Garrett Crehan, 42, of Ashfield was charged with assault and battery on a disabled person over 60.

NORTHAMPTON — An Ashfield man who works as a nurse assistant at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Leeds section of Northampton pleaded not guilty Thursday in Northampton District Court to assaulting a veteran.

Garrett Crehan, 42, was charged with assault and battery on a disabled person over 60.

According to court documents, Garrett picked the 61-year-old veteran off the floor, put him in bed, twisted his arm behind his back, put a knee in his ribs and threatened to kill him.

The patient had been mumbling "don't tell them about it" and "I didn't mean it" when Crehan seized him, according to court documents. The incident reportedly took place on Jan. 25, but was not immediately reported.

Judge W. Michael Goggins released Crehan on his own recognizance and continued the matter to June 2.

MassHealth is hiring three new administrators and creating a new unit focused on changing MassHealth's payment system to find ways to "improve care coordination, cost and quality of care."

BOSTON - State officials are restructuring Massachusetts' Medicaid program, part of an attempt to lower costs and move away from a fee-for-service model of health care.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services announced Friday that it is hiring three new administrators and creating a new unit focused on changing MassHealth's payment system to find ways to "improve care coordination, cost and quality of care."

"This is an important step to creating a sustainable Medicaid program and improving how we serve the state's most vulnerable residents," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. "These changes will put the emphasis on improving the effectiveness and quality of care provided."

Gov. Charlie Baker and Sudders have said previously that they need to slow the growth of spending at MassHealth. With no changes, the Baker administration predicted that MassHealth spending would grow by 16 percent next year. Baker cut that to 5.6 percent, largely by pushing payments into next year and rechecking every enrollee's eligibility. Sudders has acknowledged that these are short-term measures and said she will push for more structural changes for 2017.

So far, the administration has said it does not see appetite in the Legislature for cutting benefits or changing eligibility standards. Rather, officials want to move from a fee-for-service model and toward a model where insurers are paid to keep a population of people healthy.

Dan Tsai, director of MassHealth, said in an interview that as part of the larger restructuring, MassHealth would "look at all options," including what other states are doing. Though Tsai would not rule out changes to benefits or eligibility, he said the focus is on "trying to find ways we can improve cost, quality and care through better health care delivery."

Ipek Demirsoy, who is currently the policy director for accountable care at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, was hired to lead MassHealth's work on payment reform. He is charged with launching new payment models that award things like accountable care organizations, which are groups of doctors, hospitals and other providers who work together to provide better coordinated care to patients. The shift is part of a current trend in health care away from paying for the volume of service a doctor provides and instead paying to keep a population of people healthy, a model that encourages preventative care.

"The move aligns incentives for providers to help manage a population better, in a more cost effective way," Tsai said.

MassHealth also hired Scott Taberner, who is currently the chief financial officer at the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, a network of providers that offers medical and behavioral health care to MassHealth members. Taberner will hold a new position of chief of behavioral health and supportive care. He will work to better coordinate and integrate behavioral care with physical health care and with long-term care for elders and people with disabilities, in nursing homes and in the community.

Matthew Klitus, a principal at the Boston-based insurance brokerage CBDI, where he evaluated health care investments, was hired as chief financial and strategy officer, where he will be tasked with improving MassHealth's efficiency and management.

Tsai said Klitus will be doing "a top to bottom programmatic review" of MassHealth spending, to determine what is working and what is not, what can be simplified, and what Massachusetts can learn from other states. This will be done over the coming year, so changes can be proposed for next year's budget.

MassHealth also promoted Robin Callahan, who oversees policy and programs at MassHealth, to be deputy Medicaid director, with a focus on improving customer service and other daily operations. Tsai said Callahan will be looking to improve customer service within the next three to six months.

Lora Pellegrini, president and CEO is Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, said the organization looks forward to working with Sudders and her team to make MassHealth "more efficient, sustainable and innovative."

"This new structure will bring an important focus on improving the quality of services provided to MassHealth beneficiaries, so that the program is more cost effective and better meets the needs of the Commonwealth's most vulnerable citizens," Pellegrini said in a statement.

The Rice Fruit Farm store on Main Street in Wilbraham was filled with customers just minutes after opening its doors for business for the first time in six years on Friday. Watch video

WILBRAHAM — The Rice Fruit Farm store on Main Street in Wilbraham was filled with customers just minutes after opening its doors for business for the first time in six years on Friday.

