Robert Caret will begin his position as chancellor for the University of Maryland system July 1.

BOSTON - Robert L. Caret said in a statement that he is saddened that he will be leaving the University of Massachusetts where he has been president since 2011.

Caret announced his resignation Wednesday afternoon to become chancellor for the University of Maryland system.

"While I am excited and energized to return to Maryland, where I have accepted the position of Chancellor at the University System of Maryland, at the same time, I'm saddened that I will be leaving the University of Massachusetts.

"I have enjoyed my four years working for the benefit of the Commonwealth, but I could not say no to an offer to return to my home state where I will be closer to my family.

"I will not be leaving for several months and will work with the Board Chair, Henry Thomas, to ensure a smooth and successful transition to new leadership. It has been a great privilege to lead UMass, a world-class university."

He also listed a myriad accomplishments during his tenure including the opening of the UMass Center at Springfield, which opened in September, and a record enrollment of 73,000 students system-wide.

He was also instrumental in working with the Legislature and Gov. Deval L. Patrick to boost the state share of funding to 50 percent. That has enabled the university to freeze tuition and fees for students for the last two academic years.

"I've had the privilege of working closely with President Caret for the past four years; he has been a ally and an ardent supporter of our vision for the transformation of the Boston campus," UMass Boston Chancellor J. Keith Motley said in a statement.

"Bob's departure is a loss for the University of Massachusetts, but we will continue to implement our ambitious vision for our campus, and we look forward to working with the next president of UMass. I wish Bob the best in his new post, and I congratulate the University of Maryland on adding a first-rate leader."

In a formal statement, Henry M. Thomas III, chairman of the Board of Trustees said, "while it is disappointing to lose a leader of President Caret's accomplishment and stature, I think we can all understand Bob's desire to return to the system where his career began and that served as his professional home for most of his career."

Caret left Towson in Maryland to take the position at UMass. Caret will succeed University of Maryland Chancellor William E. Kirwan who gave his notice in May. He has said that he will stay in that post until February. Caret is slated to begin July 1.

"Bob is a wise and tenacious leader, and the University of Massachusetts is a truly great university.  We are very confident about the road that lies ahead. I know you will join me in wishing Bob and his wife Liz well as they return to Maryland."

Energy company stocks rose as oil prices showed signs of stabilizing from a big slump.

By STEVE ROTHWELL

NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market had its best day in more than a year after the Federal Reserve said it would to remain "patient" in its approach to raising interest rates.

Stocks rose from the open on Wednesday, led by energy companies, as oil prices showed signs of stabilizing from a big slump. The market's gains were extended after Fed policymakers released a statement following the end of a two-day meeting.

A near six-year bull run for the U.S. stock market has been helped by the Fed's huge stimulus, which has pushed down borrowing costs At the start of the month investors worried that signs of a strengthening economy would lead policymakers to bring forward the start of rate increases. But on Wednesday, the central bank said it foresaw no rate hike in the first three months of 2015.

"The Fed is going to be our friend for a very long time," said Burt White, chief investment officer for LPL Financial. "Growth continues to be good and corporate America is healthy. If you mix all that together it translates to rising stock prices."

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 40.15 points, or 2.04 percent, to 2,012.89. That was the biggest gain for the index since October 2013.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 288 points, or 1.7 percent, to 17,356.87. The Nasdaq composite climbed 96.48 points, or 2.1 percent, to 4,644.31.

Stock investors have had a wild ride in the final quarter of the year. The market plunged at the start of October on concerns that global growth was slowing. Then it rebounded and surged to record levels at the start of December, before falling sharply last week as the price of oil collapsed, dragging down energy stocks.

Despite the heightened volatility, long-term investors should stick to their long-term goals, rather than jump in and out of stocks and sectors, said Jeff Lancaster, a principal of San Francisco-based Bingham, Osborn & Scarborough.

"I don't see anything that looks so tempting, or so perilous, that you should lurch to the left or the right," Lancaster said.

On Wednesday, energy stocks led gains for the S&P 500 index as the price of oil steadied. Stocks in the sector jumped 4.2 percent, cutting their losses for the year to 13 percent. The sector was down as much as 17 percent in the year-to-date as of Monday.

The price of U.S. oil rose Wednesday after the U.S. Energy Department reported a decline in inventories, a reversal of an earlier report of increased inventories from an industry group.

Benchmark U.S. crude rose 54 cents to close at $56.47 a barrel. Brent crude for February delivery, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, rose $1.17 to close at $61.18 a barrel. The January Brent contract expired Tuesday at $59.86.

