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Neighbor to Neighbor seeks new members in Springfield

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The grassroots organization deals with everything from voter registration to organizing protests around issues affecting underrepresented community members.

SPRINGFIELD -- A typical meeting of Neighbor to Neighbor members consists of spirited discussions about prison reform, fair wages and more.

"We are very passionate about improving the community we live and work in, and are looking for people who feel the same," said Jafet Robles, an organizer for the Springfield chapter of Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N).

People may associate N2N with elections because they are a big part of what the group does, from registering voters to getting them to the polls.

They do much more, Robles said.

"Every year we get together in Boston and talk about the issues we want to tackle as an organization, but also things we want to do on a local level," Robles said.

This year there were efforts to inform people about Question 2, a ballot initiative that would have lifted the cap on the number of charter schools allowed in the state. The question failed in the November election.

The group has also worked on issues like the school-to-prison pipeline. Recently Robles, Springfield Ward 1 City Councilor Adam Gomez and other N2N members visited Putnam Vocational-Technical Academy, where they spoke with students about how children who live in poverty and have mental illnesses often end up in the juvenile and criminal justice system, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

"When organizing, it's critical to have those directly impacted by the issue leading the fight," Robles said. He will be speaking with students about the issue once again in December.

At a very localized level, N2N members have joined other neighborhood organizations to demand repairs at the German Gerena School in Springfield's North End, which has had issues with flooding and mold for decades.

At a recent meeting, Robles and fellow member Zulma Lee Rivera Delgado discussed attracting new members to the group, which has remained small since its inception in 2004.

"We want members that will take on an issue facing their community, that they are passionate about pursuing," Rivera Delgado said.

Any new members interested in learning more about N2N can attend a membership meeting. Meetings are held every second Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 6 at 5:45 p.m. at the UMass Center in Springfield at Tower Square, 1500 Main St.

Anyone interested in getting involved with voter registration can stop by 95 Liberty St. today from 10 a.m. to noon.

For more information, visit www.n2nma.org.


Yesterday's top stories: Drug suspect held on $1M, mayor 'plays victim card,' and more

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While Hampshire College's decision not to fly the U.S. flag has drawn nationwide attention, President Jonathan Lash has been meeting with students, staff and faculty in hopes of resolving the issue soon.

Here are Wednesday's most-read local news stories on MassLive.com. If you missed any of them, click on the links to read them now.

1) Jovante Daye of Worcester is the fourth person charged with murder of Sam Castro [Melissa Hanson]

2) Holyoke Councilor Linda Vacon says Mayor Alex Morse 'plays victim card' [Mike Plaisance]

3) Medical examiner determines death of 62-year-old Enfield woman was homicide [George Graham]

4) Suspect in Puerto Rico-to-Springfield cocaine trafficking ring held on $1M bail [Jack Flynn] Photo gallery above

5) Hampshire College President Jonathan Lash hoping to resolve flag issue quickly [Diane Lederman]

Monson fire station hosts toy drive with Santa on Saturday

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Unwrapped Christmas gifts can be dropped off at the Fire Department, 200 Main St. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 

MONSON -- The second annual Kids of Monson Toy Drive will take place on Saturday.

The event, to assist families in need, starts at 10 a.m. Unwrapped Christmas gifts can be dropped off at the Fire Department, 200 Main St. until 1 p.m.

A flier advertising the gift drive asks folks to bring unwrapped new toys for boys or girls ages 1-17. Kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and check out fire trucks and meet Monson firefighters.

Questions about the toy drive can be directed to the Monson Town Clerk's office, 413-267-4115 or townclerk@monson-ma.gov.

Relocated? Buried? Future directions for Interstate 91 to be discussed at public meeting

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The study will determine a long-term vision for Interstate 91.

SPRINGFIELD -- A long-term state-sponsored study into the future of Interstate 91 and its path through downtown Springfield will be the subject of a public meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the UMass Springfield Center, Room 014, Tower Square, 1500 Main St.

This initiative is separate from the ongoing $183.3 million rehab of the 2.5-mile I-91 viaduct. That project is months ahead of schedule and the highway and its ramps will be fully open to traffic about a year from now.

The highway, built in the 1960s, had deteriorated to the point where repairs couldn't wait for a long-term planning process, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

But the study now underway will look at long-term improvements like burying the highway in a tunnel or dropping it to surface level -- projects that wouldn't take place until the year 2040 or thereabouts.

Removing or modifying the series of bridges would create more space for development downtown, reconnect Springfield with the Connecticut River and create space for parks and recreation.

A rundown of plans is available at ww.mass.gov/massdot/I91ViaductStudy.

Shorter-term projects might include making the area more inviting and useful to people on foot or those riding bicycles, according to MassDOT.

Interstate 91 by Jim Kinney on Scribd

Police officer shot and killed in Tacoma, suspect possibly cornered in house

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A police officer in Tacoma, Washington was shot multiple times and killed Wednesday night after responding to a domestic violence called.

SEATTLE -- A police officer in Tacoma, Washington was shot multiple times and killed Wednesday night while responding to a domestic violence called.

