body, the bone, the mummified flesh, that speaks about the death. As human beings, and as Christians, we are all to be risen again, with our Lord, not only our soul, but with body."

Ratti added visitors "are not afraid of the mortal remains of a saint," and called them "kind of a link."

"We need to see something. We need to touch, not only as Christians, but as human beings, the body of our friends. It is the same with our friends in heaven," Ratti said. "We have the mortal remains of St. Anthony. We can't speak with him, but we are sure he is alive with Jesus in heaven and we are going to see him again. We are going to be resurrected, with body and soul, with the Lord."

Ratti said the relic brought from Padua is not a bone, but a mummified piece of muscle and that it is encapsulated inside a reliquary that resembles a lantern. In procession, the reliquary is attached to a gold statute that shows the saint with one arm raised to bless, and the other with the reliquary placed atop a book. Anthony, who was born, in Portugal, toward the end of the 12th century, was a learned Franciscan friar who wrote his sermons in Latin, and who taught theology to the other friars. His preaching abilities made him popular, and he remains one of the Catholic Church's saints prayed to in many cultures.

"The reliquary is very nice. Instead of a light bulb inside the lantern, you find the relic of St. Anthony, as the light bulb of faith," Ratti said. "The lantern is in his hands, as if to say, 'You must be the light of the world.'"

The tongue and vocal chords are among the saint's body parts, in Padua, and Ratti interprets the fact that they have not decayed after hundreds of years as a "sign, from the Lord, to make everybody understand St. Anthony spoke the truth."

"He was a preacher," said Ratti, adding Anthony traveled, all over northern Italy and southern France.

"We know very much about his way of thinking and theology, from his sermons. He had a gift for picking up the way of speaking in certain places."

Ratti said it is unknown whether Anthony and St. Francis, the order's founder and namesake of the current pope, actually met face-to-face, but he said Francis gave written permission for Anthony to be the order's first teacher of theology.

He noted that there are "many stories," involving animals, associated with both saints.

"There is one about St. Francis and the mule kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, and the parallel one of St. Anthony preaching to the fish. Explaining the faith of the animals was a way of explaining faith to men," Ratti said.

"As Pope Pius XI
said, 'Through Anthony to Jesus,'" said Ratti, adding, "Miracles are a way of saying nothing is impossible with God."

He said pilgrims come to Padua, from "all over the world," including from Europe, North and South America, Africa, and as far away as India.

"It is kind of experience they have as a devotee. They are granted what they need, not what they want. They may ask this, but receive something different. They may ask for a cure, but receive faith."

The Venice-born Ratti, who took his first steps toward becoming a Franciscan 43 years ago this month, has accompanied the relic to many places, including Sri Lanka, India, Russian and Ukraine.

"I enjoy meeting the friends of St. Anthony, praying with them, sharing the devotion and stories and leading them to know the saint better."

Ratti says he sees Anthony's message as one of going "back to Jesus."

"Convert your life, go to confession, and, as you receive, give to others. This is the same message as Pope Francis," Ratti said. He adds that he feels Anthony may be a closer soul mate, to Pope Francis, in a pastoral sense, than St. Francis of Assisi, in the work Anthony did among the poor, with his "gospel in one hand, and bread for the poor in the other."

Ratti said coming to Springfield was the first time he brought the relic to a Catholic Church in the Maronite rite, which dates back to the early Church and uses Aramaic, the vernacular language related to Hebrew, spoken at the time of Jesus.

"In the Maronite liturgy, you can listen to the very language Jesus used in his life time. That is something very touching," Ratti said.

.

"As Pope Pius XI
said, 'Through Anthony to Jesus," said Ratti, adding, "Miracles are a way of saying nothing is impossible with God."

Ratti said Anthony is thought to have died around the age of 34.

"He died too young, but he was always laboring. He wanted always to go on foot, from one place to another, and he did not eat enough, as Franciscan live a life of poverty,"

Obituaries from The Republican.