Stocks that were linked to Cuba surged after President Barack Obama announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the country on Wednesday. He declared an end to America's "outdated approach" to the communist island in a historic shift aimed at ending a half-century of Cold War enmity.

Copa Airlines, a Panama City-based carrier, and one of the most successful airlines in Latin America, jumped. Its stock rose $6.36, or 7.2 percent, to $94.48 on the news.

The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, a closed-end fund designed to take advantage of greater trade with Cuba, surged $1.97, or 28.9 percent, to $8.78.

In corporate news, FedEx was one of the biggest losers in early trading after in the shipping company reported earnings that fell short of Wall Street's expectations. The company said a jump in plane maintenance costs blunted gains the company reaped from managing costs, lowering its pension expense and growing its export package revenue. The company's stock dropped $6.48, or 3.7 percent, to $167.78.

Russia also remained in focus on concerns about the impact of the recent slide in the ruble. The currency has lost more than 50 percent of its value this year. After falling again early Wednesday, the ruble recovered and was 10 percent higher at 62.37 rubles to the dollar.

Russian authorities Wednesday indicated that they would sell foreign currency to relieve pressure on the ruble. The Russian currency has suffered in the wake of sliding oil prices and sanctions imposed over Russia's involvement in Ukraine's crisis.

In U.S. government bond trading, prices fell. The yield on the 10-year benchmark Treasury note, which rises when prices fall, climbed to 2.14 percent from 2.08 percent a day earlier.

The price of gold was little changed from Tuesday at $1,194.50 an ounce. Silver rose 18 cents to $15.93 an ounce and copper rose a penny to $2.87 a pound.

In other energy futures trading on the NYMEX:

1. Wholesale gasoline rose 2.5 cents to close at $1.566 a gallon.
2. Heating oil rose 4.9 cents to close at $2.009 a gallon.
3. Natural gas fell 8.3 cents to close at $3.702 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The program is intended to reduce violence by offering young men options like education and careers.

HOLYOKE -- The Holyoke Safe and Successful Youth Initiative will recognize the accomplishments of 25 to 30 young men in a ceremony Friday (Dec. 19) at 1 p.m. at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St.

"These young men are seizing the opportunities that (the program) offers because it helps them make lifestyle changes that are improving their lives, families, futures and communities," Director Jacqueline Lozado said.

Among the accomplishments of those to be recognized are getting a high school diploma, attending college, securing a job or continuing to take program services while in law enforcement custody for allegedly committing a crime, she said.

Gov. Deval L. Patrick established the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) program in 2011 to aim services at the highest risk population. The program tries to reduce youth homicides and serious assaults by offering daily programs in education, helping the men find jobs vocational training and mental health services, she said.

The Holyoke program is at 63 Jackson St. It consists of the city, the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club, CareerPoint, River Valley Counseling Center, Holyoke Community College and the Center for Addiction to Recovery, she said.

"Holyoke is one of the 11 communities in the state of Massachusetts with high youth violence among young men between the ages of 14 and 24," she said.

The state program is based on a public health approach. Specifics include:

--identifying young men in the community at risk of becoming perpetrators or victims of gun violence;

--creating peaceful communities such as with after-school programs and acknowledging and addressing the impact of trauma on a neighborhood;

--helping men in correctional facilities reenter the community by connecting them with case managers to help them find a place to live and a job or plan for education;

--continued emphasis on getting guns off the streets.

The mayor had already announced that municipal offices would be closed Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

WESTFIELD - Mayor Daniel M. Knapik Wednesday gave most city workers an extended holiday vacation next week.

The mayor announced that City Hall will close at noon on Dec. 24 and not reopen until 9 a.m. on Dec. 29.

The closing is for all non essential public safety and emergency personnel. Police, fire and other essential personnel will continue to work as scheduled during that period.

Knapik announced earlier that City Hall and most municipal departments will be closed on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 because of the holiday season.

Police have issued a scam alert for a toll-free number that people are being asked to call regarding a "pretrial investigation unit" at the Springfield courthouse.

CHICOPEE — If you don't want to get sworn at, don't call 866-452-3590.

An unidentified party received a telephone call from someone claiming to be from "Springfield court" on Wednesday. The alleged court official told the party to call the 866 number, which apparently is linked to a firm called "UFC" or "UFC Financial," according to Chicopee police, who issued a scam alert about the number.

"DO NOT give any information if you receive a call like this. This is yet another scam. Please share this information," Chicopee police said.

Here's what police had to say about the matter on the department's Facebook page:

The caller asked to pass along a message to a relative, that they needed to contact a pretrial investigation unit before 2 p.m. They left a phone number 866-452-3590. The party that answered that number claimed to be UFC Financial.

