Thomas Krens, former director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, announced his vision for the Global Contemporary Collection and Museum earlier this week. The institution would be situated along Route 2, near the Harriman & West Airport, Clark Art Institute, Williams College Museum of Art and MASS MoCA.

NORTH ADAMS -- The man who brainstormed the concept of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art has proposed another 160,000-square-foot museum for North Adams, according to The Berkshire Eagle.

Thomas Krens, former director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, announced his vision for the Global Contemporary Collection and Museum earlier this week. The institution would be situated along Route 2, near the Harriman & West Airport, Clark Art Institute, Williams College Museum of Art and MASS MoCA.

Krens pitched the $10 to $15 million project to the city's Airport Commission Tuesday. It would potentially house up to 400 works of art, The Eagle reports, with the idea that it would showcase work too large to normally be exhibited in a traditional museum.

The Airport Commission voted to to enter into negotiations with Krens. The museum will now need to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Krens said he's been working on the concept for about five years. It was first planned with China in mind, but Krens told The Eagle, "the idea of spending a little more time in the Berkshires was attractive to me."

The museum would be privately owned by a group of investors, Krens said. If the plan passes, construction could begin as soon as 2016.

Interested in deciding which spot in the city has the best hotdog? A competition this weekend invites all to be a food judge for the day and sample fare throughout Worcester.

WORCESTER -- Interested in deciding which spot in the city has the best hotdog? A competition this weekend invites all to be a food judge for the day and sample fare throughout Worcester. 

The Worcester Hot Dog Safari invites foodies from across New England to Worcester this Saturday. Participants will be given a scorecard and travel to different restaurants, trucks, carts and shacks in Worcester to try a sampling of each's offerings. 

The event began informally when Thomas Mahoney was a child. "At the end of each summer, a group of friends and their dads would load up with handwritten scorecards into beat up pick up trucks and head out to sample Worcester's many hot dog trucks, carts and shacks and decide which was our favorite," the Worcester resident wrote. "It was a way to say good bye to summer and to have fun with friends made that summer or friends we had all our lives from our neighborhoods." 

The group of childhood friends revived their summer tradition several years ago and invited others to join. "Our numbers have grown and what once was a way to spend time goofing with friends and family has evolved into a city wide event that raises money for a very important organization," Mahoney wrote. 

Organizers ask participants donate to five dollars which is given directly to the Worcester County Food Bank. 

He added, "The spirit of the safari is always to become bigger and better each year. We want to bring in new people from all over to come and share in our tradition so it may become their tradition as well." 

The Worcester Hot Dog Safari will be held Saturday, August 15. It will begin at noon at the Dogfather, 84 Holden St. Participants will be given a scorecard and be invited to travel from place to place. The event will end at Coney Island Hot Dog, 158 Southbridge St. 

A new poll in New Hampshire from Franklin Pierce University and the Boston Herald shows Bernie Sanders leading Hillary Clinton 44 percent to 37 percent among likely Democratic primary voters.

A digest of news stories from around the Northeast.

WWLP-TV, 22News, Chicopee

West Springfield family fights city hall to build wheelchair-accessible treehouse for son [Boston Globe] Video above

Noah F. Jocelyn 

Judge refuses to set bail for Gardner arson suspect, citing past violations [Telegram & Gazette]

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Jeffrey and Jeanette Navin 

Staff at the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center are caring for more than 100 animals found in a city home, according to director Pam Peebles.

These were the most read stories on MassLive.com yesterday. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now.

1) Live score, updates: New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers preseason opener [Nick O'Malley]

2) ESPN Insider: Boston Celtics could potentially fit as Markieff Morris trade option [Jay King]

3) Officials: 100+ neglected animals removed from Springfield house [Patrick Johnson] Photo gallery above

4) Hadley officials blast Pride CEO seeking beer and wine license for unbuilt Route 9 convenience store [Mary Serreze]

5) LazerZone opens new 'family entertainment center' on Worcester's Plantation Street [Michael D. Kane]

Says organization reduces number of abortions; uses of fetal organ tissue saves lives.

