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East Longmeadow students poised to present indie parody stage production: 'To Kill a Mocking Jay'

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The musical will kick of at the Drama Studio at 41 Oakland Street in Springfield; March 18 at 7:30 p.m.; March 19 and 3 and 7:30 p.m.; and March 20 at 2 and 6 p.m. Advance reservations are strongly advised and can be obtained by calling 413-525-5659.

EAST LONGMEADOW -They were two adolescent boys, gradually coming to an understanding of square pegs in round holes in a bedroom community in Western Massachusetts that valued sports prowess above all.

Dan Kelly, 16, concedes his father hoped he would be a sports standout. But, he and Michael Nevins, both now juniors at East Longmeadow High School, discovered an outlet in theater that was both unexpected and truly satisfying.

"I tried every sport known to man; I even did karate for one day," Nevins, 17, said during an interview at the town's Starbuck's, where an advertisement for their upcoming two-act play, "To Kill a Mocking Jay," hangs on the wall.

"You really did that? Dude, that's going in," Kelly joked. "Not that there's anything wrong with sports, but we wanted kids to know there are other options aside from bouncing a basketball. There's a lot of stigma around not being involved in a sport."

After joining the school system's theater groups and finding a social and creative refuge, the pair began realizing they sought even more creative independence by the time they reached high school. Both Kelly and Nevins had several lead roles in school plays, but they wanted to branch out. The two listened to both original and adapted parodies on Youtube and other social media and thought that might be the route for them.

"We came off a particularly bad rehearsal, and started thinking: what can we do that would be really funny? I had a notebook; and me and Michael were joking about the 'Hunger Games,' Kelly said, referring to a wildly popular dystopian trilogy authored by Suzanne Collins.

The book series was ultimately adapted into a movie series featuring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, the series' heroine, who finds herself at the center of an annual Darwinian physical fight to the death. The boys entitled their play "To Kill A Mocking Jay," as a hybrid of the series and as a nod to a 1960 novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee about social justice.

The two-act, two-hour musical by "wetpainttheatre" features 17 actors including Kelly as "Dale" and Nevins as "President Snow" plus a handful of stage crew members. Among the featured songs in the musical are "Everything Sucks in District 12," as a reference to Everdeen's slum-like existence, and "Snow's Going Down."

The musical will kick off at the Drama Studio at 41 Oakland Street in Springfield; March 18 at 7:30 p.m.; March 19 and 3 and 7:30 p.m.; and March 20 at 2 and 6 p.m. Advance reservations are strongly advised and can be obtained by calling 413-525-5659.

The playwrights concede the inside jokes will be most familiar with those who have read the book series or watched the movies, but will have a comedic appeal for everyone. It may be most appealing to Millennials but not exclusive to that generation, Nevins says.

The creative process was just one of the challenges that faced Kelly and Nevins. They realized they needed to hire a composer, which they found on Craigslist, Jacob Burnstein, a Berkley graduate to whom they paid $1,750.

"That was the first bill. We realized there was a lot more to pay for," Nevins said.

They launched a Kickstart fund-raiser that tanked.

"It failed epically," Nevins said.

So they looked to their parents: Kelly's father a lawyer; his mother, a teacher; Nevin's mom a house-cleaner and his father an employee at a car dealership. Plus, they received support from what they called "a dead people's lamp store," "Reflections by Claudia,'" in East Longmeadow.

The boys received support from their high school principal after breaking from the high school drama club, but subsequent push-back from the school district superintendent's office. Facing a financing bill they felt untenable, they turned to the Drama Studio, where the two have taken acting and comedy classes.

They feel confident as the date approaches on March 18 with tickets selling fast. The more than two dozen actors have been rehearsing in Kelly's basement for more than a month.

"This is all I want to do in my life; iIjust want to make people laugh. When people laugh at our jokes, I just get this sense of gratification. Thia is a dream come true,"Kelly said.





Bennington firefighters rescue unconscious person from fire

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Bennington firefighters searched and found an unconscious person in a burning building Saturday.The fire at 108 Grant St. just after 1 a.m. forced six families out of their homes.

BENNINGTON, VERMONT— A large fire Saturday morning drove six families from their home when fire broke out in a three-story apartment complex. Firefighters had to search out and rescue one of the residents when they fell unconscious in the burning building.

The Brattleboro Reformer reported that the fire broke out just after 1 a.m. Saturday and firefighters were warned as they arrived that one resident was still inside the building. A search of the building found a locked area, forcing firefighters to break down the doors. The resident was found unconscious and was carried from the building, then transported to the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington for treatment.

The fire took several hours to bring under control, and it wasn;t until dusk Saturday evening that the fire was declared extinguished.

All six families who lived in the building were displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross was called in to assist the victims.

Amtrak train derails in Kansas, injuring roughly 20

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An Amtrak train has derailed in southwest Kansas, sending about 20 people to the hospital.

CIMARRON, Kan. (AP) -- An Amtrak train has derailed in southwest Kansas, sending about 20 people to the hospital.

An Amtrak statement says the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago early Monday when it derailed just after midnight about 20 miles west of Dodge City.

Kansas Highway Patrol communication specialist Patricia Munford says five train cars are on their side.

Amtrak says about 20 passengers have been taken to hospitals in Dodge City and Garden City. All others were taken to a recreation center and will be given alternate transportation to their final destination.

Amtrak says the train consisted of two locomotives and nine cars and had about 128 passengers and 14 crew members on board.

Dodge City is about 160 miles west of Wichita.

Train derailment reported in Montague Feb. 15

Massachusetts man charged with 5th OUI after allegedly driving on shredded tire

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Joseph P. Lynsky, 74, of Maynard, "was very unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol" as he exited his car, Maynard police said.

MAYNARD — A town resident was charged with his fifth OUI offense after allegedly driving drunk on a shredded tire over the weekend.

