Obituaries from The Republican.
Kamil G. Ziolkowski, 23, passed away on Saturday. Born in Strzyzow, Poland, he lived in Chicopee for the past 13 years. He was a graduate of Chicopee High School, Class of 2012, and attended Holyoke Community College. He was a truck driver for US Express and previously worked for Space Tool and Machine Co. He was a communicant of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr.
Full obituary and funeral arrangements for Kamil Ziolkowski »
An accident along Route 6 has slowed traffic in Cape Cod Monday afternoon.
An accident along Route 6 has slowed traffic in Cape Cod Monday afternoon.
Massachusetts State Police said just after noon that westbound traffic on Route 6 is backed up for several exits due to the crash. Traffic is currently down to one lane and bumper to bumper from exit three in Sandwich to exit 6 in Barnstable.
Route 6 is a cross county highway that connects Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford and Cape Cod communities from Sandwich to Provincetown.
No injuries were reported in the blaze at Gallagher's Olde Fashion Service at 560 Carew St. Watch video
Updates story posted at 9:12 a.m.
CHICOPEE -- Investigators continue to probe the cause of a fire that heavily damaged Gallagher's Olde Fashion Service at Carew and East streets Monday morning.
Deputy Fire Chief Wayne Lemay said the structure was fully engulfed in flames when a 911 caller reported the blaze at 8:22 a.m. No injuries were reported at the Sunoco station, located at 560 Carew St.
Heavy black smoke could be seen pouring from a hole in the roof shortly after it was reported, neighbors said.
"It was a jet of black smoke," said Sherri Moorehouse, who lives on Carew Street next to the station. "It was a scary sight to wake up to, I will tell you that."
Moorehouse said she was fearful that the blaze could spread to the gasoline pumps. Firefighters, however, acted quickly to contain and extinguish the blaze.
"They did a really good job," Moorehouse said.
Police closed the intersection of East and Carew streets while firefighters fought the blaze. The Springfield Fire Department provided mutual aid.
Lemay said the blaze spread into the attic area. Firefighters sprayed water into the building through the hole in the roof and from just outside one of the service station's two bays.
Lemay said he believed the station was closed at the time of the fire. A bystander said, however, that it had just opened shortly before the fire broke out.
The hole in the roof appears to be over the service station's office and bathroom area.
State troopers attached to the state fire marshal's office are assisting in the investigation.
A damage estimate was not immediately available.
Police have since reopened the intersection of East and Carew streets.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be posted as soon as it is available.
Road work began in April to widen part of Route 9 in Hadley.
HADLEY -- Motorists traveling along Route 9 can expect to see more road work beginning over the next couple of weeks, and police suggest taking alternate routes.
According a notification and traffic alert posted by Sgt. Mitchell Kuc on the Hadley Police Department's Facebook page:
The speed limit is 35 miles per hour in the zone, according to warning boards posted along the roadway.
Work began on the project in April.
The project includes some widening from Whalley Street to the Hadley Farm Museum and traffic signal improvements at Routes 9 and 47.
"A new traffic signal arm that extends into the middle of the intersection will improve signal head visibility," Ryan Grannan-Doll, deputy communications director for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, wrote in an email in the spring.
"(The work) includes minor roadway widening of the approaches to accommodate four-foot road shoulders within the project's boundaries," he wrote.
The town is using the opportunity to replace the 100-year-old water pipe on the same stretch of Route 9 when the roadway is ripped up.
The town received a $379,000 state loan at 2 percent interest from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the water line replacement.
Traffic has been reduced to single lanes during the construction so far, causing some traffic delays.
The state will continue widening Route 9 over the next several years, with the next leg of the project stretching from the museum to East Street. That section of work remains in the design phase.
Hampden Street will be closed for through traffic.
CHICOPEE - City officials are announcing construction plans for the next two weeks for the sewer separation projects.
Motorists are being warned that the area around Grattan and Meadow streets will see traffic detours and delays this week as new sewer services will be installed. Drivers are recommended to try to take alternative routes.
The projects will continue in the Aldenville, Willimansett and Chicopee Center areas. Traffic delays and street closings are expected during the periods of road work on any of the streets.
The sewer separation project schedule is dependent on weather and could also be changed for other unforeseen circumstances.
