Michael Royston, 49, tried to cash a lottery ticket that had been reported stolen by his niece to the Northampton Police Department.

The chairman of the Windsor Locks police commission in Connecticut resigned after being accused of trying to cash a stolen Florida lottery ticket.

Michael Royston 

According to court records reviewed by the newspaper, Royston, who was initially held on $1,000 bail, said he received the ticket as a gift. His niece told police she showed the ticket to Royston in Connecticut in early July, and reported it stolen to police in Northampton, Mass., few days later.

When he tried to claim the prize, he could not provide the name of the person who had given it to him, the newspaper reported.

He faces charges of trying to pass a lottery ticket with intent to defraud, filing a false claim for payment, and grand theft of over $100,000.

"I adamantly deny any wrong doing in which I have been accused, he said in a statement issued Sunday night to news organizations in Connecticut, including the Hartford Courant. "I do not want this to affect the commission or the Windsor Locks Police Department while I exonerate my name, therefore I have resigned from the Windsor Locks Police Commission. It has been an honor and a privilege serving the citizens of Windsor Locks." 

When asked by the Courant to comment on the story in the Florida newspaper, he declined except to say that no date had been set for him to answer the charges in court.

Royston became chairman of the commission in January. It is an unpaid position.

The Courant noted that after Royston became chairman, the commission approved a high-profile settlement to end a labor dispute with Robert Koistinen, the sergeant acquitted of hindering the drunken driving investigation of his son. Koistinen's son, former police officer Michael Koistinen, was ultimately convicted of killing a teenager who was riding his bicycle home in October 2010.

The City Council voted to pay Maylene Madlonado $135,000. Watch video

CHICOPEE - The City Council voted to settle a federal lawsuit against three police officers and the city Monday night.

Following an about 45-minute closed-door meeting with several city lawyers, the Council voted 11-0 to pay $135,000 to Maylene Maldonado, the Holyoke resident who filed the suit.

The City Council and Mayor Richard J. Kos called a meeting of the council's finance subcommittee and a special meeting of the full board after councilors said last week they wanted more information before voting to allocate the money from the city's stabilization account.

"After speaking to six to eight police officers, they said this was the best way to go because the video is indisputable," City Councilor Timothy S. McLellan said. "Not that I'm in agreement with this."

None of the other City Councilors talked during the open session of the meeting.
In a meeting Thomas Rooke, a lawyer who represented the city, urged the City Council to allocate the money so the suit could be settled.

Maldonado initially leveled 16 charges against the city and eight police officers in a $1 million federal court suit. She claimed two patrolmen pushed her into the wall in the elevator cutting her lip and later Sgt. Daniel Major grabbed her around the throat and pushed her to the ground during her booking on assault on a police officer charge in February 2013.

Mayor Richard J. Kos in March released a video taken of the booking which shows Major, who no longer works for the department, grabbing her around the throat.

In the past, Major argued he was acting in self-defense when he forced Maldonado to the floor by her throat. He said she was high on PCP and spitting blood.

In the suit, Maldonado accused the city and eight police officers of assault and civil rights violations including Major, Officer John Birks, Officer Ryan Moran, Sgt. Jeffery Godere, Officer Travis Odiorne, Officer Andre Remillard, Capt. Mark Gilbert and Acting Police Chief Thomas Charette, who is now retired.

In May, Judge Michael A. Ponser dismissed charges against Charette, Godere, Remillard and Gilbert. A month later he dismissed charges against Odiorne. That left as defendants Major, Birks and Moran as well as the city, according to court documents.

Following the suit, Police Chief William R. Jebb made a number of improvements to the booking area, including installing cameras in the elevator that leads to the booking room.

State police told WWLP the 78-year-old man is expected to survive his injuries

Dave Canton | dcanton@repub.com 

BRIMFIELD -- A 78-year-old man, who reportedly rode his bicycle into the rear of a parked camper trailer on Wales Road late Monday afternoon, was airlifted to a hospital.

State police told WWLP the victim is expected to survive his injuries.

The accident was reported about 4:30 p.m. in the area o f 185 Wales Road. Additional information was not immediately available.

The store began as an online enterprise and expanded to a physical shop at 1271 Memorial Drive.

CHICOPEE - In his new store Jim Robinson sells electronic cigarettes, the liquid used for them, smoking equipment for medical marijuana and - most importantly - information.

Last week JimBuddy's VapeShop officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gathering of friends, family members. The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, of which Robinson is a new member, joined in the event.

"When customers come in we want to find out what they are looking for and talk to them about their options," said Lisa Robinson, who owns the shop with her husband.

The business started as an online enterprise, but the couple said they had always planned to open a brick-and-mortar store. This spring they found a vacant storefront at 1271 Memorial Drive, located just a quarter-mile from their home, and sees more than 50,000 cars pass by daily.

While the store sells all types of electronic cigarettes, also known as vaporizors, the biggest seller is the vape juice used in the cigarettes. The liquid comes in a wide variety of flavors and has different amounts of nicotine to help people who are trying to slowly decrease their addiction, Jim Robinson said.

JimBuddy's only sells e-juice that they know is safely manufactured in clean rooms. At the same time, Robinson said he is constantly trying to keep up with the ever changing tastes of customers by adding new flavors and brands.

During the official opening, Anthony Afanasiew, of Springfield, helped to stock the shelves. He said he is an experienced vaper and a friend of Robinson's so he occasionally helps out when needed.

"I successfully quit smoking a year ago with vaping," he said. One of the advantages of vaping is it still gives smokers the routine and ritual of smoking, which other quitting aids like the nicotine patch do not.

Afanasiew, who works as a nurse, said he was a two-pack-a-day smoker and figured he inhaled about 42 milligrams a day of nicotine. With the vapor cigarettes he has slowly reduced that to just 6 milligrams of nicotine a day.

In welcoming JimBuddy's to the city, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce President Eileen Drumm said the organization is always ready to accept any new business and she personally knows three people who quit smoking using vapor cigarettes.

