The State Police have planned a sobriety checkpoint for Hampden County next Friday.

State Troopers will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint on a road in Hampden County next Friday, Dec. 23, according to Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police.

The checkpoint will last until Saturday, Dec. 24. The exact time and location where the operation will occur have not been released.

Sobriety checkpoints are used to educate the wider public about the need to detect and remove drivers who may be operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, said McKeon.

During checkpoints, State Troopers often look for signs of inebriation in drivers--like glassy or bloodshot eyes and lethargic behavior. Sometimes the checkpoints end in arrests.

Public safety will be assured during the operation, McKeon said.

"Any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety," said McKeon.

Ware police are searching for a vehicle that was involved in a recent hit-and-run.

WARE — The Ware Police Department is searching for a suspect in a hit-and-run incident that occurred Friday night in which a pedestrian was struck by a moving vehicle.

Police say the incident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. at the corner of Church Street and High Street.

Sergeant Shawn Crevier of the Ware Police Department said that the only available description of the vehicle given by the victim was that it was purple.

The car sped away from the scene after striking the pedestrian, and did not attempt to make contact with them.

Crevier said that the victim was taken to Mary Lane Hospital for treatment of what is "hopefully minor injuries" and is expected to be okay.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident should contact Crevier at 413-967-3571.

The United Food & Commercial Workers are conducting their first ever annual toy drive.

The United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1459, the largest union in Western Massachusetts, is currently taking donations for its first ever annual toy drive.

The leader of the drive is Dean Ethier, a union representative, who says that both the donated toys and funds will go towards families in need as well as to a number of local charity organizations.

"We are happy to pitch in with all the other wonderful charities out there doing good work to help kids and make their holidays a little more fun and joyful." said Ethier.

Anyone who wants to contribute to the toy give away should contact Dean Ethier at 781-603-7843. Ethier will personally pick up the donation, or the donation can be dropped off at the UFCW Local 1459 office located at 33 Eastland St. in Springfield.

A man in Wendell and a woman in Mattapan were struck by cars Friday and both are fighting life-threatening injuries.

Dave Canton | dcanton@repub.com 

The Greenfield Recorder reported that Daniel Levangie was airlifted by a LifeFlight helicopter to Umass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester Friday evening.

Police were notified about the incident at about 5 p.m, but are not sure what happened. There were no witnesses to the accident, Police Chief Ed Chase said. The driver of the vehicle involved in the accident left the scene.

Chase would not comment on Levangie's condition except to say that State Police detectives attached to the District Attorney's Office will be conducting the investigation.

At about the same time Friday, a woman in Mattapan was struck by a car as she walked near 926 Cummings Highway in Mattapan, the Boston Globe reported.

The driver remained on the scene after the strike and has been interviewed by police.

Officers at the scene said the unidentified woman suffered "life-threatening injuries."

Four massage business operators were arrested this week following investigations by Attorney General Maura Healey's office and Hampden district attorney's office.

The deadline to compete in the Grand Colleen Pageant of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee has been extended to Dec. 26, 2016.

HOLYOKE -- The deadline to submit applications for the Grand Colleen Pageant of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee has been extended to Dec. 26, an official said Friday.

The pageant will be held Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at Holyoke High School.

Five winners will be chosen at the pageant as the Grand Colleen's Court and the grand colleen will be selected from the five finalists at the Grand Colleen Ball on Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road.

Applications for the colleen pageant will be taken until Dec. 26 instead of the previous deadline of Dec. 23, to allow more time for young women and families to make decisions, said Hayley Feyre Dunn, spokeswoman for the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee.

In order to be considered for the Grand Colleen Pageant, applicants must be female; single, and having never been married or had a child; no younger than 17 as of March 17, 2017 and no older than 22; a resident of Holyoke or South Hadley; of Irish ancestry; and able to provide a complete resume.

Tickets for the Pageant are $15 a person, $10 for senior citizens and free for children under age 12.

The Parade Committee will provide a Colleen Orientation and Tea for colleen contestants on Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. at The Wherehouse?, 109 Lyman St.

