Lester was known as Preacher Man in parts of Springfield, but a family member said he was actually an ordained minister.

SPRINGFIELD -- The family and friends of Randolph G. Lester will gather Thursday to celebrate the life of the 76-year-old longtime city resident who died Feb. 10.

Funeral services for Lester, better known as "Preacher Man," are planned for 11:30 a.m. at Alden Baptist Church on State Street. Calling hours at the church will precede the service. They are scheduled for 10 a.m.

The burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Lester, according to the obituary that was printed Tuesday in The Republican, was a native of Dooley County, Byronville, Georgia, but spent much of his life in Springfield.

He is survived by wife, Cynthia Lester, sons Bobby Gentry, Randolph Lester Jr., Booker Lester and James Lester, as well as three sisters, two brothers, 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Lester, who was an ordained minister, drew his nickname from his commonly being seen around the Mason Square area of State Street, where he would charm passersby, recite verses from the Bible and ask for money. It was in the latter capacity that Lester was arrested nearly 90 times, mostly for panhandling and disorderly conduct.

The funeral services are intended as a celebration of a long life and the many people he touched, according to one family member.

While many remember him as Preacher Man, one cousin, Masai Green, said there was more to Lester -- much more -- than that.

Green, 46, formerly of Springfield but now living in New York, said that although Lester was actually his cousin, that because of the differences in their ages he always thought of him as a combination uncle and father figure.

As a teen, Lester, he said, was like "your coolest cousin."

"He was really that guy you looked up to in the neighborhood. He was The Man," Green said.

The Republican reached out to other members of the family. After initially agreeing to speak about their father, they could not be reached for comment.

Green remembers Lester working in construction, having a light blue Ford Thunderbird with a sunroof and white-wall tires, and always having money that he generously shared with his family and friends.

Lester would frequently host event and ball games in Magaziner Park.

"I remember him as a kid in the '70s. He always had money. He dressed very nice. He had suits," Green said.

He said that sometime in the early 1980s, Lester began to hang out on the streets as the Preacher Man. Although many people assumed he was homeless, Green insisted that he was not, that he always had a place to go each night.

"He had a nice house," he said. "For some reason, he chose to be outside."

Green said he remembers encountering Lester out one night and giving him a ride home. No sooner than he was dropped off, the Preacher Man was heading back out again.

"You couldn't keep him at home," he said. "That was his passion and was what he felt was his purpose."

The cash option on the prize is $243.9 million, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery.

The jackpot for Wednesday night's Powerball drawing has reached $403 million, and it will keep climbing until someone wins it all.

The cash option on the prize is $243.9 million, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery.

Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The odds of winning the jackpot, by matching all five numbers plus the Powerball number, are 1 in 292.2 million.

The 10:59 p.m. drawing will be the 19th since the Powerball jackpot was last hit in December 2016. The jackpot is the highest since November.

One ticket is $2. Sales for Wednesday's drawing end at 9:50 p.m.

The state contends Mercado walked off a Springfield porch on an autumn afternoon in 2013 and fatally shot Powell because he was still angry days after a dispute. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- Assistant District Attorney Henry L. Rigali told jurors Tuesday the issue "in the final analysis" is what they make of inconsistencies in witness testimony in the murder trial of Jean Carlos Mercado.

Rigali, in his closing argument in Hampden Superior Court, said despite some inconsistencies, the main prosecution witnesses agreed on the major points when they said Mercado shot Hakeem Powell.

Judge Richard J. Carey will instruct jurors on the law Wednesday morning, and the jury will then begin deliberations.

The prosecution contends Mercado walked off a porch at 79 Quincy St. at about 2 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2013, and fatally shot 33-year-old Powell because he was angry from a dispute with Powell a couple days earlier.

"So there's plenty of motive," Rigali said.

Defense lawyer Jeffrey S. Brown told jurors in his closing argument there were really only two key prosecution witnesses and neither was credible.

He said the jury should conclude neither of the two witnesses actually saw the shooting even though they testified they did.

Brown said one young woman, who was 16 years old at the time she approached police with information, testified when he was questioning her that Powell ran backwards 10 or 15 feet away from Mercado.

