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Body found in Simsbury park

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Simsbury police are investigating the apparent unattended death of a male found in Tariffville Park.

SIMSBURY— Simsbury police recovered the body of a male individual Friday, found in a park in the Tariffville section of the town.

Simsbury Police Officer Jeremy Cormier, quoting from a press release, said the body was found in a "secluded and wooded section of the park," situated on the shore of the Farmington River.

The Tariffville Park is located in the northeastern portion of the town, approximately one-quarter of a mile from the Tariffville Elementary School.

Police said it appeared that the man was living in the woods, and his death does not appear to be suspicious.

The state Medical Examiner's Office has taken custody of the remains and will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.



Yesterday's top stories: 'Ferguson' demonstration breaks out briefly at mall, marijuana and guns found in former jail guard's home, and more

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The City Council would like to speak to City Treasurer Jon Lumbra about his plans because Lumbra has a new full-time job that he said he will do while continuing as treasurer until early January.

These were the most read stories on MassLive.com yesterday. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now. The most viewed item overall, however, the Tower Square Parade of Big Balloons photo gallery, above.

1) 'Ferguson' demonstration briefly breaks out at Holyoke Mall [Patrick Johnson]

2) Pittsfield police: 63 pounds of marijuana, 13 guns found in home of former jail guard [Associated Press]

3) Holyoke City Council concerned about City Treasurer Jon Lumbra's future [Mike Plaisance]

4) What will the New England Patriots do with open roster spots? [Kevin Duffy]

5) State police: 10 accidents, reported on interstates 291 and 391 over last 2 hours, caused by ice and excessive speed [George Graham]

Alleged shooter of Goshen man considered 'dangerous' by court

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A judge said Peter Campbell is too dangerous to be on the street before his trial for shooting a Goshen man during a drug transaction. The man died the next day..

PITTSFIELD— A Central Berkshire District Court judge has found Peter Campbell "dangerous" and ruled he can be held without the right to bail for 120 days. Judge William O'Grady issued his finding Friday after a Wednesday hearing.

Campbell is accused of shooting Anthony Gamache, 29, of Goshen during a drug deal or robbery November 18. Gamache died the next day.

According to the Berkshire Eagle, O'Grady cited previous violent acts Campbell is accused of in making his determination that accused is too dangerous to allow out on the street prior to trial. O'Grady stated in his written finding that Campbell had "a prior history of violence, even in a structured environment." During the hearing Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Dana Parsons told the court that Campbell had a history of violence, including accusations he poured scalding water on a disabled relative, and assaulted staff members at a school.

Pittsfield police allege that Campbell and an accomplice met with Gamache and two others in a Big Y parking lot the evening of November 18. Apparently witnesses said Gamache was there to buy a quarter pound of marijuana. However, Gamache's family denied it was a "drug deal gone bad," but a robbery straight out attempt by Campbell.

When questioned by police, Campbell said he told Gamache he would sell him the marijuana, but said he intended to rob Gamache when he showed the money.

Campbell was carrying an unregistered .380 pistol when he climbed into the passenger seat of Gamache's vehicle. The two talked and at one point Campbell pulled the gun out and pointed it at Gamache's leg. Campbell admitted having the weapon and said the gun went off during a brief struggle. The bullet went into Gamache's leg, chipping the femur, according to an autopsy conducted shortly after the shooting.

Gamache's friends drove him to the Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. Doctor's there transferred him to the trauma unit at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where he was treated and released. The next day Gamache experienced pain and difficulty breathing. He died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Campbell entered pleas of not guilty to charges of felony armed assault to rob with a handgun and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and misdemeanor charges of possession of a firearm without a license and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building. The handgun used has not been found, police said.

Federal judge bans Big Gulp sales at Holyoke convenience store facing trademark infringement lawsuit by 7-Eleven chain

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The rulings came five months after the Dallas-based chain terminated Grewal's franchise agreement, claiming the store routinely shortchanged the chain by underreporting sales of cigarettes, soda and other items.

SPRINGFIELD — No more Big Gulps.

No Slurpees either.

That was the message U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni delivered this week to a Holyoke convenience store being sued by the 7-Eleven chain which is claiming fraud and trademark infringement.

Responding to 7-Eleven's request for a preliminary injunction, the judge barred store owner Mohinder Grewal, of South Hadley, from selling 7-Eleven trademarked products or "confusingly similar" items until the lawsuit is resolved.

But Mastroianni rejected the chain's assertion that Grewal and her husband, Mann Grewal, should be banned for one year from doing business at the 539 Pleasant St. store or any other location. The judge also rejected a request by the Grewals to force 7-Eleven to reinstate their franchise rights.