Five finalists chosen for Holyoke's 2016 Grand Colleen

Former colleens, court members and guests are welcome to attend the tea beginning at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for children and former colleens and court members. Additional tickets are $15 a person.

For information about colleen events, call Kathy Dulchinos at 413-592-4945.

The 66th Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade will be held on March 19, preceded the day before by the 42nd St. Patrick's Road Race.

Two people were transported to local hospitals after a one-car crash on Bridge Road, that authorities are attributing to speed and bad road conditions. Police said the car apparently went out of control, and rolled over, coming to rest against a utility pole and on top of a fire hydrant in front of the Gables Condominium complex on Bridge Road,

NORTHAMPTON— Two people were transported to area hospitals after they were injured in a single-car crash on Bridge Road just before 2 a.m.

Northampton Police Detective Corey Robinson said the 1:50 a.m. crash is initially being attributed to speed and a snow-covered roadway. He said the car was traveling westbound on Bridge Road near the Gables Condominium complex, when it apparently went out of control, rolled over and came to rest against a utility pole and on top of a fire hydrant on the opposite side of the street.

The two people in the car at the time of the crash were injured and had to be removed from the wreckage by Northampton firefighters. One was transported to Northampton's Cooley Dickinson Hospital, while the second occupant was taken by ambulance to the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Robinson said the Northampton Police Accident Reconstruction Team investigated the incident.

U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni rejected a suit seeking class certification and that sought to end the Springfield Public Day School program for students with mental health issues.

SPRINGFIELD -- U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni issued a ruling Friday that rejects a class action suit against the city and School Department that sought to end a public day school program for students with mental health issues.

The ruling was praised by school officials who called it a "vindication" of the public day school program. City and school officials denied the students were being improperly segregated from the regular classrooms and defended the programs and services being provided in the day school program.

"It's a significant win not just for the district but for all public schools in Massachusetts and their special education students," said Melinda Phelps, a lawyer representing the School Department. "It's a vindication for the hard work day in and day out of the Springfield Public School Program."

School Committee Vice-Chairman Christopher Collins agreed, saying it upholds the Springfield approach and the people providing services from the principals down to the counselors and teachers.

The civil suit was initially filed by a parent of a teen with mental health issues, with the student identified in the suit as S.S. It was filed on his behalf and "other similarly situated students" and by the Parent/Professional Advocacy League and the Disability Law Center.

The motion for "Class Certification" was denied by Mastroianni in Friday's ruling.

City lawyers including City Solicitor Edward Pikula "vigorously disputed" claims by the plaintiffs that students attending the public day schools "are not only segregated from nondisabled students, but also receive educational services that are demonstrably inferior to those offered at neighborhood schools, are unable to access extracurricular activities available in neighborhood schools, and are subjected to dangerously punitive discipline."

Pikula, in arguments before Mastroianni, said the plaintiffs had essentially repurposed a claim after it was rejected by a state board of special education appeals. In addition, Pikula said a judge in that forum ruled the city had accommodated "S.S" and developed an individual education plan that was "the least restrictive" according to 2015 hearing.

Mastroianni, in summarizing the case, said that approximately 1 percent of the students in the Springfield public schools are placed in the public day schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels. A total of 246 students were in the program as of May 1, 2016.

The American With Disabilities Act bars public entities from discriminating against a "qualified individual with a disability," or excluding them from participation or denying them from the benefits and services of a public entity, the summary stated. Protections are also provided in the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), he said.

In the class certification sought, however, not all members of the suit had exhausted the process for administrative remedies provided under IDEA guidelines, Mastroianni said.

"The exhaustion requirement provides one basis for denying Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification," Mastronianni said. "Some of the same concerns that lead the court to that decision also demonstrate that Plaintiffs have not met their burden to establish the elements required for class certification."

Mastroianni also cited a statute that a class action suit is an "exception to the usual rule" of individual litigation. The exception is justified "only when there is a class representative who is part of the class and shares the same interest and injury as other class members," he said.

The plaintiffs were not able to meet that burden, he said.

The lawsuit had sought to restructure special education for children with mental illnesses to school-based behavioral services.

