HOLLISTON – Police and the owners of the Pik A Pup kennel in Holliston continue to look for three puppies stolen Friday after someone broke into the building.

HOLLISTON - Police and the owners of the Pik A Pup kennel in Holliston continue to look for three puppies stolen Friday after someone broke into the building.

The owner of the kennel posted on Facebook that the alarm went off Friday night. He asked people to keep an eye on social media and online sales websites to see if anyone was trying to sell the puppies.

The three puppies stolen from a Holliston kennel. Pik A Pup | Facebook 

Barry Curton, the owner of the kennel, told Fox25 News that the alarm went off around 9:30 p.m. but police didn't notice anything damaged or missing when they responded to the Concord Street kennel.

An employee who went to the kennel Saturday morning discovered the three 10-week-old puppies had been stolen, the television station reported. Two boxers and one yellow lab were stolen. They are valued at about $1,300 each, the owner told Fox25 News.

All three puppies have microchips but do not have GPS in them.

Anyone with information is asked to call Holliston Police at (508) 429-1212.

Police in North Reading said samples of children's cough medicine were left out for trick-or-treaters Saturday night.

NORTH READING - Police in North Reading said samples of children's cough medicine were left out for trick-or-treaters Saturday night.

"We took a report that a residence in the area of Olde Farm Lane had left out children's cough syrup samples for kids who were trick or treating," police said in a Facebook post.

Police took the box and are asking people to check to make sure their children did not end up with any of the cough syrup samples. The brand of cough syrup was identified as Hyland's 4 Kids Cold 'n Mucus.

Anyone with questions can call police at (978)-664-3131.

Police in Auburn are also investigating an incident involving trick-or-treating. Authorities said a girl found a piece of metal with her candy.

Springfield police continue to investigate the shooting that left an 18-year-old man dead on Scott Street. They say the shooting might have taken place nearby on Gordon Street, where shell casings were found.

This updates a story published at 4:57 a.m. Sunday.

SPRINGFIELD — Police are continuing to investigate a Sunday morning shooting in the city's Forest Park neighborhood that has left an 18-year-old man dead.

Police said the man was found near 57 Scott St. around 1:21 a.m. Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Springfield Police Department spokesman Sgt. John Delaney said officers are looking at a secondary scene on Gordon Street where they believe the actual shooting might have taken place.

"Shell casings were found at that location," he said.

Delaney said police believe the shooting occurred after a disturbance involving several vehicles.

"Initial accounts indicate that a large group of individuals were jumping on and otherwise vandalizing cars while confronting passing motorists as they were attempting to drive by," Delaney said. " One of these confrontations escalated into the fatal shooting by occupants of the vandalized car."

The fatality marks the city's 15th homicide for this calendar year.

The Medical Examiner's Office was notified of the homicide and it will take custody of the remains. An autopsy will be conducted. Police are still not releasing the name of the victim.

No further information was available late Sunday morning.

The map below shows the approximate location of 57 Scott St., where the victim's body was found. Gordon Street, where shell casing were found, is the street immediately parallel to Scott Street to the northwest:

In St. Petersburg, hundreds of mourners brought flowers, pictures of the victims, stuffed animals and paper planes to the city's airport.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) -- The Russian jetliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from an Egyptian resort city broke up at high altitude, scattering fragments of wreckage over a wide area in the Sinai Peninsula, Russia's top aviation official said Sunday as search teams raced to recover the bodies of the 224 people who died.

Meanwhile in Russia, an outpouring of grief gripped the historic city of St. Petersburg, home of many of the victims. President Vladimir Putin declared a nationwide day of mourning, and flags flew at half-staff.

Aviation experts joined the searchers in a remote part of the Sinai, seeking any clues to what caused the Metrojet Airbus A321-200 to plummet abruptly from 31,000 feet just 23 minutes after it departed from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh bound for St. Petersburg.

Aviation experts and the search teams were combing an area of 16 square kilometers (more than 6 square miles) to find bodies and pieces of the jet.

By midday, 163 bodies had been recovered, according to the Egyptian government. Some of the dead were expected to be flown to Russia later Sunday.

In St. Petersburg, hundreds of mourners brought flowers, pictures of the victims, stuffed animals and paper planes to the city's airport. Others went to churches and lit candles in memory of the dead.

Elena Vikhareva had no relatives aboard the flight, but she went with her son to lay flowers, saying that pain was "piercing" her heart.

Vladimir Povarov and a friend did the same, explaining that they couldn't "remain indifferent."

The large area over which fragments were found indicates that the jet disintegrated while flying high, said Alexander Neradko, head of Russia's federal aviation agency. He would not comment on any possible reason for the crash, citing the ongoing investigation.