The New England Journal of Medicine has published an editorial in support of Planned Parenthood and "its efforts to channel fetal tissue into important medical research," as well as an article on the use of fetal organ tissue in medical research.

"We strongly support Planned Parenthood not only for its efforts to channel fetal tissue into important medical research but also for its other work as one of the country's largest providers of health care for women, especially poor women," the editorial reads.

"The contraception services that Planned Parenthood delivers may be the single greatest effort to prevent the unwanted pregnancies that result in abortions."

Planned Parenthood of America has come under Congressional review in the aftermath of the release of under-cover videos, taken by anti-abortion activists to allegedly show its clinics sell tissue from aborted fetuses for profit, something that is a criminal offense and something the federation denies.

Women may consent to the use of fetal tissue for medical research, and the federation says its affiliates charge a small amount to recover specific fetal organ tissues and prepare them.

Republican lawmakers have made efforts in the past to deny Planned Parenthood, which provides women's health services, as well as contraception on a sliding scale fee, federal funding.

"It is shameful that a radical antichoice group whose goal is the destruction of Planned Parenthood continues to twist the facts to achieve its ends," the editorial reads.

"We thank the women who made the choice to help improve the human condition through their tissue donation; we applaud the people who make this work possible and those who use these materials to advance human health."

The Perspective article on fetal tissue is by R. Alta Charo, Warren P. Knowles Professor of Law and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She holds an undergraduate degree in biology from Harvard University and her law degree from Columbia University School of Law.

Charo writes that medical professionals have "a duty to use fetal tissue for research and therapy."

"This work has been going on for nearly a century, and the vaccines it produced have been in use nearly as long," Charo writes. "Any discussion of the ethics of fetal tissue research must begin with its unimpeachable claim to have saved the lives and health of millions of people."

She adds that the "1988 Fetal Tissue Transplantation Panel, which was appointed by President Ronald Reagan," recommended that "the question of donation not be addressed until after a woman had decided she was going to end a pregnancy." It also, she writes, "endorsed the law that prohibited tissue sale for profit (reimbursement of costs was permissible)."

She references writings about the possible use of such tissue by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, and notes other research uses.

"Fetal tissue research has already led to investigational therapy for end-stage breast cancer and advances against cardiac disease, and transplantation research is actively being pursued for diabetes (using fetal pancreatic islet cells), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (using neural fetal stem cells injected into the spine), and in a major European initiative, Parkinson's disease (using fetal dopamine cells)," Charo says.

The editorial, "Planned Parenthood at Risk," is written by Dr. George P. Topulos, volunteer member of the medical committees of both Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. He is a Boston-based anesthesiologist, and graduate of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Co-authors are Dr. Michael F. Greene, chief of obstetrics at Massachusetts General Hospital, and and Dr. Jeffrey M. Drazen, the journals editor-in-chief.

Each week, MassLive showcases pets available for adoption at shelters at rescue organizations in Western Massachusetts.

Each week, MassLive showcases pets available for adoption at shelters at rescue organizations in Western Massachusetts.

With the participation of the shelters listed below, many animals should be able to find a permanent home.

100 + animals removed from Springfield home

SPRINGFIELD - Staff at the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center are caring for more than 100 animals - some domesticated and some wild but all neglected - found in a city home, according to director Pam Peebles.

No charges have been filed at this point against the resident, who has not been identified publicly. The case is an "open investigation," according to Rob Halpin, director of communications for the MSPCA Angell in Boston.

Pam Peebles, director of the T.J. O'Connor facility, said officials removed 85 cats, seven dogs, a ferret and a parrot.

They also found 12 skunks, 12 raccoons and one fox, she said.

Click here for more on this story and a photo gallery of some of the seized animals.

'Crisis' situation for no-kill cat shelter

WESTFIELD - The wanton abandonment of cats and kittens has created a 'crisis' situation for the Westfield Homeless Cat Project, a no-kill cat shelter.