The court ruling said there was "insufficient evidence" that such school-based behavioral services "could provide a single remedy applicable to the whole class."

"Even if these services could, in theory, provide a universally positive outcome, the diversity of the circumstances affecting members of the proposed class will create a myriad of unique challenges that will have to be overcome on a study by student basis in order to implement each of these entwined services," Mastroianni said.

Judge Mastroianni's ruling in lawsuit against Springfield Schools by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd

Before allegedly assaulting and robbing an elderly Springfield man last week, Scott Laclair had picked up 47 charges in five area courts, records show.

SPRINGFIELD -- A defendant who allegedly assaulted an elderly Springfield man and stole $400 from his wallet has an extensive criminal record, with convictions for assault, armed robbery, drug possession and other charges, court records show.

Scott Laclair, 40, had picked up 47 charges in five area courts before his arrest Wednesday for allegedly assaulting and robbing a 79-year-old man at a Sumner Avenue gas station, according to court records.

He was ordered held on $50,000 bail Friday after pleading not guilty in Springfield District Court to assault and battery on a person over 60.

Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski cited details of the new case, plus the defendant's three-decade criminal record, while requesting $50,000 bail.

On Dec. 8, Laclair approached an elderly man at a Forest Park gas station and asked for change, the prosecutor said. When the man took out his wallet, Laclair pushed him down, stole $400 and fled on a bicycle, she said.

He was arrested Wednesday after rising to the top of the Springfield Police Department's most wanted list. Two booking photos of Laclair were posted on the department's Facebook page, along with a note from police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney: "Let's get this guy before he robs again."

Minutes after the photos were posted, Laclair was arrested for allegedly shoplifting $130 worth of clothing from Kohl's department store in West Springfield. Recognizing the suspect from the Facebook post, West Springfield police turned Laclair over to Springfield police, Delaney said.

Defense lawyer Ivonne Vidal opposed the prosecution's bail request.

She asked Judge Matthew Shea to set bail at $2,000 and require her client to wear a GPS tracking bracelet. Laclair is the parent of a young child and also cares for his elderly, terminally ill father, Vidal said.

Shea set bail at $50,000 and continued the case for a pretrial conference on Jan. 17.

He also imposed $1,000 bail in each of four shoplifting cases Laclair picked up in the past year, including the Kohl's case from earlier this week.

While the most frequent convictions on Laclair's record are for larceny and shoplifting, he has been charged with a variety of crimes, from trespassing and receiving stolen property to armed robbery and distribution of heroin, according to court records.

In 1998, he was sentenced to five to eight years in state prison in an
armed robbery case. In 2006, he received a 24-month jail term on heroin-related charges.

Between 2008 and 2016, only two cases are listed and both were dismissed. Since April, however, the alleged criminal activity has resumed, with a particular emphasis on shoplifting.

Laclair is charged, for example, with stealing more than $500 worth of items from the CVS on Belmont Avenue in Springfield, including boxes of condoms, packages of beef jerky and cans of Red Bull.

Take a mellow ride through the hills of Monson and Hampden on Saturday, Dec. 17. Watch video

HAMPDEN -- Come take a peaceful ride through the hills of eastern Hampden County.

Our trip begins at Peaked Mountain in Monson, traveling down Butler Road to Bradway, St. Germain and Stafford roads, and ending on Scantic Road in Hampden.

The route is beautiful in all four seasons, but particularly after a fresh snowfall. And Saturday's wintry blast delivered just the right amount of snow to transform these hills into a winter wonderland.

So sit back and relax. We'll do the driving. The good news is you don't even have to don your jacket and boots.

A man from Springfield died after attempting to hang himself in his cell at the Hampden County Correctional Center.

LUDLOW — An inmate in custody at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow died Saturday, after attempting to hang himself in his cell, according to Stephen O'Neil, spokesman for the Hampden County Sheriff's Department.

O'Neil said that the man was a 32-year-old resident of Springfield who was a "relatively new arrival" to the jail and had been awaiting trial to answer for the charges of breaking-and-entering, as well as destruction of property over $250.

