The White House says Obama called New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton on Sunday from Hawaii, where the president is vacationing and offered condolences.

HONOLULU -- President Barack Obama is offering full support and federal assistance to the New York Police Department in the wake of the killing of two officers.

The White House says Obama called New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton on Sunday from Hawaii, where the president is vacationing and offered condolences.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz says Obama also said Americans must reject violence and instead turn to prayer and sympathy for the victims' relatives. He says the administration will work with leaders across the country to echo that message.

Ismaaiyl Brinsley approached people on the street moments before opening fire and asked them to follow him on Instagram, then told them to "watch what I'm going to do," Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said.

NEW YORK -- The gunman who fatally ambushed two New York City police officers in their squad car had a long criminal record, a hatred for police and the government and an apparent history of mental instability that included an attempt to hang himself a year ago, police said Sunday.

Ismaaiyl Brinsley approached people on the street moments before opening fire and asked them to follow him on Instagram, then told them to "watch what I'm going to do," Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said.

A portrait of the shooter emerged as big-city police departments and union leaders warned officers to change up their routines and insist on extra backup a day after Brinsley carried out what he portrayed online as retaliation for the slayings of black men at the hands of white police.

Investigators were trying to determine if Brinsley had taken part in any protests over the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, whose names he invoked in his online threat, or simply latched on to the cause for the final act of a violent spree. Police said he had no gang affiliation.

Brinsley, 28, had at least 19 arrests in Georgia and Ohio and a troubled childhood so violent his mother was afraid of him, police said. Brinsley had also ranted online about police and government and expressed despair about his own life, Boyce said.

Boyce said Brinsley's mother believed he had undiagnosed mental problems and may have been on medication later in life but detective said they were still trying to determine if he had a mental illness.

Brinsley approached a squad car from behind and fired four shots, fatally wounding officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, before running into a subway station and ultimately killing himself.

Hours earlier, Brinsley had shot and wounded his ex-girlfriend at her home outside Baltimore then made threatening posts online, including a vow to put "wings on pigs," and references to a pair of police-involved deaths that have sparked racially charged protests across the country.

The killings dramatically escalated tensions that have simmered for months over the deaths of young black men.

The siege mentality was evident in several memos circulating among the rank and file at the 35,000-officer New York Police Department, the nation's largest.

A union-generated message warned police officers they should respond to every radio call with two cars -- "no matter what the opinion of the patrol supervisor" -- and to not make arrests "unless absolutely necessary." The president of the detectives' union told members in a letter to work in threes when out on the street, wear bulletproof vests and keep aware of their surroundings.

"Cowards such as yesterday's killer strike when you are distracted and vulnerable," the letter read.

Another directive warned officer in Newark, New Jersey not to patrol alone and avoid people looking for confrontations with them. A the same time, a memo from an NYPD chief asked officers to avoid fanning rage within the ranks by limiting comments "via all venues, including social media, to expressions of sorrow and condolence. ... Even in our most difficult times, we will remain consummate professionals."

Brinsley traveled by bus to New York City on after wounding his girlfriend. Before the shootings, Brinsley wrote on an Instagram account: "I'm putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours, let's take 2 of theirs," officials said. He used the hashtags Shootthepolice RIPErivGardner (sic) RIPMikeBrown -- references to the police-involved deaths of Garner and Brown.

The slayings come at a tense time; Police in New York and nationwide are being criticized for their tactics, following the July death of Garner, who was stopped on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. Amateur video captured an officer wrapping his arm around Garner's neck and wrestling him to the ground. Garner was heard gasping, "I can't breathe" before he lost consciousness and later died.

Demonstrators around the country have staged die-ins and other protests since a grand jury decided Dec. 3 not to indict the officer in Garner's death, a decision that closely followed a Missouri grand jury's refusal to indict a white officer in the fatal shooting of Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old.

Court records in Georgia show that Brinsley had several run-ins with the law there in recent years. Charges included gun possession, shop-lifting and theft.

Bratton and De-Blasio attended Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where Cardinal Timothy Dolan called for calm. He asked the police commissioner to tell his troops that "we love them very much, we mourn with them, we need them, we respect them, we're proud of them and we thank them."

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams visited a makeshift memorial at the site of the slayings, calling on protest organizers to "hold off on any type of protest until these officers are laid to rest in a peaceful manner."

At an appearance with the Rev. Al Sharpton where he denounced violence against police, Garner's mother expressed her dismay.

"I'm standing here in sorrow about losing those two police officers that was definitely not our agenda," Gwen Garner said.

"We are going in peace and anyone who's standing with us we want you to not use Eric Garner's name for violence because we are not about that," she said. "These two police officers lost their lives senselessly and our condolence to the family and we stand with the families."