It should be noted the number came back after a search as basically an Internet Phone Number. When asked if this is some type of scam, the party who answered began to swear at the caller, and hung up.

MassLive / The Republican called 866-452-3590 and heard the following message:

You've reached the office of UFC. Your call is important to us. If you know your party's extension, please dial now. To reach the operator, dial 0.

After dialing 0, we heard the following message:

Unfortunately no one is available to take your call. Please leave your name, number and a message and someone will contact you back shortly.

We left a message, expressing the Police Department's concern that the number was associated with a less-than-honest enterprise, and we were not "contact(ed) back shortly."

Conor Berry | cberry@repub.com 

"I thought I was being very positive," said Williams, clarifying his "Jesus is the reason for the season" remark at a Hanukkah event in downtown Springfield.

Updates story published at 6:37 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Williams, a Baptist, made the remark during a Court Square event attended by Mayor Domenic Sarno, Congressman Richard Neal, city dignitaries, and leaders of the greater Springfield Jewish community, all of whom gathered at the downtown park to mark the Dec. 16 start of the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights.

"I thought it added something to the service, it didn't take away," Williams said Tuesday night.

The city councilor said he referenced Jesus Christ, whose birth is celebrated every Dec. 25 by Christians worldwide but not by Jews, after participants in the ceremony mentioned "the bright light" of 2,000 years ago – an allusion to Christ, according to Williams.

"They said it," Williams said.

The councilor said his remark wasn't meant as an expression of religious superiority or "dominance," but rather as a simple reminder about the "reason for the season."

"Jesus was Jewish," Williams said. "To me, Jesus is the messiah ... I thought I was being very positive."

Williams said some people thanked him for his remarks. "A couple of the rabbis walked up to me and said, 'Great comments, Mr. Williams.' "

Rabbi Chaim Kosofsky, who attended the ceremony, was asked Tuesday night for his reaction to Williams' statement. "I'll get back to you," he said.

MassLive / The Republican also reached out to Sarno to see if he had any thoughts on the "reason for the season" line. "Williams would have to clarify," said Jim Leydon, the mayor's director of communications.

The highlight of Tuesday afternoon's ceremony was the lighting of the menorah, the candelabrum used to celebrate two important miracles to the Jewish people. Neither miracle had anything to do with Jesus.

The Jewish Festival of Lights commemorates the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees after their victory over the Syrians in ancient times.

Uniformed and plainclothes investigators were seen coming and going from Bethania Fish & Meat Market at 2595 Main St. in the Memorial Square section of Springfield's North End.

SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley office raided a North End market Thursday afternoon in connection with an EBT fraud investigation.

The raid took place about 3:30 p.m. at Bethania Fish & Meat Market at 2595 Main St. after authorities executed a search warrant at the neighborhood store at the corner of Main and Bancroft streets.

Details of the investigation were not immediately available, but plainclothes and uniformed law enforcement officials were seen coming and going from the market.

Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, better known as EBT cards, allow state welfare departments to issue benefits via a magnetically encoded payment card similar to a debit card.

To register call the library at 413-596-6141.

WILBRAHAM - The Wilbraham Public Library will participate in National Readathon Day Jan. 24 from noon to 4 p.m.

Publisher Penguin Random House, the National Book Foundation, Goodreads and Mashable have partnered to launch the first Readathon Day.

Readers across the country will participate by reading any book or books between noon and 4 p.m.

If participants wish to donate to the National Book Foundation, they may register to do so by going to the national website hht://global.penguinrandomhouse.com/readathon/.

Donations to the National Book Foundation support their efforts to educate, tutor, create and sustain a lifelong love of reading. Fund-raising is not required to attend this event.

The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.

To register, call the Wilbraham Public Library at 413-596-6141.

Approximately a dozen sign holding supporters of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev gathered outside the federal courthouse in South Boston on Thursday after his first public appearance in over a year.

BOSTON -- Approximately a dozen sign-holding supporters of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev gathered outside the federal courthouse in South Boston on Thursday after his first public appearance in over a year.

Some wore t-shirts, and most held signs proclaiming that Tsarnaev was set up by the CIA or FBI in some kind of secret operation, while others said that there just wasn't enough evidence to convict him.

Karin Friedmann, 44, of Boston said that she thought it was "highly probable" that Tsarnaev was innocent.

Friedman said she was part of a group called Speak Truth Boston that is a collection of people with varying opinions on the Tsaranev case.

Vallerie Vanetta, 24, said she thinks "it's hasn't been proven to me that he is guilty."

One supporter named Kimberly from East Boston even wore a t-shirt of Tsarnaev that featured the photo of him from the infamous Rolling Stone magazine cover.