The rulings came five months after the Dallas-based chain terminated Mohinder Grewal's franchise agreement, claiming the store routinely shortchanged the chain by underreporting sales of cigarettes, soda and other items.

In particular, the Holyoke store had an unexplained $131,000 cigarette shortage during an 18-month period ending in March, according to a lawsuit filed by the national chain against the Grewals and the Grewal Corporation.

During a hearing in U.S. District Court in July, the store owner denied any financial misconduct and said she was being punished for refusing to stock blueberry doughnuts, apple fritters, egg salad sandwiches and other unpopular items.

In court filings, Grewal also cites a California lawsuit alleging that 7-Eleven has participated in a pattern of discrimination and intimidation against South Asian franchise owners.

The store operates 24 hours a day, and has a beer and wine license, according to court records and testimony. Under the store's franchise agreement, 7-Eleven gets roughly 50 percent of the monthly proceeds, and provides most of the food and beverages sold, as well as equipment, displays and other items.

At the July hearing, Mohinder Grewal testified that sales plummeted after 7-Eleven terminated the franchise agreement on June 24.

Unable to sell lottery tickets, gift cards, hot dogs, Slurpees and other customer favorites, the store lost 30 percent of its business, she testified.

In its lawsuit, 7-Eleven said the fraudulent activity took place late at night when the Grewals worked alone.

The couple would turn off security cameras and pocket money paid by customers or ring up sales of 7-Eleven food items as beer, wine or other non-chain items, according to the suit.

No other store employee was engaged in fraudulent sales practices, the suit said. The Grewals have denied all allegations.

Police investigate fatal Westfield crash

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The driver of a pickup truck that crashed in Westfield Friday night has died, police said.

WESTFIELD— The driver of a pickup truck involved in a single-vehicle crash on Route 20 in Westfield Friday night has died, police said. An update to this story was posted at 2:12 p.m. Saturday.

Westfield Police Lt. Michael LaCroix said the unidentified driver was transported from the scene of the 9:48 p.m. crash to Noble Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Both the Westfield Police Traffic Bureau and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section are investigating the incident. LaCroix said the driver, who was alone in the vehicle, apparently lost control and drove off the side of the roadway and crashed into a tree.

Route 20, also known as Russell Road, was closed as officers worked at the crash site in the vicinity of 880 Russell Road, near the now-demolished Sheraton Inn. Traffic was diverted for approximately two hours until the road was reopened at approximately midnight.

Police are withholding the name of the deceased pending notification of family.

Obituaries today: Alexander Schultz was supervisor at Millennium Power Services

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Obituaries from The Republican.

 
112914-alex-schultz.jpgAlexander Schultz 

Alexander Edward Schultz, 23, of Westfield died Wednesday. He was born in Westfield, grew up in Westfield and attended local schools. He worked as a supervisor at Millennium Power Services.

To view all obituaries from The Republican:
» Click here

Vermont State Police: single-car crash in Huntington leaves one dead

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The passenger suffered "significant injuries" and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Huntington, Vt.- A 20-year-old passenger was killed in a single car crash Friday morning, according to state police.

The wreck occurred on Lincoln Hill Road, when a 2008 Chevy 1500 Truck careened off the street and into a tree. The 21-year-old driver, Tyler J. Raymond, was uninjured, according Vermont State Police Sgt. Robert J. Lucas. The passenger has yet to be identified.

Huntington is a small town about 25 miles south of Burlington, Vt.

The passenger side of the truck sustained the direct impact of the crash, police said. The victim suffered "significant injuries" and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lincoln Hill Road was closed to through traffic for several hours to allow emergency personnel to work freely, Lucas said in a press release. The Huntington Fire Department, Hinesburg Fire and Police departments and Richmond Police Department assisted at the accident scene.

The victim will be identified at a later date, Lucas said. Neither the driver nor the passenger was wearing a seat belt. The cause of the crash is still under investigation but police said the truck was traveling on hard-packed snow over gravel.

Athol man killed in Route 20 truck accident in Westfield

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Police said John S. Robertson Jr. drove off the road and struck a tree.

This is an update to a story originally posted at 7:17 a.m. Saturday.

WESTFIELD - Westfield police have identified the driver of the vehicle killed in a Friday night accident on Russell Road as John S. Robertson Jr. of Athol.

Robertson was pronounced dead at Noble Hospital in Westfield following the accident, which was reported at 9:48 p.m., police said.

