From the viewfinder from Suchocki's Nikon, the now retired veteran photographer captured some of the Pioneer Valley's most beautiful settings along with some of the creepiest of a Halloween display in Chicopee gone wild.

SPRINGFIELD - From the ones taken up in the air to those captured while standing firmly on the ground, The Republican's staff photographer John Suchocki selected some of his favorite images from 2015.

From the viewfinder of Suchocki's Nikon, the now retired veteran photographer captured some of the Pioneer Valley's most beautiful settings along with some of the creepiest, including a Halloween display in Chicopee gone wild.

Take a look through the images above, and leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

When Brian Henshon was born in 1976, the doctors who delivered him told his parents that he had Down syndrome and they should institutionalize him. Watch video

WILBRAHAM -- When Brian Henshon was born in 1976, the doctors who delivered him told his parents that he had Down syndrome and they should institutionalize him.

But Elaine and Thomas Henshon never considered it. They had never heard of Down Syndrome. They gathered their courage, brought him home, and raised him the same way they raised their other three children.

Instead of accepting that he may not be able to do things, they got him involved in sports and music.

Now, at 39, Brian is still an active swimmer and pianist. On Monday, he swam laps at the Wilbraham YMCA with his sister, Suzanna Henshon, who was home for the holidays.

Police said a man used a handgun to rob Jocko's Place in Chicopee shortly before closing time early Monday morning.

CHICOPEE - Police said a man used a handgun to rob Jocko's Place shortly before closing time early Monday morning.

Chicopee Officer Michael Wilk said the man entered the bar at 535 East St. at 1:35 a.m., showed a handgun, and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

No one was injured in the incident, he said.

Wilk said the robbery was still under investigation and he did not know whether any security cameras had captured the incident.

This story will be updated after further reporting.

The arrests for shoplifting were made Dec. 27, 29 and 31. One of those arrested also was charged with armed robbery, Wilbraham police said.

WILBRAHAM - Wilbraham police made three separate arrests for shoplifting at the Big Y on Boston Road.

On Dec. 29 at 9:43 p.m., Patrolmen Thomas Motyka and Justin Wall responded to Big Y for a report of shoplifting.

Police said James Lockett, 60, of Springfield took two bottles of liquor and exited the store without paying.

When he was confronted by a Big Y employee, he dropped the bottles and they smashed on the ground. He told the employee he had a knife, police said.

He was charged by police with armed robbery and wanton destruction of property (dropping the liquor bottles).

On Dec. 27 at 10:53 a.m., police said Big Y called, stating that they had detained a shoplifter.

Patrolman Peter Laviolette responded and charged Michael Gamache, 62, of Wales with shoplifting approximately $60 worth of lobsters and oysters.

On Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. Patrolman Justin Wall responded to Big Y for another report of shoplifting.

Police said Lori Ann Gridley, 49, of Chicopee was detained after she reused shopping bags, did $300 worth of shopping and exited the store without paying.

She was charged by Patrolman Justin Wall with shoplifting.

Police arrested the suspect after responding to a report of a disturbance on Cyman Street.

CHICOPEE -- Police arrested a Florida man and confiscated a loaded shotgun from him Saturday night after an altercation began inside in a Cyman Street apartment and then spilled out onto the street.

The incident began shortly before 9:45 p.m. when police were summoned to 21 Cyman Drive (third floor) for a report of a fight and a person armed with what appeared to be a rifle, Michael Wilk, public information officer for the department, said.

Upon arrival, police found a man with lacerations on his head and claiming to have been jumped. Officers went on to find a loaded shotgun in the man's vehicle.

A witness told police that the injured man, who was ultimately arrested, approached the passenger side door of another vehicle, yelling "You jumped me," Wilk said.

That vehicle fled towards Chicopee Center, Wilk said.

Angel Santos De Leon, 24, of 40th E. 10th St., was charged with disturbance while carrying a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm without an FID card and possession of ammunition without an FID card.

Wilk said the incident remains under investigation.

An overheating garbage truck caught fire on Route 23 in Russell this morning, leading police to shut down the road.

An overheating garbage truck caught fire on Route 23 in Russell this morning, leading police to shut down the road, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The fire started at 7:55 a.m. and the road is shut up to where it terminates at Route 20, State Police Sgt. Jody Greene said.

"The entire route is shut down indefinitely," Greene said.

No one was injured and the fire has been extinguished, according to Greene. State police and the Russell Fire Department responded, and crews are now cleaning up the scene.