According to Denise Sinico, shelter founder, abandoned and abused animals are arriving daily at the shelter.

"We are now in a crisis situation," Sinico said in a press release. "We have to adopt out the cats under our care before we make commitments to take more in. All of our adult cats are free to good homes; all we ask is that you make a monetary donation of your choice to our rescue organization."

According to the release, all adult cats are neutered/spayed, vaccinated, deflead, dewormed, tested for FIV/FELV and come with a free vet visit to Blandford Animal Hospital and a bag of Science Diet cat food. Adoption times are Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 3 at 1124 East Mountain Road in Westfield. Email: westfieldhcp@aol.com.

Click here for more on this story and a gallery of more cats available for adoption at the shelter.

Couple supports kitten nursery

SPRINGFIELD - Jan and Bernadette Piepul, of Springfield, have provided a challenge pledge to Dakin Humane Society donors. They will match, at a two-to-one ratio, every gift that is made to Nick's Nursery through Sept. 30, up to $6,000. This will essentially cover all the medical expenses that Dakin's kitten nursery is expected to incur during its busy summer and fall months.

Nick's Nursery, which was officially opened in 2014 at Dakin's Adoption and Education Center in Springfield, provides medical attention and nurturing to newborn kittens too young for adoption. It was named for Nicholas, one of the Piepul's pet cats. Last year the Piepuls provided a generous grant to open and support the Nursery in its first year of operation.

"I remember vividly the time Nicholas had been set on fire as a homeless kitten many years ago and we adopted him from the shelter as he was healing," Bernadette Piepul said. "We know how critical it is to provide the proper care to save lives, so we are happy and proud to support Nick's Nursery at Dakin. We hope people will join us in donating to ensure that these helpless kittens thrive and find loving homes."

In addition to encouraging donations for Nick's Nursery, Dakin has also launched its summer appeal campaign.

"The summer season is incredibly hectic here," said Dakin's Executive Director Leslie Harris. "New cats, kittens, dogs and puppies are turning up every day, and our efforts to treat, shelter and feed them stretch our resources. We rely on donations from people in our community to save these lives."

The non-profit organization also offers a Guardian Donor option, which allows supporters to pledge a monthly amount of their choosing via credit card. For the second summer in a row, Dakin is conducting a drive to enlist 50 new Guardian Donors between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Dakin has a shelter in Leverett as well as Springfield. For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SHELTERS:

Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society
Address: 163 Montague Road, Leverett
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30 -5:30 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 548-9898
Website: www.dpvhs.org

Address: 171 Union St., Springfield
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30-5:30 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 781-4000
Website: www.dpvhs.org

Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center
Address: 627 Cottage St., Springfield
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; Thursday, noon-7 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 781-1484
Website: tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com

Westfield Homeless Cat Project
Address: 1124 East Mountain Road, Westfield
Hours: Adoption clinics, Thursday, 5-7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Website: http://www.whcp.petfinder.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westfieldhomelesscatprojectadoptions

Westfield Regional Animal Shelter
Address: 178 Apremont Way, Westfield
Hours: Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 564-3129
Website: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/ma70.html

Franklin County Sheriff's Office Regional Dog Shelter and Adoption Center
Address: 10 Sandy Lane, Turners Falls
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 676-9182
Website: http://fcrdogkennel.org/contact.html

Polverari/Southwick Animal Control Facility
Address: 11 Depot St., Southwick
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Telephon: (413) 569-5348, ext. 649
Website: http://southwickpolice.com/chief-david-a-ricardis-welcome/animal-control/

In addition to the fine, T. Kevin Keough, of North Reading, was ordered to pay $350,000 in restitution.

BOSTON - A North Reading couple were fined $50,000 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions from a sham sub-prime auto loan company that bilked investors out of $11 million, according to federal investigators.