Changes and improvement have been made. The Maloni family, which purchased the property from the Rice family, has created a new interior with a coffee bar and dining area. Not far away is an ice cream parlor.

Minutes before opening shortly before noon, cleaning and arranging of counters and display cases continued. Eager customers who had been knocking on the window since early in the morning were reluctantly turned away until all was ready.

The Maloni family has created a mix of traditional and modern offerings. Organic fruits and vegetables and not far from the pastry counter where Georgia Klitsas has returned to make her locally renowned pies, muffin tops, bread and donuts. She worked for the Rice family for 13 years before the shop was closed.

Despite new ownership, Dominic Maloni said they wanted to keep the name. The Rice family owned Rice Fruit Farm for more than 100 years.

Maloni said his family is looking forward to a big opening weekend to say hello to the many old and new customers they expect to show up beginning early Saturday morning.

The painting party was held in conjunction with the annual celebration of the Week of the Young Child, which is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children

SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts State Rep. Angelo Puppolo has never professed to be Michelangelo when it comes to showcasing his artistic ability.

But on Friday, he had a chance to work on his form as he joined a group of fellow elected officials for a painting party with preschoolers.

The painting party was held in conjunction with the annual celebration of the Week of the Young Child, which is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and held at the Square One King Street Children's Center in Springfield.

According to Square One, the week is celebrated to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and the services that meet those needs.

Puppolo was joined by fellow state representatives Jose Tosado, Brian Ashe and Carlos Gozalez as well as State Sen. James Welch, and other community leaders and staff members.

Holyoke police were joined in the 13-day operation by officers from 10 state and federal agencies. Watch video

This is a followup to a story posted Thursday, April 16, 2015: Holyoke 'Operation Full Throttle' nets 211 arrests, 9,200 heroin bags, 5 guns

HOLYOKE -- Mayor Alex B. Morse said crime obviously hasn't disappeared, but the community is safer thanks to a police operation that arrested 211 people and seized five guns and 9,250 bags of heroin.

"Obviously, this operation is important. We got 211 people off the streets that were dealing drugs, selling drugs. Some of them had handguns. I think we sent a strong message to the people in the community that we do not tolerate this type of behavior," Morse said Thursday (April 16) in a video (above).

Police Chief James M. Neiswanger in announcing the sweep called it "Operation Full Throttle": 211 people arrested and 9,250 small plastic bags of heroin, more than 1,100 grams of cocaine, four handguns, one assault rifle and $60,000 cash confiscated over 13 days between April 3 and Thursday.

City police had help from 10 state and federal agencies, Neiswanger said.

"Every resident in the city wants to live in a safe neighborhood, have their kids play in safe neighborhoods and not have to worry about what's going on," Morse said.

"I commend the chief and his team, all of the officers and patrolmen in the department, for making this operation possible," Morse said.

Residents turned out en masse to support Rice Fruit Farm on Main Street which reopened Friday. Watch video

WILBRAHAM - Residents turned out en masse to support Rice Fruit Farm during its Friday reopening on Main Street.

"It's been closed for six years," said Cynthia Maloni, whose family is running the reopened Rice Fruit Farm.

Dominic Maloni, a son of Cynthia Maloni, said he was determined to open in time for the April school vacation because it is a good time for families and children to come to the farm stand and because it is a good time to train summer help.

"We've hired a lot of Wilbraham kids, just like Jesse Rice did," said Anthony Maloni, Cynthia Maloni's husband.

The Rice family owned Rice Fruit Farm for more than 100 years. The farm stand has been closed since 2009. Jesse Rice, the longtime owner of the business, died in November 2010 at the age of 91.

The new Rice Fruit Farm also will be a family owned business. Cynthia Maloni said she has four grown sons and two daughters. Her sons, Dominic and Anthony, will be running the business, she said.

The Maloni family also runs Cindy's Drive-in in Granby, known for its ice cream and foot-long hot dog.

The new Rice's contains an indoor ice cream stand, a seating area with a fireplace and most important to many, Georgia's famous muffin tops and pies.

Longtime baker Georgia Klitsas has returned to the business.

Marcie Hayn said she came out to the opening because "I knew Jessie well."

Anthony Maloni and longtime baker Georgia KlitsasSuzanne McLaughlin/The Republican 

She said she is very pleased with the look of the renovated farm stand.

The Malonis' son, Anthony, said there was a woman from Amherst knocking on the door Friday morning before he was open.