HOLYOKE— A Holyoke drug user is in "very grave" condition this morning after police said the person was found unresponsive. Holyoke Police Lt. Larry Cournoyer said police were called to 1447 Dwight Street just before 4:30 a.m. with a report of a possible overdose. Officers found the subject unresponsive at the scene. The victim was rushed to Holyoke Hospital...

REPUBLICAN FILE 

Holyoke Police Lt. Larry Cournoyer said police were called to 1447 Dwight Street just before 4:30 a.m. with a report of a possible overdose. Officers found the subject unresponsive at the scene. The victim was rushed to Holyoke Hospital where Cournoyer said he remains in critical condition.

Police responded to an earlier overdose situation on Allen Street. The victim of that overdose is said to be doing well after they were taken to Holyoke Hospital for treatment.

Cournoyer said detectives are investigating the incident. He could not say if the overdoses are related to the "Hollywood" branded heroin blamed for the overdose deaths of least eight people in Hampden County over the last week.

Springfield police executed a search warrant Saturday night, confiscated 9,000 bags of heroin, all stamped with the "Hollywood" brand, and arrested four people.

Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri, said Springfield Narcotics detectives discovered the heroin as part of an investigation. The people arrested included alleged drug dealers from Holyoke, Chicopee and North Adams.

'It's not one person that gets things done,' said the mayor. 'It takes a town, or a community, or an army.'

EASTHAMPTON -- Extolling the virtues of teamwork and cooperation, Karen L. Cadieux kicked off her second two-year term as mayor on Monday during a noontime ceremony at the city's municipal office building.

"It's not one person that gets things done," said Cadieux, delivering brief remarks after being sworn in by City Clerk Barbara LaBombard. "It takes a town, or a community, or an army."

Cadieux thanked state Rep. John Scibak (D-South Hadley) and Sen. Donald Humason (R-Westfield) "for the assistance provided us in the past year" and said she looked forward to working with members of the School Committee and City Council.

"I know I've only been your mayor for two years, but I've worked right alongside of you for over twenty-one," said Cadieux, referring to her 17-year stint as assistant to former Mayor Michael Tautznik before she ran for office in 2013. "So all the wonderful things that we have accomplished together have all happened by working together."

Cadieux thanked her family for "always being there through good times and bad, and through difficult situations," saying "it's not always easy to be the child or the spouse of an elected official, and also live in the same area."

The mayor wrapped up by thanking her supporters and saying "I never forget that I work for each one of you, and the best interests of the community."

Asked by reporters to list her first-term accomplishments, Cadieux referred to her leadership style: "My style is a lot of teamwork. Everything I do I do together. So trying to unify the community into one group. And we can all work together on all the issues. And just knock down some of the bridges and get us all to work together."

Cadieux said issues include "working with our legislators for financing for our roads and our schools; the way that our schools are now funded" and "to keep the momentum going of our vibrant community, and keep interesting businesses to stay here and new businesses to come here."

Specifically, the mayor said she'd like to finish up the major infrastructure project nearing completion behind the Pleasant Street Mills, and would like to finish "our downtown project." She mentioned gaining local control of liquor licenses, and moving forward with a plan to streamline permitting for businesses and developers through a new software program that's already been instituted in the building inspector's office.

"It's a fine line; we want businesses to feel welcome, but they have to comply with our rules and regulations," said the mayor.

The upstairs meeting room at 50 Payson Ave. was full of supporters, including police officers, firefighters, municipal employees, and others. Attendees enjoyed a sandwich buffet and glasses of Easthampton's award-winning tap water, judged last year to be the best in the nation.

Also sworn in Monday were at-large city councilors Joseph P. McCoy, Tamara L. Smith, Daniel R. Carey, and Margaret A. Conniff. District councilors taking the oath of office were James "JP" Kwiecinski (Precinct 1), Jennifer A. Hayes (Precinct 2), Joy E. Winnie (Precinct 3), Salem Derby (Precinct 4) and Daniel D. Rist (Precinct 5).

McCoy and Derby were chosen by their peers to continue as president and and vice president of the council.

Members of the School Committee sworn in were Deborah B. Lusnia, Peter T. Gunn, Cynthia L. Kwiecinski, Kasey C. Corsello, Sarah C. Hunter, and Marissa L. Carrere. Lusnia will continue as School Committee chair, and Carrere was selected as secretary.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

Adam Chelluk, 24, of Brockton, was arrested after he was found with about $1,000 in counterfeit money, according to Vermont State Police officials.

ROYALTON, Vt. — A Massachusetts man has been charged in Vermont for allegedly possessing counterfeit money.

