People should ask the caller's name and call police back on the approved number.

HADLEY - Police are warning area residents to be cautious about a phone scam in which calls are made and the police department phone number will appear on caller ID.

Callers usually mention an on-going investigation and demand money, according to the Facebook posting.

"If there is a question of validity about a call from a police agency, ask for the officer's name and call the police department back on a number found from a trusted source (local phone book, etc.) and ask for the officer. We will never demand that money be brought to us to settle or complete an investigation," according to the posting. 

After nine days of testimony, Assistant District Attorney John Pappas finished presenting his case against Edwin Alemany, who is accused of murdering Wilbraham native Amy Lord and physically assaulting two other women in Boston.

BOSTON - After nine days of testimony, Assistant District Attorney John Pappas finished presenting his case against murder defendant Edwin Alemany.

"The commonwealth rests," Pappas said around noon on Wednesday.

Alemany is on trial in Suffolk County Superior Court for allegedly murdering Wilbraham native Amy Lord and physically assaulting Alexandra Cruz and Kayleigh Ballantyne. Alemany's attorney Jeffrey Denner is using an insanity defense, arguing that Alemany should not be held criminally responsible for his actions because of his state of mind. Alemany has a long history of mental illness. Denner has admitted that Alemany attacked Cruz and Ballantyne.

All three women were brutally attacked in South Boston within a 24-hour period. Cruz was dragged into a parking lot and choked in the early morning of July 23, 2013. Also early that morning, Lord was attacked as she was leaving her apartment, beaten and driven in her car to multiple ATMs where she withdrew nearly $1,000. She was then taken to the Stony Brook Reservation and brutally and fatally stabbed dozens of times in her neck, torso, arms, legs and genitals. Her car was set on fire in South Boston.

Just after midnight on July 24, Ballantyne was attacked as she was entering her apartment and stabbed multiple times.

If he is convicted of first-degree murder, Alemany faces life in prison without parole. Several other charges also carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Pappas showed the jury surveillance videos placing Alemany at various locations relevant to the case and showing him driving Lord's car. Witnesses confirmed seeing Alemany in the car.

Cruz and Ballantyne testified to the horrifying assaults they suffered, and their accounts were confirmed by testimony from law enforcement officials, medical professionals and other witnesses.

Alemany's friends said they went drinking with Alemany that day. They testified to seeing Alemany carrying a large amount of cash, which he said he won through the Lottery - even though the Lottery had no record of a win by Alemany. Alemany's girlfriend said she argued with him before he left the apartment the night Ballantyne was stabbed. None of the witnesses provided an alibi for Alemany at the time the attacks took place.

The jury also saw a videotape of an interview Alemany had with the police after his arrest on July 24, 2014, in which he coherently answered questions but denied involvement in the crimes.

DNA evidence showed Alemany's DNA may have been mingled with Lord's in bloodstains on his shoes. Alemany's DNA was also apparently found on Ballantyne's clothing. Alemany allegedly hurt his hand while stabbing Ballantyne. He was arrested after he went to the same hospital where she was being treated.

Denner, in his cross-examinations, has been pointing out ways in which Alemany acted irrationally. Denner plans to bring testimony from Dr. Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist who is expected to testify that Alemany cannot be held responsible for his actions due to severe mental illness. Prosecutors will try to rebut his testimony with their own psychiatric expert.

The final prosecution witnesses on Wednesday were a DNA expert from the Boston police and a Boston police sergeant detective who oversaw the investigations and testified about traffic camera surveillance videos and other surveillance footage that he reviewed.

The evidence phase of the trial is expected to conclude Wednesday or Thursday.

UTC has been moving away from manufacturing its own parts, instead focusing on design and assembly, a trend that has meant more business and more jobs for precision manufacturing companies up and down the Pioneer Valley.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Lower oil prices means less offshore drilling and less offshore drilling means less demand for helicopters to ferry workers and supplies to those platforms.

Less demand for helicopter trips means less demand for helicopters.

That's the chain of events put forth by Connecticut-based Untied Technologies Corp. as to why it's cutting 1,400 jobs in the coming year from its Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. subsidiary. That's about the 10 percent of the company's workforce.

The Hartford Courant reports that Sikorsky will cut 180 Connecticut jobs and close its Bridgeport aerostructures facility in late 2016, moving 450 workers to Stratford.

The Courant also points out that Sikorsky projects softer demand for its Blackhawk military helicopters.

