The man, Connor Cummings of Rockaway, N.J., was studying psychology at UMass, university officials confirmed. His Facebook cover photo features the The Calvin Coolidge Memorial Bridge, which connects Hadley and Northampton.

A 20-year-old University of Massachusetts Amherst student fell to his death Wednesday night while trying to take photos of the New York City skyline from atop an iconic hotel, according to news reports.

The man, Connor Cummings of Rockaway, N.J., was studying psychology at UMass, university officials confirmed. His Facebook cover photo features the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Bridge, which connects Hadley and Northampton.

According to the New York Times, Cummings and a friend were scaling the Four Seasons Hotel in midtown Manhattan in an attempt to take pictures of the view. They had reached the 51st floor of the 52-story hotel around 11:15 p.m. by climbing scaffolding when it began to rain, and Cummings disappeared.

Connor Cummings, a UMass Amherst student who fell to his death from a 52-story hotel Wednesday night.Facebook 

His 18-year-old friend, identified as Dimitri Olivares by the New York Daily News, found him on a maintenance catwalk on the 43rd floor. Police said Cummings was pronounced dead at the scene.

UMass Amherst spokesman Ed Blaguszewski released a statement on Cummings' death Thursday.

"Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Connor
Cummings, a UMass Amherst student who died tragically in New York.
Connor was a sophomore psychology major and a member of Alpha Sigma Phi
fraternity, Gamma chapter," Blaguszewski said.

No charges have been filed against Olivares, who was questioned by detectives at the scene and was reportedly on the opposite site of the scaffolding when his friend fell, according to NJ.com.

Neither Cummings or Olivares were guests at the hotel, the Times reports.

The Pioneer Valley gained an envelope factory in 2015, but lost some longtime businesses, including Piepul's Camera Center in Chicopee. Here is a rundown.

A spokesman for the Plymouth County District Attorney's office said the body of 78-year-old Robert Marks of Hull washed ashore Friday at Nantasket Beach.

HULL -- A man's body was discovered on a Massachusetts beach, but authorities say they don't suspect any criminal wrongdoing.

A spokesman for the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office said the body of 78-year-old Robert Marks of Hull washed ashore at about 7:20 a.m. on Friday at Nantasket Beach in Hull, on the state's South Shore.

State police were called to investigate, and a family member identified the body as Marks. His body was taken to the medical examiner's office to determine the cause and manner of his death.

The District Attorney's office said there does not appear to be any criminal circumstances surrounding the death.

She had an outstanding warrant from Springfield for multiple firearm violations and possession of a class A drug, according to police.

NORTHFIELD — A traffic stop on Route 10 on Thursday led to fresh drug charges for a woman who was already wanted on drug and gun charges, Northfield police said.

Police did not release the woman's name, but they said she had an outstanding Springfield warrant for multiple firearm violations and possession of a class A drug.

A subsequent search of her possessions revealed she was carrying 65 bags of heroin and several hypodermic needles, police said.

The woman was held on $1,000 bail at the Franklin County Jail & House of Correction, pending arraignment in Greenfield District Court. It was not immediately known if she has a lawyer.

The evacuation of Munich's main train station and the Pasing neighborhood station shortly before midnight reportedly followed a warning from a "friendly" foreign intelligence service that five to seven Islamic State militants from Syria and Iraq were planning coordinated attacks.

By KIRSTEN GRIESHABE

BERLIN -- A terror warning in Munich on New Year's Eve that led to the evacuation of two train stations in Germany was not a false alert, security officials said Friday, although there have been no arrests.

The evacuation of Munich's main train station and the Pasing neighborhood station shortly before midnight reportedly followed a warning from a "friendly" foreign intelligence service that five to seven Islamic State militants from Syria and Iraq were planning coordinated attacks on different locations in Munich including the two train stations.

Although it wasn't even yet clear if any would-be attackers actually existed, Munich police president Hubertus Andrae told reporters that the terror warning and consequent evacuation of the train stations had not been "a false alert."

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told reporters that as of Friday morning the train stations were open again and "we no longer have concrete indications for a terror threat today or tomorrow at a specific location."

However, Herrmann warned that the overall threat across Europe remained high after the attacks in Paris in November that killed 130 people.

Later in November, a warning of a possible imminent attack plunged Brussels into a lockdown for a time. Ten people suspected of involvement in the Paris attacks have been arrested in Belgium.

