A new space for children to run, bounce and play has opened in Holyoke.

These were the most read stories on MassLive.com yesterday. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now.

1) Springfield police: 16-year-old seen yanking Dwight Street doors had loaded handgun, crack cocaine [George Graham]

2) DJ fined for playing (Expletive) tha Police' at Westfield bar

3) Chandler Jones trade analysis: New England Patriots could gain two starters in deal with Cardinals [Kevin Duffy]

4) Billy Beez, a 27,000-square-foot indoor playground, opens in Holyoke Mall [Michelle Williams] Photo gallery above

5) Springfield police: Agawam man, suspected of break-in, says 'Sorry, wrong house,' when confronted by homeowner [George Graham]

Residents urged the Holyoke City Council to retain the needle exchange program because they said it improves public health by reducing spread of HIV-AIDS and hepatitis C, diseases for which there are no cures. Watch video

HOLYOKE -- Six residents urged the City Council to support the needle exchange program that is in danger of closing and a seventh asked whether the council would vote for it at City Hall Tuesday.

The interest during the public speak-out part of the City Council meeting was prompted by a Hampden Superior Court judge Monday ordering that Tapestry Health shut down its needle exchange program here within four months because it was improperly established without a City Council vote.

But as part of his ruling, Judge Mark D. Mason also issued a 120-day stay. During the stay, the needle exchange program at 15-A Main St. can continue to operate while the City Council considers the merits of the program, one of only five in the state.

Unless the council votes to approve the program, which looks unlikely, the needle exchange program that has operated here since August 2012 must end when the 120-day order expires.

Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse said the city will appeal and file for reconsideration of Mason's decision.

Letting Tapestry's needle exchange program end would make the city less safe, said Tyler Ingraham, of Linden Street.

"If they're not operating, there are more dirty needles on the street, they're not educating people ...," Ingraham said.

"I just ask you to do the right thing ...," he told the council.

Jeffery Anderson-Burgos of Locust Street said access to the clean needles of a program like Tapestry Health's is a way for the community to help people who are part of the community and who happen to be drug addicts (see video above).

"This is about compassion ...," Anderson-Burgos said.

Gabriel Quaglia of Harrison Avenue said he is in recovery, not having partaken of drugs or alcohol since Oct. 1, 2011. Contrary to stereotype, many addicts have jobs and families, and are people everyone interacts with daily, he said.

Some intravenous drug users caught HIV-AIDS and hepatitis C because they didn't have access to a program like Tapestry Health's where they could get a clean needle instead of using one infected by a previous user, he said.

"I'm here because I care about people and I'm here because I know for a fact that Tapestry needle exchange saves lives and improves them," Quaglia said.

In needle exchange, intravenous drug users visit an office and hand over used injection-drug needles and get clean ones in return. Doctors and other specialists say isolating the used needles is vital because the sharing of infected needles is largely to blame for spreading diseases for which there are no cures like HIV-AIDS and hepatitis C.

A related benefit is intravenous drug users in such visits can get exposed to safety warnings and counseling referrals they otherwise might never get, supporters say.

Opponents say that it doesn't make sense to give needles to addicts and trust that they will avoid sharing them, and that doing so spotlights the city as a drug den.

The other cities with needle exchange programs are Northampton, Boston, Cambridge and Provincetown.

Jose Gonzalez of Walnut Street said shutting down the needle exchange program makes no sense. A drug addict's obsession is to take drugs and without a clean supply of needles, that leaves only infected ones, he said.

 

"This is a humanitarian matter, not a property value matter. It's not a matter of what looks nice. We have a big drug problem here," Gonzalez said.

"They're going to get it, you know, they're going to find a way to inject it. They want it more than food and water and air and love. They're going to get it," he said.

With needle exchange, the availability of clean needles reduces the sharing of infected ones and that stops the spread of deadly diseases, he said.

Tonya Perron of Holy Family Road said that she is a registered nurse and that needle exchange can help in fighting the spread of HIV-AIDS and hepatitis c.

"It saves lives," Perron said.

Elvin Bruno Jr. of Chestnut Street said he has not always been close with his father, who has struggled with drug addiction and now has HIV.

"If he had access to clean needles, he may not have HIV," Bruno said.

In light of Mason's ruling about needle exchange, Barbara Blodgett of Hillside Avenue asked, "What are the chances that the City Council will vote in favor of it ...?"

"To be determined," council President Kevin A. Jourdain said.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued that the key issue was over what defined "local approval." They said, and Mason's ruling supported, that the local approval that is needed to establish a needle exchange program is a favorable vote of the City Council and not just approval of the mayor and Board of Health, as Morse, program supporters and state officials have said.

Not all of the 15 city councilors are plaintiffs in the lawsuit or oppose how the needle exchange program was established. Some have left the board or have asked that they be removed as plaintiffs.