The Waterbury Republican-American reported that Sikorsky posted 2014 sales of nearly $7.5 billion, up 19 percent from 2013. UTC eliminated 150 salaried positions around the world, including 70 white-collar jobs at UTC Aerospace Systems, formerly Hamilton Sundstrand, located in Windsor Locks.

United Technologies has been moving away from manufacturing its own parts, instead focusing on design and assembly. The trend has meant more business and more jobs for precision manufacturing companies up and down the Pioneer Valley.

Breslow highlighted that Buffis paid $102,000 for a motor home in 2009 while he was deeply in debt and used toy fund money for some of it.

This is an update to a story posted at 6:30 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD — Former Lee Police Chief Joseph Buffis and his wife spent $44,000 at Costco over five years on items like Slim Jims, Red Bull, bottled water, fruit snacks and dog food – but not one toy.

He spent $1,400 at Best Buy on computers, anti-virus software, subwoofers and a navigation system – but not one toy.

Buffis confirmed the Costco and Best Buy purchases under cross-examination by the prosecution on Wednesday.

Buffis is on trial in U.S. District Court for allegedly siphoning $120,000 from a police-sponsored Christmas toy fund for needy children. Over two days on the witness stand, Buffis told jurors that that he preferred to buy toys for the charity on a year-round cash system, then reimburse himself when donations from the public starting rolling in. He testified he kept the cash donations in his sock drawer, but retained no receipts for the toys he purchased.

The result: When federal and state investigators began looking into the charity, they found tens of thousands of dollars flowing from the toy fund to Buffis' own bank accounts, but could find no sign that Buffis spent any money on children's toys.

There has been no testimony Buffis had vices or bad habits, but some witnesses have testified that Buffis struggled to stay afloat financially. An FBI forensic accountant told jurors the money went to pay the defendant's mortgage, his daughter's student loans, his son's motocross school, his credit card bills and other expenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow has referred mockingly to Buffis' evolving explanation as to how he ran the toy fund. When state police first began questioning him in 2012, Buffis said he only took money from the toy fund when he had used his personal Visa card. Then, when investigators pored over his Visa charges, he said he only paid cash at several retailers, including Costco.

Then, when investigators mined his Costco charges over five years and couldn't find a single toy purchase, Buffis said it must've been a while since he had purchased toys there.

And when investigators began asking why he had cleaned out nearly every dime from the charity dating back more than a decade, Buffis said he established a "revolving cash system" to pay himself back for 12 months of toy purchases.

Breslow repeatedly needled Buffis on cross-examination by referring to "this new story of yours," prompting objections by defense lawyer Lori Levinson.

"You didn't put the $804 computer you bought at Best Buy in a garbage bag for the needy children of Lee, did you?" Breslow asked, referring to Buffis' testimony that he packaged up gifts for the charity in large black trash bags.

"Of course not," Buffis answered.

On direct examination, Buffis smoothly provided answers to each of his lawyer's hundreds of questions about his career, the toy fund, his personal finances, the criminal investigation and other topics.

Breslow began his cross-examination on Tuesday afternoon, and has continued to hammer away at Buffis' answers, forcing him to concede that several of his responses have been false.

At one point, U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni threatened that if Breslow didn't temper the snarky tone of some of his questions, the judge would insist that Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Shukla take over the exam.

Earlier, Breslow also highlighted that Buffis paid $102,000 for a motor home in 2009 while he was deeply in debt and used toy fund money for some of it.

Buffis said he purchased it primarily so his son, Konnor, to have somewhere to live while he was away at motocross training school in Georgia.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Lee Geisel 

Lee Robert Geisel, 65, died on Thursday. Born in Springfield, he was a graduate of Classical High School and went on to receive a bachelor of arts degree from Clark University. He loved theater, and after college he worked as a stage manager and actor in Worcester, which led to a 20-year career in New York City in various forms of theater. He also worked at White and Case law firm. His love of the English language made him an avid writer. He returned to the Springfield area after 9/11 and was employed in group sales for Six Flags Amusement Parks.

Temperatures should reach 72 degrees today.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for a sunny afternoon. Temperatures should reach near 72 degrees. Thursday should start out foggy once again but with clearing in the afternoon. Temps will again reach into the low 70s.

The complete forecast from NOAA.gov is as follows:

This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.

Tonight: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 47. Light southeast wind.

Thursday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Light south wind.

