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Hampden Police Department to hold open house, dedication ceremony for new police station

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The public is invited to tour the new station from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1.

HAMPDEN — The Hampden Police Department will hold an open house and dedication ceremony at its new police station on Saturday, Oct. 1.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include public tours of the state-of-the-art facility, centrally located at 100 Allen St.

"Please come out and see our new facility!" the Police Department said on its Facebook page.

The station cost $2.9 million to build and features all manner of mod cons, including video monitoring throughout the 6,000-square-foot facility, bulletproof walls and windows, a secure prisoner area, energy-efficient lighting, and an emergency operations center, among other features.

The new station replaces the department's old, cramped digs in the cellar of the Hampden Town House on Main Street.



MAP showing approximate location of new Hampden police station:


Audit confirms drugs, weapons and cash missing from Braintree Police Department; mayor calls report 'deeply troubling'

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Torn open drug bags, 60 or more missing firearms, over $400,000 in seized cash vanished — an auditor revealed all in the Braintree Police Department evidence room.

BRAINTREE -- Torn open drug bags, 60 or more missing firearms, more than $400,000 in seized cash vanished -- a state police auditor found all in the Braintree Police Department evidence room.

Examining evidence going back to 1999, the auditor confirmed an emerging scandal that has resulted in the dismissal of six drug cases just this week, reports the Associated Press.

Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan, who publicly released the 50-page audit -- conducted by Massachusetts State Police Major Bruce Gordon -- called the document "deeply troubling."

"I find the auditor's report of unaccounted for items and poor record keeping practices by the Police Department to be deeply troubling and unacceptable," Sullivan said at a news conference Wednesday night.

According to The Boston Globe, the auditor found 4,709 pieces of narcotics evidence were missing, and 38 pieces compromised. Property evidence including cash, videos, sexual assault kits, counterfeit money, vehicles and bicycles was also missing -- a total of 2,500 pieces.

The auditor also looked into seized money, kept in a filing cabinet, and found $407,989 of what should have been there missing. Sometimes, seized money was logged with no amount specified.

Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said it's possible between 200 and 400 drug cases would have to be dismissed as a result of the audits findings. A total of 3,000 cases were under review.

"It's disheartening," he told the Globe.

Records requests by the Quincy Patriot Ledger turned up documents showing few of the existing evidence room regulations were being followed, and the department had no written policy for the handling of seized materials. An anonymous department member, the paper found, filled out a survey indicating that even the most basic evidence-keeping practices used by police around the country were not being followed in Braintree.

Before her suicide in May, 20-year Braintree Officer Susan Zopatti had managed the Braintree evidence room since 2013. Zopatti shot herself a week after the auditor spoke with her the first time, according to The Globe.

The audit also included recommendations on how to prevent such transgressions in the future. Sullivan said he and Police Chief Russell W. Jenkins plan to implement these recommendations.

Braintree is not alone in its evidence room woes.

A high-profile case of official theft in Springfield concerns $385,000 in missing cash for the city police department's evidence room.

That cash was allegedly taken by Kevin Burnham, a decorated and now retired Springfield police detective.

Retired Springfield Police Det. Kevin Burnham, accused of stealing over $385K from evidence room

Attorney General Maura Healey's office alleges Burnham stole from the evidence room between Dec. 4, 2009 and July 25, 2014- the date of his retirement party.

According to Healey's office, in some instances, Burnham allegedly "shorted" the cash count by taking money when he recounted it. Burnham also allegedly replaced money he stole from various evidence envelopes with previously seized counterfeit money or with newer money that was put into circulation after the original seizure date. The investigation also uncovered more than 160 empty evidence envelopes that were missing the cash that was seized.

Burnham's case is ongoing.

October trial date set for retired Springfield police officer Kevin Burnham

Southwick teen invents shoe cleaner perfect for sneakerheads

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Jameson Ward's life changed nearly five years ago on Christmas Day. While unwrapping presents with his family, the then-pre-teen opened a box containing a pair of Air Jordans. Watch video

SOUTHWICK -- Jameson Ward's life changed nearly five years ago on Christmas Day. While unwrapping presents with his family, the then-pre-teen opened a box containing a pair of Air Jordans.

Over many holidays since, Ward continued collecting sneakers and has come to own an estimated 75 pairs of sneakers. The 16-year-old's collection includes numerous Air Jordans, limited edition Nikes and, his current favorite, both grey and black Yeezy Boost 750s. 

With many pairs worth several hundred dollars each, Ward avidly cleans his shoes when they're dirty but became annoyed at the cost of the most popular cleaner on the market. So, he decided to invent his own. 

With the help of his father and a family friend, Ward has founded Jameson Ward Premium Shoe Cleaner.

The all-natural cleaner contains a proprietary formula including coconut oil and plant extract, which Ward developed by trial and error. Harsh chemicals can degrade the fabric and rubber of sneakers, making the shoes more susceptible to wear and tear. 

The product comes in two sizes - eight ounces currently on sale for $14, which cleans approximately 300 pairs of shoes, and 16 ounces for $17, which cleans approximately 600 pairs.

The price is intentionally less expensive than the most popular shoe cleaner on the market for sneakerheads.

Jameson Ward incorporated in February of this year and the company's products hit the market this summer. Through Ward's website and Amazon, the shoe cleaner has been sold to local purchasers as well as customers in California and Texas. 

"I think he's on to something," Matt Secovich, Ward's father, said. "He's seen a lot of interest in this so far." 

At the moment, Secovich joked that it's a "good part-time job" for his 16-year-old son. 

Ward recently began his junior year at Southwick-Tolland Regional High School. While unsure of his exact plans post-graduation, Ward hopes to enroll in a collegiate business program, possibly one focusing on entrepreneurship. 

