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Early Thanksgiving morning fire destroys Montague apartment building; no injuries reported

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All occupants escaped the blaze, officials said.

MONTAGUE -- At least seven residents were reportedly displaced early Thanksgiving morning after a fire destroyed a Dry Hill Road apartment building

Emergency officials said the blaze at 9 Dry Hill Road was reported shortly before 3 a.m. No injuries were reported.

WWLP reported that 17 area fire departments were called in to fight the blaze at the 8-unit complex. The blaze was reportedly extinguished by about 7 a.m.

Fireground 360, a public safety website maintained by members of the area's first-responder community, reported shortly after 3 a.m. that smoke was showing on the second floor of the two-story building.



Buyer beware: Springfield drug dealer stashed 28 bags of heroin in underwear, police say

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The prosecutor requested $10,000 bail, citing Jenkins' history of convictions for assault and battery, breaking and entering, witness intimidation and other charges, as well as probation violations and court defaults.

SPRINGFIELD - The informant's tip was pretty specific. On Tuesday afternoon, a drug dealer would be arriving in the South End in a Nissan Maxima, and the drugs would be hidden in a black plastic bag in his underwear.

The tip was accurate right down to the drugs' hiding place, Assistant District Attorney Jill 0'Connor said Wednesday in Springfield District Court.

Police arrested Leon Jenkins, 33, of Springfield, Tuesday and charged him with possession of heroin with intent to distribute and a drug violation in a school zone.

Alerted by the informant, the detectives watched Jenkins drive up to the McDonald's in the South End and conduct a drug sale, according to O'Connor, who said 28 packets of heroin and $453 were found when the defendant was searched.

The prosecutor requested $10,000 bail, citing Jenkins' history of convictions for assault and battery, breaking and entering, witness intimidation and other charges, as well as probation violations and court defaults.

But Jenkins was never convicted in a drug case, and 30 of the charges on his record were dismissed, according to Daniel LeClair, an intern for the Committee for Public Counsel Services.

A Springfield native and high school graduate, Jenkins has extensive family ties to the city and poses no flight risk, said LeClair, who requested $500 bail.

Judge Paul Smyth set bail at $10,000 and scheduled a pretrial hearing for next month.

 

Boston brothers allegedly inspired by Donald Trump in hate crime against hispanic homeless man held on high bail

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The pair allegedly urinated on a homeless Hispanic man sleeping outside a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus station and beat him with a metal pole because they thought he was an "illegal immigrant," according to police. The two reportedly walked away laughing.

South Boston brothers charged with the brutal assault of a Hispanic homeless man and indicted by a grand jury on hate crimes were ordered to be held on high bail Wednesday, the Boston Globe reports.

Scott Leader, 38, and Steven Leader, 30, were arraigned on charges including a civil rights violation while causing bodily injury, assault and battery for purposes of intimidation causing bodily injury, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.

Scott Leader's bail was set at $75,000, the Globe said, while Steven Leader's was set at $50,000. They were also ordered to stay away from the victim and not use substances.

The pair allegedly urinated on a homeless Hispanic man sleeping outside a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus station and beat him with a metal pole because they thought he was an "illegal immigrant," according to police. The two reportedly walked away laughing.

The brothers were previously arrested on Aug. 19, arraigned in Dorchester Municipal Court and held without bail. A grand jury indicted both men on hate crimes earlier this month.

Scott Leader allegedly told police he was inspired by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump's comments on Mexican immigrants, and that the assault was justified because the victim was Hispanic and homeless.

"Donald Trump was right, all these illegals need to be deported," Scott Leader allegedly said, according to the Globe.

The victim was treated at Boston Medical Center for injuries to his hand and wrist, multiple rib fractures and a temporal hemorrhage, the district attorney's office told the Globe.

Hundreds of Western Massachusetts residences hit by Thanksgiving morning power outages

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Outages were reported in Springfield, West Springfield, Sunderland, Hadley, Belchertown and East Longmeadow.


SPRINGFIELD -- Hundreds of Western Massachusetts residents coped with scattered outages Thanksgiving morning as meal preparations for many of them were getting underway.

