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Official body cams on T, too? Surveillance footage on every train? Superintendent says 'yes'

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A high MBTA official wants video surveillance on every train and body cameras on every member of the transportation authority's police force, The Boston Herald reports.

A high MBTA official wants video surveillance on every train and body cameras on every member of the transportation authority's police force, The Boston Herald reports.

On Boston Herald Radio's "Morning Meeting" show yesterday, T Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan said he "personally would like to see [surveillance cameras] in trains" and it "is something where we would have to sit down with the union executives."

Sullivan said the technology would provide key documentation of crimes and the actions of police while also stemming the problem of patrons shooting up-skirt photographs and videos of women using the public service.

Sullivan did say the passage in May of the law banning up-skirt photos has deterred the behavior to a certain degree.

The comments come amid a dispute over a move by Boston Mayor Mar Boston Police Department to require city police to don body cameras. The patrolman's union challenged a pilot program to equip 100 officers in court.

But a Suffolk Superior Court judge shot down the challenge, and one hundred Boston police officers and eight members of the command staff hit the streets on Monday, Sept. 12, wearing body cameras.

Sullivan proposed the coming online of the Red Line trolleys from Ashmont-to-Mattapan as a potential time to try the new cameras.

"For these new trains we do have prototypes, they're not in place yet, that we would like to see them inside the train cars," he said. "We believe it would be beneficial."


Manatee rescued off coast of Cape Cod

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A manatee spotted off the coast of Cape Cod this summer was rescued by conservationists Thursday, as cooling ocean waters posed an increasing risk to the animal's health.

A manatee spotted off the coast of Cape Cod this summer was rescued by conservationists Thursday, as cooling ocean waters posed an increasing risk to the animal's health.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare had asked for the public's help in locating the manatee on Tuesday, and yesterday zeroed in on its location -- a small inlet in East Falmouth.

"Our network was activated and we immediately loaded our responders into our rescue trucks already prepacked with all the necessary equipment and headed to today's staging area at Menauhant Yacht Club," IFAW Animal Rescue Program Director Katie Moore wrote in a blog post. "Our team split into two boats joining our initial team members who originally spotted it in a third boat. After 20 minutes of monitoring the swimming manatee, we put our rescue plan in place."

Rescuers caught the 1,100 pound animal in a net and towed it to shore, where a veterinarian checked its vital signs before its transportation to Mystic Aquarium for rehabilitation.

"Its vital signs look good, but it was a bit lethargic. We're hoping that with additional medical care and after some time in the warm water pools at Mystic, the manatee will bounce back," Moore wrote. "Once stable and strong enough for transport, we will bring it to more permanent rehabilitation center in Florida where the manatee will have more time to recuperate before ultimately being released back to the wild."

The manatee was observed swimming near Chatham in August -- a rare sight for New England, given manatees' usual Southern habitats. Bill Pouliot, who spotted the animal while fishing with his son, described it as "gi-normous" in an interview with the Boston Globe.

But manatees cannot survive the cold New England waters in the winter, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare sought the public's help in rescuing the sea cow.

"Our friends at the International Fund for Animal Welfare have asked for assistance locating the manatee that has been observed in Cape Cod waters since mid- august," the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a Cape Cod-based marine research organization, wrote on Facebook Tuesday. "Water temperatures are getting too low for it and they've been authorized by [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] to capture it and transport to a critical care facility."

In October 2008 the IFAW attempted to rescue another manatee off the coast of Cape Cod, but the animal died before it could reach a treatment center. Its body was more than 20 degrees cooler than normal when it was pulled out of the water, the Associated Press reported.

Suffield Police say bank robbery suspect may be responsible for others elsewhere in New England

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The robbery occurred Tuesday afternoon at the First National Bank of Suffield.

suffield suspectcrop.jpgPolice, continuing to investigate a robbery at the First National Bank of Suffield Tuesday afternoon, say the suspect may be responsible for several other bank robberies in New England. 

SUFFIELD -- Police, continuing to investigate a robbery at the First National Bank of Suffield Tuesday afternoon, say the suspect may be responsible for several other bank robberies in New England.

The robbery occurred shortly before 2 p.m. at the branch located at 30 Bridge St.

The white male suspect approached one of the tellers shortly before 2 p.m., displayed a firearm and stated it was a robbery, according to a post on the department's Facebook page. The suspect left the branch after receiving an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police released an additional surveillance image of the suspect. Information on the other robberies was not immediately available.

