The cost is $35 a person and includes breakfast and parking.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield Regional Chamber and the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council will host a panel discussion, "Creating a Western Massachusetts Renaissance," from 7:15 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 11, at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St.

The theme will be the state of the Massachusetts economy and how communities across the commonwealth can work together to create a broader and more robust business climate, according to a news release.

It will be a panel discussion featuring John Traynor, executive vice president and chief investment officer for People's United Bank; Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council, and Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health.

David Hobert, regional president of People's United Bank, will serve as moderator, according to the chamber.

The chamber expects 100 to 125 guests and there is still room for more, said spokeswoman Nancy Creed. Tickets are $5 and include breakfast and parking. Tickets are available online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

The Springfield Regional Chamber has a membership of more than 500 businesses of all sizes, industries and professions.

The Franklin Park Zoo in Boston is offering free admission to all mothers on Mother's Day, and staff there is hoping people will come visit their newest mother.

BOSTON -- The Franklin Park Zoo in Boston is offering free admission to all mothers on Mother's Day, and staff there is hoping people will come visit their newest mother.

Last week the zoo's ring-tailed lemur named Nebuchadrezzer (Nebbie) gave birth to two ring-tailed lemur twins inside the zoo's tropical forest. The mom and two babies are on exhibit. The zoo staff has not determined the sex of the two babies yet.

Zoo New England 

"The babies appear bright and alert, and are holding on tightly to their mother," Zoo New England President and CEO John Linehan said. "We have an active group of lemurs and it will be great fun for guests to watch these twins grow up and observe the group dynamics."

There are 10 ring-tailed lemurs at the zoo including the twins. Ring-tailed lemurs are an endangered species native to Madagascar. Lemurs have been on exhibit at Zoo New England since the 1970s.

EAST LONGMEADOW — Chestnut Street will be partially closed to traffic Monday for paving. A portion of the road between Benton Drive and Holly Drive will be closed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the Department of Public Works. "Eastbound traffic will be detoured to Industrial Drive or Maple Street and westbound traffic will be detoured via Holly...

EAST LONGMEADOW — Chestnut Street will be partially closed to traffic Monday for paving.

A portion of the road between Benton Drive and Holly Drive will be closed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the Department of Public Works.

"Eastbound traffic will be detoured to Industrial Drive or Maple Street and westbound traffic will be detoured via Holly Drive to Maple Street during this closure," the DPW said. "The road will be reopened to traffic at the end of the day."

DPW officials advise residents to seek alternate routes to avoid possible traffic delays. Anyone with questions about the planned closure can call the DPW at 413-525-5400, ext. 1200.

Weymouth Mayor Robert Hedlund said he will continue to fight the Atlantic Bridge natural gas pipeline project.

Weymouth Mayor Robert Hedlund has rejected a $47 million offer from Spectra Energy that would have required the South Shore community to cease its opposition to a natural gas pipeline compressor station planned for a 16-acre industrial site along the Fore River basin.

Under the terms of the bargain, Hedlund and the Town Council would have welcomed the facility, part of Spectra's proposed Atlantic Bridge project. In exchange, Spectra would pay the town $16 million upfront and millions more over time.

Opposition to the project has been intense in Weymouth, Quincy and Braintree, with opponents urging Hedlund to walk away from the deal.

"I will continue our unrelenting fight against this ill-conceived and unwanted project," said Hedlund Friday on his Facebook page. "In the end, there is no offer or argument that can justify the siting of this compressor station in North Weymouth. It's the wrong project in the wrong location."

Hedlund noted that federal regulators recently allowed an expedited environmental review of the project, thereby diminishing the town's leverage. Hedlund has not ruled out taking legal action.

Hedlund in his statement referred to a "rigged federal process" and predicted that through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, "five President Obama appointees will very likely approve this compressor station in spite of our aggressive fight and compelling reasoning."

He said the practice of "allowing big utility companies to site compressor stations and gas pipeline wherever they want is a creation of Washington D.C." and called upon Congress to change the rules under which FERC operates.

"I believe the focus of our frustrations must shift. This is not a fight we can win at the local level alone," wrote Hedlund, a former Republican state senator who represented the Plymouth and Norfolk District.

