Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, are dangerous and should not be approached, New York state police warned.

DANNEMORA, N.Y. - Two convicted murderers escaped from a maximum-security prison near the Canadian border in upstate New York, authorities said Saturday.

Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, are dangerous and should not be approached, New York state police warned.

Sweat is serving a sentence of life without parole after he was convicted of first-degree murder for killing a Broome County sheriff's deputy in 2002. Matt is serving a sentence of 25 years to life for kidnapping a man and beating him to death in 1997.

The two men were unaccounted for during morning bed check at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, state police said.

The prison is about 20 miles from the Canadian border. Roadblocks were set up in the area, WIRY-AM reported.

Sweat is a 5-foot-11 white male with brown hair and green eyes, weighing 165 pounds, police said. He has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.

Matt is a 6-foot white male with black hair and hazel eyes, according to police. He weighs 210 pounds and has tattoos including "Mexico Forever" on his back, a heart on his chest and left shoulder and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder.

A spokesman for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Cuomo planned to visit the prison and hold a news conference there later Saturday.

The blare of fast cars and wailing motor cycles upsetting residents in three towns abutting the controversial Whiskey Hill Raceway, that opened on May 8, prompted the Planning Board to action

PALMER - The blare of fast cars and wailing motorcycles generating complaints from residents in Ware and Warren abutting the Whiskey Hill Raceway has prompted the Planning Board to action.

The panel wants a compulsory noise study, part of the race track's operating permit, to begin immediately. The permit had set an August deadline to "record actual noise reading."

The facility is owned by Palmer Motorsports Park. An official was not immediately available to comment on the noise study or board's letter.

At last week's meeting, attended by about three dozen opponents of the track who have voiced myriad complaints, the planning board began drafting a letter to the raceway.

They discussed a "condition of approval" during the June 1 meeting that requires the racing facility to submit a comprehensive noise study within 90 days of the track's May 8 opening, which would be the first week of August.

"To date, no such noise study has been completed, and this condition of approval remains unsatisfied," the planning board chairman wrote on June 4.

The letter was addressed to Fred Ferguson of Palmer Motorsports Park at 58 West Warren Road in Palmer and to Richard E. Patullo of NER Investments, LLC, of 370 Chapin Road, Hampden.

"The Board hereby requests that a scope of work be created by your sound engineer for review by its peer reviewing firm, VHB, and that the required noise study be undertaken immediately once the scope has been approved," planning board chairman Michael Marciniec wrote.

"At minimum, the parameters of the study should consist of a duration that includes monitoring of each category of the scheduled events and the sensors are placed in the same locations as the original study," he wrote.

"In addition, the Board requests that you prepare a noise monitoring protocol that describes the specific noise monitoring equipment, monitoring procedures, monitoring locations, for the Town of Palmer's review and approval."

The panel said they want the "analysis to commence at the earliest date possible, and be completed no later than September 5, 2015 with regular progress reports provided to the Board in the interim."

Ware selectmen and the town manager wrote the planning board last month, saying they want to cooperate with Palmer but said the "intolerable noise" is "unacceptable"

"The noise generated, even with the small number of vehicles, can be heard throughout the town of Ware by it's residents," the May 17 Ware document states. "The Town has received many complaints, as we are sure your officials have too."

When a 32-foot replica killer whale buzzed through the water to scare off hundreds of sea lions piled on Oregon docks, onlookers cheered. And then the dummy orca went belly-up.

The Lia Group was founded in 1977 by William Lia Sr. He is joined by his three sons Michael, Bill and Vincent, in running the company. They employ approximately 350 people region wide. Other manufacturers include Honda, Toyota, Scion, Nissan, Hyundai, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Infiniti, and Volkswagen.

NORTHAMPTON - The Lia Auto Group is celebrating Lia Toyota of Northampton's Ten Year Anniversary.

at 11 a.m. Tuesday June 9, the Lia family will be receiving an award in recognition of their time in business at the facility located at 280 King Street in Northampton.

