Gov. Charlie Baker formally announced the hiring of former state legislator Michael Knapik to head his administration's Springfield office Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Charlie Baker formally announced the hiring of former state legislator Michael Knapik to head his administration's Springfield office Thursday, citing Knapik's history of service and deep Pioneer Valley connections as assets for aiding constituents and advancing Baker's legislative agenda.

Baker, who worked with Knapik while he was Sec. of Health and Human Services and Knapik served in the legislature, said he chose the Westfield Republican following a series of candidate interviews.

"The long story short here is Mike is everything you would want in a public servant. He has the respect and the affection of people on both sides of the aisle," Baker said. "He has been a supporter and a participant in local government initiatives and state government initiatives. He knows how to be an advocate for local and regional issues, and at the same time has been able to very successfully participate on a statewide basis when it's called for."

Knapik will leave his current positions as director of advancement, alumni and university relations at Westfield State University and executive director of the Westfield State Foundation on July 1 and begin leading Baker's Springfield office on July 5.

"Let me just say how honored and humbled I am to join the Baker-Polito administration here in the Springfield office," Knapik said. "I'm hoping to work with you and the administration to help convey the interests and the concerns of folks here in the Western region of Massachusetts, and vice versa."

Baker's Springfield office was temporarily closed this week after two staffers, former office director Ryan Chamberland and community affairs coordinator Saibo Ndlovu, left their posts. Chamberland is taking a new position as director of legislative affairs at the Department of Correction, and Ndlovu declined to discuss the reason for her departure when contacted by the Republican.

Knapik's salary will be $105,000 per year -- a jump from Chamberland's $60,000 salary as reported in the Republican this week.

The office, which receives little foot traffic and handles constituent services for Western Mass., continued to hold weekly office hours with staffers from Baker's Boston office. That schedule will remain the same under Knapik's leadership, with the office open to walk-in visits from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Knapik's portfolio will extend beyond handling community concerns. Baker said he expects Knapik to be an asset in promoting the administration's legislative agenda in Western Mass, citing two bills he said would benefit citizens west of I-495: a $918 million economic developing bill and a municipal government bill touted as a way to trip red tape.

Knapik served as a Republican state representative from 1991 to 1994 and as a state senator from 1995 to 2013, before leaving politics to become the director of advancement, alumni and university relations at Westfield State University.

Massachusetts governors have stationed offices in Western Mass. since the administration of Michael Dukakis, the Republican reported this week. The office was shuttered for budgetary reasons while Mitt Romney was governor, but reopened once Deval Patrick took office.

Technology startups at Greentown Labs in Somerville come up with ideas that can change the world. Now the Springfield Technology Park is working to get those ideas manufactured into products in Western Massachusetts.

SPRINGFIELD -- Technology startups at Greentown Labs in Somerville come up with ideas that can change the world. Now the Springfield Technology Park is working to get those ideas manufactured into products in Western Massachusetts.

The Technology Park -- 340,000 square feet of space on 15.3 acres of what was once the Springfield Armory -- has entered into a formal agreement with Greentown Labs to act as a sort of manufacturing matchmaker.

Under the plan, announced Thursday at the Developers Conference hosted by the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, there will be two economic development "fellows," one stationed at Greentown in Somerville and one at the Springfield Technology Park, said Jen Murphy, senior property manager at the Springfield Technology Park.

Their purpose will be to match up innovative companies at Greentown  with Western Massachusetts companies who can manufacture prototypes and even take a product into production, Murphy said.

Baker says $918M economic development bill would uplift Mass. outside of I-495

She wasn't able Thursday to say how much it will cost, although both the Technology Park and Greentown are working with funding sources and expect to make another announcement.

Greentown and the tech park have been in talks for some time.

Greentown offers, according to its website, 33,000 square feet of prototyping lab and co-located office space, a shared machine shop and an electronics shop for tech startups.

It has ready access to Boston's money, entrepreneurial networks and educational institutions, but does not have ready access to machine shops and other manufacturers.

Tenant companies at Greentown include Autonomous Marine Systems with its robotic sailboats, Appollo Wind, which promises extremely efficient air conditioning and refrigeration, and Altaeros Energies, which is developing mobile turbines.

Holyoke Community College will open its Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts in the first two floors of The Cubit at Appleton and Race streets in Holyoke next year with upper stories devoted to living lofts and the basement to commercial offices.

HOLYOKE -- The state has approved tax incentives to help brothers Denis and Marco Luzuriaga convert a factory at Appleton and Race streets into commercial spaces and residential lofts known as The Cubit.

"I'm pleased that the Economic Development Incentive Program application for The Cubit project have been approved by the state," Mayor Alex B. Morse said Wednesday. "Denis and Marco have put together a plan that will complement the great work happening in our urban core.

"This incentive will go a long way to ensuring their vision becomes reality. I thank the Baker administration for their continued support of these types of projects in Holyoke."