Adam Chelluk, 24, of Brockton, was taken into custody after a traffic stop on Interstate 89 in Royalton, Vermont, on Monday afternoon, according to Vermont State Police officials.

Troopers stopped a car for a minor violation in the northbound lane of I-89. Further investigation revealed that Chelluk, a passenger in the vehicle, was in possession of about $1,000 worth of counterfeit $20 bills, police said.

Chelluk, a tattoo artist, according to his to his Facebook page, is due back in court on March 8. It was not immediately known if he has a lawyer.

Those interested can send material to the board's office, at Finnerty House, 1 South Main St., or to P. O. Box 670, Belchertown, 01007

 

Those interested may send material to the board's office, at Finnerty House, 1 South Main St., or to P. O. Box 670, Belchertown, 01007.

The deadline is February 19.

When Michael Mellen retired at age 45, after 22 years as a Massachusetts correctional officer, he could not leave behind the paranoia that he developed behind the walls. Some 18 months after he retired, Mellen committed suicide.

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. One of the most viewed photo galleries was David Molnars album of the Christmas tree bonfire in Palmer, above.

1) Why the New England Patriots (and their fans) should be optimistic heading into AFC Playoffs [Kevin Duffy]

2) Illinois teacher sexually abuses teen visiting her home for pizza, police say [Associated Press]

3) High suicide rates plague Massachusetts correctional officers [Shira Schoenberg]

4) Holyoke police report 2 more heroin overdoses [Dave Canton]

5) Chicopee bar robbed by man with gun early Monday [Rebecca Everett]

The Holyoke council president also wants the School Department headquarters settled and a plan devised to fund pensions.

HOLYOKE -- City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain called for a balanced-budget ordinance and a municipal employee hiring freeze Monday after the council reelected him as leader on Inauguration Day.

"Good stewardship requires that we not spend more than we have coming in for revenues. Our departments must realize it is not business as usual," Jourdain said at City Hall (see Jourdain's speech below).

The 15-member council met briefly in City Council Chambers after the inauguration ceremony was held upstairs in the auditorium and installed Jourdain as president again by a vote of 14-1.

Jourdain also said the city:

Ward 4 Councilor Jossie M. Valentin said "Peter Tallman" when the roll call read aloud by City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee reached her name in the voting for City Council president.

"Because the vote is about who I wanted to see as City Council president," said Valentin, saying hers was more a vote for Tallman than against Jourdain.

Tallman, 58, a 17-year councilor at large, attracted the most votes of any candidate on the city election ballot on Nov. 3, with 5,476 votes, in winning reelection to another two-year term.

A bid in the community to "draft" Tallman into seeking the council presidency failed to gain steam early last month. Jourdain had said a few weeks before that that he had commitments from a majority of councilors for another term as president.

Tallman told The Republican and MassLive.com Dec. 1 of such a draft, "I'm not ruling it out," but it was clear Jourdain had the votes.

Jourdain and Ward 2 Councilor Nelson Roman have filed an order the City Council will consider Tuesday that proposes establishing an ordinance that would require that the budget the mayor submits for the City Council to review in the spring be balanced.

The order states:

"That an Ordinance be created requiring the Mayor to submit a balanced budget for the subsequent fiscal year to the City Council by April 30th of each year. The Mayor's Budget proposal for expenses may not exceed the projected revenues for the subsequent fiscal year. The Mayor may not use uncertified free cash dollars or unapproved withdrawals from the Stabilization fund in his revenue estimate to provide a balanced budget for the subsequent fiscal year."

The reference is to a practice mayors have used for years. The budget submitted to the City Council contains a deficit, showing projected spending that is higher than projected revenues. The practice has been that once the state Department of Revenue certifies the amount of free cash available for the city to use, transfers will be approved from that money source to eliminate the deficit later in the fiscal year.

Free cash is money that was unspent in accounts in the previous fiscal year.

"It is improper practice, which predates the current administration albeit continued by (the) current mayor, to have the chief executive submitting a budget to the City Council that is $4.5 million in the hole and expect the City Council to figure it out," Jourdain said.

"I expect the chief executive to submit balanced budgets to the City Council. The current practice makes it nearly impossible to balance the budget through spending reductions because half the fiscal year is already over," he said.

When the mayor submits a proposed budget to run the city in the next fiscal year, that triggers a 45-day window in which the City Council is authorized to review and cut, but not add to, the budget.