Lia Toyota of Northampton values the community that it serves and actively supports a number of different Non-For-Profits in the area. Some of these include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, Katelynn's Ride/Walk, the American Red Cross Springfield Chapter and the American Cancer Society.

The Lia Group was founded in 1977 by William Lia Sr. He is joined by his three sons Michael, Bill and Vincent, in running the company. They employ approximately 350 people region wide. Other manufacturers include Honda, Toyota, Scion, Nissan, Hyundai, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Infiniti, and Volkswagen.

In March, Lia purchased the Northampton Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram at 55 Damon Road and renamed the dealership Lia Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Northampton.

The residential Aldrich St. area is officially zoned as an agricultural district, meaning a special permit would be required by Verizon for permission to build

File photo / Associated Press 

BELCHERTOWN - The Planning Board Tuesday is scheduled to review a controversial Verizon proposal to erect a 140-foot-high cellular telephone tower in a residential neighborhood on Aldrich Street.

The June 9 meeting begins at 7 p.m., in Lawrence Memorial Hall, 2 Jabish St.

Opponents of the idea include newly elected Selctman Nick O'Connor, who spoke against the measure when he was running for office. O'Connor was elected to the board last month, defeating two others in an open seat. Former selectman Ken Elstein did not seek reelection.

Residents in the neighborhood began an online petition, titled "Stop the Aldrich St. Tower," and want the planning board to deny Verizon's proposal.

"Cell towers do not belong in Belchertown neighborhoods and Verizon has not exercised due diligence in finding an appropriate location. This tower would derogate from the intent of our zoning and be a detriment to the character of the Town," the petition states.

The residential Aldrich Street area is officially zoned as an agricultural district, meaning a special permit would be required by Verizon for permission to build.

Jonathan Santiago of Westminster Street was charged with drug trafficking and firearm possession after police responded to reports of a fight on the street at 2 a.m.

Patrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.com 

SPRINGFIELD — A reported altercation between two people early Saturday in the city's McKnight neighborhood resulted in one arrest and led police to discover a supply of drugs, $9,800 in cash, and an unlawful firearm, police said.

Jonathan SantiagoSpringfield police photo

Springfield police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney said officers arrested Jonathan M. Santiago, 22, of Westminster Street, charging him with assault and battery, cocaine trafficking in excess of 100 grams, marijuana possession with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card, and improper storage of a firearm.

Police were called to Westminster Street just after 2 a.m. for a disturbance that had turned violent.

Officers found a 21-year-old victim in a car but the other person involved, later identified as Santiago, had gone back inside his apartment as police cars approached, Delaney said.

When officers went to the apartment to check on Santiago, they found him inside the kitchen attempting to burn paper and plastic bags on the lit stove, Delaney said. He was taken into custody for assault and battery.

Delaney said police could see evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view in the apartment. A search of the apartment turned up amounts of powered cocaine and crack cocaine, and a .45-caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic handgun.

Officers also found $9,876 in cash, including $3,118 that Santiago had in his pockets, Delaney said.

"This was a very good arrest by some very alert police officers who answered an assault call and turned it into a drug-trafficking case where the suspect is looking at 10 mandatory years in jail," Delaney said.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Springfield District Court.

The land was granted in 1735 to soldiers who had served in King William's War.

ASHFIELD -- The Franklin County town of Ashfield is gearing up to celebrate its 250th anniversary with a series of events over the weekend of June 19-21.

The celebration will feature a community potluck, the judging of a town-wide beard-growing contest, a Saturday morning parade and Saturday night dance, and a day-long baseball and softball jamboree on Sunday.

A full schedule of events can be found at the Ashfield 250 website.

Ashfield, incorporated in 1765, was initially called Weymouth Canada, then Huntstown.

In 1735, the Province of Massachusetts Bay granted land in what is now Ashfield to officers and soldiers who served in a failed 1690 expedition from Weymouth to Canada during King William's War, according to research by Nancy Gray Garvin and the Ashfield Historical Society.

