East Longmeadow's first-ever Town Council is scheduled to meet Friday, as the town shifts to a new form of government.

EAST LONGMEADOW — A new era begins Friday when a new town charter goes into effect and the first-ever Town Council is scheduled to hold its first meeting.

The seven-member council will meet at East Longmeadow's Council on Aging on Friday at noon, an agenda for the meeting says.

"I think we have a very strong board, all the members are very committed to the community," said Kevin Manley, a town councilor and a member of the town's last Board of Selectmen. "I'm excited."

A vote to select an acting town manager will be taken during the meeting, according to the agenda. A current department head will likely fill the role, which will serve as a placeholder until an interim town manager is hired, followed by a permanent town manager, Manley said.

The council also will vote on a prospective deal with the University of Massachusetts Boston's Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management, which serves as consultants for local government executive searches, Manley said. If the council agrees, the Collins Center will assist the council in the town manager search process.

In April, selectmen fired then-Interim Town Administrator Gregory Neffinger. Neffinger is currently seeking back pay from the town.

Councilors will likely hire an interim town manager within 30 days of their first meeting, Manley said.--

Unlike East Longmeadow's previous form of government, the new one grants executive power to the town manager, with the council serving in a legislative capacity. Until July 1, the Board of Selectmen served as the executive branch and Town Meeting as the legislative.

Residents passed the charter by a margin of 60 to 40 percent during the annual town election April 12. The new charter also includes provisions for residents to bring town council votes to a ballot referendum and for recalls of elected officials.

With voter participation just under 31 percent in the Town Council election June 7, East Longmeadow residents filled out the seven-member board with Manley, Paul Federici, Kathleen Hill, Donald Anderson, Eric Madison, Michael Kane and Joseph Ford.

Federici, who served as chairman of the last Board of Selectmen, said the new form of government marks a "drastic change" from the selectmen/Town Meeting structure. While residents lose their direct role as legislators with the dissolution of Town Meeting, Federici noted, they will be able to address the Town Council with concerns.

"I think it's gonna work out quite well," Federici said.

After being elected to the Board of Selectmen — which officially dissolves on Friday — shortly after a controversy surrounding alleged bribery stemming from the search for a new police chief, Manley said he is optimistic in the new direction East Longmeadow will take under the town manager/Town Council form of government.

"I think that the Town Council is certainly taking on a different role (from the Board of Selectmen)," Manley said. "I think the new form of government is going to be much more efficient, and much more responsible fiscally to the voting public."

When the officer blocked Shaina Michalski's return to the emergency room, she became verbally abusive and punched him in the nose, the report said.

SPRINGFIELD — A judge has revoked the bail of a woman charged with punching a Springfield police officer in the face outside Mercy Medical Center's emergency room last month.

On Monday, Shaina Michalski, 27, of South Hadley, was ordered held for a probation violation hearing on July 20. The ruling, by Judge Charles W. Groce III, came after a state probation officer said the defendant had repeatedly violated the terms of her release in the new case and two from 2015.

Shaina Michalski 

On May 3, Michalski sucker-punched a police officer outside Mercy's emergency room after being told she had to leave the hospital grounds, according to the arrest report.

Michalski, angry that she had been discharged from the hospital, allegedly took her frustration out on Andrew Monts, a special duty city police officer assigned to the hospital, according to the report.

When Monts blocked her return to the hospital and ordered her to leave the property, Michalski became verbally abusive and eventually punched him in the nose, the report said.

The next day, she pleaded not guilty to assault and battery on a police officer and giving a false name during her arraignment in Springfield District Court.

At a prosecutor's request, Judge William O'Grady set bail at $2,000 on the new charges and ordered Michalski held pending a hearing on May 26 for alleged probation violations in one of her two cases from 2015.

She was released following that hearing, but arrested again this past weekend after failing to attend meetings with her probation officer and sessions of the Hampden County mental health court among other alleged violations, a probation officer told Groce.

Under Groce's ruling, Michalski will be held at the Western Massachusetts Women's Regional Correctional Center in Chicopee until her probation violation hearing.

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol on Thursday accused Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael, Jr., of violating state campaign rules by appearing at anti-marijuana legalization event in full uniform during working hours.

BOSTON - The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol on Thursday accused Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael, Jr., of violating state campaign rules by appearing at anti-marijuana legalization event in full uniform during working hours.

The campaign, headed by former Massachusetts assistant attorney general Will Luzier, is seeking to legalize marijuana for recreational use and a question is on track to appear on the November 2016 ballot.