As of about 10 a.m., approximately 180 National Grid customers in Brimfield remained without power, according to the utility's online outage map. Over 100 East Longmeadow residents, most in the Rogers Road and Bayne Street area, also lost power for a time.

Eversource reported approximately 431 customers in Springfield, West Springfield, Hadley and Sunderland lost power for approximately an hour. Springfield residents in the Parker Street area were hardest hit with an outage that lasted approximately 90 minutes, Janine Saunders, spokeswoman for Eversource, said .

Saunders said most of the outages were squirrel-related. She said the bushy-tailed rodents tend to get more active on holidays like Thanksgiving because they are emboldened by the lack of traffic.

Six-vehicle accident causes traffic backup on I-90 East in Charlton

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Troopers in Charlton said the accident occurred around 10:20 a.m. at mile marker 80, a mile east of Exit 9. No one was hurt.

A six-vehicle accident on Interstate 90 eastbound in Charlton is causing a traffic backup in the Sturbridge area, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Troopers in Charlton said the accident occurred around 10:20 a.m. at mile marker 80, a mile east of Exit 9. No one was hurt.

That area of the highway has been reduced to two right lanes, state police said. The crashes happened in the left lane.

Less-severe traffic has also been reported in the eastbound lands of the turnpike from the Auburn area past Grafton.

State police weren't sure of the cause as of 10:40 a.m.

Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad investigates porch fire in Forest Park neighborhood

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The Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad continues to investigate the early Thanksgiving morning blaze. It was reported shortly before 4 a.m. at 87 Garfield St.

SPRINGFIELD --- The Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad continues to investigate a small porch fire that broke out early Thanksgiving morning in the Forest Park neighborhood.

No injuries were reported in the blaze at 87 Garfield St. It was reported shortly before 4 a.m.

Dennis Leger, aide to Commissioner Joseph Conant, said firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. Damage is estimated at under $5,000.

Grease fire eyed as cause of blaze that displaced 7 from Montague apartment building

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Seven residents and a guest escaped the blaze that broke out early Thanksgiving in a second floor apartment at 9 Dry Hill Road. A dog died in the fire, officials said.

Updates story posted at 8:20 a.m.

MONTAGUE -- A grease fire is believed to be the cause of an early Thanksgiving morning blaze that heavily damaged or destroyed a Dry Hill Road apartment building and displaced seven.

The seven residents and a guest escaped the blaze that broke out shortly before 3 a.m. in a second floor apartment at 9 Dry Hill Road. A dog died in the fire, officials said.

"A 911 caller reported a fire with grease in the kitchen," David Hansen, assistant chief of the Montague Center Fire Department said.

When firefighters arrived, the right side of the building's second floor was fully-involved in flames, said Hansen, who served as incident commander.

Some 17 area fire departments - approximately 100 firefighters and support personnel - responded to the blaze.

Because there are no hydrants immediately in the area, the Montague Center Fire Department asked responding fire departments to provide tankers to shuttle water to the blaze.

Firefighters ultimately ran approximately 3,000 feet of hose - over a half-mile - from a hydrant on Swamp Road and used engines in between to provide relay pumping. "If you have enough trucks and can relay the water it works really well," Hansen said of the set-up.

John Taylor, Shelburne Center Fire Chief and spokesman for the Northwest Massachusetts Incident Management Team, said first arriving fighters directly attacked the fire in the second floor apartment. "Apparently it extended into the attic area from the kitchen," he said. "Trying to extinguish it became problematic."

Taylor said some of the residents were alerted by smoke detectors. Several birds and at least one cat were safely taken out of the burning building.

Although initial reports indicated the building was destroyed, Hansen said while the second floor was clearly destroyed, there there is some debate over whether the first floor can be salvaged.

A trooper with the state Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of the blaze. Hansen said, however, that given the level of destruction in that part of the building, the cause might be hard to physically determine and that the 911 caller's account of the grease fire may stand as the suspected cause.

Along with the Montague Center Fire Department, responding firefighters included those from Turners Falls, Bernardston, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Northfield, Leverett, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Whately, Shelburne Center, Shelburne Falls, Conway and the state Department of Fire Services Rehabilitation Unit.