Carole Johnson 

Carole Renee Johnson, 62, of Springfield, passed away on Saturday. She was born at Westover Air Force Base, in Chicopee. She graduated from High School of Commerce, and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from AIC. She was also pursuing a doctoral degree in education at the University of Phoenix. She was a member of Zion Baptist Church. She previously worked at Model Cities and the Urban League and was the former administrator of NorthStar Academy Charter School. She taught at Duggan Junior High School and Springfield College. She also was one of the original organizers of the Buckingham Junior High School reunion.

SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Thursday that, contrary to a City Council decision, he will not authorize an appeal to fight construction of a biomass plant in East Springfield, but said a private appeal is moving forward.. Sarno said an appeal was filed by lawyer Joseph Berman of Boston, on behalf of Michaelann Bewsee of Arise for...

SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Thursday that, contrary to a City Council decision, he will not authorize an appeal to fight construction of a biomass plant in East Springfield, but said a private appeal is moving forward..

Sarno said an appeal was filed by lawyer Joseph Berman of Boston, on behalf of Michaelann Bewsee of Arise for Social Justice

"It makes no sense to fund another appeal at the expense of the city taxpayer when there is already one moving forward.” Sarno said.

The Massachusetts Land Court ruled recently that building permits issued for the project are valid. Oppoents including Bewsee, urged the city to appeal the decision.

The council had 11-1 Wednesday to continue the legal fight against the biomass project proposed by Palmer Renewable Energy.

Sarno said he did support the initial suit against the plant, filed with the Massachusetts Land Court, but the city lost..

“In a number of meetings with groups on both sides of this “green energy” project, I have consistently stated that if this project passed the stringent federal and state environmental and health requirements, it would be dealt with as a jobs creating and tax revenue generating economic development project, which will provide 200 construction jobs, 50 permanent and well-paying jobs, as well as more than $1 million in local tax revenue. If it did not, the project would not see the light of day.”

The story will be updated as reporting continues.

Test scores are on the rise in Holyoke; the number of qualifying advance placement test scores increased by 86 percent over last year at Holyoke High School.

HOLYOKE — Test scores are on the rise in Holyoke; the number of qualifying advance placement test scores increased by 86 percent over last year at Holyoke High School.

Holyoke school officials announced the scores Thursday morning. "We are excited about the increase in AP enrollment and the improvement we have experienced in qualifying scores. AP courses are rigorous for both students and teachers, but the benefits of possibly earning college credit and savings in terms of tuition are well worth it. Our goal is to see continued increases in enrollment and qualifying scores for all AP courses at Holyoke High School,” said acting Principal Stephen Sullivan.

The total number of qualifying scores this year was 121, an 86 percent increase over the 65 qualifying scores in 2013. 89 of this year's scores were earned in English, math and science. Holyoke High currently offers courses in AP English, history, math, science and world language.

Students with qualifying scores of three, four or five on the exams can receive college credit upon graduation.

“The economics are important,” said Superintendent of Schools Sergio Páez. “College tuition can range from approximately $650 to $2,200 per course. Multiply that by the 121 qualifying scores and that’s nearly $266,000 saved by Holyoke High students headed to college."

Deyaneira Alvarado Cruz, a student at Holyoke High, was one of the students who achieved a qualifying AP score in English. "I have the urge and curiosity to take the risk to push myself along with the desire to learn at a college level to further my knowledge in AP English Literature and Composition," she said. Last year, Cruz received a qualifying score in AP Spanish Language.

On Friday, Sept. 19, Holyoke High will host an assembly for students enrolled in AP courses to notify them on what to expect from classes this year.

A 20-year-old man was arrested Wednesday evening after an alleged armed robbery attempt with a fake gun was thwarted by a shop owner with a real one.

SPRINGFIELD — A 20-year-old man was arrested Wednesday evening after an alleged armed robbery attempt with a fake gun was thwarted by a shop owner with a real one.

View full sizeFernell Pelzer, 20, of no known address, was arrested following an incident at a Walnut Street convenience store on Sept. 10, 2014. (Springfield Police booking photo)

According to Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney, around 10:20 p.m., Fernell Pelzer allegedly entered the Walnut Convenience store on the border of the Six Corners and Old Hill neighborhoods. Delaney said Pelzer ran into the store and confronted the shop owner before attempting to pistol whip him with what turned out to be a fake gun.