"Carmichael appeared and was the featured speaker at a press conference organized, publicized and staffed by the Committee for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts, a campaign committee organized to oppose a ballot question," Luzier wrote in a letter to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), a watchdog agency.

"Carmichael appeared in uniform and, on information and belief, arrived at the event in a police vehicle," Luzier alleged.

The Safe and Healthy Massachusetts Campaign hit back through a spokesman.

"The Marijuana Industry has spent this campaign launching tasteless press conferences and Facebook posts, and now attacking a respected police chief for educating people about the dangerous edibles market," said spokesman Corey Welford, in a reference to remarks the marijuana campaign made about Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, an opponent of legalization. The campaign later said it regretted the remarks about Walsh.

"The Marijuana Industry would rather spend its time making baseless allegations than discussing the serious public policy concerns surrounding their proposal," Welford added.

Luzier was referring to an event that occurred on Thursday, June 23, in Framingham.

The Campaign for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts put together the press conference to highlight marijuana-infused edibles, like gummy bears and sodas, and to argue their potency and appearance puts kids at risk. In Colorado, edibles have become a "major" part of the marijuana market, according to marijuana opponents.

Carmichael appeared with state Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury).

Carmichael did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Massachusetts voters approved medical marijuana in 2012, after approving the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana in 2008.

When medical marijuana was on the ballot, the State Ethics Commission sought to address potential conflicts of interests for elected officials and policy-makers.

As an example, the Ethics Commission said the colonel of the State Police could participate in a forum held by a private group and "communicate with the press concerning the ballot question and its potential impact on the State Police, but only in a manner and to a degree consistent with the established practices of the State Police." The colonel also could not be paid by a ballot question committee to perform actions.

In his letter to OCPF, Luzier noted that Carmichael's alleged use of a police vehicle and appearance in uniform runs afoul of a prohibition on using governmental resources for political purposes.

"Chief Carmichael is entitled to his opinions, but he is not entitled to express those opinions at campaign events while on taxpayer time and using taxpayer-funded resources," Luzier said.

Related: In March, Chief Carmichael spoke at the State House about law enforcement preparedness should voters pass marijuana legalization.

Holyoke residents Jonathan Carrion, 19, and Isreal Rosado, 21, were arrested Wednesday and charged with murder in the death of Carmen Rosario, 31.

HOLYOKE -- The shooting Saturday night that claimed the life of Carmen Rosario was the result of a dispute earlier in the day that escalated to where the two men charged with killing her went to find a gun and then came back to settle things, officials said.

"The suspects involved brought a gun to a dispute to settle a dispute," said Holyoke Police Chief James M. Neiswanger.

"There was a period of time for this to cool down and for the people involved to make better choices," said Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. "It's a very tragic situation that was avoidable."

The two suspects, Holyoke residents Jonathan Carrion, 19, and Isreal Rosado, 21, were arrested Wednesday and charged with murder in the death of Rosario, 31.

At their arraignment Thursday in Holyoke District Court, Carrion, of 1037 Dwight St., and Rosado, of 184 Beech St., denied the charge. Each was ordered held without bail. They are both due back in court for a pretrial hearing on July 27. Prosecutor Eduardo Velazquez said the date would allow the DA's office to present the case to a grand jury.

Neiswanger and several Holyoke police detectives were in the courtroom during the arraignment.

Carrion will be held at the Hampden County House of Correction in Ludlow while he awaits trial. Rosado will be held at the Worcester County House of Correction after Judge Maureen Walsh granted a request by his public defender, Adam Harris, to have him held there instead of in the Ludlow facility.

Harris made the request in part because it would be more convenient because he is based in Worcester, but also because he said his client could be exposed to "potential animosity" from other inmates at the Ludlow facility.

Carrion's public defender, Jared Olanoff, did not object to him being held in Ludlow.

Rosario died Sunday after being shot late Saturday night on Barrett Street in the Beaudoin Village apartment complex.

Rosario, who worked as a pharmacy technician at Holyoke Health Center, was the mother of two children, a son and a daughter, according to her obituary.

In a press conference after the arraignment, Gulluni said Rosario was involved in an ongoing dispute with Carrion and Rosado, but he declined to say if she was the target in the shooting.

"The victim was a part of the dispute," Gulluni said. "Her killing was not unrelated. Whether or not she was the target is yet to come."

Neiswanger said the case is still an open investigation and additional charges could be
filed and additional suspects arrested. But investigators believe that Carrion and Rosado were the main participants directly responsible for Rosario's death.

"The main offenders have been arrested and charged with murder," he said.

