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1 dead in Holyoke motorcycle crash

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One person is dead, several others injured in a car vs. motorcycle collision in Holyoke.

HOLYOKE— One man was killed and several other people were injured in a collision between a motorcycle and a car on Route 5, Northampton Street, in Holyoke Friday night.

Route 5 was closed to through traffic from Vadnais Street to River Terrace as the Holyoke Police Accident Reconstruction unit completed its investigation.

Sgt. Kevin Thomas confirmed one person was killed in the 9:30 p.m. crash. At the scene, the shrouded body of the motorcycle operator could be seen not far from his bike. A large SUV was parked nearby with all its doors open, and a subcompact car was stopped in front of the wreckage of the motorcycle.

Thomas said several people were transported from the scene by ambulance and taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

As word of the crash spread, friends and family members of the deceased motorcycle rider arrived at the scene, then went to where police had a command center set up near River Terrace.

Police are interviewing witnesses to find out exactly what happened. Thomas said the investigation is ongoing.



Chicopee and Springfield police bust up heroin distribution efforts

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Two alleged heroin distributors were arrested Thursday and nearly 800 bags of the drug were confiscated.

Jose Lugo-chicopee bust.jpgJose Lugo 
CHICOPEEChicopee police, in cooperation with the Massachusetts State Police, arrested a major heroin distributor as he carried 700 bags of the drug.

Jose Lugo, 27, of 14 Gerard Way in Holyoke was traveling on Elcon Drive in Chicopee Thursday when police made the arrest.

Lugo was charged with possession of a Class A substance with the intent to distribute.

arnoldo morales.jpgArnaldo Morales 
No long after the Chicopee arrest, Springfield narcotics detectives arrested a second Holyoke man as he was making a delivery of 80 bags of heroin to the intersection of Sheridan and Morgan streets. According to a statement by police, Arnaldo Morales, 26, of 558 South Summer St. in Holyoke, was seen riding his bicycle near McDonald's in the city's Northend at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Police had determined through a lengthy investigation that Morales used the bicycle to delivery drugs. Officers were able to stop Morales as he rode on Morgan Street, and found 80 bags of heroin stuffed into the handle bar of the cycle. Officers also confiscated $150 in cash and a cell phone.

Morales was charged with possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and violation of a drug-free school zone.

Enter 2014 MassLive and The Republican Fall Photo Contest beginning October 4

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Submit your best fall photo to be published on MassLive and for the chance to be published on Page One of The Republican.

As the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer Mother Nature begins to reward New England with a yearly gift of beautiful red, yellow and orange foliage.

To celebrate this colorful time of year MassLive and The Republican present our 8th Annual Fall Photo contest.

Beginning on October 4 you may submit your best photo of the fall landscape. Each contestant will be entered for the chance to have their photo published on the front page of The Republican, and all entries will be published on MassLive. Anyone who has their photo printed on Page One will also receive a plaque displaying the page on which their photo was featured.

The top seven photos, as voted by our panel of editors and photographers, will be published for seven consecutive days on Page One of The Republican. They will be displayed from Thursday, Nov. 13 through Wednesday, Nov. 19. Runners-up will also be printed inside the newspaper for each of the seven days.

Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 11:59 p.m. is your last chance to submit a photo. To enter, simply fill out the online entry form, and attach your photo. We will upload your photo to the website, and it will be added to the photo gallery within 72 hours after it is submitted.

Only one submission will be accepted per person, so make sure that the one you submit truly is your best fall photo. Please be sure that the photo you submit is your own, and that it is not a violation of copyright law. A brief summary of the rules is posted below, and you can read the complete rules if you have further questions, as well as our privacy policy.

The staff members of MassLive and The Republican greatly appreciate your entries, and look forward to seeing all the beauty that New England has to offer this time of year. This contest is a favorite of ours, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

A word about image specifications: Our online photo galleries require .jpg files that are 1300 pixels wide at 72 dpi.

BUT -- we'll be running winning entries in the newspaper, so you'll need to be able to supply us with a high-resolution image file if your photo is chosen as a winner.

For print purposes, we'll need .jpg image files that are a minimum of 1000 pixels wide at 180 dpi. That translates to decent reproduction of a photo spanning three newspaper columns. Larger files are OK -- the rough maximum we'd use in print would be 3200 pixels wide at 300 dpi.

Most modern smartphones and digital cameras will surpass these specifications; consult your device's manual to ensure you're shooting at the highest quality setting.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter and for full rules, go to www.masslive.com/fall-foliage/. Starts 12:01 AM ET 10/04/14 and ends 11:59 PM ET 10/22/14. Open to legal residents of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entry, except employees of Sponsors, their immediate families and those living in the same household. Void outside Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine and where prohibited. A.R.V. of prize $50. Sponsors: MassLive.com and The Republican.

Texas apartment where Ebola patient stayed disinfected by decontamination team

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Public-health officials have also cut by half the number of people being monitored for any symptoms of the deadly disease.