Currently the plaintiffs are councilors Linda L. Vacon, Todd A. McGee, James M. Leahy, Joseph M. McGiverin, Daniel B. Bresnahan and Jourdain.

Defendants in the lawsuit are the Holyoke Board of Health, Tapestry Health and Morse.

The Board of Health first voted 3-0 to establish a needle exchange program with Morse's approval July 9, 2012. But Jourdain filed a complaint that the meeting violated the state Open Meeting Law.

On Aug. 7, 2012, the City Council voted 13-2 to contest the implementation of a needle exchange program and to authorize the council president to retain legal counsel to fight the matter.

Morse vetoed the council's order on the grounds that the City Council president may not retain separate legal counsel on behalf of the City Council. Mason said in his ruling that in filing the lawsuit, the City Council "acted within the lawful exercise of its authority..."

The Board of Health voted 3-0 again on Aug. 14, 2012 to establish a needle exchange program.

The lawsuit was filed Oct. 12, 2012.

The Springfield team had the best time among 13 fire departments, and team member Chris DiPietro was 1 second behind the best single time. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD - When you are a firefighter, sometimes waiting for the elevator is not really an option.

"It's part of the job," said Springfield Firefighter Brian Ward.

But for Ward, 32, assigned to the Mason Square station, climbing stairs is also a kind of recreation.

He and members of the Springfield Fire Department team recently competed in the annual Climb to the Top competition in Boston. The event, to benefit the fight against multiple sclerosis, invites teams of competitors climb the 61-story Clarendon Tower.

The Clarendon, formerly known as the Hancock Tower, is the tallest building in New England.

And of the 13 fire departments taking part in the competition, the Springfield team finished first with a combined time of 1:02:47.

One of the climbers, Chris DiPietro, who is also stationed at the Mason Square station, had the second-fastest time of any firefighter with a mark of 14:02. He finished one second away from first place.

Other members of the team are Springfield firefighters Dario Tangredi, 32, of Station 1 on Worthington Street; Pablo Colon of Mason Square; and firefighters James Kalbaugh of Agawam, Jeff Kristek of Wilbraham and Chris Goglia of Hartford.

Climbing sets of stairs in a full set of turnout gear - boots, insulated pants and jacket, a helmet and an air pack - weighing approximately 50 pounds, may seem like an odd recreational endeavor, especially when it is more or less one of the least enjoyable aspects of one's daily job description.

But Ward said a challenge is a challenge. And it was for a good cause.

The Springfield team raised $1,500 to fight MS, he said.

For the last five years, Ward has organized a climbing team within the fire department.

"Every fall we do the Springfield climb," he said of the annual American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb at Monarch Place. "And every spring were try to get another one in."

Last Spring, they competed in Hartford.

This year, it was decided to take aim at the Boston event and all of its 61 stories.

"I figured we'd take the challenge," Ward said. "This year we wanted to step it up."

When he said this, Ward gave no indication if the pun was intentional.

Next year, he would like to try the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb completion at Seattle's 69-story Columbia Tower.

The Boston event attracted hundreds of competitors from many different types of teams. It was not restricted to firefighters. There were groupings of elite runners, firefighters and general participants.

The firefighters were the only ones not dressed in comfortable, breathable and lightweight materials.

To train for the event, Ward said the team sometimes goes to parking garages in downtown Springfield and practice running up the staircases and ramps.

Tangredi said he practiced by working out on a stair-climber machine at the gym three times a week.

Ward said he would put on all his gear and then do cardio exercises in his free time at the station.

Preparation varies from team member to team member, but Ward working out regularly and "staying semi-fit are essential."

For all their preparation beforehand, Ward, Tangredi, 32, and Kalbaugh, 40, each described the actual climb as nothing short of brutal.

After 61 floors, there is pain and exhaustion. Muscles ache, joints are sore, everything is sore.

You should feel pain when it's over, Kalbaugh said.

"If you're not, there's something wrong and you didn't try hard enough," he said. "I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest."

The climb is not as much of a problem, he said, as is the sudden stop at the top, he said. By the time you reach the top floor, you are overheating and have to keep moving to cool off.

"When you get to the top, you can't stop. If you stop, you will really have a problem," he said.

"I drank two liters of water and walked around (the top floor) for 30 minutes before I tried to get in the elevator," Ward said.

"It hurt to breathe for two days." said Tangredi.

The stair climbing competitions are aligned with what firefighters can, in theory, do every day. If there's a fire at the top floor of a building, the firefighters have to trudge all that way wearing all that gear.

"There is a difference," Ward said of the competitions and real-life firefighting.
"When you're doing a real job, you have to carry more equipment," he said.