Bombing survivor Marc Fucarile displayed his amputated leg to the protesters on his way into the courthouse but was reserved when commenting on their presence at the trial.

"They're all welcome to their opinion. There are supporters for him, and there are supporters for us," Fucarile said.

The Friends of the Holyoke Public Library help fund library programs and services.

HOLYOKE - For people looking for a last-minute Christmas gift, the Friends of the Library announce sales of the new ornament depicting the old Holyoke Train Depot.

The ornament is available at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St.

All proceeds from the sales are donated to the library to help fund programs and services such as the group recently provided funding for the online genealogy research database Ancestry.com, which is available for library users at the library.

For more information call the library at 420-8101 or Michael Baron, representing the Friends merchandise committee, at 427-1056.

The prosecution announced two cocaine trafficking charges will be dismissed against Cunningham, 29, of 44 Lyman St. in Holyoke.

SPRINGFIELD — Until Thursday, Robert Cunningham of Holyoke faced a charge of trafficking cocaine in the amount of 100 to 200 grams.

The prosecution announced Thursday to Hampden Superior Court Judge Tina S. Page that charge and another drug charge will be dismissed against Cunningham, 29, of 44 Lyman St.

His co-defendant, Christopher Bermudez, 21, of 79 Mosher St. in Holyoke, still faces charges of trafficking cocaine in the amount of between 100 and 200 grams and trafficking heroin in the amount of 18 to 36 grams.

Bermudez has seven more charges: possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, illegal possession of a firearm, possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony and two counts each of illegal possession of ammunition and improper storage of a firearm.

The arrests were the result of a raid at 79 Mosher St. on Nov. 5.

The document dismissing the case against Cunningham said it was in the interest of justice to do so.

State Auditor Suzanne Bump, said the survey "illustrated a lack of clarity, little sharing of best practices, and in several cases, a difficult working relationship between charter school and traditional school districts."

BOSTON — A state audit released on Thursday faulted the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's administration of the charter school program, recommending, among other things, that it do a better job in assisting the sharing of charter school's best practices and innovations with traditional public schools.

The report issued by state Auditor Suzanne Bump also called on the state to improve consistency in charter renewals and to improve program accountability and transparency by assuring the accuracy of the information gathered, according to a press release from accompanying the audit.

Saying that one of the goals of the 1993 Education Reform Act was to establish charter schools "as laboratories which would develop innovative practices to be shared with district schools," the report issued by the office of state Auditor Suzanne Bump, said the survey "illustrated a lack of clarity, little sharing of best practices, and in several cases, a difficult working relationship between charter school and traditional school districts."

The state supports two types of charter schools: Commonwealth charter schools, which are freestanding government entities fully independent on traditional school districts; and Horace Mann charter schools, opreating under the approval and cooperation of the school committee.

The report went on to say that of the 48 charter school renewals during the audit period, "none were subjected to adverse action for the lack of sharing innovative programs and best practices."

Noting that charter schools now have a 20-year track record in Massachusetts, the report said it should be easier to make solid assessments of the system and its results.

"Even to us, however, the situation remains murky because much of the data and standards employed are insufficient," Bump said.

Among deficiencies the audit found with the state's management of the program:

• A "lack of consistency" in standards applied to the renewal of charter schools, saying it was unclear why certain deficiencies in one charter school might receive conditional renewal while another school, showing similar deficiencies, won approval.


• Failure to gather mandated information – such as home addresses, telephone numbers and dates of birth – which would prevent duplicate entries of students who applied to multiple charter schools.


• The accuracy of the data it shares and collects.


• Its calculation of charter school waiting lists, often overstating the number of students on the lists.


• Its ability to make accurate determinations of key charter school attainment measures, including whether the demographics of the study body were reflective of those of the sending district and how academic performance at charters compared with district public schools.

Springfield's public charter schools are Sabis, Martin Luther King and Baystate and Veritas academies.

Phoenix Charter Academy, an alternative high school, opened in September in Springfield.

Mass. auditor's report on charter schools

Toy for Joy is in its 92nd year.

SPRINGFIELD — For several years F.L. Roberts and Company employees have been donating to Toy for Joy, but three years ago the company upped their donation to $1,000 as they saw the need increasing.

"After seeing there was a shortfall in donations each year we wanted to make sure we helped in some way," said Steve Roberts, president and CEO of F.L. Roberts and Company, based in Springfield.

"This is a gift from all of the employees at F.L. Roberts, Golden Nozzle Car Washes, Hampden-Hampshire County Jiffy Lubes, the Whately Diner, our commercial and wholesale sales department and our support personnel," he said.