DALLAS (AP) -- After days of scrutiny about their treatment, a family that was living in the Texas apartment where an Ebola patient was staying when he got sick was moved to a private residence in a gated community.

Meanwhile, a hazardous-materials crew on Friday decontaminated the apartment, and public-health officials cut by half the number of people being monitored for any symptoms of the deadly disease.

Hours later, the family was moved to the private residence that was offered by a volunteer.

The decontamination team was to collect bed sheets, towels and a mattress used by the infected man before he was hospitalized, as well as a suitcase and other personal items belonging to Thomas Eric Duncan, officials said.

The materials were sealed in industrial barrels that were to be stored in trucks until they can be hauled away for permanent disposal.

Federal transportation and disease-control officials issued an emergency special permit Friday to allow an Illinois-based company to haul away and dispose of the materials -- not only from the apartment but also any from the hospital where Duncan is receiving treatment.

The first Ebola diagnosis in the U.S. has raised concerns about whether the disease that has killed 3,400 people in West Africa could spread in the U.S. Federal health officials say they are confident they can keep it in check.

Elsewhere, NBC News reported that an American freelance cameraman working for the network in Liberia has tested positive for the virus and will be flown back to the United States, along with the rest of the news crew.

Neighbors stood on their balconies and watched the family's grim departure from behind a black tarp hung to shield their front door from view.

The family was placed in a Dallas County deputy's patrol car and driven away, apparently leaving with nothing more than the clothes they wore.

The residence where they will stay had been offered only a short time earlier. Until then, a search for shelter had come up short. The city had been refused by hotels, apartments and other providers.

"No one wants this family," said Sana Syed, a Dallas city spokeswoman.

The family was confined to their home under armed guard while public-health officials monitored them -- part of an intense effort to contain the deadly disease before it can get a foothold in the United States.

Louise Troh, originally from Liberia, shares the apartment with her 13-year-old son and two nephews.

When the decontamination is complete, even the crew's protective suits are to be burned, said Tamara Smith, office manager for the Cleaning Guys of Fort Worth.

Judge Clay Jenkins, Dallas County's top administrative official, said he went to the apartment with two epidemiologists to apologize for the delay in removing the soiled items, which happened five days after Duncan was admitted to the hospital.

"I want to see this family treated the way I would want to see my own family treated," Jenkins said.

Jenkins, who said he had visited the family twice and drove them to their new residence, told reporters that when he asked one of the boys if there was anything he needed, the youth said, "A basketball?"

The confinement order, which also bans visitors, was imposed after the family failed to comply with a request to stay home.

Also Friday, Texas health officials said they had narrowed the number of people they were monitoring from as many as 100 to about 50 who had some type of exposure to Duncan.

Texas Health Commissioner David Lakey said all 50 are meeting with health workers and having their temperatures taken daily. So far, none shows symptoms of the virus. Ten are considered to be at higher risk and are being monitored more closely.

The virus that causes Ebola is not airborne and can only be spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids -- blood, sweat, vomit, feces, urine, saliva or semen -- of an infected person who is showing symptoms.

Troh's 35-year-old daughter lives a few blocks away in a small apartment with her partner and four children. The two families often visited each other's homes.

Health officials have told Youngor Jallah to keep her family at home. But unlike at her mother's apartment, there are no armed guards preventing them from leaving.

She's now wracked with regret that she did not take greater precautions in her dealings with Duncan.

"I'm just doubting myself every minute," she said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press. "I'm trying to take my mind off it, but I can't do it."

She is not kissing or hugging her children, ages 2, 4 and 6, or her partner's 11-year-old son, or sharing dishes with them.

Duncan arrived in Dallas on Sept. 20 and fell ill a few days later. After an initial visit to the emergency room at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, he was sent home, even though he told a nurse he had been in disease-ravaged West Africa.

He returned to the hospital two days later, on Sunday, and has been kept in isolation ever since. He's listed in serious but stable condition.

Springfield car crash knocks power lines and transformer from utility pole

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A woman was trapped in her crashed car for over and hour as firefighters waited for a WMECO technician to make sure power to high tension lines was cut.

SPRINGFIELD— Some tense moments as a trapped woman and firefighters waited for power from high tension lines to be cut and to determine if oil leaking from a fallen transformer was toxic.

Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said firefighters responded to a report of a woman trapped in her crashed car on Dwight Road just after midnight Saturday, to find the vehicle draped in power lines.

The Honda CRV had crashed and ended up lying on its side with the female driver inside. However, the impact of the car sheared a utility pole and brought a transformer down on top of the car. Oil leaked from the transformer and created a lake around the vehicle. The woman and her rescuers had to wait over an hour until a Western Mass Electric technician confirmed that power to the lines was cut, and that the insulating oil from the transformer carried no toxic PCBs.

Once the wreckage was determined safe, firefighters extricated the driver from the car and she was taken to the Baystate Medical Center by ambulance.