Those with information are asked to call detective Justin Fuller at 860-668-3870.

Springfield School Committee member Rev. Calvin McFadden set to vacate seat by end of September

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School Committee member Calvin McFadden announced he will resign by the end of September, leaving it up to other board members to choose his successor.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Rev. Calvin McFadden, in announcing Thursday night that he will resign his School Committee seat by the end of September to move to Agawam, leaves it up to the remaining members of the committee to choose his successor.

Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola said the process for filling McFadden's vacancy is left to the remaining six members of the committee. His resignation must be submitted to the City Clerk, and forwarded to the Election Office.

McFadden said he is resigning with 14 months remaining in his four-year term.

McFadden told the full committee at Thursday's School Committee meeting that he is resigning, as his Springfield house is scheduled for sale. He had not returned several calls from a reporter seeking comment prior to Thursday's announcement.

"It was a sheer joy to serve the children and families of the Springfield public school system," McFadden told colleagues at Thursday's committee meeting. "I hope I leave legacy of pushing for educational equality and what is best for our children."

McFadden said he had sent a letter to all School Committee members that contains his
"observations" about the school system.

"I'm grateful for his service to the Springfield school system," said Superintendent Daniel J. Warwick. "I'll miss him and his family and wish him the best of luck."

McFadden, who is pastor of St. John's Congregational Church in Springfield, ended the
meeting with a prayer for the school system.

His home at 34 Signal Circle in East Forest Park, which has been for sale in recent months, is now listed as "under contract," according to a real estate listing. The listing means there is a purchase and sale agreement and a pending closing date.

McFadden purchased a new home in Agawam in the summer for $710,000, but he said in early August that he would continue to live in Springfield and hold onto his elected seat for the time being.

Despite that, McFadden signed a "declaration of homestead" for the house purchased in
Agawam at 1661 Suffield St. There was also a clause in the Agawam mortgage stating the borrower must occupy the property as the "borrower's principal residence within 60 days after the execution of this security instrument."

The annual salary for School Committee members is $12,000.

McFadden is also dean of students at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut.

Reporters Jim Kinney and Carolyn Robbins contributed to this story.

Sign up for MassLive.com's custom traffic text alerts

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Sick of being stuck in traffic jams on the way to work? We've got you covered. MassLive offers text alerts for traffic on major Massachusetts roadways, including I-91, the Mass. Pike and more. These alerts, sent as text messages straight to your phone, offer up-to-date status reports of Massachusetts roads so you can plan your commute. In addition to...

Sick of being stuck in traffic jams on the way to work? We've got you covered.

MassLive offers text alerts for traffic on major Massachusetts roadways, including I-91, the Mass. Pike and more. These alerts, sent as text messages straight to your phone, offer up-to-date status reports of Massachusetts roads so you can plan your commute.

These are the different text alerts MassLive offers for traffic updates. 

In addition to traffic advisory texts, MassLive's traffic alerts also offer updates on winter parking bans in Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton and Worcester.

Other text alerts offered by MassLive include breaking news, weather, school closings and sports.

Sign up for traffic and other text alerts by visiting masslive.com/text.

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West Springfield Police Department swears in 4 new officers

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The new officers are Joseph R. Casey, Nicholas R. Dente, Dannie G. Gryszko Jr., and Thomas L. Sudnick.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Police Department has added four new officers to its roster.

The officers were welcomed by West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani and Mayor William Reichelt at a swearing-in ceremony Thursday at the J. Edward Christian Municipal Office Building.

The new officers are Joseph R. Casey, Nicholas R. Dente, Dannie G. Gryszko Jr., and Thomas L. Sudnick. Family members were also in attendance.

West Side citizens offered encouragement to the new officers on the Police Department's Facebook page.

"Good luck, God bless and stay safe," Gregg Kenny wrote, while Vickie Muir wondered whether the young officers were single.

"Congrats to all and a huge thank you for serving and protecting our citizens of West Side!" Debbie Schebel-Riddle said.

The West Springfield Police Department has around 80 sworn officers, 11 civilian personnel, and around 90 reserve officers.


Chicopee Council reduces speed on 2 streets to 20 mph

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Previously city officials needed state approval to change speed limits.

CHICOPEE - The City Council reduced speed on two neighborhood streets often used as by motorists as shortcuts, following a change in the state law.