Maynard Police Officer Shawn Corrigan was on Main Street around 10:50 a.m. Saturday when several pedestrians alerted him to a vehicle driving on its rim. Corrigan caught up to the car, noticing that its front right tire was worn down to the rim as it turned onto River Street, police said.

Corrigan stopped to assist 74-year-old Joseph P. Lynsky, who was "very unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol" as he exited the car, police said. Lynsky was placed under arrest for drunken driving, police said.

lynsky's tire.jpgThe front right tire on Joseph Lynsky's car was just about gone, according to Maynard police, who say the town resident was drunk as he drove down Main Street over the weekend. (Maynard Police Department) 

He was arraigned Monday in Concord District Court on charges of OUI Liquor, 5th offense; negligent operation of a motor vehicle; and operating with a defective tire. It wasn't immediately known if he has a lawyer.

"The actions of this individual were extremely reckless, as he put his own life and the lives of all other motorists and pedestrians in danger," Maynard Police Chief Mark Dubois said.

"Thanks to the swift action of residents and the quick response by police, this man was taken into custody without incident," Dubois said.


MAP showing approximate location of OUI arrest:



Harvard University agrees to retire law school shield tied to slavery

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The university's governing body announced the decision Monday, supporting a campus committee's previous recommendation to remove the shield.

CAMBRIDGE -- Harvard University is retiring the official shield of its law school following complaints over its ties to an 18th-century slaveholder.

Harvard Law Seal 
The university's governing body announced the decision Monday, supporting a campus committee's previous recommendation to remove the shield.

The shield was approved in 1937 and depicts three bundles of wheat. It's modeled after the family crest of slaveholder Isaac Royall Jr., who donated his estate to create the first law professorship at Harvard. Royall inherited his estate and many slaves from his father, a slaveholder who was known for his cruelty.

Students formed a group last fall calling for removal of the shield.

Harvard's governing body says the law school should propose a new shield that better represents its values. It emphasized the importance of recognizing, not erasing, school history.

Feds: Lawrence man guilty of tax fraud, receiving refunds for Puerto Rico residents who didn't have federal income tax withheld

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Leonidas Nunez, 60, a tax preparer from Lawrence, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and filing "false, fictitious or fraudulent claims with the IRS," the office of U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said.

BOSTON — A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns that led to refunds for Puerto Rico residents who didn't file federal income tax returns in the U.S.

Leonidas Nunez, 60, a tax preparer from Lawrence, pleaded guilty last week in federal court in Boston to charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and filing "false, fictitious or fraudulent claims with the IRS," the office of U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said.

From October 2010 to April 2011, Nunez and others conspired to defraud the IRS by presenting false income tax returns, federal prosecutors said. "The fraudulent returns falsely alleged income earned by Puerto Rican residents who had not had federal income tax withheld and who were not required to file income tax returns in the United States," Ortiz's office said in a press release.

Puerto Ricans pay federal taxes – Social Security, Medicare, payroll and import-export taxes – but most year-round island residents do not have to pay the federal personal income tax. However, those with income sources from the U.S., as well as those who work for the U.S. government or military, are required to pay personal income taxes.

According to prosecutors, the IRS deposited over $220,000 in fraudulent tax refunds into bank accounts controlled by Nunez and co-conspirators because of the illegal scheme. "Together, they filed over 100 fraudulent returns with the IRS for tax year 2010, resulting in over $550,000 in fraudulent claims and over $220,000 in refunds," Ortiz's office said.

A sentencing date for Nunez wasn't immediately available.

The charge of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, three years of probation, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of filing false claims is punishable by up to five years in prison, three years of probation, and a $250,000 fine. However, actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

The tax fraud case was investigated by Ortiz's office and the IRS's Criminal Investigation branch in Boston. The case is being prosecuted by Robert A. Fisher, a member of Ortiz's Public Corruption Unit.


 

Massachusetts state Police: 1 dead in 3-car crash on Route 128 in Danvers

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Police said a 59-year-old Hamilton man was taken to Beverly Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities were withholding his name until family members were notified of his death.

DANVERS — Authorities continue to investigate a fatal crash Monday morning in Danvers.

Massachusetts State Police troopers from the Danvers barracks responded to a 9:08 a.m. report of a three-car collision in the northbound lane of Route 128. A Jeep Renegade stopped in the right travel lane, then began traveling north again, sideswiping a Ford Explorer and rear-ending a Honda Civic, police said.

The Jeep's driver, a 59-year-old man from Hamilton, was taken by ambulance to Beverly Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. On Monday night, authorities said they were still trying to determine if the man had suffered a "medical event" immediately before the crash.

Police said the driver of the Honda, a 54-year-old woman from Reading, was hospitalized with minor injuries, while the driver of the Ford, a 28-year-old Somerville man, was uninjured the crash.

State Police officials at Framingham headquarters said the victim's identity would be withheld until family members were notified of his death.

The crash closed the right travel lane of Route 128 north for about 1½ hours. State Police were assisted at the scene by members of the Danvers Police and Fire departments and EMS personnel.


 

Shootout in Chicago leaves 3 officers wounded, suspect killed

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A shootout between Chicago police and a suspect in drug activity on the city's West Side late Monday left one man dead and three police officers wounded.

CHICAGO (AP) -- A shootout between Chicago police and a suspect in drug activity on the city's West Side late Monday left one man dead and three police officers wounded.

The officers were rushed to Stroger Hospital for treatment of injuries that are not life-threatening, according to police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

The shooting occurred as several police officers were investigating reported drug activity in a residential area of the Homan Square neighborhood, Guglielmi said. The officers observed two men acting suspiciously and decided to investigate further, announcing their presence, he said.

The two men fled, with police giving chase. One of the men ran into a gangway between two buildings and opened fire in the direction of the officers, hitting three of them multiple times, Guglielmi said.

He said one of the officers returned fire, fatally injuring the suspect, who hasn't been identified. It wasn't immediately known if the second suspect was in custody.

