All proceeds will go to Lorraine's Soup Kitchen and people are asked to bring a canned good to help the organization.

CHICOPEE - The Chicopee Police Department will take on the Chicopee Fire Department in a charity hockey game at 5 p.m., March 4 at the Fitzpatrick Arena, 575 Maple St.

The cost is $6 and all proceeds will go to benefit Lorraine's Soup Kitchen and Pantry. People are also asked to bring a canned good to help the pantry and there will be raffles to raise money, said Michael Wilk, public information officer for the police department.

Already there has been some good-natured taunting between the departments. "Come watch some great hockey and watch our officers lay the smack down on the firefighters," Wilk wrote on the Police Department Facebook page.

The Wilbraham Democratic Town Committee will hold a caucus at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, to nominate candidates for the Wilbraham Annual Town Election on May 20, according to Jason A. Burkins, the chairman of the committee.

WILBRAHAM -- The Wilbraham Democratic Town Committee will hold a caucus at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, to nominate candidates for the Wilbraham Annual Town Election on May 20, according to Jason A. Burkins, the chairman of the committee.

The caucus will be held in the Brooks Room of the Wilbraham Public Library at 25 Crane Park Drive. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Candidates will be nominated for the following positions:

• Board of Selectmen for a 3-year term;
• Board of Assessors for a 3-year term;
• two Regional School Committee members, each for 3-year terms;
• Water Commissioner for a 3-year term;
• Cemetery Commissioner for a 3-year term;
• one Planning Board member for a 2-year term;
• and one Planning Board member for a 5-year term;

Nomination papers to run for public office are available at Town Hall until Friday, March 31, according to Wilbraham Town Clerk Beverly J. Litchfield, who is also the town's registrar of voters.

Nomination papers require at least 50 signatures from registered Wilbraham voters in order for an office-seeker's name to appear on the election ballot as an independent candidate.

The deadline to submit nomination papers to the clerk's office is 5 p.m. Monday, April 3. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Wilbraham Town Hall, 240 Springfield St. More information is available at 413-596-2800, ext. 200.

Shifting to party politics, the Town of Wilbraham tends to vote red in national elections, backing Republican candidates in the past two presidential elections. That said, the town still has more registered Democrats than Republicans.

As of this month, 2,755 of Wilbraham's 10,439 registered voters were listed as Democrats and 2,066 were listed as Republicans, according to enrollment data from Secretary of State William F. Galvin's office. Over 5,500 of the town's registered voters were listed as unenrolled.

Countywide, about 36.7 percent of Hampden County's 314,264 registered voters are Democrats, 12.36 percent are Republicans, and 49.5 percent are not enrolled in a political party.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and her counterparts in other states met Tuesday with President Donald Trump.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and her counterparts from other states met Tuesday with President Donald Trump.

The meeting wasn't on the public schedule her office released for the week. The State House News Service, an independent wire service covering politics and policy on Beacon Hill, noted her visit Wednesday after the White House released to the press a list of attorney generals who met with Trump.

Healey, a Democrat, is one of Trump's top critics in Massachusetts, a state he lost to rival Hillary Clinton. Democratic attorneys general have led the charge in opposing Trump, pushing back on his immigration-related executive orders in court and in the public square.

AG Maura Healey to President Donald Trump: Pick on someone your own size

At a town hall event in Boston last month, Healey ripped Trump over his claims of voter fraud in New Hampshire.

"This guy is completely unhinged from reality," Healey told the crowd. At another point Healey called Trump a "chaos candidate" who has turned into a "chaos president."

According to the White House, other attorneys general who attended Tuesday's meeting with Trump included California's Xavier Becerra, Florida's Pam Bondi, Maine's Janet Mills, Colorado's Cynthia Coffman, Connecticut's George Jepsen, New Hampshire's Joseph Foster, New York's Eric Schneiderman, Rhode Island's Peter Kilmartin, and Vermont's Thomas Donovan, among others.

The State House News Service reported that Healey attended as part of meetings of the National Association of Attorneys General, and they spoke with the president about immigration, the Affordable Care Act and the opioid crisis, with few details surfacing on how to address the issues.

Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey blasts President Trump's 'sanctuary cities' stance as 'irresponsible'

One area of friction involved a debate over whether town officials should calculate the annual spending plan using a level-funded budget.

BELCHERTOWN -- Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting featured harsh language during a discussion of the budget process, with board member Nicholas O'Connor at one point asserting that "something rotten is going on."

That drew a rebuke from Town Administrator Gary Brougham, who responded: "I take exception to something is rotten."

Belchertown Selectman Nicholas O'ConnorJim Russell photo 

One area of friction was related to whether town officials should calculate the annual spending plan using assumptions about a level-service budget, as has been the case, or if they should use a level-funded budget to begin the process.

Level funding means the same amount of spending as the previous year; level service means the same amount of services, which builds in necessary cost increases. 

O'Connor and Finance Committee Chairman Ed Boscher advocated the level-funding starting point.

Selectman Ron Aponte said it is too late in the budget process to change from using level-services, but that idea could be considered for next year, he said.

"I would suggest we do the same thing. I think that is the best way to go for this year," Aponte said.

Selectmen voted 4-1, with only O'Connor opposed, to continue with the level-funding approach.

The vote came after O'Connor stated several times that transparency is lacking with the budget process.

"I need . . . transparency," he said, adding that he has "no sense" of budget priorities despite having been involved in the process for two years. 

Other selectmen disagreed with O'Connor's perspective, as did Brougham, and Town Accountant Jill Panto.

"We have never run our (budget process) as a circus," Brougham said.

"You're not reaching out," Panto told O'Connor, adding: "There's not a lot of communication."

"I am trying to engage people, to get people more engaged," O'Connor responded. "I have been shut down every time."

O'Connor was also critical of the amount of "free cash" --$880,000 -- that the state Department of Revenue certified to the town from the previous fiscal year.

Belchertown Finance Committee Chairman Ed Boscher at the Feb. 27, 2017 board of selectmen's meeting.Jim Russell photo 

Free cash is determined by the difference between what was budgeted and the amount actually spent. Uncollected property taxes, overdrawn accounts, and certain deficits are subtracted from that to arrive at the calculated free cash total.

Referring to the $880,000 free cash amount, O'Connor said, "that's a big miss," and added: "As a taxpayer, that pisses me off."

"Things happen," Panto said, "It is not an exact science."

"You should not object to high amounts of free cash," selectman William Barnett said.

Brougham said in past years, the amount frequently exceeded $1 million.

"We can't under-budget; we can't over-project," the town administrator said.

Guidelines on free cash released last year by the Department of Revenue say: "Under sound financial policies, a community strives to generate free cash in an amount equal to three to five percent of its annual budget.

"This goal helps deter free cash from being depleted in any particular year, which enables the following year's calculation to begin with a positive balance. To do this, the community would orchestrate conservative revenue projections and departmental appropriations to produce excess income and departmental turn backs."

Last year's town budget was close to $48 million. Three percent of that is $1.4 million. The current budget is approximately $50 million.

McDonald's Corp. has filed an appeal in Massachusetts Land Court against the Springfield City Council for denying a special permit for a new restaurant and drive-up on Allen Street.

SPRINGFIELD - McDonald's Corp., which boasts of more than 25 million customers daily and 14,000 restaurants across the country, has a major beef with the Springfield City Council.

McDonald's, denied a council special permit in January for a new $3 million-plus restaurant on Allen Street and a two-lane drive-through, recently filed an appeal in Massachusetts Land Court, challenging the council vote.

"McDonald's asserts that the 2017 Special Permit Decision was arbitrary, capricious, legally untenable and exceeded the City's Council's authority and, accordingly, should be annulled," the appeal states.

McDonald's was seeking to tear down its 40-year-old restaurant at 1398-1402 Allen St. and replace it in the same spot with a new restaurant, with the existing one-lane drive-up being replaced by a two-lane, side-by-side drive-up.

The 13-member council favored the special permit by a 7-4 vote, but it failed passage because it needed nine votes (two-thirds majority) under special permit requirements.

The failed vote came after the neighborhood council called for limited hours at the drive-up window, and the franchise owner would not agree.

Thus, the old McDonald's remains, with its around-the-clock service permitted under a grandfather clause.