 

The bishop is continuing to meet with stakeholders for the school and the diocese is conducting a survey.

SPRINGFIELD -- This week hundreds of supports who want to see Cathedral High School rebuilt held a "Save Cathedral" day on Dec. 16 to call attention to the efforts to return the school, which was destroyed by the June 1, 2011 tornado, to Surrey Road.

Elementary students from one Catholic schools wore purple and said prayers to show support and a group photo of Cathedral students was taken to kick off the day. Others stuck bumper stickers on their cars, installed lawn signs and wore the school colors.

A culminating rally held at the end of the day drew supporters including U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield and Mayor Domenic Sarno, who later met with Bishop Mitchell Rozanski.

In November, Rozanski said the diocese has to do more research before deciding if the school should be rebuilt. Many believe that reverses a commitment to rebuild the school many believe was made by retired Bishop Timothy McDonnell in March after FEMA awarded millions in disaster aid to rebuild the school.

Diocese officials said surveys are being taken about the issue and the Bishop is continuing to meet with a number of stakeholders for the school.

This is some of the things people were Tweeting following the "Save Cathedral"

Senate Majority Leader Stanley Rosenberg's partner has been reassigned to his public relations company's Florida office after weeks of scrutiny about his relationship with the presumptive state senate president.

BOSTON — Senate Majority Leader Stanley Rosenberg's partner has been reassigned to his public relations company's Florida office after weeks of scrutiny about his relationship with the presumptive state senate president.

The Boston Globe reports that Bryon Hefner will be relocating to Florida and working with clients for Regan Communications Group in that region. Hefner, who joined the firm in May, had allegedly mocked outgoing Sen. President Therese Murray on Twitter and boasted about his influence in the legislature.

Rosenberg, a Democrat from Amherst, has lived with Hefner since 2009. The Globe reported Saturday that Hefner and Rosenberg attended a state government conference on St. Thomas after the senator had apparently assured co-workers that he was keeping his relationship and work separate.

Churches across Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties hold Christmas Masses at a variety of different times.

Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski will celebrate two Christmas Masses during his first year as head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.

He will preside over the traditional Bishop's Mass at 4 p.m. Christmas Eve at St. Michael's Cathedral and a 10 p.m. Mass at St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee. During the celebration, he will experience some of the traditional Polish carols and customs Rozanski followed while growing up in Maryland, said Mark E. Dupont, spokesman for the diocese.

During the holiday season a number of people ask what time Midnight Mass is held. While the answer seems obvious, churches across Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties hold Christmas Masses at a variety of times beyond midnight. Times of service can be found at www.diospringfield.org and www.iobserve.org.

The website also includes information about pageants, concerts and special choral presentations.

Obituaries from The Republican.

David Theroux 

David (Dave) R. Theroux, 69,of Chicopee passed away on Tuesday. He was born in Chicopee and lived in Chicopee most of his life. He was a graduate of Chicopee High School (Class of 1965), and earned an associate's degree from Holyoke Community College. He was employed at Savage Arms upon his return from service with the U.S. Army. He secured a position with the City of Chicopee from 1972 until his retirement in 2007 as central maintenance garage manager. After retirement he worked with his son-in-law at The Grill on the Hill at Veterans Golf Course in Springfield.

The clerk was not injured in the Sunday robbery.

HOLYOKE - Two men armed with a handgun stole an estimated $200 in cash and 20 cartons of cigarettes from a convenience store Sunday night.

The two men approached the clerk of the Mini Mart, on 753 Dwight St., at about 6:15 p.m., and demanded money and robbed him, Police Lt. Michael J. McCoy said.

The clerk was not injured. The assailants were described as being Hispanic men, one wearing a blue jacket and the other wearing a brown jacket, he said.

The Police Department's detective bureau is reviewing store video tape and investigating the robbery, he said.

The boy and two friends were approached by three men Friday night.

HOLYOKE - Police detectives are continuing to investigate the stabbing of a 15-year-old Chicopee teenager that happened Friday.

The boy was with two friends at about 6 p.m. when they were approached by three men around North Summer Street, Police Lt. Michael McCoy said.

"There was some type of disagreement and he ended up stabbed," McCoy said.

Police detectives are trying to investigate the other people the 15-year-old was with at the time, he said.

The teenager was stabbed in the back. He was brought to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield by ambulance but his injuries were not serious, McCoy said.

HATFIELD - The town's 34th annual luminarium was held Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 with scores of homes participating in the holiday event. The festive event featured holiday story time at the town's library. Speeches, hayrides, live music from the Smith Academy Brass Ensemble and caroling at the Town Hall capped by a visit from Santa Claus.