Interim Police Superintendent John Escalante was to visit the officers at the hospital and hold a press conference later.

The shooting comes a day after authorities say an undercover narcotics officer in Maryland was mortally wounded by one of his colleagues as he responded to an attack on his police station by a gunman.

"Every day the dedicated men and women of the Chicago Police Department put themselves in danger so the rest of us can be safe," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. "Tonight we were reminded of the dangers that our police face, and the bravery that they routinely display as three of our officers were shot in line of duty."


Yesterday's top stories: Patriots' interest in Chris Hogan 'very surreal feeling,' 3 arrested in Pine Point burglary, and more

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A Florida sheriff's deputy, killed in a head-on crash by a wrong-way driver early Saturday, has strong family ties to Massachusetts and was a graduate of Westfield State University.

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. The most viewed item overall, however, was the gallery of vintage Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade photos, above.

1) Chris Hogan on free agency: 'Very surreal feeling' to learn New England Patriots were interested [Kevin Duffy]

2) Springfield police charge 3 with burglary at Pine Point home [Patrick Johnson]

3) Florida sheriff's deputy killed in crash was Westfield State graduate, son of Mass. State Police sergeant [George Graham]

4) Mountain Park announces pair of August shows [Ray Kelly]

5) Large brawl at Greenfield High School yields arrest of 8 students, police say [George Graham]

Holocaust survivor of Auschwitz concentration camp Thea Aschkenase to address Pathfinder students

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The nonagenarian will be a guest speaker at the school, with her address taking place on Thursday, March 17, 10:30 a.m. in the library/media center

PALMER - A Nazi Germany Holocaust survivor of Auschwitz concentration camp, Thea Aschkenase, will address Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School students next week.

The nonagenarian will be a guest speaker at the school, with her address taking place on Thursday, March 17, 10:30 a.m. in the library/media center.

Aschkenase wrote a book, "Remembering: A Holocaust Survivor Shares her Story" published by Levellers Press in 2015.

"Remembering is the heartfelt account of Thea, who survived the death camps and went on to make loving contributions to her family, her community, her new country and Worcester State University," according to Worcester Women's History Project.

In a statement announcing the Aschkenase address, Pathfinder Assistant Superintendent Mary Jane Rickson said: "She is a remarkable woman who obtained her bachelors degree in 2007 from Worcester State -- in her 80's."

Springfield man who triggered lockdown at Mercy Medical Center held on $5,000 bail

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Carrisquillo showed up in the emergency complaining of abdominal pain - and was soon complaining about the waiting time to see a doctor as well, the report said.

SPRINGFIELD - Manuel Carrisquillo won't be going back to Mercy Medical Center anytime soon.

The 38-year-old Springfield man was arrested in the emergency room early Monday after verbally abusing nurses and doctors and fighting with a police officer, according to court records.

His behavior became so disruptive that the hospital was placed on lockdown and additional security was called to the emergency room, Springfield police officer Dean Fay wrote in his report.

The defendant's "yelling and screaming of obscenities was hindering the doctors and nurses from treating the sick and injured," Fay wrote.

Carrisquillo showed up at the emergency complaining of abdominal pain - and was soon complaining about the waiting time to see a doctor as well, the report said.

The staff asked him to be patient, pointing out that others had come in before him. Instead, he paced back and forth, blaming the staff for the wait and "claiming it was due to his race and that he felt disrespected," wrote Fay, who said he eventually managed to calm the defendant down.

But Carrisquillo resumed arguing and spewing vulgarities after seeing a doctor around 5 a.m. and being discharged, the report said.

At that point, Fay told the defendant to leave or face arrest. "(Obscenity) that, I know my rights," Carrisquillo responded before assuming a fighting stance, the report said.

On Monday afternoon, he pleaded not guilty in Springfield District Court to trespassing, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer.

Defense lawyer Michelle Dame said her client had waited since at least two hours for treatment that he never received. He denied resisting arrest or assaulting the officer and believes footage from the hospital's video surveillance system will exonerate him, Dame said.

Judge William Boyle set bail at $5,000 and ordered the defendant to stay away from Mercy Medical Center.

He scheduled a pretrial hearing for April 13.

 

Majority of Quabbin Watershed Advisory Committee supports rattlesnake island plan

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Decisions about endangered species won't be made through a 'popularity contest,' said a wildlife biologist for the state.

BELCHERTOWN -- An 11-member board which advises the state on matters regarding the Quabbin Reservoir has voiced majority support for a plan to establish a colony of endangered timber rattlesnakes on a remote island that's largely off-limits to the public.

Monday night's 5-2 vote, with several abstentions, was taken by the Quabbin Watershed Advisory Committee (QWAC) at the end of a spirited meeting where more than 100 people packed into the DCR Quabbin Visitors Center, which only had chairs for 45.

The committee, which represents various stakeholder interests, serves a purely advisory role, and has no formal say over whether the state will move to establish the snake colony. Yet Thomas French of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife presented his plan, and committee members expressed their views.

French said the decision will be based upon science, and not public opinion. "It's not going to be a popularity contest," he said, adding that the agency has a responsibility under state law to protect endangered species, and will continue to do so.

Gallery preview 

French, who leads fish and wildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program, in 2013 wrote a $500,000 federal grant to study and protect timber rattlesnakes in nine states.

Tom Lautzenheiser, who represents the Massachusetts Audubon Society on the committee, said his organization is firmly in support of the program. Alisa Campbell of the New England Sierra Club voiced support, as did Bill Pula, director of the Quabbin Reservoir for the Division of Water Resources Protection. "I'm amazed at how much concern there is," said Pula. "It's much more dangerous driving here tonight" than living with rattlesnakes in Massachusetts, he said.

James Boyko of the Swift River Valley Historical Society said his board had discussed the matter and decided to "stay out of it," even though they believed it was unlikely to cause any harm.