 

Inofin Inc., a shuttered Rockland-based company, had been under federal scrutiny for years and has filed for bankruptcy.

Its former top executives, Michael J. Cuomo, 52, of Plymouth, and Kevin J. Mann Sr., 64, of Marshfield, were indicted on multiple counts of conspiracy and mail fraud. They were arrested by federal agents in February.

Former sales agent T. Kevin Keough steered investors to Inofin's unregistered securities with promises of set returns of up to 11 percent, court records state. He did this outside the purview of his broker-dealer employers between 2002 and 2009, investigators say.

In addition to the $50,000 fine the couple was previously ordered by U.S. District Court to pay $350,000 in restitution.

Keough was formerly registered with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter; Raymond James Financial Services; and Bishop, Rosen & Co.

To prevent his employer from discovering his arrangement with Inofin, he diverted $368,000 in investor-based commissions to his wife, Nancy.

Investors told investigators they believed their investments in Inofin would provide them a comfortable retirement and that they were helping "good people with bad credit get car loans."

In fact, Inofin began diverting more and more of investors' money away from auto loans and to cover mounting losses.

Since its incorporation in 1994, neither Inofin nor its securities have ever been incorporated with the SEC, a complaint by the commission states. Inofin was established to purchase subprime loans for a network of several hundred used car dealerships over several states.

By the SEC's accounts, Inofin seemed to have complete control over its terms with the dealerships while its investors had none.

"Once Inofin investors handed over their money, they had no role in directing how Inofin used their funds ... Inofin and its principals exercised total control over how the company used investor funds," the complaint reads.

Despite its stated focus, Inofin principals in 2004 began using investor funds to buy their own used dealerships and develop commercial and residential real estate in Massachusetts in Florida. Once the bulk of the ventures collapsed and the company fell into involuntary bankruptcy Inofin owed its investors $69 million, according to the SEC.

An official at the SEC in Boston said they are unaware of any investor receiving money back as the company is still embroiled in bankruptcy court. SEC officials would not comment on whether the Keoughs could also face criminal charges like the higher-ups at the company.

Candidates will be given time to present their positions and then answer questions during the forum.

SPRINGFIELD - The public is invited to attend a candidates forum Thursday, Aug. 20, featuring the contestants for mayor of Springfield, to be held at the Classical Condominiums at 235 State St.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m., with a "meet and greet" with the candidates, followed by the program at 7. The event is sponsored by the Armoury-Quadrangle Civic Association.

Under the format, the candidates will be provided time to present their positions and answer questions.

"We are committed to bringing important issues to the table, association President Carol Costa said. "And there can be nothing more important than hearing from candidates for mayor of this city, especially with five challengers on the ballot in the September primary."

The association is also hosting a candidates Night on Oct. 15 for all the City Council candidates, Costa said.

The six mayoral candidates on the ballot are incumbent Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and challengers Salvatore Circosta, Ivelisse Gonzalez, Michael Jones, Johnnie Ray McKnight and Beverly Savage.

There is also an announced write-in candidate, Miguel Soto.

For additional information, contact the Quadrangle at (413) 747-1830.

Police said the victim was found near the water. Information was not immediately available on the victim's condition.

THE REPUBLICAN FILE 

HOLYOKE -- A motorcyclist was taken to an area hospital late Thursday night following a crash at Lyman and Canal streets.

Lt. Larry Cournoyer told Western Mass News that the motorcyclist was involved in a one-vehicle accident at about 11 p.m.

Cournoyer said the victim was found near the water. Information was not immediately available on the victim's condition.

Police closed Canal Street for a time while the investigated the crash and cleared the scene.

Western Mass News is television partner to The Republican and MassLive.com.

The historic church, which has been closed because of its poor condition, is not part of the demolition plan.

Holy Name Church in Chicopee to demolish school, parish buildings

CHICOPEE - Officials at the Holy Name of Jesus Parish are preparing to demolish the school buildings and several parish buildings on its South Street property.