The plans for the new restaurant had been approved by the council in 2013, but the special permit lapsed when construction did not proceed.

McDonald's states that its resubmitted plans in 2016 "are identical in all materials respects to the plans on which McDonald's received the 2013 Special Permit."

In 2013, the council gave its reasons for approving the plans as including that it was "an appropriate location," would not adversely affect the neighborhood, and would have adequate and appropriate facilities.

In 2016, under its standard language, the council stated the project was not an appropriate location, would adversely affect the neighborhood and did not have adequate and appropriate facilities.

City Solicitor Edward M. Pikula said the city is preparing its response to the appeal. There is a case management conference scheduled in Land Court on March 27, he said.

"Our preliminary review indicates that the issue involves a difference in opinion between the franchisee and franchisor; one who owns the property and one who operates it," Pikula said. "Any special permit granting authority, acting under the zoning law, would probably reluctant to grant a special permit where an owner and operator were not seeing eye to eye on how the operations would be carried out and that seems to be what happened here based on our preliminary review of the complaint and the record of the meeting."

Walter Gould, president of the Outer Belt Civic Association, said at the January hearing that McDonald's had reached an agreement with the association on the reduced hours.

The franchise owner, Wes Powell, however, said that he needed the around-the-clock service window to afford his personal investment of more than $3 million for the construction, and could not agree to the reduced hours.

The neighborhood council had initially supported the continued late hours but then rescinded that vote, citing concerns there could be late-night trouble even though the Wendy's next door is open until at least 1 a.m. daily. Gould said he believed there were two calls for police in the early morning hours during the past two years that McDonald's has been under Powell's franchise ownership.

After the council vote, Gould said he was "shell shocked" by the events, having thought the sides were in agreement on the hours issue.

A combination of the recent warm weather and snow melt, means the river is flowing over the Holyoke Dam at a rapid rate. Watch video

HOLYOKE--As the seasons change, so does the Connecticut River.

A combination of the recent warm weather and snow melting means the river is flowing over the Holyoke Dam at a rapid rate.

According to the Holyoke Gas and Electric website, the granite dam spans the Connecticut River between Holyoke and South Hadley and diverts water from the river into the Holyoke Canal System and HG&E's Hadley Falls Facility. The 30-foot-high, 985-foot-long granite dam was constructed between 1895 and 1900.

The river is the longest in New England, originating 2,625 ft above sea level in the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire and accumulating water from several major tributaries as it flows south at a slope of about 6 feet per mile, according to the Kleinschmidtgroup website.

The waterway serves as the boundary between New Hampshire and Vermont, then runs through Massachusetts and Connecticut before emptying into Long Island Sound, over 400 miles from its source.

The dam is located 86 river miles upstream of the Long Island Sound. 

He pulled over and took a few photos of the home, intending to post them on social media to remark on the day's weather. Less than 10 minutes after parking outside of his home, another tree struck, hitting his car.

While driving home on Kings Highway in West Springfield Thursday, Rudy Korobkov saw a home badly damaged by the day's weather. 

A tree, snapped in half during strong winds Thursday morning, fell onto the house. 

Korobkov pulled over and took a few photos of the home, intending to post them on social media to remark on the weather. Less than 10 minutes after parking outside of his home, another tree struck, hitting Korobkov's car. 

A large tree branch fell onto the roof of his Toyota Prius, causing significant damage.

With a surprisingly light spirit, he told MassLive Thursday that he's chalking the vehicular damage up to karma. 

The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning this week for much of Massachusetts. Winds with "with gusts up to 60 mph" blew overnight in the state. 

The high wind warning will remain in effect until 7 p.m. Thursday for the following counties: Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Worcester.

"Winds should begin to diminish into Thursday evening," meteorologists with the National Weather Service wrote in the high wind warning. "Downed trees and tree limbs expected."

Wind gusts up to 60 mph possible overnight in Massachusetts, National Weather Service warns

The bottle and can drive will be held Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Super Phipps on Main Street.

WESTFIELD -- St. Mary Boy Scout Troop 109 will hold its annual bottle and can drive Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in front of Super Phipps on Main Street.