In 12-0 votes the council reduced the speed limit from 30 to 20 miles per hour on Lafayette and Chapel streets.

"They changed the law so we don't need the state's approval anymore," Councilor James K. Tillotson said.

In the past City Councilors have discussed changing speed limits, especially on narrow side streets that get a lot of traffic or have other safety reasons, but it was always complicated to do so. A traffic study would have to be done to show the change was justified and the city would have to petition the state.

Tillotson said the City Council will still need justification to change speed limits, but it is easier to make a change.

Councilor Gary Labrie, who represents Ward 8 where the streets are located, said he has had a lot of complaints about speeding on the two streets.

"They are used as cut-through streets, people fly down them," he said.

With the speed limit set at 30 miles an hour, police generally did not stop speeders unless they were traveling at more than 35 miles an hour, he said.

During the same meeting, the City Council voted to extend the 20 mile per hour speed limit on James Street, from Johnson Road to Celia Drive.

There is a lot of speeding on James Street and there are four schools, Chicopee Academy, Herbert Bowie, Westover Job Corps and Hampden Charter School of Science located in that area off James Street, Councilor Stanley Walczak said.

Councilor Timothy S. McLellan did not object to the changes to the speed limits, but said he would like to meet with the Police Department to discuss enforcement and speed limits before changes are made on other streets.

Maxxtone to perform in Chicopee for scholarship fundraiser

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The cost is $10 for tickets.

CHICOPEE - An evening of live music with MAXXTONE will be held Sept. 30 at the Granby Road Knights of Columbus Elder Council 69.

The event will raise money for a scholarship fund.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the band, which is from Springfield, will perform starting at 7 p.m. The cost is $10 at the door and people are invited to bring their own snacks.

Maxxtone was formed in 2003. Springfield native Aaron Fay is the lead singer and he plays with guitarist Pete Maserati, drummer Jesse Casinghino, and bassist Nathan Fay.

Group tickets and special seating is available by calling calling 413-478-6867 or 413-657-0270. Tickets can also be purchased at the Club's Public Lounge any time leading up to the event.


Sign up for MassLive.com's custom breaking news text alerts

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Stay updated with breaking news around your area and the nation with MassLive text alerts.

Stay updated with breaking news around your area and the nation with MassLive.com text alerts.

These alerts, sent as text messages straight to your phone, offer up-to-date reports of the biggest breaking news including crime, fires, city announcements and more for Springfield, Worcester, Boston and nationally.

You can personalize the text messages to just your area or sign up for "all breaking news alerts." 

text-alertsThese are the different text alerts MassLive offers for breaking news updates. 

Other text alerts offered by MassLive include traffic, weather, school closings and sports.

Sign up for breaking news and other text alerts by visiting masslive.com/text.

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Springfield officials, residents cheer groundbreaking of new South End Community Center

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Work has begun on the new South End Community Center being built at Emerson Wight Park in Springfield.


SPRINGFIELD -- More than five years after a tornado left the South End Community Center in partial rubble, local officials and residents gathered Friday at Emerson Wight Park to cheer the groundbreaking for a new $10.2 million project.

For long-time advocates such as Richard "Skip" Rousseau, seeing the project under way spurred memories of the many good times had at the old community center, and the positive influence it had on him and others and will continue to have in the future.

"It brings tears to my eyes," Rousseau said, after taking part in the ceremony at the park. "It makes my heart feel great. As a kid growing up and having a safe haven, this is going to be something great for these kids now in this Hollywood section and all through the city of Springfield, to come here and have a new facility, play basketball, have batting cages, you name it."

Those taking part in the ceremony praised Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and various other city officials and departments for continuing to push for the construction of the new center for the past five years, securing funding and overcoming obstacles.

The center was located on Howard Street at the former State Armory building, but has since been spread at multiple sites pending construction of the new building, officials said.

The project is being funded by $6.2 million in federal disaster funds and $4 million in city funds.

"This is really, truly a special day that our beloved South End Community Center is finally, finally going to be rebuilt," Sarno said, to applause

The new center is approximately 29,000 square feet and will include a large gymnasium, administrative offices, indoor basketball courts, a lounge, concessions area and a multi-purpose room for boxing, wrestling and dance functions. The second floor will house an exercise center and three general classrooms, according to the city.

There will also be an outdoor basketball,court, and the center has been designed to share the Emerson Wight Park fields and playgrounds.