Robertson was driving east on Russell Road, also known as Route 20, when his pickup truck went off the road and struck a tree.

The accident happened in the area of 880 Russell Road, roughly a half-mile west of Tekoa Country Club.

The accident remains under investigation by the Westfield Police traffic bureau and the Massachusetts State Police accident reconstruction team.


New copper roof on tap for historic Shelburne Falls library as capital campaign nears halfway mark

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The Arms Library 'Put a Roof On It' campaign is aiming for $1.3 million.

SHELBURNE -- A historic library building in the scenic village of Shelburne Falls is poised to serve west Franklin County for another century, thanks to an ambitious fundraising effort and the generosity of donors both large and small -- including noted filmmaker Ken Burns.

The news that enough money has been raised to replace the building's signature copper dome comes as the Arms Library celebrates the centennial of the Pratt Memorial Building, donated to the town in 1914 by industrialist Francis R. Pratt. The building houses the library established in 1854 by philanthropist Ira Arms.

The Pratt building suffers from a leaking roof, outdated mechanical systems, drafty windows, poor drainage, and other structural problems. A $1.3 million capital campaign is underway, and more than $600,000 has already been raised.

"We were actually shop-vaccing water out of the basement at one point," said library director Laurie Wheeler on Saturday, while pointing out damage to the interior plaster walls. "Parts of the architectural detailing were falling in."

Donna Liebl is co-chairwoman of the "Put a Roof On It" capital campaign. She said the first phase of the building's renovations -- which involves replacing the copper dome, ribbing, and cap -- will go out to bid in January, with work to begin in April.

"That will stop the leaks," Liebl said. "We've patched it many times. It's time for a complete overhaul."

Liebl ticked off the major sources of funding: $120,000 from the town of Shelburne; four grants totaling $227,000; $10,000 each from the Greenfield Savings Bank, the Greenfield Cooperative Bank, and Peoples United Bank; $113,161 from 148 individual doners, and $12,500 raised last February during a special "Evening with Ken Burns" featuring a preview of the filmmaker's latest documentary, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History.

The first phase of the project, pegged at $750,000, involves replacing the copper dome along with its ribs, flashing, and cap. Red clay tiles will be replaced on the gabled section of the roof, new copper gutters will be installed, and stone sidewalls at the building's front entrance will be reset. In addition, long-standing drainage problems will be addressed.

Phase II, which will commence after the major structural items are attended to, involves replacing windows and installing electrical, mechanical, lighting, and technology upgrades, said Wheeler. The project is being led by Jones Whitsett architects of Greenfield.

"There is no way we could replace this building today," said Liebl, who praised the structure's Beaux Arts architecture, fine materials, and hand-carved interior work. "It's the cornerstone of the business district."

The library is governed by the non-profit Arms Library Association, said Liebl; while the actual building is owned by the town of Shelburne. The Arms Library is the biggest and most popular library in western Franklin County, she said, circulating nearly 23,000 items last year.

Wheeler said it was "incredibly exciting" that the fundraising effort was going well, and said a snug, dry, upgraded building will serve residents of Shelburne, Buckland, and the surrounding towns for generations to come.

"The support has been endless," said Liebl. "And it just keeps on growing."

A lesson from Ferguson: Police can get better at defusing situations

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Departments around the country have in recent years stepped up their training in "de-escalation" -- the art of defusing a tense situation with a word or a gesture instead of being confrontational or reaching for a weapon.

SEATTLE -- The grand jury that declined to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson was focused on whether he might have acted in self-defense when he shot and killed unarmed, 18-year-old Michael Brown.

But the case raises another question: Could Wilson have avoided getting into a spot where he had to make that split-second, life-or-death decision?

Departments around the country have in recent years stepped up their training in "de-escalation" -- the art of defusing a tense situation with a word or a gesture instead of being confrontational or reaching for a weapon.

Proponents, including the Justice Department, say the approach can improve trust and understanding between police and residents, curtail the unnecessary use of force and improve the safety of officers and civilians alike.

"We haven't taught officers to just walk away," said Cambridge, Massachusetts, Police Commissioner Robert Haas. "But if the only reason a person is acting up is because you're standing there ... isn't that a viable approach?"

Haas and other law enforcement officials said they didn't want to second-guess Wilson's actions because they weren't in his shoes at the time of the Aug. 9 shooting.

But, many said, the case should accelerate a national discussion about police culture and the potential for broader training in de-escalation, which is considered especially important in dealing with people in mental health or drug-related crises.

In Missouri this month, a federal law enforcement team held training with St. Louis-area police, including top commanders from Ferguson, on how unintentional bias affects police work. That approach goes hand-in-hand with de-escalation.