When questioning resumed the next morning, she testified Powell only walked, not ran, backwards and it was a much shorter distance.

"The day before she had manufactured a whole set of lies," Brown said, adding she came back the next morning with "completely scripted testimony."

Rigali said the "young 16-year-old girl with all kinds of issues happened to have the moral fiber" to come forward to police. He said jurors should use their common sense and experience to understand how there may be some inconsistencies in her testimony today compared with prior statements since the shooting was nearly four years ago.

The prosecutor said despite what the defense said, her testimony the next day was not "a scripted scenario" to convict an innocent man.

Powell was shot in the forehead and the back of his thigh, Rigali said.

Brown said the two main prosecution witnesses gave information to police only after they were charged with unrelated crimes.

Holyoke City Council President Kevin Jourdain announced Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 that he wouldn't run for reelection in the Nov. 7 election after 24 years on the city's legislative board.

HOLYOKE -- City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain stunned colleagues Tuesday by announcing at City Hall he would not run for reelection in the Nov. 7 election after 24 years on the city's legislative board.

"To the citizens of the city who voted for me for all these years, I want to thank you from the bottom of the heart," Jourdain said, during the president's report item on the meeting agenda.

Jourdain said he decided it was time to move on and spend more time with his family.

"It's time," he said, without going into detail.

He is in his sixth year as president and in his first term as the Ward 6 councilor, after having been an at large councilor for most of his tenure.

"You're going to be missed. So don't change your number," Ward 7 Councilor Todd A. McGee said.

"I know I was devastated when I heard this news tonight," Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman said, noting he's often made late-night, advice-seeking phone calls to Jourdain.

"My wife's favorite city councilor is not me, it's you," said Councilor at Large Daniel B. Bresnahan, saying he was shocked.

"God bless you and God bless your family. You're a good Christian man," he said.

"Your work ethic is second to none," Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi said.

"I just want to say thank you, I've learned a lot from you," said Ward 1 Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez, noting they didn't always agree, which was fine.

A story with more detail and a video will be published later this week.

The Holyoke, Massachusetts City Council awarded a proclamation of thanks on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 to Kelly School Principal Jacqueline Glasheen for opening the 216 West St. school to the victims of the deadly New Year's Day fire at 106 North East St. and as a centerpiece to collect donations that day.

HOLYOKE -- The City Council voted a proclamation of thanks Tuesday to Kelly School Principal Jacqueline Glasheen for opening the 216 West St. school to the victims of the deadly New Year's Day fire and as a centerpiece to collect donations that day.

Glasheen could have stayed home on the holiday, Councilor at Large James M. Leahy said.

"But she's not like that," Leahy said.

"I'm overwhelmed. But I do want to thank you all for this honor. It's about being a good neighbor. That what we are in Holyoke....I was happy to h elp and it's the right thing to do," Glasheen said.

The fire at a five-story apartment building at 106 North East St. killed three people and destroyed the homes of 49 tenants. The cause of the fire was traced to a faulty wall outlet in the living room of a third floor apartment, officials said.

The Pan-Mass Challenge is seeking a volunteer PMC Kids Rides coordinator in Longmeadow.

LONGMEADOW — Organizers of Massachusetts' most famed bicycle race are looking for someone in Longmeadow to pitch in and help out with a kids' version of the event.

The Pan-Mass Challenge, the largest single athletic charity event in the country, according to The Jimmy Fund, hosts more than 30 PMC Kids Rides across New England.

"This year, the PMC aims to expand the rides and is calling for an eager, passionate and dedicated volunteer in Longmeadow to join the fight as a PMC Kids Rides Coordinator," says a statement from Cone Communications, which represents the Pan-Mass Challenge.

Last year more than 4,000 cyclists and 1,500 volunteers participated in PMC rides. Cyclists between the ages of 2 and 15 pedaled through routes ranging from one to 26 miles, raising more than $723,000 of the total $47 million raised by PMC for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Since 1980, Bay Staters have lined streets from Western Massachusetts to Cape Cod to watch cyclists whiz by during the two-day, 192-mile endurance race, which takes place the first weekend of August.