The American Red Cross ran a canteen at the scene and is aiding those displaced.

Taylor said the building is owned by Tim Washburn.


As part of Gov. Charlie Baker's 'Green Friday,' Commissioner of Agricultural Resources to visit Southwick Christmas tree farm

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Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has declared the day after Thanksgiving "Green Friday" in honor of the contributions Christmas tree growers make to the state economy.

In a symbolic nod to the contributions Christmas tree growers make to the state economy, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has declared the day after Thanksgiving "Green Friday", WCVB 5 reports.

Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux and Western Mass. officials plan to celebrate Friday by participating in the annual tree cutting ceremony at Coward Farms in Southwick, which grows Christmas trees for those looking for something fresh-cut.

"Green Friday" is also a way to encourage Massachusetts residents to buy local trees, WCVB reports.

Christmas tree season in the Baystate provides hundreds of seasonal jobs at nearly 400 farms from Cape Cod to the Berkshires, Baker said in his announcement, and the trees' sales funnel about $1.4 million into the state economy each year.


Chicopee police: Missing woman's car found in South Hadley

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Chicopee detectives, working with South Hadley police, found Janice Camerlin's car late Wednesday morning in the area of 30 Main St.

Updates story posted at 8:54 a.m.

SOUTH HADLEY - A car belonging to a missing 61-year-old Chicopee woman was found here on Main Street late Wednesday morning.

Janice Camerlin, however, is still unaccounted for, Michael Wilk, public information officer for the department said.

Camerlin has been missing since she left her Fairview area home in that car, a 2006 tan Toyota Corolla, early Tuesday.

Chicopee detectives, working with South Hadley police, discovered her car in the area of 30 Main St., Wilk said.

Wilk said a family member told police that her disappearance is out of character and that they are very concerned.

Camerlin may have been heading into West Springfield and she usually travels through South Hadley and Holyoke to get there. She is described as being about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 190 pounds, with glasses and short brown hair.

Those who see Camerlin or have information on her are asked to call police at (413) 594-1700. Police have posted information on the missing woman on the department's Facebook page.


"Give 'Em The Bird 5K" raises $10,000 for Easthampton Community Center food program

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Lindsay Smith of Amherst won overall honors with a time of 17:10. Watch video

EASTHAMPTON -- The weather was mild and the mood festive as 300 athletes lined up at Millside Park Thanksgiving morning for a 5-kilometer run to benefit the Easthampton Community Center and its food programs.

The first annual "Give 'Em The Bird" 5-kilometer run raised $10,000 from entry fees and sponsorships, said race organizers Eric Poulin, Tom Raffensperger, and Patrick Brough.

The overall winner, Lindsay Smith of Amherst, cruised to victory in 17:10, 12 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Kyle Northrop of Bellingham.

Smith, an architectural designer who runs for the Boston Athletic Association, said he felt good. "We lived in Boston for ten years, and just moved to the area in June," he said. Smith's wife Renata, who also competed, noted that she and her husband are also affiliated with the local Shutesbury Coffee Cake Running Club.

Female winner Carolyn Stocker of Westfield, 22, crossed the line with a time of 19:23. The first Easthampton finisher was 16-year-old Tyler Greenwood, in 18:57. Full chip-timed results can be found on the Cool Running website.

After the race, runners socialized with free coffee and bagels from Tandem Bagel, and some headed to the nearby Abandoned Building Brewery, which opened early and offered free pints to participants.

The Easthampton Community Center, with its anti-poverty mission, took a financial hit this year when the City Council approved a budget that contained no financial support for the agency. Budgetary support had totaled $20,000 in fiscal 2014. Mayor Karen Cadieux said she eliminated the longstanding line item because she believed it would violate the "anti-aid amendment" of the Massachusetts constitution.

Although city funding was later partially restored through a contract for summer meals, and community fund-raising also raised thousands, the center was left with a feeling of uncertainty, and the need to raise far more money privately than it has done before.

Community center director Robin Bialecki was all smiles Thursday morning as she thanked race organizers, participants, volunteers, and business sponsors. "I'm elated," she said. "We couldn't have hoped for anything more."