"In every police encounter, the officer and the civilian bring with them and see the world through their experiences. The more these views diverge, the more they immediately see the other as a threat," said Jenny Durkan, the former U.S. attorney in Seattle who led the effort to curb excessive uses of force by city police.

According to Wilson's grand jury testimony, Brown and a friend were walking down the middle of the street when he drove up and asked them to use the sidewalk. When they declined, he suggested it again. Brown responded by cursing at him, Wilson said. He backed up his vehicle to confront Brown, who was carrying stolen cigars.

Brown shoved the vehicle's door shut as Wilson tried to open it, and then attacked the officer through the door's open window, Wilson said. The officer began shooting, then got out of the car, chased Brown, and fired some more when Brown turned around.

"My job isn't to just sit and wait," Wilson told ABC News.

In its investigations of police agencies, the Justice Department has singled out poor de-escalation tactics.

In a July report on the Newark, New Jersey, department, the DOJ faulted a "pattern and practice of taking immediate offensive action" rather than acting within the bounds of the Constitution and displaying the "thick skin and patience" needed for the job.

In Seattle and in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the DOJ blasted police for too quickly using flashlights, batons or stun guns as weapons when force could have been avoided.

In Seattle in 2010, an officer killed a Native American woodcarver who had crossed the street while holding a small knife and a block of wood. The officer got out of his car, and when the carver -- who turned out to be hard of hearing -- didn't immediately drop the tool as ordered, he was shot.

Like Wilson, the officer wasn't charged criminally because of the high bar for such prosecutions against police, but the case helped spur the federal civil rights investigation of the department. A consent decree overhauled the department's training, putting a premium on de-escalation and bias-free policing.

The DOJ has already launched a similar investigation in Ferguson.

In practice, de-escalation can take many forms, said Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb. Sometimes it means that multiple officers respond rather than one, because the larger presence can make excitable subjects realize they're outnumbered.

But for an officer, it can also mean calmly introducing yourself, listening to what someone is saying and simply relating to the person. The use of body-worn cameras can also help, experts say, because both officers and civilians tend to behave better when they know they're being recorded.

"If we can use language and presence to get people to comply with lawful orders, we can consider that a win," Whitcomb said.

Still, reducing tension can be easier said than done. A 2012 report from the Police Executive Research Forum describes challenges in utilizing de-escalation techniques, saying a younger generation of officers accustomed to communicating through email and other electronic media may be less skilled at face-to-face encounters.

And some officers worry about giving away the upper hand.

A group of Seattle police officers sued over the department's new use-of-force policy. They said while they too want to prevent excessive uses of force, the policy is overly complicated and could endanger officers by requiring them to hesitate before using force. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, but the officers have appealed.

"Traditional police training reinforces that you must always display a very strong, assertive presence," said Sue Rahr, executive director of Washington state's police academy. "But if the officer reacts to a challenge as most human beings would -- by challenging back -- the situation is going to devolve."

Small plane crashes in West Hartford; pilot OK: reports

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The plane crashed just after 3 p.m. on a highway under construction.

Reports out of Connecticut are that a small private plane crashed just south of Hartford off New Park Road, roughly five miles away from Hartford-Brainaird Airport.

There are no reported injuries in the crash, reported at about 3:15 p.m. according to WFSB Eyewitness News of Hartford. About 30 gallons of fuel was spilled and officials are responding to the scene to conduct a clean up.

Photos from the scene show the single-engine Cesna, crashed into a concrete barried along the highway and one of its wings is torn off. A tweet from Hartford Deputy Police Chief Brian Foley says "Could have been worse."

WFSB also reports the Federal Aviation Administration and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection have been dispatched to the scene.

The plane went down on the CTfastrak busway that is just north of New Britain Avenue, according to the Hartford Courant. The busway, an express route for only bus traffic between New Britain and Hartford, is still under construction and not yet in use.

Foley told the Courant the plane was headed to Hartford-Brianard when it developed engine problems and went down.

The Courant also talked with a local business owner who was in his shop when he saw the plane go down.
After it skidded to a stop, shop owner Oscar Sosa saw the pilot climb out. The pilot yelled that he was OK and asked Sosa to call 911.

According to the aviation site, Flightaware.com, the plane with the call letters N759VG is registered to Danny Hall of Torrington, Connecticut. The plane is a single-engine, four-seat Cessna fixed-wing plane that was built in 1978

According to FlightAware, the plane departed from Atlantic City International Airport at 12:16 p.m. Saturday.