Neiswanger said the shooting was not random and that citizens of Holyoke should not feel in danger. Police will increase their presence in Beaudoin Village for now, beginning with setting up a mobile community police unit there, he said.

Gulluni said the earlier dispute occurred somewhere outside of Holyoke and then carried over to Beaudoin Village. Rosado and Carrion had many opportunities between the earlier dispute and the shooting to change ultimate outcome, Gulluni said.

"This was an avoidable situation," he said. "People need to make better choices. People need to think. Now we've got a tragic situation in which a young woman, a mother of two, lost her life."

"Gun violence is never accepted, never tolerated, and we will prosecute this to the full extent of the law," Neiswanger said.

This Tuesday, the FDA issued another statement warning consumers not eat any raw dough or batter.

If your mother warned you about eating raw dough or batter, she wasn't wrong. Following investigations into the E. coli outbreak starting in December 2015, the FDA issued another statement warning consumers not eat any raw dough or batter, this Tuesday. 

While you may be under the impression that the presence of raw eggs leading to Salmonella is the root of the problem, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that harmful strains of E. coli are also in another main ingredient, flour.

After consuming raw dough or batter, symptoms can vary from week-long abdominal cramping to longer and severe illnesses like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure.

The FDA also released some food handling tips:

• Do not eat any raw cookie dough or any other raw dough product that's supposed to be cooked or baked.
• Follow package directions for cooking at proper temperatures and for specified times.
• Keep raw foods separate from other foods while preparing them to prevent any contamination that might be present from spreading.

For more information and food safety tips, visit the FDA's website. 

Police are asking for help identifying those circulating counterfeit bills. Business owners are being asked to note suspects' identifying characteristics.

LUDLOW -- Several merchants in town have reported finding counterfeit $20 bills, police said.

Police request any businesses finding the bills to note potential suspects' physical description and any other identifying information, vehicle descriptions and license plates.

Police are encouraging business owners to be alert, examine money closely when accepting it and to use a counterfeit detector marker.

Troopers stopped 50-year-old Stuart Sweetser of Springfield, Vt. near mile marker 26 and found what police say was between $10,000 to $30,000 worth of narcotics.

NORTHAMPTON -- Massachusetts State Police found 2,000 baggies filled with about 62 grams of heroin in a vehicle traveling north through Northampton on Interstate 91 Wednesday night, according to court documents.

Troopers stopped 50-year-old Stuart Sweetser of Springfield, Vt. near mile marker 26 and found between $10,000 and $30,000 worth of narcotics, police said.

State Police pulled Sweetser over after receiving reports of a Chevy Trailblazer driving erratically from exit 17 in Holyoke onward, court reports said. Sweetser allegedly crossed the fog line in the breakdown lane more than a dozen times.

Laura Newberry | laura.newberry@masslive.com 

When Sweetser stepped out of his car for sobriety tests, troopers found the baggies -- which later tested positive for heroin -- packed inside four cardboard boxes. The baggies were stamped with the word "Cobra," police said.

Troopers also discovered 17 baggies of heroin in Sweetser's wallet, court documents said.

Sweetser was arraigned in Northampton District Court Thursday on charges of operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs, trafficking more than 36 gram of heroin, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lanes violation.

The Vermont man told police he got the boxed baggies of heroin in Springfield, Vt., and that the heroin in his wallet came from Connecticut and was for a friend.

Sweetser is being held on $20,000 cash bail or $200,000 surety. He is due back in court on July 22.

The project now includes studios and one- and two-bedroom units only.

AMHERST -- Developers of One East Pleasant Street are coming back to the Planning Board with modified plans that would reduce the number of tenants and increase the landscaping.

Instead of 84 apartments with 184 tenants, Archipelago Investments developers David Williams and Kyle Wilson are proposing building 135 apartments with 143 tenants.

Initial plans included eight four-bedroom and eight three-bedroom units. Now the plans call for 60 studios, which were not part of the original plan, as well as 67 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom apartments.

The project still includes 7,500 square feet of retail space on the first floor but divided into two spaces instead of three. The project would be built on the former Carriage Shops site.

Developers have been involved with asbestos abatement and the buildings have not yet been razed.

Developers are seeking a special permit and site plan approval for the project but the footprint of the building has not changed, said Planning Director Christine Brestrup.

She also said if the board should deny the new permits, the developers could build with the previous permitting.

The Planning Board approved the project in December of 2014. A public hearing on the amended plan is slated for July 20 at 7:45 p.m. in Town Hall.

The size of the units and the reduction in the number of tenants "is what people want. Smaller units," Brestrup said.