The Atlantic Bridge would upgrade facilities and existing lines to expand connections between a receipt point in New Jersey and shipping ports in Canada. The south-flowing Maritimes pipeline would be reversed to carry gas northward from Massachusetts through New Hampshire and Maine over the border. Potential domestic customers include gas distribution companies, manufacturers, a municipal utility, and possible power plants or their agents.

The proposed compressor station in North Weymouth would operate at 7,700 horsepower. It would initially serve the 132,705 dekatherm Atlantic Bridge. Spectra would also like to connect its planned Access Northeast pipeline to the compressor station and then seek an increase in horsepower, according to federal filings. 

Foes say the facility, near a dense residential neighborhood, would be too loud and bright, environmentally unsound, and could vent benzene, explode, or become a target for terrorism.

Alice Arena, leader of Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station, said the payments would not be worth the cost of health impacts and diminished property values. She said the payments would be "blood money."

"This isn't negotiating. This is blackmail," she said to The Patriot Ledger. "What an insult. I'm disgusted."

The Atlantic Bridge project is currently under federal review. Spectra Energy Partners are behind a trio of pipeline plans along coastal New England.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

Candidates vying to succeed outgoing Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. will square-off for the first time Monday as they meet for an evening debate

SPRINGFIELD ‒ Candidates vying to succeed outgoing Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. will square-off for the first time Monday as they meet for an evening debate.

The event, hosted by Focus Springfield Community Television, will mark the first time the candidates will go head-to-head over their visions for the position, experience and other issues.

Democratic sheriff hopefuls Springfield City Councilor Thomas Ashe, Governor's Councilor Michael Albano, HCSD Deputy Superintendent Nick Cocchi and retired addiction specialist Jack Griffin are slated to partake in the debate, according to Focus Springfield Station Manager/Executive Producer Stephen Cary.

HCSD Assistant Deputy Superintendent James Gill, an independent running for Hampden County Sheriff, is also expected to participate in the event.

The debate will begin at 7 p.m. and air on the city's government station, Comcast channel 17. It will also stream live online and on MassLive.com.

Michael Dobbs, managing editor of The Reminder, will moderate the debate with Paul Tuthill, of WAMC; Elizabeth Roman, of The Republican; and Ryan Walsh, of WWLP-22 News, also asking questions.

John M. Comerford, director of the Eastern Hampden County Veterans' Service District; and Francis C. Barbaro, both Republicans, have taken out nomination papers to run for sheriff. It wasn't clear as of press time whether they would be present or not.

Hampden County sheriff candidates who collect enough signatures to make the ballot will square-off in a primary on Sept. 8. The general election will take place on Nov. 8.

The suspect's car, a Toyota Prius, was discovered in Gill near the French King Bridge.

GILL - The Massachusetts State Police Dive Team is currently searching the Connecticut River for a 24-year-old man who is the primary suspect in the stabbing death of a Quincy College professor.

"With the horrible weather and the dark they have not been able to get divers up there earlier," said Trooper Matthew Guarino, a State Police spokesman.

Police have been searching for Tyler Hagmaier since officers entered the Plymouth home of Vibeke Rasmussen, 76, and found she had been stabbed more than 30 times. Police were asked to do a well-being check after she failed to show up for work Friday morning.

Hagmaier, who reportedly lived across the hall from Rasmussen in the same apartment complex, fled the area. At about 9 p.m. Friday, Gill Police found his silver Toyota Prius parked near the French King Bridge in Gill, Guarino said.

Officers searched the banks of the river on Friday night and Saturday but did not find any sign of him. Dive teams were not deployed because the bad weather and strong currents made it too dangerous, he said.

Guarino said he did not know of any connection Hagmaier has to Western Massachusetts. He works in Quincy and lives in Plymouth.

The French King Bridge, which is part of Route 2, connects Erving and Gill. Officers from Erving, Gill and nearby Montague all put out alerts telling people to keep an eye out for any suspicious person in case Hagmaier may not have jumped from the bridge and is still at large.

