he male dog, named Buddy, was last seen in the areas of Pinewood Drive, Clover Road and Center Street.

LUDLOW -- Police are urging the public to keep an eye out for a three-year-old beagle who fled from a car early Tuesday after it was involved in an accident on Chapin Street.

The male dog, named Buddy, was last seen in the areas of Pinewood Drive, Clover Road and Hunter and Center streets, according to a post on the department's Facebook page. The dog is black and brown with white legs and was wearing a green collar.

The accident occurred about 3 a.m.

Those who have seen the dog are asked to call police at 413-583-8305.

The Association of Black Business and Professionals hosted its First Black Tie Gala as a celebration of the outstanding and continuous history of Black business achievement recently at the Carriage House at the Barney Estates in Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD-- The Association of Black Business and Professionals hosted its First Black Tie Gala as a celebration of the outstanding and continuous history of Black business achievement recently at the Carriage House at the Barney Estates in Springfield.

The association recognized five businesses that have contributed significantly to the growth and development of the areas Black business community. The keynote speaker for the Black Tie Gala was former senator William "Mo" Cowen, with Brian Jones MBA serving as the Master of Ceremony.

Board Chairman David Maynard said "our goal is to promote and sustain small businesses and work diligently to further the development of professionals in urban communities."

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said "I'm always pleased to support organizations that work diligently to support and encourage small business development in our city. I look forward to working with the Association of Black Business and Professionals to further economic development in Springfield."

Cowan is currently counsel to Mintz Levin; president and CEO of ML Strategies, the firm's government relations and business advisory affiliate. Prior to re-joining Mintz Levin, where he practiced from 1997-2009, Cowan represented the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a United States senator, filling the vacancy created when John F. Kerry was appointed United States Secretary of State.

Immediately prior to his Senate service, Cowan served as former Gov. Deval Patrick's chief of staff and senior advisor.

Police Lt. Isiais Cruz told Western Mass News that icy roads were a factor in the crash, which occurred Monday at about 8:15 p.m.

HOLYOKE -- Three people were taken to a hospital following a three-vehicle crash on Cherry Street Monday night.

Police Lt. Isiais Cruz told Western Mass News that icy roads were a factor in the crash, which occurred about 8:15 p.m.

A traffic light was knocked down. Police closed the road for a time after the crash.

The condition of the victims were not immediately available Tuesday morning. Western Mass News is television partner to The Republican and MassLive.com.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

In a motion filed last week, a prosecutor claimed that Murphy failed to provide proof that she received an evaluation and failed to report for probation meetings.

SPRINGFIELD -- A parent accused of spitting on a teacher and biting a police officer at the Talmadge Elementary School has refused to comply with bail conditions, leading a judge to impose a new requirement that she participate in mental health counseling, court records show.

At a hearing last week, Assistant District Attorney Colleen Monroe submitted and then withdrew a motion to revoke bail for Melissa Murphy, who was arrested Nov. 22 after allegedly clashing with school officials and causing a lockdown at the Allen Street elementary school.

Murphy, 36, of Springfield, pleaded not guilty in Springfield District Court to assault and battery on a police officer, threat to commit a crime and disturbing school. She was released on $5,000 personal surety and ordered to submit to a mental health evaluation, meet once a week with a probation officer and stay away from the school.

In a motion filed last week, prosecutors claimed that Murphy failed to provide proof that she received an evaluation and failed to report for probation meetings.

The motion was submitted during a Jan. 17 hearing with the defendant, her lawyer and Judge William O'Grady. No reason for the withdrawal was mentioned in court records.

During the session, Grady revised the release conditions by ordering Murphy to participate in mental health counseling and comply with any related recommendations. He kept her bail at $5,000 personal surety, and required her to stay away from the school and meet regularly with probation officials.

Murphy is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on March 23.

The crash was reported about 10 a.m. and the vehicle ended up in the median, Lt. Thomas Ryan said.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

UPDATE; State police, who originally reported the crash occurred in Palmer, are now saying it was in Ludlow.

LUDLOW -- Two people were reportedly trapped in their vehicle Tuesday morning following a crash in the westbound lanes of the Massachusetts Turnpike, state police report.