A struggle ensued, according to police, and in the process, Pelzer had the tables turned on him when the store owner pulled out a real and properly licensed pistol.

Delaney said that despite Pelzer's attempt to flee at that point, the shop owner pointed the gun at him and held him in place until the police arrived.

Police arrested Pelzer, who has no known address, and charged him with armed robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was held awaiting arraignment in Springfield District Court.

The annual Amherst block party this year begins at 5 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.

AMHERST – Music, food and the closing of North Pleasant Street will again mark the Third Annual Celebrate Amherst Block Party Sept. 18.

This year, the party organized by the Amherst Buisness Improvement District begins an hour earlier to make it easier for families.

The party that draws thousands of families and students begins at 5 p.m. instead of 6 and ends at 9, instead of 10.

As in the past North Pleasant Street from Main and Amity streets will be closed to motor vehicles to Pray Street beginning at 3:30 p.m. so people can set up.

A dunk tank will be also set up.  For a $10 donation to ALS as part of the Ice Bucket Challenge, people can pay to soak folks such as Fire Chief Tim Nelson or Police Chief Scott Livingstone or Town Manager John P. Musante among others. 

 Also, 25 restaurants will be serving food and there will be three musical stages and dancing and entertainment throughout. The Hits 94.3 Futurliner DJ booth will feature DJ Construct.

On the River Stage Shiprock, Anchordog plus psychedelic funk and rock band Outer Stylie. 

The third stage will feature acoustic bluegrass and harmonies from Appalachian Still.

Various groups will be performing as well on the street including Celestial Circle Dance, Show Circus and Amherst Martial Arts among others.

The party is free.

The Springfield Puerto Rican Parade will be held this Sunday.

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Puerto Rican Parade will be held this Sunday, but for those who can't make it out to the event, CBS 3 Springfield will be airing highlights of the parade the following weekend.

“CBS 3 Springfield is so pleased to partner with the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade Planning Committee to bring the sights and sounds of the event to those who can’t enjoy it in person," said news director Dave Ward.

Parade organizers said they are thrilled to partner with the station to provide as much coverage of the parade as possible to the community.

Big Y World Class Market is sponsoring the highlight reel which will air Sept. 20-21 at 11 a.m.

Along with filming the parade CBS 3 Springfield will also ride in the parade and will be joined by The Republican, MassLive.com and El Pueblo Latino reporter Elizabeth Roman who will be tweeting photos and commentary of the parade. Follow her on Twitter @Lizro27.

More than 70 groups have registered to march in the parade, which kicks off this Sunday at 11 a.m. from Wason Avenue and makes its way through the North End and finishes at Boland Way in downtown.

Welch, 37, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, Jessica Pripstein.

NORTHAMPTON — The jury in the Ryan Welch murder trial Thursday heard a frantic Jessica Pripstein tell a dispatcher that her boyfriend was trying to kill her moments before her throat was slashed.

"Oh my God!" Pripstein cried as the call terminated.

The 911 recording was played while police dispatcher Mary Dzialo was on the witness stand in the first day of testimony.

Welch, 37, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Pripstein, his girlfriend. If convicted, he will be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Welch, who was found in another room at Pripstein's Easthampton apartment with non-fatal wounds to his throat, claims someone else murdered Pripstein.

In his opening statement, Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Jeremy Bucci recreated the night of Feb. 22, 2012 in detail, reciting Pripstein's call. Police arrived two minutes later to find her dead. Welch then sawed at his own throat, Bucci said, "bleeding on top of Jessica Pripstein's dying body."

Defense lawyer John Morris used his opening statement to tell the jury a folk tale about an ancient warrior and his dog named "Wolfen."

The dog was loyal, Morris said, but when the warrior went off to battle he got word that someone had killed his infant son. The warrior returned his home to find a bloody Wolfen looking guilty. The warrior killed the dog with his sword — only to later realize that a wild, rabid wolf was the real killer, and that Wolfen was covered in blood after killing the wolf while trying to defend the child.

Morris said Welch is "Wolfen" in this case, and that the police represent the warrior.

"Don't jump to a conclusion like the warrior did," he told the jury. "The sword of justice will uncover the truth."