The officer conducting wellness checks at the Hampden County Correctional Center on Saturday morning found the man hanging in his cell at approximately 2:38 a.m., said O'Neil. The officer quickly removed the ligature from the man's neck, and called for medical assistance--after which several nurses performed CPR on the man while awaiting arrival of an ambulance.

An ambulance arrived at the prison at 3:07 a.m. and subsequently transported the man to Baystate Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:08 p.m., said O'Neil. The victim's family was told about what had occurred at the prison and were at the hospital when the man passed away, said O'Neil.

O'Neil further said that Sheriff Michael J. Ashe has contacted the District Attorney and Massachusetts State Police, to investigate the man's death.

The man is not being identified currently out of respect to his family, O'Neil said.

Freezing rain is expected during Saturday night.

While early Saturday saw snowfall throughout much of Western Massachusetts, Saturday night is projected to be characterized by freezing rain and fog--which may make traffic conditions more hazardous.

The National Weather Service (NWS) based in Taunton put out a freezing rain advisory for the Springfield area until Sunday morning at 5 a.m.

The NWS reported that the timing of precipitation and the persistence of cold air near the ground may create conditions for freezing rain.

22News has similarly reported that ice accumulation and light freezing rain and drizzle will likely occur in the area throughout Saturday evening.

Temperatures during this period are expected to fluctuate between the 20s and 30s.

After all the precipitation this weekend, however, projections for the beginning of next week are less wintry. The NWS reports that the Springfield area is expected to get some sun on Monday, though temperatures will still be low--with a high of 26.

2016 Bright Nights at Springfield's Forest Park. The event runs until Jan. 1, 2017.

SPRINGFIELD - Springfield's Bright Nights at Forest Park is in full swing and runs through Jan. 1, 2017.

Bright Nights at Forest Park provides a magical journey for holiday light seekers through Springfield's enchanted forest decked out with 650,000 lights along a three-mile drive.

The event is sponsored by the Spirit of Springfield with Springfield Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management.

Once again this year during their travels, visitors will enter New England's holiday light spectacular through some giant red flowers in Poinsettia Fantasy, then continue their tour viewing displays called American Flag, Kwanzaa, Nativity, Winter Garden, Seuss Land, Letters to Santa, Garden of Peace, Jurassic World, Victorian Village, Barney Mansion, Leaping Frog, Winter Woods, North Pole Village, Toy Land, Giant Poinsettia Candles and Happy Holidays, Springfield.

For more information visit the Bright Nights website.

A 28-year-old Hartford man was shot in what police said was a drive-by shooting. Police found the shooting scene but not the victim until he showed up at a hHartford hospital with a gunshot wound 5to the torso.

HARTFORD— A 28-year-old Hartford man is being treated for a possible gunshot wound to the torso after police said he may have been shot in a drive-by shooting Friday morning on a North End street.

Hartford Police said they were called to the area of 125 Barbour St. at about 11:20 a.m. Friday with reports of shots being fired in the area.

Upon arrival, officers found a vehicle with heavy rear end damage and later found a corresponding vehicle with heavy front end damage several streets away.

Police said one car used in the shooting apparently fled the scene in a panic and struck a parked car. The get-a-way car was found on Magnolia Street.

A short time later a male victim walked into St. Francis Hospital with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the torso. However, according to police, the metal object in the man's chest could be either a bullet or shrapnel from the car crash.

Three manicured courtyards. A heated outdoor pool. A small putting green. Like a number of the new luxury apartment complexes rising in the Boston area, Deco in Quincy is going heavy on the extras, boasting 10,000 square feet of amenities.

Like a number of the new luxury apartment complexes rising in the Boston area, Deco in Quincy is boasting extras, a total of 10,000 square feet of amenities.

Yes, there's a pet spa as well as three manicured courtyards, a heated outdoor pool, and small putting green.

The apartments in the 180-unit, six-story building are on the high end, with quartz countertops and "European-style" cabinets above stainless steel appliances and dishwashers.

Cabot Cabot and Forbes developed the property, named "Deco" after the style that was en vogue in the 1920s and 1930s.