"She said she drove all the way from Amherst for one of the muffin tops, so I let her in before we were open," Maloni said.

"Everybody is so happy that Georgia is back," Maloni said.

The Malonis say they plan to sell as much local produce as possible.

Specialty items in the store now include Manny's Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a business started by Manny D. Rovithis, owner of Manny's TV & Appliances and produced on family land in Crete, and maple syrup from Ferrindino Farms on Glendale Road in Hampden.

"You can tell school's out because the kids are here," Cynthia Maloni said.

Her husband said he expects to do a lot of business this weekend.

"It's supposed to be sunny," he said.

The executive director of the Massachusetts Historical Commission was largely in agreement with the MGM mitigation plans.

SPRINGFIELD - The Massachusetts Historical Commission wants MGM Springfield to conduct a feasibility study to determine if the rear section of the historic State Armory building can be saved from demolition as part of MGM's casino development in the South End, according to local officials.

The Armory issue surfaced during a nearly two-hour meeting between local and state officials in Boston, where agreement on the issues was otherwise the case, officials said.

Brona Simon, executive director of the state Historical Commission, while asking for the study, was otherwise in agreement with the historic mitigation plan submitted by MGM, and that was approved recently by the Springfield Historical Commission, said Scott Hanson, the city's principal planner.

MGM has long planned to save the front section of the Armory building, but neither MGM nor the local Historical Commission was fighting to preserve the tornado-damaged rear area that was an addition to the Armory.

Simon questioned if a planned MGM skating rink could be moved closer to Union Street, which would require MGM to again move the planned location of the Spritualist Church, Hanson explained.

Officials attending Friday's meeting included Simon and representatives MGM Springfield, the state Gaming Commission, the city, the city Historical Commission and the Springfield Preservation Trust.

The $800 million casino project cannot proceed until such issues are resolved and a final site plan developed and approved.

The state historical commission is an advisory body, with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission having ultimate authority over the casino plans. The state historical commission commission is

"I think all in all, it was a good meeting," Hanson said. "We are trying to meet in the next two to three weeks to hopefully come to a conclusion on the remaining issues."

Simon did offer support for a plan to demolish the old YWCA building on Howard Street, which caused sharp disagreement in recent months but was approved by the local Historical Commission by a 3-2 vote. Under the negotiated mitigation plan, MGM will recreate the facade of the former YMCA building, perpendicular across Howard Street just west of the old State Armory.

Simon recognized that public safety concerns, specifically regarding the planned cul-de-sac, were behind the plan to demolish the old YWCA.

The building has housed the Western Massachusetts Correctional and Alcohol Center.

Simon also spoke favorably about mitigation plans for a building at 73 State St. and the Union House, that had been contested in the past between MGM and the Historical Commission, Hanson said.

There was a also a discussion of MGM providing a fund for historic preservation efforts in Springfield, Hanson said.

"Progress was made," said Robert McCarroll, who was attending the meeting on behalf of the Springfield Preservation Trust. "There are still those few issues that have to be resolved."

MGM Springfield was pleased with what it thought was a very productive initial meeting with the state historical commission, said Carole Brennan, MGM Springfield spokeswoman. Additional comments was not immediately available.

Simon could not be reached for comment.

Mayor Domenic Sarno sent a letter of support for the MGM project and its mitigation plan to the state Historical Commission.

Sarno's letter stated in part: "As recognized by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ("MGM"), the Project demonstrates MGM Springfield 's strong commitment to the history of Springfield and promises to maintain a commitment to Massachusetts' historic themes of innovation, inclusion and community in its development."

Further, Sarno said the MGM casino project is "a dynamic plan to redevelop Springfield's Metro Center and South End Neighborhoods," and is focuses on "respecting the rich historical character of these neighborhoods."

The casino will be located on a 14.5 acre parcel in the downtown-South End area, with all properties purchased by MGM.

MGM Springfield MA Historical Commission

City officials promised a great but secure atmosphere for Monday's running of the Boston at a press conference on Friday.

BOSTON — City officials promised a great but secure atmosphere for Monday's running of the Boston at a press conference on Friday.

Flanked by some of the city's top public safety officials, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh promised race attendees that they will have an enjoyable and safe experience at this year's marathon.

"The city will be the same positive environment people are used to enjoying during the marathon," said Walsh.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said the security measures used in last year's marathon will be repeated this year. Race spectators are being discouraged from bringing large bags or coolers to the spots along the Boston Marathon route because they will be subject to search.