The project includes more landscaping and brick instead of wood facade. The mural will be painted on the brick, she said.

Artist David Fichter, who painted the mural depicting the town's history on the back of the Carriage Shops, has an agreement to repaint the mural on the new building.

She said developers decided the smaller units were better suited to the housing market. "They're good changes," she said.

The project still includes parking for 36 vehicles, although parking is not required since the project is part of the Municipal Parking District.

Most of the parking will be under the building, Brestrup said.

The largest insurance program in Massachusetts announced Thursday that it will cover five-figure treatments for patients with hepatitis C.

The largest insurance program in Massachusetts announced Thursday that it will cover five-figure treatments for patients with hepatitis C.

The announcement was made following negotiations between the state Medicaid program and a pair of drug manufacturers.

"Our goal is to ensure a sustainable, cost-effective approach to covering MassHealth members who need treatment for hepatitis C infection," said Marylou Sudders, the Massachusetts state secretary of health and human services, in a statement. "We will continue to push drug companies to give us the very best prices on new treatments as they come on the market."

A 12-week course of treatment for hepatitis C can cost up to $94,000 at list prices, though MassHealth will pay undisclosed lower rates following price negotiations.

Currently, members who obtained MassHealth through a private insurer - two-thirds of all enrolled - face limited access to the drugs, as only patients with severe liver damage are covered. MassHealth will lift the restrictions that prevent many with the transmittable infection from seeking treatment starting in August.

The virus is transmitted by blood contact, most commonly through sharing syringes. It ranges in severity from a person feeling limited symptoms for several months to chronic illness that attacks the liver.

Infections rates of hepatitis C have been in the thousands in Massachusetts for over a decade. Accounting for confirmed and probable cases, the state department of public health believes there were 8,760 hepatitis C cases in 2014, the most recent figures available.

Residents of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket were infected at the highest percentage rate, with 447 for every 100,000 diagnosed with hepatitis C.

People between the ages of 15 and 29 are the most likely to become infected, accounting for 30 percent of cases in 2014. Close to half of all cases were white residents.

A small amount of short-lived radioactive waste at the Bondi's Island trash incinerator triggered alarms and a penalty.

SPRINGFIELD -- Trash picked up in Sixteen Acres apparently included a small amount of "short-lived radioactive" waste of medical origin, triggering alarms at the Covanta trash incinerator at Bondi's Island in Agawam on Wednesday, according to the city.

Marian Sullivan, communications director of the mayor's office, said Thursday in a prepared statement that the waste was apparently brought in by a city trash truck from the curbside collection in Sixteen Acres.

This is not the first time radioactive materials have triggered alarms at the waste-to-energy plant. Each time there is an alarm activation, it costs the city an additional $2,000 in regulatory fees, Sullivan said. She urged residents to be careful in their disposal of waste.

Sullivan attributed some of the alarms to people "who receive radiation treatments and return home from hospitals sooner and continue to excrete the byproducts of those treatments into diapers, or to an increase in diaper use by such patients."

The radioisotopes present in those treatment byproducts have a half-life of 65 days, as was the case on this past Wednesday, Sullivan said.

Another cause of the radiation alarms is animal waste disposed of in the trash, Sullivan said. The waste becomes contaminated after pets receive cancer treatments and needs to be disposed of properly, Sullivan said.

Three contaminated trash loads from radioactive cat waste cost the city of Springfield an additional $6,000 this year, she said.

Costs to have a consultant identify the type of radiation emanating from incoming garbage loads have risen substantially and may have to be passed on to the resident contaminating the trash truck, Sullivan said.

East Longmeadow's Town Council will likely open discussions this month on former Police Chief Douglas Mellis' claim that the town owes him one-year's salary for contract violation.

EAST LONGMEADOW -- A probable six-figure financial liability brought on when the Board of Selectmen hired a new police chief will likely be the topic of discussion at a Town Council meeting this month.

In a letter dated April 14, an attorney representing former East Longmeadow Police Chief Douglas Mellis said Mellis is seeking nearly $135,000 in wages because, the letter says, Mellis was dismissed from his position without proper notice.

"The Town terminated his employment as Chief of Police in violation of his contract," the letter from attorney Austin Joyce reads. "The Town owed Chief Mellis the equivalent of one year of salary benefits as compensation for its breach of the contract."

Mellis' contract was put out to bid at the end of December, about three months before his contract was set to expire on March 31. Selectmen hired Jeffrey Dalessio to take over as police chief on March 16.