Gallery preview 

Longmeadow Board of Health offering flu shot clinics

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Flu shot clinics will be available to people who live or work in Longmeadow through the beginning of November.

LONGMEADOW — This fall, the Longmeadow Board of Health will offer flu shots to all adults over the age of 18 who live or work in the town of Longmeadow.

Medicare B, Mass Health, most Medicare Advantage plans and private health insurance plans cover the cost of administering the flu shots in full -or without a co-pay-, a statement from the Longmeadow Board of Health says.

Those who seek flu shots at Board of Health flu shot clinics are asked to bring insurance cards for verification, the statement says.

This season's scheduled flu shot clinics will be available as follows:

  • September 28- 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greenwood Gym
  • October 6- 4 to 6 p.m. at the Greenwood Adult Center
  • October 14- 10 a.m. to noon at the Greenwood Adult Center
  • October 19- 4 to 6 p.m. at the Greenwood Adult Center
  • October 26- 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Greenwood Adult Center
  • November 1- 5 to 6 p.m. at the Storrs Library

No reservation is required for shots at any of the clinics.

Brockton police officer sues department, alleging racial slurs and fabricated disciplinary charge

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A Brockton police officer has filed a federal lawsuit against his department, alleging that a sergeant used racial slurs and fabricated a disciplinary charge against him due to racial bias.

A Brockton police officer has filed a federal lawsuit against his department, alleging that a sergeant used racial slurs and fabricated a disciplinary charge against him due to racial bias.

Francisco Baez has served as a patrolman with the Brockton Police Department since 1996, and through that time has been the only Dominican-American officer in the department, he said in his complaint. As of July, he was still employed by the department; his current status is unclear, as Brockton Police did not return a request for comment.

Brockton police patch.png 

He alleges in the suit that Sgt. George Khoury used racial slurs on the job and lied about Baez deliberately bumping into him twice on Sept. 13, 2013. Brockton Police Chief John Crowley did not return a request for comment, and no response has yet been filed in the suit.

"During the time that Plaintiff worked with Sgt. Khoury, Sgt. Khoury referred to black people as 'n*****s' and to Hispanic people as 's***s,' " the lawsuit alleges. "Sgt. Khoury also referred to to white women who dated black men as, 'white trash n****r-lovers.' "

Khoury told then-Chief Emanuel Gomes that Baez deliberately bumped into him twice on Sept. 13, once in the booking room and once in a hallway leading to the cell area, the lawsuit said. Baez denied both allegations, saying he never made contact with Khoury.

"Sgt. Khoury's false allegation was made because he had animus towards the Plaintiff on account of the Plaintiff's race, national origin or ethnicity," the suit alleges.

Baez claims he was initially not told of the allegations against him. On Sept. 17 Capt. Wayne Sargo asked him for an account of any interactions he had with Khoury; Baez said he had none, according to the suit. On Dec. 10, Sargo issued Baez a written reprimand for insubordination and conduct unbecoming an officer.

The suit alleges that the disciplinary action survived multiple appeals, despite what he describes as video tape of the booking area that proves he did not touch Khoury. Gomes upheld the sanction despite having access to that tape, the suit alleges.

When Baez' union asked for a copy of any video tape of the booking room that day, they were told none existed, the suit claims. But a copy of the tape turned up in 2014 when Baez obtained a copy of his personnel records, according to the legal filing.

"The union was told by the department that no such tape existed," the suit says. "That was a lie, in fact a copy of the video of the booking room on the day in question had been made and preserved by the Department."

Baez then filed a grievance with the city of Brockton and Director of Personnel Maureen Cruise also upheld the punishment. Cruise did not return a phone call seeking comment.

In Sept. 2014, after the police union had appealed the case to an independent arbitrator, the city agreed to strike the reprimand from Baez' record, the suit says.

The Brockton Police Department, Khoury, Sargo and Gomes are all named as defendants in the suit. None have responded yet, and Baez' attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.

Chicopee Police announces sex offender change of address

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David Patrick Taylor was convicted in 1999 and 1996 of sexual offenses.

CHICOPEE - The Police Department is notifying residents that a Level 3 sex offender has changed his address in the city.

david patrick taylor.jpgDavid Patrick Taylor 


David Patrick Taylor, 61, now lives at 16 Brooks Ave., Chicopee Police Lt. Mark Higgins said.

Taylor is described as white, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighing 300 pounds. His hair is brown.

He was convicted in 1999 of rape of a child and two counts of assault and battery on a child. In 1996 he was convicted of unlawful sexual contact, Higgins said.

There are more than 30 Level 3 sex offenders living or working in Chicopee. Level 3 offenders are those most likely to re-offend and are required to register with the local department every year.

None of the Level 3 offenders are wanted by police. It is also illegal to harass an offender, police said.

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Chicopee Parks offering children, adult swim lessons and lap swim

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Adult lap swim and water walking will be held on Monday and Wednesdays from Sept. 19 through Dec. 21.

CHICOPEE - The Parks and Recreation Department is offering a variety of swim classes for adults and children starting Sept. 19. All the lessons will be held at the Comprehensive High School pool on Montgomery Street.

For children there will be learn to swim classes for Levels One, Two and Three. Children must be a minimum of 5-years-old to participate and must have passed pass the previous level. The classes will be held on Monday and Wednesdays, Sept. 19 through Oct 17. Beginning Level One classes start at 5 p.m., Level Two classes begin at 6 p.m. and Level Three classes start at 7 p.m.

The cost for the lessons is $60 for residents and $70 for non-residents.