The day ended early when Bucci ran out of witnesses to call. The trial is due to continue on Friday.

Below, replay today's live coverage updates from the courtroom [click here for mobile]:

Shannon L. Lyman, 27, said her plans to move have been put on hold after a burglar, or burglars, stole money, electronics and valuables from her home on the morning of Sept. 6.

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Shannon Lyman is fed up with a series of break-ins on the low-income Birch Park Circle, and she wants the police to do more to find whoever's responsible before more people lose their life savings.

That's what Lyman said happened to her in the early-morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 6, while she and her boyfriend slept. At least one person broke into her home and stole their television, a camera and cash.

"They took my bill money," she said. The criminal, or criminals, even stole meager items like a coin sorter.

"It's almost every weekend. A couple weekends, it's been more than one," Lyman said of the break-ins. There has been an uptick in homes being burglarized since mid-June.

"No one's seeing anything. Nothing is being done to help anyone," she said. She added that she doesn't fault the police, but she's frustrated with the lack of progress and wants them to devote more energy to the case.

The 27-year-old hair stylist and her 8-year-old son, who was not home at the time of the break-in, were preparing to move. She was saving money to buy a house, but it's gone now, and the salon where she works is temporarily closed while the owner is on maternity leave, so the only income is her boyfriend's, she said.

"They're not stealing from people who are doing OK. They're stealing from people who aren't," said Lyman of the thief or thieves. "They're just kicking them down even further."

Lyman grew up in West Springfield and, after some years away, moved to Birch Park Circle in March of 2012. When she was young, it was a high-crime area, but she said it's cleaned up. She said it's normally a pretty quiet place to live, with the occasional disturbance or petty crime that's found anywhere.

MassLive.com reviewed more than a year worth of police logs and found that between June 15 and Sept. 10, there were nine calls for breaking and entering. It's an average of about one every nine days, and it represents a significant spike. These were the only such incidents dating back to at least August 2013.

Repeated calls to the West Springfield Police Department seeking comment were not returned.

Lyman started a crowdfunding campaign on the website GiveForward. She's trying to raise $10,000 "to help us find these people, replace what we lost, and restore peace of mind."

In the meantime, she wants the police to start making arrests.

"Maybe they're trying and it just seems to me like they're not," she said. "I hate to bash them, but at the same time, it feels like they're doing nothing. ... I've called them about 25 times. I'm on it. I want my stuff."

She's asking anyone who knows anything to call the police at (413) 263-3210. People in the area are trying to start a neighborhood watch program, but it's slow-going.

"We're not leaving the house alone anymore," she said. Until the break-ins end, at least one person will be at home at all times.

The traffic detour at the East Forest Park intersection is expected to last about five weeks during construction hours.

Access will be maintained for residences and businesses.

View full sizeThis map provided by the City of Springfield shows the detour planned for the portion of Abbott Street between Plumtree Road and Sumner Avenue about to go into effect.CITY OF SPRINGFIELD 

SPRINGFIELD -- The city has issued a warning to motorists to anticipate a detour and traffic delays as a result of the ongoing reconstruction project at the intersection of Sumner Avenue and Abbott Street in East Forest Park.

It is estimated that the posted detour route will be in place for approximately five weeks, beginning Monday, and occur during the construction work hours..

Beginning Monday, Abbott Street will be closed at the Sumner Avenue intersection to aid the construction work occurring within the intersection.

The roadway between Plumtree Road and Sumner Avenue will be closed to through traffic, according to a news release.

A detour route will be posted using Plumtree Road, Roosevelt Avenue and Allen Street.

Access for residents along Abbott Street will be provided at the Plumtree Road intersection.

The detour will be in place during the weekday hours of construction, from Monday through Thursday, from 6 a.m., to 4 p.m. Abbott Street will be open during non-construction hours and all other days.

A Greek man was sentenced Tuesday in Boston for his involvement in a scheme that defrauded developers of $7.9 million, part of which came from a West Springfield financial adviser who stole the money from his clients.

BOSTON - A Greek man was sentenced Tuesday in Boston for his involvement in a scheme that defrauded developers of $7.9 million, part of which came from a West Springfield financial adviser who stole the money from his clients.