It's also across the street from the Quincy Adams MBTA station, and when the Red Line is up and running, a trip to downtown Boston takes between 30 to 40 minutes. The building is also near I-93, though a high wall on the second level obscures the busy road from residents in one of the courtyards.

The complex has a mix of studios, one-bedrooms,and two-bedrooms. The price range for the luxury apartments is $2,025 to $3,070 a month.

For studio apartments that are 617 square feet, prices range from $2,025 to $2,175 a month, according to Deco.

Naturally, the complex also has a fitness room, a lounge with a pool table, a yoga studio and a pet spa. There is also a private garage underneath, with car chargers and space for bikes.

Quincy, a growing city directly south of Boston, is seeing apartment complexes like Deco spring up, with more in the pipeline. The key competitor for Deco is the "West of Chestnut" complex that also recently opened, in Quincy Center, one Red Line stop over from Quincy Adams.

New apartments south of Boston emphasize the amenities

The City Council needs at least nine votes to override a mayoral veto to create a five-member Police Commission.

SPRINGFIELD -- City Council President Michael Fenton said Friday he expects the council will have sufficient votes on Monday to override a mayoral veto and resurrect a citizen Police Commission to oversee the Police Department.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Monday at the Council Chambers at City Hall, and is the final regular meeting of the year.

The council had approved the five-member Police Commission on Dec. 5, by a 10-2 vote, immediately vetoed by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.

"We will override the mayor's veto Monday night," Fenton said. "At that point it will become law and we're hopeful he will enforce the law. That's how it works."

At least nine votes are needed from the 13-member council (two-thirds majority) to override a veto. As proposed, the commission would oversee department policy, promotions, hiring, firing and other disciplinary issues. A police chief would oversee day-to-day operations.

Sarno and City Solicitor Edward Pikula said the ordinance is "legally invalid" under the City Charter because it usurps on the mayor's powers under the Plan A (strong mayor) form of government in Springfield.

In his veto message, Sarno stated: "Every decision I've made as Mayor has been based on what is in the best interest of the people of Springfield. I am convinced that our Police Department should be run by professionals and should not be politicized once again."

Pikula said that the City Charter provides that "all heads of deprtments and members of municipal boards" shall be appointed "by the mayor without confirmation by the city council," under state law. The ordinance calls for the mayor to appoint the five Police Commission members subject to confirmation by the council.

Pikula also stated the ordinance "strips the mayor of authority under the Charter to appoint the day to day head of the Police Department." Fenton responded that the mayor would appoint the police chief to head the department, with Pikula saying the council does not have the power to reorganize the Police Department nor can fund a police chief position by itself, under charter.

Pikula issued an eight-page legal opinion that contests the council's power to bring back a citizen Police Commission.

In other action, the council on Monday will consider approving a 99-year lease agreement aimed at providing 3.5 acres of land outside Mary Dryden School on Surrey Road for a proposed new $9 million East Forest Park branch library. The lease would shift responsibility for that land from the School Department to the Library Department, but is contingent on the city having funds for the project including a requested state grant.

The Holyoke City Council will set the new tax rate for residential and commercial property owners at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 at City Hall, with property values up an average of 2 percent and home and business owners warning higher taxes could make them leave the city.

F.J. Rogers in the Florence section of Northampton opened 108 years ago and will close by the end of the the month.

With Gov. Charlie Baker describing climate change as a "serious threat," the state's clean air agency unveiled draft regulations Friday aimed at securing greenhouse gas emission reductions from the natural gas, transportation and electricity generation industries.

By Michael P. Norton
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

DEC. 16, 20916.....With Gov. Charlie Baker describing climate change as a "serious threat," the state's clean air agency unveiled draft regulations Friday aimed at securing greenhouse gas emission reductions from the natural gas, transportation and electricity generation industries.

The regulations, which will be vetted during a series of public hearings scheduled for February, were assembled after the Supreme Judicial Court ruled in May that the state must seek emissions reductions across economic sectors to meet the requirements of the state's Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA).

That 2008 law requires the state to achieve greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 25 percent below 1990 emissions levels by 2020. As of 2013, the state had reduced emissions by 19.7 percent from 1990s levels, according to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The package of new regulations aims to achieve an additional 7.2 percent reduction by 2020.