Larry Gates of the Quabbin Fisherman's Association said his group is against the idea, and queried French as to why the advisory committee was not informed earlier. Gates noted that Mount Zion is not entirely off-limits to the public, because there is a portable toilet on the island for fishermen. He opined that if someone is bitten, the state will further crack down on public access at the reservoir.

Tony Brighenti of the North Worcester County Quabbin Anglers expressed strong opposition. Brighenti asked French to imagine a situation where a father and two young children rent a fishing boat, have engine trouble, and land on Mount Zion. "I don't want to even think about what could happen to a child," said Brighenti.

Members of the audience were allowed to speak by chairman Tom Berube, and seemed equally split in their views.

A man who owns 40 acres next to the Quabbin lashed out at French, saying "I hear you want to put venomous creatures in my back yard." French responded that "the snakes aren't going to be in your back yard" and said the man's concerns were "not based in science and not based in reality."

A teenager went to bat for the endangered reptiles and said fears were overblown.  

"There is always the odd chance that something will happen, but killing this snake is not an option," said 15-year-old Evan Smith of Ware. "You can't continue to take their habitat away, and then let them die.... If you leave them alone, they are not going to bite you."

There are only five colonies of rattlesnakes statewide, and the snakes are diminishing in number due to roadkill, people who capture them for the illegal pet trade, and criminals who intentionally kill them, said French. In addition, he said, the snakes in recent years have been plagued by a fungal disease.

French reiterated that rattlesnakes are bound to their deep, rocky hibernation sites through scent, and will have no motivation to leave the island, even though they have the capacity to swim. "Any snake trying to swim will make a nice lunchtime snack for a bald eagle."

The snakes will be "head-started" at the Roger Williams Zoo in Rhode Island, implanted with radio transmitters, and introduced to an area on the island with sunny ledges and a massive boulder field, described as "perfect habitat." The young snakes will be introduced at a rate of one to ten per year, possibly beginning in the spring of 2017.

In New England, there has not been a fatality from a rattlesnake bite since colonial days, said French. When people have been bitten, it's generally because they were trying to capture or photograph the snakes. French said just south of Boston, there are 200,000 hikers per year in an area with a rattlesnake colony, with no risk to the public.

He said that in centuries past, there were bounties on rattlesnakes. "There was a philosophy that there are good animals, and bad animals. Now we hold to the belief that all animals have intrinsic value."

similar meeting on the project last month in Orange at Mahar High School drew hundreds of people.

The final decision is in the hands of the the Executive Office of Energy and Environment Affairs and the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, which is responsible for the operation of Quabbin Reservoir.

Agawam Against Addiction: Opiate addicts use Facebook to talk 'raw truth' after posts deleted from forum

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New Facebook pages are rejecting stigma and promoting discussion of the addiction crisis in Western Mass. Watch video

Last Thursday, a debate broke out among a group of opiate addicts and anti-addiction advocates in Western Massachusetts: Why do more ex-users not turn their dealers in to police?

Recovering addicts floated explanations - fear of retaliation and gang violence, a need to distance themselves from old and harmful habits, the primacy of self-healing above all else. Others discussed the falling price of heroin in Springfield and Holyoke and pressure by police to turn wired informant; one man shared a photograph of an orange-topped syringe he found on Suffield Street in Agawam.

The discussion did not take place at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. There was nothing anonymous about it. It was one of hundreds of posts on Agawam Against Addiction, a defiantly public forum created last month on Facebook and designed to give people affected by addiction a voice unmuted by shame or stigma. In it, and its sister page in Westfield, advocates and addicts share stories of addiction and the difficulties of recovery, along with practical tips - lists of open beds in detox facilities, upcoming support group meetings and other resources.

Kristin Trauschke, a 36-year-old Agawam native, helped start the Facebook group in February after nearly 20 years of close personal proximity to addiction - friends, boyfriends, family members, she said. The group's advice appears among reminders of addiction's costs, including links to the obituaries of overdose victims.

Trauschke has brought loved ones to detox facilities, heard their lies and their pleas for help, and been vocal about the growing problem of addiction in Western Mass. But after a general Agawam Facebook forum began deleting posts about heroin, she and a group of other women decided they needed their own discussion space, where silence - not addiction - was a dirty word.

"It was because a few girls got angry about posts being deleted," Trauschke said. "We want it to be public. It needs to be the raw truth." 

Gallery preview 

Massachusetts' growing opioid crisis has moved firmly from the shadows into the public consciousness as death counts have risen and waves of overdoses become fixtures of local news cycles. At least 1,099 Massachusetts residents died of overdoses in 2014 and that number was on track to increase in 2015.

The increase in attention has coincided with heroin's transition from an urban drug to one that largely affects middle-class suburbs like Westfield, Chicopee and Agawam, as described in a 2014 study by Washington University Professor Theodore Cicero. Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni has taken to issuing public warnings when particularly dangerous batches of heroin appear on the streets, and on Monday Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill limiting the prescription of opioid painkillers in an effort to curb addiction rates.

In addition to general advice and treatment tips, the Facebook group includes stories of deeply personal struggle with addiction.

On March 6, Betsy Mason's life was in turmoil. A mother of a heroin addict, she had spent years trying to get him through a detox that would stick. Through relapses, rehabs, arrests, drug screens and shaky, sick nights that marked the start of each withdrawal, Mason had been there, increasingly terrified as the children of her close friends began dying of overdoses.

"I had dreams," Mason said in an interview. "I dreamt that my son died. I was walking around crying, saying I don't want to be a member of the dead sons club."

At the beginning of this year, her son had gotten clean, and was again living with her. But she learned that the urine she'd been testing was clean only because it was not his. She found a needle cap in her bathroom, and the fears flooded back. So she reached out.

"Need guidance here. My son is using again. He doesn't yet know I know," Mason wrote to the Agawam Against Addiction Facebook group. "When he walks in tonight, what do I do?"