Neradko was in Egypt to inspect the crash site along with Russia's ministers of emergencies and transport.

Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov thanked Egyptian authorities for their help and said work on analyzing the data and cockpit voice recorders had not yet begun.

An Egyptian ground service official who carried out a preflight inspection of the plane said the aircraft appeared to be in good shape. Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, he said he was a member of a technical inspection team that included two Russians.

"We are all shocked. It was a good plane. Everything checked out in 35 minutes," the official told The Associated Press on Sunday. The closest the plane came to being in trouble, he said, was three months ago when the pilot aborted takeoff halfway through because of a system error. "That's almost routine though," he said.

However, a Russian TV channel late Saturday quoted the wife of the co-pilot as saying her husband had complained about the plane's condition. Natalya Trukhacheva, identified as the wife of Sergei Trukhachev, said a daughter "called him up before he flew out. He complained before the flight that the technical condition of the aircraft left much to be desired."

An Egyptian official had previously said that before the plane lost contact with air traffic controllers, the pilot radioed that the aircraft was experiencing technical problems and that he intended to try to land at the nearest airport.

Alexander Fridlyand, an expert who leads a Moscow-based aviation research center, said in televised remarks that a quick plunge from high altitude may indicate that a plane was hit by a bomb explosion in its luggage compartment.

Another possibility is a malfunction of the plane's power system, which could have triggered a fire or the shutdown of both engines, he added.

Alexander Smirnov, Metrojet's deputy director, said an engine failure would not have caused the plane to crash.

"An engine failure doesn't lead to catastrophe," he said on television. Smirnov described the A321 as a reliable aircraft that would not fall into a spin even if the pilots made a grave error because automatic systems correct crew mistakes.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi cautioned that the cause of the crash may not be known for months.

"It's very important that this issue is left alone and its causes are not speculated on," he told a gathering of top government officials, members of the military and security forces. The investigation "will take a long time" and "needs very advanced technologies."

A local affiliate of the extremist Islamic State group claimed it "brought down" the aircraft, which crashed in the same general area of northern Sinai where the Egyptian military and security forces have battled militants for years.

The claim, in a statement posted on social media, provided no supporting evidence. The militants are not known to be capable of downing an aircraft at cruising altitude, although there have been persistent media reports that they have acquired Russian shoulder-fired, anti-aircraft missiles that are effective against low-flying warplanes or helicopters.

Lufthansa, Air France, Dubai-based Emirates and Qatar Airways said they would suspend flights over the Sinai until the reason for the crash is known. British Airways, EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic said they were operating as usual in the region and would not comment on flight paths.

Germany's transport ministry warned the country's airlines on Sunday not to follow the same route taken by the Russian plane before it crashed.

A ministry spokesman, who did not give his name in keeping with department policy, said an existing flight warning for northern Sinai because of the Islamic insurgency would be kept in place.

Russia's air-safety regulator on Sunday ordered Moscow-based Metrojet to temporarily suspend flights. Russia's transport safety watchdog, known as Rostransnadzor, said Metrojet needed to thoroughly analyze the situation and weigh all risks before authorities decide on Monday whether to lift the suspension.

Despite the order, Metrojet continued operating its six remaining A321s, saying the regulator order meant that planes would be checked one by one and continue flying if they passed inspections.

Police are warning all parents to examine their children's candy before they eat it.

CHICOPEE - A family reported finding a pin or needle stuck in a chocolate bar given out to a child trick-or-treating on Saturday night.

The candy was given out some place in the Granby Road or East Street area where the family went trick-or-treating, Michael Wilk, public information officer for the Chicopee Police Department.

"Please check all candy before letting children eat it," Wilk said.

The family has filed a police report and the incident is being investigated, he said.

Anyone who has found foreign items in children's candy are asking to contact police at 594-1730.

A different incident in Auburn, where an 11-year-old girl told her parents she found a piece metal tucked into the wrapper of a piece of her Halloween candy, turned out to be a hoax.

The stabbing was one of a number of crimes that happened during a busy Halloween night.

SPRINGFIELD - Police are investigating an early Sunday morning stabbing that left one man seriously injured.

The stabbing happened at about 1:43 a.m. in the area of 311 Bridge St., Springfield Police Lt. Robert Strempek said.

When police arrived they found the man lying in the street bleeding heavily from his wounds. He was brought to Baystate Medical Center by ambulance, he said.

The victim underwent surgery and was initially listed in critical condition by hospital officials. Police have not received an update of his condition.

The stabbing is believed to be drug related, Strempek said.