Tangredi said there's a different emotion too.

"When you're out on a call like that, it's a different kind of rush too. That's an adrenaline rush that can kind of keep you going longer," he said.

"I'm pretty sure there's no 60-story building in Springfield," Ward said. "Thank god."

Rogers replaces Doug Juhasz, who departed last month in the midst of an ongoing criminal investigation involving $6,308 in missing money. Juhasz says he is not a target of the investigation

Ledges Golf Club in South HadleyRepublican file photo 

SOUTH HADLEY - The municipality's recreation director, Andy Rogers, will also serve as general manager of the Ledges Golf Club, following a shakeup in operations, the town administrator's office has confirmed.

Rogers was scheduled to be introduced to the South Hadley Municipal Golf Commission as the new manager at this week's meeting.

He replaces Doug Juhasz, who departed last month in the midst of an ongoing criminal investigation involving $6,308 in missing money. Juhasz says he is not a target of the investigation.

James Falco was also hired as the new golf professional for the club, a role that had been Juhasz'.

Hampden County Register of Deeds Donald E. Ashe 33rd annual St. Patrick's Day party at the John B. O'Reilly Club in Springfield Tuesday.

SPRINGFIELD - Hampden County Register of Deeds Donald E. Ashe 33rd annual St. Patrick's Day party at the John B. O'Reilly Club in Springfield Tuesday. The annual event was attended by members of the Springfield St. Patrick's Parade Committee, the Springfield Colleen and her Court, and state and local dignitaries.

Officials in attendance included Paul McCarthy, director of Budget and Director of Deeds; Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse; state Senators James Welch, and Eric Lesser; State Reps. Michael Finn, Angelo Puppolo, Brian M. Ashe, and Jose Tosado; Sheriff Michael J. Ashe; Susan Seguin, register of probate; Springfield City Councilor Kateri B. Walsh and Holyoke City Councilor David Bartley. West Springfield City Councilor George Kelly and Chicopee Treasurer Marie Laflamme also attended.

Former elected officials in attendance included Mary Hurley, who is currently running for governor's council; Sean Curran, William Bennett, Marty Dunn, Ernie Laflamme, and Carmine Daniele.

An estimated 200 visitors enjoyed Irish music, corned beef sandwiches and a short award ceremony.

The 25 highest paying jobs in America for 2016.

The products were Goya Salami and Buena Ventura Pollock; the total value was $182.47, according to the arrest report.

SPRINGFIELD - Before admitting to a shoplifting charge Monday, Alfredo Rodriguez-Diaz wanted to set the record straight.

He never attempted to steal 32 packages of salami by stuffing them down his pants and walking out of the Price Rite supermarket in West Springfield.

The correct number was 10 packages of salami and 20 packages of fish, he said.

Rodriguez-Diaz, 38, of Springfield was arrested Monday morning after store security stopped him walking out with the hidden groceries; four hours later, he walked into Springfield District Court, handcuffed and shackled.

After speaking with an interpreter and his court-appointed lawyer, Rodriguez-Diaz agreed to plead to a decriminalized shoplifting charge and pay the standard $300 fine.

Judge William Boyle appeared ready to accept the plea. But after reviewing paperwork in the case, the judge had a question.

"Is it true what it says here - that you had 32 packages of salami in your pants?" Boyle asked.

As the interpreter relayed the question to the defendant, Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski spoke up.

"Yes, your honor - and he had fish (packages) as well," she said.

Moments later, the defense lawyer objected, saying that only 30 packages - 10 salami, 20 fish - were found on his client.

The products were Goya Salami and Buena Ventura Pollock; the total value was $182.47, according to the arrest report. The number of packages is not mentioned in the report, which states only that the defendant hid them in his jacket.

Boyle eventually accepted the plea and gave the defendant until April 14 to pay the fine. He also warned that future offenses would be punished by higher fines or jail terms.

Because the salami and fish packages were recovered, Rodriguez-Diaz was not required to pay restitution.

North Korea's highest court sentenced American tourist Otto Warmbier to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion on Wednesday, weeks after authorities presented him to media and he tearfully confessed that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- North Korea's highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion on Wednesday, weeks after authorities presented him to media and he tearfully confessed that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner.

Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in North Korea's Supreme Court.

He was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Korea's criminal code. The court held that he had committed a crime "pursuant to the U.S. government's hostile policy toward (the North), in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist."

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to take control of the Korean Peninsula.

Tensions are particularly high following North Korea's recent nuclear test and rocket launch, and massive joint military exercises now underway between the U.S. and South Korea that the North sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

Before the trial, the 21-year-old from Wyoming, Ohio, said he had tried to steal a propaganda banner as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. That would be grounds in North Korea for a subversion charge.