Enfield police chief: Officer fired over beating of handcuffed man

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Enfield police officer has been fired following an investigation into an April beating of a handcuffed man.

ENFIELD— A 10-year veteran of the Enfield Police Department has been fired, and a second officer was suspended for 90 days following a six-month investigation into the video taped beating of a handcuffed Windsor man in April.

Enfield Police Officer Matthew WordenView full sizeThis undated image from the Enfield Police Department shows former officer Matthew Worden, who was fired this week following an investigation into excessive force.

Enfield Police Chief Carl Sferrazza Friday announced the firing of Matthew Worden after an internal affairs investigation recommended Worden's termination, the Hartford Courant reported.

"The department conducted a very fair, thorough, exhaustive investigation and we believe the proper conclusion — the termination of Officer Worden — has been reached in this case," Sferrazza is quoted as saying. "I would ask the people of Enfield to not let this unprecedented incident to overshadow the fine work done by the men and women of our department."

The second officer, Michael Emons, was suspended for 90 days. Two officers can be seen in the video holding down a man ans striking him as he was being detained.

The incident started with questioning of two men on April 1 at the town boat ramp. Police detained Mark Maher and Leonard Hill, and placed them in handcuffs. Two video tapes of the incident, each taken from different police cruisers, had since surfaced, showing Worden hitting Maher as he lay on the ground with three other officers holding him down. Worden could be heard screaming at the man, "stop resisting," then hitting him three times.

Maher was later charged with resisting arrest but those charges were dismissed in Enfield Superior Court. Enfield police then tried to bring charges of third degree assault and fabricating evidence against Maher, but State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, Gail Hardy, refused to sign the arrest warrant.

Worden had been on paid leave since the investigation began.


Tributes planned as Suffolk Downs holds last day of horse racing in Massachusetts

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Suffolk Downs, New England's last thoroughbred horse track, celebrated its storied past with a series of tributes Saturday on its final day of live races.

By PHIL MARCELO, Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) -- Suffolk Downs, New England's last thoroughbred horse track, celebrated its storied past with a series of tributes Saturday on its final day of live races.

The once-grand Boston track recognized some of the most famous horses, jockeys, announcers and performers during its nearly 80-year history with live and video presentations.

Among those highlighted were "Eddie Wrack," the horse that won the track's inaugural race in 1935, and "Seabiscuit," the legendary Depression-era thoroughbred that won a major race held there in 1937.

The track, which will continue to offer simulcast betting until December, also cleared out its promotional inventory, selling vintage souvenirs and other memorabilia. Sale proceeds will benefit CANTER New England and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which help horses transition to life after racing.

Chip Tuttle, Suffolk Downs' chief operating officer, hopes the tributes offer an "appropriate appreciation" for the facility's history and legacy.

Saturday's live races are the last under the track's current owners, Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC. The company, whose investors include prominent casino developer Richard Fields, has been losing money on the facility for years. State regulators recently rejected a planned Mohegan Sun resort casino that was expected to revive the track's fortunes.

Still, a group of local horse owners and trainers are trying to keep live races going at Suffolk Downs and have filed an application for a 2015 state horse racing license. New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association says it is trying to work out a lease with Sterling Suffolk Racecourse.

Brockton Fairgrounds owner George Carney has also applied for a license to return thoroughbred races to that 5/8th-mile track.


National child advocacy group which sued state for DCF reforms slams AG Martha Coakley over claim that lawsuit was profit-driven

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The national children's advocacy group at the center of a firestorm in the race for governor blasted as "irresponsible" the charge by Attorney General Martha Coakley that the group's lawsuit against the Department of Children and Families was meritless and driven by profit-seeking.

By Matt Murphy, STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

BOSTON —The national children's advocacy group at the center of a firestorm in the race for governor blasted as "irresponsible" the charge by Attorney General Martha Coakley that the group's lawsuit against the Department of Children and Families was meritless and driven by profit-seeking.

Coakley this week defended her decision to fight a lawsuit filed against the state by Children's Rights as she denounced a new ad being aired by a Republican funded super PAC attacking her record on child protection.

"Frankly, any suggestion that the lawsuit is motivated by money is irresponsible. It is not about legal fees or politics. It is about the state's most vulnerable kids being harmed in the very system that is meant to protect them," said Sara Bartosz, lead counsel for Children's Rights, in a statement.

The lawsuit, currently under appeal, was dismissed on legal grounds by a Boston federal court judge, but not before Judge William Young described his decision as "dispiriting" and lamented the underfunding of the state's foster care and child protection services system.

He also faulted DCF for failing to comply state and federal standards and its own internal policies, but wrote the problems were "more about budgetary shortfalls than management myopia."

"We are all complicit in this financial failure. When next you bemoan your tax burden, remember that, at that moment, somewhere in Massachusetts there is a youngster who has just been taken from her parents' home. She is confused, inexpressibly lonely, homesick, and desperately afraid. Because of Massachusetts' penury, her future is murkier than in most places in America. Do you care?" Young wrote.