With in an hour, she had a response, with detailed advice about how 'section' her son -- the process of court-ordered involuntary commitment of addicts. By the end of the week, she had more than 60, from expressions of support to names of nearby detox centers and recommendations to keep the anti-overdose drug Narcan on-hand.

Mason, who has been sober for decades after her own struggles with alcoholism, knows what addiction looks like. But heroin still managed to surprise her, she said, and placed her in situations she could not have imagined. 

Once, to help her son "get right" before he agreed to enter a detox program, she drove him to his dealer's house and handed him $20 to get what they hoped would be a last fix. It is not an uncommon circumstance for the loved ones of heroin addicts, according to Trauschke, who said that detox programs often only accept people with heroin in their systems and so essentially require addicts to shoot up before getting clean.

"He shoots up in the car in front of me," Mason said. "That was that you'd call a real low point for a mother."    

The support she received online was vital, she said, and a resource that she hopes more families of addicts will take advantage of.

"There's that connection," Mason said. "I really think it's critical that people are honest about this."

The organizers of the page have also engaged in non-digital activism. Trauschke and fellow advocate Tracy Wilkie met with Agawam public officials in February to push for more education and resources for addiction treatment. Seated around a conference table in Mayor Richard Cohen's office, they discussed plans for an April public forum on addiction, as well as what else the town could do to combat the crisis.

Practical help is important, according to Trauschke., from education in schools to resource centers for addicts to learn about treatment options. But the first barrier is stigma, she said.

"It's making people aware that you're not the only one," she said. "It's not just kids. It's not just people who went to a bad way of life."    

For Wilkie, who has dedicated herself to anti-addiction work since the addiction-related death of her son in 2014, the radical honesty of the public addiction Facebook pages is a positive development. During her son's addiction, she felt isolated, calling 1-800 crisis lines while her local community stayed unaware of her family's struggle. Now, it can be different.

"I wish so much that when I was going through this I knew about this page," Wilkie said.

Looking for work? Futureworks to host job fair in downtown Springfield Wednesday

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FutureWorks and the Springfield Falcons will host a career fair from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 at the MassMutual Center where the hockey team plays.

SPRINGFIELD - FutureWorks and the Springfield Falcons will host a career fair from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 at the MassMutual Center where the hockey team plays.

Job seekers are asked to register ahead of time online here. Registered guests get a ticket to the Falcon's game versus the Bridgeport sound Tigers following the job fair.

FutureWorks is Springfield's one-stop career center located in the Springfield Technology Park. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, FutureWorks has changed its philosophy a bit in 2016. It now gives job seekers, whether they are out of work or have a job but want a better opportunity, more direction.

Companies expected to exhibit at the fair include:

  • C & S Wholesale
  • Cambridge College
  • CLP Resources
  • Combined Insurance
  • Elite Logistics
  • Liberty Mutual
  • Patriot Freight liner
  • Silverleaf Resorts
  • Six Flags New England
  • United States Postal Service

FutureWorks is working to give job seekers an honest assessment of their skills, learn what opportunities exist in growing fields and find out how they can upgrade their skills to take advantage of those opportunities.

It is also working with both CRRC MA, the Chinese company building a rail car factory in East Springfield to fulfill an MBTA contract for new subway vehicles, and with MGM Springfield, which is building a $950 million resort casino in Springfield's South End. The casino is slated to open in late 2018.

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.

Pope Francis announces Mother Teresa to be declared a saint in September

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Pope Francis on Tuesday announced that Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun known for her work with the poor in India, will be declared a saint on Sept. 4.

Pope Francis on Tuesday announced that Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun known for her work with the poor in India, will be declared a saint on Sept. 4.

Mother Teresa died in 1997.

The Catholic Church requires two miracles or sainthood. USA Today is reporting that Mother Teresa's first miracle, curing a woman's brain tumor, was recognized by Pope John Paul ii in 2003. Pope Francis in December 2015 officially recognized the healing of brain abscesses in a Brazilian man as her second miracle, USA Today reported.

Biography.com notes that she was born on Aug. 26, 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia.  She taught in India for 17 years before deciding to work with the poor in 1946.

She founded the Order of Missionaries of Charity, an all-female congregation dedicated to helping the poor.

Mother Teresa taught in India for 17 years before she experienced her 1946 "call within a call" to devote herself to caring for the sick and poor. 


Springfield landlords, councilor disagree on need for registration, rotating inspections law

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Springfield landlords questioned the need for an ordinance that would require registration of all apartment buildings with the city, and a rotating inspection schedule.

SPRINGFIELD - A proposed ordinance that would require landlords to pay fees for registration and inspection of their apartments once again drew opposition from owners and property managers on Monday, while defended by its City Council sponsor.

The council's Economic Development Committee heard comments both pro and con during a meeting at City Hall regarding the "Rental Registration" ordinance, and has scheduled another meeting on March 31, for additional public input.

Ward 8 City Councilor Orlando Ramos, who is both the committee chairman and the lead sponsor of the proposed ordinance, said the ordinance is aimed at addressing the issue of absentee landlords and problem landlords regarding code violations and blight.

"I kind of wish the conversation would have been more focused on how to make the ordinance stronger or better rather than (opponents) saying don't do it at all," Ramos said.

Ramos plans to bring the ordinance forward for a council vote on April 4, saying the ordinance and a similar proposal in the past have been rejected multiple times. The city already has regular exterior inspections of apartment buildings with four or more apartment units, and the ordinance would expand those inspections to two-family and three-family buildings when not owner-occupied, he said.

Kevin Sears and Brian Sears, both landlords and real estate agents, were among opponents at Monday's meeting at City Hall.

Kevin Sears said there are existing laws and code enforcement efforts to crack down on problem landlords and said the new ordinance would be a "waste of city time and resources."