Rousseau, who is vice-president of the center's board of directors, joined other speakers in saying the community center will serve to provide an array of positive activities to the youth and other participants, and help prevent the youth from getting into trouble.

The contractor is Fontaine Bros., of Springfield, and the city is hoping that work can be completed in one year, Sarno said.

"I am thrilled to begin this project," Sarno sai. "This project represents five years of hard negotiations with our federal government to ensure everyone affected by the tornado has been made whole."

Park Commission Chairman Brian Santaniello said the tornado of June 1, 2011, could have "knocked the stuffing out of" many other communities but not Springfield.

State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield, said the foundation for the South End Community Center does not start with the building materials, but with "building the community."

Others speaking at the groundbreaking included: Chae Swan, executive director of the South End Community Center; Patrick Sullivan, the city's director of parks, buildings and recration management; Peter Garvey, the director of capital asset constructioin; Elizabeth Quigley, staff assistant to Neal; and Frank Capuano, a long-time community center advocate, and City Councilor Bud Williams.

Defense lawyer for Cara Rintala focuses questions on crime scene contamination

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Cara Rintala, 49, is accused of strangling her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, on March 29, 2010, in the couple's Granby home.

NORTHAMPTON -- Cara Rintala's defense lawyer on Friday continued to probe into possible contamination of the crime scene where Annamarie Cochrane Rintala's body was found.

On the witness stand was Todd Girouard of the state police crime laboratory, who was called to the Rintalas' home at 18 Barton St. in Granby the night of Cochrane Rintala's death.

Asked if the basement crime scene could have been compromised, Girouard said, "Perhaps." Girouard said he could not determine if some of the objects in the basement had been moved by first responders or investigators.

Rintala, 49, is accused of strangling Cochrane Rintala on March 29, 2010. She is on trial before Hampshire Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup.

This is Rintala's third murder trial, following mistrials in 2013 and 2014 resulting from deadlocked juries. She has been free on $150,000 bail since March 2014.

Under questioning from Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne, Girouard explained photos of where apparent blood was found in the basement. Girouard pointed out where an agent was sprayed on surfaces to show there could be blood. Other things can cause the agent to have a positive response, Girouard said. Those include animal blood, some cleaning agents and some vegetable matter.

Girouard said on the basement floor was a paint bucket lid, the paint bucket tipped over on top of the lid, and a red-brown stain underneath. Cochrane Rintala's body was covered in paint.

Rintala told police they kept paint in the basement but there was no present painting project going on.

Gagne asked Girouard if the pouring of paint would be a means of contamination. Girouard said it would be. The prosecution contends Rintala poured paint over Cochrane Rintala to destroy evidence.


Follow Buffy Spencer's updates from the trial on Twitter:

Video shows moments surrounding police shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte

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The New York Times has published video of the moments surrounding the police shooting Keith Scott, which has sparked days of tense protests in Charlotte, N.C.

The New York Times has published video of the moments surrounding the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, which has sparked days of tense protests in Charlotte, N.C.

Scott's wife, Rakeyia Scott, recorded the encounter on her cell phone and the family's lawyer released it to the Times.

The video, which contains explicit language and violence, does not show whether Scott was carrying a weapon -- a central contention between police, who say he had a gun, and his family, who have said he was carrying a book.

In the footage, Scott's wife films officers surrounding Scott's truck, and tells them that he has a traumatic brain injury and means them no harm.

"Don't shoot him. He has no weapon," Rakeyia Scott says in the video.

"Don't shoot. Drop the gun. Drop the [expletive] gun," an officer says immediately afterwards.

About a minute into the video, a gunshot is heard; Rakeyia Scott then approaches the scene to find Scott lying fatally shot on the pavement.

The city has not released body cam footage of the shooting to the public.

The shooting has sparked three nights of protests in Charlotte, with demonstrators demanding that police beheld responsible for Scott's death. Following a violent night on Wednesday, during which protester Justin Carr was fatally shot, Thursday's night's protest was peaceful.

Police have arrested Rayquan Borum, 21, in Wednesday night's shooting, NBC News reports.

2 Holyoke men stabbed and beaten

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Two Holyoke men were found atbbed and beaten Saturday morning but police say they are not sure why an apparent group of men set upon the victims. Both men, brothers, were beaten with a baseball bat and stabbed numerous times, but police say their wounds, while serious, do not appear to be life-threatening.