Coakley, during a press conference Thursday at her Somerville campaign headquarters, said Children's Rights was "wrong" to bring the suit.

"The case was brought by attorneys outside Massachusetts seeking millions of taxpayer dollars in fees and in our job representing that agency we took the position that their solution was one-size-fits-all. It wasn't right for Massachusetts. And we would make sure that we should put our resources into making DCF better, not paying lawyers from across the country who brought suits like that. I know we need to do better at DCF," Coakley said.

Bartosz said it was "untrue" that the group offered a one-sized solution, contending that it welcomed the opportunity to work with Massachusetts to fix problems in foster care, but met legal resistance in the state. At least 15 of the 20 states similarly sued by Children's Rights settled the cases rather than fight in court, and Bartosz said it was "troubling" that the attorney general would say the case was without merit.

Since the organization filed the lawsuit in 2010, she said, "The public has seen in shocking detail how children are suffering because of the agency's systemic flaws."


5-alarm fire in Boston leaves 2 firefighters injured, 34 people homeless

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Boston fire officials fought an overnight five-alarm fire that destroyed two buildings has left 34 homeless, caused more than $1 million in damage and injured two firefighters.

BOSTON (AP) -- Boston fire officials fought an overnight five-alarm fire that destroyed two buildings has left 34 homeless, caused more than $1 million in damage and injured two firefighters.

Boston Fire Department patch.jpg

The Boston Fire Department said on Saturday that the massive blaze broke out at one triple decker just before 1 a.m. Saturday morning. The fire then jumped through the roof to the neighboring building.

One firefighter suffered a knee injury and the second one was treated for heat exhaustion. They are expected to recover, however, and none of the residents were injured.

The fire department announced on its Twitter page that authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire on East Boston's Saratoga Street.


Rhode Island woman heartbroken when adoption of Chihuahua nursed back to health at Springfield shelter falls through in final moments

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Riga said was wasn't sure whether the adoption center would dig back in to previous applications to adopt Sunflower, or put her back out for open adoption.

This is an update to a story posted at 1:22 p.m. Saturday.


SPRINGFIELD — The adoption of a once-emaciated Chihuahua found on city streets last month fell through in the final moments of the process, according to the prospective adoptive owner, who drove two hours from Warwick, Rhode Island to adopt the dog.

The pup, nicknamed Sunflower, was delivered to the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center and was nursed back to health there after being recovered discovered by animal control officers in a near-starved state.

Officials of the center sent out a press release earlier this week, announcing the dog would be officially adopted Saturday. Marisa Grilli, the prospective owner, was waiting outside for the doors to open at noon. A member of an animal rescue league in Rhode Island, Grilli applied to adopt the dog as a companion for another rescue dog, Penny, which she acquired last year.

However, after a two-hour wait, the adoption went awry when Grilli discovered Sunflower - which she intended to rename Chloe - did not have a current rabies vaccine.

"I cried my heart out. I had everything in my back seat to take this dog home," Grilli said during an interview after the process fell apart. I was told she was up to date on all of her shots ... Maybe it was a miscommunication but rabies is just too big an issue. I have to think of both dogs."

marisa.JPGSPRINGFIELD - Marisa Grilli, of Warwick, R.I., arrived at the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center to adopt "Sunflower," a Chihuahua found starving in the streets last month. She was heartbroken, however, when the adoption fell through at the last moment.

Tessa Riga, operations manager at the adoption center, said the veterinarian felt Sunflower needed to wait another three weeks to receive her rabies shot because of the pup's still-fragile physical state. When the 1-year-old Chihuahua arrived there, she was just under three pounds.

"We measure dogs' body conditions on a scale from zero to nine - nine being obese and zero being dead. Sunflower was at a .5. We weren't sure she was going to live," Riga said.

Consequently, the veterinarian determined the dog needed to wait a little longer for its latest rabies shot. Riga was unsure where communications fell down between the parties.

"I wish them all the best, I really do. They do great things there ... but I do wish she was coming home with me," Grilli said tearfully.

She made two round-trip trips to the center from Rhode Island in preparation for the adoption.

Riga said was wasn't sure whether the center will dig back in to previous applications to adopt Sunflower, or put her back out for open adoption.


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Reactions to Northampton's "liquor license lottery" vary; councilor Jesse Adams says License Commission should have deliberated on merits

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Council President Bill Dwight called the lottery "the best of a lot of bad options."

NORTHAMPTON — The dust has settled after Northampton's "Liquor License Lottery," with the name of Bistro Les Gras at 25 West St. drawn at random from a field of seven contenders for the valuable license at the close of a License Commission hearing Oct. 1.

Elizabeth Martinez, who owns the French-influenced farm-to-table restaurant in the Smith College neighborhood with her husband Daniel, said she was thrilled, and that the license would help with the growth and stability of their business.