Friday: A slight chance of showers after 11am. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers. Patchy fog between 1am and 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

The anniversary celebration is for family, alums, and friends of Hampshire College.

AMHERST - Hampshire College is celebrating its 45^th anniversary beginning Friday with three days of events. 

The celebration-reunion is a chance to bring "our Hampshire community celebrating our history and looking forward to where the college is headed," said Director of Alumni and Family Relations Melissa Mills-Dick.

She said it's also a chance to celebrate faculty who have been with the college since 1970 who are now retiring. 

About 600 have already registered and she expects more when events begin Friday. A celebration-reunion is held every five years.

The event is for alumni, friends and family and for community members who are friends of the college. They'll be able to register for the day, she said.

 The event features myriad talks and workshops including one titled "Making Waves" Social Justice at 45," moderated by former president Adele S. Simmons.

On Saturday, current President Jonathan Lash will talk about the priorities of Hampshire's new strategic plan.

There will also be a discussion about the new R. W. Kern Center - created to embody the college's mission to foster positive change in the world -- and to meet the Living Building Challenge.

 That means the building under construction now will be required to make its own energy, treat its own waste, and collect its own water. 

One of the highlights will be a screening and talk with filmmaker and alum Ken Burns, producer of a new film directed by Hampshire alum Artemis Joukowsky III called "Righteous Among Us: Two Who Defied the Nazis."

It's a documentary that traces the story of the director's grandparents who rescued dozens during World War II. The film is set to screen in 2016 on PBS. Both Joukowsky and Burns will participate in a question and answer session following the screening.

Comedian and alum Eugene Mirman will perform along with comedians Alice Dattner and Max Rosenthal.

There will also be readings with Hampshire writers, among the dozens of activities.

Marks was the moving force behind the reopening of Camp Norwich in Huntington, where the Hampshire YMCA has a summer camp.

NORTHAMPTON — Hampshire Regional YMCA Chief Executive Officer David Marks has resigned after leading the local YMCA for more than a decade.

Marks was the moving force behind the reopening of Camp Norwich in Huntington, where the Hampshire YMCA has a summer camp. Although his resignation is effective June 5, he has already left the post, according to workers at the YMCA.

Marks, who has been at the helm of the Hampshire Regional YMCA since 2003, could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.

"For more than a decade, David has been committed to building a community at the Hampshire Regional YMCA," Andy Pollock, chairman of the Hampshire Regional YMCA board of directors, said in a news release. "His service has increased membership and enabled Camp Norwich to continue a legacy as the second oldest YMCA camp in the country."

An interim CEO will be appointed by the board of directors. The Hampshire Regional YMCA will conduct a search for a permanent replacement.

Marks had announced in 2009 his intention to leave the post, but the local YMCA's board of directors and he later agreed that he would stay.

A baby peregrine falcon hatched Tuesday, about two months after a new pair of adults took up residence on the library's roof.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst W.E.B. Du Bois Library has a new, feathered tenant.

A baby peregrine falcon hatched Tuesday, about two months after a new pair of adults took up residence on the library's roof. The new parents have a lot to live up to; the nests' previous occupants raised 34 chicks during their years at the library.

The hatching was announced on Twitter, with photos taken from the library's falcon webcam:

pic.twitter.com/5ssV4EUujH

— Du Bois Falcons (@DuBoisFalcons) June 2, 2015

Two more eggs remain are expected to hatch soon, according to the falcons' Twitter account.

The previous male falcon died in January and his mate deserted the rooftop perch. He was found injured on a snow bank in January and died the next week; wildlife officials suspected he flew into a power line.

There are fewer than 30 known nesting pairs of peregrine falcons in Massachusetts, according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Ward 3 Councilor Ryan O'Donnell is introducing the resolution in the wake of a decision by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to limit the roles of state Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, and two environmental organizations who are questioning the moratorium announced by Berkshire Gas.

NORTHAMPTON — The City Council will consider a resolution demanding that Berkshire Gas and Columbia Gas be more transparent concerning the details of their announced moratoriums on new customers when it meets Thursday.

Ward 3 Councilor Ryan O'Donnell is introducing the resolution in the wake of a decision by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to limit the roles of state Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, and two environmental organizations who are questioning the moratorium announced by Berkshire Gas. Columbia Gas, which serves communities in Hampshire County, has said it will not take new gas customers in Northampton and Easthampton because the supply of natural gas is low.