Evripedes Georgiadis, 49, of Larisa, Greece, was convicted in May of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Nathan M. Gorton sentenced Georgiadis to eight years, six months in prison and ordered him to pay $8.4 million in restitution Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Boston.

According to a press release from the IRS Criminal Investigation Boston office, during 2007-2011 Georgiadis pretended to be a representative of a multi-billion dollar fund in Luxembourg. He and co-conspirators John Condo, 57, Michael Zanetti, 34, and Frank Barecich, 32, all of Florida, convinced developers to deposit money in the fake BBDA Global Investment Fund by saying they would pay for large-scale development projects.

The men created fake letters of credit and made up a New Zealand bank to reassure developers. They then transferred the money out of the country and pocketed it.

According to a 2012 story by The Republican, documents in the West Springfield case of financial adviser Sean Mansfield indicated that the scheme took $600,000 from Mansfield, who already stole that money from clients.

Mansfield was sentenced in 2011 to five years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing $3 million from clients.

The case was investigated by the IRS-CI office in Boston, the U.S. Department of Labor and the FBI.

Poet writes elegy to so, a UMass student who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2011.

AMHERST – Poet Edward Hirsch's book-length poem to his son Gabriel, a University of Massachusetts student who died from a drug overdose in 2011, is getting all kinds of attention and praise.

According to the New York Times, "Gabriel grew up and got his life together, at least to the extent that he nearly got a degree in marketing from the University of Massachusetts.

"But in 2011, at 22, he died of an accidental drug overdose. Mr. Hirsch reckons with his son's life, and with his own, in "Gabriel," an elegy in which we read about this scattered young man: "Reason disobeyed him/And voted him out of office."

Hirsch is also president of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in New York.

According to NPR "on a stormy night in 2011, poet Edward Hirsch lost his 22-year-old son, Gabriel. After taking a club drug, Gabriel had a seizure and died of cardiac arrest."

The Boston Globe called it "an exquisite document of loss." 

Hirsch spoke to students at Holyoke High School in 2008  as part of the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts fall series. Hirsch also spoke at Wistariahurst Museum.

The protesters demanded housing justice from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal Housing Finance Agency director Mel Watt.

SPRINGFIELD — The chants cut through the humid air like an approaching cold front, prompting drivers to crane their necks and pedestrians to stop in their tracks along a busy sidewalk outside the U.S. Post Office on Liberty Street.

"No justice, no peace, no more people in the streets."

"What do we do when banks attack? Stand up, fight back."

The protesters' numbers were few – less than 20 – but the group's collective voice was mighty as members of Springfield No One Leaves took aim at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the beleaguered government-sponsored mortgage enterprises bailed out by taxpayers, and demanded housing justice from Melvin Watt, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA.

The protesters gathered outside the Springfield post office on Thursday, carrying signs that read "Frauddie Mac" and "Beat Back the Bank Attack" and calling on Watt deal with them fairly. Seven Springfield-area residents whose homes are in foreclosure were among the protesters, and each one shared a personal story of how they wound up in such a predicament.

Sue Gamelli, who's close to losing her Roy Street home in Chicopee, has tried to be a good Fannie Mae "customer," she said. "But they've given us the runaround. ... None of us want our homes for free. We want to pay rent or buy them back."

Despite Fannie Mae's initial willingness to accept rent so Gamelli could stay put in Chicopee, the mortgage institution reneged on the deal, she said.

"We're holding this action at the post office because we want everyone to know that we are trying to do what's right, and willing to work with the banks to keep our homes," said Springfield resident Jeff Solivan, who's demanding that Fannie Mae turn his Edgemont Street home into an affordable rental property at 30 percent of his income.

The group's demands were simple: Don't make working-class, predominantly minority families homeless if they are willing and able to pay fair market values for their homes.

As alternatives to eviction, No One Leaves is requesting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to do three things:

• To accept rent from tenants and former owners after foreclosures.


• To sell back homes at the current market value to tenants and former owners.


• To either turn property into affordable rentals or donate the property to community organizations that are willing to maintain them as affordable properties.