Ousted Police Chief Douglas Mellis takes 'high road' in send-off at police station

Discussion of the money Mellis claims is owed to him for failing to provide one year's notice of his termination as stipulated in his employment contract will likely be brought up during the Town Council's second meeting on July 12, Councilor Kevin Manley said.

Manley said he believes that the town is responsible for paying Mellis the one year of salary he seeks.

"It appears that he required a 12-month notice of the non-renewal of his contract," Manley said. "In my opinion, it looks like we're going be have to pay that."

Town Councilor Paul Federici, who was the lone dissenting vote on the Board of Selectmen when it came to replacing Mellis, also said that it appears clear East Longmeadow is liable for the pay.

Jeffrey Dalessio sworn in as East Longmeadow police chief in small ceremony

In addition to not giving Mellis notice, Federici said, it does not appear possible to justify his termination based on performance.

"I don't think anyone has proven any just cause that could justify not renewing his contract," Federici said. "I think the town will have to pay it to him."

Baystate Health has not seen any cases of the C. auris strain of yeast infections

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has alerted healthcare facilities about Candida auris, a yeast that appears to be emerging globally and whose invasive fungal infections are proving to be resistant in some patients to the three main classes of medications used to treat them.

"Given the occurrence of C. auris in nine countries on four continents since 2009, CDC is alerting U.S. healthcare facilities to be on the lookout for C. auris in patients," the statement noted.

Based on limited research, "60 percent of people with C. auris infections have died," the CDC estimated.

Baystate Health, which includes the largest number of  Western Massachusetts  hospitals, said no C. auris infections have been diagnosed within its system, but that its lab facilities are able to determine when standard antifungal drugs don't work as expected on a strain and further testing is needed.

"While we have not seen any cases of the C. auris strain of yeast infections, we will be monitoring for any changes of resistance that might occur," said Mary Ellen Scales, registered nurse and infection control officer for Baystate Medical Center. "We take seriously any alert from the CDC."

Hospital acquired invasive yeast infections in patients with weakened immune systems have long been a concern, with mortality rates ranging from 30 to 60 percent, and there has been a growing resistance to the antibiotics hospitals used to treat them.

The CDC said it is aware of only one "possible C. auris infection in the United States that occurred in 2013," though the yeast infection is not easily detected by all laboratory testing.

"CDC is concerned that C. auris will emerge in new locations, including the United States," the alert states.

"Healthcare facilities who suspect they have a patient with C. auris infection should contact state/local public health authorities and CDC."

The CDC is recommending that any patients diagnosed with C. auris be placed in single rooms, and says they may require high doses of antifungal drugs. It also advises that some laboratory testing may not detect C.auris and that specimens needing further analysis "can be forwarded through state public health laboratories to CDC for further characterization."

According to the CDC, there are more than 20 species of Candida yeasts that can cause infection in humans. These include genital/ vulvovaginal candidiasis, where there is an overgrowth of normal vaginal yeast, as well as thrust, or oropharyngeal candidiasis, in the mouth or throat.

Invasive candidiasis, like C. auris, is a more serious infection that can affect other body parts like the heart, the brain and the bones, and be fatal.

The risks for infection or colonization by C. auris are similar to the risks for other invasive yeast infections. These are individuals with underlying medical conditions, have undergone surgery and are hospitalized in ICUs for extended periods, may be on medications that suppress their immune system, and have a central line inserted long-term to receive medications and other fluids.

C. auris can cause blood stream infections, as well as wound and ear infections.

Most of these infections are hospital acquired, according to the CDC, which also notes that C. auris has caused infection in "patients of all ages."

"At least two countries have described healthcare outbreaks of C. auris infection and colonization involving more than 30 patients each," the alert notes.

"The precise mode of transmission within the healthcare facility is not known. However, experience during these outbreaks suggests that C. auris might contaminate the environment of rooms of colonized or infected patients. Good infection control practices and environmental cleaning may help prevent transmission."

"Auris" means ear and this species of Candida was first described in 2009, after it was found in discharge from the ear of a patient in Japan.

It is now believed that this species was first seen in 1996 in South Korea, but it was only identified in more recent years as its own species of Candida through DNA sequencing.

A number of species of Candida have been identified during the last 10 years, and not all of them are invasive like C. auris.

"C. auris may not represent a new organism so much as one that is newly emerging in various clinical settings. Although the causes for such emergence are unknown, they may include new or increasing antifungal selection pressures in humans, animals, or the environment," the CDC alert states.

According to the CDC website, there are 1.5 million species of fungi, but it is estimated that only 300 of these are known to make people ill.