In February, the rural hilltown kicked off its year-long celebration with a historical ice harvest on Ashfield Lake.

Kennedy said tours through the mills in Fall River and other manufacturers in the state said the harm the treaty would do to the workers is palpable.

SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III said on Monday he will oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership because its passage would force struggling manufacturing workers in his district to "scratch and claw" their way to a decent living.

Kennedy, who is completing his first term in office, made the comments about the proposed trade deal following a tour of Springfield Stem Middle Academy with U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, who was accompanying him during a swing through Western Massachusetts.

Kennedy said in tours through the mills in Fall River and other manufacturers in the state the harm the treaty would do to the workers is palpable. "Above their desks and sewing machines, there is an American flag and above that is a sign that reads NAFTA with a circle through it," Kennedy said. NAFTA stands for the North American Free Trade Agreement which detractors say has cost the United States manufacturing jobs since going into effect in 1994.

Kennedy said the work going on at the STEM Academy – where students are studying science, technology, engineering and math – underscores the need to protect the high-tech manufacturing jobs the students will be able to get when they graduate.

"Their gaining a tool set to help us with our problems," Kennedy said.

After a visit to a classroom where engineering technology teacher James Soar was working with students about plans to build a restaurant, Kennedy said he was impressed with the enthusiasm shown by the teacher and the students.

Kennedy said he was impressed that students understood building a restaurant in Los Angeles would require knowledge about the risk of earthquakes and fires and urban crime.

Neal said he is troubled that the treaty gives open-ended authority to the president to work out details.

Neal said the treaty remains a hard-sell to congressional Democrats.

Kennedy and Neal the benefits of a STEM education, particularly in high-minority, urban school districts like Springfield, are critical to the future of the commonwealth if it is to maintain its reputation as a leader in technology.

"There are more STEM skills jobs being created than non-STEM skills jobs," Kennedy said.

Neal, who is the longest serving congressman in the Bay State, said there are 18,000 jobs in precision manufacturing in New England. "The fact that Joe Kennedy has taken an interest in this issue is proof of its importance," Neal said.

Kennedy, who is completing his first-term in Congress, has made STEM education one of his priorities.

BOSTON (AP) — The family of a Boston man killed by terror investigators says surveillance video of his fatal shooting doesn't show him brandishing a weapon or approaching officers aggressively, as authorities have claimed. Usaama Rahim's family said Monday that the video shows the 26-year-old security guard was not the initial aggressor. Instead, they say, it shows at least five...

BOSTON (AP) -- The family of a Boston man killed by terror investigators says surveillance video of his fatal shooting doesn't show him brandishing a weapon or approaching officers aggressively, as authorities have claimed.

Usaama Rahim's family said Monday that the video shows the 26-year-old security guard was not the initial aggressor.

Instead, they say, it shows at least five officers surrounding him in a military formation June 2.

They say the video is evidence that Rahim was breaking no laws as he walked toward a bus stop on his way to work. The family says many questions remain and the video only reveals part of the story.

Police say Rahim was under 24-hour surveillance and was plotting to kill police officers. They also say he was brandishing a knife and lunged toward officers with it.

All of the breaks are under investigation.

WILBRAHAM - Police are reporting a series of breaks into residences and businesses.

On May 26, a Springfield Street resident observed a silver/gray vehicle in the backyard. The driver was described as a white male in his 20s.

Three chain saws were stolen from a rear shed, police said.

On June 2, Mulch-n-More on Boston Road reported a break and entry into a secure fenced area of their business. Aluminum side rails were removed from one of the vehicles. Patrolman Harry Swift is investigating.

The same day, a resident on Tinkham Road reported a housebreak and that cash was taken.

On June 8, a Ridge Road resident said a 2010 Husqvarna WR300 off-road motorcycle was stolen from the garage. Patrolman Peter Laviolette is investigating.