The council holds hearings on specific accounts such as the Police, Fire and Public Works departments' budgets and usually carves a seven-figure cut in the total. But the cutting hasn't been enough for the city to begin the fiscal year without a deficit.

Mayor Alex B. Morse said he agreed with Jourdain about the need for a balanced budget, but getting there will require discussion and not just an ordinance.

"I couldn't agree more with the spirit of this order. Every year we strive to present a balanced budget, but as Councilor Jourdain himself acknowledged, this has been an issue for years," Morse said.

"Simply passing an order will not solve this problem. We need a comprehensive plan that includes cuts and revenue, and no mayor can produce that alone. It must be done in collaboration with the council. I look forward to working with Councilor Jourdain, Councilor Roman, and all of their colleagues in addressing this issue head on," he said.

One of the problems causing the deficit is that expenses in the sewer fund have out-stripped revenues. Morse and Jourdain have clashed on how to solve that. Morse has urged the council for years to establish a series of small increases in the sewer rate to attract new revenue.

Jourdain has said that before customers are hit with higher rates, other steps must occur. More must be done to seize revenue in the form of overdue sewer bills, cutting expenses and possibly renegotiating the city's contract with the private company that operates the wastewater treatment plant on Berkshire Street, he said.

Morse has said the issue is one of revenue. The deficit is caused by the city having to borrow money to comply with federal laws to reduce sewage flow into the Connecticut RIver. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in overdue sewer bills have been received and little is to be gained by seeking cuts at the wastewater treatment plant or in reopening the operator contract, he has said.

Also on the Tuesday City Council agenda is an order filed by Jourdain and Councilor Todd A. McGee to save money by imposing a freeze on filling of city positions.

"I have also joined the call for a hiring freeze for all non-public safety personnel until such time as the budget situation improves. This is common sense," Jourdain said in his remarks to the City Council.

Morse said "an indiscriminate hiring freeze" won't solve the problem. His administration already has a policy that aims for efficiency by reviewing whether positions remain necessary or if they can be merged with others, he said.

"However, there are roles we need to fill, and simply saying we will not fill any position could be dangerous and would do more harm than good. For example, if our purchasing agent was to retire, the city would not be able to produce any contracts or process any payments. This would cause government to stop altogether. This is one example of many, and a reason I cannot support the order as written," Morse said.

Here is the text of the speech that Holyoke City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain made on Inauguration Day:

Firstly, I would like to thank my colleagues for re-electing me as President of the City Council. It has been an exceptional honor and privilege to serve you, the institution, and most importantly the people of Holyoke in this capacity.

I would like to thank my Mom Kathy, my wife Shari and my son Kevin Jr for being here today. I love each of you very much. My two daughters are in school today and cannot be with us.

Today is Inauguration Day; therefore, today is a glorious day. With Pomp and Circumstance, and robust with splendor, we to whom the people have chosen, has come a great honor but also a great responsibility. The origin of the word "inauguration" comes from the Latin word "augur." In ancient Rome, the Augur's responsibility was to determine by means of ancient rituals if it was the will of the gods for a public official to be deemed worthy to assume office, or if some official action already taken was pleasing to the Gods.

The Augur would interpret the will of the Gods by watching the flight patterns of certain birds interpreting their movements, noises, and conduct. The ancient Romans entrusted great faith in the Augurs to determine the pax, fortuna, and salus (peace, good fortune, and well-being) of the Roman people in taking their official actions.

Today, we have no Augurs to determine if we are the right people to serve, all we have is the supreme best hopes of the electorate to determine if we are the right people to serve. Each of us has stood before the people of Holyoke and has been chosen. Each of us is willing to serve with the best of intentions guided by our visions for a better Holyoke.

As Council President, I will seek to harness that collective energy in each of us so that the City Council may be a positive force for the Common Good.

I too like you have a vision.

My vision is one of a prosperous city, vibrant and dynamic. To achieve that we must embrace opportunities to grow the community economically, grow our tax base, and expand the job opportunities for our residents. We must continue to embrace policies and projects that are consistent with this spirit.

We also need to continue to give special attention to our downtown core. It is vital to our success. We must continue to expand on our investments there.

My vision is also of a city that has a government which is responsible to its mission by being good stewards of its resources. Stewardship does not simply mean preserving that which we have, but also about maintaining and growing our reserves for the continuity of our mission for many generations to come. It is unjust and selfish for us to spend for today with no plan to serve for tomorrow. Preservation of services at current levels today without consideration for our need to reform and re-tool and at the further expense of our city's long-term financial vitality is not in the public good.