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

Drunken driving defendant gets new lawyer, new trial date in Agawam pedestrian injury case

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Catherine Sabol of Agawam has a May 19, 2016, trial date - charged with operating under the influence of liquor causing serious injury

SPRINGFIELD — The trial of an Agawam woman accused of drunk driving when a pedestrian was hit and seriously injured on an Agawam street in the spring of 2014 is now set for May 19.

Catherine Sabol faces a charge in Hampden Superior Court of operating under the influence of alcohol causing serious injury. She is also charged with two counts of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and one of leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

cathy-sabol.jpgCatherine Sabol 

The crash occurred April 17, 2014 at about 12:15 p.m. when then-61-year-old Paul Bachini was walking along South West Street in Agawam with his wife.

Bachini was seriously injured, police said.

At a court conference Nov. 23 to review the status of the case, Sabol's new lawyer, Stephen L. Jones, and Assistant District Attorney Robert A. Schmidt set the trial date.

A date of March 4 was set for an evidentiary hearing on a motion to suppress.

Sabol, 41 at the time of her arrest, of 668 South West St., has been out on bail awaiting trial.

Police said that Sabol, after hitting Bachini, struck several other objects along the side of the road but continued driving away from the scene. Her car was found about a half-mile down the road.


Photos: 69 year record broken as temperature reaches 65 degrees at Westover Air Reserve Base

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Last year, you may recall, there was snow on the ground on this day.

What a difference a year makes!

According to weather officials at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, the temperature hit 65.1 degrees Friday afternoon besting the 1946 high temperature of 62 degrees set 69 years ago.

Records show that the average temperature for today is normally 43 degrees in Western Massachusetts

The early fall-like weather arrived the day after Thanksgiving when many people had the day off from work.

Not everyone was out doing Black Friday shopping. Light jackets and some t-shirts were evident as many people took advantage of the weather to start setting up holiday decorations, take walks or just hang around outside.

Last year, by the way, there was snow on the ground on this date.

2015 Springfield Parade of Big Balloons a big success (photos, video)

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The Cat in the Hat was the first balloon leading the Springfield Parade of Big Balloons, followed by the American Flag, Yogi the Bear, Buddy the Dinosaur, Paddington Bear and Green and White Striped Package. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — Stepping off at Main and Lyman Streets in downtown Springfield,the 2015 Parade of Big Balloons made its way to the south end of the city, past thousands of people sitting and standing along the route on a picture perfect day.

The Cat in the Hat was the first balloon leading the parade followed by the American Flag, Yogi the Bear, Buddy the Dinosaur, Paddington Bear and Green and White Striped Package.

"It's Buddy the Dinosaur's first flight," said Judith A. Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield, organizers of the annual event. "He's a brand new balloon making his debut in our Parade of the Big Balloons."

All of the balloons in the parade are created by StarBound Entertainment in New Castle, Pennsylvania, founded by Toni McKay. Her balloons are flown in parades around the United States and Europe.

The family of the late U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan served as the parade marshals.

Volunteer balloon handlers kept a grip on the balloons. Some like the Yogi Bear balloon are 40 feet high, towering over the crowds as they made their way down the street.

The Springfield Central High School and Holyoke High School marching bands provided music. Other contingents included the Melha Shriners, Springfield Police and Fire Departments, Springfield Museums, Springfield Elks Lodge No. 61, American Medical Response, Chiu Woo Springfield, Springfield Falcons, Springfield Business Improvement District, WWLP-TV 22News, Western Mass News, princesses and pageant winners, dance studios and others.



Fire damages Emma's Everyday Gourmet restaurant in Westfield

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The restaurant will be closed for a few days, according to a staff member.

WESTFIELD - A grease fire damaged Emma's Everyday Gourmet, an Italian restaurant 45 Washington St. in Westfield's downtown Friday afternoon.

No one was injured, according to police dispatchers reached by phone. A restaurant employee said Emma's would be closed for a t least a few days while damage is repaired. She had no further details.

The emergency call came in at 2:50 p.m. Employees were back in the building cleaning up shortly after 3 p.m.