Toy for Joy, which is in its 92nd year, relies heavily on donations such as the one made by F.L. Roberts in order to purchase toys for children in need. In Springfield alone more than 31,000 families will be served this year. The program provides toys for children in need ages 0-16 in all of Western Massachusetts.

Here are today's donors:

>In honor of my Grandma and Memere who make me feel so special and loved all year long, every child should have grandmothers like you from Isabelle Fregeau--$25
>In memory of Scott--$10
>Jennie, Art, Eleanor and Joe loved all children--$20
>From Potsdam Germany, Merry Christmas Lizzie and Patrick--$25
>For my beloved Charlie who never forgot the children, Edna--$10
>In loving memory of Catherine and John Leahy who loved Christmas--$25
>In loving memory of Brice and Susan Draper from Kathy--$50
>In memory of Grammy and Grampy Gena and JohnJohn--$25
>God's blessings on the Salvation Army from Mya, Sarah and Diane--$20
>In loving memory of Annie and Philip Mirarchi--$25
>In loving memory of Rose, Hugo and Roger Sedran--$25
>In loving memory of Eileen and Laura from Mom and brother Ernie--$30
>In loving memory of Ernie W from Chris and son Ernie--$30
>In loving memory of my parents Larry and Eleanor Wilson from Kent and Kathy--$25
>In loving memory of Ann O'Brien and in thanksgiving for our grandchildren Ryan, Brendan, Steve, Mike, John, Meghan and Emily--$700
>To dad and Roger, Merry Christmas--$25
>Anonymous--$50
>With our love to Mom and Dad from Betty and Carol--$20
>In memory of Mae Egan--$10
>In loving memory of Sharon Burns who always loved Christmas--$20
>Merry Christmas from the Gilmore family--$250
>In memory of my beloveds, Gramps, Ma and JK--$50
>In memory of Victor and Jennie Paluch and Stephanie Collins from Carly, Kevin and Dillon--$75
>In memory of Joseph Caldwell--$50
>In memory of my parents from Sue--$10
>In loving memory of Colin James Cavanaugh, love Mike and Robin--$35
>Mohammad--$100
>Christmas blessings--$25
>Stanley Olechna family--$50
>In loving memory of Adam, Mary and Brian Nahorniak--$100
>For my brother Joe who loved Christmas --$25
>Anonymous--$5
>Wishing all children a Merry Christmas from Baystate Orthopedic Surgery Center--$100
>In loving memory of Noel and Joseph Fortier and Lisa Meade, always in my heart from Jean--$10
>In loving memory of my parents Frank and Peg Walker--$100
>In memory of Shane, love Mom--$50
>Anonymous--$100
>In memory of Rita and Bill Kelly from Mary Beth--$25
>In loving memory of my husband Raymond Sabourin Sr love Edna--$20
>William--$25
>In celebration of God's blessings from Don, Lisa and Sarah--$100
>In memory of Reggae, Mama and Rich--$30
>In memory of Salvatore and Filomena Ragone--$20
>In memory of Heidi Weit and Robert Peron, love Auntie Denise--$20
>In memory of Gramps C, Dad K and Dad C who loved all children--$20
>In memory of Betty Harper from Carol and Albert --$20
>In loving memory of my parents Peter and Helen Pappas--$25
>In loving memory of Roland and Gary Deyette from family--$20
>In memory of Lt. Col. Morris "Moose" Fontenot of the 104th--$50
>In loving memory of my beloved husband Mitchell, love Helen--$10
>In loving memory of Harry and Myrtle Carter and Warren and Bobby Loudfoot--$30
>In memory of Vincent Croteau and June Croteau --$25
>In memory of my wife Janet loved by her family--$25
>In memory of Michael Quoka Sr and Trixie--$10
>In memory of Earl Carter and Alice Carter--$10
>In memory of Tom and Joe Kelley from Priscilla and Jessica--$20
>Anonymous--$10
>In memory of Mark Sheridan, love Gabby, Kylie and Jackie --$60
>Anonymous--$50
>Merry Christmas to all the children from Rose--$10
>In memory of Emile and Ginny Grenier always missing you from the Strole's--$25
>In memory of my wonderful parents, with love from RK--$50
>Stuart and Elaine--$25
>Merry Christmas to all children from Button and Tiger--$25
>In memory of my mom and dad, Ray and Doris--$20
>Thomas--$25
>In memory of our parents from Bev and Ed Moriarty--$25
>In loving memory of Erin O'Neil--$20
>Anonymous--$10
>Anonymous--$50
>For Daisy, Happy Holidays--$50
>The Bradys of Montgomery--$200
>So the children may have a Merry Christmas--$50
>Thank God for all our blessings--$300
>Happy Holidays to all from Con-Test Analytical Lab employees and families--$750

RECEIVED: $4,565
TOTAL TO DATE: $41,264
STILL NEEDED: $108,736

The program, which will provide toys and gifts to families in need in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties, has a fund-raising goal of $150,000 by Christmas Eve.