Both companies said they intend to buy gas from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline, a controversial project against which several communities have passed resolutions. The pipeline would carry gas 125 miles through Massachusetts via a 36-inch pipe that can deliver up to 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day.

Kulik is among those who have questioned the need for the new gas, saying parent company Kinder Morgan intends to sell some of it abroad. Instead, he is urging Berkshire Gas to explore other options, such as more efficient furnaces and better insulation. However, the DPU denied Kulik, Pipeline Awareness Network and Northeast Energy Solutions full status to intervene in the matter, meaning they cannot request documents or call witnesses.

O'Donnell's resolution questions the assertion and the timing that only the Tennessee Gas Pipeline can alleviate the supposed shortage, suggesting that utility companies in the region are supporting the pipeline. The resolution calls on the Berkshire and Columbia to release all financial and engineering data that supports the need for a moratorium, to explore alternative solutions to the supposed gas shortage and to support full intervenor status for Pipeline Awareness Network.

Mayoral candidate Johnnie Ray McKnight said that it does not make sense to expand the police department until the quality of law enforcement improves through body cameras

Springfield mayoral candidate Johnnie Ray McKnight has urged the City Council to reject the mayor's city budget proposals, due to non-funding of police camerasSubmitted photo 

SPRINGFIELD - Johnnie Ray McKnight, a candidate for mayor, has urged the City Council to reject Mayor Domenic J. Sarno's budget proposal for next fiscal year because it funds additional police officers without providing funds for outfitting police with body cameras.

McKnight said he attended a council meeting in May when the council voted unanimously to support police body cameras and an amendment to also support dashboard mounted cameras on cruisers. The council voted its support by way of a non-binding resolution.

"If City Council is ready to back up their words with their actions, it is imperative that they do not approve Mayor Domenic Sarno's recently released budget for the upcoming fiscal year," McKnight said, in a prepared release. "We must improve the quality of our law enforcement system before we can justifiably expand its size."

Sarno has asked the council to approve a $594.9 million city budget for all municipal departments and expenses and the school budget. The budget is for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The budget, as proposed, includes funding to hire 23 "new, untested police officers," McKnight said.

"This is money our government will need in order to support the establishment of body cameras for our police force," McKnight said. "By simply increasing our quantity of officers, these new additions to the force will merely be a couple of dozen more officers facing liability if they make mistakes or are charged with false allegations of abuse of force."

A proposal to mount cameras on cruisers resulted in an arbitration ruling last year that the city cannot install cameras without studying the possible impact of the move. That study is under way involving police management and union officials.

McKnight said that "excessive police force, citizens' safety, and lawsuits against the city are rampant in the current news and Springfield is not immune to the concerns."

Money that has been spent by the city to settle lawsuits regarding allegations of police misconduct "is money we desperately need elsewhere to better our public school system, increase the safety of our roads, and for countless other endeavors," McKnight said.

McKnight said that as discussed at the council meeting, the cameras would benefit the public and the police.

The cameras are a positive for citizens "who can feel their encounters with police are on record, should anything go wrong -- as well as a positive for our officers; many false allegations of excessive force by police could be disproven by video footage," McKnight said.

"Falling back on the precedent that only police unions can make the official decision of whether or not to implement the cameras, they (councilors) concluded that the council's only real power was to show that they support the funding, should the city decide to adopt it."

"However, they are missing a vital opportunity to show some political backbone and negotiate on behalf of the people of Springfield, as they are currently sitting in front of the mayor's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2016," McKnight said. "In this document, they have a great bargaining chip and a tool for negotiation.

Councilor Orlando Ramos, who proposed the resolution in support of body cameras, said federal funds could be used to acquire body cameras if the city and police unions approve their use.

No police departments in Massachusetts have body cameras.

The 1 p.m. event on June 5 at the school's 15 Mulligan Dr. campus is open to the public

SOUTH HADLEY - Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School has announced they will break ground for a new, $1.8 million, 400 seat auditorium on Friday.

The 1 p.m. event on June 5 at the school's 15 Mulligan Dr. campus is open to the public.

The 7,000-square-foot addition is planned as a multipurpose assembly and performance facility.

The state's economic development agency, MassDevelopment, issued the PVPA a tax-exempt $4.26 million bond last year to assist the school finance the new performance hall and refinance existing debt.