The West Aldenville sewer project is being wrapped up with apron driveways and lawns being restored for the week of July 11 through 15 and the painting of traffic lines is scheduled for Tuesday.
Here is a schedule of construction activity on different roads in the city:
Bemis Street: Roadway grading is scheduled for July 5 through 7.
Beston Street: Installation of water main scheduled for July 11 to 15.
Burton Street: Installation of water main scheduled for July 11 to 15.
Call Street: Roadway grading is scheduled for July 5 through 7. Paving scheduled for July 14.
Chicopee Street: Installation of drain main and services is scheduled for July 5 through 14 near the intersection of Meadow Street.
Ferry Street: Roadway grading scheduled for July 5 through 7. Paving is scheduled for July 14.
Forest Street: Roadway grading is scheduled for July 5 through 7. Paving scheduled for July 14.
Grattan Street: Installation of sewer service at the Dugout Cafe scheduled for Tuesday.
Hampden Street: Installation of water main continues through July 15 moving south up the hill.
Hampden St. is closed to thru traffic at Center St. and Springfield St. Only local traffic will be permitted.
John Street: Roadway grading scheduled for July 13 through 15.
Meadow Street: Installation of sewer services is scheduled for July 6 through 14 between the intersections of Elizabeth and Hope streets.
Nash Street: Roadway grading is scheduled for July 5 through 7. Paving scheduled for July 14.
St. Louis Avenue: Installation of sewer main is scheduled for July 5 and 6.
Skeele Street: Roadway asphalt grinding is scheduled through Thursday.
Walter Street: Roadway grading is scheduled for July 11 through 14. Paving is scheduled for July 15.
State transportation officials want to buy drivers a cup of coffee tonight.
SPRINGFIELD -- State transportation officials want to buy drivers a cup of coffee tonight.
Free coffee will be served at the 18 Massachusetts Department of Transportation Service plazas from 10 p.m. on Monday, July 4 through 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 5.
There are 11 service plazas along the Massachusetts Turnpike, plus plazas along Route 3 in Plymouth, Route 128 in Beverly, Route 128/I-95 in Newton and Lexington, Route 6 in Barnstable, and the Route 24 northbound and southbound plazas.
MassDOT tells travelers to allow extra time for travel as heavy travel due to the Fourth of July holiday.
The Independence Day parade is billed as one of the town's biggest and best events of the year. Watch video
EAST LONGMEADOW -- There was the red, white and blue. Politicians, beauty queens, bands and floats. Marchers and spectators turned out in force for East Longmeadow's annual July Fourth parade.
Billed as the one of the town's biggest and best events of the year, the parade stepped off at the high school, moving through the center of town onto North Main Street, and finishing at Hanward Hill at the middle school.
Depending on where one watched the parade from, the line of march took almost two hours. About 1,500 people marched in the parade.
One of those marching was Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. The mayor commented, "I always look forward to starting my Independence Day at the idyllic New England East Longmeadow parade."
Hundreds turned out on the Fourth of July to celebrate the West Springfield High School baseball team's state championship. Watch video
"Not quite the duck boats, but it works," was a sentiment heard along the parade route as hundreds turned out on the Fourth of July to celebrate the West Springfield High School baseball team's state championship.
Filling the top of the Peter Pan double-decker bus, players waved, displayed trophies and tossed goodies into the crowd. Led by West Springfield police and fire vehicles, the open-air bus was followed by antique cars and Mayor William Reichelt perched on the rear deck of a convertible Corvette.
Travelling up Elm Street and down Park Street, the bus looped around the Town Common before players got out and walked to the bandstand, adoring fans parting as they walked through.
As each player was recognized, the crowd cheered. Reichelt announced that the town will be creating a hall of fame to hold the memories of student athletes and their accomplishments past, present and future.
Star pitcher Nick Dombkowski was thrilled with the turnout and his ride on top of the bus. "They (the town) was behind us the whole way," he said. "It's amazing to see. It brought back the feeling of winning it all."
Maybe duck boats are overrated.
Dozens of such break-ins have occurred over the last three months or so, police said.
SPRINGFIELD -- Police urge Indian Orchard residents to be vigilant as they continue to investigate an ongoing rash of shed break-ins in the neighborhood.
Dozens of such break-ins have occurred over the last three months or so, Sgt. John Delaney said late last week.