Holyoke Community College (HCC) will open its Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts in the first two floors of The Cubit next year. The upper two floors will be devoted to living lofts and the basement to commercial offices.

The $3 million Cubit project will be helped with a six-year Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement with the city that is worth $67,000, a state press release said.

The building was formerly the Cubit Wire & Cable Co. Inc. at 181 Appleton St.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced that the state's Economic Assistance Coordinating Council had approved The Cubit and 17 other projects statewide for participation in the Economic Development Incentive Program.

The projects are expected to produce 855 jobs and retain 2,958 existing jobs total about $199 million in private spending, the press release said.

"Massachusetts boasts a robust, pro-growth business environment, and our administration is committed to maintaining and improving the Commonwealth's business ecosystem," Baker said.

"Creating the optimal environment for job growth is crucial to stimulating new growth, and lifting up every community in Massachusetts," Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said.

The Mount Holyoke Summit House, based in Hadley, will be closed until early summer, due to repairs, according to officials.

HADLEY — The Mount Holyoke Summit House has been closed due to "necessary upgrades and repairs" to the structure's fire suppression system, according to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The agency will re-open the building in early summer, according to officials.

Originally built in 1861, and located in Skinner State Park, the historic building and famous tourist destination is known for providing beautiful views of the Pioneer Valley, as well as for being one of the last standing summit houses in New England.

Over one hundred years later, the building now exists as a historic gem, though that antique status comes at a hefty price.

This is only the most recent time that the historic building has been closed due to safety concerns.

The agency closed the popular tourist destination off to the public in 2010, after it was deemed that there were significant safety concerns about the structure's wraparound porch, and that it might pose a danger to visitors.

The building reopened again for the first time in four years in 2014, providing residents and tourists the opportunity to enjoy its offered charm of vistas and historical heritage.

Officials promise that the most recent closure will be brief and won't affect the upcoming sunset concert series – a number of evenings that will feature "live local music" – which will go on as scheduled.

Friday morning will start off cool across the state and rise into the mid-80s during the day. It is expected to be sunny and dry through the start of the weekend.

SPRINGFIELD -- Following a day with temperatures reaching the 80s, temperatures will cool Thursday evening. 

The low will be in the mid-40s, low-50s overnight, Western Mass News Meteorologist Jacob Wycoff said. "A bit cooler than average but a great night to shut the ACs off and crack those windows open."

Friday morning will start off cool across the state and rise into the mid-80s during the day. It is expected to be sunny and dry through the start of the weekend. 

Western Massachusetts forecast: 

Tonight: Mainly clear and cool. Lows: 46-50.

Friday: Mostly sunny, warm and dry.  Highs: 80-84. Winds: N 5-10 mph.

Saturday: Lots of sun, hot!  Highs: 84-88. Winds: N 5-10 mph.

Want spend the beautiful summer weather closer to the beach? Check out five beautiful beach homes for sale. 

 

Dizzy the monkey has been returned to his enclosure by zoo staff.

SPRINGFIELD — Dizzy the monkey, who escaped from captivity at the Forest Park Zoo earlier this week, has been safely returned to his enclosure, according to zoo staff.

Dizzy, the monkey who escaped from The Zoo in Forest Park, is back home with his mate Mitzy, shown here in their enclosure Thursday evening. Dizzy is in the rear. (Photo courtesy of The Zoo in Forest Park)submitted 

The Zoo staff released a brief statement in regards to the monkey's return on Thursday evening: "Dizzy has RETURNED HOME! We would like to thank Forest Park, zoo staff, Springfield police and all those involved in helping us return Dizzy safely to his home!"

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

A series of license violation charges against the Showbar strip club are scheduled for consideration at two hearings next week, after the city and the club's attorney failed to come to an agreement Thursday night.

SPRINGFIELD -- A series of license violation charges against the Showbar strip club are scheduled for consideration at two hearings next week, after the city and the club's attorney failed to come to an agreement Thursday night.

On March 18, a fight broke out between two strippers in a downstairs dressing room at the Chestnut Street club, Attorney Daniel D. Kelly told MassLive before a License Commission meeting Thursday.

The club is accused of a number of violations linked to the incident: Absence of a manager of record, having an intoxicated employee, impermissible use of a basement, failure to call police in a timely manner and failure to use metal detectors or have three security staff on duty, in violation of its security plan.

If found guilty the club could face a suspension of its license to operate, License Commission Chairman Peter Sygnator said in an interview.

"A violation of like that without calling the police? Yes," Sygnator said. "We always tell them call, call, call. You'll never be punished for calling, but you could be punished for not calling."

Kelly said that a deal for the club to admit to some charges and be given a suspension with conditions could not be secured before Thursday's meeting. Instead, hearings have been scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, and the club will continue to negotiate with the city until then.

"We're still on the one yard line," Kelly said.

The enforcement action comes less than a month after the License Commission held a pre-hearing on a number of other alleged violations at the club, including a count of hiring an underage dancer.