Trials for foreigners facing similar charges in North Korea are generally short and punishments severe. Warmbier was arrested as he tried to leave the country in early January. He was in North Korea with a New Year's tour group.

U.S. tourism to North Korea is legal. Arrests of tourists are rare but the U.S. State Department strongly advises against such travel.

Further complicating matters, Washington and Pyongyang do not have diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang acts as a go-between in consular issues when U.S. citizens run afoul of North Korean authorities.

North Korea announced Warmbier's arrest in late January, saying he committed an anti-state crime with "the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its manipulation." It remains unclear how the U.S. government was allegedly connected to Warmbier's actions.

Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel. It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.

In a tearful statement made before his trial, Warmbier told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he tried to take the banner as a trophy for the mother of a friend who said she wanted to put it up in her church.

He said he was offered a used car worth $10,000 if he could get a banner and was also told that if he was detained and didn't return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.

Warmbier said he accepted the offer because his family was "suffering from very severe financial difficulties."

Warmbier also said he had been encouraged by the university's "Z Society," which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the university's alumni association describes the Z Society as a "semi-secret ring society" founded in 1892 that conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners and grants academic awards.

In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.

In the past, North Korea has held out until senior U.S. officials or statesmen came to personally bail out detainees, all the way up to former President Bill Clinton, whose visit in 2009 secured the freedom of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling.

In November 2014, U.S. spy chief James Clapper went to Pyongyang to bring home Matthew Miller, who had ripped up his visa when entering the country, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012.

Jeffrey Fowle, another U.S. tourist from Ohio detained for six months at about the same time as Miller, was released just before that and sent home on a U.S. government plane.

Fowle left a Bible in a local club hoping a North Korean would find it, which is considered a criminal offense in North Korea.

___

Eric Talmadge, the AP's Pyongyang bureau chief, contributed to this report from Tokyo.

Courtney Stewart, a Central High School senior, has won his third state championship in the "Poetry Out Loud" contest, giving him another attempt for a national win in May.

SPRINGFIELD - Courtney Stewart, a senior at Central High School, won an unprecedented third state championship on Sunday in the "Poetry Out Loud" contest, giving him a new, final chance at a national championship in May.

Stewart was also the Massachusetts champion in 2013 and 2014, as a freshman and sophomore, before winning again Sunday in the poetry recitation competition for high school students.

"I'm just so excited for him," Central Principal Thaddeus Tokarz said this week. "This is the third time he is going to the Nationals. He's a very special talent and we're thankful that he was able to grow his abilities here at Central."

Stewart receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington DC, where he will compete in the Poetry Out Loud's National Finals on May 2-4.

Stewart was among 24 finalists in the Massachusetts contest , selected from among more than 21,000 students that competed statewide. The state competition took place at the Old South Meeting House in Boston, with his mother and teacher, Patricia Keenan, among the attendees.

The statewide contest is sponsored by the Huntington Theatre Company, of Boston, with support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council since its inception 11 years ago.

Huntington Theatre Company Manager of Educational Operations Meg O'Brien, in the prepared release said the 24 finalizes "were breathtaking in their recitations, infusing Boston's Old South Meeting House with powerful verse, prose, celebration, spirit and joy."

The Poetry Out Loud program encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, according to the release. It is designed to "help students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage," the release states.

The students who were finalists in the Massachusetts competition included: Kaylee Andrews of Agawam High School; Levi Baruch of Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School in Orange; and Samantha Mitchell, of Monument Mountain Regional High School, in Great Barrington; and Marya Makuc, Mt. Everett Regional High School, Sheffield

In addition, the finalists included: Hannah Moran, Algonquin Regional High School, Northborough; Olivia Phillips, Bishop Feehan High School, Attleeboro; Michael Gao, Boston Latin School, Boston; Angel Vargas, Burlington High School, Burlington; and Patrick Kitchen, Dartmouth High School, Dartmouth.

Also: Grace Moore, Dexter Southfield School, Brookline; Keisha Durden, Foxborough Regional Charter School, Foxborough; Jillian Guzzetti, Franklin High School, Franklin; Matthew Murch, Groton-Dunstable Regional High School, Groton; and Shaina Perates, Haverhill High School Haverhill.

In addition: Caroline Rice, International School of Boston, Cambridge; Nina Gillette, Ipswich High School, Ipswich; Emily Su Bin Ko, Lexington High School, Lexington; Amadine Muniz, Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Oak Bluffs.

Also: Ben Cohen, Needham High School, Needham; Michael Peterson, Randolph High School, Randolph; Meloee Nazaire, Revere High School, Revere; Amanda Szczawinski, Swampscott High School, Swampscott; and Hannah Pimenta, Taunton High School, Taunton.