HOLYOKE— Two men were stabbed and beaten and a pickup truck wrecked by what 911 reporters say was a group of five men on a Holyoke street corner Saturday morning. Holyoke Police Lt. Larry Cournoyer said the 1 a,.m. incident was reported to police by multiple callers who reported the group destroying a motor vehicle near the intersection of Hampshire and Walnut streets.

When first responding officers arrived at the scene they found the pickup truck with its windows smashed and bodywork dented. One of the victims, bleeding profusely from his head and abdomen, approached officers when they arrived. He told police he had been beaten with a baseball bat and stabbed.

Cournoyer said the man was slashed and stabbed multiple times in the torso and the head and beaten. A second victim, who turned out to be the first man's brother, was found near the pickup truck. He, too, has been stabbed and savagely beaten.

While the men suffered serious injuries none of their wounds appeared to be life-threatening Cournoyer said.

Both men were transported to the Baystate Medical Center, where their conditions are unknown at this time.

Cournoyer said the victims did not indicate to uniformed officers if they knew their assailants, nor who owned the pickup truck that was destroyed.

Detectives from the Holyoke Police Criminal Investigation Bureau are at the scene conducting an investigation.

Yesterday's top posts: $90M home, teen shot answering door, and more

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Members of a DEA joint task force broke up a Dominican Republic-to-Western Massachusetts heroin trafficking ring with 14 arrests on Friday morning and large drug seizures from three separate sites across the city.

Shots of a Brookline home for sale at $90 million, above, made up one of Friday's top photo galleries at MassLive.com. Below are Friday's most-read local news stories. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now.

1) Springfield teenager shot answering door; suspect held on $250K bail [Jack Flynn]

2) Feds bust 'large-scale' heroin mill responsible for putting lethal 'Hollywood' label on the streets [Stephanie Barry]

3) Springfield narcotics detective suspended for threatening juvenile suspects who stole cop car [Stephanie Barry]

4) Postal worker charged with viewing child porn on work computer [Alban Murtishi]

5) 'Exit 3B' in Westfield suggested to unclog highway-bound traffic in Holyoke by resident Keith Davis [Mike Plaisance]

Westfield water woes: Official says at least 1 new treatment plant needed to deal with contamination, outside water use ban in place indefinitely

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Westfield issued an immediate and complete ban on outside water use Sept. 15.

WESTFIELD -- The city may need to build one to two new water treatment plants at a cost of up to $2 million each to filter contaminants found in three drinking water wells, according to the city's public works director.

And a convergence of issues -- including contamination from the chemicals PFOA and PFOS, tighter federal standards regarding the presence of those chemicals in drinking water and persistent drought conditions in the region -- has put Westfield in want of more water.   

The city announced a total and immediate ban on outdoor water use Sept. 15, and David Billips, director of public works for the city of Westfield, expects that ban to stay in place for some time.

"Water use typically drops in October. We'll see," he said.

Billips said this week he is in talks with a neighboring municipality about interconnecting another supply with Westfield's system to help ease the shortage.

Westfield already connects its water system with Springfield. But that city's water system has shortages of its own, and Westfield needs to boost supply to the city's north end.

Billips said the city and the engineering company Tighe & Bond are working on ways to connect Westfield's water system to Holyoke's in order to meet demand.

As for a Granville reservoir that supplies half the city's water, that's up to the weather, Billips said.

"Filling a reservoir is a lot more complicated than just telling people to stop watering their lawns," he said.

But having more water in the reservoir doesn't help the city's problem with Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). The chemicals are common industrial contaminants and were used, among other things, in firefighting foam used at airports, considered the likely culprit in Westfield's case.

Billips said the federal government recently tightened restrictions on PFOA levels in drinking water, no longer allowing even trace amounts. PFOA contamination has been an issue in municipal water supplies as of late, most notably in the system of Hoosick Falls, N.Y. near Albany.

Westfield wells 7 and 8, located behind East Mountain Country Club near Barnes Regional Airport, were taken offline in May because of  both PFOA or PFOS, contamination. Since then, well 2 on Holyoke Road subsequently tested positive and was also shut down.

Now, Billips fears the contamination may move to well 1 on Union Street, which is still serving residents and businesses. Drawing heavily from well 1 sucks water -- and contamination -- toward the well, Billips said.