The scouts are hoping to collect over 30,000 bottles and cans again this year, and are encouraging everyone in town to help support the scouts by donating returnable bottles and cans.

The scouts can arrange to pick up large volumes of cans and bottles from homes or businesses if needed. Contact treasurer@troop-109.org or call Dave at 413-348-5757 to make arrangements.

Thanks to sponsors, every bottle and can will be worth over 12 cents to the scouts.

The scouts wish to thank and acknowledge the support of: Nabil Hannoush of Ergie Shovel, Dave Flaherty of DFA Group, City Councilor Bob Paul (Eagle Scout), City Councilor Mary O'Connell, Forish Construction, Player's Edge, City Councilor John Beltrandi, Lane Construction, Firtion Adams, Park Square Realty, Big Y, and Super Phipps Liquors.

This year the troop will also be using some funds to support their scouts who are attending National Youth Leadership Training, the Boy Scout National Jamboree, and Horace A. Moses Scout Summer Camp.

St. Mary Troop 109 is a very active Boy Scout troop for boys 11 to 17 years old. They meet Mondays, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at St. Mary Elementary School. New members are welcome at any time. Visit https://www.facebook.com/Troop109Westfield or contact sm@troop-109.org to learn about scouting programs and activities.

Marijuana legalization proponents on Thursday ripped Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker for saying the state is in somewhat of a "no man's land" after voters approved recreational use of the substance in November.

Marijuana legalization proponents on Thursday ripped Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker for saying the state is in somewhat of a "no man's land" after voters approved recreational use of the substance in November.

Jim Borghesani, a spokesman for the "Yes on 4" coalition, which pushed the successful November 2016 ballot question on marijuana, said Baker played a role in the continued existence of a "no man's land."

Recreational use of marijuana is broadly legal for adults 21 years and older, though retail pot shops aren't expected to open until mid-2018.

That's created a legal grey area and some entrepreneurs have jumped in. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level.

Springfield police officers on Wednesday shut down a store on Page Boulevard, operating under the name "Mary Jane Makes Your Heart Sing" and handing out "free" marijuana after charging an admission fee.

In a sit-down with the MassLIve/Springfield Republican editorial board, Baker called incidents like that "troubling."

Massachusetts in 'no man's land' on legal marijuana, Gov. Charlie Baker says

"For all intents and purposes, that starts to be exactly the sort of thing that we should be working to avoid," he said, adding that the store "violates literally the spirit, the intent and the actual language" of the new marijuana law.

But Borghesani said the new law originally had retail pot shops opening in January 2018, after a regulatory structure was set up to field licenses and prepare for the legal market.

Earlier this year, Baker, who opposed marijuana legalization, signed into law a six-month delay that legislators rushed to his desk. The bill also delays the start-up of the Cannabis Control Commission, a new state agency.

"The governor apparently does not understand that pushing back legal sales--as he agreed to do--will extend the situation that he now describes as a 'no man's land,'" Borghesani said in a statement.

Springfield police shut down store that gave out marijuana after charging admission fee

"We have said all along that we want to get through in as short amount of time as possible this awkward period where marijuana possession is legal but sales are not," he continued. "As soon as legal retails sales begin, these not-to-bright loophole attempts will disappear."

Borghesani said Massachusetts is the "only legal marijuana state in the nation" delaying the original timeline for retail sales, "which only extends the very situation the governor is now criticizing."

Baker called the six-month delay "reasonable" and said Colorado and Washington state officials had said they wished they had more time to set up a regulatory structure after they approved legal marijuana years ago.

Massachusetts lawmakers have pulled together a committee to work during the six-month delay on a bill making tweaks and changes to the new marijuana law. Baker has said he would like a bill on his desk by May.

Here's what you need to know about legal marijuana and law enforcement

Sgt. Douglas Lambert joined the Police Department in 2007.

CHICOPEE - Police Officer Douglas Lambert was officially sworn in as sergeant this week.

Lambert has been serving as acting sergeant since September of 2016. He was promoted in a ceremony in City Hall with his family and members of the Police Department, said Michael Wilk, public information officer for the Chicopee Police Department.

"I am pleased that we will continue to maintain the level and quality of leadership in public safety in the City of Chicopee," said Mayor Richard J. Kos, who made the new appointment.