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission will be hosting a "Fix a Leak" educational event at Lowe's on Boston Road on March 19, that will include leak checklists, information sheets and toilet leak detection tabs.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission will host an educational event at Lowe's on Boston Road on Saturday, March 19, from noon to 4 p.m., to educate residents about water leaks, including steps for detection and repairs.

The event coincides with a "Fix a Leak Week," that is taking place March 14-20.

During the event, the commission will distribute leak checklists, information sheets, and toilet leak detection tabs (while supplies last), commission spokeswoman Joyce Mulvaney said in a prepared release.

The event will take place in the vicinity of the plumbing department at Lowe's.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in the United States, and can be costly. Timely repair of leaks and proper maintenance of home plumbing can save homeowners money on their water and sewer bill, officials said.

The commission issued suggestions on checking for leaks:

Common types of leaks found in the home include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and shower heads, and other leaking valves, according to the commission.

More information about Fix a Leak Week is available on the commission's website, found here.

The US Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program promotes Fix a Leak Week the third week of March each year.

The incident occurred shortly before midnight when two armed males, both wearing masks, entered the home at 178 Nottinham St., Sgt. Jessica Henderson said. Cash and jewelry were taken.

Dave Roback 

SPRINGFIELD -- No injuries were reported late Tuesday night following a home invasion in the Liberty Heights neighborhood.

The incident occurred shortly before midnight when two armed males, both wearing masks, entered the home at 178 Nottinham St., Sgt. Jessica Henderson said. Cash and jewelry were taken.

Both males were between 5 feet seven inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, police said.

Detectives continue to investigate and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information may reach detectives at (413) 787-6355.

Neighbors claimed Guy "does not like (dogs) and does not want to hear them," according to the arrest report.

SPRINGFIELD - A judge has set a May trial date for Freddie Guy, the Springfield man charged with killing a dog on his front lawn last fall.

Guy, 66, of Stapleton Road, will face a jury trial on May 17 for allegedly shooting a Chihuahua with a BB gun in November.

The trial, to be held in Springfield District Court, is expected to last one day and as many as 11 witnesses may be called, according to court records.

Responding to a 911 call, police found the body of a 4-pound male Chihuahua on Guy's front lawn on Nov. 10; a witness reported seeing Guy abusing the dog, and initially claimed he was wielding a metal baseball bat.

The body was wrapped in a blanket and carried from the scene by staff with the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center.

An autopsy later showed the dog was shot and killed with a BB gun, police said.

Guy was arrested after returning home that afternoon, and pleaded not guilty to one count of cruelty to an animal during his arraignment two days later.

He was released after posting $500 bail and ordered to report once a week to the district court's Probation Department.

Last week, a judge eliminated the weekly reporting requirement at the request of defense lawyer Jeremy Powers.

A defense request for $1,000 to hire a private detective was denied last month by Judge Robert Murphy.

The dog's owner was not identified immediately after his death. But police said neighbors claimed that Guy "does not like (dogs) and does not want to hear them," according to the arrest report.

At an earlier hearing, Powers said the case against his client was based on one witness.

The maximum sentence for an animal cruelty conviction is seven years in state prison or a $5,000 fine.

Hampden Superior Court Judge Richard J. Carey sentenced Long Dinh Duong to 18 months in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow for a probation violation.

SPRINGFIELD - A Hampden Superior Court judge has revoked the probation of Long Dinh Duong and sentenced him to 18 months in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow for a probation violation.

Duong was on probation for indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over in a case in which he pleaded guilty in 2012. He was sentenced to 2½ years in the Ludlow facility with a year to be served and the rest suspended with three years probation.

Judge Richard J. Carey, after a hearing on Monday, revoked the probation and ordered Duong to serve 18 months of the suspended sentence.

The nature of the violation of probation is the fact he is charged with new crimes, specifically rape of a child by force.

The new case has not been moved up to Hampden Superior Court and is still in Springfield District Court.

In the new case Duong, 46, of Springfield, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a girl, now 17, since she was in middle school.

Defense lawyer Paul Rudof has asserted that the accusations are fabricated and rooted in a feud between the alleged victim and her mother.

According to the arrest report, Duong began sexually assaulting the victim in 2011, when she was in middle school, and continued after she entered high school. The girl's mother dismissed her claims of repeated sexual abuse and blamed her for causing trouble, the report said.

In November, after a suicide attempt, the victim told Springfield school officials about the sexual assaults. Springfield police and the state Department of Children and Families investigated and supported the girl's claim, according to court documents.

At Monday's hearing Rudof asked Carey to end Duong's probation and "let the new charges stand or fall on their own."

He said Duong has been compliant with all conditions of probation such as reporting to the Probation Department and wearing a monitoring bracelet.