Customers could be seen milling about in the parking lot as firefighters checked out the situation.

The restaurant was founded in 2011 according to its Facebook page. It's normally open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondasy through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Gianpaolo Sesti and Gianni Calabrese are the owners and chefs, according to a Facebook posting.

Nomination papers for Amherst March 29 election will be available Tuesday

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Papers are due back Feb. 9.

AMHERST - While the annual Town Election is still four months away, nomination papers for town office will be available Tuesday at the Town Clerk's office.

Two Select Board seats currently held by James Wald and Alisa Brewer, two School Committee seats held by Richard Hood and Kathleen Traphagen and two seats on the Jones Library Board of Trustees held by Jonathan McCabe and
Robert Pam are all up for election.

Voters will also be asked to elect a charter commission, eight town meeting members in each precinct as well as a seat on the Amherst Redevelopment Authority currently held by Aaron Hayden.

Voters will also elect one to the Amherst Housing Authority, a seat held by Judy Brooks, an Elector of the Oliver Smith Will held by John Coull and Moderator currently held by James Pistrang.

All Amherst registered voters are eligible to run.

Those seeking town-wide office and charter commission seats must have papers must be signed by at least 50 registered voters.

Candidates are advised to collect more than to ensure the requisite number of certified signatures.

Town meeting member nomination papers must be signed by at least one registered voter of the precinct in which the candidate resides.

Nomination papers for all of the above offices must be filed at the Town Clerk's office by 5 p.m. Feb. 9.

 Amherst for All has been collecting signatures to ask voters to create the nine-member charter commission to look at what form of government might work best for Amherst.

Amherst has a five member Select Board, town manager and 240-member representative town meeting form of government.

So far, the group has 2,374 signatures confirmed by the Town Clerk as of Wednesday, according to a Facebook post with 841 needed to reach the 3,215 needed for a ballot question.

The deadline to collect signatures is Dec. 21. The annual election is March 29. 


Chicopee man facing new drunken driving charge, convicted of breaking police officer's leg in 1992 incident

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Steven Kolodziej, 46, of Chicopee, was sentenced to seven to 10 years in state prison for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and other charges.

SPRINGFIELD - Steven Kolodziej, 46, is facing a new charge - driving under the influence of alcohol for the fifth time.

The past convictions for Kolodziej, of 92 Montgomery St., Chicopee, included one in which he pleaded guilty to breaking a police officer's leg in four places in a drunken driving incident.

In the Jan. 17, 1992, incident in Holyoke, Kolodziej drew a seven- to 10-year state prison term for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and other charges, including operating under the influence of alcohol.

Officer Lonnie Westbrook had stopped Kolodziej, and found that his license had been revoked. When he returned to the car, the driver's-side door was partly open, and Kolodziej backed up.

When Westbrook stepped into the car, Kolodziej drove forward, swerving from side to side. The open door struck a parked car, and Westbrook was tossed on to the hood of the other vehicle. His leg was broken in four places.

At Kolodziej's sentencing in 1992 Westbrook told Judge John Murphy, "It's my belief Mr. Kolodziej tried to kill me. Just as easily as it was my leg it could have been my head. I think he headed for that car."

In the newHampden Superior Court case Kolodziej is also charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

According to the Nov.19 indictments, the alleged crimes took place March 24 in Springfield.

In 2005 Kolodziej, then living in Easthampton, was sentenced to 2½ years at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow for another driving-under-the-influence conviction.

He was found guilty in a jury trial.

The conviction was related to a Chicopee arrest in which a state trooper said that Kolodziej forcibly switched places with his passenger while the car was moving down an exit ramp.

Defense lawyer James Hammerschmith said then his client is an alcoholic.

But he said that his client does well while on probation, and asked for probation as a sentence.

Then Hampden Superior Court Assistant District Attorney Matthew Thomas said that Kolodjiez has evidenced through his criminal record that he is "willing to cede control of his life to his alcoholism."

In closing arguments to the jury, Thomas said that Kolodjiez was "trying to get off the hot seat" when a trooper attempted to stop him for a license plate problem on Interstate 391 on April 9, 2003.