Also on June 8, the Wilbraham DPW reported that a trailer and generator were stolen from the waste water treatment plant. Several locks were cut to remove the items. Patrolman Thomas Korzec is investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Wilbraham police at (413) 596-3837.

David Pichardo was pulled over only for speeding but it was the bulge in his socks that got him arrested.

SPRINGFIELD - A 25-year-old city man faces drug charges after he was found with 50 bags of heroin and $2,600 stuffed into his socks Saturday night following a traffic stop on Page Boulevard, police said.

David PichardoSpringfield police photo 

David Pichardo of 43 Thetford St. is charged with speeding, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute, said police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney.

Officers Christopher Goodrow and Maciej Jasinski were station on Page Boulevard as part of an anti-speeding detail. At about 8:30 p.m., they pulled Pichardo over after clocking his 2009 Nissan Maxima are speeds in excess of 60 mph, Delaney said.

As they approached his car, the officers could see him stashing something into his socks. It turned out to be several packets of heroin and a wad of bills totaling $2,621, Delaney said.

Pichardo was scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Springfield District Court.

"I was born and raised in Northampton and I have a passion for both my city and for city government, LaBarge said in her announcement.

NORTHAMPTON - Ward 6 City Councilor Marianne LaBarge has announced that she will run for a tenth term.

LaBarge was first elected to the council in 1997. Since then she has served on nearly every council committee. LaBarge took out nomination papers for a re-election bid in April.

"I was born and raised in Northampton and I have a passion for both my city and for city government," LaBarge said in her announcement. "As a city councilor I am particularly proud of my residents and myself for working tirelessly to preserve many acres of conservation land, maintaining the rural character of the land and reducing urban sprawl."

Her priorities include scrutinizing the budget with an eye towards serving the aged and disabled; promoting business; improving roads; and supporting Mayor David Narkewicz's proposed PILOT program, which would see payment in lieu of taxes from non-profits that pay no property tax.

Gay pride events will include music, poetry and comedy.

HOLYOKE -- Numerous activities are planned to celebrate June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month including the raising of the rainbow flag at City Hall June 19 and a parade the next day.

Organizers said such events are important for the attention generated because gay rights remain forbidden in nearly 80 countries, and in parts of Africa can be punishable with the death penalty, according to BBC News.

"A lot of people in Holyoke really have not addressed, I think people want to accept gay people but I think many people just prefer to ignore it," said Kristen Bachler, who owns the White Rose book store at 284 High St. with Betty Kaplowitz.

Gay people have jobs, raise children, pay bills, get cars repaired, go to school and decide where to go on vacation like everyone else, she said.

"Gay people have made significant cultural contributions. We're proud of the contributions, but we're not better or worse than anybody else," Bachler said.

According to a schedule provided by Bachler:

On June 19, Mayor Alex B. Morse, the city's first openly gay mayor, will raise the rainbow flag in front of City Hall on High Street. Music and performers will lead the crowd upstairs to the City Hall auditorium where a reception will recognize people in Holyoke who have worked to include Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in the community.

The reception will include "piano music, a little comedy, poetry and drag, this will be a festive event."

On June 20 at noon, participants will gather at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St., to begin the parade. The parade will go from Cabot Street to High Street to Dwight Street, winding up at Holyoke Heritage State Park.

A rally and picnic will run at the park from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Performers will include slam poets, Sick Prose, Maurice "Soulfighter" Taylor, founder of the Holyoke Slam Team, comedian Cindy Foster, drag queen Felicia Forester and youth drag queen Cherry Poppins.

Presents will include Holyoke youth activist Darian Gonzalez, Darrell Johnston, representing gay veterans, and Kaplowitz. Andee Wadas, of Holyoke, will be the event host.

After the pride festival is done, another festival will begin, La Noche de San Juan ("Night of San Juan"), a celebration of Puerto Rican arts and culture in Holyoke, the intent being for one festival to seque into the next, Bachler said.

The second festival is set to run from 3 to 9 p.m.