The law requires a reduction of at least 80 percent by 2050.

The Supreme Judicial Court's ruling vacated a Superior Court ruling and concluded that DEP regulations do not fulfill the specific requirements of the GWSA.

The high court ruling required the department to promulgate rules "that address multiple sources of categories of sources of greenhouse gas emissions, impose a limit on emissions that may be released, limit the aggregate emissions released from each group of regulated sources or categories of sources, set emission limits for each year, and set limits that decline on an annual basis."

The regulations also stem from an "integrated climate change strategy" executive order Gov. Charlie Baker issued in September. That order directed the DEP to propose draft regulations by Friday and to finalize the regulations by Aug. 11, 2017.

"With these proposed regulations, the Commonwealth is ensuring that we both meet the rigorous emission reductions limits established in the Global Warming Solutions Act and continue to protect public health and safety, infrastructure, communities, small businesses, and our state's abundant natural resources from the effects of climate change," Baker said in a statement.

According to the DEP, six draft regulations aim to extract emissions reductions from the natural gas distribution network, the transportation sector, gas-insulated switchgear, electricity generation and consumption. The regulations also feature carbon dioxide emission limits for state government's fleet of passenger vehicles and call for methane emission reductions from natural gas mains and services, and a clean energy standard for retail electricity sellers.

"The court decision and Executive Order 569 were very clear in requiring MassDEP to work expeditiously on rules to obtain emissions reductions in Massachusetts, and these draft regulations do just that," said DEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. "We will be transparent in our efforts to establish limits to reach our 2020 goals, fully involve the public in this effort, and implement a plan that protects the environment and the public health by cutting and limiting pollutants in the atmosphere."

Conservation Law Foundation senior attorney David Ismay called the draft regulations a "good start," but said they should go further to fulfill the state's obligations under the GWSA.

"It is notable and encouraging that several regulations extend beyond 2020 to 2050, and includes even if minimally, efforts to begin reducing emissions in the transportation sector. Both are necessary and long overdue," Ismay said in an email.

Ismay, however, said the aggregate cap on state power plant emissions should be "tighter" and set at least 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide lower than proposed on Friday.

The transportation sector is the single largest sector of greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts, according to the agency, accounting for 40.8 percent of such emissions in 2013. Between 1990 and 2013, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Massachusetts transportation sector increased, compared to reductions in other sectors such as electricity, residential, commercial, industrial, and agriculture.

The vast majority of emissions reductions from the transportation sector are associated with the state's low emission vehicle program.

The electric sector is the second largest sector of emissions in Massachusetts, with associated emissions from homes and businesses accounting for about 21.5 percent of all emissions, according to the DEP. From 1990 to 2013, GHG emissions in the Massachusetts electric sector decreased 42 percent.

The DEP on Friday announced the following public hearing schedule:

Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and at 6 p.m., MassDEP's Boston Office, 1 Winter Street, Boston.

Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, at 9 a.m., MassDEP's Southeast Regional Office, 20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., MassDEP's Central Regional Office, 8 New Bond Street, Worcester.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at 2 p.m., Springfield Central Library, 220 State Street, Springfield.

From mildly unappealing to the inexorably unsightly there were t-shirts with ugly sweater designs and heavy knitted numbers complete with lights and reindeer.

SPRINGFIELD - The annual Ugly Christmas Sweater party at Nathan Bill's Bar & Restaurant was held Saturday night, drawing a crowd to the popular watering hole on Island Pond Road.

From mildly unappealing to the inexorably unsightly, there were t-shirts with ugly sweater designs and heavy knitted numbers complete with lights and reindeer.

Most sweaters sported some sort of traditional Christmas motif but there were plenty that took a different approach. Sports and movie themed tops were seen as well as hissing cats, and few were subtle in their presentation.

It was the party's fourth year running and it continues to gain popularity. Prizes were given over the course of the night and a grand prize for the worst of the worst was awarded at midnight.

Nathan Bill's is a Toys for Tots drop off point. Donations will be accepted up until Tuesday December 20.