Adult swim lessons to teach basic skills will be offered from Oct. 5 to Oct 24, Monday and Wednesdays starting at 7 p.m. The cost is $30 for residents and $40 for non-residents.

Registration for children and adult classes is mandatory and must be done in person at the Chicopee Parks and Recreation office at 687 Front St.

Adult lap swim or water walking is scheduled on Monday and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. from Sept. 19 through Dec. 21. The cost is $5 a resident $6 a non-resident per session and participants can pay at the pool.

Helen Caulton-Harris to receive 2016 Ubora Award at Springfield Museums

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The African Hall Subcommittee of the Springfield Museums will present the 25th annual Ubora Award and the 7th annual Ahadi Youth Award at a ceremony on Saturday, at 6 p.m. at the Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

SPRINGFIELD - The African Hall Subcommittee of the Springfield Museums will present the 25th annual Ubora Award and the 7th annual Ahadi Youth Award at a ceremony on Saturday, at 6 p.m. at the Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

Helen Caulton-Harris 2016 mug2016 Ubora Award Winner Helen Caulton-Harris is the currently the Commissioner of the Division of Health and Human Services for the City of Springfield. (Submitted Photo

The Ubora Award, named for the Swahili word for "excellence," is presented to an African American who has made a significant contribution to the greater Springfield area.

Ubora Award Winner Helen Caulton-Harris is the currently the Commissioner of the Division of Health and Human Services for the City of Springfield. In her many years of public service, Caulton-Harris has played a prominent role in developing policy for the health and human services needs of underserved populations on the local and national level.

Previously, Caulton-Harris was appointed by former Governor Deval Patrick to both the Public Health and Food Policy Councils for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and was also appointed to the Region 1 Health Council by the Secretary of Minority Health in Washington D.C.

Caulton-Harris is the immediate past chair of both AAA of Pioneer Valley and Holyoke Community College, having held both chairmanships simultaneously. She is also a past president of the Greater Springfield Chapter of the Links, Inc., a life member of the Carl L. Talbot VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and a member XI XI Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; and the GirlFriends, Inc.

The Ahadi Youth Award is presented to an African American young person who demonstrates strong character, leadership, academic achievement, and future potential (Ahadi means "promise" in Swahili).

Ahadi winner David Bass is entering his junior year at Putnam Vocational High School, where he has distinguished himself as an outstanding student in both the classroom and the community. David has held perfect attendance and highest honors in his first two years of high school, and currently has a 3.9 GPA.

A founder and active participant in Putnam's Intellectuals Debate Club, David is an outstanding public speaker and communicator, and was elected President by the Class of 2018.

He has participated in every volunteer opportunity offered by his school this year, and assisted the Putnam's Voice outreach group with their annual clothing, canned food, and toy drives as well as neighborhood cleanups. He is also part of the Project Purple volunteer group that seeks to curtail teen drug and alcohol abuse, and a member of Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni's 2016 Youth Advisory Board. David is part of Putnam's Marketing and Real Estate program, and plans to embark on a career in real estate following his graduation.


Unsafe lead levels found in some sinks, faucets at Amherst's Wildwood Elementary School

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Testing also found lead in water samples at the Crocker Farm Elementary School.

AMHERST -- Some Wildwood Elementary School sinks and faucets have been taken out of service after tests showed lead levels above federal safety standards. 

The district is following the same procedure adopted at the Crocker Farm School, where tests conducted in August also found levels above safety standards..

The town tested 76 faucets and sinks at Wildwood, and the school received results from 22 of those samples.

Six sinks and five faucets tested above the state and federally defined relevant action level of 15 parts per billion on "first draw" samples, according to a press release.

Lead is not believed to be in the primary water source at Wildwood, officials said in the statement. School and town staff are investigating the cause.

The sinks and faucets in question in the H quad, the art room, the music room, the main office, and the teachers' lounge are no longer in use.

The school will continue to flush the faucets and sinks while officials wait on the results for the remaining 54.

The town tested water in all schools and at the Pelham Elementary School, which is part of the district, and is waiting for the rest of the results.

Four sinks and one faucet at Crocker Farm were taken out of service last month after officials found they contained unsafe lead levels as well.

Officials then decided to test all of the districts other schools. 

The town testing is voluntary.

Westfield officials to discuss status of new elementary school with state on Oct. 6

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A new building committee will be appointed following the Oct. 6 meeting.

WESTFIELD - The long-delayed construction of a new 600-student elementary school here will be on the agenda when Mayor Brian P. Sullivan and city officials meet with the Massachusetts School Building Authority Oct. 6.

Sullivan said the meeting will address the delay as well as the recent decision by the state Appeals Court upholding the city claim to proceed with construction of the $36 million school at Ashley and Court streets.

The Appeals Court last month rejected claims from a group of Ashley and Court street residents that a portion of the new school site was protected by Article 97, protection of playgrounds and parks. Several court actions including appeals by residents have delayed the project which was originally scheduled to start in 2012.

The mayor said his Oct. 6 meeting in Boston will address funding for the school along with any changes necessary in the building specifications. He will also ask for a new time table to move forward with competitive bidding of the project and a possible construction date.

Sullivan and local city and school officials last week completed a preliminary review of the school project to ensure enrollment needs still support the 600-student school.

The mayor said he will appoint a new building committee after the Oct. 6 MSBA meeting. That committee will then review specifications and blueprints for the new school and make appropriate changes based on new state building code requirements.

The project will then be advertised for competitive bidding and the city will be looking for a construction start date for next spring or summer.

The state is expected to contribute 62 percent of the cost of the new school and the City Council has already authorized bonding for the project.

Fontaine Brothers of Springfield was originally awarded the construction contract in 2012 but that contract is now void, city officials said.