According to a police report, officers responded to Showbar on Feb. 17 after a woman asked for help removing her 17-year-old daughter from the club. The daughter was stripping and refused to leave, the woman said.

Police said a manager confirmed the minor was an employee, but said she had used a fake identification when she applied to work there. Police also allegedly found that while a fake ID was used, the minor was receiving paychecks in her real name.

Kelly told the Republican the club denied the allegations.

"We dispute the city's version of events," Kelly said. "We have a lot of witnesses to call on our side."

The formal hearing on the earlier charges has not yet been held.

A recent MassLive investigation found that Showbar, along with other stripclubs in Springfield, appeared to be in violation of long-unenforced city regulations, including a requirement to register the names and ages of dancers with City Hall and a prohibition on the use of back rooms for dances.

According to state corporate records, Showbar is registered as Buddy's Pub LLC, a company that lists Michael Brisbois as its manager and registered agent.

But the club has ties to James Santaniello, the strip club magnate who runs Mardi Gras and other clubs in the city. Brisbois was the manager of 107 Taylor St. LLC, which owned the lot adjacent to Mardi Gras before selling it for $1 to a company owned by Santaniello in 2010. And Santaniello owns the domain name for Showbar's website, according to a domain search.

Pat and David Johnson of Westfield have made a $1 million bequest to "Transforming Cancer Care – The Capital Campaign for the Sister Caritas Cancer Center."

SPRINGFIELD — Pat and David Johnson of Westfield have made a $1 million bequest to "Transforming Cancer Care - The Capital Campaign for the Sister Caritas Cancer Center."

The Johnsons' gift, along with other bequests, will guarantee the future needs of the recently completed 26,000-square-foot expansion of the Caritas Center at Mercy Medical Center, according to a Mercy press release. The bequest comes days after Mercy announced that the adult children of longtime supporters Arthur and Augusta O'Hara donated $250,000 to the campaign in memory of their parents.

The Johnsons, and several members of their family, have been touched by cancer for the past 20 years. With each occurrence, members of the Johnson family have been treated by Dr. Philip Glynn, director oncology at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center. Under Glynn's direction, the Cancer Center staff has expanded significantly to meet patient need, which continues to increase.

By 2022, the demand for outpatient cancer services is expected to grow by 26 percent.

"Pat and I have learned firsthand that Dr. Glynn and his physicians and staff are giving us what our community needs. Now, it is our turn. We are proud to help fund this important asset," David Johnson said.

In addition to their bequest, the Johnsons have also sponsored two oncology suites as part of the recent expansion of the Sister Caritas Cancer Center.

"Pat and Dave Johnson are longtime supporters of the Sister Caritas Cancer Center and our efforts to bring hope and healing to the local community. We are grateful for their ongoing generosity as it furthers our ability to meet the needs of the people who turn to us for cancer care each year," said Scott Wolf, president of Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System.

A man from Arlington has been arrested in connection with an investigation of possession and distribution of child pornography, according to police.

ARLINGTON — Authorities have arrested a man on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography, according to Arlington police.

Mason Lister, 21, of Arlington, is currently being held at the Arlington Police Department, pending his arraignment in Cambridge District Court.

Police arrested Lister after investigations led them to believe that he was using various forms of social media – such as Kik, DropBox, and even Twitter – to trade obscene pictures of children.

At Lister's residence, authorities seized both a computer and a tablet for further investigation.

Lister is charged with both possession and distribution of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct.

Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan released a statement shortly after the arrest in which he decried the abuse of children as being "among the worst crimes in our society."

The FBI Child Exploitation Task Force assisted the Arlington Police Detectives in the investigation, according to police.

The City Council's Finance Committee has set a goal of recommending a budget that calls for no new property taxes.

WESTFIELD -- The City Council's Finance Committee completed its departmental hearings Thursday on Mayor Brian P. Sullivan's requested $138.4 million fiscal 2017 municipal spending plan.

The three-member committee will present the proposed city budget for the year beginning July 1 to the public for input and comment Monday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Finance members Robert A. Paul, David A. Flaherty and Matthew VanHeynigan will then meet June 28 at 6 p.m. at City Hall to formalize their budget recommendations for the full City Council. Those recommendations will be presented to the full council at a special budget workshop at 7 p.m. June 29.

A formal vote on adoption of the city's FY17 budget will come at another special meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. June 30 at City Hall.

Paul, who serves as Finance chairman, said Thursday night the goal of his committee remains "an attempt to bring forward a budget recommendation that will avoid any new or increase in property taxes for the new year."

So far, the committee has suggested a blanket $600,000 cut in the School Department's proposed $58.9 million budget for next year.

Finance members met with representatives of the police, fire, technology and public safety communications departments Thursday.

Questions posed at budget hearings, which began June 7 with the School Department, have been directed at both expenses and income or potential income of various municipal departments.

Finance members are looking for a reduction of up to $2.3 million in the overall $138.4 million budget proposal to meet their goal of no property tax increase.