But the chemicals can't go much further than well 1 because the aquifer flows south, he said. That means the aquifer that feeds those wells -- and has the contamination -- can't carry the contamination north to the uncontaminated wells 5 and 6 on Northwest Road.

As of now, the city only has disinfection equipment -- not filters capable of removing chemicals -- at many of its wells.

The city has four other wells. Wells 3 and 4 are located on Shaker road in the southern end of town. They have a treatment plant because of contamination discovered in the 1980s and 1990s.

Wells 5 and 6  on Northwest Road are not contaminated and don't need a filtration plant. But those wells are low-yield, Billips said, meaning they produce little water and cannot contribute to solving the city's overall water supply problem.

The situation will likely require one or two new treatment plants to remove the PFOA from well water. Each facility would cost at least $1 to $2 million, Billips said. The cost would depend on the plants' size and design. Treatment would involve passing the water through a silo of activated charcoal to remove the chemical.

"We might even have to bring in temporary treatment plants," he said.

He won't know more until next week, but Calgon, the water-treatment company, has trailer-mounted filtration equipment it could provide to the city as a short-term fix until a permanent treatment plant or plants can be built.

It would take some time to set up a temporary plant, but it would be doable. 

"We would have to run some pipes and we would have to test it," he said. "But we have people here on staff who have done it before."

Water ban working

As of this week, the region has received only about 23.6 inches of combined precipitation since Jan. 1, 2016. That is nine inches less than normal, which is defined as a 30-year average, according to the National Weather Service at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Rain this late in the year won't even make that much of an impact on the Granville reservoir. There is too much vegetation and the ground is too dry, and even heavy rains won't send torrents of water into the reservoir.

"It pains me as director of public works in charge of snow removal, but we need a lot of snow this winter," Billips said. "There are a number of streams that feed the reservoir. A good amount of snow would really help to recharge that reservoir. It needs a good recharge over the winter."

The physical topography of Westfield also works against an easy solution, Billips said.

The city needs water from its existing wells on the north side of town because that area is at a higher elevation than the rest of the city. It's hard to get water from the reservoir or from wells on Shaker Road up the hill to those neighborhoods.

"You just can't get enough water over there," he said.

Which is why the city needs to get the three north-side wells back online with filtration or to draw water from a neighboring municipality.

As for now, the outdoor water ban is working, Billips said.

Before the ban, well 1 was averaging a flow of 1.4 million gallons a day. One day after announcing the ban, demand dropped to 1.2 million gallons a day. On the second day after the ban, demand at the well fell to 600,000 gallons a day.

That decline shows, Billips said, just how much of Westfield's pre-ban water demand was fueled by outside uses such as lawn watering. 

As part of the ban, Billips also ended all outside water use by the city. Park fountains were shut down, and the city stopped watering the parks and school fields.

He said most residents are cooperating with the bans and no longer using water outdoors at their homes. City Public works employees and police have, when they notice someone in violation, spoken with the resident or left a note explaining the ban.

"Some homes and businesses have sprinklers set up to go on and off automatically on timers," he said. "They may not know about the ban, or know that the sprinkler is turning on overnight. But when we talk with homeowners or businesses they cooperate."

So far, no fines have been issued. Billips wants everyone to receive a warning before police take that step. The fines are $25 for the first citation and $50 for the second and each additional citation. Each day on which a violation occurs constitutes a separate violation.

Billips said he has not noticed a spike in water usage with the return of of students to Westfield State University, the city's largest water user.

In Amherst, there were concerns hat the return of students to the University of Massachusetts and to Amherst and Hampshire colleges for the fall semester would undo much of the conservation gains water bans brought to the town.

The schools all implemented conservation measures and brought the conservation message to residence halls during move-in. For example, students were asked to take shorter showers.

Those warnings about water use were not part of the move-in experience this fall at Westfield State University, said spokeswoman Tricia M. Oliver. 

But Westfield State is sending vehicles out to be washed at a commercial car wash that recycles water instead of washing them on site. And, long-term, the school replaces nozzles and faucets with low-flow models as it renovates bathrooms and kitchens, and new equipment such as floor cleaners use less water than the equipment they replace. Floors in the new science building also need less water to maintain.

in response to the city outdoor water use ban, Westfield State has stopped all outdoor watering of its lawns and athletic fields, Oliver said. The lone exception is that the university is watering the new grass landscaping around its recently completed Science and Innovation Center building.