Darren Wilson, Ferguson cop involved in Michael Brown shooting, turns in badge

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Wilson, 28, has resigned from the Ferguson, Missouri police, his attorney say Saturday.


FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) -- The white police officer who killed Michael Brown has resigned from the Ferguson Police Department, his attorney said Saturday, nearly four months after the fatal confrontation with the black 18-year-old that fueled protests in the St. Louis suburb and across the nation.

Darren Wilson, 28, has been on administrative leave since the shooting on Aug. 9. His resignation was announced Saturday by one of his attorneys, Neil Bruntrager. The resignation is effective immediately, Bruntrager said. He declined further immediate comment but said he would release more details Saturday night.

The attorney for the Brown family, Benjamin Crump, did not immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment.

A grand jury spent more than three months reviewing evidence in the case before declining in November to issue any charges against Wilson. He told jurors that he feared for his life when Brown hit him and reached for his gun.

The U.S. Justice Department is still conducting a civil rights investigation into the shooting and a separate probe of police department practices.

The shooting struck up a national debate about race and police power.

After the shooting, Wilson spent months in hiding and made no public statements. He broke his silence after the grand jury decision, telling ABC News that he could not have done anything differently in the encounter with Brown.

Wilson said he has a clean conscience because "I know I did my job right." Brown's shooting was the first time he fired his gun on the job, he said.

Asked whether the encounter would have unfolded the same way if Brown had been white, Wilson said yes.

Wilson began his career in nearby Jennings before moving to the Ferguson job a few years ago. He had no previous complaints against him and a good career record, according to Police Chief Thomas Jackson, who called Wilson "an excellent police officer."

A few months before the shooting, Wilson had received a commendation for detaining a suspect in a drug case.

Kids take to ice in annual 'Learn to Skate' lessons offered by Springfield police

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More than 100 children received skating lessons from a dozen or so members of the Springfield police.


SPRINGFIELD - Waiting outside the Plexiglas that surrounds the ice rink at Cyr Arena was the hardest part.

Standing outside the rink, Laura Hasenjager of Springfield nervously watched as her son Shawn, age 5, was out on the ice learning to skate.

Being out on the ice meant equal amounts of time spent on the blade of his skates on the ice and of - boom! - being on the ice.

"He must have fallen eight or nine times," she said. "I'm a little nervous."

Hasenjager said she was having to resist her motherly urge to run out onto the ice each time he fell. Each time he went down he seemed to get back up again no worse for wear.

"He's got to learn," she said.

Shawn was one of roughly 100 children taking part in the annual Learn to Skate lessons offered by members of the Springfield Police Department.

The classes, free and open to anyone, are held at 3 p.m. each Saturday at Cyr Arena through Jan. 3.

Roughly 10 Springfield police officers and a few civilian employees of the department donated their personal time to help teach the children to skate. It's been like that each year for the last decade.

Springfield police Capt. Cheryl C. Clapprood said the lessons are becoming more popular each year. So much so that the department barely has to even promote it, she said.

The lessons culminate each year with a Christmas party on Dec. 20 where there will be gifts for the children and a visit from Santa Claus, she said.

"We don't put an age on it. It's for anyone who wants to learn to skate," she said. "If someone is 10 or 12 and they've never skated they can still come."

Throughout the rink there was complete range of abilities.

Some novices gingerly crept along on their blades, holding onto brackets, or plastic piping rigged up to resemble a walker, while others held tightly to the walls of the rink or to an adult's hand.

And then there were those who zigged and zagged, circled and spun, and otherwise darted about the ice with that reckless abandon of youth that makes parents and grandparents cringe.

"There she is!" said Diane Velis of Belchertown, pointing out her granddaughter, Sophia Baughn skating by on the ice. She said her granddaughter really likes skating.

"The first year we were here she hung onto the wall," she said. "When we came here today, she was looking for the same police officer who helped her the last two years.

Arielle Collazo, 10, of Springfield, who skated fearlessly about the ice, said she's relatively new to ice skating, having learned to roller skate and then roller blade.

"I really like it," she said.

After you fall a few times, you get used to it, she said, although it sometimes still hurts.

She said she couldn't remember the last time she fell.

Hasenjager said taking her son to the rink was his idea.

"He wanted to go. He doesn't know how but he wanted to learn," she said.

"I think he's going to be interested in hockey," she said. "Another thing is he loves police officers."

Hadley police: three Black Friday thieves arrested after being locked out of their car

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Hadley Police Officer Mitchell Kuc reviewed surveillance video as a result of the findings and saw three people abandon the cart. One was carrying a backpack filled with items.