Authorities told the Associated Press that responding officers believe they have cornered the suspect who committed the shooting in his home and are trying to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution.

It is still unknown what prompted the officer slaying. Police have yet to release the identity of the officer and the suspect.

Responding officers entered the home and managed to get the wounded officer to a hospital. He as declared dead while undergoing surgery, a Tacoma Police spokesperson told the AP.

Authorities worry that the suspect might have fled the area while the responding officers were rescuing the officer who was shot. They've set up a large perimeter around the neighborhood.

The standoff has been ongoing since 2 a.m. PST Thursday.

"All of Washington grieves with Tacoma, which tonight lost one of their finest. Our hearts are with the men and women of the Tacoma Police Department, their families, and their brothers and sisters in law enforcement across Washington," Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement.


Westhampton trail cam catches leaping bobcat, bear cub (videos)

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This section of waterway is clearly a favorite place for the wild cats and other critters to cross Watch video

This is the latest in an occasional series on the wildlife caught on trail cameras set up by The Republican reporter George Graham and his wife, Gerri, in their "backyard" in Westhampton, Massachusetts.

WESTHAMPTON — We scored some of our best trail cam footage ever earlier this month with a bobcat's dramatic double-leap over a stream.

This section of waterway is clearly a favorite place for the wild cats and other critters to cross, although the effort is becoming more of a challenge due to recent rain and the work of beavers that have slightly flooded the area.

Even so, the bobcat nails its crossing with what can only be described as a perfect 10.

The leaping bobcat video is followed by footage of a bear cub that we picked up in late September. I decided to add it here because the rambunctious cub uses the same rock as a landing spot and launch pad as it rambles along the shore.

2 Cape Cod candidates state their cases for East Longmeadow town manager

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On Wednesday night, East Longmadow town councilors interviewed two of three finalist candidates for the permanent town manager position.

EAST LONGMEADOW — Cape Cod was well represented Wednesday night when two town administrators from communities on the peninsula interviewed for the position of East Longmeadow town manager.

Town councilors conducted the interviews of two of the three finalists for the position, with the third one scheduled to take place Thursday evening. The seven-member panel questioned Harwich Town Administrator Christopher Clark and Bourne Town Administrator Thomas Guerino about their experience, leadership style and how they plan to help East Longmeadow change over to a new form of government.

"What would your plan be for a successful transition?" Town Council Vice Chairman Eric Madison, who described the town's departments as "fragmented," asked each candidate.

First in the hot seat was Clark, who came to Harwich in December 2013 after holding executive positions in Southbridge, Wellesley and Vernon, Connecticut, between 2004 and 2013.

During his interview, Clark pointed to his experience in various communities over the years as proof of his abilities. He said that entering East Longmeadow at a time when town government is shifting from a board of selectmen/town meeting form of government to a town manager/town council form is one he would treat gingerly.

"I think kind of reorienting people, and laying out the strategy of the approach (is important)," said Clark, who said taking a "shotgun approach" with Town Hall employees adjusting to change may prove counterproductive. "You're really taking an organization and shaking it."

When Councilor Kathleen Hill asked Clark about his experience with school superintendents, he responded that he worked especially closely with the superintendent while serving as interim executive director of Wellesley, which prides itself on its consistent ranking in the top 10 school districts in Massachusetts.

Asked by a reporter after the interview about a Wicked Local Cape Cod report that Harwich's Board of Selectmen had considered not renewing his contract before doing so in March, Clark said that the five-member board has undergone drastic turnover over the past couple of years, with some members seeking a different direction.

Guerino, who has served as Bourne's Town Administrator since 2005, told the council that in Bourne he oversaw a similar transition in town government. While the situation sometimes necessitates a top-down decision, Guerino said he rules by consensus as much as possible.

"One of the biggest ... challenges (in Bourne) was to have the department heads report to the administrator, instead of the elected officials," Guerino said of that town's shift to a strong town administrator government form. "A hard-handed approach ... is not necessarily the best way to handle an organization with professionals who you hired as professionals."

On schools, Guerino told councilors about his experience building a new elementary school in town, and said Bourne is currently in the beginning stages of building another.

Asked by a reporter after the interview about a 2015 Cape Cod Times report that a Bourne selectman suggested that the board dismiss him — a move that failed to receive support from the other board members — Guerino said that there had been issues with the selectman at the time, but relations improved and the two now work well together.

The East Longmeadow Town Council is scheduled to interview the final candidate for the permanent town manager position, interim Town Manager Denise Menard, at the Council on Aging on North Main Street tonight at 6.

We've had all-electronic tolling for a month; Have you checked your E-ZPass bill?

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For more than a month now, vehicles have traveled under the metal gantries as the new electronic tolling technology reads their E-ZPass transponders or snap photos of license plates and drivers. Tell us how it's worked or hasn't worked for you.

This story is part of ongoing MassLive coverage into the state's launch of all-electronic tolling on the Mass. Pike and the elimination of toll plazas.

_________________________

For more than a month now, vehicles traveling on the Massachusetts Turnpike have been charged tolls under the state's new all-electronic tolling system. The new system uses equipment mounted on metal gantries above the highway to scans for E-ZPass transponders. The system also captures photos of license plates and drivers and those without transponders are mailed a paper bill. 