To that end, the City Council and the Mayor must once and for all fix the structural deficit in our city budget. Difficult choices need to be made, so let us make them. The city must in a sustainable manner develop a plan to retire the $156 million unfunded Retirement Fund liability. The current plan to pay it off by 2032 is impossible to fund under the current budget framework. I engage the Mayor and Retirement Board to work with us to develop a real solution. Solving this will free up millions of dollars in working cash flow to preserve services and protect our cash reserves.

We must not deplete our current Stabilization Fund balances any further. To do so jeopardizes the city's future against significant emergencies, significant unexpected capital needs and to maintain our excellent bond rating. It is a travesty that no money has been put into this fund since 1999, and now we take it as routine that we need to make withdrawals from it.

A permanent home for the Holyoke School Department must be found that is in the final and financial best interests of the city, its children and staff. I once again renew my plan for the eminent domain taking of 57 Suffolk Street if other more reasonable terms cannot be met. This solution could save the city of Holyoke millions of dollars. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Dr. Zrike with whom I am thus far thoroughly impressed.

Since it is likely that our tax levy will remain close to its current levels for the near term, or with small growth, it is only proper that our departments' expenses also remain level. Good stewardship requires that we not spend more than we have coming in for revenues. Our departments must realize it is not business as usual.

To support this principle, I have co-sponsored a new government reform measure in the form of a proposed new ordinance to implement greater restrictions to require the Mayor to submit a budget which is balanced to the City Council when he initially proposes it, as opposed to the current practice, which is to be millions short, and then only balanced half way through the fiscal year. It is improper practice, which predates the current administration albeit continued by current mayor, to have the chief executive submitting a budget to the City Council that is $4.5 million in the hole and expect the City Council to figure it out. I expect the Chief Executive to submit balanced budgets to the City Council. The current practice makes it nearly impossible to balance the budget through spending reductions because half the fiscal year is already over.

To support this initiative and the remainder of my government reform goals, it is my intention to leave my seat on the Finance Committee and to join the Ordinance Committee for the purpose of assisting in this critical work.

I have also joined the call for a hiring freeze for all non-public safety personnel until such time as the budget situation improves. This is common sense.

In like manner, I shall request of the Mayor a capital bond for the purpose of funding important capital projects that the city desperately needs, including, important improvements to parks, sidewalks, our schools, and the city hall annex. We have decaying and dangerous traffic intersections that need our immediate attention and I will advocate for those dollars in this bond. Moreover, we need to consider bonding for items that we have traditionally expensed in effort to free up significant dollars in our operating budget. For example, items such as police cars, that are hundreds of thousands of dollars, need to be purchased on an annual basis. Under this capital plan, these costs would be covered by the bond instead. The city's important capital needs cannot be ignored during these tight fiscal times, this offers us a solution.

Over the coming weeks, we will be filling a number of important positions vital to our government including filling the 3rd Assessor position and the City Auditor position. It is critical we get top quality people in these positions.

We must continue to work in earnest with our Water Department to provide us a proposal to merge their department with the sewer department under their Special Act framework. The Water Department Manager tells me very soon they will have a proposal for your consideration. I have made this a top priority of mine over the next term.

It is also my intention to continue to lobby for the permanent location of the Sheriff's Alcohol Treatment Center here in the City of Holyoke. The city would benefit greatly from a lucrative long-term lease with the state for the use of the former Geriatric Authority property. We can achieve even better terms than we have presently. This is the one certain way for the city to re-coup the millions lost to the former operations while providing a valuable service to the people of Hampden County. In a related manner, I will be advocating for the adoption of legislation I have filed to regulate the use of licenses for city property use which have been used to circumvent the City Council's lease granting authority.

As you know the bulk of our work occurs in our committees, and I will work hard to make our committee system more efficient and vibrant. Later this week, I will announce the new committee assignments for all Councilors for the new term. It is my intention to give some new Councilors opportunities to serve in the leadership of the Council and bring their fresh perspectives and energies to the committees.

I also have an ambitious agenda of improvements requested by the residents of my ward 6. The list is too long to mention here but I will continue to be working with you on achieving these improvements together.

As promised, I kept my word to serve just 6 years as Council President. I am so very pleased in how much we have been able to achieve over the last 4 years. In my last term as President, I will be sprinting to the finish with an ambitious plan of reform and improvement. We will not just be marking time, but rather making history and I am very fortunate indeed to have this opportunity.

Inaugurations are about new beginnings. But in the end, we will be judged by the results we produce. I will do everything in my power to assist each of you to be a success in your duties and for our city to prosper. Let us begin our work.