He suggested the city pursue allocating additional funds for code enforcement efforts to go after problem landlords in response to complaints rather than spend its efforts inspecting all apartments.

Russell Sabadosa, a landlord and real estate broker, said that landlords share the city's concerns about blighted properties "and wish more resources would be given to code enforcement instead of a redundant new city ordinance we believe if put in place, would not solve the stated goal."

"Landlords don't think it would be an efficient use of city resources to register and inspect 100% of the rental dwellings when those resources could be better spent focusing on the small percentage of non compliant landlords and dwellings," Sabadosa said.

Councilors Adam Gomez and Timothy Allen participated in the meeting.

Ramos said he sees no financial hardship facing landlords if the ordinance is approved.

There is an initial registration fee of $40, and a renewal every four years, under the ordinance. In addition, the apartment buildings would be inspected once every four years, on a rotating basis, with a $25 fee charged per building, which equates to $6.50 per year, Ramos said.

While some of the landlords and property owners said that complaints serve to alert the city of problem rental properties, Ramos said that some tenants are afraid to file complaints for fear of retaliation from the landlord.

Kevin Sears said he does not see tenants nervous about retaliation and believes there are tenants "who know they can stick it to their landlord."

Former Ledges Golf Club manager says South Hadley's financial controls partly to blame for for missing $6,308

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Ex-Ledges Golf Club manager Doug Juhasz recently contacted The Republican, to tell his side of the story, saying he did so out of concern his reputation may be tarnished. He provided several written statements

SOUTH HADLEY - The ex-manager of the Ledges Golf Club, Doug Juhasz, says the $6,308 discovered missing from the club -- prompting a criminal investigation that began in January -- was taken while he was on vacation, and that the town's financial control systems are partly to blame for the problem.

Doug Juhasz.jpgDoug Juhasz 
But Town Administrator Michael Sullivan said that is not accurate information.

In a written statement, Sullivan said that Juhasz' assertion that the missing deposits occurred when he was away, "is simply not true."

An investigative audit, conducted by Scanlon Associates, determined 11 deposit slips were found to be missing over a seven-week period.

Sullivan said the first missing slip was for "Oct. 8 and the last was on Nov. 22 both days he was not on vacation," he said, adding: "I believe six of the 11 deposits were while he was working."

Juhasz recently contacted The Republican, to tell his side of the story, saying he did so out of concern his reputation may be tarnished. He provided several written statements.

"The town treasurer uses deposit slips that are mailed directly to her from the bank, my daily turnover reports that are sent which should match all deposit slips and deposit reports from the bank to verify bank deposits," he wrote. "I do not have any way to verify deposits that are being made and that unless I receive a call from either the bank or town treasurer I would have to assume there is not an issue."

Sullivan said that allegations that the treasurer, Deborah Baldini, was at fault, are misplaced.

"It was the treasurer who discovered it and he never requested a 'view only' of the deposits, just assumed they were being made and attested to that fact to the treasurer."

Juhasz says he has cooperated fully with authorities, and said he is not a target of the criminal investigation.

The ex-manager, in the written statements, said he learned, while being interviewed by investigators, that "the individual who was suspected ... was known by some as a 'computer hacker' and that he was in fact suspected of acting as a bookie taking bets from other staff members." He did not name that person.

"This person was believed to have convinced a fellow employee to cash in his OBRA saving plan through the town and to turn those funds over to him to pay for a gambling debt," Juhasz wrote. "I was shocked to find this out."

"I have not been contacted by the District Attorney's office," he said, "but I would fully cooperate with them as well if I was contacted.

In a letter to Juhasz dated Feb. 5, Sullivan wrote: "Your employment with the town of South Hadley has been terminated as of this date. The separation of employment is based on the communications you have had with the Ledges Golf Commission and others where you state 'I have accepted another position' with a private club, but not limited to those statements. We therefore, accept your resignation.

"As you are aware, there is an ongoing investigation into some internal deposit issues and there is also a criminal investigation proceeding related to the matter. Please note the town of South Hadley reserves the right to revise the terms of separation pending an outcome of those reviews."

Mohawk Trail Regional High School teacher Ivan Grail on leave, subject of investigation

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Mohawk Trail Regional High School teacher Ivan Grail was placed on leave March 8, the day after a family sent the school an email about what Superintendent Michael Buoniconti called a "very serious concern" involving Grail.

SHELBURNE FALLS -- A high school history and social studies teacher remains on leave after school officials began investigating a complaint from a student's family.

Mohawk Trail Regional High School teacher Ivan Grail was placed on leave March 8, the day after a family sent the school an email about what Superintendent Michael Buoniconti called a "very serious concern" involving Grail, Western Mass News reported.

The news station reported the contents of an email Buoniconti sent to parents. In the email, Buoniconti said he couldn't offer much detail but that Grail was being investigated. He said school officials have contacted the Department of Children and Families and local police, who then called the Northwestern District Attorney's office.

When the Greenfield Recorder first reported the story Friday, Buoniconti confirmed Grail was on leave but declined to give details.

Both news sources said they were not able to speak with Grail.

Outside of class, Grail reportedly led an archaeology program, coordinated summer programs, and advised the school's Model Congress team.

Western Mass News - WGGB/WSHM

 

Trump, Clinton score more wins as Kasich claims first contest and Rubio drops out

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Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ended his once-promising campaign after his devastating home-state loss, so the GOP primary is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

CLEVELAND -- Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in the Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Illinois presidential primaries, putting her in a commanding position to become the first woman in U.S. history to win a major-party nomination. Donald Trump strengthened his hand in the Republican race with a big win in Florida but fell in Ohio to that state's governor, John Kasich.

Live updates recap: How the night unfolded >>

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ended his once-promising campaign after his devastating home-state loss, so the GOP primary is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Trump also picked up wins in North Carolina and Illinois. The billionaire businessman told a victory rally, "This was an amazing night."