This year's PMC is scheduled to take place Aug. 5 and 6, according to The Jimmy Fund's website. The PMC Kids Rides are held on different dates.

Throughout the years, PMC Kids Rides have raised more than $7.2 million for the Dana-Farber Institute. The PMC has raised more than $547 million.

"The PMC Kids Rides are spokes in the PMC wheel, joining thousands of adult PMC cyclists in their mission to fund adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber," Cone Communications said. "PMC Kids Rides offer a way for children to become part of the PMC mission, involving young people in volunteerism and fundraising in a safe and athletic way."

Those seeking more information about volunteering opportunities may visit kids.pmc.org. Those interested in becoming a coordinator may call Justine Darmanian at 781-343-4012 or email her at justine@pmc.org.

State Sen. Eric Lesser will hold periodic office hours in nine communities within the 1st Hampden and Hampshire District.

LONGMEADOW -- State Sen. Eric Lesser recently announced his spring district-wide office hours.

Lesser, a Longmeadow Democrat, will meet with constituents in nine communities within the 1st Hampden and Hampshire District, which he represents.

"Constituents and town officials are invited to attend and express any concerns, ideas and issues they have," a statement from Lesser's office says.

Appointments to meet with Lesser during office hours can be made by emailing district director Joel McAuliffe at Joel.McAuliffe@masenate.gov or calling Lesser's district office at 413-526-6501.

Lesser's office lists his spring office hours as follows:

Chicopee
Every first Wednesday
11 a.m. to noon at Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front St.

Springfield 

Every first Tuesday
1 to 2 p.m. at Sixteen Acres Library, 1187 Parker St.

Ludlow
Every second Thursday
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Ludlow Senior Center, 39 Chestnut St.

Belchertown
Every first Thursday
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Belchertown Senior Center, 17 Eugene Drive.

Granby
Every first Thursday
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Granby Senior Center, 10 West State St. 

Hampden
Every fourth Wednesday
11:00 a.m. to noon at Hampden Senior Center, 104 Allen St.

Wilbraham
Every fourth Wednesday
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Wilbraham Senior Center, 45 Post Office Park. 

East Longmeadow
Every third Thursday
11:00 a.m. to noon at East Longmeadow Senior Center, 328 North Main St.

Longmeadow
Every first Monday
10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Longmeadow Adult Center, 231 Maple Road.

After more than four decades of service, Benjamin Brown will retire from his position of case manager at Greater Springfield Senior Services.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — After more than four decades advocating for senior citizens in the area, Greater Springfield Senior Services case manager Benjamin Brown is joining the ranks of the retired.

A retirement party at the agency's office at 66 Industry Ave. in Springfield on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. will celebrate Brown's 42 years of service.

Greater Springfield Senior Services is a private nonprofit organization that focuses on maintaining a quality of life for older adults, caregivers and persons with disabilities, according to the agency. It serves seniors in Agawam, Brimfield, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Holland, Longmeadow, Monson, Palmer, Springfield, Wales, West Springfield and Wilbraham.

"During his tenure, Ben has been a caring advocate to hundreds of elders in Springfield and the surrounding communities, working tirelessly to provide services to help these elders remain in their homes," Karen Martin, the agency's community services director, said in a statement. "While he will be greatly missed by his clients and those he has worked with over the years, we wish him the very best."

During his tenure Brown received several awards for his work with seniors, including an EXCEL award from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Colleagues and even those who clash with Holyoke City Council President Kevin Jourdain praised him on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 at City Hall after Jourdain announced he wouldn't run for reelection on Nov. 7 after 24 years on the board. Watch video

HOLYOKE -- The Holyoke City Council without Kevin A. Jourdain.

"Wow!!!" resident Johnny Driscoll posted on Twitter.

Equally shocked were Jourdain's colleagues on the 15-member City Council after he announced during Tuesday's meeting at City Hall that he wasn't running for reelection on Nov. 7 after 24 years on the city's legislative board.

Twenty-four speech-filled, fiscal-watchdog-claiming, "the-good-people-of-Holyoke" invoking, parliamentary-rules-quoting years.