Obama's Cape Cod plan: Environmentalists cheer, anglers growl

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President Obama's plan to designate nearly 5,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Cod a national monument — effectively barring it from commercial fishing by 2023 — is being praised by environmentalists and condemned by commercial fishers.

President Obama's plan to designate nearly 5,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Cod a national monument -- effectively barring it from commercial fishing by 2023 -- is being praised by environmentalists and condemned by commercial fishers.

"Science is clear that setting aside biologically important areas can increase resilience as ocean conditions change," Lee Crockett, who oversees the U.S. ocean conservation project at The Pew Charitable Trusts, said.

On the other side of the argument, attorneys for the regional angler and lobsterman group, Southern Georges Bank Coalition, questioned the legality of the move and said "millions of dollars of lost revenue are at stake" for local fisheries.

Intended to protect the region's ecosystem, the plan applies to an area near Georges Bank, approximately 130 miles off the southeast coast of the Cape.

Obama will formally announce the plan at the Third Annual Our Ocean Conference in Washington, scheduled to begin today and to continue tomorrow, the Boston Globe reports.

The protected area will be dubbed the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. A multitude of rare and endangered species, three underwater canyons deeper than the Grand Canyon and four underwater mountains are all found within the area, according to the Obama administration.

In a press release, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said, "By protecting ecologically sensitive areas of our ocean, the United States is leading on an issue that is important to people on every continent because of the ocean's connection to food security, shared prosperity, and resiliency in the face of climate change."

"We are grateful that the president has heard the overwhelming support for protecting this place and that generations yet to come will have the chance to enjoy a healthy ocean," said Peter Baker, who directs Pew's ocean conservation work in the Northeast U.S.

Under the terms of the plan, commercial fishing operations must vacate the premises almost immediately, within 60 days, and red crab and lobster fisherman have a grace period of seven years to leave.

William Palombo, president of Palombo Fishing Corporation, said the plan jeopardizes his business for no reason at all, because fishing done there by him and others is not disruptive to the wildlife there, he claimed.

"Multiple fisheries, including the Red Crab Fishery which is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, have fished in these canyon areas for decades with such little habitat impact that monument proponents themselves call these areas pristine, despite 40-plus years of fishing activity," Palombo wrote in a letter to the Obama administration. "Importantly, most Atlantic corals are in waters deeper than the areas fished."

He added, "Despite the fears expressed by environmental groups that lobstermen will eventually fish deeper than 600 meters, it will not happen, even if the technology was available, which it isn't, because lobster does not reside at these deeper depths."

The fishing ban would compound existing complications for the region's fisherman being caused by the warming of the Atlantic, a result of climate change.

The Gulf of Maine, a depression along the coastline from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia and fishing hot-spot for centuries among anglers seeking cold-water species, is now warming faster than 99 percent of the world's oceans, the Associated Press reports.

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell -- whose town relies heavily on fishing revenues -- also wrote a letter to the administration claiming "serious concerns about the impact a monument would have on the commercial fishing industry here."

Even Sen. Edward J. Markey, though generally supportive of the plan, cited concern "that the impacts of this marine monument designation on the fishing community in New England were not fully minimized."

Attorneys representing the Southern Georges Bank Coalition are arguing the Antiquities Act -- the 1906 law authorizing the president to create national monuments by proclamation, which is being used to justify the move -- "does not allow for designation of any part of the water column as a monument," the Globe reports.

Meanwhile, administration officials say the area is likely to grow in importance, becoming a refuge for at-risk species as climate change causes the waters of the Atlantic to rise precipitously -- at three times the worldwide average, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

The administration will argue the need to protect outweighs the impact to the fishing industry. Additionally, it plans to build on subsidies to the industry to help minimize impacts.

Bradley Campbell of the Conservation Law Foundation also released a statement supporting the move, saying, "From valleys deeper than the Grand Canyon, to peaks as high as Mount Washington, to the hundreds of diverse and endangered species that call this place home, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is the embodiment of a treasure worthy of such permanent protection."

Pittsfield police searching for bank robber who fled after holding up Berkshires Credit Union

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Pittsfield authorities are searching for a man who robbed the Credit Union of the Berkshires on Tuesday.

PITTSFIELD — Pittsfield police are searching for an armed bank robber who held up the Credit Union of the Berkshires on Williams Street, escaping with an undisclosed amount of money on Tuesday.

At approximately 12:37 p.m., witnesses at the scene said that a male suspect entered the bank carrying a weapon and demanded money from the teller.

The robber has been described as being a white man, in his 40s, with "scruffy" facial hair. Additionally, the man wore a gray baseball cap, dark sunglasses, sweatpants, and a gray and black hoodless fleece, as well as gray and black gloves.

He is described as "stocky," with a height of approximately 5'10" or 5'11" tall, and a weight of 170 pounds.

Policed searched the areas surrounding where the robbery took place and used a K-9 to track to the location where a car that may have belonged to the suspect had been sighted earlier.

Several nearby elementary schools were also temporarily placed on lockdown status, as a result of the robbery.

Pittsfield police are still investigating they incident and have asked anyone with information regarding the robbery to get in touch with the department, at 413-448-9700.

 

Chicopee marijuana dispensary proposal recieves final approval

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The City Council had earlier approved a special permit for the proposal.

CHICOPEE - The City Council has approved a zone change, giving a Springfield company the final approval it needs to open the first medical marijuana clinic in Hampden County.

The Council agreed to rezone a 3,270 square foot piece of land on East Main Street from residential to industrial. While the property is owned by Eversource, the request was made by Thomas Murphy, lawyer for Mass Alternative Care Inc.