Assistant District Attorney Lee Baker urged Carey to impose the 18 months for the violation of probation, saying Carey should credit the disclosures made by the alleged victim in the new case.

East Longmeadow Selectmen voted to replace their police chief and chairman, while offering a permanent position to their interim town administrator.

EAST LONGMEADOW -- A new police chief was appointed, the chairman of the Board of Selectmen was ousted from his position and the interim town administrator secured a permanent position.

In a series of 2-1 votes at a meeting Wednesday night, which was attended by about 200 people often bellowing in dissent, selectmen quickly moved through votes on issues directly related to a police chief search mired with allegations of corruption.

"This is bull crap," shouted Paul Federici, the board's chairman until Selectmen William Gorman and Angela Thorpe voted to replace him with Thorpe -who will be replaced next month, after she lost a preliminary election for the seat this week- as chair. "Everything I discussed last week is coming true."

As the meeting at East Loungmeadow's Council on Aging began, Gorman moved to remove Federici from the chairmanship, because by making remarks "disparaged" the board, he acted in an inappropriate manner, causing them to lose faith.

Last week, Federici publicly said that he was approached by former Springfield city councilor and convicted felon Francis Keough III, who offered him a yet-to-be-determined finance job at Town Hall if he went along with a plan to appoint former West Springfield Police Capt. Daniel O'Brien as police chief, and extend Interim Town Administrator Greg Neffinger's position to a permanent role.

Federici said that Keough had told him that he helped get Gorman and Thorpe elected. Keough denied this meeting took place.

O'Brien dropped out of the race when Federici made these allegations - about which he was questioned by the state Attorney General's office and the FBI. Prior to the dust-up, Hampden Police Chief Jeffrey Farnsworth pulled his application, leaving East Longmeadow Police Sgt. Jeffrey Dalessio as the only candidate to replace Douglas Mellis.

Despite the police chief search committee last week recommending selectmen suspend the search, Thorpe and Gorman voted to hire Dalessio, after a brief, muttering discussion that people in the first row of the audience complained they could not hear.

The decision was defended by Thorpe, who told a reporter that Dalessio is "a hometown guy."

Gorman's motion empowers him to negotiate Dalessio's contract, and requires two out of three selectmen's approval to enact it.

As loud, angry boos drowned out Neffinger, when he tried to explain to people that the meeting included no public comment period, he shouted about the legality of not recognizing attendees' demands to speak.

"Is that the law?" Neffinger shouted, pointing to a particular member of the audience. "I want to you to say whether or not that's the law!"

A motion to appoint Neffinger as permanent town administrator, extending his current month-to-month interim position was met with similar commotion.

Federici, the only vote against the measure and the two previous votes, argued that the board had agreed before hiring Neffinger that the interim town administrator would not be eligible to serve as the permanent Town Hall head.

After the motion passed, Gorman told a reporter that the stipulation had only applied to former Interim Town Administrator Greg Moyer, who resigned. Town Counsel James Donahue was unsure of this contractual detail.

When the board went into executive session to discuss contract negotiation issues, Susan Grimaldi, who served as a selectman from 2000 to 2003, said that none of the votes should have occurred.

"This is a travesty," Grimaldi said. "This is a big embarrassment."

But Gorman, who was goaded by residents who told him that he should be "ashamed of yourself" after the public session came to a close, said that there was no intention to rush through the controversial votes, and called the audience's behavior inexcusable.

"These are people with kids, and they act worse than their kids," Gorman said. "It wasn't a public meeting, it was an open meeting."

Walking toward the Council on Aging's media room, where the executive session was held, Neffinger said he was not sure whether he would accept the permanent town administrator position after last night's meeting.

The boisterous public response to the votes demonstrated Neffinger's theory of an organized plot to thwart the selectmen's authority.

"From the beginning, little by little, there's been a concerted effort to keep selectmen from doing their job," Neffinger said. "Tonight was the culmination."

These were the most read stories on MassLive.com yesterday. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now. 1 )Kevin Durant praises Boston and the Celtics: 'I like the city a lot' [Jay King] 2) State police trooper Thomas Clardy killed in Mass. Pike crash in Charlton [Noah R. Bombard] Photo gallery above 3)...

These were the most read stories on MassLive.com yesterday. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now.

1 )Kevin Durant praises Boston and the Celtics: 'I like the city a lot' [Jay King]

2) State police trooper Thomas Clardy killed in Mass. Pike crash in Charlton [Noah R. Bombard] Photo gallery above

3) Driver in crash that killed Trooper Thomas Clardy on Mass Pike facing criminal charges [Lindsay Corcoran]

4) New England Patriots free agency: RB Donald Brown agrees to terms, per report [Kevin Duffy]

5) Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle beaten in prison yard attack [Ray Kelly]

Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade weekend includes the parade itself, a road race, a wreath-laying and mass by Bishop Mitchell Rozanski.