Massachusetts made the switch to the cashless system - eliminating manual toll collection, toll plazas and the jobs of several hundred workers -- on Friday, Oct. 28, a few minutes after 10 p.m.

What's your experience been like? Have you had any issues with billing?

Let us know in the Google Form below or in the comments section or via email to feedback@masslive.com.

Here's how to get an E-ZPass transponder

While some former toll workers have shifted over to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the state's highway operations division, contractors have been working to take down the toll plazas and reconfigure the roadways. They're ahead of schedule and plan to have everything finished by the end of 2017.

As of a week and a half ago, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials said they had processed 27.7 million transactions through the new system.

On weekdays, 85 percent of the transactions have been with an E-ZPass. According to transportation officials, some locations, like the Framingham area, have hit well over 90 percent.

Transportation officials have issued more than 214,000 E-ZPass transponders since August 2016, and on the weekend all-electronic tolling went live, they handed out 15,000 manually.

There are three different toll rates: One for people who have a E-ZPass Massachusetts transponder, another for those with an out-of-state E-ZPass, and a third, the highest, for those without a transponder, who will "pay-by-plate" after a gantry camera takes a picture of the license plate and sends a bill to the vehicle's owner.

See the new Mass. Pike toll rates broken down by location


Photos: Springfield Symphony Orchestra unveils new box office and administrative space

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Springfield Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Peter T Salerno acted as Master of Ceremonies and announced that in addition to the new locations convenient parking the SSO will now offer validated parking to box office customers and guests.

SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Symphony Orchestra celebrated their new box office and administrative space with an open house earlier this week.

The new location in the TD Bank Building at 1441 Main St. will be more convenient and offer more visibility to downtown traffic.

Prior to the ribbon cutting there were brief comments from Jack Dill, the president of Colebrook; David Gang, the President of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees; and Maestro Kevin Rhodes.

Springfield Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Peter T Salerno acted as Master of Ceremonies and announced that in addition to the new location's convenient parking, the SSO will now offer validated parking to box office customers and guests.

Local politicians including Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, State Rep. Angelo Puppolo, State Sen. Eric Lesser were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony and toured the new facility.

2 young girls testify in Florence resident sexual assault case in Northampton

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The two young girls at the center of the Stanley Michalski sexual assault case testified in court in Northampton on Wednesday.

NORTHAMPTON — The two girls at the center of Florence resident Stanley Michalski's sexual assault case testified in Hampshire Superior Court on Wednesday, telling jurors about the abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of the 31-year-old man, according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Michalski was arrested in May, after the victims told local police about the alleged abuse.

The girls, who are sisters, and are now 12 and 10 years old, respectively, say the abuse occurred several years ago over a lengthy period between August 2013 and September 2014, according to the newspaper.

The two young girls had moved onto Michalski's property with their mother and their mother's boyfriend, and had a living arrangement in which the girls slept inside Michalski's house, while their mother and her partner lived in a trailer outside.

However, from the time when the girls moved into the residence the sleeping arrangements were unusual--with both girls sleeping in the same room as Michalski, the older girl testified on Wednesday. The older sister actually slept on a futon with Michalski, while the younger girl slept on a nearby couch, the girl told jurors.

The girls further testified to a long list of abuses on Wednesday, saying that Michalski raped the oldest sister on multiple occasions, showed her pornography, and took a sexual picture of her. Previous statements to police by the girl alleged that the sexual abuse happened "almost every day" for a lengthy stretch of time. The older girl allegedly broke into tears on Wednesday while telling jurors about the multiple instances of rape that took place within the household.

Other allegations were that, during one incident, Michalski exposed himself to the younger sister, assaulted her. During a separate incident Michalski threw Jenga blocks at her head, the younger girl testified.

Michalski pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a number of charges, including aggravated rape and abuse of a child, possession of child pornography, posing a child in a nude or lascivious state, witness intimidation, distributing obscene matter to a minor, and indecent assault and battery on a child younger than 14.

The trial is expected to continue into next week.

 

Pittsfield driver charged with death of passenger after Cheshire crash

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A Pittsfield driver has been charged with the death of a passenger after a crash in Cheshire.

NORTH ADAMS — A Pittsfield man has been charged with vehicular homicide after a fatal single-car crash that occurred in Cheshire on Oct. 7, according to The Berkshire Eagle.

On the day of the crash, 20-year-old Nathan Reiter was driving at least twice the 30-mile-per-hour speed limit on Fred Mason Road when he allegedly swerved to avoid an animal, veered off the road, and struck a tree, according to the paper.

Though three passengers and Reiter suffered no life-threatening wounds, 19-year-old passenger Robert Pearson, of Dalton, was fatally injured--suffering cardiac arrest as he was being taken from the scene of the crash to Berkshire Medical Center.

Several other passengers in the car were hospitalized with injuries to the neck and back.

A girl who was in the car at the time of the crash allegedly told her father that Reiter had been driving somewhere between 80 to 90 miles per hour at the time of the crash.