Shortly before Munich rang in the new year, police evacuated the main train station and the Pasing station. Partygoers were asked to avoid crowds.

Despite those warnings, thousands of people were on the streets of Munich at midnight to welcome the new year with fireworks.

Authorities were investigating intensively on Friday, Herrmann said, but so far had not found any solid evidence for a planned attack. He said they had received personal data for some of the alleged attackers and were in the process of investigating and verifying the information.

He would not give any further details.

Herrmann called on Munich residents to be cautious, but at the same time not to let threats interfere with their normal lives.

More than 500 police and special unit officers from all over the southern Bavaria region were called to Munich Thursday night to help evacuate and secure the stations. By Friday noon, some 100 extra officers were still present in the city.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere commended all the authorities involved for their "thoughtful, considerate and decisive" action in Munich.

"The situation in Europe and Germany continues to be serious in the new year," de Maiziere said in a written statement. "Indeed we did get indications (for a planned attack) yesterday, which were evaluated by the Bavarian intelligence authorities and federal police."

Cities across Europe have been on edge since an attack in Paris in November that killed 130 people.

A few days after the Paris attack, a soccer stadium in Hannover in central Germany was evacuated after a threat against a friendly match between Germany and the Netherlands. The authorities never reported any findings of explosives or concrete attack plans.

The graveyard has been vandalized almost every year since 2012, including three times in the past year.

WEST BRIDGEWATER -- A Massachusetts cemetery dating to the 18th century has been vandalized for the fifth time in four years.

The Boston Globe reports that 33 gravestones were found damaged on Friday at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in West Bridgewater. Several were toppled or smashed, including the graveyard's oldest tombstone, which dates back to 1751.

The caretaker told The Globe that it's the most damaging vandalism in the cemetery's recent history. The graveyard has been vandalized almost every year since 2012, including three times in the past year. Many of the damaged headstones belong to military veterans.

Police were called to the cemetery on Friday but couldn't immediately be reached.

Officials started an online fundraising page to repair some of the damages, and they may install surveillance cameras and increase security.

"The community of drug users, specifically heroin users, should be aware that several of these incidents are related to heroin bags marked 'Hollywood,'" police said Friday, Jan. 1.

Updates story published at 12:47 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1.

Now, Holyoke's grappling with a wave of heroin overdoses, including several within the past few days. Two people have fatally overdosed on the drug in the past 24 hours alone, and a third death is being investigated as a possible overdose, according to city officials.

"Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and Police Chief James Neiswanger are urging the public to be aware of a continuing public health and safety issue, as several overdose cases involving heroin have occurred in the past several days," said Lt. Jim Albert, of the Holyoke Police Criminal Investigations Bureau.

"These incidents involve subjects who had ingested heroin and became unconscious," Albert said in a statement Friday. Several of the overdoses involved bags of heroin bearing a "Hollywood" label, according to authorities

Holyoke police and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Hampden County District Attorney's Office are investigating the incidents. "The detectives are working diligently to locate and identify the source of these bags and those who are selling them," Albert said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Holyoke detectives at 413-322-6940.

Organizers and participants gathered at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield where t-shirts were available for the runners.

WESTFIELD - The new year kicked off Friday with seasonable temperatures and little to no snow as 249 walkers and runners gathered for the 8th Annual Gordon Bates First Race in Westfield.

Organizers and participants gathered at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield where t-shirts were available for the runners. According to race organizers, proceeds from the event will benefit programs and services offered by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield.

The annual event features a 5K and 10K walk and run that weaved throughout the city.

Click on the links, below, to get the results:

For 5-K results click here.

For 10K results - click here.

A 25-year-old man, who was crushed to death by a falling elevator, said "Happy New Year" to a woman after pushing her out of harm's way on New Year's Eve in New York City. The New York Daily News reported Friday that Stephen Hewett-Brown, of the Bronx, was trying to escape a stalled elevator in an apartment building on Manhattan's...

A 25-year-old man, who was crushed to death by a falling elevator, said "Happy New Year" to a woman after pushing her out of harm's way on New Year's Eve in New York City.

The New York Daily News reported Friday that Stephen Hewett-Brown, of the Bronx, was trying to escape a stalled elevator in an apartment building on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

Hewett-Brown was trapped around 11:30 p.m. when the elevator started moving, the newspaper reported.

"I tried to help the guy, but he was between the elevator and the building door," Manuel Coronado, 23, who was visiting his grandmother in the building, told the Daily News. "He was saying 'I can't breathe.' "I tried to pull him up, but he said 'Leave me here, leave me here.'"