The company plans to convert the former Chicopee Engineering Associates building at 1247 East Main St. into a medical marijuana dispensary and grow facility. The building is located on the Springfield border.

The City Council had already voted in April to grant a special permit to allow Mass Alternative Care Inc. to open a dispensary and cultivation facility. In addition to receiving real estate taxes on the property, Chicopee will also receive a host agreement payment that will be a minimum of $50,000 a year and will increase depending on the earnings of the company.

There has been little controversy over the facility. The special permit was granted in a 9-0 vote and the zone change was approved 12-0 with one abstention.

But, the city's medical marijuana ordinance requires marijuana clinics to be located on commercial or industrial land and at least 300 feet from a residential zone. The business is located on industrial property but the business could not go forward without a zone change because the Eversource parcel was within 300 feet of the business.

"I see no reason not to grant this," City Councilor Shane Brooks said. "The majority of the property there was zoned industrial."

City Planner Lee Pouliot called the property a "spot zone" since the parcel did not match most of the surrounding property in the area which was zoned for industry.

The only other proposal for a medical marijuana clinic in Hampden County is in Springfield. The plan from Hampden Care Facility Inc., of Chicopee, to put a dispensary at 506 Cottage St., in on hold after the City Council rejected a host agreement.

Mass Alternative Care Inc., which changed its name from Baystate Compassion Center Inc., is headquartered at 1 Monarch Place, Suite 1900, Springfield. Its officers are President Kevin Collins of Springfield, Treasurer David Spannaus of Brookfield, Connecticut, Clerk Heather Andresen of Longmeadow, Director Ronald Paasch of Northampton, and Director Nicholas Tamborring of Fairfield, Connecticut, according to Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin's office.

It is not known when renovations will begin. Murphy, the company's lawyer, did not return calls for comment.

War of words escalates as big mouths prepare for White Hut World Cheeseburg Eating Championship at Big E

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A slate of competitive eaters, including amateurs and pros, will chow down at the White World Cheeseburg Eating Championship at 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, on the XFINITY Court Of Honor Stage at The Big E in West Springfield.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Billy "Demolition" Norris is a big dude who's been using his big mouth to call out one of his challengers in Saturday's first-ever White Hut World Cheeseburg Eating Championship at The Big E, which begins its 17-day run today.

"I'm coming for you," Norris, a truck driver and heavy-equipment operator, says menacingly in a video message to Colin LeDuc, a seemingly mild-mannered "insurance account executive" from Longmeadow.

Norris, who was raised in Holyoke and Chicopee, has been recording the messages during stops along his trucking route up and down the East Coast, then uploading the videos to Facebook. But it turns out LeDuc, whose alias is "Swollen Colon LePuke," is no shrinking violet.

"Billy 'Demolition' Norris is going down like a house of carbs! I'll have room for maple sugar candy from the Vermont building when I'm done embarrassing you!" LeDuc says in an online riposte to Norris, who's been mocking him for the past few weeks.

Although professional competitive eaters are the main attraction at The Big E chowdown — sponsored by White Hut, Balise Auto Group, Williams Distributing, Bolduc's Apparel, and Sampson's funeral parlor, and run by Major League Eating — the amateur card featuring Norris, LeDuc and several other Massachusetts natives is shaping up to be a big draw on its own.

In an effort to hype the White Hut cheeseburg event, Norris and LeDuc have been using social media to lob insults at each other. And they've managed to attract a following along the way, thanks to their showmanship and spirited exchanges — some of which have been downright comical.

Demolition & LePuke.jpgBilly "Demolition" Norris, left, likes to eat bacon and eggs every day, washing down his high-calorie meal with "a nice cup of tea" and a big, fat cigar. The truck driver and heavy-equipment operator, who grew up in Holyoke and Chicopee, has engaged in an online war of words with Colin LeDuc, a mild-mannered insurance account executive from Longmeadow. The reason for the online enmity? Both men are seeking victory in Saturday's first-ever White Hut World Cheeseburg Eating Championship at The Big E. Norris and LeDuc, whose new alias is "Swollen Colon LePuke," are amateurs in the world of competitive eating, but each hopes to make a name for himself at the event. The contest is sponsored by Balise and run by Major League Eating, the same outfit behind the famous hot dog contest in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood. (Facebook) 

Sure, LeDuc was raised in one of Western Massachusetts' swankiest towns. But that doesn't preclude him from eating with peasants every once and awhile — even a 382-pound truck driver whose daily diet includes bacon, eggs and cigars.

For the record, Norris says proudly, it's six eggs (scrambled), three pieces of bacon, and a "nice cup of tea" to wash it down with. And he chases each meal with a Tony Soprano-sized stogie, which aids with digestion.

LeDuc, 45, isn't the least bit intimidated by Norris, 50, despite the whiff of classism (reverse classism?) in the trucker's taunts on Facebook, where he continues to post clips deriding LeDuc and suggesting he can't handle the White Hut challenge.

Instead of getting defensive, though, LeDuc has embraced the rich-kid role ascribed to him by Norris, even hamming it up for comedic effect. "My yachting coach taught me how to eat fast," he deadpans, fully embracing his inner "LePuke" — his pampered, aristocratic alter ego, who's clearly more at home at a country club than a country fair.

"I grew up on the mean streets of Longmeadow, where I had to learn how to eat with speed because I never knew where my next meal was coming from," says LePuke, who now calls West Springfield home.

Henceforth, we shall refer to LeDuc and Norris by their preferred pseudonyms. Like Daniel Day-Lewis, who's known for staying in character even when he's off set, Demolition and LePuke haven't broken character since they signed on for the cheeseburg challenge.