Work to prepare the buildings for demolition began this spring when church officials took out permits from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to remove asbestos from four different buildings on the property.

The church, which dates to 1857 and has been closed for several years because of its poor condition, is not part of the demolition plan, said Mark Dupont, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese in Springfield.

"Because of the configuration and manner in which utility services were shared by the buildings the preparation work has proceeded slowly," he said. "We are now awaiting the issuance of a final permit from the city of Chicopee."

Fire Department Capt. Mark Galarneau said the department issued a permit Thursday to allow the demolition of the buildings.

"We were waiting for more of a plan from them," he said. One of the problems was the fire alarm systems are tied together and they had to be separated to ensure the safety of buildings which were not being razed.

He said he also encouraged parish officials to ensure the church and other buildings that are remaining were properly boarded up to meet the U.S. Fire Administration building standards to prevent vandalism.

"We advised them to remove or protect the stained glass windows," he said.

The parish still must receive permits from the Building Department before demolition begins.

So far no permits have been issued through the city to demolish or otherwise do work on the buildings, Chicopee Building Commissioner Carl Dietz said.

United Service Company, an asbestos contractor, had removed asbestos in four buildings earlier this year. They are two convent/school buildings, the school gymnasium building and the boiler house, according to Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection records.

The asbestos has been removed from boilers, spray-on ceilings and insulation and transite panels in three of the buildings. In the gymnasium, officials have removed asbestos from spray-on ceilings and insulation and transite panels, the records show.

As part of the project, some of the windows in the buildings have also been removed. Some have been boarded up but others on upper floors and in the basement have been left open.

Holy Name School, which taught pre-school through grade eight children, closed in June of 2012 after years of struggling with declining enrollment.

The Holy Name of Jesus Church, which is on the same property next to the school buildings, has been closed since 2011 when a small renovation project in the church chapel uncovered serious termite damage on wooden structural beams and deteriorating masonry in the foundation of the church.

The parish has been worshipping ever since at the Assumption of the Blessed Mary Church on Springfield. It also holds a weekly mass at St. Patrick's Church on Broadway.

A shark attacking a seal was witnessed just off of Cape Cod's Nauset Light beach. Both Nauset Light and Coast Guard beach were closed, due to their proximity to each other.

EASTHAM, Mass. (AP) -- Officials say two Cape Cod beaches closed after visitors spotted a great white shark biting a seal and spitting it back out onto the beach.

Beachgoers at Nauset Light in Eastham, Massachusetts, saw the shark attack the seal at around 4 p.m. Wednesday, which resulted in a pool of blood. The seal was then thrown out of the water onto the beach, where it died.

A one-hour swimming suspension was issued for Nauset Light and Coast Guard beach, due to their proximity to each other. Paige Long, a dispatcher with the Cape Cod National Seashore, says that's standard protocol.

Seals are a primary food source for great white sharks, which have been spotted in the Cape in increasing numbers over the years.

Check out some photos below from Jennifer O'Leary.

Police released photos of a black man with a beard. He is wearing a white T shirt and a New York Yankees hat.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man suspected of passing counterfeit checks.

Police released photos of a black man with a beard. He is wearing a white T shirt and a New York Yankees hat.

According to police the man is to be involved in cashing thousands of dollars in bad checks around town.

Anyone who recognizes him is asked to call Detective Matthew Mattina at (413) 363-3210, ext. 272.

The Texas-born, Louisiana-raised musical storyteller Marcia Ball rocked downtown Springfield on Thursday evening as the latest installment of the popular CityBlock Concert Series.

SPRINGFIELD — The Texas-born, Louisiana-raised musical storyteller Marcia Ball rocked downtown Springfield on Thursday evening as the latest installment of the popular CityBlock Concert Series.

Ball's reputation for her ability to ignite a full-scale roadhouse rhythm and blues party every time she strolls onto the stage was visible at the show.

CityBlock presents national touring acts across a variety of genres at Stearns Square, right in the heart of downtown Springfield.