Also for pride month:

The documentary "The Times Of Harvey Milk" will be shown for free Wednesday (June 10) at 7:30 p.m. at the White Rose. The 90-minute biography is about Harvey Milk, San Francisco's first elected gay official, who was assassinated in 1978 at 48.

On June 18, the book store will sponsor a free discussion about LGBT history, current events and the future at 7:30 p.m.

"People are welcome to tell any personal stories they may have related to LBGT rights," Bachler said.

On June 24, the documentary "Paris is Burning" about the Puerto Rican drag scene in New York City will be shown for free at the book store at 7:30 p.m.

On June 25, Holyoke Health Center staff will offer free HIV testing at Carlos Vega Park at Hamilton and Clemente streets from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include food and music.

On June 26, the "Holyoke Nights Pride Dance," a dance for young people of ages 13 to 20, will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. at the War Memorial, 310 Appleton St. in Holyoke. The show will include Alice Lockhart-Midnight, Miko ATOMS, Pricilla Porcelain, Samantha ATOMS and Loo D'Flyest Priestly, of Northampton.

Narkewicz made the announcement on Monday, narrowing the field from five to two. In all, 34 people applied for the post.

NORTHAMPTON - Northampton Police Capt. Jody Kasper and Manchester, Connecticut, Police Chief Marc Montminy were named by Mayor David J. Narkewicz today as the two finalists seeking to replace retiring Chief Russell P. Sienkiewicz.

Narkewicz made the announcement after narrowing the field of candidates from five to two. In all, 34 people applied for the post.

Sienkiewicz, 59, announced in March that he is retiring after 37 years on the job. During that time, he modernized the department, took hiring out of the civil service system and pushed through a new police station to replace the antiquated facility that was next door on Center Street.

Sienkiewicz promised to remain chief until a new one is appointed. Narkewicz intends to submit his choice to the City Council by noon on June 16 for placement on council's June 18 agenda.

Kasper has been on the Northampton police force for 19 years and is currently Captain of Operations. She holds master's degrees in public administration and criminal justice from Westfield State University and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and psychology from Westfield State.

In addition to being chief in Manchester, Montminy has been a police officer for 30 years. He holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor's degree in business and social sciences from the Charter Oak State College in New Britain, Conn.

The city has scheduled a public reception for residents to meet the finalists on June 11 at 6 p.m. in the community room at the police station on 29 Center St. Residents may also email the mayor at mayor@northamptonma.gov. Comments should be submitted no later than noon on June 15.

U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni advised the jurors to resume their deliberations in a different way after the panel reported a deadlock on count one of the indictment.

SPRINGFIELD - After nearly three days of deliberations, jurors in the fraud and money-laundering trial of former Lee Police Chief Joseph Buffis reported that they were deadlocked on the first of 11 criminal counts in a federal indictment.

Count one is an extortion charge alleging Buffis squeezed two former Lee innkeepers for a $4,000 donation to a Christmas toy fund the defendant controlled, which prosecutors say he used as a personal slush fund.

Buffis is accused of three counts of money-laundering in connection with the extortion count; plus three counts of wire fraud and four additional counts of money-laundering. The indictment is essentially split up into sets of allegations.

The indictment alleges Buffis took the $4,000 in exchange for shelving prostitution charges against the couple. Counts two through four are money-laundering charges linked to three transfers Buffis allegedly made from the toy fund to his own accounts shortly after the couple cut a check to the charity.

Counts five through seven are wire fraud charges linked to electronic communications Buffis sent to the Berkshire Eagle soliciting public donations to the Laliberte Toy Fund, which the government alleges was part of the scheme to steer money into his own pocket. The remaining four money-laundering counts related to additional transfers Buffis made from the fund to his own coffers, according to the indictment.

The jury began deliberating on Thursday afternoon after nearly three weeks of testimony. They reported they had not come to a united decision on the first count on Monday afternoon.