HADLEY - Police arrested three women in connection with allegedly stealing $2,760.46 worth of goods from area shopping malls on Black Friday, according to The Republican/MassLive's media partner, CBS-3.

Hadley Police Officer Mitchell Kuc said three women were arrested at 6:40 a.m. after finding them locked out of their car with a backpack filled with stolen goods at Mountain Farms Mall in front of Wal-Mart.

Arrested were Yessenia Santos, 35, Julissa Rivera, 41 and Michel Maldonado, 24, all of Springfield. Each will be charged with six counts of larceny over $250 and a single count of attempting to commit a crime, larceny over $250.

Kuc had been assigned to Wal-Mart for security during Black Friday morning hours and found an abandoned shopping cart filled with $459.02 worth of merchandise.

Kuc reviewed surveillance video as a result of the findings and saw three people abandon the cart. One was carrying a backpack filled with items.

According to police, the three alleged thieves contacted a store employee to help them after being locked of their car. Kuc responded to the call and recognized the women from the surveillance footage.

Other investigators found the backpack in the parking lot near the women's car.

Police were able to recover additional merchandise from Holyoke Mall stores Zumiez, Bath & Body Works, H&M and American Eagle with a value of $2,472.30.

Darren Wilson, officer in Ferguson shooting, resigned after chief warned of threats, lawyer says

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A lawyer says Darren Wilson resigned because he was concerned about the potential for violence against other officers if he didn't.

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) -- Darren Wilson resigned from his job as a Ferguson police officer after learning of threats of violence against other officers and the department, his lawyer said Sunday.

Wilson, a 28-year-old white officer, had been on administrative leave since Aug. 9, when he shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed. A grand jury decision not to indict Wilson was announced Monday, setting off massive protests that included looting, violence and fires that destroyed about a dozen businesses.

Wilson's attorney, Neil Bruntrager, told The Associated Press that Wilson decided to step aside after Ferguson Chief Tom Jackson personally told him of the threats. Bruntrager declined to go into detail about the alleged threats, and Jackson, didn't immediately respond to a voicemail and email seeking comment.

"The information we had was that there would be actions targeting the Ferguson (police) department or buildings in Ferguson related to the police department," Bruntrager said. He said Wilson and the city were already discussing an exit strategy, acknowledging that staying on as an officer there would be impossible.

Once Wilson learned of the threats, Bruntrager said, he decided to go ahead and resign.

"Under the circumstances, nothing else was important other than safety," Bruntrager said.

Wilson, who had been with the department for less than three years, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Saturday, "I'm not willing to let someone else get hurt because of me."

Ferguson officials planned to address details of the resignation later Sunday, the same day Brown's parents planned to attend a church service where civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton was scheduled to preach.

Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Brown's family, said Wilson's resignation was not a surprise.

"It was always believed that the police officer would do what was in his best interest, both personally and professionally," Crump said. "We didn't believe that he would be able to be effective for the Ferguson community nor the Ferguson Police Department because of the tragic circumstances that claimed the life of Michael Brown Jr."

Crump said the family is still considering civil litigation such as a wrongful death lawsuit, "but don't let that get confused with the fact that they really wanted the killer of their child to be held accountable."

Wilson's resignation meant little to activists and protesters.

On Saturday night, more than 100 protesters gathered near police headquarters, where they were outnumbered by officers. Two people were arrested. Another protester burned an American flag. By midnight, only about two dozen protesters remained.

Many seemed unfazed by the resignation. Several merely shrugged their shoulders when asked what they thought, while Rick Campbell flatly said he didn't care about the resignation, noting: "I've been protesting out here since August."

Victoria Rutherford, a resident who was not protesting, said she believed Wilson should have not only resigned, but been convicted of a crime.

"I'm upset. I have a 16-year-old son. It could've been him. I feel that he was absolutely in the wrong," she said.

Another resident, Reed Voorhees, said he hoped Wilson could find similar work "someplace where he would enjoy life, and move on with his life."

Wilson fatally shot Brown in the middle of a Ferguson street after the two scuffled inside Wilson's police SUV. Brown's body was left for more than four hours as police investigated and angry onlookers gathered.

Some witnesses have said Brown had his hands up when Wilson shot him. Wilson told the grand jury that he feared for his life when Brown hit him and reached for his gun.

The U.S. Justice Department also is conducting a civil rights investigation into the shooting and a separate investigation of police department practices. It isn't clear when that decision will be announced.