Coronado said Hewett-Brown pushed the woman, Erude Sanchez, 43, a resident of the building, out of the lift before it fell down the shaft.

"She started going in, but the elevator started going down and he pushed her out," Coronado said, translating for the Spanish-speaking woman. "He said 'Happy New Year' and pushed her out."

New York City police told Newsday that they found Hewett-Brown unconscious and suffering from severe body trauma at 131 Broom St., near Pitt Street.

Hewett-Brown was pronounced dead at New York Presbyterian/Lower Manhattan Hospital.

Fox 5 reported that about 10 people were in the elevator, including Sanchez and her 10-year-old nephew Angel Peguero, when the elevator got stuck between the 2nd and third floors.

"He was trying to help my aunt get out" Angel was quoted by Fox 5 as saying.

The other occupants of the elevator called frantically for help.

Hewett-Brown was visiting the building for a New Year's Eve party.

Residents said it took first responders about 20 minutes to arrive on the scene even through the 7th precinct is located across the street from the building.

According to the Daily News, the building has been cited three times since May 30, 2014 for elevator defects.

Gunmen attacked an air force base in India's Punjab state near the border with Pakistan and were exchanging fire with security forces on Saturday morning, police said.

PATHANKOT, India (AP) -- Indian troops killed four gunmen who had entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan and exchanged fire with security forces on Saturday, officials and news reports said. At least two Indian soldiers were also killed.

The gunmen entered the living quarters of the Pathankot air force base, about 267 miles north of New Delhi, before dawn Saturday but were not able to penetrate the area with fighter helicopters and other equipment, said air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva.

Press Trust of India news agency quoted police as saying that four attackers were killed following the hourslong gunbattle and police started an operation to clear a wider area of other possible intruders.

Pathankot, in Punjab state, is on the highway that connects India's insurgency wracked Jammu and Kashmir state with the rest of the country. It's also very close to India's border with rival Pakistan.

Police were investigating whether the militants came from the Indian portion of Kashmir or from Pakistan. Rebels routinely stage attacks in Indian-held Kashmir, where they've been fighting since 1989 for an independent Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan.

Saturday's attack comes just a week after India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced visit to Pakistan to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The visit was seen as a potential sign of thawing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The two heads of government also had an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Kashmir's insurgents, a charge Islamabad denies. More than 68,000 people have been killed in the violence in the Indian portion of Kashmir.

A man who claimed to have a gun robbed the Honey Farms convenience store around 5:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, according to Natick police, who continue to investigate.

NATICK — Recognize the man in the surveillance photo above? If you do, the Natick Police Department is hoping you'll call them at 508-647-9520.

The man robbed a convenience store on New Year's Day, according to authorities, who continue to investigate.

Around 5:30 a.m. Friday, officers responded to Honey Farms on Main Street for a report of a man who stole a small amount of money from the convenience store. The man claimed to have a gun, but no weapon was shown and no one was injured, police said.

Officers and a K-9 unit searched the area but were unable to find the suspect. He was described as a white man in his 20s or 30s with facial hair. He was wearing a gray hoodie, gray sweatpants and black-and-white sneakers at the time of the robbery.

"This is an open and active investigation," Police Chief James G. Hicks said. "We are urging anyone who may have seen something related to this robbery or who recognizes the suspect to please contact the Natick police."

"We are also warning people of this heroin going around," Chicopee Police Officer Mike Wilk, the department's public information officer, said Friday night, Jan. 1.

Click on this link for related coverage on this lethal strain of heroin.

On Friday night, Chicopee police took to social media to caution drug users about bags of heroin with the "Hollywood" label.

"We are also warning people of this heroin going around," Officer Mike Wilk, the department's public information officer, said in a Facebook post.

Since Wednesday, Chicopee has had seven documented heroin overdoses, including three fatalities. Four of the overdoses occurred on New Year's Day, Wilk said. Baggies bearing the "Hollywood" label were found at the locations where some of the people overdosed, he said.

"Please, if you know someone using, or (you) are using, do not use this," Wilk said, referring to the potent strain.

Anyone with information is asked to call Chicopee narcotics officers at 413-594-1700.

Holyoke has also had several overdoses in recent days, including two fatalities in the past 24 hours. Some of the cases involved bags of heroin with the "Hollywood" label, Holyoke Police Lt. Jim Albert said.