Billips said Friday even a limited amount of watering is in violation, and that he would notify Westfield State of that fact. 

While construction watering is not an exception to the ban, exceptions include watering that meets the core function of a business -- such as irrigation by golf courses to maintain tees, greens and fairways -- and irrigation by plant nurseries to maintain stock.


foodWorks program at Kate's Kitchen in Holyoke to kick off latest round of culinary training courses

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Candidates will gather at Kate's Kitchen at 51 Hamilton Street in Holyoke next week in preparation for the ninth round of classes for the foodWorks program.

HOLYOKE -- Candidates will gather at Kate's Kitchen, 51 Hamilton St., next week in preparation for the ninth round of classes for the foodWorks program.

The 12-week program, which began in 2013 under the Providence Ministries Service Network, offers clients with barriers to employment with the opportunity to learn culinary and job skills that will assist them in finding employment in the food industry.

According to the Ralph Webb, the program's executive chef educator and creator, foodWorks takes people from various social service programs and shelters, including individuals with a criminal record, barring arson and sexual offenses.

"I will give anyone a second chance," said Webb. "Everyone deserves a second chance."

Since its start, the foodWorks program has offered three rotations of classes year-round in the fall, spring and summer.

With 24 years of culinary educating experience, Webb offers hands-on training with clients in the program along with his partner and former Massachusetts Career Development Institute instructor Dalton Cook.

For 11 weeks, participants will be trained in the culinary arts while also receiving life and job skills training from volunteer organizations. In that time members of the program will work within Kate's Kitchen preparing and serving food during hours of operation.

In the final week, students serve in an internship at the Log Cabin & Delaney House.

Interviews for the upcoming round of classes are still being conducted up until the starting day.

Recent rain doesn't mean end to drought; dry spell still not the worst in local history

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The area's worst drought lasted from 1962 to 1967.

AMHERST -- While outdoor watering bans remain in place in many communities and the dry spell continues despite the recent rain, this is not the in worst drought in local history, according to University of Massachusetts hydrologist David Boutt.

The worst was between 1962 and 1967, when the water level in the Quabbin Reservoir was 20 feet lower than it is today.  

"It might be a little more in our face during the growing season," he said of this year's drought. But at this point it's not even the list of top five worst area droughts, he said.

The Quabbin Reservoir, meanwhile, is at 83.5 percent of capacity, even with 0.69 inches of rain Monday to Thursday, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority spokeswoman Ria Convery said in an email.

While at the lowest point this season, she wrote, "it is still within normal operating range for this time of year." 

d.jpgGraphic depicting rainfall, groundwater levels.  

Droughts are part of the normal hydrologic cycle, Boutt said.

There was a 15-year period in which there was above-normal precipitation in the area. But that changed in 2013, which lead into this cycle.

"We've basically built up a deficit over the last summer," Boutt said.

He said precipitation is "slightly below average (since) about 2013, when we shifted back into drier (climate). It's going to take time for the soil moisture to build up, time for groundwater levels to recover."

"Unless a tropical storm system comes up, we're not going to have the kind of rain that we need," he said.

And he said when it rains in summer, most of that water "will replenish the shallow soil water (and) help seeds grow. It doesn't do a lot for generating stream flow and groundwater recharge."

That comes with winter snow pack melting in the spring.

He also said groundwater levels have not yet hit their lowest point. That will come in a couple of months, and it could take three or four months to replenish the groundwater.

He said since the last drought 50 years ago, the state "has very good drought management plan." He said the "current infrastructure is able to manage dry periods like this."

The water table will be helped once leaves fall from the trees and the trees no longer take in as much water, he said.  

And despite the brown lawns, Boutt said, "We're pretty fortunate. We get quite a bit of rain compared to other parts of the country."

Still more than half the state is experiencing extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The state, meanwhile, has issued a drought warning for central, northeast and southeast Massachusetts, a watch for the Connecticut River valley and the Cape and Islands, and an advisory for Western Massachusetts.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering help to livestock producers in 11 counties, including Worcester, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire.

The state is also stepping in. The Baker-Polito administration launched the Massachusetts Drought Emergency Loan Fund, which offers up to $1 million in micro-loans to family farms and other small businesses affected by widespread drought conditions in Massachusetts.