May Almighty God keep Holyoke within His Divine Providence and may He Bless the work of our new Mayor and City Council.

Thank you.

The fire fighters were handed their checks, that included the extra duty payments, on Dec. 22, but they were posted with a date of Dec. 24 – meaning they could not be cashed until Christmas Eve

PALMER - Last month's delay in paying nearly 20 call firefighters, who form the backbone of the Three Rivers Fire District Department, has not assuaged the hard feelings resulting from that incident, and according to a lieutenant, the state attorney general is investigating the matter so it does not happen again.

The firefighters are paid $1,000 twice each year, in June and December, in addition to extra duty pay at a rate of $20 per hour, but last month's payment was delayed when the Prudential Committee Chairman, Ray Domey, questioned some of the extra duty payments. The prudential committee is the Three Rivers Fire District governing board.

Domey's action prompted Lt. Dan Daigle to write state and federal authorities, and to the prudential board.

His Dec. 18 letter said the failure to pay firefighters on time was "an unlawful practice," adding that the checks should have been in-hand two days earlier.

At the time, Domey defended the action, saying legal counsel had advised him to not have the checks issued until it could be established that the extra duty payments matched work performed was related to fire department business.

He also blamed Fire Chief Scott Turner for not submitting paperwork on time. Turner said payroll information was provided on Dec. 11.

In an interview Sunday, Daigle said firefighters were handed their checks, that included the extra duty payments, on Dec. 22, but that they were posted with a date of Dec. 24 - meaning they could not be cashed until Christmas Eve.

"I am happy we got paid, but the passive-aggressive way (it was handled) was sad, to say the least," said Lt. Patrick Austin, in an interview.

"The attorney general's office said they would still pursue this issue, to make sure it doesn't happen again," Daigle said.

Contacted Monday night, prudential committee member Donald Reim said he did not agree with paying firefighters for the extra duty amounts, but that the agency's lawyer told them to.

"Our lawyer says 'pay them,'" Reim said.

"It was me that held up the checks," he added. "I wouldn't sign them.

According to Reim, the $4,650 of extra duty money should have been scrutinized carefully, and that it was wrong to make those payments to the firefighters.

"The way it is going now, it is out of hand. It's definitely gotten out of hand," he said.

With just two years to go until MGM Springfield is expected to open its doors to patrons in September 2018, the $950 million casino project should see an array of construction and other progress over the new year.

SPRINGFIELD ‒ With just two years to go until MGM Springfield is expected to open its doors to patrons, the $950 million casino project should see an array of construction and other progress over the new year.

Although MGM officials have yet to release a detailed construction schedule for the casino slated to open in September 2018, they have confirmed that several projects are expected to be underway as early as January.

"The new year will be busy for MGM with the commencement of active construction, MGM Springfield construction management representatives hosting ongoing information sessions with interested minority, women and veteran owned businesses and the opening of the relocated MGM Springfield Community Office," project officials said in a recent release.

The MGM project has been promised to create a minimum of 2,000 construction jobs and abide by an affirmative action program to meet hiring goals of 15.3 percent minorities, 6.9 percent women and 8 percent veterans.

Once the casino opens its doors, MGM has pledged to hire at least 3,000 workers, of which at least 2,200 will be employed on a full-time equivalent basis with benefits.

Here's what to expect from MGM Springfield in 2016:

MGM Springfield's recent public presentation on the revised casino plan detailed the removal of the 25-story, glass-facade hotel tower which was once slated to stand on this site on State Street.

City councilors, who recently approved a casino overlay district allowing MGM to move forward with demolition and some construction work, must still approve proposed changes to the project's design, including plans to replace a 25-tower hotel tower with a six-story structure and an overall reduction in square footage.

Following the Dec. 21 zoning district vote, Council President Michael Fenton, who has raised concerns about the proposed changes, said councilors will consider them during future site plan review hearings in mid- to late-January.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, meanwhile, must also vote on MGM's design changes. The panel recently gave environmental approval for MGM to begin more extensive site work.

The Massachusetts Historical Commission, meanwhile, must approve of a Memorandum of Agreement with MGM Springfield.

The now-closed MGM Springfield community office near the corner of Main Street and Boland Way, as seen through the front window on the morning of Oct. 28, 2015. MGM will re-open a downtown office in early 2016.

While a date has yet to be announced, MGM Springfield is expected to open a new office located at 1182 Main St. in January.

MGM closed its community services office at 1441 Main St. in September, but locals largely didn't take notice until late-October.