"To the citizens of the city who voted for me for all these years, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to serve," Jourdain said, during the president's report item on the meeting agenda. "You gave me a chance."

In brief remarks to The Republican during the meeting, Jourdain said he decided against running for reelection largely because he has been given greater responsibility in all six New England states in his job as director of managed care at Sisters of Providence Health System, Trinity Health - New England. He also wants to be more with his wife, three children and mother, he said.

"It's just the right time," Jourdain said. "I just love them with all my heart."

Jourdain is in his sixth year as president and in his first term as the Ward 6 councilor after having been an at large councilor for most of his tenure of nearly a quarter century.

He wanted to announce he was out early to give others a chance to mount bids for Ward 6 City Council so voters have time to learn about candidates, he said.

"It's time," he said.

Councilors, some of whom regularly clash with Jourdain, spoke up with praise.

"In all seriousness, Kevin, you and I don't see eye to eye many, many times, but that's not a taboo. But thank you for your years of service and the many, many hours you've put into this," Ward 4 Councilor Jossie M. Valentin said (see video above).

"It's like taking a punch from Mike Tyson. I certainly did not expect that," Councilor at Large James M. Leahy said.

"I know I was devastated when I heard this news tonight," Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman said, noting he's often made late-night, advice-seeking phone calls to Jourdain.

"My wife's favorite city councilor is not me, it's you," said Councilor at Large Daniel B. Bresnahan, saying he was shocked.

"God bless you and God bless your family. You're a good Christian man," he said.

"Your work ethic is second to none," Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi said.

"You're going to be missed. So don't change your number," Ward 7 Councilor Todd A. McGee said.

"I just want to say thank you, I've learned a lot from you," said Ward 1 Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez, noting they didn't always agree, which was OK.

"Thank you for your patience and your coaching and your counsel," Councilor at Large Michael J. Sullivan said.

"Thank you," Ward 3 Councilor David K. Bartley said.

"I really admire your service to the city and thank you for all you've done," Councilor at Large Peter R. Tallman said.

"I just think the world of all of you," Jourdain told councilors.

Jourdain became a councilor at 21 and is 45 now. He joined the council to spread the message Holyoke was a good place to live and raise a family, he said.

He dubbed himself the fiscal watchdog and established a reputation as a tough sell on spending proposals. Under the city charter, all municipal spending must be approved by the City Council.

Some department heads came to dread City Council appearances to pitch projects and explain spending needs because once Jourdain zeroed in, the questioning was usually relentless, sometimes sarcastic, even seemingly bullying. Jourdain acknowledged during his Tuesday remarks he could be ruthless in carrying out his role as an elected representative.

"You have to be fearless...You have to be able to take on anybody," he said, adding, "I have been battle hardened without having to be tone deaf."

He strove to make the City Council as strong, if not stronger, than the mayor in municipal government, he said. He urged councilors to guard against the "power creep" into City Council authority by mayors, to stand as the fiscal watchdogs and to legislate with common sense and not gimmicks.

It was especially when Jourdain recalled the late John E. Whelihan that his voice cracked. A mainstay on the City Council for more than 30 years, Whelihan took Jourdain under his wing. The two conservative-minded old-schoolers bonded and, Jourdain told colleagues, formed the minority in many 13-2 votes in City Council Chambers. Whelihan died at 70 in May 2009.

"We were really tight," Jourdain said.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst hopes maroon will not only symbolize the campus colors but also innovation.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst hopes maroon will soon not only symbolize the campus colors but also innovation. 

University officials announced this week the formation of the Maroon Venture Partners Fund, a new effort to support entrepreneurship among alumni, faculty and students.

"UMass Amherst, as the Commonwealth's flagship, plays a crucial role in the state's innovation economy," Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said. "Our research in fields such as applied life sciences, advanced manufacturing, food science, big data and climate science are internationally recognized. The ingenuity and expertise of our faculty and students, as well as our alumni, provide fertile opportunities for private and university investment to jointly enrich our economic future."