Anyone who witnessed the crime or has any information about it is asked to contact the Springfield Detective Bureau at 413-787-6355 or text an anonymous tip to 'CRIMES' (274637) and in the message type 'solve' and then type in the information. People are asked to be as specific as possible.

The stabbing happened during a crime-filled Halloween night and Sunday morning. Around 1:20 a.m., Sunday an 18-year-old man was shot to death on Scott Street in Springfield and about two hours later, at 3:40 a.m., Sunday, a woman was shot in the arm on Washburn Street.

Holyoke Police are also investigating the Saturday evening shooting that left one man in critical condition. In Greenfield, An 18-year-old Springfield man was also shot in the leg on Halloween, shortly before midnight in the area of Main and Chapman Street.

Former City Hall communications director Thomas Walsh, who abruptly resigned in 2012, supports his former boss's opponent, Salvatore "Sal" Circosta

SPRINGFIELD - Thomas Walsh, who served as communications director for Mayor Domenic J. Sarno before resigning in 2012, announced Friday that he is endorsing Sarno's opponent, Salvatore "Sal' Circosta, in the mayor's race.

Tom Walsh

In a letter to Circosta, Walsh said, "I offer this support to you and your campaign as a lifelong Springfield resident, a Springfield business owner, graduate of Springfield Public Schools and volunteer member on my neighborhood civic association board because I am concerned about our City's future and direction."

"Your positions on education, fighting crime, economic development and quality of life issues compel me to support your candidacy for Mayor," Walsh added.

Walsh was employed in the mayor's office for five years, initially as Sarno's constituent services director, and subsequently as his communications director "until my abrupt and immediate resignation from his office in December 2012," Walsh wrote in the endorsement letter. Walsh gave no reason for his resignation but subsequently returned to practice law.

In his endorsement, Walsh said he hopes Circosta will "restore honesty, integrity and accountability to the executive branch of government at Springfield City Hall."

Walsh also criticized Sarno's decision to not participate in any debates this election season. Additionally, Walsh said he shared Circosta's concerns about campaign contributions to Sarno from people associated with the MGM Springfield casino project.

In his endorsement letter, Walsh referred to a March 2013 article which appeared in The Republican and online questioning the influence of consultant Charles Kingston on Sarno's administration. The story included email and telephone records from Walsh, obtained in a public records request.

"It is extremely troubling that outside influences are permitted to control very serious decisions made at Springfield City Hall," Walsh wrote in his letter to Circosta, which echoed the sentiment expressed through his comments in the 2013 article about Kingston.

Sarno, at the time, said that he did receive counsel from Kingston but that he made all decisions.

I'm the mayor. I make the decisions," Sarno said in a 2013 interview. "I only ask him for the pros and cons."

At that time, Sarno dismissed Walsh as a disgruntled ex-employee trying to tarnish the reputation of his former boss. Walsh denied the characterization, adding "I am not a disgruntled ex-employee. I truly loved the public service aspect of my job."

The Springfield election is this coming Tuesday.

The flag raising kicks off Puerto Rican Heritage Month. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — It's been 26 years since the first time the Puerto Rican flag was raised in Springfield. Back then the population of Latinos in the city was large and growing.

"It was 1989 and we went to Boston to request that Nov. 19 be declared Puerto Rican Day," said Gumersindo Gomez, executive director of the Bilingual Outreach Center. "In 1992 the mayor at that time declared the entire month Puerto Rican Heritage Month and that is what we are celebrating today."

Unlike previous years when turnout is light for the event, a larger than average crowd gathered for the annual flag raising. Politicians, both incumbents and newcomers, could be seen in the audience just one day before city elections are to take place.

"I hope we can continue to attract a large crowd every year," Gomez said. "However this is not about politics or politicians. This is an opportunity to recognize the wonderful contributions Puerto Ricans have made to this city."

Gomez said this year's celebration included the theme of unity and highlighting the city's youth.

Puerto Rican state Reps. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield and Jose Tosado, D-Springfield, both spoke at the event.

"I came here in 1954, one of the first Puerto Rican families back then when there were not too many Latinos in the area," he said. "Today we have representatives in every form of government in this city from School Committee to City Council, members to state representatives... and some day there will be a Puerto Rican in the mayor's office."

Gonzalez, who founded the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce, said the Puerto Rican community has contributed to Springfield's economy.

"There are an estimated 50,000 Puerto Ricans living in the city of Springfield and that is a large number," he said. " This day is to celebrate and recognize Puerto Rican culture, language, food and music, but also the economic climate, the economic engine and the economic opportunities and solutions that reside in the Puerto Rican community. We have been contributing to this state for many years."