"The MGM Springfield Community Office will reopen at 1182 Main St. at the start of the new year," said spokesperson Carole Brennan. "The new location is within the MGM Springfield footprint."

Despite the closure, MGM Springfield team members have remained available to the community during the transition, the company said.

Confetti flies following the groundbreaking ceremony for the MGM Springfield casino in the parking lot of the former Alfred G. Zanetti School on Howard Street, which was damaged in the June 1, 2011 tornado. The school will finally be demolished in January. (MARK M.MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN)Mark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.com

With the MGC and city council's recent overlay district and environmental approvals, MGM Springfield plans to begin demolition of the Zanetti school building in mid-January.

City and MGM Resorts International officials ceremoniously broke ground in front of the former school in early 2015, but the building has remained standing as MGM Springfield navigated various regulatory hurdles.

The council and commission's recent approvals, however, allow the company to start demolishing buildings - the first of which is expected to be the Zanetti school on Howard Street.

What is still recognized as the First Spiritualist Church of Springfield is a Victorian Gothic church built in 1887, and purchased by MGM Resorts International in 2013 when the parish moved to Chicopee. MGM plans to move the building to Union Street on its South End campus and have it house some type of food and beverage operation. Robert Rizzuto | rrizzuto@repub.com

MGM, which has proposed moving the church from Union Street to its retail plaza, anticipates pouring the slab for the new location sometime in January. The actual move, spokeswoman Carole Brennan said, will come later.

Project officials said during a December MGC meeting that the church will anchor the proposed ice-skating rink in the plaza space and will likely serve as a food/retail space.

This composite released by MGM Springfield details the change in plans for its parking garage, which is expected to accommodate 3,375 vehicles.

According to Brennan, MGM hopes to begin constructing the foundation and below-ground work on the project's planned parking garage in early 2016.

MGM Springfield officials told MGC commissioners last month that the company is currently out to bid and hopes to make an award mid-to-late-January on the garage.

Under MGM's updated design proposal, the structure would include 3,375 garage and 86 surface spaces. Under the host community agreement, it can have no more than 3,600 spaces.

This construction projection released by MGM Springfield in late 2015 details the company's plans for starting and completing various aspects of its casino project.

According to MGM Springfield's project milestones, construction related to residential units, offsite improvements and sitework and utilities is expected to come in the first six months of 2016.

Construction on 95 State St.; 101 State St. and DaVinci Park, meanwhile, is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2016.

Hotel, podium and plaza retail construction is slated to start in late 2016, according to MGM's projections.

Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said the high bail imposed on all four defendants reflected his office's determination to fight the region's opioid epidemic.

SPRINGFIELD - By late Monday afternoon, three of the four men arrested in a crackdown on a lethal strain of "Hollywood' heroin had been arraigned in Springfield District Court.

That left Elvin Resto, 52, of Holyoke, whose appearance had been delayed for several hours and, just as it was about to start, was delayed again.

"He needs an interpreter," defense lawyer Meredith Ryan said, passing on a request from her client.

"An interpreter?" Judge William Boyle asked, in apparent disbelief. "He lived in Springfield for 34 years."

In the closing minutes of court, an interpreter was found and Resto pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, both subsequent offenses.

At the request of Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski, Boyle set bail at $50,000 - the same figure imposed on co-defendant Elvis Luckham of Chicopee earlier in the session.

A third defendant, Francis Willor, of North Adams, was held on $100,000 bail while the largest total, $500,000, was imposed on Juan Perez, 27, of Springfield, who is charged with heroin trafficking.

All four were arrested over the weekend as Springfield narcotics detectives cracked down on sales of so-called "Hollywood" brand heroin after at least five fatal overdoses in Holyoke and Chicopee.

A total of 8,000 heroin packets, or about 160 grams, were found hidden in a fake bumper of a minivan driven, Szafranski said. Another 100 packets were seized during related raids, along with $20,000 in cash, Szafransnki said.

In a brief summary of the investigation, the prosecutor said Perez was arrested late Saturday after city police received a tip that a gold minivan carrying a large amount of heroin would be pulling into the parking lot of a CVS store on Belmont Avenue.

Police followed the van and arrested Perez
on the corner of Sumner and Ormond streets, according to Szafranski, who said all 8,000 packets found in the bumper carried the Hollywood brand.

The prosecutor, noting that Hollywood heroin has been linked to at least five fatal overdoses in a week, asked Boyle to impose $500,000 cash bail.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said the high bail imposed on all four defendants reflected his office's determination to fight the region's opioid epidemic.