The crash was reported about 10 a.m. and the vehicle ended up in the median, Lt. Thomas Ryan said.

The left lane on the westbound side of the highway is closed, according to state police.

A witness to the crash told The Republican that speed appeared to be a factor. The vehicle fishtailed, went up an embankment in the median and hit a tree.

The vehicle was heavily damaged and those initially on scene could not open the vehicle doors.

Information was not immediately available on injuries, Ryan said.

#MAtraffic Rte 90 W/B in #Ludlow, LL closed due to crash.

— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) January 24, 2017

This is a developing story. Additional information will be posted as soon as it is available.

Stacia Sweet is 5 feet, six inches tall, weighs roughly 140 pounds and was last seen wearing blue pants and grey hooded sweatshirt, according to Pittsfield police.

PITTSFIELD -- A 16-year-old girl, missing since at least October, now may be in the Bennington, Vermont area, police said.

Police, in an Oct. 6 post on the department's Facebook page, stated that Stacia Sweet may be in the North Adams area. That post did not specify how long Sweet has been missing.

Sweet is 5 feet, six inches tall, weighs roughly 140 pounds and was last seen wearing blue pants and grey hooded sweatshirt, according to Pittsfield police.

Anyone with information about Sweet's whereabouts may call Pittsfield Police Department at 413-448-9705 or message the department's Facebook page.

The renewal is valid for five years.

HADLEY -- The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has renewed the charter for the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School --  this time without conditions.

Five years ago, the state granted a renewal under a set of conditions that, if not met, could have meant probation or loss of the school's charter.

The conditions had to do with the school's governance and required the trustees to "revise and strengthen the evaluation systems for the executive director and principal." Executive Director Richard Alcorn and his wife, Principal Kathleen Wang, co-founded the school.

Alcorn said he is pleased the renewal is without conditions. "We're moving beyond that," he said of the state's previous concerns.  

The renewal is valid for five years.

The school has asked permission to increase its enrollment by a third -- from 584 to 968 -- but the state has yet to rule on the request. A decision is expected in February, state officials have said.

In an email, Jacqueline Reis, spokeswoman for the education department, said the state is waiting for more information related to the enrollment request before making a decision on the school's proposed expansion. 

The state's only Chinese immersion public charter school opened 10 years ago in Amherst, serving kindergarten and first grade. Students are immersed in learning Mandarin Chinese starting in kindergarten.

The school -- which serves 470 students from 39 communities -- now includes kindergarten through high school, and welcomed its first 12th-grade class this year, Alcorn said. 

This year's seniors are starting to hear from colleges, Alcorn said, and so far one has been accepted at Yale.  

"Our goal has always been to maintain a rigorous curriculum which challenges our students every day as well as teaching them about the cultural intricacies of China," he said in a statement. "We appreciate the support we have received from the Board of Secondary and Elementary Education and Commissioner (Mitchell) Chester."

A new high school opened in the spring of 2015 to accommodate the growing student population.

There are almost 2,000 more people employed in the city of Springfield than there were at at the start of the year.

SPRINGFIELD -- The unemployment rate in the city of Springfield was 5.2 percent in December 2016, according to state data released Tuesday.

That is up from the 4.8 percent unemployment recorded a month earlier in November 2016, but lower than the 8.7 percent unemployment rate recorded a year ago in December 2015.

Statistics released by the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show Springfield gaining jobs but also losing members of its labor force on the year. 

As a region, greater Springfield gained 7,400 jobs on the year -- a gain of 2.2 percent, which was ahead of the statewide gain of 2 percent.

Across Massachusetts, local unemployment rates increased in all 24 labor market areas in the state during the month of December, according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

But compared to December 2015, the rates were down in all areas.

Statewide, the unemployment rate is higher when factoring in those who have stopped looking and those working part-time who would rather work full-time are taken into account. That unemployment rate is 8.8 percent statewide, according to federal data.

The federal government figures unemployment rates based on phone interviews with households. Jobs numbers come from interviews with employers, and can miss job gains at small companies and start-ups.

Local jobless numbers are not adjusted for seasonal changes in the economy, such as construction companies that lay off workers in winter or a ski resort hiring for its busy season. So, they show more fluctuation than national statistics.