"We are advising residents there to be on the lookout at night and in the early morning hours for suspicious people," said Delaney, public information officer for the department.
Snowblowers, lawnmowers and other types of power equipment and tools have been targeted. "Whatever they can get their hands on and sell," said Linda Yarber, former president of the Indian Orchard Citizens Council.
Yarber said she knows of one residence on Brittany Road that has had its shed broken into five times since the rash of break-ins began.
"Hopefully we can get the word out and make more people aware," said Yarber, who recommends that residents leave on outdoor lights to deter break-ins.
Delaney said it's not clear if the break-ins are being conducted by an individual or a group of people.
Those with information are asked to call the Springfield Police Detective Bureau at 413-787-6355. Those who wish to remain anonymous may text a tip via a cellphone by addressing a text message to "CRIMES," or "274637," and then beginning the body of the message with the word "SOLVE."
The citizens came from 32 different countries. Watch video
NORTHAMPTON -- Ghazwn Alsamraay came from Iraq six years because it was no longer safe for his family. His father was a translator for the U.S. Army during the war.
Madhu Ghimrey fled his native Bhutan because of ethnic cleansing. He's of Nepali descent.
These are just two of the 51 who became new citizens at a naturalization ceremony Monday outside the Hampshire County Courthouse. They came from 32 countries.
Hundreds attended the ceremony, which was organized in part by the Center for New Americans. It was the eighth such ceremony here.
Alsamraay, 26, now lives in West Springfield and said he looks forward to voting. He said his mother, father, two sisters and brother have already become citizens. He said he's happy to be here where it's safe.
A bomb was placed under his father's car in Iraq because of his work with Americans. They had to move three times there to stay safe. He misses his friends but said he's happy to be here.
"I want to be part of this country," he said. And he said, "Everyone has helped a lot."
Ghimrey came six years ago with his wife Leela seeking asylum. Since the early 1990s, more than 100,000 refugees of ethnic Nepalese origin from southern Bhutan have been living in camps in eastern Nepal after they were arbitrarily stripped of their nationality and forced to flee Bhutan, according to Amnesty International.
He lives in Worcester now and works at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center as a medical interpreter. He's also taking classes in social work.
The 33-year-old said, "I like to help people." He too can't wait to vote. Like Alsamraay, he's planning to vote for Hilary Clinton.
Peggy Prieto was at the ceremony with her mother, Maria Prieto. Dilio Prieto, her brother, was also becoming a citizen Monday but he lives in New Hampshire now and will receive his certificate there.
The family came from Venezuela 16 years ago because things were unsettled. Peggy Prieto said it was becoming a communist country and they were losing rights.
She said that she really appreciates what her parents did coming to this county so she and her brother Dilio could have a better life. The 23-year-old is a dental hygienist.
Maria worked in a factory in Fitchburg where they settled. She said that was the only kind of work she could get because she could not speak English when she came.
Maria Prieto wasn't sure who she was going to vote for, but said she was thinking about "the lady." She shook her hand when thinking about the other candidate, Donald Trump.
Mayor David Narkewicz was of those addressing the new citizens. He said there's been a lot of negativity lately about immigrants.
He did not name Trump, who has talked about building a wall between Mexico and the U.S. and banning Muslims, a plan he has edged away from slightly in recent days.
But the mayor said "Northampton and Massachusetts welcomes immigrants from all of the world with open arms."
And with that everyone cheered.
This is Chesterfield's 69th annual Independence Day parade.
CHESTERFIELD -- Chesterfield, a Hampshire County town where just one crossroads and few dozen dwellings suffice for a downtown, filled Monday with patriotism and spectators for a Fourth of July parade out of Norman Rockwell.
"I love this parade because of the people it brings to this small town," said Russell Peotter, a volunteer who served as announcer. "It's just a great a great small town event. Old fashioned."
One that draws an international audience. The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute has long brought students in its international Civic Initiative program, in Amherst for a summer of study, to get a taste of American civic pride.
This year, the group included 83 students from 23 countries including 18 students from Iraq, said Michael Hannahan, director of the Civic Initiative program.
Aggee Mugabe, a native of Rwanda, is a university professor teaching political science. He smiled broadly at small children dancing with American flags.