No injuries were reported early New Year's Day after a fast-moving fire destroyed two multi-family homes in Indian Orchard and displaced 36 people.

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) Holyoke Police: 2 killed in early New Year's Day crash at Chestnut and Hampshire streets [George Graham]

2) Palmer police: Pedestrian struck by hit-and-run-driver dies from injuries [Conor Berry]

3) Springfield FD: New Year's Day blaze destroys 2 Indian Orchard multi-family homes, displaces 36 [George Graham] Photo gallery above

4) Mr. D's Sports Bar in Springfield's South End permanently closes after more than 20 years of business [Peter Goonan]

5) Massachusetts minimum wage increases, state income tax decreases take effect today [Gintautas Dumcius]

Donald Trump plans to visit Massachusetts on Monday.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will be spending Saturday in Massachusetts, holding rallies in Amherst and Worcester.

According to the Sanders campaign, Sanders, an independent U.S. senator from Vermont, plans to speak about "getting big money out of politics," combating climate change and making college affordable. All of those topics have been major platforms for his campaign.

Sanders will hold a 1 p.m. rally at the Fine Arts Center at UMass Amherst followed by a 5 p.m. rally at North High School in Worcester.

Although Massachusetts' primary is not until March 1, it is an easy stop for the presidential candidates on their way to New Hampshire, which holds its first in the nation primary on Feb. 9. Sanders plans to spend Sunday and Monday in New Hampshire, with a roundtable planned at a Londonderry senior center, followed by town hall meetings in Plaistow, Newmarket and Manchester.

Although former secretary of state, first lady and senator Hillary Clinton continues to lead Sanders by 15 to 30 points in most national polls of the Democratic race, Sanders is hoping for a victory in New Hampshire, which could convince more supporters in other states of his viability. He is currently leading in several Granite State polls.

Sanders, who has called himself a "democratic socialist," appeals to the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.

Massachusetts is one of the most important states for Democrats on Super Tuesday. After the four early voting states - Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada - candidates will be looking to the dozen states that will vote for their party nominees on March 1. Most of those states are in the south and tend to vote Republican, other than the heavily Democratic Massachusetts. So the Massachusetts race will be a test of Sanders' strength against Clinton among the Democratic electorate.

On Monday, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump will be in Massachusetts for his own rally at UMass Lowell. The businessman, who has been topping the GOP polls for months despite the unease of the Republican establishment, is eschewing traditional retail politics to hold a series of large rallies. Over the course of a week, Trump is planning rallies in Mississippi, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa, in addition to Massachusetts.

Both Trump and Sanders have previously drawn huge crowds both in Massachusetts and nationally.

___________________________________________________________________

Watch MassLive.com for coverage of the Sanders and Trump events.

Our traditional galleries of favorite photos illustrate the momentous as well as more personal or quiet moments.

As we take a telescope to the rear view mirror, it turns out 2015 was a pretty big year for news in the Springfield area.

Our traditional galleries of favorite photos illustrate the momentous as well as more personal or quiet moments. Of course, you will see some overlap as more than one of us covered community wide events such as the happiness of The Big E to the intense and shared sadness around the funeral of Springfield native and U. S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan.

From the plans to surgically implant a casino into the heart of downtown Springfield to the grafting of steel rails onto the old wooden roller coaster at Six Flags New England, The Republican staff photographers were there. And, in at least two of our galleries, Santa Claus did, is and always will come to town.

The challenge every day is to find a way to lend some artistry or something unique to the ordinary, something different from events covered a hundred times before. And since editing can be just as important as image capture, there is a measure of satisfaction to promoting a dozen or so pictures to flag waving status to end each year.

This is a bit personal for me as this is my last year-in-review photo gallery. I am retiring as a full time daily newspaper photographer. Some of these images are also in my farewell gallery, also found here on Masslive.com. My cameras will not be collecting dust.

The year 2015 in Hampden Superior Court was marked by a long murder trial in the Holyoke gang slaying of Juan S. Quinones.

SPRINGFIELD - The year 2015 in Hampden Superior Court saw the end of a number of murder cases, some by plea, some by trial, and some by dismissal,

Luis Rosa, a Springfield man, admitted suffocating his mother.

Terrance Brown of Springfield admitted he shot his former girlfriend.

There was a long murder trial that saw Joshua Santos and Jose Rodriguez convicted in a Holyoke gang case.