It isn't clear what the future holds for Wilson, who has spent his adult life in police work and never wanted to do anything else, Bruntrager said.

"In terms of what it (the resignation) means, it means at this point he doesn't have a paycheck," Bruntrager said. "He has no income so he'll have to make some decisions pretty quickly."


Southwick selectmen consider adoption of updated town liquor regulations

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Revised regulations require licensed establishments to participate in Training and Intervention Procedures for Servers.

SOUTHWICK - The Board of Selectmen is expected to act on the adoption of recently revised and update town liquor regulation when it meets Monday at 5:30 p.m..

A public hearing on the updated regulations drew between 20 and 25 residents and liquor establishment owners earlier this month. Little, if any opposition was expressed during the 11-minute hearing.

The revised regulations are the result of a two-year review of town rules and requirements for licensing and Town Counsel Benjamin Coyle told shop owners the new regulations are "very similar to the ones enacted now."

The new regulations go into effect with the start of 2015, officials said.

The biggest change to existing regulations, Coyle and town officials said is the focus on all licensed establishments to participate in Training and Intervention Procedures for Servers or TIPS.

The new regulations require the licensed manager and at least one employee be TIPS certified and at work during all hours of operation.

The Board of Selectmen meet at Town Hall.

Westfield seeks Dementia Friendly City status

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WESTFIELD - This city plans to work in partnership with Armbrook Village Assisted and Independent Living in a 'dementia friendly' movement by becoming a designated Dementia Friendly City. Mayor Daniel M. Knapik will officially announce the effort Tuesday during a City Hall press conference at 10 a.m.. He will be joined by Beth Cardillo, executive director of Armbrook Village located...

WESTFIELD - This city plans to work in partnership with Armbrook Village Assisted and Independent Living in a 'dementia friendly' movement by becoming a designated Dementia Friendly City.

Mayor Daniel M. Knapik will officially announce the effort Tuesday during a City Hall press conference at 10 a.m..

He will be joined by Beth Cardillo, executive director of Armbrook Village located at North Road.

Knapik said the city and Armbrook has already launched its campaign "behind the scenes." He said once the effort is complete Westfield would become the first city on the east coast to earn such status.

Martha Coakley keeps working despite narrow loss to Gov.-elect Charlie Baker

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Coakley is back to work after losing her second grueling statewide contest in four years, hailing a decision she had pushed for easing federal rules allowing homeowners to buy back foreclosed homes and pressing the University of Massachusetts-Amherst to cut ties with Bill Cosby.

BOSTON (AP) — Attorney General Martha Coakley appears determined to wrap up her eight years as the state's top law enforcement official on an active note.

The Democrat is back to work after losing her second grueling statewide contest in four years, hailing a decision she had pushed for easing federal rules allowing homeowners to buy back foreclosed homes and pressing the University of Massachusetts-Amherst to cut ties with Bill Cosby.

She also called on the Federal Trade Commission to update the telemarketing sales rules and praised one of Republican Gov.-elect Charlie Baker's Cabinet picks, despite narrowly losing to Baker.

The pace comes as Coakley prepares to end her second term in early January and hand over the attorney general's office to Democrat Maura Healey. Coakley hasn't said what is next for her after leaving government.

Coakley's public career saw her rise to become the first woman elected attorney general of Massachusetts but unable to use that position to reach higher office. She lost both a 2010 special U.S. Senate election to Scott Brown and this month's gubernatorial contest to Baker.

Despite the most recent loss, Coakley has remained active.

Coakley this week praised a decision by the Federal Housing Finance Agency directing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to let former homeowners repurchase their foreclosed homes — or a third party to purchase on their behalf — under the fair-market value policy that already applies to other purchasers.

Before the change, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had required homeowners who have been through foreclosure and want to buy their homes back to pay the entire amount owed on the mortgage.

Coakley, who had pushed for such changes, called the decision encouraging.

"The reversal by FHFA of Fannie and Freddie's policies, which we have long advocated for and brought suit over in part, alters some of their rigid policies to help keep people in their homes," she said in a statement Tuesday.

Also this week, Coakley urged officials at UMass-Amherst to sever relations with Cosby, who had served as honorary co-chairman of the university's $300 million fundraising campaign, amid allegations by women accusing the comedian of sexual assault.

Cosby, who had received a master's degree and a doctorate in education from the university, agreed to step down.

"Although Mr. Cosby has not been criminally charged nor convicted for these actions ... I believe the volume and disturbing nature of these allegations has reached a point where Mr. Cosby should no longer have a formal role at UMass," Coakley wrote to the Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy on Wednesday.