"It's very interesting," he said. "It's is wonderful to see how excited everyone is."
Parker Snape was one of the few Chesterfield natives visiting her first parade, understandable only because she's less than a year old.
"But we've been coming forever," said mother Kim Snape as she walked through the route with husband Keith. "It's part of being from Chesterfield."
American Legion Cummington Post 304 Commander Conrad Liebenow led off the marching units with a small group of veterans. He was followed by all manner of scouts, motorcyclists and antique cars, including a truck that helped build the Alcan Highway in Alaska during World War II.
Firefighters marched, giving children a chance to rise on the gleaming pumpers. A forest fire crew complete with Smokey Bear made sure Peotter let folks know how dry the woods are and to be very careful with fire this July 4.
Ezra Mendez, 19, and Erick Dominguez-Santos, 25, both of Allentown, Pa., were arrested Saturday. They are being held without bail pending arraignment after the holiday weekend.
BOSTON - Two men from Pennsylvania are charged with drug trafficking after they were allegedly caught trying to smuggle cocaine through customs at Logan International Airport.
Ezra Mendez, 19, and Erick Dominguez-Santos, 25, both of Allentown, Pa., were arrested Saturday. They are being held without bail pending arraignment after the holiday weekend.
State police said both men arrived at Logan from the Dominican Republican on Saturday morning with identical rolling suitcases. The bags were searched as they passed through customs, and screeners found both bags had hidden compartments containing three kilograms of cocaine.
Mendez and Dominguez-Santos are charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
Ralph Taylor, District Manager for the Connecticut Valley regional Division of Fisheries & Wildlife office, will explain how to make a yard and neighborhood less attractive to bears.
BELCHERTOWN -- The town's animal control department has invited a state expert on black bears to a community meeting on how to keep the animals out of residential areas and yards.
The July 13 presentation is scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m.at Belchertown High School.
Ralph Taylor, MassWildlife's Connecticut Valley District manager, will explain how to make a yard and neighborhood less attractive to bears.
For example, MassWildlife's web page on "Preventing Bear Conflicts" recommends that residents take down bird feeders, which can be a magnet for bears. "Bears finding a bird feeder, bird seed, corn or other bird food will often revisit that site, month after month, year after year," the site reads.
Officials encourage residents living in an area where bears are present to "avoid bird feeders altogether," and to instead attract birds by growing native plants, shrubs and trees, and including water features.
State officials say other potential food sources -- including stored garbage and pet food -- can attract bears.
According to state data, the black bear population in Massachusetts has grown from 100 to more than 4,000 in the past 40 years.
Riders gathered at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History at the Springfield Museums to kick-off a modern day version of the cross-country Van Buren sisters trek of a century ago Watch video
One hundred years ago this week, sisters Adeline and Augusta Van Buren became the first women to cross the continental United States, each on her own Indian Powerplus motorcycle built in Springfield.
On Tuesday their legacy was remembered as riders gathered at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History at the Springfield Museums to kick-off a modern day version of the cross-country trek of a century ago.
The sisters were fans of the Indian Motocycles that were built in Springfield and often came to Springfield to learn about them. It was here in the City of Homes that their epic journey began.
"The Springfield Museums are honored to be the host location for this Centennial Ride launch event," commented Wood Museum Director Guy McLain during the ceremony. "The Van Buren sisters serve as important role models to women even to this day, and their story fits perfectly with our exhibits about Indian Motocycles and other women trailblazers like aviator Maude Tait."
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno read a proclamation to the group declaring July 5, 2016 as Sisters' Centennial Motorcycle Ride Day in the city.
The mayor then had an "Easy Rider" moment, sitting on a modern day Indian Motorcycle and posing for photos with ride participants.
"We are thrilled that we've played a part in connecting the Van Buren family with the Springfield Museums and providing the inspiration for this new exhibit," said event organizer Alisa Clickenger in a statement. "What a terrific way to formally start our event, by being able to bring our riders to the Springfield Museums to experience how and where our fabulous story began."
The trip will have approximately 200 riders and will loosely follow the Van Buren sisters' 1916 route, primarily following the Lincoln Highway across the United States from New York to San Francisco. Riders hope to arrive in San Francisco on July 23.
Longmeadow's Select Board on Tuesday will schedule a special Town Meeting to consider easements for a reconstruction project on Converse Street.