"Last year people really cooperated," said Evans, urging people to not "leave backpacks laying around."

Evans said that police plan on controlling the large crowds that normally congregate by the finish line of the marathon by moving them up Boylston Street, away from the congested Copley Square area.

The 50 observation points in the Back Bay neighborhood will be accompanied by over 100 cameras on the Marathon route.

Road closures along the Boston Marathon route will begin at 5 a.m. in Boston. For a complete list of road closures click here.

Public safety and traffic management officials stressed that anyone planning on traveling into the city for the race should take public transportation.

A semitruck carrying millions of honeybees overturned on a highway north of Seattle early Friday, scattering hives and sending white-suited beekeepers scrambling to save as many insects as they could.

LYNNWOOD, Wash. (AP) -- A semitruck carrying millions of honeybees overturned on a highway north of Seattle early Friday, scattering hives and sending white-suited beekeepers scrambling to save as many insects as they could.

The truck had just merged onto Interstate 5 around 3:30 a.m. when it tipped on its side, dumping its load of 448 hives, or about 13.7 million bees, Washington State Patrol Trooper Travis Shearer said. The driver, a 36-year-old man from Idaho, was not hurt.

The company that owns the insects, Belleville Honey and Beekeeping Supply of Burlington, sent beekeepers to recover as many as possible, and bees covered their protective suits as they worked.

The bees became more active as the sun rose and the weather warmed, and firefighters had to spray a layer of foam on some of the boxes, killing the insects for safety.

Many of the hives were still along the highway more than seven hours after the accident, when a front-end loader began scooping them up and dumping them into a dump truck, Shearer said. The majority of the hives had been crushed.

"I'm sure they'll take that somewhere and try to save as many as they can, but they can do that someplace safer, away from the I-5 corridor," he said.

The bees were being transported from Sunnyside, in central Washington, to a blueberry farm in Lynden, a city near the Canadian border about 100 miles north of Seattle, Shearer said.

First responders and reporters alike swatted at the bees as they tried to do their jobs.

"I think everybody there got stung," Shearer said.

Seattle television station KIRO posted a video compilation of its on-scene reporter swatting the insects as he reported on the accident.

Shearer urged drivers to keep their windows up and to "#beesafe when traveling through that area," as he wrote on Twitter.

A man who answered the phone at the beekeeping company said he couldn't immediately answer any questions related to the accident.

With prom season just around the corner, the "Say Yes to the Prom Dress" event at Putnam Vocational Academy in Springfield let prom-goers pick out donated dresses and fashion accessories for free.

SPRINGFIELD — With prom season just around the corner, the "Say Yes to the Prom Dress" event at Putnam Vocational Academy in Springfield let prom-goers pick out donated dresses and fashion accessories for free.

"'Say Yes to the Prom Dress' is an initiative to provide confidence and a positive self-image for deserving high school girls," said Denise Stewart, the Parent Facilitator at Putnam Vocational Academy.

Over 200 dresses had been donated to the event, and girls had a ball combing the racks, pulling a dress and heading across the hall to the cosmetology department, where they could try them on and use the many mirrors in the room.

After girls make their choices, seamstresses who are teachers at Putnam will do any required alterations and the dresses will be dry cleaned, according to MJ Dutton, a financial analyst at the school.

As for Cinderella? Well, these students don't have to be home by midnight and they get to keep the clothes.

Police were led by a tip to obtain a search warrant to search the room occupied Thursday by Karin Cole, 47.

A woman in Washington state with a history of drug-dealing didn't stop selling methamphetamine after she was admitted to a local hospital, authorities say.

Karin Cole, 47, of Washougal is accused of dealing meth while checked in as a patient at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington, KPTV-TV reported.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the room Thursday after a tip that Cole, who was arrested in January on suspicion of dealing meth out of her home, was doing the same thing from her hospital bed.

During the search, police say, they found about 6 1/2 grams of meth, a digital scale, packaging materials and other paraphernalia hidden in a closet, The Columbian reported.

"I've been a policeman for 20 years and this is a new twist on drug dealing," said Sgt. David Chaney, a Camas Police Department spokesman, according to OregonLive.com.

Cole wasn't immediately arrested due to her medical condition, police said, although they did not disclose the nature of her hospitalization. Authorities said the hospital was not aware of what she was doing, KPTV said.