HOLYOKE -- Here are the bare-bones details of the events for the 2016 Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade weekend.

The star, the parade itself, begins its 3-mile march on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. from the Kmart plaza at Northampton Street and Whiting Farms Road.

The parade will travel down Northampton Street, right on Beech Street, right on Appleton Street and left on High Street to its end on Hampden Street three to four hours later.

Friday: past parade presidents' luncheon, Slainte Restaurant, 80 Jarvis Ave., noon.

Saturday: Kids Fun Run, Hampden and Walnut streets, 11 a.m.

Mummer's Parade and Concert, Maple and Hampden streets, noon

41st St. Patrick's 10K Road Race, Maple Street, 1 p.m.

Laying of the Wreath at JFK Memorial, Appleton and Sycamore streets, 4 p.m.

Bishop's Mass, with the Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, St. Jerome's Church, 169 Hampden St., 5:30 p.m.

JFK Award Reception, honoring George Michael "Micky" Ward, Jr., Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, 6 p.m.

Sunday: Ambassador's Breakfast, honoring Ambassador Award Recipient, Dr. Mary C. Kelly, Yankee Pedlar, 1866 Northampton St., 8:30 a.m.

Parade assembly, K Mart Plaza, 2211 Northampton St., 10:30 a.m.

Parade begins, 11:30 a.m.

WGBY-TV, Channel 57 will broadcast the parade live from in front of Farrell's Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton St., noon to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit holyokestpatricksparade.com.

Students at Longmeadow's Center Elementary School participating in a charity reading drive logged enough minutes reading to donate nearly 2,000 health care bags to local shelters. Watch video

LONGMEADOW — Nearly 2,000 bags of donated goods destined for local pantries and homeless shelters sat in the front of about 200 students assembled in the Center Elementary School gym.

"Your cardinal colors are shining very bright today," Principal Donna Hutton said to the mass of kindergartners to fifth-graders, mostly donning red.

Students at the Center School on Friday celebrated the completion of this year's Read to Care program with a Peace Rally attended by State Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, officials from several police departments and other community representatives.

For the past month, students logged how many minutes they spent reading, Hutton said. Sponsors they obtained then created health care bags, containing dental and hygiene products, for donation at shelters in East Longmeadow, Springfield and Easthampton.

In the vein of a telethon, about 10 students were brought up, and held up sheets of paper denoting the amount of minutes read and bags for donation.

"I think this needs a drum-roll," literacy coach Karen Rafferty said before the children revealed they had collectively read for 264,026 minutes, garnering 1,885 bags.

Lesser, a Longmeadow native, commended children on their achievement in reading, and providing aid to community members in need.

The state senator encouraged them to approach his office if they had any ideas for future projects.

"Frankly, we need more people like you in our community, in our state, in our country, who help other people," Lesser said. "People are going to be happier, healthier and cleaner because of your work."

Accepting bags for the Longmeadow Open Food Pantry, Michael Squindo also told the students that they are an important part of community building.

"It's people like you that make the world a better place," Squindo said.

As police from Longmeadow, Springfield, Easthampton and the State Police carried bags from the gym to their cruisers for delivery, reading specialist Valerie Fritz looked on with the children smiling.

Students were so enthusiastic during the charity drive, they tried to get as much into their health care bags as possible, handing in bags from their sponsors filled to the tipping point.

"They wanted to give so much!" Fritz said.

Hutton credited her staff and students with the success of the school's second charity reading drive. Last year, Center School students held a similar drive that benefited global charity Heifer International.

With even more minutes logged this year than last year, Hutton said, the event benefits everyone involved.

"It's a win-win," Hutton said. "They're reading, and helping others."

Webber is to face trial June 1 in Hampden Superior Court for the fatal shooting of John White on June 16, 2013, in Indian Orchard.

SPRINGFIELD - A trial date of June 1 was set Wednesday for Justin K. Webber, accused in the fatal shooting of John K. White in Springfield in 2013.

Justin Webber 

Police said at the time it appeared White was an innocent bystander.

Webber had been set for trial April 19 in Hampden Superior Court but the trial was moved to June 1. A final pretrial conference was set for May 18.

Webber, of Springfield, denied the murder charge in November 2014 in Springfield District Court. He was served with the murder warrant while in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow, where he was held pending trial in an unrelated case.

Webber, who is represented by David M. Hodge in the case prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew W. Green, was 20 at the time he was arraigned on the murder charge.

He is also charged with illegal possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a loaded gun and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.

Police said White was shot after he left his home at about 5:20 p.m. to investigate a disturbance involving some 15 to 20 people at the corner.

Shots rang out in the area of 12-14 Montcalm St. and White, fatally injured, collapsed to the ground, police said.