"I have been informed that it is more likely than not that the murder suspect did in fact jump from the French King Bridge," Montague Police Chief Chip Dodge posted on Facebook. "Because there is a possibility that the suspect may still be alive, I would like to see everyone playing it extra safe."

According to CBS Boston, Hagmaier has a history of mental illness and recently had a violent encounter with Plymouth Police. He was subdued with a stun gun and a beanbag gun.

Police tried to get him help for what they called a "suicidal ideology."

Dodge recommended residents lock all doors to their homes and vehicles and lock all first floor windows at night or when not at home.

He asked residents to call police immediately if they see anyone on their property that they do not know or if they see a man in his 20s who matches the description of the suspect.

People are also recommended to leave outside lights on at night so they can see anyone approaching their property.

The crime is not random but Hagmaier is believed to be armed and does not want to be apprehended, Guarino said.

The Plymouth District Attorney's Office is in charge of the investigation.

Sens. Anne Gobi and Eric Lesser will query MassWildlife personnel on the controversial plan.

Four lawmakers have asked the state to put the brakes on a program to protect endangered Timber Rattlesnakes, and a legislative oversight hearing is set for Tuesday morning in Athol.

Sen. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, chairman of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, has scheduled the event for 11 a.m. May 10 in Athol Town Hall. She said committee members will query MassWildlife personnel and other stakeholders.

The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife hopes to breed the snakes and introduce them to Mount Zion, a 1,350-acre island in the Quabbin Reservoir that's off-limits to the public. The plan has been controversial, with hundreds of angry residents turning out at packed public meetings.

Gobi said she is in favor of protecting endangered species, but has "concerns related to the idea that Quabbin is the only place for the rattlesnakes." Gobi faulted the Baker administration for lack of transparency and said she and other legislators learned about the plan from the media. "They've never made anything clear to us. It is a real problem."

"There's just a lot of questions and a lot of concern from people about what's involved in putting venomous snakes in a new habitat," said State Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, who chairs the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

A letter to Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matt Beaton was signed by Gobi, Lesser, Rep. Thomas Petrolati, D-Ludlow; and Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren.

An online anti-snake petition has more than 2,000 signers, and so does a competing petition in favor of protecting the reptiles.

However, a state biologist says it should not come down to a popularity contest, and that MassWildlife has a legal mandate to protect endangered species.

Thomas W. French, who heads up the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and is spearheading the rattlesnake effort, says that the program is science-based and the snakes will pose no threat to the public. Rattlesnakes already live on Mt. Tom in Easthampton and Holyoke, and in the Blue Hills south of Boston, areas which attract thousands of hikers.

Yet opponents fear the newly-protected snakes will swim across the Quabbin or slither along a narrow causeway to attack members of the public.

French says the endangered reptile needs one location in Massachusetts where it does not have to contend with humans. While killing a rattlesnake is a criminal offense, human harassment and roadkill are major factors leading to the species' decline.

Mount Zion, at 1,350 acres and 3.6 miles in length, "is large enough that the snakes would have little motivation to leave." The island contains undisturbed hardwood forest, chipmunks and mice for the snakes to eat, and deep, rock-bound hibernation sites essential to the snake's survival.

Under the plan, juvenile snakes from Massachusetts would be "headstarted" by the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, and kept over two winters. Releases are expected in the range of one to ten in any given year.

The Quabbin Reservoir, Massachusetts' largest water body, is owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of Water Supply Protection and is a primary drinking water supply for Boston.

Although the Baker administration may craft the snake plan without legislative approval, the Legislature could potentially withhold funding from MassWildlife if lawmakers are unhappy.

French has said the rattlesnake program is funded by a federal grant, and that the division budget comes from hunting and fishing license fees, not taxpayer dollars.

AccuWeather is calling for more showers and cloudy skies on Monday.

Several weather forecasts are calling for a return for the elusive sun some time Sunday afternoon, following a rainy morning.

The National Weather Service is calling for a "gradual clearing" on Sunday with a high near 62 degrees. The wind however is expected to pick up and dry things out. Gusts could be as high as 26 miles and hour.