But debate continues over the process, with some saying the city's License Commission should have evaluated the applicants on their merits and made a choice based upon benefit to the city, rather than drawing a name at random from a lottery drum.

Commission chairman Bill Rosen announced on Sept. 22 that a lottery would be held, but the commission did not take a formal vote to hold the lottery until Oct. 1, the day of the drawing itself. Minutes from a July commission meeting show all three commissioners agreeing that a lottery would be "fair."

Earlier this year, West Springfield was in a similar situation, with a rare, valuable license to award, and six applicants in the mix — but no lottery was held. Instead, the commission awarded the prize in May to Pintu's Indian Palace on the basis of its parking capacity, track record, lack of violations, seating capacity, and contributions to the community.

In Northampton, applications were received from Treydon's Bar and Grill, which would open at the former Kathy's Diner at 6 Strong Ave.; Bistro Les Gras at 25 West St.; Sierra Grille at 41A Strong Ave.; Hinge nightclub at 48 Main St.; Ibiza Tapas at 7 Strong Ave.; Local Burger at 16 Main St.; and Sylvester's at 111 Pleasant St. The seven applicants made presentations to the commission on Sept. 22 and 23, and the lottery was held a week later.

The only venues opposed by any member of the commission were Treydon's and Hinge. On Oct. 1, commissioner Elaine Real voted to remove the two from the pool, questioning their financial viability and lack of track record, but was outnumbered by commission chairman Bill Rosen and commissioner Brian Campadelli.

"I don't know that much about them," said Campadelli, before voting to keep Hinge, and its not-yet-proprietor Aaron Kater, in the running. As for Treydon's, Campadelli said "I used to eat at Treydon's when it was open in Easthampton," before casting his vote of support.

Rosen said he had questions about Hinge, but told the 28-year-old Kater "you deserve a chance to succeed" and that it would be "great to have more live music downtown." Hinge not only serves food, but has live entertainment and DJ dancing several nights a week.

The name on Hinge's license application was not Kater's, but that of Brian Assaunt, who on Sept. 22 described himself to the commission as the "51-percent owner." Kater on that date said he was saving up his money to buy Assaunt out. Nonetheless, he described himself to the commission as "the new owner of Hinge." On Oct. 1, Kater at first told commissioners he would apply for a bank loan to renovate the premises, then told them he didn't need any outside financing at all.

Hinge was also the only applicant to meet any opposition from the public. On Sept. 23, downtown property manager Jeff Dwyer spoke out against Hinge, saying the nightclub under Assaunt hadn't been a good neighbor. Kater responded that under his management, things would be different.

Peter St. Martin, who owns Sylvester's with his partner Maureen McGuiness, said he sympathized with the License Commission.

"I understand why they held the lottery." St. Martin said. "I wouldn't have wanted to choose from among the five very qualified applicants."

St. Martin said he meant no disrespect, but that Hinge and Treydon's didn't have the track record of the others.

O'Brian C. Tomalin, owner and manager of the Sierra Grille, said the commission should have set a higher bar at the outset, eliminated applicants who were not qualified, deliberated, and made a decision based upon merit and benefit to the community, not chance.

There were "too many questions" about Treydon's and Hinge, he said, adding that he was surprised the commission let the two remain in contention. "I object that everybody made the cut," said Tomalin.

Tomalin also said the commission should have been more specific in defining the concept of "community benefit" in determining the fate of the license. Taxes generated and jobs created could have been part of the equation, he said, as well as experience and track record. "I have years of experience managing liquor licenses. We have never had any kind of compliance problem," he said. "We create jobs, and we pay a lot of taxes to the city."

Sierra generated $100,000 in sales taxes last year, a portion of which went went to the city in the form of a .75 percent local option meals tax, said Tomalin. Sierra Grille also sustains 28 employees, he said. Tomalin said he is "surrounded" by restaurants that offer full alcohol, putting him at a competitive disadvantage.

Tomalin said he has a lot of respect for the restaurant proprietors who vied for the license, but that the process was flawed. He has an appointment to meet with Mayor David J. Narkewicz Monday to discuss his concerns.

Kater, found working late Thursday afternoon at Hinge, said he was not all that disappointed he did not prevail in the lottery. "There will be other chances," he said.

Kater said the commission should have narrowed down the applicants to the most qualified before holding a lottery. Asked if he understood that would probably have eliminated him from contention, he said he didn't mind.

Kater said the decision to hold a lottery was probably the best way to ease the public's mind that there was no favoritism or conflict of interest exhibited by commissioners.

He also said the state should lift its population-based cap on liquor licenses. "It should be up to the town," he said.

Lifting the cap would eliminate motivation for licensees to hold on to the permits for years, never putting them to use, simply because of their value as a commodity, he said. "So let Eric (Suher's) license he had stashed in his back pocket crash in value," said Kater.

"I know I was the most controversial (applicant)," Kater said. "I mean, I'm the new guy in town, and I'm young."