"Do not let these banks take your homes," Solivan shouted, eliciting cheers from fellow protesters. "Mel Watt, give these people back their homes at a reasonable market rate," he said.

Gamelli said the banks were bailed out in 2008, "but we're getting thrown out."

As part of the protest, all seven Springfield-area residents sent checks and certified letters to Watt, demanding that he take their money and stop evicting people.

As head of the FHFA, Watt is responsible for regulating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and a dozen Federal Home Loan Banks.

The Native American Inter-Tribal Council of Western Massachusetts will conduct the annual ceremony.

SPRINGFIELD -- The public is invited to attend a ceremony on Friday on the steps of City Hall, that will include a flag raising in recognition of Native American Heritage Month.

The Native American Intertribal Council of Western Massachusetts and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno will participate in the ceremony at noon Friday outside City Hall, at 36 Court St.

The Native-American Tribal Council conducts the ceremony annually in Springfield. The raising of the Native American flag and ceremony are geared to highlight Native American Heritage Month and to showcase the Tribal Council's efforts

In response to a rare prime-time address to the nation where Obama explained that the U.S. will increase the frequency of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria targeting the group, Neal came out in support of the president.

While some members of Congress have reservations about the use of any military force to combat the growing threat from Islamic State militants in the Middle East, others are fully supportive of a new plan put forth by President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal 

Congressman Richard Neal, a Democrat representing Massachusetts 1st Congressional District, is among the latter. In response to a rare prime-time address to the nation where Obama explained that the U.S. will increase the frequency of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria targeting the group, Neal came out in support of the president, saying that ISIS, or ISIL as the group is also known by, is the most dangerous terrorist group in the world today.

"The brutal murders of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff revealed the total disregard these jihadists have for human life. They are recruiting fighters from across the globe who kill anyone who disagrees with their extremist views of Islam. ISIS is now a threat to international security and that’s why political, diplomatic and military steps need to be taken by the United States and our allies to destroy their capabilities," Neal said in a statement released in response to Obama's speech. "As someone who voted against the war in Iraq in 2002, I am keenly aware of the consequences that come with granting authority to a president to conduct military action. However, I agree with President Obama and the broad coalition of nations he has organized, that the ISIS campaign of terror needs to be stopped."

The position of Neal, a longtime member of Congress, is juxtaposed by that of fellow Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Joe Kennedy III, who said while he acknowledges the threat of Islamic State militants, he feels additional congressional approval is needed in relation to military airstrikes. The Obama Administration has said that the military airstrikes were already approved by Congress under a still standing authorization then President George W. Bush received following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, the anniversary of which is today.

"As we commemorate the 13th Anniversary of 9/11, I believe we must do everything in our power to protect Americans at home and abroad from terrorist organizations that wish to do us harm. President Obama was correct when he said the United States is relentless in pursuit of justice when Americans are put at risk. Osama bin Laden is a timely reminder of that admonition," Neal said. "As the threat of ISIS continues to grow, I believe the president put forward a sensible and detailed plan tonight on how to defeat Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. I hope all Americans will support him in his efforts to bring stability to the Middle East and protect our national security."

But Kennedy's reluctance paints a picture of not just a divided Congress, but a nation divided on just what to do in the face of a new Islamic extremist threat that is well funded, well trained and has already murdered two unarmed U.S. journalists by beheading via web video is a demonstration of archaic barbarism. Still, support for Obama's approach may be growing as recent polling has shown an uptick in backing of the use of military air strikes targeting the group in the Middle East.

The surveillance footage shows a white man enter a fenced-in area around an outdoor air conditioning unit, then casually grab a mountain bike that wasn't his, according to Chicopee police.

CHICOPEE — Police are asking the public to help detectives identify a bicycle thief who was caught on camera earlier this week.

Chicopee police said the crime was committed about 8 p.m. Wednesday at the East Side Grill, and the incident was captured by the East Street restaurant's surveillance system.

The video shows a white man enter a fenced-in area around an outdoor cooling unit, pop a cigarette into his mouth, then casually grab a mountain bike that wasn't his. The man is then seen riding off on the bike.

"Detectives can use your assistance in identifying this party involved in a larceny," police said in a message on the department's Facebook page.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Chicopee Police Detective Division at (413) 594-1730.