"This is not a fringe business. It is becoming mainstream," she said.

In fact this is the second vapor shop to open in Chicopee.

Robinson said he first got involved with the idea about three years when medical marijuana was approved. He became a certified medical marijuana caregiver, helping to provide people with a prescription with marijuana since no clinics were open. He also holds a prescription for medical marijuana to treat low back pain.

"A lot of people had no access to the medication," he said.

Through his work with medical marijuana, he learned more and more about vaping and decided to concentrate on that. Robinson said he has let his caregiver certification lapse.

Now when people come in, many have a lot of questions about the vaporizers. Robinson said he talks to each person about pros and cons of the different vaporizers and other equipment and help them select something that is right for them.

"I will set it up, show them how to put it together and show them how to work it," he said. "Sometime people will come back with a burnt out coil and I will replace it."

The store also sells pipes and other product that can be used with medical marijuana and Robinson said he plans to work with Western Massachusetts' first clinic, which is to open in the fall in Northampton.

"It they want more information about medical marijuana they do need to show us a medical card first," Lisa Robinson said.

People can however just come in and purchase a pipe or other device without a card, he said.

For now the only regulations the shop has to follow is ensuring no one under 18 can purchasing their products. But Robinson said he and his wife have attended Board of Health meetings and know city and state lawmakers are considering adding new rules to regulate the use.

If new regulations are passed, he said they will follow them.

The store is currently a family affair. Jim Robinson is technically the sole employee but his wife, who works full-time at a different job, helps out when she can. Their daughter, Kristie Robinson, 23, said she expects she will also be pitching in at the store in the near future.

Even the name is a family one. JimBuddy is a nickname Robinson got from his children and others in the neighborhood so when they opened the store, they decided it was a perfect name to use, Lisa Robinson said.

Sister Schneider requested the gift, based on 26,000 years of service among living members. Watch video

This story updates Springfield Roman Catholic diocese donates $1 million to Sisters of St. Joseph retirement fund.

SPRINGFIELD - This past spring, Sister Maxyne D. Schneider, president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, approached the Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, for a donation of $1 million to help meet the retirement needs of her congregation.

The request was based on the fact that more than 178 of the congregation's 217 members alive today taught in diocesan schools for little compensation. Their efforts represented 26,000 years of service, she said.

"I knew he would look at it practically, as well as inspirationally, and he would say if it was not possible, or if possible, he would do it," Schneider said.

Rozanski, who turned 57 Thursday, and celebrates a year's anniversary Wednesday as Springfield bishop, announced Monday that over five years the diocese would donate $1 million to the Support Our Sisters campaign that seeks to raise $5 million from the Greater Springfield area. The announcement was made outside the diocese's office on Elliot Street.

The gift brought tears to the eyes of a number of sisters present, applause for Schneider's leadership that Sheriff Michael Ashe, campaign co-chair, called "courageous," and praise from other lay campaign organizers like Mary Hurley, retired first justice of the Chicopee District Court and 1972 graduate of Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, who said the gift acknowledges to the country the often unrecognized ministry of Catholic women.

"Over the past year, I have realized how much the sisters have done in terms of belt-tightening and all the sacrifices they have made, and they came up short," said Rozanski, referencing the congregation's sale of its motherhouse last year to help fund its retirement needs.

"It is important for the diocese to support the sisters, who taught in our schools and work in our ministries, and stepping up our support helps others to do so as well."

Rozanski's comments were echoed by campaign co-chair John Foley, who said in his remarks that during efforts to solicit early donations prior to publicly announcing the campaign "one recurring questions has come forth - 'Where is the Church in this?'"

"Well, today, with this very generous financial commitment to the Sisters from the diocese, we can now publicly answer that question," Foley said.

Schneider termed the diocese's donation the "largest gift" among "very other significant gifts" to the campaign, which she termed "significantly beyond the half way point" since it got underway this spring. She said organizers would issue more exact numbers in the next two weeks for Greater Springfield, as they also prepare campaigns in other areas, including Burlington, Vt., Rhode Island, Worcester, and Fall River, where members of now merged congregations of Sisters of St. Joseph have ministered.

Schneider, known for her resilience in the face of the congregation's dire financial status, had overseen the sale of the congregation's 52-acre Mont Marie campus last year that raised $3 million. The sacrifice meant some 70 sisters living in the motherhouse on the Holyoke property had to relocate, some outside the diocese.

"We look at the sisters who moved with such respect and gratitude for their personal sacrifice," said Schneider. The congregation had voted unanimously to vacate the motherhouse so any revenue generating prospect could be explored, including its sale.

Yet, the sale still left the congregation, which was warned by consultants hired in 2012 that it would be without cash assets by 2018, more than $5 million short of its projected retirement needs.

Schneider, who became congregation president in 2012, stressed during Monday's announcement that the stipend system of payment to religious women had the benefit of allowing thousands of students to attend Catholic schools without paying tuition into the early 1970's. She added no one had the foresight to realize that the stipends, which amounted to about $50 a month, would be a large contributor to the financial crisis aging communities of women religious are in across the country.

Most members are retired, and their Social Security monthly benefit of around $500 is not even half of the average retiree's benefit of $1,289.

Traditionally, congregations are responsible for their own finances. Bishop Emeritus Timothy A. McDonnell began the process that increased the stipends of women religious when he became bishop in 2004. The sisters also receive funds from the annual Collection for Retired Religious, and their ministries are helped by the Annual Catholic Appeal.

Schneider thanked the diocese for such support, and said that the "shock" of the community's financial state came "in spite of our having taken many steps over the past four decades to secure the money to care for our sisters."

"Today in the names of each of our Sisters I thank you for this remarkable gift of $1 million," Schneider said.

"It will help to provide the basic necessities of life - food, clothing, shelter, transportation to our elder Sisters, so many of whom are here today, and it will enable us to continue in service to the People of God in the Diocese. In this time when there is so much need among so many, we are deeply humbled by the generosity of this gift."