Tonight is supposed to be mostly clear and windy and Monday will be mostly sunny and windy.w

WesternMass News, media partners for The Republican and MassLive, is also calling for a gradual clearing for Mother's day afternoon.

Showers should end by early afternoon and sun should break through later this afternoon. Meteorologists are also calling for strong wind gusts.

The good news is it should be mild and dry for most of the week, according to WesternMass News.

The Accuweather forecast isn't as positive however. It is calling for clearing tonight but is predicting a mostly cloudy day with a shower on Monday.

Two teens were injured Saturday night after a car slammed into a tree on South Station Street. Firefighters had to use extrication tools to free the driver of the car.

DUXBURY -- Two teens were injured Saturday night after a car slammed into a tree on South Station Street. Firefighters had to use extrication tools to free the driver of the car.

According to Duxbury Police and Fire officials, the crash occurred just before 9 p.m. in the area of 52 South Station St. The two teens were taken to an area hospital for treatment. Police did not release any further information about their injuries.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Residents are being asked to get a description of the driveway sealers and the car they are driving.

SOUTH HADLEY - Police are warning residents of the latest scam involving people who are offering driveway sealing services.

The scammers are driving a truck with a driveway sealing sign on it and are offering their services to homeowners, police said.

Residents who have accepted their offer have found they are not really sealing driveways, police said.

"If you are approached by these individuals do not accept their services," police said. "If all of the usual scams weren't enough, we have a new one in our area."

Police are asking residents to try to get a description of the people offering the services and the vehicle they are driving. They are then asked to call police at 413-538-8231.

The three were arrested Saturday night at the Walmart on Boston Road.

SPRINGFIELD - Police arrested three people from Brooklyn, New York after they allegedly purchased more than $10,000 worth of video game systems and cell phones with fake credit cards.

Leonard Mcmillan, 22, of 1043 East 84th St.; Charles Solomon, 22, of 89 Conklin Ave. and Alvin Adams, 21, of 697 Macdonough St. were all charged with credit card fraud over $250, uttering a forged credit card and receiving stolen credit cards, police said.

The three were arrested at about 5 p.m., Saturday at the Walmart on Boston Road by officers in the Narcotics Bureau and Street Crime Unit, police said.

"The subjects are from New York and were conducting a credit card scam making large purchases with fake credit cards," police said.

Members of the Narcotics Unit, under the direction of Lt. Alberto Ayala and Sgt. Chris Hitas, were conducting surveillance for an unrelated investigation when they saw the three suspects involved in what they felt was suspicious activity, police said.

Detectives monitored the three with the assistance of Lt. Robert Tardiff and three Street Crimes Unit officers and eventually arrested the suspects, police said.

The three are being accused of purchasing several cell phones, ITunes cards and X-Box and PlayStation games and systems. All the items were recovered along with a number of fake and stolen credit cards, police said.

The three are scheduled to be arraigned in Springfield District Court on Monday. The Major Crimes Unit is continuing to investigate and could add more charges in the future, police said.

"The subjects are also believed to be implicated in similar and larger credit card theft ring in the area," police said.

The National Weather Service has designated the city of Boston as “StormReady” for tornadoes and hurricanes as part of a voluntary program that already includes UMass Amherst, Southwick, Nantucket and Worcester.

The National Weather Service has designated the city of Boston as "StormReady" for tornadoes and hurricanes as part of a voluntary program that already includes UMass Amherst, Southwick, Nantucket and Worcester.

A "StormReady" community must follow a number of guidelines and requirements, including setting up a 24-hour "warning point and emergency operations center," spread word of severe weather warnings and other information through several ways, monitor weather conditions, promote public readiness and establish a "hazardous weather action plan, including severe weather spotter training and drills."

"While no community can ever be storm-proof, being StormReady means that the City of Boston has multiple ways to receive and disseminate warnings to key officials, first responders and to the public," Glenn Field, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Taunton.

"Boston has done everything that it can do to be prepared and protect its citizens and visitors," he added.

There are 22 sites in Massachusetts with the "StormReady" designation.

They include Six Flags New England, Agawam, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Belmont, Braintree, Carver, Mansfield, Norwell, Sandwich, Scituate, and Stoughton, along with the aforementioned communities.