No one else was reported to be arrested involving Cole's alleged sale of drugs at the hospital.

Police said they were referring the case to a prosecutor, requesting Cole be charged with methamphetamine possession with intent to deliver. That's the same charge she faces in connection with her January arrest.

When Cole was interviewed in that arrest, Camas police said, she told them she "sells meth because she broke her foot and she is bored," The Columbian said.

Hospital officials said Friday she was no longer a patient at PeaceHealth.

The overnight lane closures will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from April 21-23 and April 27-30. There will also be temporary daytime lane closures, according to MassDOT officials.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Overnight lane closures are scheduled to take effect on Route 5 to accommodate repair work at the Memorial Bridge rotary in West Springfield, according to officials with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The work, which involves rebuilding the two overpasses that carry Memorial Avenue over Route 5, begins on Tuesday, April 21. That's when MassDOT will begin demolishing parts of the eastbound Memorial Avenue rotary bridge facades, which will require Route 5 lane closures in both directions from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The closures will take place during the same hours on April 22 and 23 and from April 27-30.

While the lane closures are in effect, Route 5 traffic will be directed to use the rotary on/off ramps to continue onto Route 5 north or south. No detours are necessary and all lanes will reopen to traffic at 5 a.m. on each day of the scheduled closures, according to MassDOT officials.

The work also will require temporary daytime lane closures on Route 5 and at the rotary. Signs will be in place to alert drivers of all lane closures, officials said.

Anyone hoping to avoid any hassles and delays should avoid the rotary area completely during the scheduled construction times, according to MassDOT, which is encouraging drivers to seek alternate routes.

For more information about the project and to sign up for project updates, go online at http://www.mass.gov/massdot/MemorialAvenueRotaryReplacement. The schedule for this major infrastructure project is depends on the weather and subject to change without notice.

Joshua Simpkins, 19, was grinding pork at a Golden Corral at 5535 S. Kirkman Road at 7:45 a.m. when the accident occurred.

An employee of a Golden Corral restaurant in Orlando, Florida, lost four fingers when his left hand got caught in a meat grinder, authorities said Friday.

Restaurant staff cleaned the area, rinsed the grinder, and threw away the remains of the fingers and ground pork by the time police and firefighters arrived Thursday morning, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Joshua Simpkins, 19, of Orlando was grinding pork at a Golden Corral at 5535 S. Kirkman Road at 7:45 a.m. when the accident occurred. A co-worker heard screaming and saw that Simpkins was bleeding, and yelled for someone to 911.

Only the thumb on Simpkins' left hand remained, police said. He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation found that safety procedures and training were in order, and the equipment was working properly, a restaurant spokeswoman said in a statement, the Sentinel reported.

An OSHA spokesperson couldn't be reached for comment.

If you do, the <a href="http://topics.masslive.com/tag/springfield-police/index.html" Anyone who recognizes the man in the photos is asked to call Detective Gifford Jenkins, of the Springfield Police Department Major Crimes Unit, at 413-787-6355.

SPRINGFIELD — Do you know this alleged criminal? If you do, the Springfield Police Department would like you to call Detective Gifford Jenkins, of the Major Crimes Unit, at 413-787-6355.

On March 27, between 7 and 8:25 a.m., an employee of Shriner's Hospital on Carew Street had her wallet stolen from her office, according to Sgt. John Delaney, a Police Department spokesman. The wallet contained $25 cash and the woman's debit and credit cards.

Shortly after the wallet was taken, the alleged thief tried to make a transaction at the Stop & Shop supermarket at Liberty Street Plaza, Delaney said, adding that the suspect was caught on camera.

Now, authorities are hoping anyone who recognizes the man will reach out to police, who also can be reached anonymously via Text-a-Tip at CRIMES (274637).

The next SHELD meeting is tentatively schedule for April 30, to begin at 6 p.m., at town hall, 116 Main St.

SOUTH HADLEY - In a major break with past practice, the municipal light board proceedings are now expected to be broadcast on the town's public access television station - and the panel will be holding their meetings at town hall in early evening.

Following this week's surprise election of Anne Awad, who upset the incumbent Jeffrey Lebrecque to win a seat on the three-person South Hadley Electric Light Department Board of Commissioners, the panel elected her the new chair at Wednesday's meeting.

She campaigned on a promise to bring greater transparency to the agency, and the board's actions.