Mayor Domenic Sarno read a proclamation and thanked the Puerto Rican community for adding its contributions to the fabric of the city including business ventures, home ownership and military service.

"The city takes great pride in flying the Puerto Rican flag to celebrate the culture, history and achievements of the Puerto Rican community," he said. "Puerto Ricans have long made the ultimate sacrifice and have served their nation and homeland in World War I , World War II, Korea, Vietnam and all major conflicts."

Gomez said Puerto Ricans have also fought in the Revolutionary War and on both sides of the Civil War.

We have been here for a long time and we aren't going anywhere, Gomez told the crowd.

The TSA officers found the 9 mm Glock in the man's carry-on while it was being screened at the checkpoint,

WINDSOR LOCKS -- Police arrested a 35-year-old man at Bradley International Airport Saturday morning after TSA officers discovered a handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition in his carry-on luggage.

The TSA officers found the 9 mm Glock in the carry-on while it was being screened at the checkpoint, according to a release issued by the TSA.

Local law enforcement officers responded and arrested the man.

TSA reminds passengers that they are responsible for the contents of bags brought to the airport checkpoint.

TSA screens approximately 1.8 million passengers and their luggage every day for prohibited items, including weapons and explosives.

Such confiscations are not unusual. Last week, a record number of 68 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags around the nation, according to The TSA Blog.

Of the 68 firearms discovered, 61 were loaded and 25 had a round chambered, according to the blog.

One-day bake sale benefits Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover Foundation.

LONGMEADOW - A recent bake sale here was sweet news to the Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover Foundation.

The sale was organized by the boys and girls cross country track teams of Longmeadow High School. It raised $2,000 for the foundation established in memory of a Springfield sixth grader who hanged himself, in 2009, after repeated school bullying

"I'm really proud of how our kids have stepped up for the Carl Walker-Hoover Foundation," said LHS teacher and coach James Flaherty.

"This is the third year in a row we've raised $2,000 from a one-day bake sale. Our booster club parents, our school, and the people in our town have been very supportive."

Foundation CEO Gwynnetta J. Sneed called LHS' cross country track teams and the Longmeadow community "one of our biggest supporters," and acknowledged the students participation in what until this year was the foundation's annual Anti-Bullying 5K Race/2K Walk.

"Each year they raise funds from bake sales and donations. This year's donation of $2,000 takes us one step closer to reaching our goal of raising $25,000 to establish a scholarship in Carl's name which will be administered by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts," Sneed said.

"Longmeadow High School strives to combat bullying through their participation in our previous 5k and 2k events to show their support for our message to Be A Buddy Not A Bully."

The Walker-Hoover foundation was established in 2010, with the blessing of Walker-Hoover's mother, Sirdeaner Walker, by Sneed, a former Springfield resident, to honor the 11 year old through the awarding of scholarships in his memory.

The scholarships have been funded through the fall walk/runs in Springfield's Forest Park, and a spring gala at which the scholarships were presented. Scholarship applicants, who have come from around the country, were reviewed by Sneed's board members and judged on the basis of academic merit and a personal essay.

A former business manager for a Verizon corporate training program at Springfield Technical Community College, Sneed now lives in Texas and would like to have the scholarships awarded through the Community Foundation which administers scholarship endowments for other such foundations.

Sneed added that the LHS donation, combined with other summer fund-raisers at Six Flags New England and Painting With a Twist in East Longmeadow, raised a total of $5,000.

"Special thanks to the Western Massachusetts and surrounding communities for supporting our efforts to combat bullying and helping to educate more than 70 students across the country over the last five years," said Sneed of scholarships, ranging from $500 to $1,500, awarded through the foundation to date.

The car hit a utility pole on Maynard Road in Wilbraham and caused significant damage to front end of Dodge pick-up driven by Jesse Silva Paulo, police said.

WILBRAHAM - Police charged a Ludlow man with operating under the influence of liquor, 2nd offense, and negligent operation following a motor vehicle accident on Maynard Road.

Jesse Silva Paulo, 35, of Ludlow was arrested for OUI liquor, 2nd offense, and negligent operation.

Patrolman Sean Casella was dispatched to Maynard Road for an apparent disabled motor vehicle Oct. 25 at 2:40 a.m.

Upon arriving, Casella observed a significant amount of front end damage to a black Dodge pick-up.

Police said the driver of the car admitted to operating and striking a pole with his vehicle.

After further investigation, Paulo was arrested for OUI liquor, 2nd offense, and negligent operation, police said.