In terms of healthcare-associated infections, the CDC reports that about one in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection on any given day.

The CDC also said there was a 50 percent decrease in central line associated blood stream infections between 2008 and 2014 at national acute care facilities.

Last July, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health did a PowerPoint Public Health Council presentation on Healthcare Associated Infections in 2014 Acute Care Hospitals, comparing Massachusetts to the CDC national baseline for the country's 13,000 acute care facilities.

The comparison highlights include:

• For the past two years, Massachusetts' three trauma ICUs have experienced a significantly lower rate of infection as compared to the national baseline.

• Burn ICUs continue to experience a significantly higher rate of infection as compared to the national baseline.

• Statewide standardized infection ratios for adult, pediatric, and neonatal ICUs remain at the national baseline.

• Neonatal ICUs continue to reduce central line use, reducing the risk of central line associated blood stream infections.

The Boston Bruins signed defenseman John-Michael Liles to a one-year, $2 million deal at the start of free agency Friday.

The Boston Bruins re-signed one of the players they acquired at the trade deadline Friday, signing veteran defenseman John-Michael Liles to a one-year, $2 million deal.

Liles in BOS is one year, $2M

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2016

Liles, 35, had six assists in 17 games after arriving in Boston last season. For a Bruins defense that bought out Dennis Seidenberg, Liles provides a relatively cheap, veteran option on defense who can still move the puck well.

With Seidenberg out of the picture and Liles back in it, the Bruins now have Zdeno Chara, Liles, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Torey Krug, Colin Miller and Joe Morrow as options on defense.

The Jeep was driving north on Grove Street and attempted to make a right turn onto Earle Street when a skateboarder smashed into it.

NORTHAMPTON -- A teenage skateboarder was taken to the hospital Friday afternoon after rolling into the side of a Jeep, according to police.

Officers responded to Grove and Earle streets at around 12:45 p.m.

The teen, whose age or name was not released, was transported to Cooley Dickinson Hospital for minor injuries, Northampton Police Capt. John Cartledge said.

The Jeep was driving north on Grove and attempted to make a right turn onto Earle, Cartledge said. That's when the skateboarder -- who was traveling on the bike path from Easthampton -- smashed into the side of the vehicle.

Cartedge said the Jeep had been moving slowly at the time of the accident.

When Justice Francis Spina retires from the SJC in August, the court will be left with no representation from Western Massachusetts.

When Justice Francis Spina retires from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in August, the state's highest court will be left with no representation from Western Massachusetts.

For state Rep. John Velis, D-Westfield, this is a problem. "The Western Massachusetts legal community is as eminently qualified as any other to serve on the Supreme Judicial Court," Velis said.

Velis said judges bring their personal experiences to the job. "The region in which they grew up will certainly influence their thought process," Velis said. "Selecting a candidate from Western Massachusetts is fundamentally fair."

Velis wrote a letter to Gov. Charlie Baker this week urging the governor to select a Western Massachusetts candidate to fill one of the two judicial slots that will open up in 2017. Baker has already submitted nominations for three spots that will open up this summer.

Baker spokesman Billy Pitman said, "The Governor was pleased to nominate three very highly qualified and respected judges to the Supreme Judicial Court and looks forward to considering applicants for future vacancies who will bring a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to the court."

Today, Spina, a Pittsfield native, is the only Western Massachusetts representative on the court, but he will retire this summer. Former Chief Justice Roderick Ireland, who was from Springfield, retired in 2014.

In addition to Spina, two other SJC justices will retire this summer, Fernande "Nan" Duffly and Robert Cordy. Baker has nominated three Superior Court judges to fill their spots: Kimberly Budd, David Lowy and Frank Gaziano. None are from Western Massachusetts. Although Budd is the daughter of Springfield native and former U.S. Attorney Wayne Budd, she now lives in Newton.

Two more justices -- Margot Botsford and Geraldine Hines -- will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2017.

Velis, in his letter to Baker, wrote that geographic diversity is important on the court. "The variables of diversity require consideration of geography with its peculiarities such as population, culture and economy," Velis wrote. "As judges bring their personal experiences to bear in dispensing justice, selecting a candidate from Western Massachusetts will be a credit to jurisprudence and to you as governor."

According to Governor's Councilor Michael Albano, Western Massachusetts has a long history of representation on the Supreme Judicial Court, dating back to Justice Daniel Dewey, who was born in Sheffield in 1766 and was treasurer of Williams College.