The Natick Soldier Systems Center, and Boston College, Boston University, Tufts University and Harvard University are also on the list.

"The StormReady designation reaffirms the City of Boston's commitment to preparedness, and highlights the strong working partnerships between our public safety agencies," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said in his own statement.

"I thank the National Weather Service for recognizing Boston's high level of readiness and unwavering dedication to the safety of our residents," he said.

Baystate Medical Center registered nurse Molly Pulchtopek, 23, will receive the Sharon A. Smith Compassionate Caregiver Award as part of National Nurses Week.

SPRINGFIELD - Sometimes patient care is not just about the body's health.

Baystate Medical Center registered nurse Molly Pulchtopek knows this well. Her 97-year-old patient John J. Polopek, hooked up to heart monitoring equipment in the hospital's MassMutual building in February, was concerned about his wife of 70 years. Also 97, she had been admitted for a stroke and was in the hospital's Daly building.

"We fix broken hearts, but from a medical stand point it was obvious that day he needed more than just the medical part of it," Pulchtopek said.

"He was one of those older gentleman whose life revolved around his wife, and you don't see that often."

So, "that day," which happened to be Valentine's, the 23-year-old Pulchtopek advocated and arranged for her patient to be safely away from cardiac monitoring, and wheel chaired to his wife's room where the two were able to hold hands, despite his wife's impaired condition, share a few words and enjoy a little chocolate ice cream.

And, thanks to the efforts - a little gel to the hair, a shave and a tie fashioned from disposable underpads and decorated with hearts - of personal care technician Maria Tanon, Polopek appeared less the patient and more the romantic spouse with flowers in hand. It was memorable for all involved, especially as it would be the last time, apart from the day he was discharged, that he saw his wife. Bernardine "Bernie" Johnson Polopek died Feb. 23.

John J. Polopek and Bernardine "Bernie" Johnson Polopek on their 70th wedding anniversary in August.SUBMITTTED 

"He was not feeling good, but he had an extra sparkle in his eye," said Pulchtopek of how her patient was upon his return to M7. "He got into bed, closed his eyes, sighed and said, 'What a day.' That sentence was a thank you because I knew he had a good day in the hospital and that is why we do what we do."

Pulchtopek, who graduated last year from the nursing program at Elms College, in Chicopee, and is part of Baystate's Nurse Residency Program (pdf), is being honored for her patient advocacy that day with the Sharon A. Smith Compassionate Caregiver Award.

The Baystate nursing award is given annually during National Nurses Week, and will be presented at the hospital's Nursing Gala on May 12 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at its Whitney Avenue Conference Center in Holyoke.

"I was really shocked," said Pulchtopek of her reaction upon learning of the award that she feels is a recognition of her colleagues, too. Her "date" for the gala is Tanon, whom she described as a "huge part of that day."

"Working on M7 incredible things happen every day," Pulchtopek said. "Everyone does heart-warming things, but for us to get the recognition is a great thing."

Baystate Medical Center registered nurse Sean Robinson with his grandfather John Polopek at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke.SUBMITTTED 

A graduate of Ware High School, she added her passion for nursing began at an early age.

"I have always been interested in the medical profession," Pulchtopek said.

"I had family who were in and out of the hospital, and the nurses were kind. It is an inspiring profession. The opportunities are endless, and I enjoy the connection with patients."

She called Polopek an "inspirational" patient from the start for his devotion to his wife.

"The second he told us that his wife was on Daly 5A, it just made sense to bring these two people together who shared 70 plus years," said Pulchtopek of how she and Tanon reacted.

"Even when I was doing his assessment and asked if he had a cough, he said, 'My wife has a cough.'"

Ninety-seven-year-old John Polopek holds a painting remembrance of his special hospital visit with his wife "Bernie" shortly before her death at Baystate Medical Center.SUBMITTTED 

Pulchtopek was nominated for the award by Sean Robinson, Polopek's grandson and also a Baystate registered nurse. A graduate of the nursing program at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Robinson, 33, just graduated from the three-year nurse anesthetist program at Northeastern University in Boston.