Hasbro's association with Toy for Joy began three years ago when it united its Giving Tree effort with the campaign. Its employees are among the volunteers who help the Salvation Army register families and distribute the toys; the international toymaker is also a major donor of the gifts which are distributed.

For more information, call the Springfield citadel of the Salvation Army, (413) 733-7581.

The Springfield citadel will accept new, unopened toys as donations; they can be brought to 170 Pearl St. on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through Dec. 23.

To make a contribution to the Toy for Joy fund, write: Toy for Joy, P.O. Box 3007, Springfield 01102.

Contributions may also be dropped off with the coupon at The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. until Dec. 24.

The platform is part of a multimillion-dollar state train-track improvement project.

HOLYOKE -- Ground will be broken Monday (Dec. 22) on a $3.2 million platform at Dwight and Main streets signaling the city's return to passenger train service upon its completion in September, officials said Thursday (Dec. 18).

"The platform will have areas for seating, and the site will have a parking lot for 25 vehicles and a loop for bus drop off," said Marcos A. Marrero, director of the city Department of Planning and Economic Development.

The 400-foot-long concrete platform with a canopy will be built by D.A. Sullivan & Sons, a general contractor from Northampton, at a dirt lot near the north-south tracks owned by Pan Am Railways, he said.

The goal is to have the platform at least partially done so Holyokers can begin taking the train in April but that will depend on how the weather affects construction, he said.

Mayor Alex B. Morse and other officials will make remarks at 1 p.m. They are scheduled to join Gov. Deval L. Patrick as the Vermonter makes its maiden voyage from Springfield with a stop here at 1:50 p.m. en route to destinations in Northampton and Greenfield, he said.

The budget for the passenger train platform here is $4.6 million. Construction accounts for more than $3.2 million with the rest of the money for contingencies in case building costs increase, property acquisition and demolition, he said.

The platform is part of a multimillion-dollar state project to improve train tracks between Springfield and Vermont.

The platform to be built here also is a component of what officials are calling the Knowledge Corridor, in reference to the Hartford-Springfield metropolitan region. The area is home to 1.8 million people, including about 1.1 million workers and more than 120,000 students spread over 32 colleges and universities, officials said.

Having train service available will help Holyokers who don't have their own vehicles, will provide links to the Holyoke Transportation Center and its Pioneer Valley Transit Authority and Peter Pan bus service, and will also bring new people into the city, Morse has said.

The Committee for Cathedral Action, which sponsored the rally and declared last Tuesday "Save Cathedral Day," and asked supporters throughout the region Cathedral's school colors, in addition to displaying bumper stickers and lawn signs in support of the campaign to save the school.

LONGMEADOW — Students at St. Mary's Academy were among students across the region wearing purple and white on Tuesday before the Springfield City Hall rally held to push for the rebuilding the tornado-damaged Cathedral High School on Surrey Road.

The Committee for Cathedral Action, which sponsored the rally on what they declared "Save Cathedral Day," asked supporters throughout the region to wear Cathedral school colors, in addition to displaying bumper stickers and lawn signs in support of the campaign to save the Catholic school.

Committee Chairman Al Dilascia, who took the picture above, said the committee is seeking support from other schools – both public and private – to stand in solidarity with those who want to see the school rebuilt in the East Forest Park neighborhood.

The committee, formed last year, has stepped up its efforts following Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski's letter indicating the rebuilding on Surrey Road is not a certainty. More than 400 people attended a rally held by the group last month.

The diocese's announcement came months after Springfield area residents had considered the rebuilding a certainty.

The Surrey Road School, originally built for 3,000 students, had about 400 when it was severely damaged by a tornado in June 2011. Students have been attending classes in a Wilbraham school that was vacant.

Enrollment declined to 217 this year.

Kamareon Smith's family learned he had a tumor in April after he became dizzy while playing outside.

Christmas presents that had been given to a 5-year-old St. Louis boy with brain cancer were stolen from his family's apartment Wednesday.

Police in Missouri are searching for the crooks who broke down an apartment door and went through a mountain of presents, according to USA Today.

"They went past the mountain of Christmas presents on the living room floor and headed for Kamareon Smith's room where two donated televisions, a Play Station 4 and some new games were taken," the newspaper reported.