HATFIELD - The town's 34th annual luminarium was held Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 with scores of homes participating in the holiday event.

The festive event featured holiday story time at the town's library. Speeches, hayrides, live music from the Smith Academy Brass Ensemble and caroling at the Town Hall capped by a visit from Santa Claus.

The accident happened near the road which leads to the Mount Tom Reservation.

HOLYOKE - A motorist struck and killed a deer on Northampton Street, also known as Route 5, Sunday night.

The driver of the car was not injured and the car was damaged but drivable, Police Sgt. Kevin Thomas said.

The accident happened at about 5:50 p.m. on Route 5 northbound near the intersection of Reservation Road, which leads to the Mount Tom State Reservation, he said.

When a deer is struck and killed, the city's animal control officer will contact people who are interested in taking the animal for the meat. If someone cannot be found quickly, the state Environmental Police Department is contacted, he said.

Christmas came early for a mid-sized Dorchester elementary school when one of the school's teachers, Nicole Bollerman, won a $150,000 cash prize and decided to donate it to the school.

BOSTON -- Christmas came early for a mid-sized Dorchester elementary school when one of the school's teachers won a $150,000 cash prize and decided to donate it to the school.

Nicole Bollerman, 26, won the Capital One social media campaign #WishForOthers earlier this month with a simple essay about her students at UP Academy Dorchester and what they need in the classroom.

"I'm a third-grade teacher in a low-income, high-risk elementary school in Boston, MA. My #wish for others is that my voracious, adorable, hard-working, loving scholars all leave for their December break with a book in their hand," read her short essay to Capital One.

So, sure enough, Capital One sent her books for all of her students at the recently renamed Marshall Elementary in the Bowdoin/Geneva section of Dorchester and then surprised her as one their grand prize winners of $150,000.

Bollerman, a Connecticut native, immediately knew that she had to give the money to the school.

"It wasn't really a choice," said Bollerman, adding that she wanted to help her pupils do better.

"The money could really better their lives and that's where I want it to go."

The Stonehill graduate worked at a charter school in Washington, D.C. until moving to Boston last year to work at UP Academy Dorchester.

The school has not made any decision on what to do with the money though Bollerman said she'd like to see the school obtain more computers and possibly a greenhouse on the roof of the school.

UP Academy, a private education firm, took over the school in 2013 and instituted rapid reforms to the curriculum and faculty that have pleased parents, teachers, and students. The school's MCAS scores have soared since UP Academy took over the failing school.

The private firm operates four schools in the state including a South Boston middle school. UP is set to take over one of the struggling middle schools in Springfield in the next school year.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, called Putnam a man with many gifts that he generously shared with the community. "He was a pioneer in television and he was publicly spirited and a champion of art and literature."

SPRINGFIELD — Friends, colleagues and city leaders on Monday mourned WWLP-TV Channel 22 founder William L. Putnam III, who died Saturday at the age of 90, as a television pioneer, calling him a gifted and committed community activist responsible for the rebirth of Forest Park – and a true believer in the city of Springfield.

Bill Pepin, general manager of WWLP, said Putnam went out on a limb in 1953 when he founded Greater Springfield's first TV station and the first licensed UHF television in the United States. Putnam ran the station whose call letters are an abbreviation of his full name, along with future and second wife Kathyrn "Kitty" Broman, who died on Jan. 5 at the age of 97.

"He was a pioneer in television's infancy" when others considered a UHF license as "the kiss of death," Pepin said. "It was a model that wasn't very promising. But because of his tenacity and perseverance he was able to do things that other broadcasters tried and failed."

Pepin said one of the reasons for Putnam's success was that "he looked at things differently than most people did."

While Putnam understood television was a business, he also realized that owning a television was a responsibility, Pepin said. "He always put the viewer first," often much to the chagrin of his sales staff.

For example, Putnam and Broman would go down to Washington, D.C., and meet with legislative leaders such as Edward P. Boland to talk about issues important to Springfield and come back with long interviews that he would air during the prime time hours, Pepin said.

"The sales guys would say, 'gee whiz, that's the best time to sell ads.' Putnam would reply, 'I don't care, this is really important,'" Pepin recalled.

"He wasn't afraid to step on toes," during his famous editorials, Pepin said. "Along the way, he made an awful lot of friends – and some adversaries, but even they eventually came around."

Dave Madsen, of abc40, who worked for12 years at Channel 22, recalled Putnam "a hands-on boss."

"I learned a lot from him," he said.

"The television station he founded is a great legacy," Madsen said. "He built it into a powerhouse."