I-91: Overnight ramp closures next week

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The $183.3 million project will rehabilitate about 2 miles of elevated highway built in the 1960s.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said Friday that drivers should expect ramp closures next week as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of Interstate 91 in downtown Springfield.

MassDOT said it will implement the following closures overnight from Monday to Friday so its contractor can install temporary construction lighting and perform other work in the interchange area:

The closures are as follows:

  • Exit 8 from I-91 north to I-291 east/Route 20 east: Monday and Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.
  • Exit 1A from I-291 west to I-91 south: Monday through Friday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.

Detour Routes:

  • To reach I-291 east/Route 20 east from I-91 north: Take Exit 9 and keep right for Exit 9A to Route 20A east/Main Street. Merge onto Plainfield Street, then turn right onto Main Street. Turn left onto Liberty Street, then turn left onto Chestnut Street. Take the ramp on the right to access I-291 east/Route 20 east.
  • To reach I-91 south from I-291 west: Take Exit 2B and follow signs for Dwight Street. Turn left on Dwight Street, then turn right on State Street. Turn left on West Columbus Avenue/Hall of Fame Avenue, and bear left after crossing Union Street, to merge onto I-91 south.

MassDOT urges all those traveling through the area to plan accordingly and to use caution.

Springfield man arrested in alleged family stabbing

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A Springfield man was arrested after she allegedly stabbed a family member because

SPRINGFIELD— A Springfield man is being charged after police said he stabbed one family member and tried to cut a second because they did not help him in a fight.

Springfield Police Lt. Richard LaBelle did not identify the suspect, but said the man had been involved in a fight earlier in the morning in Chicopee. Apparently, he did not feel as though his family members supported him during the fight and attacked them with a knife after they returned to Springfield. One man suffered a serious laceration to the arm, and police alleged that the suspect tried to slash another cousin but missed.

The suspect was arrested when he went to the Mercy Hospital emergency room for treatment of injuries he sustained in the earlier fight.

After he was discharged from the hospital, he was arrested at police headquarters and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon. He will be arraigned Monday.

Ben Folds performs to a full house at the Calvin (Photos)

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NORTHAMPTON - Piano man Ben Folds took the stage to a full house at the Calvin Theatre on Friday, September 23rd.

NORTHAMPTON - Piano man Ben Folds took the stage to a full house at the Calvin Theatre on Friday.

Ben Folds is best known for his work with the American rock band the Ben Folds Five. After disbanding, Ben Folds went on to pursue a solo career, and his current tour, the Ben Folds And a Piano tour, continues that.

Fans of NBC's a cappella singing contest The Sing-Off will surely remember Folds, a judge of the competition for four years from 2009 to 2013. He has also made contributions to the soundtracks of animated motion pictures like Over the Hedge, and Hoodwinked.

It was clear from the get go that he was there to please. While it was indeed just a man and a piano, the massive sounds coming from the piano pleaded the listener to believe otherwise. Folds' unique blend of honesty, humor, wit and sarcasm in both his music and his performance is what keeps the audience coming back for more.

In one memorable moment, Folds explained to the audience how much he enjoyed doing 3 part harmonies live, but, due to poor album sales he had to cut back on his live band. So, naturally, he taught the parts of a four part harmony to the audience on the fly with the encouragement to "go for it, if you think it's all you, you've got it." Sure enough, when the time came in the song, the whole crowd joined in, each person singing the part that fit their voice. Despite the fact that they had all just learned the parts minutes prior, it was amazing how well it came together.

Crowds were certainly present to show their support, with ticket lines wrapping the building and not an empty seat in the house. The public parking garage was packed to capacity, and the lots in the vicinity were full as well. The current construction on the downtown E.J. Gare parking garage adjacent to Thornes market place left just over a floor out of commission, creating a parking nightmare for concert-goers not anticipating the large turnout.

Folds' daughter Gracie joined him on this stop, and opened up the show with an acoustic performance of her own music mixed between piano and guitar. Lyrically her songs are heavily worded and mirror occurrences in her life, she brings a very likable dry humor to the stage.

The Ben Folds and a Piano tour continues on Saturday in Burlington, Vermont at the Flynn Center For The Performing Arts, and runs continuously through October 7 ending on the east coast in Pennsylvania and picking back up on October 20 in Anaheim, California and running through mid-November.

Check out photos from the show above, and for more information about Ben Folds, or upcoming shows at the Iron Horse Entertainment venues, visit their official websites.

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