So instead of meeting in the kitchen of SHELD headquarters at 85 Main St., the commissioners, at the April 15 meeting, decided to instead convene at nearby town hall, in the Selectboard's meeting room, to allow broadcast of the proceedings.

SHELD Manager Wayne Doerpholz has opposed convening outside of the agency's building, saying documents and materials that could be needed during a meeting would not be easily available otherwise.

The next SHELD meeting is tentatively schedule for April 30, to begin at 6 p.m. in town hall at 116 Main St. instead of the previous 4:30 p.m. time.

Crowds at Extravaganja friendly and traffic moving.

AMHERST - The music was late in starting at the 24^th annual Extravaganja but none of the thousands that had gathered and were continuing to flock to the Town Common seemed to mind.

They were sitting on the grass or in chairs with cup holders, or on blankets. Some were smoking weed, others eating lollipops or trying their luck with hula-hoops.

The word is mellow.

Traffic, meanwhile, was slow but still moving through the downtown.

 Aaron Gesner traveled in from Boston with his brother. They had been here before. He was sitting in a chair a bottle of water beside him just watching the crowd.

"It's great," he said. "It's a great festival." The 21-year-old likes the people and the experience of being there. "Nothing bad ever happens here. It's a great atmosphere," he said.

Sara Basmajian, who also lives in the Boston area, sat on a blanket with a sign before her reading "come paint." The 29-year-old is studying art expression.

She had brushes and paints and was working on a painting she wanted others to help with.

She has been coming to the festival for years. Her brother graduated from the University of Massachusetts and was playing in a reunion concert Saturday night.

 "Everyone is really friendly," she said. She likes the community atmosphere.  

As far as marijuana, she said she's learning all about the medicinal properties of herbs and said marijuana is just one more.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Cannabis Reform Coalition sponsors the festival. That group is pushing for its complete legalization.

In 2012, voters approved a ballot question legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. But no dispensaries have opened.

Proponents of full legalization are hoping to get a question on the 2016 ballot.

Several people were sitting on a riser surrounding a sign that read "homeless for Extravaganja. I don't want to lie. I just want to get high," with the word "help" scrawled nearby.

Nick Pawlowski of Springfield stands near his friend's Munchy Mobile. Diane Lederman/The Republican 

Nick Pawlowski, 65, of Springfield has been coming to the Town Common even before Extravaganja even had a name. He remembers when there was just a smoke-in and people on April 20 and people would gather to get high.

 A retired police officer, Pawlowski said he loves the event. "I get to see a lot of friends I haven't seen in a long time." And he gets to see the potheads. He said he likes how low-key and mellow the festival is.

A Vietnam War veteran, he said he was given some medication but he didn't like the side effects. "Smoking helps."

The festival features speakers and music and ends at 6:30 pm.

The rolled over car came to rest in a car lot.

HOLYOKE - The Police and Fire departments responded to a two-car accident on Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Cabot and Elm Streets, with the collision resulting in injuries and one of the cars rolling over onto its passenger side.

Two people were transported by ambulance to the hospital, but the extent of injuries was not immediately available. At least one person was transported to Baystate Medical Center after the accident shortly after noon, police said.

Both cars had heavy damage. The rolled-over car came to rest in the lot at Sportsman's Auto Sale, at the intersection.

The intersection was blocked off by emergency vehicles including ambulances, and police and fire vehicles.

Further details were not immediately available.

Danny Boyle had owned the Common Ground Diner in Springfield.

AMHERST - Danny Boyle spends his days managing the Springfield Symphony Box Office but over the past year, he and friends have been refurbishing a mobile food van.

And Boyle said what better place for the maiden voyage of his Munchy Mobile than the 24^th annual Extravaganja on the Town Common Saturday..

Boyle of Westfield was selling hotdogs, burgers, grilled tater tots, kielbasa, and chili over Fritos among his menu offerings. Everything was $5 and each meal included water. Tips were collected for the Friends of the Homeless in Springfield. He said members of they symphony volunteer serving food to the homeless every week.

"I love food," he said. But Boyle, who founded and sold the Common Ground Diner in Springfield, said, "I'd never do bricks and mortar again."

After the UMass Amherst Cannabis Reform Coalition sponsored Extravaganja, he'll be bringing his mobile food service to birthday parties and some Springfield events.

Boyle had happened upon the Extravaganja once a few years ago with his mother. He thought they were coming to a craft fair.