David Starr, retired publisher and president of The Republican, called Putnam one of the most important people in Springfield – both for the things he did in public and the many things he did for the city that that the public didn't know about.

"As park commissioner in the early 1990s, Bill orchestrated the near miraculous improvements at Forest Park and the Barney estate," Starr said. "But he also was a true Springfield believer."

While Putnam moved to other places – most notably Flagstaff, Ariz. , where he was for 26 years the sole trustee of the Lowell Observatory, founded by his great uncle Percival Lowel – Starr said never forgot his hometown.

"He never forgot that Springfield was important to him and to many, many other people and he worked behind the scenes for years to help Springfield regain the prosperity that it had in the days when he was growing up."

Starr called Putnam "a brilliant man, a very intelligent thinker" and one of the best friends he had his wife, Peggy, had.

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, who was a kid when Putnam broadcast television editorials recalled tuning to listen to what Putnam had to say and admiring his famously "loud" ties. "He never shied away from a challenge," Sarno said.

The mayor said he recently spoke with Putnam, who remained active in city affairs, most recently as an advocate to restore the Campanile, the centerpiece of the Municipal Group of buildings, which includes City Hall and Symphony Hall.

"He served his family, his country and his community," Sarno said. "He will be greatly missed."

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, called Putnam a man with many gifts that he generously shared with the community. "He was a pioneer in television and he was publicly spirited and a champion of art and literature."

As the son of a Springfield mayor – Roger Putnam – Neal said Putnam was dedicated to the idea of public service.

Patrick Sullivan, the city's superintendent of Parks and Recreation, recalled Putnam's work on the Springfield Park Commission as one of the legendary broadcaster's legacies.

By instituting an entrance fee for cars and establishing a park-ranger force, "he saved Forest Park and brought it back to the people," he said.

Before the controversial fee structure was introduced, Sullivan said the park had become a haven for cars outfitted with loud boom boxes, drug dealers and litterers.

"There was a lack of respect for the property," Sullivan said.

Because of Putnam, Sullivan said, federal grants began to flow, Patrick said, noting that more than $100 million has been spent restoring the park since Putnam's tenure.

"He believed in the park's mission to provide citizens in urban areas an escape from their daily lives," Sullivan said. "He believed in Springfield; he only wanted the best for the city."

While Putnam was known for being "cantankerous," his sometimes gruff exterior, he had a "huge heart" with an affinity for the "little guy," Pepin said.

Retired Bishop Timothy McDonnell refused to meet with the group.

HOLYOKE — Nearly four years after their church was officially closed, Friends of Mater Dolorosa finally got one of their wishes.

Organizers of the group that staged a year-long, round-the-clock vigil at the Mater Dolorosa Church after it closed in June 2011 met Thursday with Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski to talk about a variety of issues about the church.

The Friends of Mater Dolorosa had requested the meeting after Rozanski took over as head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in August, and he recently agreed to discuss the closing with organizers of the group, said Mark E. Dupont, spokesman for the diocese.

When now-retired Bishop Timothy McDonnell announced Mater Dolorosa and the Holy Cross parishes would close and merge to become a new parish called Our Lady of the Cross, members of Mater Dolorosa demanded to meet with the bishop to discuss the decision.

McDonnell never did, referring all requests to Monsignor John Bonzagni, director of pastoral planning for the diocese. The members instead decided to occupy the church until June 2012, when the Vatican's highest court agreed to hear the Friends of Mater Dolorosa's appeal of the closure, but asked the group to leave the church.

Everyone involved called the meeting cordial, but said no major decisions were made.

"Bishop allowed them the opportunity to make their concerns known. In the end, Bishop told them that in fairness to the appeal process which they, themselves, had undertaken he would wait for that outcome from the Vatican. Both parties have received indications from their respective advocates in Rome that this decision may be forthcoming in the coming months," Dupont said.

The meeting was between Victor Anop and Peter Stasz, who are both lawyers and organizers of the Friends of Mater Dolorosa. The Bishop was joined by Bonzagni and Dupont.

"It was a good meeting. We started the meeting with a prayer, we got to say what we wanted and he listened," said Anop, of Chicopee.

Anop said he continues to be hopeful the Apostolic Signatura, the highest court in the Vatican, will rule on behalf of the Friends of Mater Dolorosa since they continue to show support for the church.

The meeting lasted about 45 minutes, and Anop said he and Stasz also submitted about 60 pages of information to Rozanski.

"He gave us no assurances and that was how the meeting ended," Anop said.

The Most Rev. Mitchell T.Rozanski, who was installed as the ninth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, on Aug. 12, said he anticipates attending the installation, in January, of Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Coyne, of Indianapolis, was has been appointed bishop of Burlington, which encompasses all of Vermont. Prior to his installation in Indiana in January 2011, Coyne, a...