In addition to finance members, other City Council members who attended most if not all budget hearings included Mary L. O'Connell, Dan Allie, Cindy Harris, Mary Ann Babinski and Andrew Surprise.

The Milwaukee Bucks selected Thon Maker with the 10th pick of the 2016 NBA Draft.

The Milwaukee Bucks selected Thon Maker with the 10th pick of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Earlier Thursday, reports stated that Maker might drop in the draft because of questions about his age. Jake Fischer tweeted Thursday morning that several teams were no longer interested in Maker because of beliefs that he was somewhere between 21 and 23 years of age instead of 19.

Maker, who most recently was a forward for the Athlete Institute in Canada, was cleared by the NBA to enter the draft in mid-April. Maker originally reclassified last spring to the Class of 2015, before reclassifying back to the Class of 2016.

He made his way to Canada after him and his younger brother escaped from South Sudan to Uganda and eventually made their way to Australia. 

At 7-foot-1, Maker has a smooth stride and a varied offensive skill set. Read a full scouting report on Maker from his appearance at the 2016 Hoophall Classic here.

The Bucks have long coveted players that have length and defensive potential, two attributes that Maker possesses. Maker does need to add muscle, and he isn't the most athletic player in the draft, so the strength and conditioning team will have its work cut out for them there. That being said, Maker can shoot, and his ability to stretch the floor -- combined with his ability to protect the rim -- gives him a high ceiling despite the fact that he does not have any college experience. 

West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt celebrated his 30th birthday Thursday night with friends, family and supporters at the Tatham Social Club

WEST SPRINGFIELD — West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt celebrated his 30th birthday Thursday night with friends, family and supporters at the Tatham Social Club.

Reichelt thanked everyone for their time and generosity during the five-hour event that featured plenty of freshly baked pizza, balloons, socializing and music.

The first-term mayor took office in January. The West Side native and lawyer by trade was the town's legal counsel before running for mayor.

Zoo officials say that Dizzy the monkey, who had gotten loose from his enclosure earlier in the week, came down from the trees in the zoo on his own. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — Dizzy, the eight-year-old Guenon monkey who got loose from his enclosure at the Forest Park zoo on Tuesday, came down from the trees where he was perched "on his own," according to zoo officials.

Dizzy had been out of captivity for multiple days, but was brought back safely into his enclosure early this evening.

Until this evening, Dizzy had not been seen for hours and was assumed to be high up in the trees inside the zoo, according to officials.

Zoo officials said that after Dizzy came down from the trees, John Lewis, the head zookeeper, was able to hit him with a tranquilizer dart. After being hit, Dizzy proceeded to run back up a tree, but quickly passed out and zoo staff were able to catch him as he fell from the tree, according to Lewis.

Now that Dizzy has been brought back safely into his enclosure, he has been happily reunited with his mate Mitzy, according to zoo staff.

"He and Mitzy are very happy!" said Meghan Rothschild, a board member for the Forest Park Zoological Association, which runs the zoo. "He's still sleepy but will be just fine," she added.

"He's awake and fine and back to his usual spitfire self," said Lewis, noting that Dizzy has been moving around and seems to be content.

 

Zoo staff believe there were several big factors that led Dizzy to return to lower heights – one of them being his girl, Mitzy.

Lewis told The Republican that the zoo staff tried a new strategy that seemed to encourage the escapee to return. "The only thing we did differently was to leave his mate running around outside of her enclosure," said Lewis.

Previously, zoo staff had put Mitzy in the enclosure she shared with Dizzy, in an attempt to encourage the monkey to return, but it seemed to have little effect. However, after leaving Mitzy out, Dizzy reportedly was seen lower in the trees than before. Up until that point in time, Dizzy had been out of sight for nearly a day. "I had not seen him since about 2 p.m., the previous day," Lewis said.

Another big factor that apparently had a big influence was keeping the public from being involved.

Zoo staff had previously expressed frustration with locals passing through the park and causing noise and commotion that they felt was keeping Dizzy scared and "high in the trees."

In an attempt to rectify this problem, zoo officials coordinated with the Park Department to close the playground area adjacent to the zoo, where people had previously been congregating and looking for the monkey. Local law enforcement also helped to keep the public away from the area. "We really appreciate the assistance of both the Parks Department and the local police department," Lewis said. "I think by keeping that area closed, as well as quiet, and by keeping his mate involved, it all just encouraged Dizzy to come back on his own," Lewis said.

Even though the escape was a stressful incident for the zoo, officials say it shouldn't diminish the important role that the zoo can play for the surrounding community.

Rothschild, who has dubbed the escape "Dizzy's Big Adventure," says that public persecution of the zoo for mistakes like this are unfair, and that the zoo still has a lot to offer Springfield, including education, community-building, and rehabilitation of many animals.

Finally, Rothschild also suggested that the zoo staff care immensely for the well-being of the animals, and that occasional "human error" like that which occurred with Dizzy should not negate all the good the zoo staff can do. "These people work hard, they care with all their hearts and they consider the animals a part of their family," said Rothschild.