Kamareon was diagnosed with the tumor eight months ago, his mother, Quinetta Smith, a single parent, said. She said was having a tough time making ends meet between chemotherapy treatments every week, and giving her sons a good Christmas.

"Came back to my house (with) the door being kicked in open and the stuff being gone," the newspaper quoted her as saying. "I'm struggling with taking care of my sick child that's fighting for his life."

A hospital charity that has been helping the family gave many of the gifts to Kamareon in advance of Christmas.

Smith said she learned her son had a tumor after he suddenly became dizzy when playing outside one day in April. According to the website, Inquisitir.com, she rushed him to a hospital emergency room when he became disoriented on April 12. Five days later she learned the diagnosis.

"As the mass "was the size of a tangerine," Kamaeron was forced to undergo emergency surgery. As discussed on the Team Kamareon Facebook page, it took eight hours to remove 98 percent of the invasive tumor," according to the website.

Further testing revealed that the mass was cancerous, and doctors learned that the cancer had spread to Kamaeron's spine. In an attempt to save the boy's life, doctors ordered radiation as well as chemotherapy.

KSDK-TV, NewsChannel5 in St. Louis said police are asking anyone who knows anything about the case to contact Crimestoppers at (866) 371-TIPS.

A lawyer for Sajid Dacres asked for bail to be reduced from $100,000 to $5,000 because of a reduction in charges.

Up until two years ago, Massachusetts was the only state that did not allow consumers to use coupons and rebates for prescriptions.

By COLLEEN QUINN

BOSTON - Coupons and rebates for brand-name prescriptions offered by drug makers would remain legal in Massachusetts beyond 2017 under a bill House lawmakers are moving toward passage.

Prior to 2012, Massachusetts was the only state that did not allow consumers to use coupons and rebates for prescriptions.

Two years ago, lawmakers reached a compromise to allow drug coupons in part by inserting a five-year sunset clause. House lawmakers on Thursday gave initial approval to a bill that eliminates the expiration for using coupons. A House Ways and Means amendment to the bill, which deals with pharmacy audits, dropped the sunset clause for coupons.

The bill has yet to emerge in the Senate with three weeks remaining before the 2013-2014 session ends.

Manufacturers have offered temporary discounts for their drugs in other states for years, but Massachusetts residents could not take advantage of the savings.

Opponents of drug coupons argue their use drives up health care costs by encouraging people to request pricey brand-name medications. Others who back the discounts say they help people afford expensive prescriptions.

A coalition of organizations, which included MASSPIRG, Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, unsuccessfully tried to prevent drug coupons in Massachusetts.

Deidre Cummings, legislative director for MASSPIRG, said Thursday pharmaceutical companies use coupons to lure consumers to newer, more expensive drugs. Consumers then put pressure on their doctors to prescribe the drugs.

"Those coupons drive consumer demand. Insurance companies have a hard time dealing with it; physicians have a hard time dealing with it," Cummings said.

Cummings opposes removing the sunset clause and said she expects a report to be issued by the end of 2014 on the impact of coupons on drug prices.

"Now the lifting of that sunset, particularly at time when this state has been so focused on trying to reign in the cost of health . . . removing that sunset will increase the cost of health care by increasing the cost of prescription drugs," she said.

Eric Linzer, senior vice president at the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, said health insurers are seeing significant increases in the amounts pharmaceuticals charge for brand-name and generic drugs.

"There needs to be greater scrutiny of factors driving those price increases," Linzer said.

If drug prices continue to rise, it will be more difficult for employers and consumers to afford health care, and make cost benchmarks set as part of a 2012 health care cost control law difficult to achieve, Linzer said.

The new Holyoke firefighters are among 24 statewide that will get certificates for completing training on Friday.

HOLYOKE -- Six recruits have completed training and will become full-fledged firefighters next week in what officials hope will add enough staff to reduce how often some units are removed from service to save money.

"I would like to congratulate all six of these firefighters for their completion of the Massachusetts Fire Academy Recruit Training program," Fire Chief John A. Pond said Thursday (Dec. 18).

The new firefighters are Robert Lubold, Shawn McNulty, Paul Novinsky, Jesuan Quinonez, Jonathan Robert and Hector Rosado, Holyoke Capt. Anthony Cerruti said.

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Deputy State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey will present certificates of completion to 24 training graduates from eight departments around the state on Friday (Dec. 19) at 1:30 p.m. in Stow.

"The course is nine weeks of intense training with many difficult challenges both academically and physically. We look forward to their return so they may continue to protect life and property for the citizens of Holyoke," Pond said.