Conor Berry | cberry@repub.com 

A sobriety checkpoint will be held at an undisclosed Bristol County location on Sept. 19 into Sept. 20, according to Col. Timothy Alben, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police.

A sobriety checkpoint will be conducted in Bristol County on the evening of Sept. 19 into the morning of Sept. 20, Col. Timothy P. Alben, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, announced Friday.

The purpose of the grant-funded traffic checkpoint is to increase public safety by removing intoxicated motorists from state roadways, according to State Police officials.

Police said the checkpoint will operate during varied hours at an undisclosed Hampden County location, and the selection of vehicles won't be arbitrary.

In 2012, the most recent year for which data were available, there were 123 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Massachusetts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Kelly said he believes investigations by the Massachusetts State Police and Chicopee Police are ongoing.

CHICOPEE — Police Det. Michael Gendron was hit with a year-long restraining order Friday in connection with an alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, according to court documents.

The 14-year veteran of the police force appeared in Chicopee District Court Friday opposite the high school student's parents. Springfield attorney Daniel D. Kelly, representing the parents, told a judge the mother caught Gendron, 43, naked on the floor with her daughter when she came home early one day

"Depending on when the relationship started, which was 16 at a minimum, it could trigger a long list of crimes," Kelly said.

While a lawyer for Gendron did not deny the existence of a relationship he conceded some might consider "inappropriate," he said the evidence being presented at the hearing was second-hand and did not support an extension of an emergency restraining order granted earlier this week.

"There's no evidence of any illegal physical contact," defense lawyer John Jerzyk argued. "She's 17 years old; she's not under 16."

Under state law, 16 is the age of sexual consent.

According to Jerzyk, Gendron faces a disciplinary hearing at the police department on Sept. 18. He is on administrative leave and was relieved of his gun in the interim. However, the year-long restraining order imposed by Judge Elizabeth Sanabria-Vega includes a ban on carrying firearms. Jerzyk asked the judge to lift that particular restriction, but Sanabria-Vega refused.

"I'm not lifting the firearms (restriction). I don't lift firearms restrictions on restraining orders," she said.

When Jerzyk attempted to contend that the girl's mother's testimony was hearsay, the judge similarly shut down that argument.

"You read the affidavit. The mom walked in on them. She's saying what she saw," said Sanabria-Vega.

The mother's affidavit states that she came home early from an interview and found Gendron and her daughter naked.

"Immediately the door shut, and I opened it to find (Gendron) standing there naked and getting dressed ... (my daughter) informed (others) that this has been going on for some time," the affidavit reads. "He manipulated her and molested her maybe since January of 2014 when she was 16 years old."

The Republican / MassLive.com does not identify victims of alleged sexual misconduct.

Both Gendron and Jerzyk declined comment while leaving the courthouse.

The newspaper has calls pending to Chicopee Police Chief William Jebb and Mayor Richard J. Kos.

Kelly said he believes investigations by the Massachusetts State Police and Chicopee Police are ongoing. The order mandates that Gendron stay away from the girl's school, home and workplace. it also prohibits any further contact with the girl.

Greg Saulmon / The Republican 

Film to be screened at Amherst Cinema Monday tells story of former Amherst resident David Poritz.

AMHERST – While critics are praising filmmaker Richard  Linklater's  "Boyhood" for following his cast for a dozen years to tell a coming of age story, the filmmakers of "Oil & Water" also tell a coming of age tale of their own – this one documentary style.

And this one in part tells the story of former Amherst resident David Poritz and Hugo Lucitante, a member of the Cofan tribe in Ecuador, shot over eight years time.

Both are committed to helping the people of Ecuador recover from the oil contamination caused by the practices of Texaco – which was bought out by Chevron. The case, meanwhile, has been fought in the courts for decades.

Poritz will return to his hometown Monday at 7 p.m. for a screening of "Oil & Water" at the Amherst Cinema Center. Poritz, now 25, is the founder of the New York-based international Equitable Origin, a company that has created ways to certify oil production to meet environmental standards.