It was a nice pleasant November day out there. Temps reached into the 60s! A dry and unseasonably mild stretch is setting up and will dominate our weather for most of the week. Temperatures will average about 10-15 degrees above normal this week with highs in the mid to upper 60s, perhaps even touching 70 in a few spots. Not bad at all!   High...

It was a nice pleasant November day out there. Temps reached into the 60s! A dry and unseasonably mild stretch is setting up and will dominate our weather for most of the week. Temperatures will average about 10-15 degrees above normal this week with highs in the mid to upper 60s, perhaps even touching 70 in a few spots. Not bad at all!

High pressure will build off shore while the jet stream lifts north into eastern Canada. This set up will bring unseasonably mild conditions. We'll see quite a bit of sunshine most of the week too. The next chance of rain will come on Friday with a few showers. A cold front combined with some Atlantic moisture may give us a few showers. Behind the front it turns cooler for the weekend.

Have a great afternoon!

The budget bill puts $120 million into the state's rainy day fund, a reserve fund in case of emergencies, and uses $113 to pay down debt early. More than $200 million of the $328 million in new spending will go to MassHealth.

BOSTON - Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday signed into law a $326.3 million budget bill to close out the 2015 fiscal year.

"I am proud to sign an end of year supplemental budget that makes investments to combat opioid abuse and support the mission of (the Department of Children and Families), while also depositing money into the Stabilization Fund to bolster our commitment to fiscal responsibility," Baker said in a statement.

The budget bill puts $120 million into the state's rainy day fund, a reserve fund for emergencies, and uses $113 million to pay down debt early. More than $200 million of the $326 million in new spending will go to MassHealth to cover caseload growth, caused in large part by the state's decision to give people temporary Medicaid coverage when the state's Health Connector website failed.

The bill also includes $28 million that Baker requested for substance abuse treatment services. It has $2.2 million for the troubled Department of Children and Families to help with staffing and training needs and another $1 million to train adoptive and foster parents. Other money will go to snow and ice removal, the public defenders' office, district attorneys, tuition reimbursement for National Guardsmen, sheriffs and other accounts that ran out of money last year.

The bill included a $6 million appropriation for Boston Children's Hospital, although lawmakers were unable to agree on additional money that had been requested by Baystate Health and by a group of hospitals that serve large numbers of Medicaid patients.

Baker vetoed a section that would have raised Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-profit home health agencies.

"We believe we should treat everybody in that class the same way with respect to payment and not distinguish between and among players in that space," Baker told reporters.

Baker returned to the Legislature for amendment a few minor provisions related to claims for underground storage tanks and dates that various reports would be due.

The budget did not include $10.9 million for the University of Massachusetts to retroactively cover 3.5 percent pay raises for faculty and staff, which were negotiated under former governor Deval Patrick's administration. That money had been included in the House's version of the bill but not the Senate's. University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan said the university already paid its staff those raises, and it will have to make budget cuts if the Legislature does not reimburse the university.

Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, said he has been having conversations with Meehan about the money. "I'm hoping we can find a path forward," Rosenberg said.

Minutes before she was supposed to walk down the aisle on the most important day of her life, a bride's worst nightmare came to life: Her photographer was a no-show.

Newlyweds Heather and Matt Koehler react to a surprise wedding re-enactment photo shoot setup by Bay City photographer Dana Gruszynski after learning that the photographer who the couple hired for their September wedding never showed up for the ceremony.Courtesy Dana G Photography 

BAY CITY, MI -- Minutes before she was supposed to walk down the aisle, a bride's worst nightmare came true: Her photographer was a no-show.

Heather Koehler, 27, of Auburn, Michigan, married the love of her life, Matt Koehler, on Sept. 12. As she got ready on the day of her dream wedding, she didn't have a worry in the world. She had met with her photographer two weeks prior, and they had gone over everything, down to specific photos and poses she wanted.

"It never crossed my mind that she wouldn't show up," Koehler said. "Photos are easily the one thing that is most important for the day. I even told my bridesmaid over dinner that the pictures are probably the most important thing for me.

"It was devastating, but in five minutes, I was going to be walking down the aisle. I didn't have time to be upset."

But, as with most fairy tales, Koehler's story has a happy ending.

Bay City photographer Dana Gruszynski, who runs Dana G Photography, learned of Koehler's story through social media and immediately knew she wanted to do something special for the newlyweds, despite not knowing them.

"I'm not married, but I've done my fair share of weddings -- I love weddings and am a hopeless romantic," Gruszynski said. "I can't imagine not having a professional photographer there to capture the most important day of a bride's life."