Sisters present included Kathleen Keating, former president of the congregation and Elms College; Elizabeth Sullivan, vice president of the congregation and former head of the Mont Marie Healthcare Center; and Ann Lynch and Roberta Mulcahy, co-ordinators for the congregation's ministries in the area of ecology and conservation.

Sister Judith Kappenman, longtime educator and former director of the Irish Cultural Center, who recently turned 80, said she was "so shocked and delighted by the wonderful gift" that she cried.

Sister Kathleen Kirley, former dean of continuing education and graduate studies at the Elms, was also present.

She praised Schneider, who holds a doctorate in chemistry from Boston College and who served as both professor and dean at Elms, for finding a way forward for the congregation whose members continue to register emotion over the lost of Mont Marie that they thought would be their forever home and gathering place even though it had become a burden. The congregation continues to lease the use of its chapel, and the cemetery where members are buried.

"She had no idea when she took office what was ahead of her. She really is a smart woman who sees ahead and makes decisions. Her leadership has had a lot to do with the gift and she keeps at it," Kirley said of Schneider's efforts to keep her community solvent.

Rozanski also surprised the sisters with the contents of a time capsule from 1958 when the Cathedral convent was moved to Surrey Road. Contents included a copy of the Springfield Union, predecessor of The Republican, as well as the names of the sisters, including Sister James Francis (Mary Honnen), who were residents.

Schneider, who Sunday celebrates the 50th anniversary of her teaching career which began, in the company of some 72 other sisters, at Cathedral High School, once the largest Catholic school in New England, said Honnen, who lives at Mont Marie Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, was her mentor.

Hurley, former mayor of Springfield, and a graduate of 16 years of Catholic education that also included Holy Name and Cathedral, said she was "deeply grateful to the Sisters of St. Joseph for what they gave me in terms of my faith, character and the importance of giving back."

"The donation that was given today is an overwhelming statement of recognition by our bishop, by our diocese and by the Catholic Church here in the United States of America, acknowledging the incredible contribution of the Sisters of St. Joseph and oh, so many women, who served in oh so many roles, whether that was in hospitals, schools or social service, as to their value and finally a recognition of thank you for a job well done," Hurley said.

Others in attendance included former Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan, honorary co-chair, with Rozanski of the campaign.

Whether it's fried, grilled or rotisserie, the University of Massachusetts Amherst promises their white meat is antibiotic free.

AMHERST -- Whether it's fried, grilled or rotisserie, the University of Massachusetts Amherst promises their white meat is free of antibiotics. 

The flagship campus said Monday they will serve 100 percent antibiotic-free chicken in all of their dining service operations on campus. 

The announcement comes following an April survey of 4,000 students who said responsible food sourcing was important to them. 

UMass Dining Services is the largest dining service program in America, serving 6 million meals per year on campus, and is one of the first university dining programs to offer antibiotic free meat on such a large scale. The university estimates they serve 750,000 pounds of chicken and turkey each year.

"Switching to no-antibiotic-ever chicken is the right thing to do," says Ken Toong, executive director of Auxiliary Enterprises at UMass Amherst, told UMass News & Media Relations. "Not only are the students demanding it, but as the largest campus dining operation in the United States, we wanted to take a leadership role in the foodservice industry by making this pledge."

Public hearings have little purpose if they're discussing a done deal.

The predominantly white rural folks who oppose the Kinder Morgan gas pipeline, and the mostly Hispanic urban folks in Springfield's North End, have a lot in common.

Both are hollering at the wind against projects being pushed down their throats. And if both groups feel the public hearings being held to ostensibly hear their gripes are a sham, they cannot be blamed.

The North End is in an uproar over having the Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center as their new neighbor. At a public meeting Monday, they were told by Sheriff Michael Ashe that a lease to build the facility on Wason Avenue had been signed.

This raised a fair question among residents: then what the heck are we doing here?

Sequence is important here. According to reports, the lease was signed on May 5, but residents did not learn of the relocation until July 14.

Pipeline foes think they can still defeat the project. Not everyone relates to the environmentalists, but as anyone who walked past a group protesting the murder of innocent chickens can tell you, they consist of some of the most dogged, relentless advocates in the world of peaceful unrest.

As public hearings advance, however, Kinder Morgan vice-president for public affairs Allen Fore had a telling passage in his guest viewpoint submitted to MassLive.com.

"We understand there are many questions about the project, and we remain committed to collaborating with communities and landowners as we move forward,'' Fore wrote.

Fore said many adjustments to the projects have already been made due to citizen concerns. He made a legitimate case for the need of the project, the value of which is not a point of debate here.

The point is this: Fore is saying yes, we will listen to all your concerns and address what we can. But understand this: we are going to do this.

That's exactly what the North End people are being told, too. The presence of police officers at Monday's meeting indicated that city and county officials were nervous about the reaction. Their presence was a way of treating those residents as a potentially unruly mob, not a concerned group of residents.

I would imagine this thought has crossed their minds: would this have been handled the same way had the chosen site been in, say, Longmeadow? Would the chosen site ever be in, say, Longmeadow?

Both projects can be defended with strong arguments, as Fore did in his viewpoint. Residents in the Northeast need affordable and available energy.

The Correctional Alcohol Center gives a second chance to people who need one. In both cases, the cheering section for such projects is genuine and fact-based - as long as the project isn't plopped onto their property or in their neighborhoods.

That's not citizenship, it's hypocrisy. In the case of the North End, a feeling of disenfranchisement and helplessness is growing among a most misunderstood constituency.

When we read or hear about the North End, it's usually because of some problem there. We don't hear as often about the homeowners, family people and taxpayers who are hanging in there, trying to sustain value to a neighborhood they call home.

They're the ones who are most concerned about the location of the Correctional Alcohol Center. I don't know if the facility will diminish the neighborhood as they think, but I do agree they were entirely left out of this process, and I'd be mad, too, if I were them.