The national unemployment rate is 4.7 percent. The statewide average is 2.8 percent.

Further statistics:

Springfield:

Neighboring cities and towns:

As a region:

Unemployment: Greater Springfield had an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent, up from 3.1 percent in November but down from 5.5 percent a year ago.

Job gains: Greater Springfield lost 400 jobs on the month, falling to 338,300  in total employment. But on the year, the region was up 7,400 jobs since December 2015 for a 2.2 percent gain.

Taunton-Middleborough-Norton showed the fastest gain of the year, up 2,000 jobs or 3.4 percent on the year.

Boston was up an even 2 percent, but it took that larger market a gain of 53,200 jobs to get there. Boston is one of the hottest labor markets in the country.

Two people were reported trapped in the vehicle after it went off the roadway and into a tree in the median, state police said.At least three victims were taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

LUDLOW -- At least 3 people were taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield Tuesday morning following a two-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of the Massachusetts Turnpike, state police said.

Ludlow firefighters extricated two of the victims, state police Lt. Thomas Ryan said.

The crash was reported about 10 a.m. One of the vehicles, according to a witness, went off the roadway and hit a tree on the median.

State police closed the left westbound lane while they investigated the accident and cleared the scene. That lane was reopened about noon.

Ryan had no information on the condition of the victims.

The crash involved a 2013 Nissan van and 2004 Honda. It remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Additional information will be posted as soon as it is available.

The deadline for grant applications is Jan. 31.

AGAWAM -- Local farmers who could use new equipment to boost their business operations take note: an important grant deadline is coming up on Jan. 31.

After that, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, partnering with Big Y supermarkets, will evaluate applications for its 2017 Local Farmer Awards.

The grants are for equipment and physical farm improvements, are capped at $2,500, and must be for projects that will help farmers compete in the marketplace. Over $110,000 will be awarded.

"Big Y has been partnering with and supporting local farmers since we began over 80 years ago," said Big Y president Charles L. D'Amour. "Through our partnership with the Grinspoon Foundation, we are providing one more way to help the local growers to thrive in our community."

Harold Grinspoon pledges half his wealth to charity

Longmeadow resident Grinspoon, a philanthropist, launched the awards in 2015. He partnered with Big Y, which works extensively with local farmers. The 2016 awards were distributed to 47 of the 128 applicants. 

Berkshire Grown and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) will provide insight and assistance throughout the process.

"We are so pleased to continue to work with everyone involved in this unique farm awards program to support the vital role family farms play in our communities," said Phillip Korman, CISA's executive director.

"This helps build the local food economy in our region," added Barbara Zheutlin, executive director of Berkshire Grown.

Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the Local Farmer Awards page on the Harold Grinspoon Foundation website.

People need to pass a written exam and then a physical agility test to make the state Civil Service list for police hires.

SPRINGFIELD - People interested becoming a police officer are invited to attend a Feb. 8 seminar that will go over the steps needed to be eligible for consideration under Massachusetts Civil Service requirements.

The seminar, sponsored by the City of Springfield and the Massachusetts Human Resources Division, is planned for 6-8 p.m. at Duggan Middle School, 1015 Wilbraham road.

The seminar is considered an informational pre-outreach session, and people will have the opportunity to learn about what they need to do to register for the upcoming Civil Service exam for entry-level police officers, said Danny M.C. Hall, the Equal Opportunity Administrator for the Springfield Department of Human Resources and Labor Relations.

The exam is planned for March 25.

At the seminar, people will learn what they need to do to register for the exam, and officials will be present to answer questions. Once registered, they will receive information of the time and location of the exam, Hall said.

In Massachusetts, applicants need to pass a written exam, and those who pass that must then pass the state's physical agility test. Both of those scores are combined to create the certified Civil Service list from which people are hired, Hall said.

The theater arts program at American International College will present its spring musical, Chicago, from April 21 through 23, and is sending a call to the community for participation.

The theater arts program at American International College will present its spring musical, Chicago, from April 21 through 23, and is sending a call to the community for participation.