The for-profit venture fund will invest in early stage companies linked to the flagship campus. Typical investments will range from $50,000 to $200,000, with the fund anticipating to make 12 to 15 investments over three years.

Charles Johnson, associate director of the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship at UMass Amherst, will oversee daily operations of the fund. Johnson will also serve on the fund's five-person investment committee. 

"We expect the fund to be a significant catalyst for entrepreneurship throughout the UMass Amherst community, and it also provides great opportunities for student engagement," Johnson said. 

The venture fund has raised $1.5 million to date, including a million dollar donation alumnus Paul Manning and $500,000 invested by the university. 

The fund is open for investment through June by any individual or accredited investor to make an investment of $100,000 or more. 

 

Ware Selectmen requested a moment of silence prior to the start of Tuesday's meeting to honor an army soldier and town resident, Army Pfc. Brian Odiorne, 21, who was killed the previous day while serving in Iraq

WARE -- Selectmen requested a moment of silence prior to the start of Tuesday night's meeting to honor a soldier and town resident, Army Pfc. Brian Odiorne, who died the previous day while serving in Iraq.

The more than two dozen attending the meeting stood in silence with selectmen.

"Thank you," Ware selectmen chairman John Carroll said. "Our prayers go to their families."

The military confirmed that Odiorne died on Monday. His death was not combat related, and agents of the Army's Criminal Investigation Command are investigating.

Odiorne, who began serving two years ago, was assigned to Fort Hood in Texas.

He is a graduate of Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, located in Palmer.

A program designed to engage young students and members of the Northampton Police Department in a positive way lasted barely a month in city schools before parent complaints resulted in it being put on hold.

A program designed to engage young students and members of the Northampton Police Department in a positive way lasted barely a month in city schools before parent complaints resulted in it being put on hold. 

Begun in December, the High Five Friday program saw on-duty police alternate visiting the city's four elementary schools every week to high five students at the start of the school day. Police mostly congregated outside the buildings but entered on occasion as well. 

"We probably had 12 to 15 negative responses" to the program among parents, Northampton Public Schools Superintendent John Provost said in a MassLive interview. 

"There were also a number of positive responses that exceeded the 12 to 15 negative ones," he added.

Before launching the program, the city school system buffered against negative responses by being "very clear" that students did not have to slap hands with the police and ensuring some building entrances were kept free of officers during visits for non-participating students, Provost said.  

Still, a small number of parents and teachers as well voiced an immediate, negative response. 

According to The Daily Hampshire Gazette, district employee Gina Nortensmith called the program "ill-considered, tone-deaf and potentially damaging" to some students who may have had earlier, negative experiences involving police. She voiced these comments at a Dec. 8 school committee meeting. 

A parent also spoke at the meeting, Provost said, asking "whether High Five Fridays might be having a counterproductive effect on some students."

Northampton Police Capt. John D. Cartledge, in a MassLive interview Tuesday, said, "I went to every single one of the High Five Fridays and everything was positive at each of them."

Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper attended a Jan. 12 school committee meeting in an attempt to hear and respond to community concerns. 

Provost requested the department to put the program on hold at the end of the Jan. 12 meeting. 

Last week, the program was suspended until further notice.

"What was most striking to me was one parent who felt she actually had to keep her kids at home during High Five Friday because her children had a trauma in their history that she thought would be triggered by the presence of police," Provost said. "The goal of this is for positive experience. If some of them are having an extremely negative reaction, we need to consider alternatives."

He and Kasper plan to meet on March 14 to do just that.

To explain the program's suspension to the community, the department posted a statement to Facebook over the weekend.

"NPD really enjoyed greeting kids as they arrived at school. But, as much as we enjoyed the visits, we also took time to listen to the thoughts of some school committee members, school staff and past and present parents/families," the post states. "For a large portion of our population this program may not seem controversial. However, we cannot overlook the fact that this program may be received differently by some members of our community."

The vast majority of responses to the decision on social media were negative.

Provost said something will grow up in its place, possibly involving police officers entering classrooms to talk to students.

The initiative grew out of efforts to understand and mitigate the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by white police officer Darren Wilson.