"We are stuck and still have not come to a decision on the first charge; everyone is steadfast in their decision," read a note the panel sent to U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni. "Knowing we can't move forward if we can't make a decision on the first charge, where do we go from here?"

After conferring with prosecutors and defense lawyer Lori Levinson, Mastroianni crafted a response to the jury.

"Given the tone of the note it looks like they've spent all their time on count one," the judge said.

Once the panel filed into court, a few confirmed that was the case with nods.

Mastroianni suggested they could move on to counts five through 11 to see if they could reach a consensus on those, and perhaps return to counts one through four once the lines of communication re-opened.

Jurors agreed and filed back into the jury deliberations room shortly before 3 p.m.

In terms of the extortion allegation, Tara Viola, owner of the now-defunct Inn at Laurel Lake, testified she and her husband, Thomas Fusco, hatched a plan for her to give "happy ending massages" to boost revenues at the bed and breakfast. Fusco took the witness stand after his wife and told jurors that he "didn't think it was a big deal" for Viola to offer sex for money.

The couple had been entrenched in the "swinging lifestyle" for some time, he said by way of explanation. Fusco testified that he would be in a nearby room when his wife had an erotic massage client to help ensure her safety.

Lee and Massachusetts State Police got a tip from an informant about Viola's side business and set up a sting operation. A video recording offered into evidence showed Viola sobbing to police after she was caught, plus making unsolicited offers to donate $6,000 in "dirty money" to charity.

Those investigators rebuffed the offer, but Buffis later struck an agreement with the couple to donate to the fund with the understanding the charges would be dismissed. Viola and Fusco testified their first offer was a $1,000 donation to a dog rescue shelter in Pittsfield.

"We're dog people," they testified separately.

While taking the witness stand in his own defense, Buffis testified that he believed the money should go to a Lee charity since their crimes occurred in that town. But, prosecutors argued Buffis' charity of choice was himself and his family.

Evidence showed that Buffis made scores of transfers from the toy fund to joint bank accounts he shared with his wife and his son. The money went to help pay mortgages, his children's tuition and for everyday expenses including liquor store runs and hardware purchases.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Shukla told jurors during her closing arguments on Thursday that Buffiis' finances were in a shambles and he used the toy fund as a personal subsidy.

But, Buffis testified he and his wife bought toys out-of-pocket for the charity all year and simply reimbursed himself around the holidays. He told jurors he paid strictly with cash and kept few or no receipts. He said he didn't keep lists of recipients because the charity was set up to be confidential.

FBI agents said they were hard-pressed to find any of the "hundreds" of beneficiaries of the fund Buffis touted publicly each year.

The Republican is in the courtroom and will continue providing updates on deliberations in the case.

The summer reading club in Springfield includes incentives and free activities.

SPRINGFIELD - Summer reading is cool.

That was the message on Monday from Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick, library officials and educators as they urged children to read for fun - and even for prizes - through the Springfield City Library Summer Reading Club.

During a press conference at City Hall, local officials and many top readers from Milton Bradley School gathered to promote the summer reading program in Springfield, saying that reading year-round helps students succeed.

"Reading is cool - am I right?" Sarno said, triggering a "yes" called out from the gathered students.

The Summer Reading Club is from June 22 to Aug. 29, designed as an independent reading program with incentives and free activities to help children keep reading over the summer.

Forest Park Zoo educatior Ben Stafford shows a fishing cat to students of Milton Bradley School in Springfield.Peter Goonan / The Republican 

Sarno said that as a child growing up in Springfield, he spent a lot of time reading in the Forest Park library, adding that "it's important to continue reading in the summertime."

This year, students will be able to win prizes such as tickets to the Big E or the Boston Bruins, as well as participating in a roller skating party at Interskate 91, among incentives, officials said. In addition, the Summer Reading Club will have a summer celebration party at the Zoo In Forest Park in August.

Kah'lea Jiles, 12, who is finishing 5th grade at Milton Bradley, was among the students looking forward to reading during summer vacation.