"This low-cost financing will help the School expand its offerings for its students," MassDevelopment President and Chief Executive Officer Marty Jones said in a statement when the bond was approved. "By partnering with the Five-College Consortium in the Commonwealth's Knowledge Corridor, PVPA offers its students an exceptional amount of learning opportunities from a variety of Massachusetts colleges."

Florence Bank also was involved with financing, along with Friends of the PVPA and the schools board of trustees.

"Our new edition will enhance the student experience as well as the community's experience of us," PVPA Head of School Scott Goldman said.

Speakers at Friday's ceremonial ground breaking include state representative John Scibak, D-South Hadley and Aelan Tierney. She is with the Amherst firm Kuhn Riddle Architects, which designed the facility.

Eight students will graduate from the Fresh Start program this June and seven will go on to college.

SPRINGFIELD — Faith Marrero, 17, has always dreamed of becoming a pediatrician. But over the years, life got challenging and she was left homeless, struggling to maintain relationships with her parents and make it through high school.

"I was so behind on credits I never thought I would make it through high school, let alone get into college," said Marrero. On Wednesday night, she will graduate from the Springfield High School of Science and Technology and go on to American International College where she has received a $44,000 scholarship. She will study biology with the hopes of becoming a pediatrician or working in the neonatal unit of a hospital.

Marerro is one of eight graduating seniors who are part of the Fresh Start program at Sci-Tech, seven of which will go on to college. The program began three years ago through the efforts of Assistant Principal Roland Brooks and English and History teacher Stefan Davis.

"It's been an incredible journey for all of us, not just the students," said Davis, who is referred to as "Coach" by his students, since he is the head boys track coach at the school.

Recently Davis and his students presented the program at a School Committee meeting in order to request assistance from the school department in replicating the program in other schools.

Fresh Start is essentially a credit recovery program which gives students who have problems with attendance, grade point average and social and behavioral needs an opportunity to bring up their grades while getting the extra support they need.

"These students used to be high at-risk youths who were very close to dropping out. I have students who were homeless, abused, and now have a new vision on life," Davis said.

At the presentation, Marrero said the program changed her life and Coach Davis has a lot to do with that.

"It's crazy how someone that does not mean anything to you one day suddenly becomes like a father figure. It's something you rarely ever find," she said before hugging Davis.

Davis considers each of the 18-30 students he works with every year to be like his own children, he said.

"I know I have given them a lot and invested time and effort into these kids, but they have also taught me about the power of love and forgiveness and change," he said.

For Kristina Martell, 18, Fresh Start gave her a second chance.

"I was 16 in the ninth grade with four credits," she said. "I was hanging with the wrong crowd, skipping school. I was just lost."

Martell has been with the program since its inception three years ago. Tonight she will graduate and go on to Springfield Technical Community College where she hopes to bring up her grade point average before transferring to a four-year school for nursing.

"I have always been attracted to the field. I like the idea of helping people," she said. "I can definitely say that I made it because of Coach and everyone in the program who believed in me."

Aside from staying on track with school work and attendance, students in the program are asked to participate in a mentoring program with children at Rebecca M. Johnson elementary school where they help with everything from homework to establishing a small garden in the back of the school.

"These students are going through a lot of the same things my high school kids are experiencing and they share a bond," Davis said.

"These kids they are just like us," Marerro said. "They have been through things that not a lot of kids go through, they have suffered and struggled and had problems at home and we can understand because we have been there."

When Marerro graduates tonight she will have her family there cheering her on. She credits her father for providing her a place to live so she could finish school and her mother for always supporting her even when the family was going through tough times.

"I always wanted to graduate, but until this past year I didn't think that was possible. That's what this program gives you, hope," she said.

Davis said his hope is that the program will continue to grow and be replicated in other schools for many years to come.

Currently the school is working on a documentary about the program and its success over the past three years.

During the School Committee presentation at Sci-Tech guidance counselor Mujahid Aleem said the program is about more than getting your grades up.

"I have been in the business for 42 years...what Coach Davis does in Room 136 is phenomenal," Aleem said. "He doesn't just teach, he talks to these students about life, about real issues...He speaks to their hearts and their souls and that makes all the difference."

The new pool and activities program will be available 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.

HOLYOKE -- The new and free "Summer Swim & Gym Program" begins June 25.

Children and other young people will have access to the air-conditioned Holyoke High School gym for sports and activities and to the pool with lifeguards and staff supervision, Peter Leclerc, recreation supervisor for the city Parks and Recreation Department, said Wednesday (June 3).