Two NPD officers learned of the High Five Friday program at a meeting of the International Association of Chiefs of Police they attended in San Diego, Calif., and decided to bring it home. 

While the program has been suspended in the public schools, the department said officers still "accept high fives, low fives and fist bumps. If you see any of us out there on the streets, feel free to ask for one."

An early morning fire blew out the front window of a vacant storefront at 20 Center St. but did not burn for long, according to the city firefighters.

An overnight fire blew out the front window of a vacant Center Street storefront but did not burn for long, according to the city firefighters. 

Police investigating a separate incident were in the immediate area, heard a fire alarm go off and proceeded to the scene, according to Northampton Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Vanasse. 

"They found flames coming from the window of the storefront and commenced extinguishing the fire," Vanasse said. 

The alarm sounded around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Vanasse said, and police and fire responders had put it down inside 15 minutes. 

Several people inside Iron Horse Music Hall -- located next door to the vacant storefront in question -- and other inhabitants of upstairs apartments evacuated during the fire.

All returned to the building and nobody was displaced. The fire appeared to have been wholly contained the the front window area of the storefront. 

Vanasse said the department does not believe the fire to have been suspicious and continues to investigate the cause, which, he added, was not electrical.

The press conference participants include MIT professor Sara Seager, whose work includes trying to identify bio signatures -- signs of life -- in exoplanet atmospheres.

Planets in other star systems that, like Earth, can sustain life — long the realm of science fiction — has been the work of astronomers and other scientists who have made incremental steps in recent years toward establishing the notion as science fact.

Has another step in that science been made? We should find out at 1 p.m. Wednesday when NASA hosts a press conference "to present new findings on planets that orbit stars other than our sun, known as exoplanets."

The event will air live on NASA Television, which can be viewed in the video player at the top of this article.

Details of the findings were embargoed by the journal Nature until 1 p.m., according to the U.S. space agency.

The press conference participants include Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor of planetary science and physics Sara Seager, whose work includes trying to identify bio signatures — signs of life — in exoplanet atmospheres. Space.com has an article about Seager's work here ».

Others on the briefing panel are Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington; Michael Gillon, astronomer at the University of Liege in Belgium; Sean Carey, manager of NASA's Spitzer Science Center at Caltech/IPAC, Pasadena, California; and Nikole Lewis, astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.

If you have a question about the finding, it might get answered if you send it on Twitter using the hashtag #askNASA.

A Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) about exoplanets will be held following the briefing at 3 p.m. with scientists available to answer questions in English and Spanish.

More information on exoplanets from NASA: http://exoplanets.nasa.gov

Nature.com's page on exoplanets: http://www.nature.com/subjects/exoplanets

Neighbors said they would prefer that a single-family home be constructed on the lot instead.

CHICOPEE - The Planning Board will recommend a zone change that will allow a resident to build a duplex on what was termed the neighborhood dumping ground.

The recommendation still must be approved by the City Council and must have a zoning variance because of the lot size does not meet the 10,000 square foot minimum size.

The Planning Board voted 6-0 in favor of zone change, despite complaints from residents who said they think a duplex would add to congestion in the neighborhood.

Applicant Anthony Wheeler, of West Springfield, said he wanted to build a duplex on the 7,286 square-foot parcel at 113 Nontuck Street. The property is now zoned for business but is vacant and people illegally dump excessive amounts of trash such as mattresses and old appliances there.

"Right now it is a dumping ground," Wheeler said. "It will be landscaped."

Neighbors said at one time the property held a small store, but it has been vacant for some time.

"I don't think it is the best thing for the neighborhood," said Edward Osetek, who lives nearby. "I think it would be better to be zoned Residence A because there would be fewer vehicles."

There is also a problem with absentee landlords. If the home was a single-family one the property owner would likely take a better interest in the neighborhood, he said.

Parking is a big problem in the neighborhood, which is very congested, said Joan Cierpial, another neighbor.

"The whole neighborhood is not the best," she said.

Changing the zoning would fit with the neighborhood, especially since there is land zoned for two-family homes across the street from the lot, said James Dawson, project manager for the Planning Department.