The North End site was selected by the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, a faceless program to residents who will be directly affected. They are taking out their wrath on Mayor Domenic Sarno, who praised the assets of the program, and Ashe, who has evolved into the bearer of bad news for residents but does not dispute the site.

The issues with Kinder Morgan and the North End involve a long, long list of differences. On one point, though, they share common ground.

Public meetings and hearings are being held under the guise of getting community input, when in fact the people in charge consider these to be done deals. That's not input, that's a waste of time.

I could argue for or against both the pipeline and the correctional alcohol center, but the frustration of the opponents goes beyond the projects themselves. They feel they are being played by officials who are listening to them without hearing them. I can't argue with why they are angry about that.

The suspect was described as wearing a dark gray long-sleeve shirt, plaid pajamas and a mink green scarf.

2-25-13 - Chicopee- Staff Photo by Don Treeger- Robery at Bank of America branch, 638 Memorial Dr., ChicopeeDon Treeger 

CHICOPEE - Chicopee police are searching for a pajama-clad man suspected of robbing a Rite Aid pharmacy at gunpoint Tuesday morning.

The robbery was reported at 8:40 a.m. at the Rite Aid, 5 St. James Ave.

Witnesses told police a man came in with a handgun and threatened a clerk.

Police did not disclose if the robber left with anything of value.

He was described as white, 5 feet 4 inches tall, with light-colored hair and a scruffy beard.

He was also wearing a dark-gray long-sleeve shirt, plaid pajamas and a mint green scar.

Police ask that anyone with information on his identity or whereabouts to call the detective bureau at (413) 594-1730.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may text a tip via a cell phone by addressing a text message to "CRIMES," or "274637," and then beginning the body of the message with the word "SOLVE CHICOPEE".

The radio spots start with the first Patriots preseason game Thursday and will continue through the regular season, The Massachusetts Medical Society said in an news release.

WALTHAM -- Patriots Safety Devin McCourty and Dr. Dennis M. Dimitri, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, will take to the airwaves this football season to warn consumers about the safe storage and proper disposal of prescription medications.

The radio spots start with the first Patriots preseason game Thursday and will continue through the regular season, The Massachusetts Medical Society said in an news release.

They will run on flagship station 98.5 The Sports Hub and on 11 Massachusetts radio affiliates, including 102.1 WAQY in Springfield, WPVQ 95.3 FM in Greenfield and 100.1 FM WWFX Worcester.

In a press statement, Dr. Dimitri said:

In the same statement, McCourty said:

The Massachusetts Medical Society has issued guidelines for prescribing physicians as well as advice about securing medications in the home and disposing of unwanted drugs.

The Massachusetts Medical Society has a comprehensive public education website, www.massmed.org/SmartandSafe, with information for patients, physicians and policymakers.

The incident, according to the police department's Facebook page, began about 2 a.m. when police pulled a vehicle over on Thayer Street for vehicle violations.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

DEERFIELD -- An 18-year-old Sunderland woman, arrested Saturday night after she allegedly became disorderly during a traffic stop, denied drug, alcohol and assault charges during her arraignment Monday in Greenfield District Court.

The Greenfield Recorder identified the woman as Kathryn Burek, 18, of River Road, Sunderland.

The incident, according to the police department's Facebook page, began about 2 a.m. when police pulled a vehicle over on Thayer Street for vehicle violations.

Police said they arrested the driver of the vehicle on a charge of drunk driving after they detected the odor of alcohol emanating from his breath and he failed a field sobriety test.

The Recorder identified the driver as Eric T. Cominoli, 19, of Northfield. He was also charged with being a minor transporting alcohol.

The two were riding around with what police described as a "cache" of alcoholic beverages -- beer and hard liquor -- when they were pulled over.

Burek, according to the Facebook post, which does not identify her, was intoxicated and became disorderly. She refused to obey the directions of the officers and attempted to hide in the tree line.

Burek resisted arrest, however, and kicked two police officers in the knees - hard enough to draw blood from one of the officers.

Burek was in possession of Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction, and Adderall, a stimulant used to treat attention deficit disorder, according to the Recorder. She was unable to provide a prescription for the drugs.

Burek denied charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, possessing liquor under the age of 21, Class B drug possession and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer.

The status of Cominoli's arraignment was not immediately available.

West was one of as many as 50 people arrested in St. Louis on Monday afternoon.

Cornel West is arrested in a protest in St. Louis. Patrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.com 

Cornel West just got arrested together with around 40 other activists BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/lkMwHkgEZE

-- Lorena de la Cuesta (@LorenadlaCuesta) August 10, 2015

Reports out of St. Louis are that county officials on Monday afternoon declared a state of emergency as demonstrations marking the one-year anniversary of the shooting death of Michael Brown have gotten out of hand.

Several people have been arrested when demonstrators outside the Thomas Eagleton Federal Courthouse in downtown St. Louis would not disperse for police. One of those arrested was Cornel West, a prominent Princeton University professor and historian who is also an outspoken critic what he calls racist law enforcement practices toward blacks.

According to KMOV news in St. Louis, West and approximately 50 other demonstrators were taken into custody at around 2 p.m. local time.
The demonstrations were part of what's been billed as a national day of civil disobedience tied to the anniversary of the death of Brown, an unarmed black man who was shot to death in Ferguson, Missouri following an altercation with a white police officer..

There have been several demonstrations in the area over the weekend, one of which was marred by another shooting Sunday night that wounded another black 18-year-old, who police say fired on officers during nighttime protests.

Another local station, FOX 2 is reporting that St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger declared a state of emergency Monday afternoon.

According to his statement "In light of last night's violence and unrest in the City of Ferguson, and the potential for harm to persons and property, I am exercising my authority as county executive to issue a state of emergency, effective immediately."

"The recent acts of violence will not be tolerated in a community that has worked so tirelessly over the last year to rebuild and become stronger. The time and investment in Ferguson and Dellwood will not be destroyed by a few that wish to violate the rights of others."