Albano, who has been a strong advocate for having a Western Massachusetts presence on the court and is now running for Hampden County sheriff, said he believes Baker will appoint someone from the western part of the state to fill one of the two vacancies next year.

Albano said he recently met with Baker to talk about regional balance on the court, and he believes Baker is committed to regional diversity. "I feel very confident we'll have a representative from Western Massachusetts," Albano said.

The Matsiko World Orphan Choir is made up of orphan and at-risk children from India, Peru and Liberia who travel across the United States performing everywhere from churches and retirement communities to stadiums and universities. Watch video

AGAWAM — Wearing traditional clothing from their native Peru, Crisna Malcoaccha, 11, and Crhistian Andia, 13, their faces beaming, danced and sang for the small group gathered at the Quail Trail Estates, an independent living community for seniors in Agawam.

"I love signing and performing," said Crisna.

"It's a lot of practice, but we get to entertain people and talk to them about how there are so many kids who need sponsors so that they can go to school and have books and paper and pencils," Crhistian said.

The two are members of the Matsiko World Orphan Choir, a group of children from Peru, Liberia and India who travel across the United States performing everywhere from churches and retirement communities to stadiums and universities.

Zach Windham, tour director for the choir, said the group consists of at-risk or sometimes orphaned children and gives them an opportunity to travel abroad, financially help their families and bring awareness to the many children round the world who are in need of help and education.

"The children spend a year touring with us in the United States. We will be visiting 35 states this year and have already been to 17 since we arrived in March," he said.

The children are selected after showing interest in the choir in their native countries. After an audition process, several from each country are selected to participate in the tour. The children can tour only if their parents or guardians approve.

 

"While they are with us, we make sure to take care of their families, if they need anything — food, medical bills paid — we supply that for them, and even after the children finish up the tour with us, we follow up with them to make sure they are in school and doing well," Windham said.

Many of the children in the choir come from dire circumstances. Some, like Crisna and Crhistian, have both parents and were attending school in Peru, but they are from a rural community where there is a lot of poverty.

"Yes, there is a lot of poverty where we come from and a lot of students who cannot go to school or even have a safe place to live," Crisna said.

The choir often visits retirement communities, and when Debbie Souza, a member of the management team at Quail Run, heard about the group, she was excited to see them perform.

"I think anytime you can get children and seniors together it's wonderful," she said. "Everyone loved their performance."

The choir was created in 2011 by the International Children's Network, a nonprofit organization that provides access to education for orphans and at-risk children and teens around the world.

"It is our intent and purpose that through this experience every child in Matsiko World Orphan Choir will positively change their lives, villages, nations and the world," said Don Windham on the group's website. He founded the choir with his wife Jennie Windham. "The songs they sing and the hearts they touch change lives here in the United States and in their home countries through this shared experience that is so unique and motivating to all. We cannot be more proud of the kids and this tremendous program."

For the children, this is an opportunity to visit the United States, meet children from other parts of the world, learn English and share their stories.

"At first it was difficult to communicate because we did not speak English, and the other kids didn't either, but now we can communicate better and it's fun," Crhistian said.

The group spent several days in Springfield visiting historical sites and performing at various churches and retirement communities. Next they will head out to Portland, Maine.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for multiple Western Massachusetts counties.

SPRINGFIELD -- The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for multiple Western Massachusetts counties.

The tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Friday for Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties.

This watch is in effect as strong to severe thunderstorms are possible late afternoon - mainly after 2 p.m. - into this evening. The strongest storms are expected between 6 and 9 p.m. in Western Massachusetts. If the storms hold, they'll hit Boston between 9 p.m. and midnight.

Storms could produce hail the size of a quarter, gusty winds above 60 miles per hour and heavy rain, meteorologists with the National Weather Service say.

"Isolated to widely scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon," reads a special weather statement from the National Weather Service. "The greater concern is a possible line of showers and thunderstorms moving into the region from the west late this afternoon and especially this evening."

Although Bernie Sanders this week reaffirmed his commitment to defeating presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the Democratic White House hopeful said he has yet to reach the point where he's ready to endorse rival Hillary Clinton.

Although Bernie Sanders this week reaffirmed his commitment to defeating presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the Democratic White House hopeful said he has yet to reach the point where he's ready to endorse rival Hillary Clinton.

The Vermont senator, who has shifted his focus toward impacting the Democratic Party's platform in recent weeks, told MSNBC late Thursday that he is working with Clinton's campaign to push the former secretary of state to embrace policies he championed in the primary.