The Most Rev. Mitchell T.Rozanski, who was installed as the ninth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, on Aug. 12, said he anticipates attending the installation, in January, of Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Coyne, of Indianapolis, was has been appointed bishop of Burlington, which encompasses all of Vermont.

Prior to his installation in Indiana in January 2011, Coyne, a Massachusetts native, had served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston, including as the diocesan spokesman, briefly under Cardinal Bernard Law, and, from 2003 to 2005, under the current Boston bishop, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, considered one of Pope Francis's closest advisers. Mark Dupont said he was just beginning his job, as head of communications for the Springfield diocese, when he met then spokesman Coyne, and that Coyne "was very kind and gracious to the 'new guy' from Western Massachusetts."

"He has emerged, in recent years, as a leader in recognizing the dynamic potential of our church communication efforts," said Dupont, of Coyne, who has his own Facebook page, as well as website, where he blogs.

Coyne holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Lowell, a master's of divinity, from St. John Seminary, and a licentiate and a doctorate, in liturgy, from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute (St. Anselmo) in Rome.

Coyne chairs the comminttee on commuications for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB).

In his statement on Coyne's appointment, Rozanski said "with the rest of our Boston Province bishops," a reference to bishops in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, he greeted "the news of Bishop Christopher Coyne's appointment to the diocese of Burlington with great joy."

"I welcome him, with special joy, as he will be our episcopal neighbor to the north," Rozanski said. "Bishop Coyne just began his term as the chairman of the bishops' committee on communications, and I look forward to working with him, not only in our Province, but also on the administrative board of the USCCB. His pastoral presence, love of ministry for God's people, and his gift of preaching and communicating the Gospel message, will be a great asset to the diocese of Burlington and the Church of New England.

He added he anticipates attending the "installation on Jan. 29th to join in prayerful solidarity, with him and God's people of Vermont, at the beginning of his episcopal ministry there."

In Indianapolis, Coyne has served under Archbishop Joseph Tobin, an American Redemptorist who was installed there in 2012, after serving in the Vatican, and who had spoken out for reconciliation with women religious being investigated by the Vatican at the time.

Emma Czornobaj was also sentenced to 90 days in jail, to be served on weekends, and 240 hours of community service.

A Canadian woman who stopped her car in the left lane of a highway to herd ducklings to safety, resulting in the death of two people, had her license revoked for 10 years last week.

Emma Czornobaj 

USA Today, quoting various Canadian media outlets, reported that Emma Czornobaj, 26, was also sentenced 90 days in jail and and 240 hours of community service as well as the license suspension. Under the terms of the sentence, she will be allowed to serve her jail time on weekends.

Czornobaj was reportedly driving along Highway 30 in a suburb of Montreal on June 27, 2010, when she came across seven ducklings in the road. She stopped her Honda Civic in the left lane of the highway to make sure the ducklings would not get hit.

After she steopped, a motorcycle driven by Andre Roy, then 49, crashed into the rear of her car. Both Roy, and his daughter Jessie Roy, 16 who was riding on the back of the motorcycle, were killed.

"Although the maximum sentences for the crimes for which Czornobaj has been convicted are life in prison, thousands of people signed petitions asking for leniency for Czornobaj," the newspaper reported.

According to the Montreal Gazette, Czornobaj's intention was to gather up the ducklings, put them in her car and then drive them to her home.

Court testimony indicated that her actions distracted drivers who looked at her to see what she was doing, and then suddenly notice her car stopped in the highway.

Andre Roy, who was driving a Harley-Davidson motorcyle, was unable to stop in time, causing him to crash into the car. His daughter was flung off the motorcycle and bounds off the back window of the car, and continued in the air before striking a Jersey barrier.

"At the same time, the impact of the crash pushed the Civic forward and it rolled over Jessie as she lay on the ground, causing more injuries," the Gazette reported. "Roy died within minutes and his daughter died hours after being brought to the Montreal Children's Hospital.

"While it was later determined that Roy was probably speeding before he slammed on the brakes," (Justice Eliane) Perreault said that was a small factor in her determination of the sentence. She said Roy probably would have slammed into the Civic even if he was driving the speed limit.

A jury convicted Czornobaj of two counts of criminal negligence causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing death.

Prosecutors were seeking nine months of jail time and 240 hours of community service, while the defense was arguing for only community service.

After all was said and done, her lawyer, Mark Labelle, said he probably will not appeal the 90-day sentence.

"It seems to me it is a fit and reasonable sentence, although we will ask the Court of Appeal to look into the driving prohibition for 10 years," he told reporters.