These were among murder cases that made their way through Hampden Superior Court in 2015:

Nathan Cruz gets 22 to 25 years in gang-related Springfield fatal shooting of Caleb Worrell.

Both Austin Garcia, 19, and Isaiah Ayala, 18, had faced a murder charge in the Caleb Worrell killing but were allowed to plead guilty to armed assault with intent to kill. The pleaded guilty as youthful offenders under state law because of their ages at the time of the shooting.

Diomaris Valentin pleads guilty to manslaughter in stabbing death of Craig Sheridan in Springfield.

Luis Rosa of Springfield admits suffocating mother with pillow, selling her TVs and smoking crack while body in other room.

Terrance Brown pleads guilty to 2nd degree murder in fatal Springfield shooting of Tyshianna Atkins.

Chase Johnson of Springfield man pleads guilty to manslaughter in fatal shooting of Eddiz Walter of Holyoke at Duck's Place bar.

Ronald Ruell Jr. pleads guilty to second-degree murder in 2012 death of Judy Ramirez.

Ashawnee Duke guilty of 1st degree murder in botched Springfield robbery that left accomplice Keough Collins dead.

Julien Holly, witness in Ashawnee Duke murder trial, once charged with murder pleads to lesser crimes.

Joshua Santos, Jose Rodriguez found guilty in Holyoke La Familia murder trial for shooting of Juan S. Quinones.

Rolando Colon - 1 of 4 defendants - pleads pleads guilty to manslaughter in gang-related Holyoke shooting of Juan S. Quinones.

Murder charge dropped for Jose Santiago of Holyoke who testified against co-defendants in La Familia trial for slaying of Juan S. Quinones.

Thousands of people flocked to the University of Massachusetts' Amherst campus Saturday to see U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as his 2016 Democratic presidential campaign stopped for an afternoon rally.

AMHERST ‒ Thousands of people flocked to the University of Massachusetts' Amherst campus Saturday to see U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as his 2016 Democratic presidential campaign stopped for an afternoon rally.

Backers of all ages traveled to the college's fine arts center from both near and far to hear the Vermont senator, who trails front-runner Hillary Clinton, discuss issues like Wall Street overhauls, education and foreign policy. Following the event, Sanders traveled east for another campaign rally in Worcester.

Jordan Derderian Jr., a 69-year-old New Hampshire for Bernie campaign volunteer, said he lined up outside the campus rally venue at around 10 a.m. Saturday morning after traveling more than two hours from his home in Lake Sunapee, N.H.

Derderian, who said he couldn't in good conscience vote for anyone but Sanders, said the UMass rally marks his fourteenth time seeing the Democratic presidential hopeful. He praised Sanders' fight for what he called "equal rights" and the working class.

"I contribute $35 a month when my Social Security comes in automatically to Bernie" he said in an interview. "I've never contributed to a political campaign before now."

Maya Pignolet, 17, meanwhile, said she chose to come to the Saturday event over a trip to New York City to see Phantom of the Opera, one of her favorite broadway shows.

Pignolet, who hails from Sand Point Idaho, said she was in the area visiting relatives when she heard about the Amherst rally.

"Bernie Sanders is like, honestly, my favorite person," she said in an interview. "Seeing him in person is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people. He's so influential and passionate and so many of the things he's fighting for, he's been fighting for the longest time. He's finally become a voice for the people that we really need."

With the 2016 election representing Pignolet's first chance to vote, she said she can easily get behind a candidate who doesn't represent corporate interests.

Mary Wiseman, 58, of Holyoke, said although she's still on the fence as to whether she would support Sanders or Clinton, she decided to attend the rally to hear what the Vermont senator had to say about issues like education.

"I want to hear more about what he has to say about (social issues)," she said. "I just feel that he really supports the regular person," she said in an interview.

Wiseman added that she'd like to see a Clinton-Sanders ticket, saying she believes they'd be a "powerhouse."

Sanders previously traveled to western Massachusetts in early October, where he joined thousands of supporters for a rally at Springfield's MassMutual Center. His campaign is expected to open up an office in the city this month.

Told that the defendant wanted to turn his life around, Judge Matthew Shea suggested a possible first step: Turning his T-shirt around. "Drunk 1" proclaimed the logo on the front of the shirt.

Here are some notable stories from Springfield District Court in 2015.