"Whether it is on moving toward making public colleges and universities tuition-free, or moving very aggressively in terms of health care and moving us toward a universal health care system, significantly expanding primary health care, those are the issues that we're working with Secretary Clinton on now and I hope we can be successful," he said.

Sanders added that he will do everything he can to block Trump from the White House, calling the businessman "a pathological liar" and accusing him of wanting "to give hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the top two-tenths of one percent by repealing the estate tax."

More importantly, the senator argued, the U.S. "cannot have a president who goes around insulting Mexicans, Latinos, Muslims, women and African-Americans."

"That's just outrageous. So I'm going to do everything that I can to see that Donald Trump is defeated," he said.

Asked if he would hit the campaign trail for Clinton, Sanders said his focus will largely be on shaping the Democratic Party's platform.

"We are working, as we speak, we are working with the Clinton campaign, trying to be able to come forward and say to my supporters out there, you know what, here's the progress that we have made ... so I hope that we can reach that goal," he said. "We are not there at this moment."

Sanders further hit back against Trump's claim that he "hates" Clinton.

"Of course Trump is lying, as he always does," he said. "No, I do not hate Secretary Clinton. I've known her for 25 yeas, I have a lot of respect for her, we've worked together. We have disagreements on issues, but to say that I hate her is absolutely untrue."

The Vermont senator, who has pledged to take his campaign to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia later this month, recently offered that he would vote for the former first lady in November if she becomes the party's nominee.

He, however, has yet to endorse his Democratic rival -- a move Vice President Joe Biden told NPR Thursday was imminent.

"Oh, I've talked to Bernie, Bernie's going to endorse her, this is going to work out," he said. "The Democrats are coalescing even before this occurs."

The cards were stolen sometime between 9 and 11 a.m. and used to make purchases in Enfield shortly after 11 a.m.

This is an update of a story that was posted at 7:58 a.m. Friday

LONGMEADOW -- Credit cards that were stolen in an auto break-in at a tennis club parking lot on Wolf Swamp Road sometime Thursday morning were used almost immediately to fraudulently purchase $4,000 in goods from two stores in Enfield, police said.

Longmeadow police Lt. Robert Stocks said police were called to Field Club of Longmeadow on Wolf Swamp Road for a reported car break. The owner said the car had been broken into sometime between 9 and 11 a.m.

As part of the investigation, detectives checked with the credit card companies to see where they had been used last, Stock said. Detective Carl Mazzaferro learned the cards had been used that morning to make several purchases at Best Buy and Target stores in Enfield beginning at 11 a.m., Stock said. The cards were used to purchase $4,000 worth of computers and prepaid gift cars, he said.

The stores are located about 3½ miles away from where the cards were stolen.

Police obtained surveillance footage of the suspects from the two stores and are publicizing them in the hope that someone will recognize them and contact police.

One suspect is described as a white woman, approximately 20 to 30 years old. She is seen making purchases with the cards in both stores.

With her is a second suspect described as a white man, also 20 to 30 years old. The man is also wearing large headphones and what appears to be a fanny pack.

Footage shows the man and woman both wearing baseball caps, shorts and sneakers.

Anyone who recognizes them should contact Longmeadow police detectives at 413- 567-3311.

Massachusetts lowered it's flag more than any other state last year, which is partially due to a increase in the deaths of public figures, cops and marines, as well as a spike terrorist attacks and shootings.

Last year, Massachusetts lowered the state flag to half-staff more than any other state, according to a report by The Associated Press.

Information provided by the governor's office show that the flag was lowered to half-staff 27 times in the past year.

Last March had the highest frequency of flag lowerings, with the flag going to half-staff six times.

In Massachusetts, the flag was lowered twice for the death of a high-profile public figure (Nancy Reagan and Antonin Scalia), three times for the death of a police officer (Trooper Thomas L. Clardy, Police Officer Ashley Guindon and Police Officer Ronald Tarentino), and six times for terrorist attacks and mass shootings.

The flag was lowered 14 times in honor of those killed in service or who served in the military.

The flag was lowered twice -- on March 17 and March 22 -- for officer Thomas Clardy, who was killed in a crash on the Mass Pike and the flag was also lowered Mar. 22 to show solidarity with Brussels after the bombings.

According to the AP report, for 328 days last year the flag was lowered to half-staff somewhere in the country.

In an interview with the AP, John Hartvigsen, president of the North American Vexillological Association, a flag aficionados' group, said the rising number of times the flag is lowered to half-staff could have an adverse affect its impact.

"It can be a very powerful symbol, but it can also be overdone to the point that it loses its significance. You can't spell everything out about this in rules and regulations, because it has so much to do with emotion."