In passing judgement, Perreault said that Czornobaj, now 26, showed no remorse during the trial, according to CTV News. Perreault said the defendant showed a "reckless disregard for the safety of others" when she left her vehicle to tend to the ducklings.

But her lawyer later told reporters his client had difficulty expressing her feelings.

"She does have regrets and she does have remorse," Labelle said. "It's only that she's a shy person, an inexperienced person and she was not able to explain that properly during the court process."

In issuing the sentence, the judge said Czornobaj's testimony showed she considers what happened to be an accident and that Roy should have been able to see her car in enough time to avoid it. She included quotes from Czornobaj's testimony to underline the parts that revealed Czornobaj felt she did nothing wrong before the collision occurred.

"There was nobody around," Czornobaj said during her trial, according to the Montreal Gazette report. "There was no risk of somebody running into my car when I stopped. I didn't see anybody else. I knew that it was, well, safe."

After the sentence had been handed down, Pauline Volikakis, the wife and mother of the victims, said she was satisfied with the sentence, the Canadian Press reported.

I'm just happy that.. .we can now move on, maybe turn the page and continue with a positive attitude, instead of a negative (one)," she said outside the courtroom.

The judge "did what she had to do," she said.

.

A new era of train travel arrived several Massachusetts communities along the Connecticut River for the first time since 1989.

This story follows: Holyoke steps toward return of passenger train service with ground-breaking for $3.2 million platform and Northampton officials welcome test run of Amtrak's Knowledge Corridor

ABOARD THE KNOWLEDGE CORRIDOR SPECIAL — The conductor's voice rang out strong and clear:

"Now arriving in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Holyoke Massachusetts, folks. Holy-OKE."

He repeated himself as the train moved up the Connecticut River Valley, each time raising his voice to a sing-song on the last syllable of the city.

"Now arriving in Northampton, Massachusetts. Northampton, Massachusetts, folks. North-HAMPTON."

"Now arriving in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Greenfield, Massachusetts, folks. Green-FIELD."

It was a sound not heard in these parts in some time.

A new era of train travel arrived in these Connecticut River communities on Monday for the first time since 1989 when deteriorating track conditions forced Amtrak to pull its Vermonter service into a roundabout route through Palmer and off the populated Connecticut River and Interstate 91 corridor.

Gov. Deval Patrick, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, and retired U.S. Rep. John Olver of Amherst hosted dignitaries and press on the "Knowledge Corridor Special." It was a test run of passenger service on tracks rebuilt in a $120 million state and federal project. The federal stimulus program provided $73 million of the $120 million, with the state making up the rest.

The trip was also an old-fashioned whistle-stop with politicians de-training in Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield for speeches and well-wishes. Northampton even had a marching band.

The ride itself made it clear the 10-mph limit once imposed on the line is a thing of the past – on Monday, the train reached speeds of 79 mph for long stretches of track.

Leaving Springfield's Union Station, the train slithered its way through the North End, crossing through Chicopee and over the river into Holyoke.

From Holyoke, the train seemed to swoop down as the tracks veered low along the river. Christmas lights reflected in silver-colored water. The train pulled through marshlands before emerging near Northampton's Oxbow and up into the center of town.

View full sizeFormer U.S. Rep. John Olver greets Gov. Deval Patrick Monday at the future site of a passenger rail platform in Holyoke. Olver, a longtime supporter of expanded rail service in the region, helped Patrick christen the rebuilt rails with a trip Monday on an Amtrak special. JIM KINNEY / THE REPUBLICAN

After Northampton the locomotive picked up speed, hitting 79 mph through Hatfield and Whately, whizzing through field and forest, leaving traffic-bound cars on nearby Route 5 behind.

The long moaning cry of the locomotive whistle echoed at every crossing. Passengers swayed with coaches, the clickety-clack of steel wheel on rail barely noticeable underfoot as the setting sun poured through the windows punctuated now and then by the red warning lights of grade-crossing crossbucks.

In Greenfield, folks gathered at crossings to see the train. A glance from the Cheapside Bridge on the way into town revealed cars parked on the street below, doors open, cell phone cameras out.

Regular revenue service of the Vermonter returns to the tracks Dec. 29 with two trains – one north-bound and one headed south, each day.

"Now it is up to you," Patrick said. "Take the train. Use the line. We need people to use the service for it to be a success."

The next job is to increase the service on the line from just two Vermonter trains a day. The state transportation bond included $30 million to refurbish locomotive sand cars not in use by the MBTA so that equipment could run the line.

Patrick said the state also has a request for proposals out for new self-contained diesel powered rail cars.

"That technology could also see service in the Pioneer Valley," he said.