The daily insults on social media haven't exactly reached the ferocity of the Ali-Frazier feud, and probably never will. (Nobody's called the other a "Gorilla" yet.) But this is their "Thrilla in Manila," after all, and Demolition and LePuke plan to enjoy all 900 seconds of their 15 minutes of fame.

Speaking of minutes, the rules for the amateur White Hut event are simple: The man who stuffs the most cheesburgs down his gullet in 5 minutes wins. The prize for this feat is almost as straightforward: bragging rights and the glory of being the Greatest Glutton in Massachusetts.

"The contest is only 5 minutes," says LePuke. "I don't think Demolition has ever closed his mouth for that long. This might be a personal best for him."

Undaunted by his punier challenger's gibes, Demolition continues to crank out Facebook videos belittling LePuke. Here's a recent sample of "attempted intimidation" by Demolition, whose flat affect and serial-killer delivery is a bit more comical than menacing:

Colin, it's me again. Remember me? The "loudmouth"? (LePuke had previously called Demolition a loudmouth on Facebook.)

Guess what? (Demolition's eyes widen for a moment.) It's 5 o'clock in the morning in Boston ... and I'm lookin' for you. (His voice suddenly sounds De Niro-esque.)

I'm training right now. I just ate a dozen Dunkin' Donuts — plain — and now I'ma have a couple of Egg McMuffins. Then I'ma follow that by a cigar and a cup of tea (long pause).

Then I'm going to the Cape, and I'm gonna get some chowda. And after I eat my chowda, I'm probably going to stop at the Lunch Box (Box Lunch?) and get a turkey roll wrap.

And guess what (pause, again)? I'm lookin' for you today, Colin. (Demolition's feigned disdain is palpable.) You know who you are.

So where are ya? Why ya hidin'? Why ain'tcha come out lookin' for me?

Meanwhile, the professionals competing in Saturday's cheeseburg contest are among the best-known competitive eaters in the world, and they're vying for a total prize purse worth $4,000. The first-place finisher will take home $2,000, while the second-place finisher will net a cool grand. Those placing third, fourth and fifth will take home $600, $300 and $100, respectively.

Major League Eating (the folks behind the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood) has rustled up a slate of renowned eaters, including California's Matt "Megatoad" Stonie, the No. 2-ranked competitive eater in the world.

Megatoad caused a major upset last year after downing a mind-blowing 62 hot dogs and stealing the throne from Joey Chestnut, the eight-time champ of the Nathan's contest. Megatoad is also known for knocking back over two dozen Big Macs in one sitting, so the Californian oughta have a field day with White Hut's classic cheeseburger.

Rounding out the field of pros are Eric "Badlands" Booker of Long Island; Carmen Cincotti of New Jersey; Brian Dudzinsky of Arizona; William Myers of Pennsylvania; Jon Taylor and Steven Wojcik, both of Connecticut; and "Crazy Legs" Conti, James Burgess and Geoffrey Esper, all of Massachusetts.

Conti grew up in Belmont and now lives in New York City, while Burgess and Esper are from Athol and Oxford, respectively.

But back to the amateurs for a moment ...

Demolition and LePuke aren't the only wannabe competitive eaters in this game. They'll be joined by Springfield's own Chris "Grizzly Bear" Silva, Carver's Derek "Beast From The East" Brady, and MassLive's dining daredevil, Nick "The Torso" O'Malley, author of the website's popular "I ate it"" column.

O'Malley is already an eating legend in these parts, routinely tackling spicy foods, yucky foods, and downright scary foods — like Burger King's special black-bunned Halloween Whopper, which has become O'Malley's "arch nemesis." He took the burger for a taste ride last October, and it moved him in mysterious ways. In the name of decency, we'll say no more about O'Malley's movements.

While Johnny Cash once "shot a man in Reno just to watch him die," O'Malley once "ate six salads at Ruby Tuesday just because he was bored." It doesn't quite have the same sense of danger as Cash's line, but everyone knows that croutons come with a killer crunch.

The Torso took a sabbatical from his column to train for the White Hut challenge. Rumor has it O'Malley's secret weapon may be his jaw, which is allegedly more flexible than Nadia Comaneci. The young Nadia (circa '76), not the middle-aged Nadia.

For LePuke, training for the big event has included watching competitive-eating tutorials on YouTube. "I'm taking the more cerebral approach to this," he says, surmising that Demolition's training regimen is as unrefined as crude oil.

"I don't know how long Demolition has been training, so he might have a leg up," says LePuke. "Or a belly up."

LePuke isn't worried, though. He's managed to tolerate Demolition's braggadocio so far, so what's a few more days?

white hut awards.jpgFor the pros, the White Hut World Cheeseburg Eating Championship comes with trophies and cash prizes. For the amateurs, the prize is bragging rights and a chance to chew with the big boys. (Major League Eating) 

Besides, LePuke is pals with "Beast From The East" Brady — a Boston bar owner who looks like he belongs on the Patriots' roster, not at a cheeseburger contest at The Big E.

LePuke is feeling good about his chances with Brady, whom he once bested in an impromptu hot dog-eating contest in Las Vegas.

"It was an unsanctioned event," says LePuke, describing Brady as a 6-foot-5 monster who's "built like an NFL linebacker."

Still, the decidedly smaller insurance exec managed to beat the Beast in Vegas by cramming 16 dogs down his throat. A proud moment in Longmeadow history, indeed.

Demolition says all of the pre-contest zinging is purely in jest, though he still hopes to win on Saturday. "I think I can win with 13 cheeseburgs in 5 minutes," he says confidently.

His only real concern is the temperature of the burgers. If the cheese and onions are too hot, Demolition may have to alter his attack. "That's a huge deal," he says.