He said his grandfather was admitted with shortness of breath and chest pains to Baystate on Feb. 11, and his grandmother was admitted the next day after suffering a stroke. He said the two met as students at Chicopee High School, raised four children together, including Robinson's mother, Beth Robinson, and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in August.

He said his grandfather, now at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, served in World War II and had a background in business, and that his grandmother had taught for many years at Benjamin J. Phelps School in Agawam, where they lived.

"They had a great relationship. They were very close and did everything together," said Robinson who visits his grandfather several times a week.

"My grandfather was an avid golfer. They loved watching the Red Sox together, and my nana was an avid reader. I think she kept the Agawam library in business. When they were younger, they liked to travel."

Robinson said the attention that Pulchtopek and Tanon gave his grandfather "made him feel like a celebrity" and that staff clapped as he was wheeled out of the telemetry unit.

"He was extremely excited," said Robinson of his grandfather's eagerness to see his wife after four days of being apart in the hospital.

"He got to hold her hand. It meant a lot to him. My nana was pretty sick. She couldn't do much for herself. I helped feed her. It was the last time he got to see her, except for when he getting discharged and I brought him to see her on the way out. It was something special and something I will never forget for sure."

He added that he nominated Pulchtopek for the nursing award because she "went above and beyond what she needed to do for sure."

"You don't need to be an experienced RN to do something like that," said Robinson, referencing the fact that Pulchtopek is only a year out of nursing school. "It just takes an amazing nurse. She is going to have a great future."

Meetings are set for May 17, 24, and 25 at the city's 50 Payson Ave municipal building.

It's budget season, and the City Council Finance Subcommittee has scheduled a set of public meetings where department heads will present their spending requests for the upcoming year and field questions from councilors.

Last month, Mayor Karen Cadieux released her $39.3 million recommended budget for fiscal 2017. The document must be ratified by the full City Council before July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year. The City Council may cut from Cadieux's budget, but not add to it.

Cadieux's budget completely funds a $16.52 million school department request, and restores various departmental positions cut in previous years.

Members of the Finance Subcommittee, chaired by District 5 Councilor Daniel Rist, are conducting their annual review of the numbers. Here is the committee's meeting schedule:

Wednesday, May 11: A general discussion of the fiscal 2017 budget
Tuesday, May 17: Schools, Human Services, Debt and Interest
Tuesday, May 24: Public Works, Enterprise Funds, Culture and Recreation
Wednesday, May 25: Public Safety, General Government, Employee Benefits

The public is welcome at all city meetings. The Finance Subcommittee always meets at 5 p.m. in the 1st floor conference room at 50 Payson Ave.

FY2017 Budget Easthampton MA by Mary Serreze

Town Clerk Michell Hill said 6,742 voters are eligible to cast ballots.

SOUTHWICK - Voters in Tuesday's annual Town Election will decide the outcome of three contests on the ballot.

Veteran School Committee members George A. LeBlanc Jr. and James E. Vincent face opposition from Kelly A. Clendenin and Laura A. White for three-year terms on the School Committee.

Former Town Planner Marcus G. Phelps and Joseph G. Ballard are competing for a two-year term on the Planning Board.

Also, Michael J. Massarelli and Patrick T. Roche are seeking a two-year term on the Park and Recreation Commission.

A specimen ballot can be found on the town's website: www.townofsouthwick.org.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.. All voting will be held at City Hall on College Highway.

Town Clerk Michelle Hill said Monday a total of 6,742 voters are eligible to cast ballots.

Providence Ministries Service Network will host its 20th annual golf tournament next month.

HOLYOKE -- Providence Ministries Service Network will host its 20th annual golf tournament next month.

The event will be held on Monday, June 20 at Wyckoff Country Club in Holyoke. It is open to men and women golfers of all skills levels.

A shotgun scramble will kick off the event at 9 a.m., followed by a range of activities throughout the day including lunch, a raffle and door prizes.

Participants must register by June 10. For more information visit Providence Ministries' website.

The commission has 18 months to present its final report.

AMHERST - The Charter Commission has questions for town residents and is holding its first public hearing Thursday night to get some answers.