Springfield murder victim's tattoo: 'Live & Die by the Gun'

Springfield police find heroin, hundreds of shoes during raid on 'mostly female' drug ring

'She took my life, so I take hers,' West Springfield murder defendant wrote before rival's killing

Rare language complicates Forest Park wildlife killing case

Defendant in Springfield 'crucifixion' case is mixed martial artist with multi-page arrest record

Defendant has Oprah-like encounter with Springfield District Court judge

'I heard them laughing and saying 'this is crazy,' victim in alleged West Springfield gang rape recalls

Photo stunt at Springfield cemetery develops into criminal charges for city man

Agawam mayor's 'adopted' son's Connecticut arrest may cause him legal trouble in Massachusetts

'The defendant has no pants,' Springfield man's lawyer tells judge; arraignment postponed

Self-styled cosmetic surgeon denies cutting ears, tails on puppies

'He could always sell the 42-inch TV,' judge tells lawyer for financially strapped teen father

Cash, credit cards, diamond rings among items allegedly stolen from elderly at Longmeadow assisted-living center

Springfield man wearing 'Drunk 1' T-shirt gets 1-year jail sentence

Police: Springfield couple had sex in front of crying children

Springfield Police: Surveillance video shows Kathryn Mauke murder defendant walking up her driveway before the crime

'I don't feel bad about it,' Springfield murder suspect tells police after homeless shelter stabbing

Springfield defendant tells judge: 'The payment is in a snow bank'; judge predicts melting

'You're still very young. You have many years left,' judge tells Westfield repeat heroin offender

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., renewed his call for a "political revolution"and touted proposals like a higher minimum wage and lower incarceration rates as his 2016 Democratic presidential campaign swung through western Massachusetts Saturday.

AMHERST ‒ U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., renewed his call for a "political revolution"and touted proposals like a higher minimum wage and lower incarceration rates as his 2016 Democratic presidential campaign swung through western Massachusetts Saturday.

Speaking to just under 1,900 supporters who crowded the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Fine Arts Center for an afternoon rally, Sanders made his case for "breaking up" Wall Street banks, investing in youth jobs and education, reexamining the "war on drugs" and paid family medical leave, among other things. He also briefly addressed at least 1,500 other supporters, who gathered outside the venue before the rally.

The Vermont senator, who touted his campaign's fundraising successes and policy platforms in a speech spanning more than one hour, blasted Republicans' stance on the economy and so-called "family values". He particularly took issue with GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump after a supporter of the businessman began heckling him.

"I say to Mr. Trump and his supporters, that the billionaires of this country will not continue to own this nation," he said.

Sanders, whose remarks largely echoed those made during an early October stop in Springfield, further took aim at the financial system regulations and Wall Street.

"You have a situation today where not only are large banks too big to fail, but the bankers themselves are too big to jail," he told supporters. "How about a criminal justice system that treats everyone regardless of the personal wealth and power equally."

If elected president, he said he would break up large banks and tax Wall Street speculation to help pay for his free public higher education and student loan proposals.

The Vermont senator also laid out his plan to change the federal penalties associated with marijuana so that people who use the drug, which is legal in some states, are not jailed or given criminal records.

Sanders stressed that his White House run isn't just about electing a president, but rather transforming the country. He, however, said he needs support to bring real change if he wins in 2016.

"The last thing that I want to do is be a president who does not accomplish what needs to happen," the Democratic hopeful said. "I cannot do it alone. I need your help, not just in the campaign, I need your help the day after the election and year after year after year."

The Vermont senator told supporters to not tell him or themselves that health care cannot be guaranteed for all Americans as a right, that the U.S. cannot successfully lead the world in transforming the energy system and that America cannot have a great childcare and pre-k system.

"If you're ready to wage a political revolution, if you're ready to do that please bring out your friends, your families, get those people who have become cynical to get reinvolved in the political struggle," he said. "We're going to win here in Massachusetts and we're going to win this election."

Following the UMass event, Sanders traveled east for another campaign rally in Worcester. His campaign is expected to open up an office in Springfield this month.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders drew a line that wrapped from the front of the Fine Arts Center at UMass Amherst and down North Pleasant Street to the road's intersection with Massachusetts Ave. Watch video

 

At the senator's 1 p.m. speaking arrangement, which attracted a spectrum of supporters, the candidate and told backers to spread his message.

Not all who arrived could fit in the venue, and a crowd of supporters watched Sanders' speech from a large screen outside.

In the above video, campaign supporters line up to enter the Fine Arts Center at 11:30 a.m.