Reiter pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide by negligent operation, speeding, and a marked lanes violation in Northern Berkshire District Court on Wednesday.

 

Hillary Clinton campaign manager blames loss on FBI director James Comey's intervention

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Donald Trump's campaign manager responded that Clinton lost due to her personal flaws.

CAMBRIDGE -- Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook blamed Clinton's defeat in large part on a letter released by FBI Director James Comey reopening the investigation into her email server just over a week before the election. Comey said days before the election that the new emails changed nothing, and Clinton would not be charged.

"It's hard to imagine the kind of impact that letter had," Mook said. He said constituencies that the Clinton campaign hoped would turn out in stronger numbers, like suburban women and young voters, were particularly influenced by Comey's letter.

But Republican President-elect Donald Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, responded that Trump's ability to sway voters in areas that voted for Democratic President Barack Obama in 2012 was "because of messages that connect with people ... not because of a letter late in the game."

Conway and Mook made the comments during a public panel discussion Thursday at the Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics moderated by CNN host Jake Tapper.

The event was part of a two-day conference with campaign managers and strategists from the 2016 presidential candidates at the Institute of Politics. There were protests Wednesday because of Harvard's invitation of Trump's controversial chief strategist, Steve Bannon, even though Bannon cancelled at the last minute. Thursday's forum, which was filmed in front of a live audience of Harvard students, will air Sunday on CNN.

During the election postmortem, Conway blamed Clinton's defeat on her own flaws. Conway said Clinton lacked an economic message to appeal to working class voters. She called Clinton "one of the most joyless presidential candidates in history."

Conway added that Clinton "had a 47 percent problem of her own," meaning Clinton was unable to surpass 47 percent in states like Michigan that Obama carried with more than half the vote. Conway said Clinton's characterization of Trump supporters as "deplorables" offended many voters. Clinton apologized for the comment.

Conway said reports that former President Bill Clinton met with Attorney General Loretta Lynch while the Justice Department was investigating his wife's emails, "played into the culture of corruption that there is a different set of rules for them and the rest of us."

The bottom line, Conway said, is "Clinton had a very tough time convincing Americans that she was honest and trustworthy."

Conway said Trump was hurt worse among voters by a tape in which he bragged about groping women than Clinton was by the Comey letter, but she said Trump apologized and voters were able to overlook something that temporarily offended them to focus on policies that would permanently affect them.

But Mook said Clinton's defeat primarily reflected outside forces. He called Comey's intervention "unprecedented" and "a total breach of protocol," and said it likely influenced enough undecided voters to sway the election. Mook called the story about Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state "the most overhyped, over-reported, over-litigated story in the history of American politics, particularly because of what Comey did."

Mook disagreed with Conway's characterization of Clinton as "joyless." He said as a woman, Clinton faced certain scrutiny that male candidates did not.

Mook also cited Russian intervention in the election, in allegedly hacking emails from Clinton's campaign chairman and the Democratic National Committee and leaking them through Wikileaks.

"Congress has to investigate what happened with Russia," Mook said. "We can't have foreign aggressors intervening in elections."

Mook attributed Trump's victory not to the lack of an economic message from Clinton but to an "overwhelming gale force wind of change" that worked in Trump's favor.

Conway disputed the claim of sexism in the election. "The idea that the country was not ready for a woman completely undercuts the fact that maybe they weren't ready for this woman," Clinton said.

Most pre-election polls predicted a Clinton victory. Conway, who runs a polling firm, said the public polls incorrectly presumed that Clinton would be able to keep together the same coalition that voted for Obama and that people who voted Democratic in the past would do so again.

She said at some point the polls became "a conclusion in search of evidence," as political experts believed Americans would not elect an outsider with no political or military experience.

Asked by a student about Trump's comments about women and allegations that he sexually assaulted women, Conway said Trump has employed women in his companies and his cabinet, and will help women by creating jobs, making health care more affordable and increasing choices in education.

Asked whether Trump will continue using Twitter as president, Conway said that will be up to Trump, the Secret Service and his staff. When Tapper questioned whether Trump's tweeting without evidence that there were millions of fraudulent votes in the election was presidential behavior, Conway replied, "He's the president-elect, so that's presidential behavior, yes."

East Longmeadow Town Council hires Denise Menard as town manager

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The Town Council on Thursday hired Denise Menard as East Longmeadow's first-ever town manager.

EAST LONGMEADOW — After a brief discussion with no argument or controversy, town councilors on Thursday unanimously voted to hire Denise Menard as East Longmeadow's first town manager.

"I'm very psyched to be here," Menard, who has worked as the town's interim manager since August, said in an interview after the decision. "I think together we have a very good path going ahead."

The seven members of the board arrived at their decision exactly five months after their inaugural meeting, when East Longmeadow officially shifted to a strong town manager/town council form of local government as per the home rule town charter voters approved in April.

The process of hiring a town manager was deliberately slow, to ensure the right candidate was chosen, Town Council President Kevin Manley said this week.

During brief deliberations following their interview with Menard Thursday night, councilors said that, while the other two finalists for the job impressed them with their experience and skills, Menard's leadership style fits best with the town's needs as it shifts to a new form of government.