LONGMEADOW — The Select Board on Tuesday will schedule a special Town Meeting to settle a bureaucratic issue hovering over a major street renovation project.
The one item on the special town meeting warrant deals with easements necessary for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation project for reconstruction of Converse Street, Longmeadow Town Manager Stephen Crane said.
"Converse Street is a regionally significant road," Crane said. "(The special Town Meeting) really is just an administrative action that needs to be taken."
Reconstruction of Converse Street, which is projected at $4.2 million, is a federally funded project that will be overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Crane said.
The town was recently informed that, because the federal government is funding the project, all easements -- documents allowing work to be done on people's property -- must be recorded at the Registry of Deeds. The easements are necessary because construction of sidewalks will temporarily affect portions of 30 Converse Street residents' property.
During a special Town Meeting in May, Longmeadow residents approved the project, which will add bicycle lanes and replace curbs and sidewalks, along with other improvements to Converse Street.
The special Town Meeting that to be scheduled Tuesday would ask residents to allow the Select Board to sign the easements. This action would allow the project to move forward.
On the current timeline for the project, Crane said, construction is expected to begin next summer.
The Select Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the school district building, 535 Bliss Road.
The purchase has been called a "milestone event" in MassMutual's 165-year history.
SPRINGFIELD -- MassMutual announced Tuesday that it has completed a $165-million purchase of MetLife's U.S. retail adviser force of life insurance agents.
The deal was first announced in February.
MetLife made the deal to sell off its Premier Client Group to avoid being designated "too big to fail" under federal regulations established in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
For MassMutual, the move is a sign of growth. According to company officials:
MassMutual CEO Roger Crandall said in a news release:
"This acquisition begins the next chapter in our rich heritage, underscored by our 165-year history of helping people and families secure their future and protect the ones they love. We are now positioned to help even more policyowners and customers access a portfolio of holistic financial solutions for every phase of life."
MetLife, a publicly traded company based in New York City, was once a mutual insurance company like MassMutual. Mutual companies are owned by policyholders.
The Financial Stability Oversight Council of the Department of Treasury designated MetLife as "too big to fail" in 2014 after concluding that a failure of the $909 billion company would pose a risk to the U.S. Economy [pdf].
Regulators reached the conclusion, which MetLife is challenging, because of the company's scope and its reach across the economy.
If designated too big to fail, MetLife would have to carry more capital to back up its business operations -- something the company did not want to do. The designation would also subject the company to increased oversight by the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors.
Hiring expectations for the next six months were stable, with 37 percent hiring and only 10 percent downsizing.
SPRINGFIELD -- Uncertainty -- either from the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom or from the U.S. labor market and political scene -- sapped employer confidence in June, according to a survey released Tuesday by Associated Industries of Massachusetts.
The Associated Industries Business Confidence Index fell 1.6 points in June to 56.1 points. That is still above the 50-point mark considered neutral. Anything over 50 points is positive, anything below 50 is negative.
The index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-1998, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. The index has been greater than 50 since October 2013.
Quarterly confidence rose from 55.8 during the first three months of the year to 56.7 during April, May and June.
Associated Industries, a statewide business group, surveys its members each month as to views on the economy and their likelihood of new hiring. Last month's survey went out at about the same time U.K. voters surprised many observers by voting to leave the European Union, a move that sent the British pound and stock markets around the world falling.
Raymond G. Torto, chairman of AIM's Board of Economic Advisers and lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, said in a news release:
"Massachusetts employers are trying to balance a range of economic and political distractions that pull them in different directions month to month. The good news is that employers remain highly confident in the Massachusetts economy and in the prospects for their own companies."
Specifics from the report:
The man had just received a cash inheritance for $187,000, but then he left it in the cab when he got out at Massachusetts Avenue and Tremont Street.
A man who had just been awarded a substantial inheritance nearly lost it just as quickly on Friday when he forget a backpack containing $187,000 in cash in the back of a cab in downtown Boston, according to reports.
The Boston Herald reports the cab driver found the backpack, and when he started searching through it in hopes of finding some identification for the owner, spotted the cash. The cabbie immediately turned it over to police.
Boston cab drivers are required to turn over property found in the back of their cab to the Boston Police Hackney Unit.