The order gives the police power to do whatever necessary

 

The Perseids peak each year about Aug. 12, and with a new moon giving us dark skies, it's possible we'll see as many as 100 meteors an hour on Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

The 2015 Perseid meteor shower gets a boost from the Aug. 14 new moon, and the resulting dark skies should make the year's top meteor shower even better.

The Perseids, which start appearing in late July and continue for about a month, peak each year around Aug. 12, and it's possible we'll see as many as 100 meteors an hour on Wednesday night into early Thursday morning thanks to the near total lack of moonlight.

It's a stark contrast to last year, when light from a supermoon all but obliterated any hopes of seeing the Perseids.

Where to see the Perseids

The best place to be is in the Northern Hemisphere, where Massachusetts and the rest of the U.S. states are conveniently located.

The best place to look is to the northeast, but you can usually see Perseid shooting stars from all parts of the sky. According to NASA:

Look towards the familiar constellations Cassiopeia and Perseus in the northeast. They rise soon after sunset, but you'll want to wait til they are higher in the sky to see the most meteors.

The constellation Perseus is where our favorite August meteors get their name.

For best viewing, you want to be in the darkest possible location, the kind of dark that sasquatches tend to hang out in. Light pollution from street lights, business signs and buildings in general makes it very difficult to see meteors. If you live in suburban, rural and some urban areas, your backyard should be OK. If you're in a city center, your best bet might be to head to a public park.

If it's too bright and you can't get to a dark location, or if you'd rather just curl up in your jammies with your favorite device, NASA plans live coverage beginning Wednesday at 10 p.m. EDT. You can view NASA's program in the player embedded at the bottom of this article.

When's the best time to see the Perseids?

The Perseids peak every year around Aug. 12, and Wednesday night into Thursday morning is expected to be the best night of the approximately month-long shower show that continues until Aug. 24.

The later you stay up, the more you'll see per hour, or for those of you who are early risers, the earlier you get up on Thursday morning, the better the show – the 4 a.m. EDT hour is expected to be the most prolific.

Weather, naturally, is a key factor. If you happen to live in Springfield, Massachusetts and environs, Wednesday night / Thursday morning's forecast is just right. Nick Morganelli of Western Mass News, the TV partner of The Republican / MassLive, predicts "Starlit and comfortable. Perseid meteor showers. Lows: 54-58."

What's the best way to watch shooting stars?

You don't need a telescope or binoculars, but if you need corrective lenses, you'll want to bring those along. NASA adds this advice:

Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing northeast and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient -- the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.

Fun facts about the Perseids

According to NASA:

• Perseids zip through the atmosphere at 59 kilometers (37 miles) per second. For those of us whose odometers are set to mph, that's 133,200 miles per hour.
• The pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the Perseids originate from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Swift-Tuttle takes 133 years to orbit the sun once. It was Giovanni Schiaparelli who realized in 1865 that this comet was the source of the Perseids. Comet Swift-Tuttle last visited the inner solar system in 1992.
• Comet Swift-Tuttle was discovered in 1862 by Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle. Swift-Tuttle is a large comet – its nucleus is 26 kilometers (16 miles) across. (That is more than twice the size of the object hypothesized to have led to the demise of the dinosaurs.)

Resources:

A Good Year for Perseid Meteors from NASA Science News »

NASA Facebook Perseids Event Page »

Perseid Meteor Shower in 2015 from timeanddate.com »

Everything you need to know: Perseid meteor shower from EarthSky.org »

NASA's live coverage of the 2015 Perseid meteor shower can be viewed in the player below beginning Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 10 p.m. EDT:

The first place team included Jack Neves and shot a 56 or 15 under par.

HOLYOKE -- The Holyoke Bar Association raised $15,000 at a golf tournament that will be donated to a scholarship fund formed to benefit the three children of the late Jorge L. Neves, an organizer said Tuesday (Aug. 11).

"We had 140 golfers and over 200 people in attendance for the dinner....The best part is that Jorge's son Jack had the first place team along with his Holyoke High golf teammates," organizer Lisa A. Ball said.

Neves, 46, a former city councilor, died Jan. 22. Neves worked two, two-year terms as a city councilor at large from 1994 to 1997. He ran for the seat a few months after graduating from Suffolk University Law School in 1993.

Neves and his wife Luanne had three children, Jack, 15, Annie, 15, and Emilia, 9, Ball said.

The tournament was Monday at the Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, she said.

The first place team -- Jack Neves, Billy Drohan, Devan Kane and Alex Glanville -- shot a 56 or 15 under par, she said.

"Jorge was a part of the Holyoke Bar Association family. When we lost him, there was no doubt in our minds that we wanted to do everything in our power to support the Neves family. The outpouring of support from his fellow attorneys and local businesses was overwhelming. The tournament was beyond successful and a real tribute to Jorge," Ball said.

The tournament cost $125 per golfer or $500 for a foursome and included dinner and a raffle, she said.

The exemption applies to clothing and footwear costing less than $100.

Connecticut will host its 2015 tax-free week during the third week of August, beginning Aug. 16 and running to Aug. 22.

The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services has a detailed explanation here.

Connecticut said it expects to lose about $6 million in sales tax during the week. That is  approximately $1 million less than in 2014.

The tax-free policy applies to:

Clothing and footwear costing less than $100.

Individual items:

Articles of clothing normally sold as part of a set, like a pair of shoes, can't be broken in to separate transactions for the purpose of beating the tax.

For example: A suit normally sells for $150. The shop cannot sell the pants for $75 and the suit coat for $75. However, if the pants and the coat are normally sold as separate items with separate price tags, the exclusion may apply to each item sold.

Footwear? What about golf shoes or soccer cleats?

Sorry, athletic shoes not normally worn on the street don't count.

Cash discounts, coupons etc:

Connecticut said the tax is calculated on the final sales price after all reductions have been taken. To determine if an item of clothing or footwear will be taxed during the exclusion week, the retailer should use the reduced sales price after the cash discount is deducted from the full or original sales price.