Directors Laurel Spellman Smith and Francine Strickwerda met Lucitante after his tribe sent him to Seattle for an education to help them to a better future. The filmmakers told Camera In the Sun, they met Poritz when there were researching Texaco and met Conway attorney Cristóbal Bonifaz, who had filed a class-action lawsuit against Texaco.

"We found out there was another young man who had worked with Cristóbal — David. David had talked his way into an internship working on the case when he was 14 years old. It was almost unbelievable.

"And we were just really intrigued at this idea of telling a story about two young people who almost seem to have traded places in a way. All of a sudden, we had this incredible fish out of water story. Two guys who were able to really excel in a world that wasn't really theirs to begin with."

"It was a special process," Poritz said in a phone interview about the film. His roots are still here, his family lives in Leverett. "It was hard to know what the outcome of the film was going to be."

He said the film " was actually quite different. As it expanded, it took a new form and different shape. I was able to see my own thinking evolve."

As a high school sophomore, "I was really involved in Latin America, looking for humanitarian and policy solutions." But he said, "my views became much more pragmatic. They evolved with my experience on the ground."

He said instead of opposing the oil industry "I took the approach to engage the oil and gas industry to find commonality rather than differences." He said be began figured out ways "to create transparent tools to measures gains of how they are improving" as well as a guide of "what's expected of them" as the produce the oil.

And that led to the founding of his company. They recently certified the first production sites in Colombia - owned by Toronto, Canada-based oil and gas production company Pacific Ribiales Energy, which produces about 25 percent of the country's oil.

He thinks these standards will help the oil companies and allow consumers to buy from companies that meet these standards. He's planning to implement them in other countries as well including the United States.

"Oil & Water" will also be screened on the PBS World Station Sept. 21 and be available for on-line streaming as well for 30 days.

"I think it's a really well-made film." He said the cinematography is beautiful especially in the juxtaposition between the rich verdant forest and the black of the oil.

 "It's definitely a David and Goliath story," the filmmakers told Camera In the Sun. "It's a story about a fight for resources. But more than that, we really positioned this as a character-driven coming of age story. Because these two boys, born into this really unique situation, we see them grow up over the years. And the transformation for both of them is pretty huge."

The spending limits are the result of the state's public financing law, which allows candidates to get public money in exchange for abiding by spending limits. Coakley opted into public financing; Baker did not.

The candidates for Massachusetts governor and lieutenant governor can spend up to $8 million in the 2014 general election, according to state campaign finance limits set Friday.

The spending limits are the result of the state's public financing law, which allows candidates to get public money in exchange for abiding by spending limits.

In the governor's race, Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic nominee, opted into the public financing system, which could have capped her spending at $1.5 million for the general election. However, Republican nominee Charlie Baker did not take public financing. So Baker was required to commit to a spending limit of his choice, and both Baker and Coakley will be bound to that limit. Baker set the limit at $8 million, according to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Spending by the candidates for lieutenant governor – Republican Karyn Polito and Democrat Steve Kerrigan – counts toward the limit in the governor's race.

The independent candidates running for governor – Evan Falchuk, Jeff McCormick and Scott Lively – all opted into the public financing system and will all now have a spending limit of $8 million.

In the attorney general's race, neither Democrat Maura Healey nor Republican John Miller opted to use public financing, so there are no spending limits.

In the treasurer's race, Democrat Deb Goldberg set a $2 million spending limit. Republican Michael Heffernan had proposed a $1 million limit, but will now be able to spend up to $2 million. Independent Ian Jackson opted into public financing, which would have come with a $375,000 limit.

Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin also set a $2 million spending limit in his race for reelection. His opponents, Republican David D'Arcangelo and independent Daniel Factor, had opted into public financing.

In the auditor's race, all three candidates agreed to the statutory spending limit of $375,000 and are eligible for public funding. The candidates are Democratic incumbent Suzanne Bump, Republican Patricia Saint Aubin and independent M K Merelice.

Public financing is funded by a voluntary $1 donation that Massachusetts residents can make when they file their tax returns. In the primary election, Democratic candidates Don Berwick and Coakley each received $308,976 in public money. There is now $620,000 left in the fund, and the money will be divided up between the gubernatorial candidates first.