He said the trooper clearly saw Kolodjiez change places three times, as the passenger tried to get back to his seat while the car was striking a guardrail.

Kolodjiez also has a 1987 conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and a second 1992 conviction, according to the indictment.

 

News Links: Dashboard camera shows speeding driver barely missing 2 on side of highway, Thanksgiving shooting takes innocent victim, and more

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A Harvard University Ebola researcher is struggling to recover from a serious car crash in Montana this summer.

A digest of news stories from around New England.

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  • Connecticut State Police dashboard camera shows speeding driver barely missing 2 people standing by broken down car on Interstate 95 [Connecticut Post] Video above


  • Shooting outside Fenway Park on Thanksgiving Day takes life of innocent bystander, Haitian emigre who worked as MBTA locomotive engineer [Boston Globe] Video below


  • Car crash leaves Harvard Ebola researcher with new struggle of her own [Boston Herald]


  • 14-year-old riding all-terrain vehicle shot in leg by hunter in Connecticut state forest, authorities say [Hartford Courant]


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    Jake NawnJake T. Nawn 
  • Holden family held out hope for 5 days that son Jake Nawn, student at Plymouth State University, would still be alive [Telegram & Gazette] Photo below, related video below

  • Maine ski resort season pass holders confused, angry at lack of word whether financially plagued facility will reopen [Portland Press Herald]


  • UMass Dartmouth chancellor Divina Grossman declines to comment on report saying president plans to oust her [SouthCoastToday.com]


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    WMUR-TV report aired Nov. 15.


  • Connecticut couple's death termed murder-suidice [New Haven Register] Related video below


  • Man brandishes weapon during Vermont convenience store robbery, police say [WPTZ-TV, NBC5, Plattsburgh, N.Y.]


  • Young adults moving out of Connecticut in increasing numbers, Census data show [Hartford Courant]


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    WTIC-TV report aired Wednesday.




     
  • To tune of wedding bells, Holyoke's Marilyn Rosado, Jose Vazquez sing praises of city officials

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    It was Holyoke City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee and Mayor Alex B. Morse to the rescue.

    HOLYOKE -- One of the happiest moments of her life was unfolding in a few days but Marilyn Rosado found herself crying and unable to breathe.

    No, she told her fiancee Jose L. Vazquez on Wednesday, she had not remembered to obtain the marriage license necessary for them to wed Saturday.

    Quick online checks showed City Hall was closed on Thursday, obviously, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

    It also was closed on Friday. And the weekend. Not scheduled to reopen until Monday.

    Too late.

    The story has a happy ending. The couple was put in touch with Mayor Alex B. Morse, who contacted City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee, the two officials trekking to their offices on a day off Friday to open City Hall and ensure Rosado and Vazquez received the license to marry.

    But Rosado, 29, will never forget feeling crushed on Wednesday.

    "It was the day before Thanksgiving. My boyfriend was asking me if I got everything and he was naming some things and he said, 'Did you get the marriage license?' That's when I gasped for air and I started crying," Rosado said in a phone interview.

    "I was just in total distress and crying, not knowing what to do."

    She called her sister Veronica. Veronica recalled that Vazquez' uncle, Jose Luis Guitirrez, knew Morse. Guitirrez put them in touch with Morse late Wednesday and the mayor and clerk arranged for City Hall to be opened.

    "The mayor worked his magic, called the city clerk," Rosado said.

    "I was out of breath and I just broke down crying....I was telling the uncle I was so grateful for such a wonderful mayor and for city officials to take the time out to help us get a marriage certificate," she said.

    Morse and Murphy McGee said they were happy to help.

    Morse:

    "As public servants, we are here to serve the people, and sometimes we have to go above and beyond to provide that service. It was a small gesture on our part that makes a huge difference in the lives of Jose, Marilyn and their family. These types of events remind me why I entered public service to begin with, and that is to help people and to answer the call when people are in need. I'm happy to put a smile on their face this holiday season."

    Murphy McGee said the couple had fulfilled the initial state requirement by coming to her office previously and completing forms outlining their intention to marry. Getting that done last week met the requirement of abiding by a mandatory three-day waiting period, she said.