Several storefronts down Main Street, Jeff Igneri of Local Burger said he was happy for Bistro Les Gras. "The license will help them grow their business," he said. "(Daniel and Elizabeth Martinez) are wonderful people, and it's a good fit."

Igneri said he would not apply for a beer and wine license, having lost an opportunity for the all-alcohol license. "People can still bring a bottle of wine or six pack to Local Burger," he said. "It's a good, low-cost dining option for lots of folks."

Four of the applicants — Bistro Les Gras, Sierra Grille, Hinge, and Ibiza Tapas — already served beer and wine. Local Burger, known for its late-night food scene, lets people bring their own bottles, and Sylvesters, famous for breakfast and lunch, would have expanded to dinner with the license. Treydon's, a former Easthampton restaurant, does not exist. But applicant Landon Jenkins said he would have purchased the former Kathy's Diner and re-opened if granted a liquor license.

Commission chairman Rosen did not respond to an email requesting comment on the lottery process, and whether, in retrospect, it was the best approach.

City Council Vice President Jesse Adams said the commission should not have held a lottery to award the license. "I have great respect for the commission, but I would have preferred the decision to have come after genuine deliberation, and not left to chance," he said. Adams said the License Commission is appointed to make just those hard decisions.

Council President Bill Dwight called the lottery "the best of a lot of bad options." He noted that when liquor licenses are privately sold, there's no vetting process to determine if the recipient will provide "community benefit." 

Dwight said the real problem is the artificial cap on full-pour liquor licenses imposed by the state legislature. Early this year, a proposal to lift the cap was approved by the Massachusetts Senate but died in the House.

With cities and towns see their Main Street stores losing retail traffic to the Internet, Dwight said, the health of downtowns is increasingly dependent upon the bar and restaurant trade.  He said the legislature will see increased pressure from municipalities to lift the "archaic and dysfunctional" population-based cap.

The license awarded Oct. 1 is that seized from businessman Eric Suher in May on the grounds that it constituted an unused "pocket license."  Because Northampton exceeds the state quota for full-pour licenses, no more are being issued. As a result, they generally change hands privately for many thousands of dollars. Commissioners said they could not remember the last time a license was awarded by the city.

In advertising the availability of the license, the commission reserved the right to consider the "broad interests of the city" in making its award.

General Motors recalls over 60,000 Cadillac, Chevrolet, Pontiac vehicles

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General Motors is recalling more than 60,000 vehicles in North America, the latest round of recalls this year for the automaker.

DETROIT -- General Motors is recalling more than 60,000 vehicles in North America, the latest round of recalls this year for the automaker.

The company outlined three new recalls Saturday, the biggest of which affects 46,873 vehicles in the U.S.

The recalls are Pontiac G8s from the 2008 through the 2009 model years and 2011-2013 model Chevrolet Caprice PPV left-hand-drive sedans imported from Australia.

The ignition switch key may shift from the "run" position when touched by the driver's knee, GM said.

The company is aware of one crash related to the problem, but no injuries.

Another U.S. recall covers over 10,005 Cadillac CTS-V sedans from the 2004-2007 model years and 2006-2007 model Cadillac STS-Vs.

On some vehicles, the fuel pump module electrical terminal may overheat, causing the flange material to melt, GM said.

That can lead to a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a stall and fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

GM said it knows of no crashes or injuries related to the problem.

The automaker also issued a recall for 304 of the 2014 model-year Chevrolet Sonics in the U.S., saying the vehicles may have a loose electrical connection in the steering column that could affect the performance of the driver-side air bag.

GM is not aware of any crashes, injuries related to the potential malfunction.

All told, the latest recalls included 57,182 vehicles in the U.S. and 60,575 in North America.

GM's safety problems began earlier this year with the recall of 2.6 million small cars with faulty ignition switches.

The problem caused crashes that are responsible for at least 23 deaths. GM has admitted knowing about the problem for more than a decade yet it failed to recall the cars until February of this year.

Republican Charlie Baker wins over local baker during campaign stop in Springfield

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A Springfield businessman says he never involves himself in politics but after spending time with Charlie Baker on Saturday, he decided to put a campaign sign in his window.

SPRINGFIELD — During the 11 years Koffee Kup Bakery owner Dino Facente has had a booth at The Big E, he and his wife Annalisa have met dozens of politicians.

They all strike up a conversation and fawn over their baked goods, but only one made good on the promise to stop into their shop to say hello- Republican gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker.

After an early morning stop in Chicopee to quietly bag a couple of endorsements, Baker made his way to the Springfield Plaza on Liberty Street to spend some time visiting the Facente family and their patrons.

Dino Facente says he typically doesn't involve himself in politics, as it can turn people off in regards to patronizing a business, but after the visit he was "a baker for Baker."

"I've been following politics for a while and I'm an independent. If I feel a person is the best candidate, I vote for them," Facente said. "But I've never put a campaign sign up in the 20 years I've owned the business. Today, I put his sign up."