"I think the summer reading program is going to be good and fun because it's my opinion -- I love to read," Jiles said. "Reading is so important to me because it interests me. I love to read about different subjects."

Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick said he also went to library often as a child in Hungry Hill, including summer reading.

"I really want you kids to take advantage of our libraries and spend a lot of time in the libraries this summer," Warwick said. "In urban America, we face the challenge of summer reading loss, summer learning loss. We do a lot with summer schools but the most important thing for parents to remember and our kids is to be reading all summer. The key to success is reading."

Library officials including library director Molly Fogarty, urged children to take advantage of the many libraries in Springfield.

The summer reading club has a new theme this year - Every Hero Has a Story," that provides an opportunity "to shine the light on local heroes such as firefighters, veterans and active military, police and even police dogs," according to a prepared release.

During the announcement, Springfield author Keshawn Dodds came in his Menzuo super hero costume, and Forest Park Zoo Educator Ben Stafford brought a young fishing cat for the children to see.

The jury found Alemany guilty of physically assaulting Alexandra Cruz and Kayleigh Ballantyne in South Boston, within hours of Lord's murder.

BOSTON - A jury on Monday found Edwin Alemany guilty of brutally abducting and murdering Wilbraham native Amy Lord, a 24-year-old marketing professional living in South Boston.

The jury found Alemany guilty of choking Alexandra Cruz, 22, and dragging her into a parking lot before letting her go. The jury found Alemany guilty of stabbing Kayleigh Ballantyne, 21, multiple times with a knife before she fought him off.

Alemany, 30, was charged with 17 crimes in Suffolk Superior Court related to the murder and physical assaults, all of which occurred over an 18-hour period on July 23-24, 2013 in South Boston. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Jurors heard 11 full days of evidence during a little more than two weeks.

The jury deliberated for more than seven hours over two days.

Sentencing will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Alemany faces a maximum sentence of life without parole.

Lord's family declined to comment while the jury was deliberating. Lord's friends and family cried as the jury was read. Ballantyne cried and was seen mouthing "It's over."

Alemany's mother said she was "too sad" to speak publicly. Both families have attended the trial daily.

Alemany's attorneys, led by Jeffrey Denner, used an insanity defense. Denner admitted that Alemany committed the crimes but said Alemany should not be considered criminally responsible for his actions because of his state of mind. Someone found not guilty by reason of insanity is kept in a mental institution until a judge deems him no longer a danger to himself or others.

Amy Lord 

Assistant District Attorney John Pappas called the crimes "a real life horror story." He said Alemany acted with "purpose and clarity of mind."

Denner did not dispute the savagery of what Alemany did. But he said Alemany "was literally, figuratively and legally out of his mind."

According to testimony presented at the trial, 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. She was beaten and then driven in her car to five ATMs where she withdrew $960. She was taken to an isolated path in the Stony Brook Reservation and fatally stabbed nearly 100 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.

In between the assaults, Alemany spent Lord's money buying Lottery tickets and a new cell phone. He drank with his friend and his brother and went out with them to a restaurant, where they ate Chinese food.

The prosecution brought testimony from DNA evidence, surveillance cameras, traffic cameras and more than 30 witnesses. Both Cruz and Ballantyne spoke about the assaults. Medical professionals, law enforcement officials and witnesses to the various attacks testified about what they saw. Alemany's friends and his ex-girlfriend testified to his whereabouts that day. Jurors saw a videotape of an interview Alemany had with the police after his arrest, in which he denied involvement in the crimes.

The defense called just one witness - psychiatrist Keith Ablow, who testified that Alemany had a long history of severe mental illness. Alemany was hospitalized intermittently in psychiatric hospitals from the time he was around 15 to 18, while he was in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services.

Martin Kelly, a psychiatrist hired by prosecutors, countered Ablow's testimony by saying that Alemany had anti-social personality disorder, which made him inclined to hurt those around him, but did not have a mental illness that would prevent him from understanding right and wrong or abiding by the law.