The pound suffered one of its biggest one-day falls in history, plummeting from about $1.50 to below $1.35 as results suggested a strong possibility the U.K. would vote to quit the bloc.

LONDON -- Britain voted to leave the European Union after a bitterly divisive referendum campaign, according to tallies of official results Friday, sending global markets plunging, casting British politics into disarray and shattering the stability of a project in continental unity designed half a century ago to prevent World War III.

The decision launches a yearslong process to renegotiate trade, business and political links between the United Kingdom and what will become a 27-nation bloc, an unprecedented divorce that could take decades to complete.

"The dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom," said Nigel Farage, leader of the U.K. Independence Party. "Let June 23 go down in our history as our independence day!"

Tallies by British broadcasters of near-complete official results Friday showed the "leave" campaign winning with 52 percent of the vote. Turnout was high: 72 percent of the more than 46 million registered voters went to the polls.

Polls ahead of the vote had showed a close race, but the momentum had appeared to be on the "remain" side in the week before the vote. The result shocked investors, and stock markets plummeted around the world.

The pound suffered one of its biggest one-day falls in history, plummeting more than 10 percent in six hours, from about $1.50 to below $1.35, on concerns that severing ties with the single market will hurt the U.K. economy and undermine London's position as a global financial center.

The U.K. would be the first major country to leave the EU, which was born from the ashes of World War II as European leaders sought to build links and avert future hostility. With no precedent, the impact on the single market of 500 million people -- the world's largest economy -- is unclear.

As results poured in, a picture emerged of a sharply divided nation: Strong pro-EU votes in the economic and cultural powerhouse of London and semi-autonomous Scotland were countered by sweeping anti-Establishment sentiment for an exit across the rest of England, from southern seaside towns to rust-belt former industrial powerhouses in the north.

"A lot of people's grievances are coming out and we have got to start listening to them," said deputy Labour Party leader John McDonnell.

The vote is likely to cost Prime Minister David Cameron his job. The leader of the ruling Conservative Party called the referendum largely to silence voices to his right, then staked his reputation on keeping Britain in the EU. Former London Mayor Boris Johnson, who is from the same party, was the most prominent supporter of the "leave" campaign and now becomes a leading contender to replace Cameron.

After winning a majority in Parliament in the last election, Cameron negotiated a package of reforms that he said would protect Britain's sovereignty and prevent EU migrants from moving to the U.K. to claim generous public benefits.

How Brexit could hurt America

Critics charged that those reforms were hollow, leaving Britain at the mercy of bureaucrats in Brussels and doing nothing to stem the tide of European immigrants who have come to the U.K. since the EU expanded eastward in 2004. The "leave" campaign accuses the immigrants of taxing Britain's housing market, public services and employment rolls.

Those concerns were magnified by the refugee crisis of the past year that saw more than 1 million people from the Middle East and Africa flood into the EU as the continent's leaders struggled to come up with a unified response.

Cameron's efforts to find a slogan to counter the "leave" campaign's emotive "take back control" settled on "Brits don't quit." But the appeal to a Churchillian bulldog spirit and stoicism proved too little, too late.

The slaying of pro-Europe lawmaker Jo Cox a week before the vote brought a shocked pause to both campaigns and appeared to shift momentum away from the "leave" camp. While it isn't clear whether her killer was influenced by the EU debate, her death aroused fears that the referendum had stirred demons it would be difficult to subdue.

The result triggers a new series of negotiations that is expected to last two years or more as Britain and the EU search for a way to separate economies that have become intertwined since the U.K. joined the bloc on Jan. 1, 1973. Until those talks are completed, Britain will remain a member of the EU.

Exiting the EU involves taking the unprecedented step of invoking Article 50 of the EU's governing treaty. While Greenland left an earlier, more limited version of the bloc in 1985, no country has ever invoked Article 50, so there is no roadmap for how the process will work.

Authorities ranging from the International Monetary Fund to the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England have warned that a British exit will reverberate through a world economy that is only slowly recovering from the global economic crisis.

"It will usher in a lengthy and possibly protracted period of acute economic uncertainty about the U.K.'s trading arrangements," said Daniel Vernazza, the U.K. economist at UniCredit.

The European Union is the world's biggest economy and the U.K.'s most important trading partner, accounting for 45 percent of exports and 53 percent of imports.

In addition, the complex nature of Britain's integration with the EU means that breaking up will be hard to do. The negotiations will go far beyond tariffs, including issues such as cross-border security, foreign policy cooperation and a common fisheries policy.

Among the biggest challenges for Britain is protecting the ability of professionals such as investment managers, accountants and lawyers to work in the EU.

As long as the U.K. is a member of the bloc, firms registered in Britain can operate in any other member state without facing another layer of regulation. It's the same principle that allows exporters to ship their goods to any EU country free of tariffs.