"It seems this guy has come into his inheritance and left it in the cab," spokeswoman Rachel McGuire said.
Boston police were able to track down the man and confirm that he was the rightful owner.
According to a Boston police statement, as officers were inventorying the contents of the back, they received a call from a man claiming to have left it in the cab.
The man soon arrived at the police station with proof of ownership, at which time he was reunited with his property, police said.
Neither the name of the man nor the cab driver were released to the press.
Boston Police Commissioner William Evans issued a statement that said the driver "exhibited exemplary behavior and his honest deed should be recognized. His actions represent the high standards that our department has for our drivers."
As of the end of May, MGM Springfield was exceeding its diversity hiring goals.
SPRINGFIELD -- MGM Springfield hopes to meet next week with qualified woman, minority and veteran-owned providers of mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment despite surpassing its state-mandated diversity hiring goals.
The one-on-one meetings will be by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 13 at MGM's local office in Suite 910 of One Monarch Place in downtown Springfield. To schedule an appointment, email to construction@mgmspringfield.com.
The meetings will come one day after MGM is set to deliver updated minority hiring data to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
MGM is working now on its $950-million casino project in Springfield's South End. Its diversity hiring goals, spelled out in agreements with the state, are to have 10 percent of its contractors be women-owned firms, 5 percent minority owned and 2 percent veteran owned.
And, according to information MGM is providing to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the gaming conglomerate is meeting its goals.
MGM reported that as of April 30, 10.18 percent of its contractors were women-owned companies; 28.95 percent are minority owned and 9.31 percent of its contractors were veteran-owned.
All told, MGM has 39 contractors on its diversity roster: 21 women-owned contractors, 12 minority-owned and 6 veteran-owned.
When it comes to minority and veteran hiring, MGM and its contractors and subcontractors have hired 1,023 employees totaling 181,400 hours worked to date from the start of work through the end of May, according to the filing with the gaming commission.
Its goals were to hire 6.9 percent women, 15.3 percent minorities and 8 percent veterans.
MGM and its contractors and subs have hired through the end of May, according to its report to the gaming commission, 10.18 percent women, 28.9 percent minorities and 9.3 percent veterans.
MGM Resorts International, the corporate parent to the local project, was recently named one of the best companies for its diversity hiring practices, according to DiversityInc.
MGM has touted its recruitment efforts for minority and women construction workers.
MGM spokeswoman Alicia Malone said the company's latest update on hiring and contractors will be presented to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission next Tuesday, July 12.
Officers were called to the McDonald House at 49 South Street -- also the address of the housing authority -- at about 10 p.m. Friday after receiving reports of a man collecting the mats from in front of residents' doors and placing them in a pile outside.
NORTHAMPTON -- A Belmont man allegedly broke into the Northampton Housing Authority director's office Friday night and claimed to be a staff member, according to police reports.
Ramal Lightsey, 39, pleaded not guilty in Northampton District Court Tuesday to charges of breaking and entering a building during the nighttime - a felony - and malicious destruction of property, court documents said.
Officers were called to the McDonald House at 49 South St. -- a public housing complex and also the address of the housing authority -- at about 10 p.m. Friday after receiving reports of a man collecting residents' doormats and placing them in a pile outside, police reports said. Residents told officers the man was also pretending to be a housing staff member.
Around that time, an alarm was set off in the housing authority's executive suite, specifically in the area of authority executive director Cara Clifford's office. That's when officers said they saw a man -- later identified as Lightsey -- climbing out of Clifford's office window.
Lightsey lost his footing while climbing out and landed face-first in the grass, reports said. The Belmont man then allegedly began running, and officers tackled him in the Northampton Market parking lot on Old Street, court documents said.
According to police, Lightsey has been charged 25 times for breaking and entering and three times for malicious damage to property. He currently has seven open cases in Lowell and Northampton district courts.
The housing authority's wing can only be accessed through a keypad, officers said, but the windows to Clifford's office and the community center were unlocked Friday night. Lightsey reportedly damaged the screens on both windows, but there was no damage found inside the building.
When police entered Clifford's office, they found cabinet doors wide open and a metal cigar box and cigars strewn across the floor, court reports said. Clifford said the cigars were confiscated from an employee.
Nothing was missing from office, police said.
Lightsey is due back in court Aug. 3.