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This is a breaking news story. Watch MassLive.com for further coverage.

Although some work at the MGM Springfield casino site in the city's South End is taking place, the company confirmed the obvious on Tuesday- the original timeline will be delayed.

Editor's note: The City of Springfield said Tuesday afternoon that MGM officials want to delay the opening of the casino to coincide with the completion of the I-91 viaduct reconstruction. An update regarding that development has been published here.

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield, in response to questions regarding its construction schedule and permitting delays related to its $800 million casino project, said it plans a "full" discussion with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission at its next meeting on June 25.

The discussions will include the MGM project and the pending Interstate 91 viaduct rehabilitation project in downtown center planned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, said Carole Brennan, MGM Springfield spokeswoman.

"MGM is participating in a series of meetings with MassDOT and City of Springfield officials to discuss the status of both the MGM Springfield and the I-91 viaduct construction projects," Brennan said. "From day one, the coordination of the two project timelines has been part of the MGM Springfield story. We plan to bring this discussion in full to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission when it meets later this month."

Although some work at the MGM Springfield casino site in the city's South End is taking place, the company has not stated if the planned opening of the casino could be delayed,

MGM has targeted the opening the casino for late 2017.

The company had hoped to start construction relatively close to the November election when voters across the state voted to uphold the Expanded Gaming Act, which allows for up to three casinos and a slots parlor in Massachusetts.

But complications with permitting, mostly due to historic preservation issues in the slated site, persisted for months and have not entirely been alleviated.

MGM officials have been in talks with city officials regarding several design elements of the casino facility, but a final site plan has not yet been submitted for approval.

The Host Community Agreement between MGM and the City of Springfield stipulates that if the company took longer than 33 months from licensing to open its doors, it would have to pay a financial penalty. While the document doesn't specify what that amount would be, if MGM doesn't open by August-September 2017, the company will have to offer up a payment to City Hall.

Further complicating MGM's local plans is a bill allowing for the expansion of casino licensing in Connecticut, as the state aims to retain some of the business it would likely lose to the Springfield casino. Although rumors are still heard that the company will scale back its slated $800 million investment closer to the $500 million required by law, CEO Jim Murren previously said the company intends to make good on all its promises.

"There is zero truth to that rumor. I love competition. I'm not a protectionist. Connecticut can do whatever it does, but we are spending every dollar we committed and we feel that will be money well spent," Murren told The Republican back in March. "We have a history of over-investing, and we did that in Detroit. We spent twice the amount of our closest competitor and we are still the market leader there 15 years later."

The MGM project has been promised to create a minimum of 2,000 construction jobs and once open, employ at least 3,000 workers, of which at least 2,200 will be employed on a full-time equivalent basis with benefits.

She is believed to have run away from her family and may be hiding some place in Barre.

HARDWICK - Police here and in New Braintree and Barre are continuing to search for a 17-year-old who has been missing for nearly three weeks.

Moira Jones, 17, was last seen on May 20 when she was dropped off at school in Barre.

She is believed to have run away from her family and may be hiding some place in Barre, said Lt. Kevin Landine of the joint Hardwick and New Braintree Police Department.

"People are asked not to approach her," he said.

Police believe she will just run. Instead they are asked to contact the joint police dispatch at 508-867-1170 and ask for police in New Braintree and Hardwick.

Police have talked to friends of hers and believe she is OK for now.

"We want to get her help and we want to tell her family she is safe," Landine said.

The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce will hold its 38th annual pancake breakfast on Thursday, July 9, at South Middle School.

The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce will hold its 38th annual pancake breakfast on Thursday, July 9, at South Middle School.

From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., attendees can eat pancakes, listen to live music, get their fingerprints taken by the Westfield Police Department, and play bingo for the chance to win a gift certificate to a local business, among other activities.

The event is sponsored by a number of local businesses, and vendors can purchase table space for the outdoor event. The breakfast will be held rain or shine, and moved indoors if weather proves an obstacle.

Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children ages 12 and under.