So other than keeping his word on making a visit, what won over Facente? He says it was a random act of kindness that the businessman felt transcended politics to show the candidate's compassionate side.

"There was this older couple ordering a wedding cake because they wanted to renew their vows. They were supposed to come in this afternoon but called late last night to switch their appointment to this morning, because they had to head out of town," Facente said. "They were in and Charlie just struck up a conversation with them. They weren't even talking about politics. I had to go in the back to do something and when I came back out, Charlie walked up to me and took out a $100 bill, and said he wanted to put it toward their cake, but didn't want me to tell them where it came from. First I told him to put it away but when I realized he was so serious, I told him I'd do it, but I was going to tell them where it came from. He agreed, as long as I waited until after he left, so I did."

Facente said that he and the couple were blown away that Baker donated his own money to help buy their cake.

"No one knew he was going to do this. Even the person who brought him there was shocked," Facente said. "That $100 made a huge difference for them. I really hope he wins because he is a genuine guy."

Baker's morning stop in Springfield came as his Democratic competitor, Attorney General Martha Coakley, spent much of the day campaigning in Western Massachusetts. Coakley spent time greeting voters in Greenfield and Northampton before heading to Berkshire County to finish her campaign swing.

Recent polling has shown Baker and Coakley in a dead heat with the three independent candidates, Evan Falchuk, Jeff McCormick and Scott Lively, all pulling support from less than fire percent of likely voters. The election will take place on Nov. 4.


Boston Herald officials to meet with public after editorial cartoon featuring President Obama and watermelon toothpaste offends

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A spokeswoman for the Boston Herald said Saturday that newspaper officials are looking forward to meeting with community members who were offended by its editorial cartoon meant to satirize the Secret Service after an intruder made it deep into the White House.

By RODRIQUE NGOWI, Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — A spokeswoman for the Boston Herald said Saturday that newspaper officials are looking forward to meeting with community members who were offended by its editorial cartoon meant to satirize the Secret Service after an intruder made it deep into the White House.

The cartoon published this past week has been criticized as racist. It shows a man taking a bath watching President Barack Obama brush his teeth. The man says, "Have you tried the new watermelon flavored toothpaste?" The caption reads: "White House invader got farther than originally thought."

The cartoonist, Jerry Holbert, has apologized, saying he got the idea after finding "kids' Colgate watermelon flavor" toothpaste in the bathroom at his home and was "completely naive or innocent to any racial connotations."

Gov. Deval Patrick, the state's first black governor, has called the editorial "offensive" and "stupid."

The Boston Branch of the NAACP said Friday that the cartoon "reopened the wounds of race in Boston" and that the newspaper's "apology is an inadequate response." They asked for the newspaper to participate in a community meeting hosted by the NAACP to discuss the cartoon and what can be done to prevent racially offensive reporting.

The NAACP also pressed the Boston Herald to provide diversity training for its staff that includes information on the many racially insensitive images and rhetoric in the nation's history. The group also called on the newspaper to ensure more diversity, particularly on the news and editorial operations.

On Friday, Jennifer Miller, the Boston Herald's deputy managing editor for news, spoke with Boston NAACP President Michael Curry and said the newspaper will participate in the community meeting and is considering diversity training, according to the civil rights group.

Newspaper spokeswoman Gwen Gage reiterated Saturday that the cartoonist and publican meant no harm but were sorry to anyone who was offended by it.

"The Herald has made it clear that this editorial page cartoon was unacceptable in its insensitivity and racial overtones," newspaper spokeswoman Gwen Gage said in an email. "Both the newspaper and cartoonist intended no such inference and immediately apologized for the pain its publication may have caused."

She said Herald officials would attend the community meeting.

"We look forward to continuing our partnership with the NAACP and meeting with them to address the concerns that arose as a result," Gage said.

Pedestrian injured, State Street partially closed following accident in Springfield

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A pedestrian was found lying in the road, injured but breathing Saturday evening after apparently being struck by a vehicle on State Street.

SPRINGFIELD — A pedestrian was found lying in the road, injured but breathing Saturday evening after apparently being struck by a vehicle on State Street.

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Around 6:52 p.m., a passing Springfield police officer on patrol spotted the pedestrian in the road near 837 State St.

Additional units were called to the scene along with an ambulance. Within seconds of the first dispatch, an officer on the scene told a dispatcher to rush the ambulance.

The extent of the pedestrian's injuries weren't immediately clear as the situation is developing. The westbound lanes of State Street were closed at Andrew Street while the Eastbound lanes were closed at Catharine Street. Traffic was being diverted around the scene via side streets for westbound vehicles and via Wilbraham Road for eastbound travelers.

Additional information wasn't immediately available as the situation is developing.



Ebola not cause of man throwing up on United Airlines flight, N.J. officials say

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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials met United Airlines Flight 998.