"When it really comes down to it, I'm in a position where I think Denise just has that extra something," said Councilor Joseph Ford. "Being able to pick someone up by their bootstraps and say, 'I want to help you.'"

Menard told the Town Council about her open-door policy with Town Hall employees, and the rule-by-consensus style that she employed in her previous job as first selectman in East Windsor, Connecticut.

Going forward, she said, she intends to work collaboratively with town departments and commissions that had more autonomy under the previous board of selectmen/Town Meeting form of government.

"I have met with some boards and commissions who were pretty standoffish, pretty skeptical of how this new government would work," Menard said. "(But) it all goes back to, I think, my inclusive style to make sure that everyone feels that they're being heard."

On Wednesday night, town councilors interviewed the two other finalists, Harwich Town Administrator Christopher Clark and Bourne Town Administrator Thomas Guerino.

During interviews that lasted about an hour each, Clark and Guerino answered questions about their experience, leadership style and how they plan to help East Longmeadow change over to a new form of government.

Councilors praised Clark and Guerino before their vote Thursday night, all agreeing that they would feel comfortable with hiring any one of the three finalists.

"All three have very solid skill sets," Councilor Kathleen Hill said. "Different personalities and management personalities as well, but I think we're in a difficult spot."

For Ford, it came down to who had the combination of technical and people skills to inspire confidence and trust from town employees, with who the town manager will work collaboratively, he said.

"This is (East Longmeadow's) first town manager, so to me this ... is a very important aspect of our future," Ford said. "The ability to manage people, to me, is a very, very high priority."

Councilors added a line item for contract negotiations to their Dec. 13 meeting agenda before calling Menard back into the room to inform her of their decision.

After thanking the council and shaking hands, she told The Republican that she sees a prosperous working relationship with Town Council going forward.

"We're a team of eight," Menard said.

Watch Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Attorney General Maura Healey respond to mean tweets

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Attorney General Maura Healey took on their Twitter critics in a video taped for MassINC, a public policy think tank celebrating 20 years at a Thursday night gala at Boston's Revere Hotel. Watch video

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Attorney General Maura Healey took on their Twitter critics in a video taped for MassINC, a public policy think tank celebrating 20 years at a Thursday night gala at Boston's Revere Hotel.

"I'm crazy about the stiffness of Elizabeth Warren's hair," said a user going by the name "ChrisHSwift."

"Yeah, you and Tom Brady," Warren said.

"How is Liz Warren even electable? She reminds me of an old librarian that reads Jane Austen and goes to line dancing at the senior center," said another Twitter user going by the name "EagleVol," prompting Warren to frown.

Another Twitter user called Healey a "spawn of Satan."

Warren and Healey, two prominent Massachusetts Democrats, have often taken to Twitter to take aim at bigger targets, like President-elect Donald Trump and Curt Schilling, who has expressed interest in challenging Warren when she's up for re-election in 2018.

Seen@ photos from Springfield Museums 2016 Holiday Sparkle Gala

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The Holiday Sparkle Gala helps to benefit the Museums' exhibits and programs enjoyed by as many as 400,000 visitors annually.

SPRINGFIELD -- Hundreds gathered at the Springfield Museums on Thursday night to kick off the December holiday season.

The Holiday Sparkle Gala helps to benefit the Museums' exhibits and programs enjoyed by as many as 400,000 visitors annually.

The evening began at the Museum of Springfield History with lively conversation over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Guests mingled among famous automobiles with ties to Springfield as well as more than two dozen motorcycles from Springfield's famous Indian Manufacturing Company.

After cocktails, guests strolled through the festively lit Quadrangle to a dinner that was served among the world-renowned collections in the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts and George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum.


Frigid winter cold is the next test for Dakota Access pipeline protesters

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So far, the hundreds of protesters fighting the Dakota Access pipeline have shrugged off the heavy snow, icy winds and frigid temperatures that have swirled around their large encampment on the North Dakota grasslands.

CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) -- So far, the hundreds of protesters fighting the Dakota Access pipeline have shrugged off the heavy snow, icy winds and frigid temperatures that have swirled around their large encampment on the North Dakota grasslands.

But if they defy next week's government deadline to abandon the camp, demonstrators know the real deep freeze lies ahead, when the full weight of the Great Plains winter descends on their community of nylon tents and teepees. Life-threatening wind chills and towering snow drifts could mean the greatest challenge is simple survival.

"I'm scared. I'm a California girl, you know?" said Loretta Reddog of Placerville, California, a protester who said she arrived several months ago with her two dogs and has yet to adjust to the harsher climate.

The government has ordered protesters to leave federal land by Monday, although it's not clear what, if anything, authorities will do to enforce that mandate. Demonstrators insist they will stay for as long as it takes to divert the $3.8 billion pipeline, which the Standing Rock Sioux tribe believes threatens sacred sites and a river that provides drinking water for millions of people.

The pipeline is largely complete except for a short segment that is planned to pass beneath a Missouri River reservoir. The company doing the building says it is unwilling to reroute the project.