Theater Arts Director Frank Borrelli is opening auditions for smaller roles to members of the community. Out of consideration for busy schedules, smaller parts will not require attendance at all rehearsals, which are primarily held during the day.

Community auditions will be this Friday, January 27 from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center/Griswold Theatre on the AIC campus located at 1000 State St.

Anyone interested is asked to come prepared to perform sixteen bars of a song and to dance.

More information is available by calling Borrelli directly at 413-654-1486.

Piloting Thunderbirds jet number 8, Air Force Capt. Erik Gonsalves and Staff Sgt. Todd Hughes arrived for a site survey to check out the facilities and runways at Barnes. Watch video

The next time U.S. Air Force Capt. Erik Gonsalves arrives at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, there will be tens of thousands of visitors watching him and it will probably be 80 degrees. Today it was just a handful of people and freezing rain.

Gonsalves is a member of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, also known as the Thunderbirds, who will be performing at The Westfield International Airshow to be held August 12 and 13.

Piloting Thunderbirds jet number 8, he and Staff Sgt. Todd Hughes arrived for a site survey to check out the facilities and runways at Barnes.

Site surveys are done if it has been more than 5 years since the Thunderbirds have flown at a particular air show. The last time they performed at Barnes was in 2010.

"We have no doubt this base can support our jet team" said Gonsalves. "This base has great facilities and we're just here to answer any questions the staff may have and then just do a little bit of a site survey."

In addition to the Thunderbirds, the US Army Special Ops Command Parachute Demo Team - the Black Daggers, will be performing at the show for the first time.

Mitchell currently is Fire Chief for the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield.

GRANBY -- A divided board of selectmen voted 2-1 Monday to appoint South Hadley resident John E. Mitchell Jr. as the town's new fire chief.

The vote is contingent on the parties agreeing to a labor contract.

Mitchell currently is Fire Chief for the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, a position he has held since 2013, according to his resume.

Town Administrator Christopher Martin recommended Mitchell be appointed, and selectmen Louis M. Barry and Stephen A Chojnacki voted for Mitchell at the Jan. 23 meeting.

"Bottom line," said Barry, "I go with the recommendation of the town administrator."

Selectmen Chairman Mark L. Bail voted against Mitchell. He supported the candidacy of Loving, New Mexico resident James A. Cleveland, Jr. He is currently Deputy Fire Services Director of Eddy County Fire Service based in Carlsbad, according to his resume.

The chairman said Cleveland's "laid back, small-town ethic" would be a better fit for the community.

Prior to voting for Mitchell, Chojnacki said, "Mr. Mitchell is most beneficial for the town."

Selectmen convened in executive session before the vote to "discuss the reputation and character of an" individual, according to a meeting agenda.

Martin confirmed that discussion involved one of the three finalists for the fire chief position, but did not disclose who.

The other finalist was Rockland resident David B. Hutchinson.

After the meeting, Martin said Mitchell was right for the job because, "he's local, he knows the area, he can hit the ground running."

Martin said the job was advertised with a pay range of $70,000 to $80,000.

None of the finalists attended Monday's meeting.

Police found evidence in the car that the man was planning a robbery, including a hand-written note demanding cash.

DEERFIELD - An man who was apparently looking to rob a local store had the misfortune of running out of gas Tuesday morning on Main Street. To compound his troubles, police soon stopped to see if he needed help.

Inside the man's car, police found everything one would need to commit an armed robbery: a pellet gun that looked like a real firearm, a knife, gloves and a mask - and a handwritten note, presumably for a cashier, that read "all money from registers and safe. Now and quickley."

And "quickly" was misspelled.

The end result was the driver, a 34-year-old man from Hatfield, was arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license, misleading an investigation and possession of burglary tools, according to police.

The man's name was not disclosed because the department has a policy of not releasing names of suspects until after they are arraigned.

According to police, officer Tyler Hersom was on patrol at about 5:45 a.m. on South Main Street when he encountered a disabled vehicle. The driver told Hancome that he had run out of gas, and the officer went to the station to get a gas can.

When he returned, Hersom found the man had a suspended license. He gave him the opportunity to call friends to drive the car home but nobody was available, police said.