She contacted Koehler and arranged a coffee date to pitch her on the idea of doing a "stylized bridal shoot," a more intimate session following the wedding where a bride and her groom can have more one-on-one time without feeling the rush of the wedding day. Because she felt terrible about what happened to Koehler, Gruszynski said she would do the shoot free of charge.

What she didn't tell Koehler was that she was secretly planning to re-enact her wedding day.

Newlyweds Heather and Matt Koehler were surprised with a wedding re-enactment photo shoot on Oct. 25 after the photographer they hired for their September wedding ended up being a no-show. Bay City photographer Dana Gruszynski arranged the session.Courtesy Dana G Photography 

The photographer scoured Facebook, looking at cellphone photos from Koehler's big day, and used those photos as research for the surprise shoot.

Koehler told Gruszynski she wanted to do the shoot in Frankenmuth.

"She told me she had a pretty backyard for the shoot and invited us to at least do a few photos in Bay City first," Koehler said. "I didn't even know this girl, so it was a little weird, but we did it anyways."

Gruszynski reached out to Koehler's sister, who helped track down bridesmaids, groomsmen and family members. Using photos she found online of the floral arrangements, she contacted Bay City florist Country Garden Flowers, which created near replicas of the bride's bouquet, also free of charge.

Newlyweds Heather and Matt Koehler were surprised with a wedding re-enactment photo shoot on Oct. 25 after the photographer they hired for their September wedding ended up being a no-show. Bay City photographer Dana Gruszynski arranged the session. Shown is the wedding cake that was recreated for the shoot.Courtesy Dana G Photography 

The only thing left was the cake. Gruszynski's boyfriend's sister, Nicole Fike, of Midland, is a talented baker and recreated the cake for the shoot.

"It looked incredible," Gruszynski said. "You couldn't even tell it was a different cake."

Everything was going smoothly for the big shoot that was originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, until Mother Nature decided not to cooperate. It rained for the better part of the day, and Gruszynski was forced to push the wedding back a day. Sunday turned out to be a picture-perfect fall day. More family and friends were able to show up on Sunday as well, she said.

"I think the man upstairs made it rain on Saturday so we could have the perfect day on Sunday," she said.

Without Koehler and her husband knowing, Gruszynski had family and friends park around the corner from the location of the shoot 20 minutes before it was scheduled. When the newlyweds arrived, Gruszynski presented the bride with the bouquet.

Then the tears started flowing.

"The moment they hit the corner and saw their family and friends, she lost it," Gruszynski said. "Even Matt was tearing up. You knew it was going to be a special day."

Newlyweds Heather and Matt Koehler were surprised with a wedding re-enactment photo shoot on Oct. 25 after the photographer they hired for their September wedding ended up being a no-show. Bay City photographer Dana Gruszynski, shown in this photo, arranged the session. (Courtesy Dana G Photography)Courtesy Dana G Photography 

The groomsmen and bridesmaids were wearing jeans and blue shirts. A barn, accented by the colors of autumn, made for memorable photos.

"She's amazing," Koehler said, referring to her surprise photographer. "I still can't believe she went through all of this trouble for me. It's a huge blessing and something I'll remember forever."

The newlyweds saw the photos for the first time last week.

"There are definitely going to be prints all over our house," Koehler said.

Five area organizations that serve the needs of women and girls in various ways have joined to create a website to promote donations to their efforts on Dec. 1 or what is deemed "Giving Tuesday."

Five area organizations that serve the needs of women and girls in various ways have joined to create a website to promote donations to their efforts on Dec. 1, or what is deemed "Giving Tuesday."

The day is similar to Valley Gives, the 24-hour online fund-raiser hosted for three years in the region by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

The social media fund-raiser, #GivingTuesday, was created four years ago by the 92nd Street Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association, or the 92 Street Y, in New York City, to support philanthropy efforts at the start of the holiday and end-of-year giving season.

The Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, Girls Inc. of Holyoke, MotherWoman, the Easthampton-based Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts and the YWCA of Western Massachusetts have collaborated to create the site, Give to Women and Girls, or #G2WG.

Visitors to the site can scroll through an icon image for each organization where, on Dec. 1, they can click to give to each one in succession or to the ones of their choice.

"Give to one of us, some of us, or all of us," said Shannon M. Rudder, executive director of MotherWoman, in a release.

"No matter what, your support will make a difference in the lives of local women, girls, and their families."

The Hadley-based organization has pioneered in providing support groups for mothers, particularly in the area of postpartum, and advocating for family related issues.

"We believe in the strength of women and girls but truly believe magic happens when we are fearless together. Join with us as we raise our collective voices," said Mary Reardon Johnson, executive director of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, the state's largest provider of both domestic violence services and services to pregnant and parenting teens.

Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts includes some 8,500 girl members and 4,100 adults, and covers some 186 towns in five counties.

Girls Inc. of Holyoke works with girl 5 to 18 years of age.

The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts is a public foundation that invests in local women and girls through grant making and leadership development. It has awarded more than $2 million in grants to nearly 150 organizations in Western Massachusetts.

Jesse Caisse, Westfield sex offender, will have a bail hearing to see if he can be released from jail under any conditions.

SPRINGFIELD - Jesse Caisse, 44, was ordered held without right to bail Monday by Hampden Superior Court Judge Edward J. McDonough.

Caisse, of 739 Holyoke Road, Westfield, already listed as a sex offender by the state, is accused of the sexual assault of a teenage girl in Westfield on July 17. The state Sex Offender Registry Board characterizes level three sex offenders as those most likely to reoffend.

Jesse Caisse, a registered level three sex offender, has been charged in the sexual assault of a teenager girl in Westfield.Mass. Sex Offender Registry Board 

He had previously been ordered held without right to bail by Westfield District Court Judge Philip Contant after his arraignment there. The case has now moved to Hampden Superior Court where he denied charges Monday.

Caisse faces three charges of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 years old or older in the case being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Carrie M. Russell.

Alan J. Black, Caisse's lawyer, had a hearing set for Nov. 17 to argue that Caisse could safely be released awaiting trial.

In Westfield District Court Assistant District Attorney Michael Wallace argued that Caisse, who is accused of inviting a teenage girl known to the family to his
home before assaulting her, posed a danger to the community that could only be controlled by jailing him until trial.

"There are no conditions (of release) that could provide safety for the community or for children," Wallace said.

Wallace said Caisse had an eight-page record of prior convictions, including the rape of a child that led to a seven- to 10-year sentence in prison starting in 1998. He has also been convicted of firearms violations, abuse prevention order violations and multiple counts of assault and battery, Wallace said.

In June, state and Springfield police arrested Duncan after finding more than 100 images of child pornography on devices seized at his home.

SPRINGFIELD - A Springfield man has been indicted on charges of possessing child pornography and failing to provide a change of address as a sex offender.

Jeffrey Lynn Duncan, 54, was indicted last week by a Hampden County grand jury and will be arraigned at a future date, according to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's office.

Duncan allegedly has a prior conviction for possessing child pornography in Indiana, the attorney general's office said.

The new charges come four months after state and Springfield police arrested Duncan after finding more than 100 images of child pornography on devices seized at his home.

The investigation began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an e-mail account allegedly receiving child pornography, according to the attorney general's office.

During his arraignment in June, Duncan pleaded innocent in Springfield District Court to a single count of possessing child pornography.

Last week, the grand jury added a second charge of failing to provide a change of address as a sex offender.

"Those who access and view child pornography victimize the children depicted over and over again," Healy said.

"This defendant is further charged with failing to notify the Sex Offender Registry Board when he changed his address, a process that is intended to provide communities with fair notice of a registered sex offender living in the area," Healey said.

The case is being prosecuted through the office's cyber crimes division by Assistant Attorney General Patrick Sabbs.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Ward 4 voters will cast ballots in the newly renovated Dupont Middle School.

CHICOPEE - Tuesday voters will go to the polls to elect a mayor, city councilors, School Committee members and assessors and this year's slate of candidates is nearly identical to the list in 2013.

Because of that, City Clerk Keith W. Rattell is predicting the turnout will be nearly the same as well.

To predict voter turnout, City Clerk Keith W. Rattell said he usually researches a number of past elections to see how many people cast ballots and is usually pretty close. In this year's preliminary election he predicted 17 percent of the voters would turn out and 17.4 cast ballots.

"I usually look at the history of the elections but this year's election is almost the same as the last one," he said. "The candidates are mostly the same."

In 2013, 39 percent of registered voters turned out for the last municipal election. Rattell said he will boost his prediction to 40 percent because the forecast calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s and good weather will bring out a small number of additional voters.

"I always hope it will be more," he said.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be one change in polling places with Ward 4 voters returning to the old Chicopee High School, now called the 1st Sgt. Kevin Dupont Middle School. All those voters, who were moved to a different location in previous elections because of construction on the school, have been notified by postcard, he said.

Even the mayor's race is a rerun of the previous election with Michael D. Bissonnette and Richard J. Kos will face off again. The only difference is in 2013 Kos was the challenger and Bissonnette was the incumbent, this year that was switched.

Other repeats are the Ward 1 City Council race where incumbent Adam D. Lamontagne is running against Dino A. Brunetti. Lamontagne unseated Brunetti two years ago when the two vied for the seat.