The new Knowledge Corridor is one of several interlocking and interconnected rail improvements happening in the valley.

Vermont spent $53 million in state and federal money rehabbing the tracks in the Green Mountain State, said Timothy Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.

Connecticut is spending $450 million on extensive upgrades from New Haven to Springfield. Connecticut authorities are looking for hundreds of millions more to finish planned upgrades, Brennan said. Connecticut built new station platforms in Windsor Locks and other towns on the line.

In Massachusetts, station platforms in Greenfield, Northampton and Holyoke came out of the $73 million, Brennan said.

In Springfield, the $82 million rehabilitation of Union Station, set to be completed in the fall of 2016, will serve as a focal point for expanded rail service, said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal.

Connecticut also plans to add more frequent service, 12 to 17 trains a day, from Springfield to New Haven in 2016.

Brennan said concrete plans for expanding service north will wait at least until 2016 as well.

Brennan it will take at least until then to figure out how to expand service from Springfield north.

The state is also studying expanded east-west rail service through Springfield and on to Boston through Worcester, Brennan said. That feasibility study process is the same hurdle this Connecticut River line cleared in 2009.

Boosters on Monday also called for at least some service as far north as Montreal. The Vermonter stops short today, going only as far north as St. Albans, Vermont.

"It has to be convenient," Olver said. "The service has to be there when people want it. They also have to learn that it is convenient to work on the train, rather than spend one, two, three hours driving. It won't happen overnight. The impact won't be immediate."

Irene Berwick waited for the train at the Grenfield station, a facility named in Olver's honor. Berwick lives within walking distance. But she has two children and a total of four grandchildren in New York City and Long Island.

"It will be great to go and get on just one train and go see them," she said. "I foresee a day, when the grandchildren are older, that they can be dropped off at the train in New York and come up by themselves for a visit."

The chief took to social media to reassure friends and neighbors that his department can be trusted to do the right thing.

Pharmaceutical and technology stocks were among the big risers on Wall Street, while shares in energy companies fell sharply as the decline in oil prices deepened.

By ALEX VEIGA

NEW YORK - The Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at record highs Monday as the market delivered its fourth gain in as many trading days.

Pharmaceutical and technology stocks were among the big risers, while shares in energy companies fell sharply as the decline in oil prices deepened. Discouraging data on U.S. home sales failed to derail the "Santa" rally, what traders often call a pre-Christmas advance.

Trading volume was lighter than usual as many investors looked ahead to the Christmas holiday.

"We're getting a good Santa Claus rally," said Sam Stovall, U.S. equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ.

After a strong finish last week, investors remained mostly in a buying mood Monday. The major stock indexes drifted between small gains and losses in the morning, as traders digested the latest housing data.

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of previously occupied homes fell 6.1 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.93 million. That's the slowest pace in six months.

By late morning, the major indexes were rising and holding on to gains that were modest, but good enough for a new set of record highs.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 7.89 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,078.54. The S&P's most recent record close was 2,075.37, set on Dec. 5.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 154.64, or 0.9 percent, to 17,959.44. Its last record close was 17,958.79 on Dec. 5.

The Nasdaq composite picked up 16.04 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,781.42.

The Dow and S&P 500 are both up for the month, while the Nasdaq is down. The three indexes are up for the year.

Market gains this year have been in line with that of prior years that were also preceded by strong growth, noted Stovall.

"On average, the S&P has gained 10 percent in the years following 20-plus-percent advances," he said. "And we're doing just that."

The market is coming off a big advance last week, which gave the S&P 500 its second-biggest weekly gain this year.

The latest rally kicked off last Wednesday, when Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen delivered remarks that eased investors' concerns that the central bank would start raising interest rates in response to slowing growth in other major economies.

Looking ahead, trading volume is expected to thin out the next couple of days leading into Christmas.

"A lot of traders and a lot of investors are going to take the whole week off and that might lead to some volatility," said Mike Serio, regional chief investment officer at Wells Fargo Private Bank.

Several economic barometers, including government reports on durable goods, personal income, consumer sentiment and the latest estimate of growth in the third quarter, are due out this week.

"If we see any of those numbers really off track, it might affect the market," Serio said.

Eight of the 10 sectors in the S&P 500 index rose Monday, led by technology stocks. Health care and energy stocks declined.

Pharmaceutical stocks were among those making big moves Monday.

Achillion Pharmaceuticals' shares gained 9 percent after the biotechnology company reported positive results from two studies focusing on a treatment regimen for hepatitis C patients. The stock rose $1.28 to $15.49. Meanwhile, Enanta Pharmaceuticals vaulted 10.1 percent after it received regulatory approval for a hepatitis C treatment. Enanta added $4.70 to $51.32.