Pond on Dec. 4 issued a service-reduction order, known as a "brown-out," that will include shutting down Engine 2 out of Fire Department headquarters at 600 High St. and two tactical vehicles that function as ambulances and reassigning the aide to the deputy chief who responds to fires.

The reductions will occur when firefighter staffing is too thin. When firefighters are on vacation or otherwise unavailable, to ensure adequate staffing, off-duty firefighters are paid overtime to staff shifts, but the overtime account is dwindling.

Since the order took effect on Dec. 5, the vehicles have been out of service 22 shifts out of a possible 27 shifts, Pond said.

"All six of these (new) firefighters will resume duty beginning next week and with the return of these firefighters I am hopeful we can reduce our out of service time," he said.

The department is supposed to have 88 firefighters. It actually has 78 but nine were in the training academy, with six of those returning to work here next week. That will increase the day-to-day complement of available firefighters to 75, based on figures from firefighter Christopher Butler, president of Holyoke Fire Fighters Association, Local 1693, International Association of Fire Fighters. Butler said.

Salaries and benefits for eight of the nine new firefighters are being paid for with a $1,069,048 grant the city received in March from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Budgeted city funds pay for the ninth new firefighter, Pond said.

Pond has said he was confident the issue of how to pay for the firefighters' salaries once the grant money has been used up will resolve itself with veterans retiring to free up funding.

A probationary firefighter's yearly salary is $47,000, Cerruti said.

Probation means the firefighters have a year to complete emergency medical technician and firefighting academy training, he said.

As probationary firefighters, they were full-time employees with each assigned to a veteran who will help in their training. They were assigned to engine companies, which are the basic unit of a department providing water and personnel at a fire. Among restrictions on probationary firefighters is they are not allowed to work overtime, he said.

Engine 2 out of Holyoke Fire Department headquarters at 600 High St. will be the truck shut down in a brown out. Engine 2 covers the Elmwood and South Holyoke neighborhoods,he said.

Also, the tactical units are small trucks that respond to emergencies. They provide life-savers like Narcan, which can reverse the effects of a heroin overdose, and EpiPens, which provide a shot for emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reaction. Private ambulances also respond in emergencies and carry such supplies.

Firefighters on vehicles that are shut down will be reassigned where needed, Pond said.

The aide drives the deputy chief to fires to free the deputy to communicate with other officials en route to an emergency. The aide also is responsible for keeping track of firefighters at a scene, to ensure none are trapped in a burning building, for example, officials have said.

The 24 academy graduates, all men, represent fire departments of East Longmeadow, Framingham, Holden, Holyoke, Lowell, Newburyport, Peabody, and Tewksbury.

The atrocities happened near a town where nearly 300 schoolgirls were abducted in April.

By HARUNA UMAR
and MICHELLE FAUL

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - Islamic extremists killed 35 people and kidnapped at least 185 in an attack near the town where nearly 300 schoolgirls were taken hostage in April, witnesses said Thursday.

In Sunday night's attack on the village of Gumburi, most of the kidnapped were young women, children and members of a civilian defense group fighting Boko Haram, according to residents, a security official and a local government officer.

Teenager Aji Ibrahim said he was lucky to escape into the bushes.

"No doubt they were Boko Haram members because they were chanting 'Allahu akbar' (God is great) while shooting at people and torching houses," he told a reporter.

News of the attack took days to emerge because the militants have destroyed communications towers and people walked for days to avoid areas under extremist control.

Gumburi is 12 miles from Chibok, the northeastern town where extremists kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in April. Dozens of the students escaped that attack, but 219 remain missing.

The militants have kidnapped hundreds of people, but the mass kidnappings of the girls from a boarding school attracted international outrage and condemnation of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and his military for their failure to rescue the hostages.

The United States, Britain, France and China were among countries that sent security experts and hostage negotiators to help free the girls. Washington also flew drones over the area where it believed the schoolgirls were held. None of them has yet been found.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau initially demanded the release of his fighters who are being held illegally without charges or trial. But Jonathan said he would not negotiate with terrorists.

There were reports that some of the girls had been married to their captors and some carried across borders.

In a recent video, Shekau said the girls were "an old story," implying their release was no longer up for negotiation.

A series of attacks by young female suicide bombers in recent months has raised fears that Boko Haram is using kidnapped girls.

Boko Haram has seized a score of towns and villages in Nigeria where it has declared an Islamic caliphate along the northeast border with Cameroon.

Last month the insurgents seized Chibok and held it for two days until they were ousted by Nigerian troops.

Thousands of people have been killed in the 5-year-old Islamic uprising that has driven some 1.3 million from their homes.