Example: A retailer sells a coat for $115. The retailer offers a 20 percent  discount on the coat during the exclusion week. The sales price of the coat is reduced to $92 after the discount is taken. The coat is not taxable because it costs less than $100 during the exclusion week.

Buy-one-get-one deals

They count, but if  buying one only gets a discounted price on the second item then the prices cannot be averaged.

Example: A retailer sells a suit for $130 and offers a second suit for half price when bought with the first suit. The first suit costs $130 and does not qualify for the exemption. The second suit costs $65 (half price) and does qualify for the exemption. Together the two suits cost $195. The retailer cannot average the price of the two suits, to $97.50 apiece, to qualify both suits for the exemption.

When does a sale take place?

If it's a layaway, the sale is made when the customer puts a deposit on the item and the retailer removes it from inventory.  Rain checks mean the item is taxable if the customer buys the item and takes delivery after the exclusion week.

Tax Free Week in Connecticut

The state's 6.25 percent sales tax is suspended on most purchases of less than $2,500.

Massachusetts shoppers and retailers are prepping for what has become an August ritual: the state's annual sales tax holiday set to run this year on Saturday and Sunday.

For businesses, the tax-free weekend means a spurt of business in what can be a slow time when most people are out enjoying summer instead of shopping.

"It's good and bad," said Manny Rovithis , owner of Manny's TV & Appliance locations in Western Massachusetts. Good because the tax-free weekend stimulates spending. Bad because it concentrates about a month's worth of business on one weekend. His salesmen get to work at 5:30 a.m. to start processing orders. He ends up hiring extra employees to make deliveries.

Gary Okun, owner of Beautiful Rooms furniture store in West Springfield, said he makes sure his showroom is full heading into tax free weekend and he make s sure there are plenty of designers and sales staff around to help customers out. Upholstery sells strongly, he said. But some people do buy dressers and the like.

"It's a once-in-a-year offer," he said. "Some people even wait for it."

What it means

The state's 6.25 percent sales tax is suspended on most purchases of less than $2,500. See our handy cheat sheet below to see how much you'd save on purchases ranging from $50 to $2,499.

What items will still be taxable?

Anything costing more than $2,500, according to the state Department of Revenue. That means if an item costs $2,600, the consumer pays the tax.

What about clothing?

There is no Massachusetts sales tax on any article of clothing unless the sales price exceeds $175. It it exceeds $175, only the increment over $175 is subject to tax. If the price of an article of clothing exceeds the threshold, the first $175 may be deducted from the amount subject to tax. The $2,500 threshold amount is not increased by $175.

A clothing example?

A) A customer buys a suit on the sales tax holiday for $600. No tax is due.

B) A customer buys a wedding dress on the sales tax holiday for $2,550. Tax is due on $2,375 ($2,550 - $175).

Breaking up items:

Retailers are told not to split up items normally sold as a set. No calling a $3,000 suit a $1,500 coat and $1,500 pants to beat the tax, the state says.

What about cars, boats, motorcycles, etc.?

The exemption doesn't apply to: all motor vehicles, motorboats, motorcycles etc. Pretty much anything you have to register doesn't count and is taxed.

What else isn't part of the holiday and thus is taxable?

Meals, telecommunications services, gas, steam, electricity, tobacco.

Is now the time to buy those Apple products you've been thinking about?

Mark Wineburg, owner of Yes Computer in Northampton, an Apple retailer, said that the tax-free weekend is his busiest time of the year.

"Christmas doesn't hold a candle to it," he said, adding that he thinks it's one of the best business decisions that state has ever made.

He said pre-ording on computers and devices is strong.

"This has been even better than the previous six years," he said.

For his business, the tax-free weekend comes as consumers are preparing to go back to school or at least winding down summer fun.

"They are basically back in gear," he said.

What about Connecticut?

Connecticut has a tax-free week the third week of Aug. 16 through Aug. 22. It applies to clothing and footwear costing less than $100, according to Nutmeg state officials.

He will say 12:10 p.m. Mass today at St. Michael's Cathedral.

SPRINGFIELD - The Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski will celebrate the 12:10 p.m Mass today at St. Michael's Cathedral to mark his installation there on this date a year ago as the ninth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.

It has been an eventful year for Rozanski, who was affectionately known as "Bishop Mitch" in Baltimore, where he served previously as auxiliary bishop. His decision to review whether Cathedral High School should be rebuilt on Surrey Road last November sparked much debate and controversy and ultimately led to the planned merger of Holyoke Catholic with Cathedral, and the announcement in June that a new regional school will be built on the tornado-damaged Cathedral site and called Pope Francis High.

On July 27, Rozanski gave the homily at the funeral at Holy Cross Church for U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, a 40-year-old Springfield native who was fatally shot, along with four other servicemen, on July 16 in an attack by a Kuwait-born gunman on a Naval reserve center in Chattanooga, Tenn. He described the decorated military service of Sullivan, who helped others get to safety before he was killed, as rooted in love.

This week, Rozanski announced the diocese would donate a $1 million to the Support Our Sisters, a campaign to raise retirement funds for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield. Some 70 sisters moved from their motherhouse last June, allowing their long-term home to be sold by year's end to help the financially strapped congregation.

Rozanski, who just turned 57, was asked on his anniversary to reflect on these events, and whether he will meet Pope Francis, whose popularity has ebbed in part for his recent encyclical on the impact consumption is having on the environment, on the pope's September visit to Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia.

Much has happened during the last 12 months in the diocese. Your decision to review plans to rebuild Cathedral High on Surrey Road sparked a great deal of debate. How did you personally navigate the stress of the decision as a bishop new to the area? What was it like for you as you read over the input from all the so-called stakeholders, parents, teachers, alumni, neighbors?

There indeed has been a lot to tackle in my first year here as bishop of Springfield. First of all, my priority was to get out to meet the priests, deacons, religious men and women and lay people of our diocese. While I have not covered every parish yet, I do believe in one form or another I have visited 60 of our parishes and schools over this past year.