In Ward 6, incumbent Timothy S. McLellan is being challenged by David Amo. This race has been repeated in 2009, 2011, 2013 and again this year.

In Ward 7 George R. Moreau will face a challenge from William R. Courchesne for the third time. In the two previous elections the races have been close.

This year's Ward 9 race is also a rematch with retired Parks and Recreation Superintendent Stanley Walczak challenging incumbent Gerry Roy.

There are some new faces for the at-large City Council race. There first-time candidates W. Kaween Fernando and Douglas P. Girouard will challenge incumbents Frank N. Laflamme, Gerard A. (Jerry) Roy, James K. Tillotson and Robert J. Zygarowski.

The Ward 5 race also has newcomer Miguel Roldan-Castro Sr. against incumbent Frederick Krampits.

The sole School Committee race will be in Ward 1 and will pit incumbent Dana C. Cutter against James E. Tanhauser Jr. Tanhauser has never run for School Committee, but unsuccessfully ran for a City Council seat two years ago.

The assessors' race also brings out first-time candidate Kenneth P. Ritchott, who worked as emergency management director and mayoral chief of staff for the city but has never run for elective officer. He is running incumbent Victor Anop and Brian Suchy, who has worked as an assessor for the past two years but is not technically considered an incumbent because he was appointed to a vacant seat rather than being elected, Rattell said.

Voters will select two candidates for assessor. The one who receives the highest vote number of votes wins a four-year term and the other candidate is elected for a two-year term, Rattell said.

The field of towns competing to host Connecticut's third casino has narrowed to East Hartford and East Windsor, which are expected to release proposals this week.

The field of towns competing to host Connecticut's third casino has narrowed to East Hartford and East Windsor, according to a report in the Hartford Courant.

Enfield, Windsor Locks and Hartford had all weighed a response to the request for proposals issued by MM4CT, the tribal business entity authorized to seek a site for a new casino by Connecticut's June gaming act. But all three are out of the running, the Courant reported, leaving East Hartford and East Windsor to bid for the new casino.

The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes, operators of the state's two federal Indian casinos, are teaming up in an attempt to beat MGM Springfield to the punch and insulate Connnecticut's gaming revenues from out-of-state competition, tribal leaders have said.

MGM Springfield is targeting a fall 2018 opening, while the tribes have released a rapid schedule for finding a casino site. Their request for proposals was released on Oct 1, the deadline for responses is Nov. 6, and the tribes hope to select a site by Dec. 15.

East Windsor First Selectman Denise Menard said her town was targeting Friday for submitting a proposal; she was busy working on it when reached by MassLive for an interview, she said.

The town will be submitting two responses: one for the site of an Interstate 91-adjacent Walmart and Big Y complex that the town is seeking to buy, and one nearby owned by a private developer. Menard said she would not name the developer competing for the bid, but that the name would be released once the responses are filed on Friday.

"We've taken a very broad brush and said here are all the parcels, all together," Menard said.

Former Springfield City Councilor Anthony Ravosa Jr., whose development group is partnering with East Hartford to pitch a former Showcase Cinemas site for the location of the casino, said he expects the town to file a proposal on Wednesday.

The expectations released by MM4CT for the project have led Ravosa and his team to expand its scope, he said. Ravosa's original proposal was expected to cost $138 million and included between 1,000 and 2,000 gaming machines, dining and drinking options, a dance club and over 1,200 parking spaces. 

But details released on the website of Pearce Real Estate, the company managing the proposals for the tribes, laid out a more ambitious plan, targeting more than 2,000 gaming positions and more than 3,000 parking spots.

"We have made adjustments to our proposed site plan as other elements have been introduced," Ravosa said. "The investment is going to be substantially more, no doubt about it."    

Eli Freund, executive secretary to East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc, said the town's response would be publicly released once it was submitted to MM4CT.

Tomorrow's elections could also introduce a wrinkle to the proceedings, with both Leclerc and Menard competing for their seats. Menard acknowledged the proposal process could become complicated if she were to lose, but said she was optimistic she would win.

"Today I'm doing the casino, tomorrow I might not be here," she said.

Connecticut's legislature will still have to authorize the construction of a new casino once a site is chosen. The June act only authorized MM4CT to seek a site, part of an effort to insulate the law from expected legal challenges.

MGM Resorts International filed such a challenge in August, suing in federal court to have the law declared discriminatory and unconstitutional. That court battle is still ongoing.

Two teenagers were arrested Monday in the "malicious vandalism" of a mosque in Burlington, police said.

A digest of news stories from around New England.

Jennifer ValianteNed Gerard / Hearst Media