It was after Hersom ordered a tow truck for the car and inventoried its contents that the replica gun, knife, mask and note were found.

The man, after he was arrested, told Hancome that he had been contemplating robbing a local business to get money for heroin.

The drive was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Greenfield District Court.

Van Dorsey Jr. has denied a murder charge in the fatal stabbing of girlfriend Monique Van Zandt, 25, at her 329 Franklin St. apartment on May 12, 2015.

SPRINGFIELD -- The trial of Van Dorsey Jr., accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend, is now set for June 16.

The prosecutor and defense lawyer were in Hampden Superior Court Tuesday to move the trial from its Feb. 21 trial date.

Dorsey has denied a murder charge in the stabbing death of Monique Van Zandt, 25, at her 329 Franklin St. apartment on May 12, 2015.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa G. Doran said previously Van Zandt was found at the bottom of the stairs in an interior hallway.

Dorsey, 28, of Springfield, was allegedly found lying face down on a couch, with a knife underneath him. There was a large amount of blood on the stairs and in the apartment, including what appeared to be blood stains on his feet and hands.

When Dorsey was arraigned in Springfield District Court, he was ruled competent to stand trial despite claiming no memory of the stabbing.

A court psychologist testified in District Court that Dorsey was a regular user of the hallucinogenic drug PCP and was using it the night of the killing.

Former Springfield police detective Steven Vigneault has sued the city, Police Commissioner John Barbieri, union officials and a lawyer for the police union in Hampden Superior Court over what he characterizes as a coerced resignation.

SPRINGFIELD -- A former narcotics detective who argues he was pressured into resigning amid a backdrop of department politics and a love triangle has filed a lawsuit against the city, Police Commissioner John R. Barbieri, tarnished Officer Gregg Bigda and union officials.

The lengthy complaint filed in Hampden Superior Court Tuesday afternoon by former Detective Steven Vigneault alleges police brutality, alcohol use on the job, improper collusion among officers and other infractions.

Vigneault, hired as a Springfield police detective in 2013, resigned in August of 2016 amid allegations he kicked a juvenile suspect during an arrest earlier that year.

Vigneault denied the kicking allegation during interviews with The Republican in late 2016.

He argued Barbieri and police union president Joseph Gentile pressured him into resigning, and said his troubles on the police force began when he started dating Bigda's former girlfriend after the two had broken up.

The woman also is a Springfield police officer.

In February 2016, Vigneault was involved in a messy arrest of four juveniles who stole an undercover narcotics car that he left running outside a city pizza shop.

The car was recovered in Palmer and four boys arrested. Bigda was caught on video in Palmer police station holding cells threatening the boys.

The public disclosure of the videos has hobbled Bigda's career and left the Hampden District Attorney with dozens of drug cases compromised over Bigda's credibility.

This is a developing story that will be updated after further reporting.

Health officials had been hoping the John P. Musante Health Center in Amherst would open in April, but now a November opening is planned.

AMHERST -- Health officials had been hoping the John P. Musante Health Center would open in April, but now a November opening is planned.

The facility is being built in the Bangs Community Center. It is intended to help low-income community members and those who lack health insurance.

Hilltown Community Health Center Executive Director Eliza Lake said the organization had to obtain a number of state approvals to establish the Amherst facility. "That took some time," she said.

"Given the complexity of building a medical facility, we had to meet a lot of requirements" around safety and confidentiality, she said. 

Lake said the project will be put out to bid in the next couple of weeks, with construction starting in April.

Musante, the former town manager who died in September 2015, led the effort to bring the medical facility to town.

Fundraising is going "extremely well," Lake said. So far, $2.1 million has been raised toward the $2.4 million goal.

"Once we to bid, I think things will move quickly," she said. "We're very excited to finally be able to open this year and start serving the community."

About a dozen people will work at the center, including medical and dental staff. Lake said bilingual staff members will be hired whenever possible.

The Worthington-based Hilltown Community Health Center will operate the facility, which will provide one-stop, affordable primary medical, oral, dental and behavioral health care to anyone who needs it, according its website. That means "our neighbors and families who do not have insurance or adequate financial resources, have life challenges that limit their ability to access necessary health care or are intimidated by the seemingly complex health care system."