Certainly the issue of Cathedral High School was another priority but I realized that this would have to be examined in the context of looking at secondary Catholic education in our region. In reflecting on my first year here, I am so thankful to have had 10 years as an auxiliary bishop in Baltimore, because I truly did learn of the necessity of collaboration with my fellow priests, deacons, religious and laity when it came to the larger picture.

I applied this process of collaboration for the decision that needed to be made on the high schools of our region. Part of the stress is knowing that no matter what resolution was decided, not everyone would necessarily agree with the decision.

My time at prayer, receiving as much input as possible and knowing that I truly tried my best helped me to come to a decision. I am grateful to all those who gave me input and insights on such a major decision for our diocese.

You were entirely educated within the Catholic school system in the Baltimore area. How much did you reflect on this in being able to grant Sister Schneider's request for a $1 million diocesan contribution to the order's retirement fund?

The story of women religious in the United States is an epic one. When I reflect on what the women's religious communities have accomplished in terms of education, health care, advocacy for the poor and hands-on ministry, it is truly amazing to me.

So many Catholics of my generation and before received a stellar education from the sisters. They took a generation of immigrants and mainstreamed them into American Society and that is quite a feat in itself. Now, they need our help to care for their aging sisters. It is time to step up to the plate and I wanted to illustrate that we as a diocese stand with our sisters in supporting them at this time.

When you were writing the homily for Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan's funeral what did you reflect on the most about the Springfield-born Marine who had been an altar server at the church as a boy. Why did you ask all priests to preach on him in their own weekend homilies?

When Sgt. Thomas Sullivan and his fellow Marines and sailor were so tragically killed in Chattanooga, Tenn., I knew that we needed to come together as a Church in prayerful support for Tommy, his family and all who were affected by this tragedy. It was important that every church in the diocese include Sgt. Sullivan in prayer and remember the great sacrifices of their lives in service to our country.

Sgt. Sullivan represents the best of who we are as human beings and his example needs to be lifted up for all of us so that we remember him in gratitude, but also emulate the devotion he had to the cause of peace and freedom in our country and world.

What do you think Pope Francis will emphasis in his visit to the United States, in terms of addressing Congress, and will/how will you be able to meet him?

Pope Francis is a man of the Gospel, plain and simple. His actions and words are all based in the teachings of Sacred Scripture and particularly Jesus' words as recorded by the Evangelists. Reading the Gospel and more importantly, living it, is a challenge to us all.

I look forward to Pope Francis' words, not only to Congress, but to all of us. If there is a sense of being a bit uncomfortable in hearing the Holy Father's words, I think that is a good thing. We all need to reflect on our own lives in light of the Gospel message.

I hope to greet Pope Francis as a member of the administrative committee and chair of ecumenical and interreligious affairs for the Catholic bishops of our country.

Why do you want to help lead the diocesan youth pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland, for World Youth Day in 2016?

The World Youth Day events are a sign to all the world of the vitality and commitment of our young people to the Faith. They also help to support our young people who are responding to the Gospel message and living it.

I look forward to being in Krakow with the young people from our diocese and those from all over the world in support of them, their encounter with Pope Francis and the energy that will be generated from such a beautiful experience.

A new study by the Pioneer Institute indicates that Massachusetts medical specialists are not complying with a state law that requires them to provide prices to potential patients.

A new study by the Pioneer Institute indicates that many Massachusetts medical specialists are not complying with a state law that requires them to provide prices to potential patients.

"We've got to do a lot better," said study author Barbara Anthony, a senior fellow in health care at the Pioneer Institute who was the Massachusetts undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation under former Gov. Deval Patrick. "I'm disappointed to say that I don't think the state transparency law is working very well. I don't see providers around the state embracing transparency as part of their customer service culture."

Massachusetts' 2012 health care cost containment law put in place new rules regarding transparency. As of January 2014, doctors became required to tell a prospective patient, within two business days of a request, how much a particular procedure will cost.

Pioneer Institute researchers called 96 medical providers - split between dermatologists, ophthalmologists, gastroenterologists and dentists - and asked for the price of simple procedures for a patient paying out of pocket. They had mixed success in getting the information. Some providers would not provide the information and some provided a huge range of potential prices.

"There's been enough time to adapt systems, change processes, to train staff, and I find it disconcerting that there seems to be a lack of respect for the law here," Anthony said.

The Massachusetts Medical Society has published information informing doctors of their obligations under the law. Dennis Dimitri, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, said physicians appreciate the need for price transparency. But Dimitri said it can be difficult for doctors to give precise cost information due to the complexity of the health care payment system, with factors like what payments are allowed by insurers, co-pays and deductibles, in or out of network charges, separate sets of charges by hospitals and other providers and the sheer number of procedures and services. For example, a doctor may not know the cost of a test he prescribes at an imaging center.

"Because of the complexity of that, it's not always an straightforward, easy, simple question when someone asks how much does this cost," Dimitri said.

"In general, physicians are aware of the fact that transparency around pricing and cost issues is important to patients," Dimitri said. "The difficulty in sharing that information is not because of necessarily a reluctance on the part of physicians to make that information available. It's got more to do with the complexity of a payment system that makes the exact answers to some of these questions about price not quite so transparent as we would like them to be."

But Dimitri acknowledged that there may be more doctors can do in terms of things like educating front office staff about how to respond to patients' questions about price.

The survey found that dentists were the most transparent, with most offices quickly providing cost information. Prices ranged from $57 for a routine cleaning and exam at a Boston chain to $245 at a Greenfield private practice.

Anthony suggested that dentists' offices may be the best at price transparency because they are used to talking to patients about price, since many patients pay for dental work out of pocket, and dental insurance generally does not have generous benefits.

Dermatologists were less willing to give out price information about a routine exam and wart removal. "A few were unsure they had authority to give out price information, some were reluctant to talk about price, and a few were simply rude on the subject," the study wrote. The study also found that there was little specificity. A Holyoke practice, for example, said an exam would cost anywhere from $85 to $400.