He will fill a position created by a retirement.

Lambert, a 2005 graduate of Westfield State University, has been a member of the Chicopee Police Department since 2007.

Former Springfield narcotics detective Steven Vigneault was released on $250 bail and ordered to wear a GPS bracelet after an arraignment for two alleged violations of a restraining order obtained by his ex-girlfriend, a Springfield K-9 officer.

PALMER -- A District Court judge released embattled former Springfield narcotics detective Steven Vigneault on $250 bail and ordered him to wear a GPS bracelet after an arraignment on two alleged violations of a restraining order.

Vigneault twice violated an abuse prevention order obtained in January by his ex-girlfriend, Springfield K-9 Officer Gail Gethins, according to court records.

Vigneault quit his job with the Springfield Police Department in August amid an investigation into an excessive force allegation related to the arrest of four juveniles suspected of stealing his undercover car in February 2016. Vigneault denied the allegation, and has argued he was "bluffed" into resigning and bullied by his superiors.

Vigneault filed a whistleblower lawsuit in Hampden Superior Court that is pending.

Vigneault and Gethins were involved in a relationship until, Gethins says, she broke it off late last year. In her petition for the restraining order and during a court hearing, she said Vigneault began stalking her.

Judge Michael Mulcahy extended the order through May after a hearing in January. Gethins reported that Vigneault twice violated the order by texting and FaceTiming her on two separate occasions.

Vigneault was arrested Wednesdy by Springfield police detectives at the federal courthouse after meeting with Assistant U.S. Attorneys conducting a civil rights investigation into the police department.

He was held behind bars overnight and appeared in Palmer District Court this morning.

His attorney, Shawn Allyn, argued against fitting his client with a GPS bracelet.

"He is moving to Texas on March 7 ... for, among other reasons, his own safety," Allyn told Mulcahy, who opted to release Vigneault with the GPS monitor pending a change of address. "This is an issue of text messaging, not of violence, not of threats."

Vigneault has another pending charge that has been continued per "The Valor Act," a diversion program designed for veterans. No details about that case were provided in court except that it involved "a second victim," according to Assistant District Attorney Michael Wallace.

Vigneault, an Air National Guardsman, served in Afghanistan as a member of the military police in a combat zone.

This is a developing story that will be updated.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at West Springfield High School, 425 Piper Road. The game starts at 6:30 p.m.

WEST SPRINGFIELD -- No word yet on what the Vegas oddsmakers are saying about the March 15 matchup between West Springfield schoolteachers and the Harlem Wizards, the traveling trick-hoops-and-alley-oops team famous for their high jinks on the court.

But organizers of the basketball game are betting on a good time when the group of West Side teachers and administrators, dubbed the Terrier Thunder All Stars, take on the famous Wizards.

Joining the Terrier Thunder squad for the big, which supports the West Springfield boys lacrosse team and team member Conor McCormick, are Mayor Will Reichelt and West Springfield School Superintendent Michael Richard. McCormick was seriously injured in a diving accident in 2015.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the game starts at 6:30 p.m. at West Springfield High School, 425 Piper Road.

Tickets are $10 for students, $12 for adults if purchased in advance at any West Side school or online at https://harlemwizards.thundertix.com/events/101329. Tickets purchased at the door cost $12 for students, $14 for adults.

Other ticket packages are as follows:

• WIZKID!: $45 gets you a Wizards jersey, a photo op with the team, and a chance to warm up with the Wizards on the court before the game;
• Courtside Plus: $25 gets you a meet and greet with players before the game, a souvenir lanyard, team poster, and $15 off a Wizards replica jersey;
• Reserved Ticket: $20 gets you special reserved seating close to the court and a free team poster.

"Come out and support the West Springfield Boys Lacrosse team and team member Conor McCormick in this fun-filled basketball game," event organizers said on Facebook.

West Springfield High School is located at 425 Piper Road.