"I think it'll be a nice break," he said.

The program will be available 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday at the school at 500 Beech St., rear entrance, he said.

Lifeguards will be stationed at the pool and staff will run basketball and volleyball games and other sports in the gym, which will be sectioned off to allow for simultaneous activities like arts and crafts and games with a parachute. Activities will vary daily, he said.

Pool participants must be accompanied by an adult. Pool time has no age restrictions. Youth gym time is for children between ages 5 and 12, he said.

"Sign up on site and go when you can. There is no charge for this program," Leclerc said.

Part of the reason for the program is to provide access to swimming with unavailability of municipal pools like Pouliot Pool at 575 Maple St., he said. City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain said Tuesday Pouliot Pool is closed for repairs.

For information call (413) 322-5620.

The health fair is free and open to the public but there is a $23 fee for the breakfast.

CHICOPEE - The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will hold a health fair that includes a healthy breakfast and free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.

The fair, scheduled for June 17, is open to the public. The fair is free but there is a $23 fee for the breakfast. Breakfast will begin at 7:45 a.m. in the Mary Dooley Center at Elms College on Springfield Street. It will be followed by the fair from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Chamber has partnered with Health New England to present the fair. There are about 40 companies which will share information about everything from physical and spiritual health to financial health and wellness.

The Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold a blood drive. People interested in giving blood should register at redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

A Fall River lawmaker wants to criminalize the retaliatory distribution of sexually explicit material, also known as "revenge porn," citing the suicide of a high school student last year in southeastern Massachusetts after a nude photo of the person was posted on Facebook, the social networking site.

By GINTAUTAS DUMCIUS

BOSTON — A Fall River lawmaker wants to criminalize the retaliatory distribution of sexually explicit material, also known as "revenge porn," citing the suicide of a high school student last year in southeastern Massachusetts after a nude photo of the person was posted on Facebook, the social networking site.

Rep. Alan Silvia, a Fall River Democrat who served as a police officer for 22 years, said law enforcement officials and counselors had to be brought into the school to determine how the sexually explicit material was posted on Facebook.

"As a result of that, it caused great distress in the community," said Silvia, who is also a former child abuse investigator.

"Education was at a halt," he added.

The incident, which occurred in Taunton, prompted Silvia to file legislation (H 483) that says a person "intending to cause substantial emotional distress or humiliation by means of a electronic communication device, and without consent of the other person, electronically distributes" nudity or a sexual act can be punished with a $1,000 fine or at least a year in prison, or both.

Individuals under 18 years old would be fined for a first and second offense; a third offense or subsequent offense would carry a $1,000 fine or imprisonment term of no more than 60 days.

"Young people are especially at risk," Silvia said, noting that they often are the heaviest users of social networking applications such as Instagram and Facebook.

"We have nothing to protect people from what goes on electronically," Silvia said, after testifying in support of his bill in front of the Joint Education Committee on Wednesday.

"I just feel that we really have not addressed this in the commonwealth, where in other states throughout the country they are, for the very reason I come before you," he told the committee. "While we have not had an outbreak on suicides, one life is too many."

The bill calls on school districts that provide a sexual education curriculum to also include the "dangers and negative consequences" of distributing sexually explicit photographs depicting students.

Reps. Paul Schmid (D-Westport), Carole Fiola (D-Fall River) and Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) are cosponsors of Silvia's bill.

No one was hurt in the fire, but crews were still at the school dealing with the resulting smoke as of 1 p.m., according to Northampton Deputy Fire Chief Jon Davine.

NORTHAMPTON -- John F. Kennedy Middle School in Florence was evacuated around 10 a.m. Wednesday after a small fire broke out in a boys' bathroom, according to The Northampton Fire Department.

No one was hurt in the fire, but crews were still at the school dealing with the resulting smoke as of 1 p.m., according to Northampton Deputy Fire Chief Jon Davine. The fire was contained to the bathroom.

Students were let back into the building at around 11:15 p.m., Northampton Superintendent John Provost said. Parents were informed of the incident through an automated call from administration shortly after.

Northampton Police and the fire department are investigating the blaze, Davine said. The cause has not yet been released.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Polls for the June 9 Monson town election will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting is at the pool entrance to Quarry Hill School, at 43 Margaret St.

MONSON - Selectman Edward Harrison of 7 Beebe Road has no opposition in his bid for re-election on Tuesday - nor do any of the other candidates running.