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey health officials say Ebola has been ruled out as the cause of illness for a man who became sick on a flight from Brussels to the United States.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials met United Airlines Flight 998 when it landed late Saturday afternoon at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Port Authority spokeswoman Erica Dumas says the man began throwing up during the flight. Dumas says the man's daughter was also on board and taken off with him.

Authorities say the plane's crew and roughly 250 passengers stayed onboard for about 90 minutes while the man was treated.

Health officials say the man's symptoms were later shown to be consistent with a minor, treatable illness.

Photos: Springfield's Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Taste of Italy

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SPRINGFIELD - The Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Taste of Italy was held Saturday, Oct. 4 at the South End Middle School. The event is an annual fundraiser for the parish. The event started in 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. Families bring their favorite recipes to promote their Italian region. The event, also a...

SPRINGFIELD - The Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Taste of Italy was held Saturday, Oct. 4 at the South End Middle School. The event is an annual fundraiser for the parish.

The event started in 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. Families bring their favorite recipes to promote their Italian region.

The event, also a social gala, features 40 plus booths serving Italian favorites. Most of the booths feature traditional homemade Italian family recipes, or foods from local Italian restaurants and specialty food shops.

Peace activist inside plastic bubble floating to Bermuda is rescued by Coast Guard

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A Coast Guard air crew was able to safely pick up Reza Baluchi and the bubble Saturday morning.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A longtime endurance runner and peace activist whose latest goal was to reach Bermuda in a homemade floating "Hydro Pod" was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday after he began suffering from fatigue.

A Coast Guard air crew was able to safely pick up Reza Baluchi and the bubble Saturday morning, Coast Guard spokeswoman Marilyn Fajardo said in a statement. He was transported to a nearby Coast Guard station and found to be uninjured, Fajardo said.

A statement on Baluchi's website said the Iranian exile had planned to make the 1,033-mile trip in his self-designed bubble to raise money "for children in need" and "to ... inspire those that have lost hope for a better future."

Baluchi has made headlines many times before with previous efforts to break long-distance running and cycling records , including one six-month journey in which he ran around the perimeter of the United States, and a seven-year bike trip that he said brought him across 55 countries on six continents. His self-professed mission is to promote world peace and unity. His perimeter run was to raise money for a children's hospital, according to his website.


Baluchi was granted asylum in the United States in 2003 after being arrested in Iran for so-called pro-Western and anti-Islamic activities, including eating during the holy month of Ramadan, according to his lawyer at the time, Suzannah Maclay. Baluchi served 1 1/2 years in jail for associating with "counterrevolutionaries" and was hung from a tree by handcuffs for carrying a prohibited movie, Maclay said. The Coast Guard described him as a U.S. Citizen.

The "Hydro Pod" is a large bubble made of 3-mm- (0.11-inch)-thick plastic, Baluchi's website, "Run With Reza" says. The bubble, which he propelled forward by running inside and pushing it with his arms, was housed in a large aluminum-type frame studded at intervals with inflated soccer balls. A man who appears on a video during the bubble's construction compares it to a hamster wheel.

According to the site, Baluchi planned to run in the bubble in the mornings, cool off in the sea while leashed to the floating sphere, and sleep in a hammock inside it at night. In addition to the protein bars the Coast Guard said it found in his bubble, he planned to catch and eat fish, the site said.

Officials originally received a report of Baluchi floating in the bubble on Wednesday. The Coast Guard arrived on the scene about 70 nautical miles east of St. Augustine to find him disoriented and inquiring how to get to Bermuda. Crew members conveyed the dangers of the proposed trip and asked Baluchi to end it.

He refused, but activated his locator beacon Saturday because of fatigue, Fajardo said.

Photos: Western Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses gala at Chez Jose

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AGAWAM - The Western Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses held the organization's first gala at Chez Josef on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. The inaugural gala honored local businesses and college's and was a scholarship fundraiser. The organization's goal is to promote Hispanic nursing leadership.

AGAWAM - The Western Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses held the organization's first gala at Chez Josef on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014.

The inaugural gala honored local businesses and college's and was a scholarship fundraiser. The organization's goal is to promote Hispanic nursing leadership.

Springfield police complete pedestrian accident investigation

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Police continue to investigate pedestrian accident in Mason Square

SPRINGFIELD— Police investigators are finishing up their work at the scene of a pedestrian accident at 837 State St., in which a woman may have been struck twice by passing cars.

A patrolling officer noticed a woman lying in State Street near the intersection with Hayden Avenue shortly before 7 p.m. She was rushed to the Baystate Medical Center by ambulance, but, so far neither police nor hospital officials have not released information about the woman's current condition.

Members of the Springfield Police Traffic Bureau have been at the scene of the crash since just after it was reported interviewing possible witnesses, including the driver or drivers who may have hit the woman.

WWLP-TV is reporting that perhaps two vehicles struck the unidentified woman; one as she was crossing the street and the second as she lie in the street.

Traffic was rerouted through the Mason Square area as police photographed the scene and took necessary measurements.

This is a breaking story and we will post new information as it becomes available.

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