Trump is the only Republican candidate with a realistic path to the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination before the July convention. But his loss in Ohio kept hope alive for mainstream Republicans dismayed by his candidacy and suggesting the real estate mogul can still be stopped in a convention fight.

"The campaign goes on," Kasich declared at a victory rally. Now thrust into the center of a campaign that has been bitingly personal, Kasich vowed to "not take the low road to the highest office in the land."

Both the Republican and Democratic races in Missouri's presidential primaries were too close to call Wednesday morning.

A confident Clinton pivoted quickly to November during her victory rally, assailing Trump's hardline immigration positions and support for torture. "Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it," she declared.

Underscoring Republican concerns about Trump, Rubio focused heavily on an implicit critique of Trump in a speech announcing he was dropping out of the race. The senator urged Americans to "not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration."

A favorite of Republican leaders, Rubio is the latest candidate to fall victim to an unpredictable election cycle and Trump's unmatched ability to tap into the public's anger with Washington and frustration with sweeping economic changes.

Clinton's victories in Ohio, Florida and Illinois were blows to rival Bernie Sanders and bolstered her argument that she's the best Democratic candidate to take on the eventual Republican nominee in the general election. Her win in Ohio was a particular relief for her campaign, which grew anxious after Sanders pulled off a surprising win last week in Michigan, another important Midwestern state.

Clinton kept up her large margins with black voters, a crucial group for Democrats in the general election. Democratic voters were more likely to describe Sanders as honest, but more likely to describe Clinton's policies as realistic, according to exit polls.

Campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina, Clinton said "the numbers are adding up in my favor." She signaled an eagerness to move on to a possible general election showdown with Trump, saying he's laid out a "really dangerous path" for the country.

In Missouri, the margins between Trump and Cruz and between Clinton and Sanders, were less than one-half of 1 percentage point, meaning the losing candidate can request a recount. The Associated Press did not call either race.

Trump entered Tuesday's primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his contentious campaign. The GOP front-runner has encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events and is now facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago.

The atmosphere at his events has deepened the concern over his candidacy in some Republican circles. Rubio and Kasich have suggested they might not be able to support Trump if he's the nominee, an extraordinary stance for intraparty rivals.

His closest competition so far has come from Cruz, who has kept relatively close to the businessman in the delegate count and has been urging other candidates to drop out so he can take Trump on one-on-one.

After another good night for Trump, some Republicans were struggling to come to grips with the prospect of him becoming the nominee and desperate to find long-shot ways to stop him.

A group of conservatives planned to meet Thursday to discuss options including a contested convention or by rallying around a third-party candidate. While such no candidate has been identified, meeting participants planned to discuss ballot access issues, including using an existing third party as a vehicle or securing signatures for an independent bid.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., did not rule out the idea of being drafted by the party at the convention.

"People say, 'What about the contested convention?'" Ryan said in an interview with CNBC. "I say, well, there are a lot of people running for president. We'll see. Who knows?"

Despite concerns from party leaders, Republican voters continue to back Trump's most controversial proposals, with two-thirds of those who participated in GOP primaries Tuesday saying they support temporarily banning Muslims from the United States.

The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

Trump's Florida victory brought his delegate total to 621. Cruz has 396 and Kasich 138. Rubio left the race with 168 delegates.

Clinton has at least 1,561 delegates, including the superdelegates who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has at least 800. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

Emails linking Francis 'Frankie' Keough to Cocchi campaign for Hampden County Sheriff raise questions

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Hampden County Sheriff candidate Nick Cocchi has moved swiftly to distance himself from the controversial Francis G. Keough III, after emails surfaced showing Keough was involved in at least one strategy meeting for Cocchi and other aspects of his campaign. Watch video

Hampden County Sheriff candidate Nick Cocchi has moved swiftly to distance himself from the controversial Francis G. Keough III, after emails surfaced showing Keough was involved in at least one strategy meeting for Cocchi and other aspects of his campaign.

Tainted by his criminal past, Keough continually crops up in political campaigns and politically-charged job searches. But elected officials are resistant to publicly embrace the former Springfield City Council president and Keough appears resigned to be marginalized.

In 2007, Keough was sentenced to three years in federal prison in connection with various scams he hatched while executive director of Friends of the Homeless in Springfield. He pleaded guilty to pilfering televisions and mattresses; using the homeless, shelter staff and contractors to build a waterfront vacation home in Rhode Island; and running a no-show job scam at the taxpayer-funded agency, among other accusations.

Keough has either implanted himself at or was invited to (depending on whom you ask) the center of campaigns for political offices, bids to approve digital billboards in Springfield and most recently a messy attempt to replace East Longmeadow's police chief. In that instance, East Longmeadow's Selectmen Chairman Paul Federici has accused Keough of promising to create a job in exchange for Federici's support for interim Town Administrator Gregory Neffinger and police chief prospect Daniel O'Brien, a former police captain in West Springfield.

That search was suspended.

Emails obtained by The Republican show Keough attended a "Chicopee Organizational Meeting" for Cocchi's campaign on March 11 held at the home of retired Chicopee Treasurer Ernie LaFlamme, one of the lions of that city's politics. Meeting minutes show 19 people were in attendance including Keough, Cocchi and his top advisors including campaign manager John Evon.

Recaps in the meeting minutes include the stuff of day-to-day campaigns: Cocchi's campaign calendar, his bio, a contact list, "palm cards" with talking points of sheriff's duties and news of an upcoming Knights of Columbus spaghetti supper.

"Thanks also to Frank - we welcome your feedback and support with your prior campaign experience. The same pertains to Sue and Ernie ...The Cocchi Team thanks everyone for the attendance and continued support, especially the LaFlamme's (sic)," the minutes, drafted by Chicopee resident Lisa Prost, concludes.