As St. Patrick's Day festivities are held this weekend, there's a possibility of snow falling.

This post was updated at 8:50 a.m. to reflect the National Weather Service's latest predictions. 

HOLYOKE -- As St. Patrick's Day festivities are held this weekend, there's a possibility of snow falling.

The National Weather Service reports a coastal storm may bring a significant amount of rain and snow to portions of Southern New England late Sunday into Monday morning.

The organization is currently predicting a 40 percent chance of snow in Western and Central Massachusetts after 1 p.m. on Sunday. The low is expected to be around 28 degrees in Holyoke overnight. The likelihood of snow increases to 70 percent chance overnight between Sunday and Monday. 

There's a 30 percent chance of snow after 3 p.m. in Boston Sunday, with snow likely in the evening. 

Friday night through Sunday morning is at this time expected to offer clear, sunny skies across the state. The high will be in the high-30s Saturday, low-40s on Sunday.

Snow may continue falling in both Western and Eastern Massachusetts Monday morning. The National Weather Service predicts a 40 percent chance of snow before noon around Springfield, then a chance of rain until 1 p.m. on Monday. Boston may also see snow in the morning.

The state grant will pay for renovation of a generator on the Holyoke hydroelectric dam that is 66 years old in a step that will increase capacity and should be done by the end of April.

HOLYOKE -- The hydroelectric dam on the Connecticut River provides two-thirds of the city's electricity and a $1 million state grant will fund an overhaul of a generator to increase capacity equivalent to serve 1,200 homes at a time, an official said.

"Construction actually began in June of 2015, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of April 2016," said James M. Lavelle, manager of the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department (HGE), which owns the dam.

The upgrade will increase the capacity of one of the two Hadley Falls Station's generators to nearly 17 megawatts from the current 15 megawatts, he said in an email last week. The station's other generator also has a 15-megawatt capacity.

The significance there is that with one megawatt serving approximately 600 homes, the upgrade will boost power capacity to provide electricity to 1,200 more homes at a time, he said.

Besides the dam, HGE gets power from solar-panel installations, purchases of carbon-free power and nuclear energy assets, the HGE website said.

"Approximately two-thirds of the energy we sell at retail is generated from the dam and canal system in Holyoke, so you could say that two-thirds of our customers, or 12,000 customers, get their power from our local hydro," Lavelle said.

Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced the grant last week. The money comes from a program intended to help cities with active or decommissioned coal generation facilities to replace such energy with clean energy.

GDF SUEZ Energy North America closed the Mount Tom Power Station in late December 2014. The now-shuttered coal-burning plant is on Route 5 north beside the Connecticut River.

GDF SUEZ Energy North America plans to remain owner of the former coal-burning plant, demolish the smoke stack and other structures and build a solar-power facility in what is scheduled to be a multi-year process, a company official told a City Council committee in December.

Lavelle said the grant will pay for improvements that will increase the generating capacity of the Hadley Falls Station on the dam by nearly 2 megawatts.

"Since this project at Hadley Falls station meets (state renewable energy) requirements, it made sense to apply for the funds," Lavelle said.

"There will be no new buildings. An existing generator, inside Hadley Falls Station at the dam, is being over overhauled," he said.

The station's generators are referred to as Unit 1 and Unit 2. Unit 1, which was built in 1950, is getting the overhaul thanks to the $1 million grant. Unit 2 is about 32 years old, he said.

According to the HGE website, "The log crib dam was completed in 1849 and the present stone dam was finished in 1900. The dam is 1,080 feet in length and 30 feet high. The black part on top of the dam is an adjustable, inflatable rubber bladder replacing the wooden flash boards. It helps divert water behind the dam to pass through the turbines to generate electricity.

"The Connecticut River is 410 miles long and begins on the Canadian border. The dam is 86 miles from the ocean," the HGE website said.

The short explanation is that the water flow of the Connecticut River spins turbines at the dam and turbines spur a mechanism that converts that power into electricity.

As Lavelle elaborated:

"In addition to having water flow, the more critical component to hydro generation is head (or height). Head is the difference in height between the top of the water column (i.e. the height of the river behind the dam) and the outlet of the generator.

"The head is what creates the energy to spin the turbine.

"Hydro energy generation works as follows:

"1. The water flows into the turbine, and with the energy from the head, the water spins the turbine.

"2. The generator rotor is attached to the upper portion of the turbine shaft, and spins with the turbine. There are electromagnets (field poles) attached to the rotor.

"3. As the rotor spins, the electromagnets also rotate past conductors on the generator stator (the stationary part of an electric generator).

"4. When the electromagnets rotate past the conductors on the stator, electricity is created and it flows to the generator output terminals and to the (power supply) grid."