For several months, the government permitted the gathering, allowing its population to swell. The Seven Council Fires camp began growing in August as it took in the overflow crowd from smaller protest sites nearby. It now covers a half square mile, with living quarters that include old school buses, fancy motorhomes and domelike yurts. Hale bales are piled around some teepees to keep out the wind. There's even a crude corral for horses.

The number of inhabitants has ranged from several hundred to several thousand. It has been called the largest gathering of Native American tribes in a century.

Increasingly, more permanent wooden structures are being erected, even though the Army Corps of Engineers considers them illegal on government property. The Standing Rock Sioux insist the land still belongs to their tribe under a nearly 150-year-old treaty.

Nate Bison, a member of South Dakota's Cheyenne River Sioux, came to the camp after quitting his job in Las Vegas a week ago. He said he intends to stay indefinitely, a prospect that may cause him to lose his house in Nevada.

"But since I've lived in these conditions before, to me it's not all that bad," he said.

Camp morale is high, he added, despite the onset of winter.

"Everybody I've talked to, you hear laughter and people just having a good time, enjoying the camaraderie and the support from each other," Bison said. "And the love. People are taking the shirts off their own backs for other people. No one is left out that I've seen."

On Thursday, the camp near the confluence of the Missouri and Cannonball rivers was shrouded in snow, much of it compacted by foot and vehicle traffic. Temperatures hovered in the 20s. Next week's forecast calls for single digits and subzero wind chills.

Camp dwellers are getting ready for the hardships of a long stay. Mountains of donated food and water are being stockpiled, as is firewood, much of which has come from outside of North Dakota, the least-forested state in the nation. A collection of Army surplus tents with heating stoves serve as kitchen, dining hall, medical clinic and a camp-run school. Many of the smaller tents have become tattered by the wind.

Thane Maxwell, a 32-year-old Minneapolis native who has been living at the camp since July, said North Dakota's bitter cold will not deter protesters committed to fighting the pipeline, or "black snake" as they call it.

Tribes from the Great Plains states are adept at surviving brutal winters, he said. Others from warmer climes are being taught how to endure the frostbite-inducing temperatures that are sure to come.

"A lot of these people have been living in this climate for hundreds of years," said Maxwell a member of Minnesota-based Honor the Earth Foundation. "It's a skill set that can be learned. The danger is escalating from law enforcement, not the weather."

Reddog said she has confidence in the camp community. "Everybody's really stepping up and taking care of each other," she said.

Maxwell put out a call on social media for more donations, seeking four-wheel drive trucks and foul-weather clothing. He also asked for gas masks and protective baseball and hockey gear to shield protesters from any future skirmishes with police.

More than 525 people from across the country have been arrested since August. In a recent clash between police and protesters near the path of the pipeline, officers used tear gas, rubber bullets and large water hoses in sub-freezing temperatures. Organizers said at least 17 protesters were taken to the hospital, some for hypothermia and one for an arm injury. One officer was hurt.

North Dakota has often conjured images of a wind-swept, treeless wasteland. The perception was so great that it led to a short-lived proposal to change the state's name by dropping "North" and leaving just "Dakota," to dispel the image of inhospitable winter weather.

Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, who is heading the law enforcement effort around the pipeline, said he hopes the harsh conditions force people to leave the encampment, something the state and federal governments have so far been unable to do.

In addition to the federal order, North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple issued a "mandatory evacuation" for the camp "to safeguard against harsh winter conditions." But he said Wednesday that the state has no intention of blocking food and supplies from coming into the camp.

Doing so would be a "huge mistake from a humanitarian viewpoint," the Republican said.

The federal deadline probably will not have any immediate effect on the camp either. Soon after it was set, the Army Corps of Engineers explained that the agency had no plans to forcibly remove anyone, although violators could be charged with trespassing.

Back at the camp, about 75 people lined up Thursday to draw propane for heating and cooking from a fuel truck. The driver, Rodney Grant, said it was his seventh trip in a week. The propane was free to campers. Grant said he did not know who was paying for it.

Dani Jo McKing, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux, was among those in line. She and her husband have been sharing cold-weather tips with people who are not from North Dakota. She said people with out-of-state license plates, including California and Nevada, have been seen driving away from the camp. The cruel winter is bound to induce others to head home, she said.

The cold weather has never bothered her.

"This is where I live. I'll stay until the end. This is God's country," she said.

Summer Moore arrived last week from Paintsville, Kentucky, and quickly learned the power of the whipping North Dakota wind. When a snowstorm rolled in Monday, it ripped her tent to shreds.

"It wasn't that cold, but the wind was so bad it knocked me down three times," Moore said.

She hitched a ride to the casino on the Standing Rock reservation and rode out the storm in a hotel room.

A carpenter named Joel Maurer came from California last month. He's been building small shed-like bunkhouses that will sleep seven people each with room for a stove.

"I know things are going to get real here real quick," he said.

Woman finds decapitated body while walking dog

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Police have recovered the head.

A woman walking her dog in Lawrence discovered a decapitated body along the Merrimack River yesterday afternoon.

Authorities say the woman called 911 immediately after discovering the body off Water Street.