Ophthalmologists fell somewhere in between dentists and dermatologists in terms of willingness to provide price information and specificity of information.

The gastroenterologists were asked about the price of a colonoscopy, which is a more complex medical procedure than the other specialties. Based on the callers' experiences, often involving multiple phone calls to multiple people, they concluded, "Most ordinary consumers would likely give up in frustration and not succeed in obtaining this important information."

The price of a colonoscopy included three different fees - from the surgeon, the anesthesiologist and the facility. Only 13 of 25 gastroenterologists' offices were able to provide all three fees within two business days, while the other 12 instructed the "patient" to call the facility and the anesthesiologist separately.

Many specialists in all categories were unfamiliar with the state transparency law.

The study concluded, "With the exception of dentists and some ophthalmologists, it appears that the specialists we surveyed still have a long way to go before Massachusetts consumers can reap the benefits of state transparency laws."

The report recommended that specialists educate and train office staff on the state law, on how to assist callers asking for price information, and on the need to treat patients respectfully. It suggested that doctors' offices develop protocols for providing information, such as creating a price list for common procedures, and better coordinate among providers when multiple specialists are involved in one procedure, such as with a colonoscopy.

"Maybe there needs to be more guidance, maybe there needs to be more direction, there certainly needs to be more compliance," Anthony said.

While the state law does not include penalties for non-compliance, Anthony said a violation of the law could potentially be prosecuted as a violation of the state's consumer protection act.

Physician Transparency WP

Miami, LSU, Creighton, Tulane, Oklahoma and USC also made the cut.

That University of Massachusetts basketball fan daydream of landing the talented high school duo of De'Jon Jarreau and Brison Gresham out of New Orleans took one step closer to coming true Tuesday.

UMass made the top-11 cut for the self-proclaimed #NolaDynamicDuo back in July and now the Minutemen have made it into the top seven, which according to Jarreau, will be the final pool of teams the pair of recruits will be selecting from.

Jarreau and Gresham have said their recruitment is a package deal. High school teammates, their intent is play together in college, too.

Gresham, a 4-star recruit, is no slouch, but it's Jarreau that's an ESPN top-100 recruit and one of the best high school guards in the country.

Jarreau posted a graphic to Twitter featuring the UMass logo, along with the logos of the six other finalists – LSU, Miami (Florida), Creighton, Tulane, Oklahoma and USC – to make the announcement:

This is the final 7 schools that we'll be considering and picking from.. #NolaDynamicDuo pic.twitter.com/mFvBLDuqm5

— DJ3! (@LaDeeky) August 11, 2015

It's been assumed that the pair will stay home to play at LSU, which has a recent history of landing impressive recruits. For now, UMass fans can still hope.

Follow MassLive.com UMass beat writer @Daniel_Malone on Twitter or reach him via email.

Jemma Penberthy moved to Holyoke in 2014, fell in love with the city and now wants to help the legislative process.

HOLYOKE -- As a community health nurse, Jemma B. Penberthy said she knows getting a job done means taking care to be well-informed and often requires merging individuals who hold conflicting interests, skills she could bring to the City Council.

"This takes patience, thoughtfulness and the ability to put one's personal feelings aside and keep the big picture in mind while working in a fast-paced and changing environment," said Penberthy, 36, of 182 Locust St.

"I have found, from my experience, that logic, a cool head and an open mind goes a long way in resolving challenges. Nursing is many things, but when you boil it down, it is all about advocacy," she said.

She works for Baystate High Street Health Center in Springfield, she said.

The Registrar of Voters office recently certified Penberthy's nomination papers to place her name on the election ballot. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Penberthy is one of 16 incumbents and challengers seeking the eight at large seats on the council. The 15-member City Council also has seven ward representatives.

Claire Ricker, her wife, was hired in 2013 as senior planner in the city Department of Planning and Economic Development. They moved from Boston and bought a house in Ward 4 in 2014, she said.

"Holyoke is where we want to make our home. The physical beauty and rich history of our city is undeniable, however, it is its citizens that make our city so strong and so compelling," Penberthy said.

"Every resident I meet is proud of their city and striving to make positive changes. It is infectious, and I feel that this passion can be harnessed to build an even more wonderful place to live, work and play," she said.

Her ability to speak Spanish would be helpful on the City Council, she said. Holyoke is roughly half Hispanic.

Many parts of the city encourage her, she said: the soon-to-be-restored access to passenger train service, the spirit of "innovation and entrepreneurship" especially with embrace of the arts downtown, private investment, community policing and city approval of a needle exchange program.

With a lot more work to do, she said, a City Council that reacts to challenges with vision can help the community.

"It is imperative that we understand and react to the real issues on the ground in Holyoke while staying focused on our vision for the future. I feel that my skill set and personality would be a valuable addition to our legislative process," Penberthy said.

Pedro Colon faces 14 charges, including drug and gun counts.

The exterior of the Hampden County Hall of Justice is seen Saturday night.Dwight B. Shepard / The Republican 

SPRINGFIELD - Pedro Colon, of Holyoke, denied 14 charges, including trafficking cocaine in the amount of over 200 grams Tuesday.

Bail was set at $3,500 cash by Hampden Superior Court Judge Mary Lou Rup for Colon, 32, whose address is listed in court records as 65 Center St. Colon had previously posted the bail.

Defense lawyer Daniel D. Kelly filed a private appearance to represent Colon.

The cocaine trafficking charge says the crime happened in Springfield April 3.

One charge alleges conspiracy to violate drug laws with two people April 7 in Springfield and another alleges conspiracy to violate drug laws with one of those people between Jan 20 and April 7.

Four charges of carrying a firearm without a license are dated April 3 and list: a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun; a Ruger PT1911 .45 caliber handgun; a Springfield Armory XD 9 mm handgun; and a Kel-Tec .233.

Colon is also charged with four counts of possession of a firearm in commission of a felony; conspiracy; possession of heroin and illegal possession of ammunition.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Neil Desroches.