And on Monday, Coakley joined 37 other attorneys general in asking the FTC to update its telemarketing sales rule to give consumers additional protections from telemarketing fraud and abuse.

Despite her loss to Baker, Coakley had warm words for Marylou Sudders, whom he tapped to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services in his administration. Sudders is a former state mental health commissioner and chief executive of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Coakley said she had the "utmost respect" for Sudders.

Coakley's postelection work hasn't always been smooth.

Earlier this month, Coakley bristled when a judge overseeing a court hearing involving Partners HealthCare's proposed takeover of three suburban hospitals suggested Coakley's decision to file the suit was driven by politics.

Coakley said her political aspirations had nothing to do with her decisions in the case. Judge Janet Sanders said she didn't mean to impugn Coakley's integrity and apologized.

Favorite Places: Rudyard Kipling's Dummerston, Vt., home, Naulakha, open year-round, offers 'best sledding'

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Today Kipling’s Naulakha House--one of 17 National Historic Landmarks in Vermont—is available for year-round vacation rentals, taking guests on their own adventures of the imagination—and of the Green Mountain State.

DUMMERSTON, Vt. — Nobel Prize winner Rudyard Kipling thought of his ship-shaped Dummerston house as sailing across a meadow, taking him on adventures of the imagination.

Today Kipling’s Naulakha House – one of 17 National Historic Landmarks in Vermont – is available for year-round vacation rentals, taking guests on their own adventures of the imagination — and of the Green Mountain State.

Guests may sleep in the author’s bedroom or bathe in the tub where he “luxuriously parboiled myself in a hot bath knowing I was beholden to no man.” They may sit in front of the fireplace in the study where he wrote the “Jungle Books” and “Captains Courageous.”

Naulakha is a Hindi word meaning “jewel beyond price.”

Naulakha – located on the eastern section of Kipling Hill with views of the Connecticut River Valley – sat abandoned, fully furnished, from 1942 until it was acquired in 1991 by The Landmark Trust USA – which rescues historic sites at risk and returns them to useful life. The roof was beginning to leak, raccoons had moved in, and the south foundation had collapsed.

The Trust restored the house inside and out so that now visitors can experience the house just as Kipling did. And while he did not have electricity and some other modern conveniences– like a fully equipped kitchen including a dishwasher
and a washer and dryer – Naulakha today is essentially the house in which he lived; much of the furniture in it was chosen by the Kiplings.

“The house is amazing,” said Kelly Carlin, operations manager at the southeastern Vermont property. “It’s a very unique house” in an arts and crafts style though it was built in the Victorian era.

“The house is great for couples and families,” she said. “It has a nice kitchen so you can put on nice meals and a big dining room table.”

There is a large library, so many guests spend much of their visit reading; others enjoy the large game room that features Kipling’s pool table. “It’s a popular room in the house,” Carlin said.

Naulakha has beautiful grounds with “the best sledding” in the front meadow, she said, and cross-country skiing from the door.

No wonder the house gets many repeat customers for their own adventures in Vermont.

Naulakha sleeps eight, and prices range from $390 to $450 a night. The minimum stay is three nights.

For more information, call The Landmark Trust USA at (802) 254-6868.

Large crowds expected for Bishop Joseph Maguire funeral, carpooling encouraged

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Funeral arrangements have been finalized for retired Bishop Joseph Maguire, spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield from 1977 to 1991. Maguire died at the age of 95.

SPRINGFIELD — Those thinking of attending the wake or funeral for Bishop Joseph Maguire could have some trouble parking, church officials warn.

A wake for Bishop Maguire is being held today at 1:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Cathedral, 254 State Street.

The wake and receiving line will be held at the cathedral until 7 p.m., when a prayer service is scheduled for Maguire, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield from 1977 to 1991.

There will be parking available behind the cathedral, but those planning on attending should try to carpool if possible, officials said.

There is limited parking om Elliot and Edwards streets. However, parking is not allowed in the Quadrangle Museum lots on Edwards Street. Parking is reserved for museum and library patrons. Parking will be allowed in the museum lots for the funeral tomorrow.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at the cathedral tomorrow, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Michael's Cemetery Mausoleum, 1601 State St., Springfield.

Maguire passed away at his residence in the Elliot Street chancery with family and caregivers by his side, diocesan spokesman Mark E. Dupont said.

WWLP-22News will provide live coverage of the funeral and burial. Streaming video of the funeral will also be available through the diocesan website, www.diospringfield.org.

The diocese has created a Bishop Maguire Tribute page on Facebook, so people can offer their condolences and memories.


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