Now that right is up for negotiation, threatening the City, as London's financial heart is known, and its position as Europe's pre-eminent financial center.

Many international banks and brokerages have long used Britain as the entry point to the EU because of its trusted legal system and institutions that operate in English, the language of international finance. Britain's financial services industry is also surrounded by an ecosystem of expertise -- lawyers, accountants and consultants-- that support it.

Some 60 percent of all non-EU firms have their European headquarters in the U.K., according to TheCityUK, which lobbies on behalf of the financial industry. The U.K. hosts more headquarters of non-EU firms than Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands put together.

"We believe this outcome has serious implications for the City and many of our clients' businesses with exposure to the U.K. and the EU," said Malcolm Sweeting, senior partner of the law firm, Clifford Chance. "We are working alongside our clients to help them as they anticipate, plan for and manage the challenges the coming political and trade negotiations will bring."

JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said earlier this month that a vote to leave would force his bank to move jobs to mainland Europe to ensure that it could continue to service clients in the EU. Other global businesses with customers in the rest of the EU will be in a similar situation.

The only question that remains is whether the dire economic predictions economists made during the campaign will come to pass.

"Uncertainty is bad for business," Vernazza said. "A sharp fall in U.K. risky asset prices, delays to investment, disruption to trade, and a loss of business and consumer confidence mean the U.K. economy is more likely than not to enter a technical recession within two years."

Voters head to polls to decide if Britain breaks from European Union

Dow futures fell 3.4 percent and S&P futures nosedived 5 percent.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- World financial markets were rocked Friday by Britain's vote to leave the European Union, with stock markets and oil prices crashing and the pound hitting its lowest level in three decades.

The uncharted, unexpected path of a European Union without Britain sparked the sell-offs, with more jitters expected as global markets try to digest the shock result.

Tokyo stocks plummeted about 8 percent, their biggest fall since 2008, while South Korea's Kospi tumbled about 3 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 futures tanked 8.3 percent.

Crude oil prices and U.S. futures also took a big hit. The British pound plummeted more than 10 percent in six hours while the yen surged about 3 percent to the U.S. dollar as investors seeking safety snapped up the Japanese currency.

By early afternoon in Asia, a tally by the BBC showed Britain had voted to leave the 28-nation European Union by about a 52 percent to 48 percent margin.

Japan's Nikkei 225 plunged 8.3 percent to 14,897.32 while South Korea's Kospi sank 3.4 percent to 1,918.70. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index tumbled 4.8 percent to 19,866.20 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 3.4 percent to 5,012.20. Stocks in Shanghai, Taiwan, Sydney and Southeast Asian countries were sharply lower.

U.S. futures took a dive. Dow futures fell 3.4 percent and S&P futures nosedived 5 percent.

"Financial markets throughout the night have been chaotic to say the least and this may continue as the day progresses," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda in London. "All eyes will now be on central banks around the world to see how they respond to these market developments, particularly the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan."

On Thursday, Wall Street finished with rallies as pre-poll forecasts showed that Britain would keep the EU membership. Asian stock markets opened the day higher but the mood turned sour as results started to show that the "leave" vote would win. As the results increasingly pointed to the EU exit, investors dumped stocks and other risky assets.

The results sent the pound on a wild ride. It rose to its highest point for the year of $1.50 before tumbling more than 10 percent to a low of $1.3303, its lowest level since 1985.

In other currencies, the dollar fell to 101.51 yen from 104.80 yen while the euro weakened to $1.097 from $1.132.

Benchmark U.S. crude plummeted 6.4 percent, or $3.17, to $46.94 per barrel in New York. Brent Crude, the benchmark for international oil price, fell 6.1 percent, or $3.11, to $47.80 per barrel in London.

Luis Ramos, 26, faces charges in Manchester, Conn. court, after he was arrested in Chicopee Friday, and immediately extradited to Connecticut. Ramos was charged in the May burglary of a Manchester home.

MANCHESTER,Conn.— A Springfield man faces multiple charges in connection with a May burglary of a Manchester home.

Manchester police said Luis Ramos is being charged with third-degree burglary, sixth-degree larceny and second-degree criminal mischief, the Journal Inquirer reported.

Ramos, 26, was arrested in Chicopee on Friday and was immediately extradited to Connecticut to face charges in a Manchester court.

He was released on $65,000 bond following his arraignment.

With their respective national conventions less than a month away, expected Democratic and Republican presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump began to sharpen their focus on each other and the November general election this week.

With their respective national conventions less than a month away, expected Democratic and Republican presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump began to sharpen their focus on each other and the November general election this week.

While the former first lady and billionaire businessman took jabs at each others' records and positions through new online ads and attack websites, Bernie Sanders returned to Congress to stand in solidarity with other Democrats pushing for so-called "gun control" changes.

The Vermont senator, who acknowledged that he will likely not be the Democratic nominee, further set his sights on impacting the party's long-term platform, taking his campaign on the road to encourage supporters to continue pushing for a "political revolution" beyond the 2016 election.