Polls for the June 9 Monson town election will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting is at the pool entrance to Quarry Hill School, at 43 Margaret St.

Seeking reelection to three-year terms are: Joshua L. Barber, of 30 Old Wales Road, School Committee; Allan E. Curtis, of 11 Heritage Lane, Board of Assessors; John R. Morrell, of 15 East Hill Road, highway surveyor; Joseph M. Prior, of 6 Cedar Swamp, Water and Sewer Commission.

James R. Newland, of 19 Alden Thrasher Road, is seeking reelection to a five-year term for Housing Authority.

The town has 5,459 registered voters.

As a business owner and a taxpayer, as well as the owner of some rental property in the Merrick neighborhood, the town's former assessor said he sees the effects of government decisions on the lives of everyday citizens.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - After Indonesia erupted in violent revolution in 1945, Hans Doup's parents fled to The Netherlands. They moved to the Hill-McKnight area of Springfield when Hans was 5 years old, cramming 10 people into one house.

"My mother went from riches to rags," said Doup, 58, sitting in the kitchen of his Ohio Avenue home and drinking a cup of coffee with no sugar.

He went on to get a Bachelors degree in public administration from American International College. Now he runs his own property appraisal company and he's making a bid to replace outgoing Mayor Edward C. Sullivan, whom he called "terrific for the spot."

Doup has spent much of his life in West Springfield, where he runs HD Appraisals-Realty. As a business owner and a taxpayer, as well as the owner of some rental property in the Merrick neighborhood, he said he sees the effects of government decisions on the lives of everyday citizens.

During a year-long stint as the town's principal assessor starting in the summer of 2012, Doup said he looked up his own property to see if he was paying the right amount of taxes. It turned out he wasn't, so he boosted his valuation by $30,000 and his tax bill by hundreds of dollars "just to be honest, to be fair."

He also lowered tax bills for several social clubs in town and negotiated away several dozen appeals.

"I could retire now, but I have some skills," said Doup. "I saw how things are run in this town. I like it and I think I can help out. I've got a lot to offer the town if they want it."

West Springfield's property tax burden is split about 50-50 between business and residential properties; with such a huge number of homes compared to companies, though, businesses have trouble making it, he said. A major chain can pay the bills if it decides it's worthwhile, but mom-and-pop stores struggle.

He explained that he would approach the job of mayor from the perspective of a business owner and avoid micromanaging department heads, as long as everyone is doing his or her job and the public's needs are met.

"If the government has a business mentality where you watch your expenses, realize your highs and lows, cut your expenses when you can and make the right decisions from a business perspective, you'll do much better than if you think the money doesn't stop and the faucet's always on," said Doup.

He hasn't written up a platform to run on, saying he'll figure out more specifics as he gathers his signatures and speaks with voters.

"I'm not there to serve my agenda, but their agenda," said Doup. "I think I can be a great mayor. I can do the job. People know me. They know what I did as the assessor, and I can do the same as mayor."

If all three announced candidates make it on the ballot, there will be a preliminary election between Doup, Democratic state Rep. Michael J. Finn and Town Attorney William Reichelt. The top two vote-getters would go on to the general election.

"Officially, I'm not even running yet," said Doup. "That's if I get the 100 signatures."

Greg Moyer, who calls Tulsa Oklahoma home, most recently was interim City Manager in Bethel, Alaska, when the community voted to hire him on June 2 last year

EAST LONGMEADOW - Selectmen on Wednesday unanimously selected the candidate for interim town administrator who did not physically attend the interview last month, but instead was questioned remotely, via Skype, by the board.

Greg Moyer, who calls Broken Arrow in Oklahoma home, most recently was interim city manager in Bethel, Alaska, when the community voted to hire him on June 2, 2014.

He had served as the town manager in Corry, Pennsylvania, from March 2014, at an annual salary of $82,400, in an interim capacity, meeting minutes show.

According to KYUK, of Bethel Broadcasting, the Bethel City Council offered Moyer $10,000 per month with a $2,000 housing allowance, for the 90-day job.

The 3-0 vote by East Longmeadow selectmen appointing Moyer is contingent on the parties agreeing to a contract.

The town's previous administrator, Nick Breault, departed on June 1, accepting the Wilbraham town administrator position with a starting salary of $101,000

The board interviewed Moyer on May 26.

The town is in the process of reviewing its form of government, with a charter review commission that was recently empaneled.