    They paid the $25 fee for the marriage license, needed to certify the marriage in the eyes of the law, she said.

    Murphy McGee:

    "When I ran for city clerk one the things I pledged to do was always be accessible to the public, whether it was during the working day or nights and weekends. I have had to go in to City Hall a few times now after hours to help folks out. Being able to help this couple the day after Thanksgiving during one of the most important times of their lives reminded me of how grateful I am to hold this very important position."

    Murphy McGee added, "They were very sweet and grateful."

    Rosado said she and Vazquez met in 2000 and began dating a year later. They have a daughter Naiana S. Vazquez, 8, and a son Ismael L. Vazquez, 1, Rosado said.

    Rosado works as a personal care assistant for her grandmother. Vazquez, 30, is an assistant truck driver with Conklin Office Furniture here, she said.

    They are to be wed at 1:30 p.m. at Stanley Park in Westfield in a small ceremony, she said.

    Photos: Holyoke Mall Black Friday 2015 shopping

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    One group of shoppers at the Holyoke Mall wore identical pink "Black Friday" T-shirts.

    HOLYOKE — Bargain hunters were out in force at the Holyoke Mall on Black Friday.

    "It's been steady," spokeswoman Lisa Wray told The Republican's business news reporter, Jim Kinney. "It was extremely busy at 12:30 (a.m.) when the entrances opened."

    One group of shoppers wore identical pink "Black Friday" T-shirts.

    Having to wait until midnight, hours after Connecticut, didn't hurt business, Wray, the Holyoke Mall spokewomans, said.

    "I think some people went there and then came here afterward," Wray said.


    2 Palestinians killed after attacking Israeli troops in West Bank

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    Friday's attacks, in which at least eight Israeli soldiers were injured, were the latest in over two months of bloodshed that erupted over tensions at a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem, sacred to Jews and Muslims, and quickly escalated and spread to the West Bank, Israel and the Gaza border.

    By IAN DEITCH

    JERUSALEM -- Israeli troops shot and killed two Palestinians after they rammed their cars into soldiers in separate attacks in the West Bank on Friday as the country's defense minister urged Israelis to brace themselves for more violence, saying he cannot see an end to the near-daily Palestinian attacks.

    Friday's attacks, in which at least eight Israeli soldiers were injured, were the latest in over two months of bloodshed that erupted over tensions at a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem, sacred to Jews and Muslims, and quickly escalated and spread to the West Bank, Israel and the Gaza border.

    Since mid-September, 19 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, mostly stabbings and shootings. At least 96 Palestinians have also died, including 61 said by Israel to be attackers. The others died in clashes with Israeli forces.

    Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told Israelis to be prepared for more attacks by Palestinians.

    "This terror wave will accompany us in the coming days, the coming weeks and maybe longer than that," Yaalon said at a conference in the Red Sea resort of Eilat. "It might escalate and therefore we need to prepare," Yaalon was quoted as saying by the Army Radio's website.

    In the first attack early Friday morning, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said a Palestinian intentionally drove his car into a group of Israeli soldiers at a bus stop in the West Bank, injuring two before he was shot and killed by soldiers.

    Soon after, the military said a Palestinian rammed his car into Israeli soldiers near the volatile West Bank city of Hebron, injuring six before he was shot and killed. Soldiers later blocked off the main entrance to Beit Ummar, where the attack took place, preventing traffic from moving in or out in what the military said was a security measure. Other entrances remained open.

    Later Friday, police said a Palestinian stabbed an officer with a knife and then ran away in the northern city of Nahariya. Israel's emergency service said the officer was stabbed in his upper body and moderately wounded. Searches for the assailant were continuing Friday night.

    Hebron is the largest Palestinian city in the West Bank and a frequent flashpoint for violence. Many of the Palestinians involved in the current round of violence have come from there. Tensions have been running high in Hebron, where some 850 Jewish settlers live amid tens of thousands of Palestinians.

    Israel blames the violence on incitement by Palestinian leaders and on social media sites. Palestinians say the attacks stem from a lack of hope for gaining independence after years of failed peace efforts.

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