Here's what happened in presidential politics this week:

Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski left the campaign.

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks announced the campaign manager's exit Monday, saying he "will no longer be working with the campaign," the Associated Press reported.

Lewandowski had been by Trump's side since the beginning of his GOP White House bid. News of his exit followed a tumultuous stretch marked by missteps.

Lewandowski, who gained attention after being accused of grabbing a reporter during a campaign event in March -- charges which were later dropped, joined CNN as a political commentator, the network told the New York Times Thursday.

Clinton and Sanders condemned congressional Republicans for rejecting so-called "gun control" measures.

Proud to stand with my colleagues to demand action. #NoBillNoBreak https://t.co/aARh2tppCk

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 22, 2016

The Democratic presidential rivals joined together late-Monday in criticizing U.S. Senate Republicans for voting down firearms-related measures in the wake of a recent deadly mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub.

Clinton chastised Senate Republicans for blocking changes that her campaign argued are "intended to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists -- including proposals to expand background checks and prohibit suspected terrorists from buying guns."

"Enough," she said in a statement, which listed the names of those killed in the nightclub attack.

Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont who voted for the Democratic-backed measures, said "it's not very hard to understand that potential terrorists, criminals and the dangerously mentally ill should not have access to guns." He further contended that the Democrat-sponsored proposals "are commonsense."

The senator joined U.S House Democrats later in the week for a sit-in demonstration protesting the chamber's refusal to consider similar firearms-related measures ahead of a planned recess.

Police arrested a 19-year-old who attempted to kill Trump at a campaign rally.

Michael Sandford, a British man, reportedly tried to pull the weapon from a Las Vegas officer's holster while speaking to him, police told CNN Tuesday.

Sandford first struck up a conversation with the officer, telling him he would like to get an autograph from Trump, the Associated Press reported.

A complaint filed in U.S. District Court Monday charged Sandford with an act of violence on restricted grounds. Sandford claimed he had been planning to kill Trump for about a year, according to the complaint.

Trump brushed back campaign finance questions after reports showed anemic fundraising in May.

The billionaire businessman, who largely self-funded his presidential primary campaign, hit back against reports that he ended May with less than $1.3 million in the bank -- far behind the $42 million in cash Clinton had at the end of the same period.

Trump's campaign attributed the disparity between the two presumptive presidential nominees to the GOP White House hopeful only kicking-off his fundraising efforts on May 25 -- shortly before the reporting deadline.

Trump added that "if need be, there could be unlimited 'cash on hand'" if he put up his own money like he did in the primaries.

"Our campaign is leaner and more efficient, like our government should be," he said in a statement.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., continued her attack on Trump in new video ad.

The Massachusetts Democrat, who is rumored to be on Clinton's vice presidential short list, called Trump "a fraud, a cheapskate and...a bully," as well as urged voters to speak out against his "scams" and "disgusting" language in a new MoveOn.org video released this week.

Warren blasted the businessman for failing to release his federal tax returns, suggesting that he may not want the American people to find out he's worth less than he claims and is a "lousy businessman."

The senator, whom Trump has deemed "Goofy Warren," acknowledged that she's likely to face additional pushback from the businessman for her comments, contending that he does it to "intimidate, to threaten, to make us shut up."

Warren said she will not back down and urged Americans to come together against the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

A Worcester-based Super PAC launched to help Trump's campaign in Massachusetts.

The Make Massachusetts Great Again PAC, which officially launched Tuesday evening, has pledged to use all of the money it raises to educate state voters on why they should support the billionaire businessman in the November general election.

The Super PAC is not officially authorized by Trump's campaign, but is "focused on winning the commonwealth for" the expected GOP nominee.

Bonnie Johnson, the Make Massachusetts Great Again executive director and a Republican National Convention delegate for Trump, said the organization wants to build on the support the businessman saw in the state during the primaries and reach out to unenrolled or Democratic voters who may be on the fence.

"We started it because we want to make sure Massachusetts is in play (in the general election,)" she said in an interview. "We don't want to give the Democrats a free pass in Massachusetts."

Trump and Clinton exchanged barbs on new campaign attack websites.

Taking the general election fight online, Clinton released a new website and video early Tuesday, which her campaign contended highlights "Trump's real business record -- and what it could mean for the economy."

The campaign's new website, "ArtOfTheSteal.biz," took aim at Trump's promises to help America "win," suggesting that many of his business ventures have been "losers."

Hours later, Trump announced the roll out of his own website, "LyingCrookedHillary.com," to "showcase some of Clinton's most disastrous lies to the American people."

The businessman launched the first in a series of attacks against the former secretary of state on his website Thursday, posting a minute-long ad contending that she was aware that the Benghazi incident was a terrorist attack within hours, but "lied anyways," suggesting it was due to a YouTube video.

Sanders acknowledged that he will likely not represent the Democratic party in the November general election.