The hearing is slated for 7 p.m. at Amherst Regional Middle School. People will have two minutes to offer comments, according to a press release. Residents can also provide comments on the Charter Commission website.

Voters on March 29 agreed to create the commission and elected nine people to study forms of town government. The commission is required to hold two public hearings, the first within 45 days of when the commission was created.

The hearings come as the commission seeks input on what aspects of the town's current government structure people like, and what aspects could be improved. The commission is also asking what residents see as key challenges, and how town government can be improved to better meet those challenges.

The commission must create a preliminary report within 16 months of when it was created and a final report within 18 months, according to state law.

Under its current form of government, Amherst has a five-member Select Board, a town manager and a 240-member representative Town Meeting.

Residents last voted on changing the town's form of government in 2005.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Karen Ann Radwilowicz 

Karen Ann Radwilowicz, 56, of Agawam passed away on Thursday. She was born in Holyoke. She was a 1977 graduate of Agawam High School and a resident of Feeding Hills, relocating there after living in South Windsor, Connecticut, for several years. She was employed as a customer service representative for Ruwac USA Industrial Vacuums of Holyoke, and worked previously at oil delivery businesses. Her favorite pastime was preparing home-cooked meals, especially golumpkis and pierogis. She found joy in attending arts and crafts shows, and could also be found watching the Red Sox and various cooking and food shows, with Rachel Ray and Guy Fieri being her favorites. She loved spending time with her family most especially when her nieces and nephews came over to visit.

Full obituary and funeral arrangements for Karen Ann Radwilowicz »

There are thousands of new books being donated to schools in the Springfield area by Reader to Reader, based in Amherst..

Reader to Reader, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding literacy and learning, recently launched its annual Spring Book Extravaganza for the planned donation of 15,000 books to schools in the Springfield area.

The organization, based in Amherst, gives away tens of thousands of books annually to schools and outreach program in the region including an annual book giveway to those schools.

The Spring extravaganza is in its sixth year, and began on April 28, with hundreds of boxes of books lining the hallways of Belcher Elementary School in Chicopee, the host site, awaiting pickup by area teachers, according to the organization

As of May 9, a total of 21 schools had come and picked out books for their students and there were still thousands of books available, said David Mazor, the founder of Reader to Reader.

The books are brand new and are available to schools in Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee and West Springfield, according to Reader to Reader. The books span a wide range of ages and interests and include grade levels pre-K to 12, officials said.

"These books are part of our ongoing support for the Reading Success by 4th Grade Initiative," Mazor said. "Increased access to books is a key factor in raising literacy rates."

"Year after year, Reader to Reader has been an amazing resource for our district," said Samuel Karlin, principal at Belcher School. "We look forward to this great spring book event every year."

Schools interested in picking out books should contact David Mazor at .this website address.

Reader to Reader's Spring Book Extravaganza is sponsored by Chicopee Savings Bank.

Jason Glashen-Matthias, 32, of Brooklyn, and Jeffrey Sanon, 34, of Brighton, are being held on $250,000 bail.

TOLLAND, Conn. - A Massachusetts man and a Brooklyn man were arrested early Sunday on Interstate 84 when a traffic stop for erratic driving led to the discovery of more than pound of marijuana brownies and several bogus credit cards.

Arrested were Jason Glashen-Matthias, 32, of Brooklyn, and Jeffrey Sanon, 34, of Brighton.

Glashen-Matthias was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, credit card forgery, credit card counterfeiting, illegal use of a credit card, criminal impersonation, and speeding.

Sanon was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and interfering with a police officer.

According to Connecticut State Police, a trooper spotted a Ford Edge driving erratically on I-84 westbound at 12:25 a.m. The vehicle was speeding, and changing lanes without signaling.

When the car was pulled over, troopers found the driver, Glashen-Matthias, was in possession of a fake driver's license, and eight counterfeit credit cards. A search of the vehicle also uncovered 24 plastic foil bags containing a total of 1.7 pounds of cannabis-laced brownies and 20 envelopes of butane hashish oil. They also confiscated more than $1,000 in cash.

Each was being held on $250,000 bail pending their appearance in Rockville Superior Court.