He doesn't smoke marijuana because he doesn't enjoy it, but believes in its medicinal properties.  He has a caregiver's card and when a dispensary opens he'll be able to buy it for his disabled friend who finds marijuana brings pain relief. 

Mason High School Mindy McCarty-Stewart also issued an apology in an email Thursday to district families.

Intense criticism has prompted an Ohio high school's principal to cancel a student event in which girls would celebrate diversity by spending a day wearing a Muslim headscarf.

Mason High School Mindy McCarty-Stewart also issued an apology in an email Thursday to district families, saying the intent of the April 23 student-led event was meant to be positive, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

"I now realize that as adults we should have given our students better guidance. After much consideration and after talking with the student event organizers, we have canceled the event," she said.

The event, dubbed the "The Covered Girl Challenge," was designed to combat stereotypes women face wearing head coverings. Similar events have been held on college campuses and other high schools.

Although many praised the event, a backlash erupted on the Internet from some complaining the event promoted a single religion as well as a garment some linked to oppression of women.

On the other hand, others complained that having all girls wear scarves seemed mocking of a Muslim tradition, as inappropriate as students dressing up in a priest's collar to celebrate Catholicism.

Sharon Poe, a former school board candidate in the district, told the Enquirer she opposed the "Covered Girl" event.

"My belief is wearing these hijabs represents the oppression of women and Sharia law," she said, adding that public schools should not be promoting one religious tradition over another.

However, Yasmeen Allen, an Iraqi native with two teenagers at Mason High, told the newspaper that Muslim students at the school "were robbed of an opportunity" to counter negativity their religion faces around the world.

McCarty-Stewart said she decided to cancel the event because it was clear it was not reaching its goal of teaching tolerance, the Dayton Daily News reported.

She also said it was a mistake for the event, which was sponsored by a Muslim student group, to be promoted by the school's student activities department.

The decision to cancel the event has since prompted its own backlash, with some complaining that the school caved in to anti-Muslim bigotry, The Associated Press reported.

There is no need to test cosmetics on animals, said the teen demonstrators.

NORTHAMPTON -- Chanting "there is no excuse for animal abuse," a group of girls organized under the moniker Teen Animal Rights Activists of Massachusetts took their message to the streets Saturday in a spirited demonstration.

The group had earlier planned to protest in the cosmetics aisle of the Target store at the Hampshire Mall in Hadley, but when turned away by mall security, jumped on a PVTA bus and took their message to downtown Northampton.

Marching down Main Street, a dozen young women carried signs, chanted, and handed out brochures before gathering in front of the old Hampshire County Courthouse to speak out about animal testing on cosmetics and personal care products.

There is no need to use animals to test cosmetics, said JFK Middle School student Julia Carpenter, adding that the practice inflicts tremendous pain and suffering.

The Draize test, where chemicals are dropped into the eye of a restrained rabbit, is still used, although it's not required by the Food and Drug administration, said Carpenter.

"The FDA does not require that products be tested on animals in the United States," said Carpenter. "They just want to make sure products are safe. The European Union has already banned animal testing."

Animal response to chemicals in cosmetics is not a predictor of human response, said Carpenter. "The rabbit's eye is not like the human eye," she said. "The tests are not even meaningful or effective."

Cosmetics companies continue the practice out of "habit and speciesism," even though cost-effective alternatives exist, she said.

Speciesism is the idea that "different is lesser," said JFK student Emilia Tamayo.

"Animals want to live!" Tamayo chanted, as her cohorts responded "Just like us!"

The girls, all under 16 and from a range of Pioneer Valley communities, said they were united in their belief that it's time to end animal cruelty.

Rats, mice, birds and rabbits are not protected under the federal Animal Welfare Act, said Tamayo. "They have families, children, mothers, and homes, just like us," she said.

Carpenter said she'd like to see all makeup companies cut their ties with product testing.

People can know they are buying cruelty-free products by looking for the "leaping bunny" logo on packaging, said Carpenter.

The standard by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics ensures that no new animal testing is used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories, or suppliers, according to the coalition's website.

Some companies claim to be "cruelty-free," but without the leaping bunny, it's impossible to tell whether they use third-party testing, said Carpenter.

At the Holyoke Mall, a security officer who declined to give his name said he had turned the girls away before they even entered the building.

"They bailed when they were threatened with arrest," the officer told MassLive/The Republican. A local management team at Target also declined comment, and directed a reporter to Target's national media office.

Target is one of many national chains to carry products that rely upon animal testing, said Carpenter.