"We will move aggressively to prosecute these cases to prevent further peddling of this poison in our neighborhoods," Gulluni said.

Resto, Willor and Luckham are due back in court on Jan. 28; Perez's return date is Feb. 4.

Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident that occurred on Route 202 in South Hadley Monday night.

SOUTH HADLEY - Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident that occurred on Route 202 Monday night.

A pedestrian was struck and killed in front of the the Second Baptist Church on Granby Road at 5:45 p.m., according to WWLP.

On Tuesday morning, South Hadley Police referred comment on the investigation to the Northwestern district attorney's office. Mary Carey, a spokeswoman for the office, said she could not confirm anything about the accident but expected to release some information later Tuesday.

Route 202 was closed for several hours while police investigated. State Police told WWLP that the state's Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section was assisting with the investigation.

This story will be updated after further reporting.

At the Jan. 5 meeting, at South Hadley High School Library, parents will be invited to submit written comment on the candidates, superintendent Nicholas Young said

SOUTH HADLEY - The School Committee plans to hold public interviews today, Tuesday for the two finalists seeking the job of principal at Plains Elementary School.

At the Jan. 5 meeting, in the South Hadley High School Library, parents will be invited to submit written comment on the candidates, superintendent Nicholas Young said.

The first interview is scheduled to begin at about 6:10 p.m., he said.

The finalists are Hank Skala, of East Longmeadow; and Dianne Ellis, of Montague

Skala was a principal in the Stafford Springs, Connecticut, school district from 1998 to 2014, and most recently served in that role for the East Granby, Connecticut, public school system. He earned a masters degree in education from Springfield College, and a masters in public administration from American International College.

Ellis has been a principal in the Athol-Royalston school district since 2011. Previously, she was special education director at the Ralph Mahar regional school district, that includes Orange and Petersham. Ellis earned her masters degree from Antioch College.

Young said the selection of a new principal is expected later this week.

A problem with a tractor-trailer truck temporarily closed the Exit 13 ramps on Interstate 290 in Worcester Tuesday morning.

UPDATE: Both Exit 13 ramps were reopened at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, per State Police.

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WORCESTER - A problem with a tractor-trailer truck closed the Exit 13 ramps on Interstate 290 East and West Tuesday morning.

The state Department of Transportation and Massachusetts State Police tweeted shortly after 7 a.m. that the closure was due to a dislodged truck trailer.

The truck unit detached from the trailer on an overpass, State Police said.

According to Google Maps, traffic was clogged on I-290 East for three miles west of the exit. The delay was about 15 minutes.

Vieau will serve as president and Brooks as vice president.

CHICOPEE - The City Council unanimously and without controversy elected councilors John L. Vieau as its president and Shane D. Brooks as its vice president shortly after city officials were sworn into office Monday.

Councilor Frank N. Laflamme nominated both for the offices. No other candidates were recommended and the 12 councilors, voting by written ballot, all chose the two candidates. Councilor William Zaskey was ill and did not make the meeting.

The council met briefly at noon following the inaugural ceremony at Elms College, as is tradition.

The council had to select a new president since George R. Moreau, who served as City Council president for the past four years and was a City Councilor for about 30 years, lost this year's election.

Vieau, who has been the Ward 3 Councilor since 2004, has served as vice president of the council for the past two years.

After the election, he told his fellow members that he was honored to be selected as president.

"I think we have a great group and I'm looking forward to a productive two years working with the mayor," he said.

During his election speech just an hour before, Mayor Richard J. Kos mentioned several times that improving the city was a team effort and talked about how important it is to have a good working relationship with the Council and local legislators.

Brooks is starting his second term as the Ward 2 City Councilor. He previously served on the City Council from 2005 to 2009 and was also a School Committee member.

He thanked the Council but refrained from making any speeches after being sworn in as vice president by City Clerk Keith W. Rattell.

Police said they have identified a suspect who was reportedly masturbating in his vehicle in the parking lot of Big Y Supermarket at 2035 Boston Road in Wilbraham.

WILBRAHAM - Police said they have identified a suspect who was reportedly masturbating in his vehicle in the parking lot of Big Y Supermarket at 2035 Boston Road.

Wilbraham Police stated Tuesday that a woman reported the incident around 8 p.m. Sunday. Two officers were unable to locate the man be he quickly fled, police said in a Facebook post.

But thanks to "very detailed information" the woman provided about the man's appearance and his vehicle, police believe they have identified the man. His name will be made public if or when charges are filed, police said.

"An investigation is ongoing," police said in the post.