Additional emails generated as recently as mid-February indicate the Cocchi team was so enamored of Keough's clients' signs (including Hampden County Superior Court Clerk Laura Gentile's, Springfield School Committee Member Calvin McFadden's and West Springfield Town Councilor Daniel O'Brien's) they just had to have them for themselves, according to Cocchi campaign officials.

There was much back and forth between Keough, Evon and Bob Scalise of ILS Business Services in Agawam about 100 12-feet by 18-feet signs at a rate of $525, plus an additional four-feet by eight-feet sign. A Jan. 21 email signed by Cocchi's paid consultant, Anthony Cignoli, reads: "Frank - cannot thank you enough."

Cignoli said they never ended up ordering the signs.

For his part, Cocchi was too busy to return a call on Monday from a reporter inquiring about Keough's role in his campaign but offered a lengthy written response. The statement read, in part:

"I have tangentially known Mr. Keough for years in his capacity as a youth hockey trainer and coach. I had never discussed politics with him or had a personal relationship with him on any level other than just seeing him at the hockey rink. Certainly I knew of his past transgressions. I also am aware of the work he has done since then, mentoring children, his coaching and his position at the Sabis (International Charter) school.

In January of this year, I went to a meeting with Clerk of Courts Laura Gentile at her home to seek her endorsement for my race for Sheriff. Ms. Gentile had invited Mr. Keough to the same meeting as her advisor and to be her counsel.

A few days later, Sheriff Mike Ashe told me that Mr. Keough had expressed an interest to him to help as a volunteer for the Cocchi for Sheriff campaign. Keough also attended an open-invite Chicopee Coordinators meeting. I am clear that I communicated to my team that I saw no role for him in this campaign as being appropriate. While we appreciated his personal support as a resident, like we would any other resident of Hampden County, he could not be involved in the campaign."

clam 11.jpgHampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe held his 37th annual clambake at the Springfield Elks Lodge 61 in Springfield in July 2014. Here is candidate for Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, right, with Ashe. (DAVE ROBACK / THE REPUBLICAN)

Cocchi is an assistant superintendent at the Hampden County House of Corrections and widely regarded as Ashe's sanctioned successor. Also running are Democrats former Springfield Mayor and Governor's Councilor Michael Albano; retired Connecticut corrections official Jack Griffin; and independent candidate James Gill, who also is an assistant deputy superintendent at the Ludlow jail. Springfield City Councilor Thomas M. Ashe is shortly expected to jump in the race as an additional Democratic candidate.

Albano has run an unrelenting and somewhat snarky campaign with a strong social media presence (including a recent House of Cards parody) and frequent email blasts about his stances on policy and gut shots to his opponents - well, actually to Ashe, who isn't even an opponent.

Incidentally, the race has often appeared a joust between Albano and Ashe. The outgoing sheriff has been at the helm of the jail and its related programs for more than 40 years. He has been a political heavyweight for nearly as long.

During a recent editorial board meeting at The Republican, Ashe questioned who Albano's prospective hires may include given that his former mayoral chief of staff went to prison for tax evasion.

Still other members of his administration were sentenced to prison for various fraudulent schemes; Albano himself emerged unscathed.

"He lost that trust, particularly in terms of who are the people you're going to place in these jobs?" Ashe said. "I'm very proud of the staff. After all is said and done as sheriff, the one thing that I have really concentrated on is hiring good people."

When asked about his encouraging Keough to join Cocchi's circle of advisors and volunteers, Ashe cited his friendship with Keough's late father and Keough.

"Frank was the playground supervisor when my kids were growing up. I've had a 40-year-relationship with him and he's still a friend of the family ... he called and talked to me about volunteering," Ashe said, bristling when asked whether familial ties affected his opinion about ex-convicts. "Come on ... I've been helping people with issues all my life. He did wrong; but he's done his time ... you called and asked me and I've told you."

Keough - who has had a rough week in light of the East Longmeadow debate over the police chief - at once said he maintains little interest in politics anymore but added that he'd offer his advice to any candidate who asked.

"I know all the candidates. I do not have an active role with any of the candidates for sheriff," Keough said. "I know you're dying to put me in politics, but it's just not what I do anymore."

Cocchi went on to say that in light of the mini-scandal in East Longmeadow, he was even less inclined to accept Keough into the fold.

"I have dedicated my life to hopefully enabling second chances in people that our society rightfully sets aside. Unfortunately, the recent allegations against Mr. Keough for influence peddling as part of the East Longmeadow Police Chief search were enough to further ensure that there could be absolutely no role for him, even as a volunteer in my campaign. While those allegations are yet to be proven, our campaign cannot indulge even the slightest hint of impropriety. The position of Sheriff must be beyond reproach and I am committed to make sure that this campaign continues with the utmost transparency and integrity," his statement reads.

Federici has said he contacted the state Attorney General's office regarding Keough's alleged job overtures and was contacted by the FBI. Keough emphatically denied having the conversation.

Cocchi also cried dirty politics when the emails emerged.

"For a few days now, Attorney Shawn Allyn has been texting members of my team copies of correspondence intimating that Frank Keough has been part of our team. Frank Keough has never been a paid consultant or advisor to the Cocchi campaign," he said.

A campaign volunteer for Cocchi provided a relatively one-sided text exchange showing Allyn taunting him a few days ago.

"Wow your running a campaign with a felon," a March 12 message and those from subsequent days read. "Hanging out with Frank Keough too lol ... U and that creeper r in for a rude awakening ... Are you this stupid ... You are f***ed."

Albano ran Allyn's unsuccessful campaign for Hampden District Attorney last year. Allyn and Albano remain allies, with Allyn acting as a pro bono lawyer for residents in two neighborhoods who have resisted the siting of a punitive addiction treatment center run by the sheriff's department.

Allyn shrugged off the accusations.

"They're just deflecting. Who cares what I said about Frank? He was involved advising Cocchi campaign- period, caught red-handed. A convicted felon help run your sheriff campaign? That's bad," Allyn said.

Albano said he will decline comment "for the time being."

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