Every Thursday through Aug. 27, CityBlock shows are free and start at 4:30 p.m. with a local/regional opening performance. Headliners begin at 7:30 p.m.

At next week's show on Aug. 20, the concert will be headlined by the Dana Fuchs Band

For the complete lineup of upcoming CityBlock performances, visit the Springfield Business Improvement District's website here.

Touch of Garlic owners Joe and Kara Rescia said they have serious prospective buyers for the restaurant.

SPRINGFIELD - When chef Joe Rescia combed through family recipes 22 years ago, putting together a menu for his soon-to-open restaurant, he noticed that all the dishes called for garlic.

So it was fitting that "A Touch of Garlic" became the name of the restaurant he and wife Kara Rescia have run for since 1993. It's a restaurant where photos of their parents, grandparents and their 14-year-old twins grace the walls. A Touch of Garlic also feeds the homeless and local families in need each Thanksgiving.

Now, the Rescias are giving it up, although they have high hopes a new owner will keep the family feel and flavors at A Touch of Garlic. Longtime chef Brandon "Jerry" Webb, who started off as a busboy 15 years ago, will stay on with new ownership. So will Sara Biscaldi, the bartender and front-of-the-house manager.

Last week, the Rescia's announced that A Touch of Garlic was for sale and that they have plans to close it end of August. Joe Rescia took a job with restaurant equipment supplier Kittridge Equipment Co., which is headquartered in Agawam.

"It was just a really hard family decision," Kara Rescia said. "But one we had to make."

She's an attorney who was still working at the restaurant seating customers and performing other duties while her husband was there full time. The twins, Jake and Savannah, are entering high school this year.

"He's never seen any of their games," Kara said of her husband. "The kids will leave for college in four years."

Joe Rescia bakes all the bread. All the deserts are made on there, except that Joe Rescia's mother bakes the cheesecake.

When Joe and Kara met, he was working for his brother-in-law managing a restaurant, Mattie's Cafe, on Boston Road. She was a bartender, working her way through law school.

Joe Rescia wanted to open his own restaurant. Kara said she found the location on White Street a few blocks from Forest Park's famous X intersection. Theirs was the first higher-end Italian place in the neighborhood, which is now populated by Typical Sicilian and other dining destinations.

The space, originally about half the size, was a pizza parlor that had also once been a hardware store.

They got engaged after opening in 1994, and closed the place with a "Just Married" sign on the door for their honeymoon.

Over the years, customers kept asking about the kids, so Kara kept posting photos. Some dishes are named for family: Kara Misu for dessert, Veal Giuseppe, Italian for Joseph.

There have been changes over the years. At first, they opened on a shoestring budget with cups and plates scavenged from tag sales. They was bring-your-own-bottle wine service at first but they've grown to offer a full-service bar.

There are longtime regulars who still mourn the table they replaced with a doorway when they expanded into the former antique store next door 14 years ago.

"A lot of people call it the new side. Well, its not that new," she said.

Kara Rescia said there are at least two serious prospects on the table regarding a purchase of the restaurant. They are currently in negotiations.

A Touch of Garlic is open from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The business is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The restaurant is scheduled to remain open for the month of August, and reservations can be made by calling 413-739-0236 or by sending an email to owner@atouchofgarlicrestaurant.com.

The earliest a construction contract will be awarded is December.

WILBRAHAM - The Police Station Building Committee has laid out an ambitious schedule for construction of the town's new police station.

Voters in Wilbraham approved a debt exclusion ballot question to fund the new police station at the annual town election last May.

Roger Fontaine, chairman of the building committee, sad the goal is to have bid documents approved by Oct. 19.

The approval of bid documents would be followed by an eight-week bidding process.

The earliest a construction contract would be awarded would be the beginning of December.

Construction is estimated to take 12 months, Fontaine said.

February, 2017, is targeted as a move-in date, Fontaine said.

Fontaine said the construction schedule is ambitious and is partly predicated on there being little snow in the beginning of the winter.