Demolition has been getting advice and attaboys from friends and strangers alike, and he's expecting a posse of supporters at the cheeseburg challenge.

"I don't care if I win or lose," he says, sounding almost pensive after weeks of lobbing insults at LeDuc. "I just want to have a good show."


The White Hut challenge kicks off at 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, on the XFINITY Court Of Honor Stage at The Big E, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.
 

In memoriam: James Bickford, agitator, pain in the neck, artist, family man, Holyoker (Viewpoint)

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James F. Bickford, who was killed on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 in a motorcycle accident in Stafford, Connecticut, was an activist who upset some people but also loved his family and Holyoke, Massachusetts and had a personality that could make you go from despising him to liking him.

HOLYOKE -- The unpleasant truth is there are people in this city today who aren't exactly saddened that James F. Bickford is dead.

That's a function, I guess, of Bickford's brilliance at sometimes coming across as a jerk and the oh-so-Holyoke tunnel-vision inability to forget hurt feelings, nurturing slights real and imagined over a course of years like a chef stirring a stew. Believe me, I know what that's like.

Bickford, 46, was killed Sunday when police said he lost control of the motorcycle he was riding and was ejected while traveling through Stafford, Connecticut.

He was -- at times -- an activist, an agitator, a verbal bomb-thrower, a left-wing zealot, an all-in-black-clad Watchman who used essays and altered photos and videos on his website to spotlight what he considered politicians' shortcomings. Some said he got off on humiliating people. I don't think that's true.

What some of the thin-skinned are unable to dwell on or will downplay is that Bickford also was a man devoted to his family, his partner Rachel and four children. He was an artist, one of the best-read people I came to know in Holyoke, an astute handicapper of political races and someone his friends knew would help, whatever the time or place. And the guy could write.

My association with Bickford began with me despising him. This included a police report on Oct. 26, 2011.

That night I was part of a media panel asking questions of then-Mayor Elaine A. Pluta and then-challenger Alex B. Morse at Dean Technical High School. The debate was over and I'd stepped off stage and there was Bickford.

His video camera aimed at my face, Bickford said, "Those were some shitty questions."

Then, the agitator in action: Bickford asked me if I was a "beef-witted ----" -- the last word being that vulgar female-anatomy reference that is so jarring to hear aloud in a public setting.

I said something -- I must have, but I don't remember what -- and kept walking. There was a city official I wanted to talk to. Bickford hovered with his video camera. The official looked at Bickford and asked me to call her in the morning, she wasn't going to speak with him stationed there.

Then Bickford bumped into and tripped me (he said it was an accident) and I went looking for a cop.

He hadn't physically hurt me, I didn't fall, but that wasn't the point. No one gets to harass a news reporter physically without facing consequences. No charges were filed and anything police-related between us ended there.

He took occasional shots at me on his blog, H.U.S.H. (Holyoke Underground Social Humorists), his online presence delivered under the screen name "Pronoblem" or the longer "Pronoblem Francis Baalberith." But Bickford hit others, usually members of the Holyoke City Council, much harder and more often.

He said he was exercising his First Amendment rights of free speech. Others said it was harassment.

Then Walmart came calling.

Officials with the retail giant announced in 2013 they were interested in building a super store on 18 acres on Whiting Farms Road (the site now occupied by a new Gary Rome Hyundai dealership).

Bickford became a spokesman for the anti-Walmart group Holyoke First. I went to my editors with word that the guy I'd filed a police report against now was occupying an official position in a big story in the city I cover. We'd had little contact since the October 2011 clash. My editors and I decided I'd contact Bickford and see how that went.

I sent him an email. He replied. I told him I didn't like some of the stuff he'd done. He said the same about me. I said I cover Holyoke, I'm not going anywhere. You're spokesman for this group, you're not going anywhere. (I knew he had a family and was committed to Holyoke). I'm willing to try to get along. He said OK.

We made an agreement neither of us (to my knowledge) ever broke: Anything said between us, whether in person, on the phone, email or text, was off the record -- meaning neither of us would publish it -- without first talking to the other.

Walmart withdrew its plan for Holyoke in September 2013.

Bickford became a source, among those I would consult about Holyoke issues: Who will win this council race? Will this ballot question pass? Can Jeff Stanek (and then) Fran O'Connell beat Morse in the election for mayor? What are you hearing?

We never hung out or even had a cup of coffee together. Our paths crossed most often at City Hall and Stop & Shop. Mostly we talked about the endless upkeep in owning a house, different kinds of tea, the lure of reel-to-reel tape players, science fiction movies and books. He seemed to have read everything.

I told him once I was considering reading "Dune" by Frank Herbert. The 565-page thickness was making me pause. Bickford looked at me.

"I read that when I was a teen-ager," he said.

Then he explained why it was a good read and how Herbert had mixed an elaborate science fiction story with an ecological focus. I read it and liked it, though so far have skipped Bickford's recommendation to read also Herbert's follow up to "Dune."

The last time I saw Bickford was at Stop & Shop on Lincoln Street the Saturday night of Celebrate Holyoke last month. I wasn't able to attend the event. He said he'd just been there and had helped in booking a Latino band to perform.

He was sporting an odd haircut, kind of a low-running mohawk down the middle with buzz-cut sides. He rubbed his head and said (sheepishly, it seemed to me) he'd let his daughter cut his hair. I told him I thought it looked cool.

Bickford broke stories on his blog. These included stories about Stanek and O'Connell during their mayoral campaigns, stories that got a lot of attention and which The Republican, doing our own research, followed and published.