Sanders addressed the future of his White House bid during a Wednesday interview on C-SPAN, saying he's unlikely to beat Clinton.

Despite his admission, the Vermont senator said he has not reached an agreement to endorse the former first lady and has been negotiating with her campaign.

"It doesn't appear that I'm going to be the nominee, so I'm not going to be determining the scope of the convention," he said when asked if he plans to speak at the Democratic gathering in Philadelphia next month.

The senator also took aim at Trump, contending that the businessman "in a dozen different ways is literally unfit to be president of the United States."

Sanders said he will vote for Clinton if she is the Democratic Party's nominee.

Despite pledging to take his campaign to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia next month, the Vermont senator said Friday that he will vote for Clinton if she is named the party's nominee.

Sanders, in an interview on "MSNBC's Morning Joe," said "yes," when asked if he will vote for his Democratic rival in the November general election.

Although the Vermont senator, who has yet to exit the Democratic race, fell short of fully endorsing Clinton, he remained firm in his commitment to keep expected Trump out of the White House.

Sanders took his progressive platform fight on the road, urged upstate New York supporters to remain active in political process.

The Vermont senator rallied supporters Friday to move forward with his so-called "political revolution" and to continue pushing for the progressive policies championed by his campaign.

Sanders, who engaged with more than 400 people who crowded Albany's Lewis A. Swyer Theatre during the afternoon event, urged supporters to move forward and build on what the campaign had accomplished over the last year.

"Struggle and victory is not easy. We've got to keep going," he said. "And what this campaign has accomplished is just opening up the doors to a process that must, must, must continue, and that's why I'm here today."

The 22 properties for sale at the city of Holyoke's public auction at 6 p.m. on Monday at City Hall consist of 12 vacant lots and 10 residences of various sizes.

HOLYOKE -- The gavel will be banging as the city offers duplexes, condominiums and vacant lots for sale at a public auction Monday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The 12 vacant lots and 10 residences have been seized over the years for nonpayment of taxes.

Sullivan & Sullivan Auctioneers of Sandwich will be running the event.

Prospective bidders were urged at an information meeting June 15 to study the properties they're considering and arrive early with identification and the necessary deposit checks.

Bidders can avoid a potential sale obstacle by ensuring that bills for property taxes, sewer and parking tickets are current, said Marianne Sullivan, president of Sullivan & Sullivan Auctioneers of Sandwich.

The city is auctioning off the properties to establish them with new owners who will renovate the properties and restore them as taxpaying entities.

To participate in the auction, a bidder must be present and have a deposit check for the amount indicated on the particular property. The check can be a certified check, bank check, money order or an interest on lawyer's trust account check. No personal checks will be accepted. The rest of the purchase price must be paid in 30 days, according to Sullivan & Sullivan.

Those who want to participate in the bidding at the auction must submit deposit checks of $5,000 for each property they are bidding on that has a building on it and checks of $500 for properties that are vacant lots, Sullivan said.

Bidders should research the properties ahead of time by viewing details, including videos, online at sullivan-auctioneers.com/calendar, she said.

Here are the properties that will be up for auction:

Donations are now being accepted for the annual Amherst League of Women Voters book sale, an event that is undergoing several changes in 2016.

AMHERST -- Donations are now being accepted for the annual Amherst League of Women Voters book sale, an event that is undergoing several changes this year.

The event is being held over two weekends, one in July and one in August, this year. Previously it was held in May. And it will be held at the Fort River Elementary School instead of the Town Common.

Lastly, there will be a special day just for kids.

The annual sale is slated for July 28 to 30 and Aug. 4 to 6 from 9 to 5 p.m. at the gymnasium of the Fort River Elementary School.

It will feature a special Children's Day on July 25. Every student will received a free book, plus there will be activities for kids.

Having the event at the school will save league members from having to collect books in one location and transporting them to the common has they have in the past.

The league is partnering with the schools this year, said member Katherine Campbell, hence the location change. In an email, she wrote "(With the location), we can do a much nicer job of set-up by pricing and sorting in the place where the sale is to be held, as well as having a number of special events. ...

"We are hoping staying in one place will be a little easier for us; we are not getting any younger," she said.

Donors can deliver books, DVDs or CDs in good condition to the school or to the Stop & Shop in Hadley.

The book sale is a fundraiser for the league.

A warm, clear evening and the chance to see "bombs bursting in air" drew hundreds of people to see the fireworks display at Szot Park on Saturday night.

CHICOPEE – A warm, clear evening and the chance to see "bombs bursting in air" drew hundreds of people to see the fireworks display at Szot Park on Saturday night.

Families with their children and picnic blankets in tow filed onto the field in search of good vantage points to see the annual display.

Musical entertainment was provided by the band Brass Attack, and food and refreshments were available.

The fireworks show, which cost $14,000, was funded with the help of sponsors including Chicopee Savings Bank, Polish National Credit Union, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and Teddy Bear Pools.