The facility is expected to serve about 2,700 patients a year.

Yeyson Rivera, 28, and Erik Rivera, 26, are charged with the fatal shooting of Chris Calvente on June 30, 2015.

SPRINGFIELD -- A Hampden Superior Court judge has ruled city police had the right to stop two brothers now accused in a fatal 2015 shooting as they walked near where one of the city's ShotSpotter units had activated.

Defense lawyers for Yeyson and Erik Rivera had argued earlier this month that police had no right to stop the brothers as they walked quickly on a street near the crime scene.

Assistant District Attorney Karen J. Bell, meanwhile, argued police had every right to stop the brothers because an officer saw one of them put a gun into a backpack.

Yeyson Rivera, 28, and Erik Rivera, 26, are charged with shooting Chris Calvente, 20, of Springfield, on Prospect Street in the North End at about 4:30 p.m. June 30, 2015.

"I conclude that the officers had reasonable suspicion to justify the investigatory stop of the defendants," Judge Edward J. McDonough wrote in his Jan. 18 decision.

He said physical proximity, closeness in time, the defendants' obvious effort to avoid encountering the police, and the danger to public safety -- seeing Erik Rivera concealing his handgun -- supplemented the "shots fired" location conveyed to the officers.

Officer Manuel Ayala, one of the officers who conducted the stop, testified at the hearing earlier this month.

McDonough said of Ayala, "I find his testimony credible in all material respects."

Jared Olanoff, lawyer for Yeyson Rivera, said Ayala's claim about seeing one of the men put a gun in his backpack was not credible. Olanoff said this was just an excuse to stop the men. Without the observation of a gun by police, he argued, it was unconstitutional to stop the brothers.

Jeffrey S. Brown, lawyer for Erik Rivera, argued the only issue that needs to be decided by McDonough is the credibility of Ayala's testimony. He said there was no evidence presented that anyone else saw one of the men put a gun in a backpack.

Both Brown and Olanoff said it makes no sense that Erik Rivera would have put a gun into his backpack in plain sight.

Bell said, "There is no basis to believe the police officer made up the gun."

She said police can stop someone when they see a gun and inquire if they have a license to have the gun. If the person doesn't have a license, he can be arrested on firearms charges, as the Riveras were, Bell said.

The trial date in the case is March 31.

 Judge Edward McDonough decision on Erik and Yeyson Rivera murder case by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd

The 17-year-old girl was remember as a young woman who enjoyed singing, listening to music, fashion and makeup. And she loved being a cheerleader.

SPRINGFIELD - Katrina Maisonet Jones loved her family, her friends, and her school, and she loved to cheer.

A family photo of Katrina Maisonet Jones, who was killed last week in a Springfield car accident. Submitted photo

The 17-year-old Springfield resident and Central High School senior was killed along with three others in an Jan. 17 accident on Union Street in Springfield. The Jeep they were riding in went off the road at a high speed and struck a tree.

Maisonet Jones, in the obituary to be published Wednesday in The Republican, is described as a young woman who enjoyed singing, listening to music, fashion and makeup.

And she loved being a member of the Central High School cheering squad.

"One of her greatest loves was cheerleading," her obituary reads. Not only was she on the Central squad, but she used to volunteer to teach cheering to young girls at the Dunbar Community Center.

In school she also belonged to the school chorus and took accelerated courses.

Maisonet Jones was killed with two Central friends, Adrianna Hernandez and Cassidy Spence, and 20-year-old Andrew Savage.

A fifth person, believed to be the driver, remains in critical condition. Police have so far not released his name.

The accident remains under investigation, and police have determined the Jeep had been reported stolen in Connecticut in the days before the accident.

According to the obituary Maisonet Jones leaves behind her parents, Brenda Maisonet and Daniel Jones, both of Springfield, seven brothers and sisters, her grandparents and several aunts and uncles.

Her funeral service is planned for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sampson's Chapel of the Acres, 21 Tinkham Road.

Calling hours are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The burial service will be private at the request of the family.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, people may make donations to Central High School, 1840 Roosevelt Ave., Springfield, 01109.