I'm not defending or condemning how he portrayed people. And this is said with the knowledge that there is a Bickford-cooked photo out there doctored to make me look like a hobbit, along with cracks he published about my work.

So to those offended by what they considered to be Bickford's ridicule, the question that arises is, OK, so what should be done? One option is to ridicule the ridiculer. Launch your own website. Use your free speech and expression to counter his.

But if your answer in such cases is to summon the government -- the courts or some elected or appointed board or the police -- to stop the speech or expression that upsets you, do you still reserve the right to be shocked when the next one the government shuts up is you?

A memorial service is scheduled for Bickford on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Holyoke City Hall at High and Dwight streets.


Gloria Steinem among Smith College alumnae honored by school for 'contributions to their communities'

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This year's 2017 Smith Medalists include: Gloria Steinem '56, economist Laura D'Andrea Tyson '69, cardiac pulmonologist and surgeon Vickie Shannon '79, broadcast news executive Ellen Weiss '81 and winemaker/winery owner Helen Sebring Keplinger '94.

NORTHAMPTON -- For their work in economics, medicine and social activism, several Smith College alumnae are being honored by the school.

This year's 2017 Smith Medalists include: Gloria Steinem '56, economist Laura D'Andrea Tyson '69, cardiac pulmonologist and surgeon Vickie Shannon '79, broadcast news executive Ellen Weiss '81 and winemaker/winery owner Helen Sebring Keplinger '94.

The medal honors alumnae who "exemplify in their lives and work 'the true purpose' of a liberal arts education," the college said. Since it was established 54 years ago, it has been given to more than 200 alumnae.

2017 honorees will receive their medals during a Rally Day ceremony on Thursday, February 23, 2017.

28-foot humpback whale found dead on Martha's Vineyard beach

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A dead humpback whale washed ashore onto a private beach in the Martha's Vineyard community Edgartown this week.

A dead humpback whale washed ashore onto a private beach in the Martha's Vineyard community Edgartown this week.

Experts have identified it as a 28-foot male humpback and believe it had been dead for some time before arriving on shore, as its organs were decomposing. The cause of the whale's death has not been determined.

This is the second time in several months a dead whale has washed ashore on the island.

The remains of a 50-to-60-foot fin whale were found in early July at Norton Point, a public Edgartown beach.

Massachusetts State Police to host sobriety checkpoint next week in Hampden County

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State police will be on the lookout for inebriated drivers in Western Massachusetts next week.

SPRINGFIELD -- State police will be on the lookout for inebriated drivers in Western Massachusetts next week.

Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police Colonel Richard D. McKeon announced on Friday that a sobriety checkpoint will be held in Hampden County on Thursday, September 22 into Friday September 23. The checkpoint will be held at an undisclosed location during varied hours. 

"The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public's awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways," state police said in a press release.

The extra details are paid for with a grant from the Highway Safety Division of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

The Revivalists bring gritty rock to Pearl Street (photos)

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The New Orleans based rock band The Revivalists took the stage at Pearl Street on Thursday.

NORTHAMPTON – The up-and-coming New Orleans-based rock band The Revivalists took the stage at Pearl Street nightclub on Thursday.

The Revivalists have had a big year in 2016 thus far, making their television debut on NBC's "Today" show, as well as being named one of Rolling Stone's 10 Artists to Know.

Their latest album released in 2015 Men Amongst Mountains debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Alternative chart, and has had over 5 million plays on popular online music streaming service Spotify.

The city of New Orleans has had a great impact on the band's sound, which is heavily laced with the jazz roots that the city is known for. The Revivalists aren't satisfied with just playing jazz music, they throw an interesting Southern rock spin on it by introducing elements of funk and some good old fashioned blues grit, transforming the sound into something that is truly their own.

The Revivalists are supported throughout their tour by British blues rock band The Temperance Movement. The British rockers tour having just released their second studio album White Bear in January. In 201,4 the band opened for The Rolling Stones in Berlin and Vienna.

The Revivalists continue their tour on Friday in Boston at the Paradise Rock Club, where tickets are still available.

The tour runs through late November when it end on the Jam Cruise, a five-day cruise leaving from Miami performing on-ship with the likes of bands like moe., Beats Antique, The Soul Rebels, Dopapod, Turkuaz and many more.

Check out photos of the show above, and for more information about The Revivalists and The Temperance Movement visit their official websites.

Developer to nostalgic Route 1 drivers: Don't worry, we'll keep the orange dinosaur

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The developer wiping out a Route 1 mini-golf course recently made an investment in nostalgia — for an undisclosed price, Michael Barsamian bought a 20-foot-tall orange dinosaur and said it will remain.

SAUGUS -- The developers wiping out a Route 1 miniature golf course recently made an investment in nostalgia -- they bought the course's 20-foot-tall orange dinosaur sculpture and plan to keep it on site.

Diana Fay, owner of Route One Miniature Golf & Batting Cages since 1979, announced this week the business will close on Sept. 25, The Boston Globe reports.

The development partnership bought the course and plans to replace it with a $120 million development called Essex Landing, to comprise 250 one-bedroom apartments, two hotels, a retail space and a parking garage.

But a campy reminder of the site's history -- the miniature golf course opened in 1958 -- will remain.

One of the partners, Michael Barsamian, announced that, for an undisclosed price, the partnership had also bought the fiberglass dinosaur, a roadside attraction known to countless passing motorists.

"It's like the Citgo sign," Barsamian told The Daily Item of Lynn. "Everyone knows it and we plan to use it on the site."

Fay told The Daily Item, "The Saugonians want to see him stay put. They feel like he's a part of the town and our history."

The miniature golf course featured 18 holes, batting cages and an ice cream store called Dairy Castle.

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