An investigation has been launched by the Essex District Attorney's Office, Massachusetts State Police and Lawrence Police. Authorities have recovered the head of the victim. 

A spokesperson for the Essex District Attorney's Office wrote in a release that the body is male, but authorities have not identified the victim. An autopsy will be performed Friday. 

Authorities suspect foul play. According to WCVB.com, a 16-year-old boy, Lee Manuel Paulino, has been missing for two weeks and was last seen along the river's edge. 

Take a look: Fred Glidden recalled for devotion to family, Holyoke, Catholic faith, St. Patrick's Parade (photos)

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Charles Frederick "Fred" Glidden, who died on Nov. 23, 2016 at 84, was recalled by family, friends and others for his devotion to the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts, his family, his Catholic faith and the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade.

HOLYOKE -- It was 2011 and Charles Frederick "Fred" Glidden had a story.

Glidden, then 78, got a kick out of contacting The Republican about how his older brother William J. Glidden, then 83, would be attending his first-ever Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade. The elder Glidden had moved to Minnesota to join a Catholic order for men a few weeks before the first parade took place in 1952.

The March parade had grown into a giant social, cultural and entertainment event, drawing hundreds of thousands of onlookers. But while William Glidden had returned to Holyoke numerous times, it was always in the summer, missing the parade.

But not in 2011. Fred Glidden, who died Nov. 23 at 84, made sure of it.

"People can't imagine the significance of this parade unless they see it," Fred Glidden said. "It's just big."

Fred Glidden's enthusiasm about the parade and including his brother in it illustrates his devotion to Holyoke, which he worked for across over 40 years on the City Council and numerous other boards, and to his family.

Glidden was described as having "passed away peacefully" the day before Thanksgiving in the obituary by the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home.

He was born here and a lifelong resident, aside from four years overseas in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was a communicant of St. Jerome Parish in Holyoke and a eucharistic minister for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.

He was a registered pharmacist for 57 years and retired as director of pharmacy at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home.

Glidden was proud of his over 40-year run of being on city boards. Over the years, he had stints on the City Council, Parks and Recreation Commission, Board of Public Works and Holyoke Housing Authority board of commissioners, besides the Geriatric Authority board.

Glidden experienced tragedy as son Charles "Chuck" Glidden died in 1993 and daughter Laura "Laurie" (Glidden) Kane died in 1999, said William "Billy" Glidden, Fred Glidden's nephew.

Glidden and his wife Heleane also have a son, David Glidden of Wilbraham, and daughter, Lisa (Glidden) Wykowski of South Hadley

Family, friends and city officials recalled Glidden's dedication to his family, the city, his faith and the parade.

William "Billy" Glidden: "With my uncle Fred's passing, it feels as though he's taken a whole world with him. He was a devoted family man, a man of profound faith and love of community who found his life's meaning in service to others. His life was marked by great tragedy and still greater love, and he set an example for us all to aspire to. It was a true privilege to be his nephew, and words can't express how much I'll miss him."

Patricia C. Devine, a former city councilor who was on the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee and Holyoke Geriatric Authority board of directors with Glidden: "Fred was one of the most sincere, honest and hard working people you'd ever want to meet. Not only did he come from a great family he and Heleane also raised one. Small world story....we discovered while chatting about my being born at Newport, Rhode Island naval base and my father was an instructor. Well not only was Fred there when I was born, but my father's best friend Joe Driscoll from Brooklyn who also instructed sailors in Newport was Fred's instructor. We compared Navy yearbooks and low and behold, there they both were - one page apart. I even gave Fred a knife and fork that had 'USN' on it that he hung in his kitchen. Fred always put his all into everything he did. RIP to a really good and kind soul."

Mayor Alex B. Morse: "Fred Glidden deeply loved the city of Holyoke and has left a legacy of public service and devotion to community that should inspire us all. Having known Fred for the past few years, it was impossible not to admire his persistence, and his unwavering commitment to his values. The city will miss him dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with his amazing family."

Mark E. Dupont, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield: "I've had the great pleasure of knowing Fred Glidden, and would echo the sentiments of many in that he was passionate about the causes he undertook, a passion that extended to his family, faith and his beloved city of Holyoke. You never had to wonder what Fred thought about a topic, he didn't mince words. My last conversation with him was in late September and despite his declining health he was in full gusto on the upcoming presidential election. It was a classic Fred Glidden conversation, I did a lot of listening (smile).

"One couldn't help but admire him and his drive, especially his unwavering support of the pro-life cause. When I was asked, a few years ago, to serve as honorary chair of the annual Mother's Day Dinner for the local pro-life organization, I saw first hand how Fred, his wife Heleane, along with a small but committed group worked with such personal dedication. They knew in some circles they weren't popular because of their opposition to abortion, but they were undeterred.

"But what I admired most was how they both fully embraced their Catholic faith. They experienced what had to be a devastating grief when two of their children lost their lives to cancer, yet they never walked away from their faith.

"So in the end Fred was a courageous person, knowing that he was fighting a losing battle with lung disease but never losing his personal fight and passion for what was important.

"He will be greatly missed."