Voters last May approved a debt exclusion of $4.2 million to fund the cost of the estimated $8 million police station. The rest of the cost will be paid out of available funds and bonding capability within the Proposition 2 1/2 levy limit.

A vacant house on the site of the new station which was purchased by the town has been taken down, Assistant Town Administrator Thomas Sullivan said.

Building Inspector Lance Trevallion said the Conservation Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Aug. 24 at 7:40 p.m. to determine whether the construction will impact a wetland. If the determination is yes, an order of conditions would have to be approved related to the construction.

Trevallion said no formal site plan review will be required by the Planning Board, but an informal presentation will be made to the Planning Board.

The architect for the project is Jeff McElravy of Tecton Architects of Hartford, Connecticut.

After a public comment in which no one spoke against (or for) the change, the council gave its approval to the reconfiguration.

NORTHAMPTON - Mayor David J. Narkewicz wanted the city's Treasurer and Collector's departments combined, and Thursday night, the City Council granted his wish.

After a public comment period in which no one spoke against or for the change, the council gave its approval to the reconfiguration. The mayor appointed Kristine Bissell to fill that new merged post, but her nomination was referred to the Committee on Rules, Orders, Appointments and Ordinance, as were the appointments of Police Chief Jody Kasper and Fire Chief Duane Nichols.

Though a formality in most cases, Narkewicz will have to wait for the system to work on this one.

As he has done several times in the past, Narkewicz explained his rational for combining the departments to the council, saying it will streamline operations.

Studies show that most communities of Northampton's size have combined the two operations with success. The state Department of Revenue has approved Northampton's plan.

Instead of having two bank accounts, Narkewicz said, there will now be one for both operations. The merger, the mayor said, will result in the loss of one full-time job.

The city will regrade Bissell's position, assuming her appointment is approved, possibly raising her salary.

Overall, Narkewicz said, the merger will result in more efficiency for the public in processing parking tickets and in other tasks performed by the departments.

The New England Patriots gave some much-earned respect to the real-life versions of their namesake Thursday night, taking time to honor fallen veterans prior to Thursday night's preseason opener vs. the Green Bay Packers.

Fallen Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan was honored at Gillette Stadium Thursday night prior to the New England Patriots' preseason opener vs. the Green Bay Packers.

Sullivan, a Springfield native who was killed by a gunman in Chatanooga, Tenn., last month, was one of two servicemen who were given a tribute at the game.

The Patriots also invited members of the Sullivan family to go on the field.

Photos of the tribute were posted to the GySgt Thomas Sullivan Memorial Facebook page:

Sullivan's death last month shook the nation when a gunman at a Marine recruitment center took the lives of him and four other Marines, leading to an outpour of support and morning from the Springfield community. Hundreds lined the funeral procession route on July 27 when Sullivan's remains were brought back home to be put to rest.

Also among the servicemen honored was Army Special Forces 1st Sgt. Peter Andrew McKenna Jr. of Bristol R.I. McKenna was killed in action last Friday in Kabul, Afghanistan during what his obituary called "a complex attack on a coalition facility."

It was another cool, comfortable start to the day and this afternoon is looking like another beauty! It will be just a touch more humid and a bit warmer as high pressure slips off shore and our flow turns around out of the south. Temperatures will reach into the middle 80's with dew points near 60. There could be a stray shower...

It was another cool, comfortable start to the day and this afternoon is looking like another beauty! It will be just a touch more humid and a bit warmer as high pressure slips off shore and our flow turns around out of the south. Temperatures will reach into the middle 80's with dew points near 60. There could be a stray shower as we head into the evening.

The weekend is looking like a typical August weekend with mid to upper 80s, moderate levels of humidity and a few afternoon and evening showers and storms on Saturday. A dying cold front will move through tomorrow afternoon, kicking off the storms but it will also bring slightly less humid conditions for Sunday, although it will still be very warm with highs near 90.

Have a great weekend!