"It is Business A and it has the potential to created more traffic," he said.

The way the parcel is zoned now it is a "spot zone" which means it is different from the surrounding lots. A developer could purchase it and construct a business on it by right, he said.

Members of the Planning Board said they believed a duplex would improve the neighborhood and solve the problem of trash being dumped there.

"It is a real dumping ground," Ron Czelusniak, a board member. "I can't say anything bad about this project."

Other members said they like the idea of trying to clean up at least one spot zone in the city.

"A two-family would be better than having a business there," Planning Board Chairwoman Cynthia Labrie said.

Ludlow Fire Capt. Jeff Lavoie told WWLP that the crash occurred about 11:30 p.m. and that the vehicle ended up on Cedar Street.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

LUDLOW -- Three people were taken to Baystate Medical Center late Tuesday night after the driver of their vehicle lost control on an off-ramp to the Massachusetts Turnpike and ended up on a side street.

State police told WWLP that a male and female were ejected in the crash but suffered only minor injuries.

Ludlow Fire Capt. Jeff Lavoie told the news station the crash occurred about 11:30 p.m. and that the vehicle ended up on Cedar Street.

Additional information was not immediately available.

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

Crews members said 36-year-old Arthur Moscufo was experiencing severe hypothermia and had been clinging to the boat for over 12 hours. Watch video

The U.S. Coast Guard made a daring rescue Tuesday morning after a man's 10-foot aluminum boat capsized in the Nantucket Sound. 

Around 1:30 a.m., the coast guard was alerted by the man's girlfriend that he had not returned home since embarking on a boating trip earlier that day. 

The Coast Guard Station Chatham then launched a 42-foot rescue boat to search for the missing man. In addition, authorities deployed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.

Yarmouth police told WHDH.com that they discovered the truck of 36-year-old Arthur Moscufo near Smuggler's Beach and Bass River. 

The Harwich, Yarmouth and Dennis harbormaster's assisted with the search, as well as the Yarmouth and Hyannis fire departments. 

By 4 a.m., the Jayhawk helicopter crew had located Moscufo clinging to the hull of his capsized aluminium boat, the coast guard reported. He was discovered two and a half miles south of Bass River, floating in the Nantucket Sound with just his clothing and a life vest on. 

Crews told WHDH that Moscufo was experiencing severe hypothermia and had been clinging to the boat for over 12 hours. He is currently recovering in the ICU of Cape Cod Hospital. 

"I cannot stress enough the importance of checking the water temperature before going on the water in the winter months," Operations Specialist Second Class Michelle Crocker said. "Additionally, the support provided by our interagency partners from the Cape Cod Mutual Response System ensured the successful outcome of this overdue case."

State Police on Wednesday morning identified Maribel Tamayo as the victim killed in a crash on Interstate 495 in Bellingham.

State Police on Wednesday morning identified Maribel Tamayo as the victim killed in a crash on Interstate 495 in Bellingham.

Officials are still investigating what caused the crash that killed Tamayo, 51, of North Attleborough.

Tamayo was driving a 2006 Honda CRV on I-495 North near Exit 18 around 4 p.m. Tuesday, State Police said.

The Honda abruptly turned to the right and went off the side of the highway, into the air, and over the Exit 18 ramp, State Police said. The car struck a tree.

State Police are still trying to determine why the Honda veered off the road.

The State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, C Troop Community Action Team, Bellingham Police and Fire departments, and Mass DOT are assisting with the investigation.

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There are 22 students who are competing in the event.

CHICOPEE - The Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee will host the annual Colleen Pageant on Saturday

This year there are 22 students between the ages of 17 and 22 who will compete to become the Colleen or one of the four members of the court. The contestants must be from Chicopee and are students at Chicopee, Comprehensive and Pope Francis high schools. Contestants also attend Springfield College and Elms College.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and the colleen is crowned at about 9 p.m. It will be held at the Knights of Columbus Castle of Knights on Memorial Drive.

All contestants are scored on accomplishments, personality, poise and appearance. The winners will represent the city at the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade March 19. The candidates are also eligible to apply for scholarships after the event.