Here is the obituary for Charles Frederick "Fred" Glidden:

Charles Frederick Glidden, 84, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening at Mary's Meadow surrounded by his loving family. "Fred" Glidden was born in Holyoke, MA, and was a lifelong resident in the city he loved. He was son of the late William and Catherine (McConville) Glidden. He graduated from Saint Jerome's High School, served 4 years overseas in the Navy during the Korean War. Upon his return, he graduated from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and worked as a Registered Pharmacist for 57 years, retiring as the Director of Pharmacy of the Holyoke Soldiers Home. He was an avid sports fan of all the Boston franchises and enjoyed coaching and watching his children and grandchildren's games. Fred was incredibly active in public service in his community and with his church. He served as a City Councilman, a Parks & Recreation Commissioner, a Department of Public Works Commissioner, Holyoke Housing Authority and Board of Directors and Chairman of the Geriatric Authority of Holyoke. He was a communicant of St. Jerome Parish in Holyoke and also served as a Eucharistic Minister for the Diocese. He was elected by the church as a Knight of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. He was a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, a 25 plus member of The American Legion Post 351 and a life time member (50+ years) and Treasurer of The Holyoke Elks Lodge 902. Fred was an active member in the Prolife movement. He served as the President of the Prolife Pioneer Valley, Inc. Fred was also a lifetime member of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, serving as its President in 1985 and received the committee's 2014 O'Connell Award. Fred was predeceased by his beloved son Charles "Chuck" Glidden, 33, and daughter Laura "Laurie" (Glidden) Kane. He was also predeceased by his parents and his five siblings; brothers Billy, Bobby, Kenny, and Neil, as well as his sister Rose. Fred is survived by his beloved wife, best friend and soul mate of 58 years, R. Heleane (Geissler) Glidden. Two loving children, David Glidden and his wife Michelle of Wilbraham, MA, and Lisa (Glidden) Wykowski and her husband Edward of South Hadley, MA. Seven cherished grandchildren, Katherine, Rosemarie, and Elizabeth Glidden, Brian and Daniel Kane, Charles and Edward Wykowski, as well as many special nieces and nephews and countless friends. Calling hours for Fred will be held Tuesday, November 29, at Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, between the hours of 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. There will be a Funeral Mass celebrating Fred's life on Wednesday, November 30th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Jerome Church, 169 Hampden Street, Holyoke. Burial will follow at Saint Jerome Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Prolife Pioneer Valley, Inc. (attention to Monica Butler, Secretary, at 419 Rodger's Avenue, West Springfield, MA) or the American Cancer Society at 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA, 01701.

While Hampshire College discusses 'how to interpret' the US flag, how is the American flag displayed at colleges around Western Massachusetts? (photos)

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Other schools in the Five College Consortium with no plans to alter that - even at the private institutions.

AMHERST -- While Hampshire College has removed the U.S. flag from the central campus pole temporarily, the flag continues to fly at every other college in Western Massachusetts.

Among the other schools in the Five College Consortium that includes Hampshire -- Amherst College and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley and Smith College in Northampton -- none has plans to alter their flag-flying status.

Private schools are not required by law to fly an American flag.

Smith College flies the flag at College Hall and sometimes lowers it in memory of current students, staff and faculty, and others who meet length-of-service criteria, according to Stacey Schmeidel, director of media relations.

"In addition, we often elect to lower the flag in recognition of non-Smith occurrences (e.g., national or state deaths) in accordance with an order from the President of the United States or the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

Amherst College also follows federal guidelines "and the College has no plans to deviate from that policy," according to spokeswoman Caroline Hanna. She too has not "heard of any discussion on campus of taking the flag down entirely."

Keely Savoie at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley wrote that its flag policy "closely mirrors the US Flag Code. To my knowledge, the question of flying the flag or not flying the flag has not come up on our campus."

The University of Massachusetts, the only public school in the consortium, adheres to the federal flag code.

No one at UMass wanted to comment on the Hampshire decision to take the flag down.

The Republican staff photographers visited all 18 public and private colleges in Western Massachusetts this week and found American flags flying on the main flagpole at all campuses except Hampshire. At Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, the flag was at half-staff on Wednesday. A spokesman said it was lowered in memory of a student who died.

Hampshire College officials are meeting with faculty, staff and students about the flag and its meaning.

College spokesman John Courtmanche said President Jonathan Lash held between six and eight meetings Tuesday and continued holding meetings Wednesday and Thursday. He said Lash is trying to hear many opinions about "how people interpret the flag. He wants everyone on campus to feel they have a voice."

He said Lash and administrators are "working very quickly (and are) hopeful to arrive at a resolution of not having a flag on the pole."

Two people killed in fiery crash in Milton

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The crash occurred early Friday morning.

Police are investigating a fiery crash that injured one and left two people dead early Friday morning.

Massachusetts State Police wrote in a release that a car was driving on Brush Hill Road in Milton around 3:30 a.m. when it smashed into a tree.

The vehicle caught on fire and had to be extinguished by the Milton Fire Department.

Two of the three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene, and the sole survivor was transported to Boston Medical Center.

Massachusetts State Police are going to continue investigating the incident.

 

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