Dan Brown

A three-way race for mayor is the only competition in the Holyoke preliminary election.

HOLYOKE -- The state secretary of state's office will permit the city to hold a preliminary election as scheduled Sept. 22 after being assured religious leaders here were consulted to avoid conflict with a Jewish holiday, the city clerk said Thursday (Aug. 13).

The only race on the Sept. 22 ballot is a competition for mayor between Mayor Alex B. Morse, business owner Fran O'Connell and City Councilor Anthony Soto. The top two finishers will face off on Election Day Nov. 3.

City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee said she spoke with Rabbi Saul Perlmutter of Congregation Sons of Zion, 378 Maple St., and they agreed it was acceptable for the city to hold the election on Sept. 22, Murphy McGee and Perlmutter have said.

"The secretary of state's office has reviewed the information I had sent them and because of my conversations with Rabbi Perlmutter they cannot find a reason to think voters' rights are being impaired and said no date change is necessary," Murphy McGee said.

"Absentee applications have been sent to both synagogues in the city of Holyoke," to allow for voting ahead of the election date, she said.

Michelle K. Tassinari, elections division director in the office of state Secretary of State William F. Galvin, had sent Murphy McGee an email July 29 expressing concern that the city's preliminary election might impair the rights of Jewish voters. Tassinari requested details about the city's decision-making process and contacts on the situation with local religious leaders.

In an email to Murphy McGee Thursday, Tassinari said, "Thank you for the thorough and detailed information regarding the steps taken when considering the date of the preliminary election in the city of Holyoke. As the religious leaders in your area have opined that having the preliminary election on Sept. 22 would not impair the rights of Jewish voters to participate, this office cannot find that voters will be impaired and therefore no date change is necessary."

Yom Kippur, considered the most important Jewish holiday, begins at sunset on Sept. 22 and ends after nightfall of the next day. The "Day of Atonement," to demonstrate repentance, is a "complete sabbath" with no work, a complete fasting of food and even water and restrictions on washing and bathing, using cosmetics and having sex.

With polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 22, Jewish voters would have the morning and afternoon to vote. Murphy McGee also has arranged for absentee ballots to be available at Congregation Sons of Zion and Congregation Rodphey Sholom, 1800 Northampton St., as a way for Jewish voters to cast ballots ahead of time.

Murphy McGee didn't speak with a representative of Congregation Rodphey Sholom, 1800 Northampton St., but she said Perlmutter spoke with others in the Jewish community.

Perlmutter told The Republican and MassLive.com holding the preliminary election on Sept. 22 isn't ideal. But it is doable, given the scheduling problems related to dates of other Jewish holidays in September and the ability of Jewish people to vote before sunset on Sept. 22 or by absentee ballot, he said.

Other possible dates for the preliminary election also fall on Jewish holidays. Rosh Hashanah, commonly known as the Jewish New Year, is on Sept. 15 while Sept. 29 is within the Sukkot holiday, which begins Sept. 27 at sundown and ends Oct. 4. Sukkot commemorates the 40-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert.

Misael Martinez-Perez, 25, and Julio Bonilla, 19, were charged with cocaine trafficking and drug conspiracy after retrieving the drugs at the post office on Friday afternoon, Holyoke Police Lt. Jim Albert said.

HOLYOKE — Two city men were arrested Friday after allegedly retrieving 2 kilos of cocaine delivered to the post office on Dwight Street.

Misael Martinez-Perez, 25, and Julio Bonilla, 19, were arrested around 1:40 p.m. and charged with cocaine trafficking and drug conspiracy, according to Holyoke Police Lt. Jim Albert.

Both were being held at Holyoke police headquarters on $100,000 bail pending arraignment Monday in District Court.

Members of the Holyoke Police Narcotics Vice Unit were assisted by Massachusetts State Police, the FBI's Western Mass Gang Task Force, and the ATF Task Force.

Misael Martinez-Perez 

Julio Bonilla