Drugmaker Gilead Sciences tumbled 14.3 percent after pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts said it will no longer cover two of Gilead's hepatitis C drugs as part of an effort to battle the high cost of treatment for the disease. Gilead slid $15.55 to $92.90.

News that Ocwen Financial's executive chairman will resign as part of a settlement that also provides $150 million to homeowners sent shares in the mortgage servicer down 26.9 percent. The stock shed $5.89 to $16.01.

The price of U.S. oil fell on expectations of a further buildup in supplies both in the U.S. and from OPEC producers. Benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.26 to close at $55.26 a barrel in New York. Oil has plunged since peaking at $107 a barrel in June.

Several oil production and exploration companies tumbled as the slide in oil prices deepened Monday.

Nabors Industries fell 53 cents, or 3.9 percent, to $13.10, while Chesapeake Energy slid $1.44, or 7.3 percent, to $18.42. Range Resources shed $2.80, or 4.7 percent, to $57.07. Southwestern Energy dropped $1.69, or 5.5 percent, to $29.31.

In other energy futures trading, wholesale gasoline fell 2.5 cents to close at $1.535 a gallon, while heating oil fell 1.1 cents to close at $1.951 a gallon.

Natural gas fell 32 cents to close at $3.144 per 1,000 cubic feet. Natural gas has fallen 15 percent over the past three trading sessions to its lowest level since January 2013 on forecasts for milder winter weather.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.16 percent.

Metals prices closed lower. Gold fell $16.20 to $1,179.80 an ounce. Silver fell 34 cents to $15.69 an ounce and copper lost a penny to $2.87 a pound.

DiNapoli, 52, was shot to death responding to a call at Walnut and Hampshire streets 15 years ago.

A more detailed account of the vigil for Officer John DiNapoli is available by clicking here.

HOLYOKE — Police Officer John A. DiNapoli was remembered Monday (Dec. 22) on the 15th anniversary of his death as a kind man skilled at settling disputes at a candlelight vigil police estimated drew 300 people.

DiNapoli's children, Holyoke Officer Andrew D. DiNapoli and JoBeth DiNapoli, made remarks as did Mayor Alex B. Morse and Police Chief James M. Neiswanger in an event held at the statue that depicts DiNapoli sitting and talking with children across from the Police Station, 138 Appleton St.

DiNapoli, 52, was shot to death at Walnut and Hampshire streets responding to a call the morning of Dec. 22, 1999.

The gathering included references to the shooting deaths of two New York City police officers on Saturday and a killing of an officer in Florida by gunfire on Sunday. Neiswanger noted demonstrators have been "demonizing" police at marches around the country, including here, in relation to deaths of black men at the hands of police officers.

"I want to state categorically we are not the bad guys," Neiswanger said.

This is a developing story and details will be added as reporting continues.

Police estimated 300 people attended a candlelight vigil Monday (Dec. 22) on the 15th anniversary of the death of Holyoke Police Officer John A. DiNapoli. The event was held at the statue to DiNapoli (foreground) that was erected across from the Police Station, 138 Appleton St.(DAVE ROBACK / THE REPUBLICAN) 

Construction leaders in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine on Monday endorsed the concept of building a natural gas pipeline from New York to the Merrimack Valley as proposed by Kinder Morgan as a way to create jobs and reduce the cost of living in New England. The Massachusetts Building Trades Council, the New Hampshire Building and Construction Trades Council and...

Construction leaders in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine on Monday endorsed the concept of building a natural gas pipeline from New York to the Merrimack Valley as proposed by Kinder Morgan as a way to create jobs and reduce the cost of living in New England.

The Massachusetts Building Trades Council, the New Hampshire Building and Construction Trades Council and the Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council threw their support behind the controversial pipeline project, whose route was revised this month to skirt much of northern Massachusetts by traveling instead along existing utility corridors through New Hampshire on its way to Dracut.

"This project will create 3,000 construction jobs and be an economic boost to Massachusetts' working families and local businesses," said Frank Callahan, president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, in a prepared statement. "By solving New England's energy supply crunch in an environmentally responsible way, the Northeast Energy Direct pipeline will reduce energy bills for families and businesses, strengthening our entire economy."

Gov.-elect Charlie Baker has generally expressed support for expanding the state's natural gas capacity, though he opposed the Kinder Morgan project during the campaign before the pipeline was rerouted.

"Charlie's position on this issue has been crystal clear," Jim Conroy, Baker's transition team's campaign manager, said in late November. "The governor-elect opposed the proposed Kinder Morgan project because he believes we should look to address our increasing natural gas requirements by expanding our existing infrastructure."