Here's the full roster for the Terrier Thunder All Stars:

• Will Richelt, mayor of West Springfield;
• Michael Richard, superintendent of West Springfield Public Schools;
• Mr. Patruno, John Ashley School;
• Mr. Granger, Coburn Elementary School;
• Onix Cruz, Coburn Elementary;
• Ms. Morneau, vice principal of Fausey Elementary School;
• Ms. Rogers, Fausey Elementary;
• Mr. Baily, Fausey Elementary;
• Mrs. Hogan, Mittineague Elementary School;
• Mr. Hanscom, Mitteneague / West Springfield Middle School;
• Mr. Heath, principal of Tatham Elementary School;
• Mr. Gillen, principal of Middle School;
• Mr. Federricho, Middle School;
• Mr. Perrone, principal of West Springfield High School;
• Mr. Girardin, vice principal of High School;
• Mrs. Mcdonnell, High School;
• Mr. Kendzeria, High School;
• Coach Griff, High School;
• Mr. Kerrigan, High School;
• Dan Gryszko, West Side alumnus;
• and Tommy Hing, West Side alumnus.

The status was listed as "pending" on Thursday, March 2, 2017 regarding a lawsuit that was filed on Feb. 7 in Superior Court against three Holyoke police officers accused of beating a 12-year-old boy upon responding to a shots-fired call in 2014.

HOLYOKE -- The city's first public comment on a lawsuit filed Feb. 7 against three Holyoke police officers accused of beating a 12-year-old boy was as expectedly noncommittal as it was brief.

"The city has not yet been served (with the complaint). Also, the Law Department cannot comment on pending litigation," Assistant City Solicitor Sara J. Carroll said Wednesday in an email.

The lawsuit's status was listed as "pending" on Massachusetts Trial Court online records early today.

The Holyoke Law Department's standard response of no comment about a lawsuit comes as the civil suit filed in Hampden Superior Court in Springfield accuses Holyoke police officers Thomas J. Leahy, James Dunn and Jabet Lopez of beating a boy unconscious after responding to a shots-fired call in 2014.

The boy suffered a concussion, deviated nasal septum, multiple bruises to the scalp, face, chin, left ear and chest wall and other injuries, according to the lawsuit.

The incident occurred at night on Feb. 8, 2014, as police responded to a suicidal man and shots fired at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge between Holyoke and South Hadley, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed by Janette Hernandez Pagan, mother of the then-12-year-old boy. They now live in Winter Haven, Florida, and at the time of the incident lived at 15 North Summer St. here, according to the lawsuit.

Lawsuit filed only now after 2014 incident because lawyer and alleged victim of Holyoke police beating connected just last year: lawyer

The Republican's policy is not to identify juveniles in such cases.

The defendants are the three police officers and the city of Holyoke.

The plaintiffs' lawyer is Hector E. Pineiro of Worcester.

The National Weather Service has declared a high-wind warning for all of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Gusts up to 60 mph are possible.

 SPRINGFIELD -  The heavy winds that swept through Massachusetts Thursday morning have caused thousands of power outages across the state, according to the region's electric utilities.

Eversource is reporting some 2,600 customers without power, while the National Grid is reporting 5,400 outages.

According to Eversource, Agawam is the hardest hit community in Western Massachusetts, with 2,165 outages reported shortly after 11:30 a.m. The Franklin County towns of Shelburne and Buckland are next with 234 and 160 outages respectively. Westfield is next with 130 outages.

The utility also reported scattered outages in Springfield Russell, Huntinton, Ashfield and Hadley, but these only affected a dozen or so customers.

Massachusetts State Police are reporting General Knox Road is closed because of many downed trees and power lines. 

General Knox Rd in #Russell closed due to trees and power lines down in the road. Traffic being re-routed.

-- Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) March 2, 2017

According to the National Grid, the Worcester County and Middlesex County appeared to be hit the hardest, with 2,300 and 2,200 outages respectively.

In Worcester County, the town of Winchendon was hardest hit with 700 outages. Also reporting more than 100 outages were Westborough, Southborough, Worcester and Auburn.

In Middlesex County, heavily hit areas are Medford, Ayer, Billerica, and Tyngsborough.

According to the National Weather Service, all of Massachusets, Connecticut and Rhode Island are under a high-wind warning until 7 p.m. 

The forecasts warns of winds at speeds of 15 to 25 mph, and gusts of 45 to 60 mph possible.

There are reports that numerous limbs have been knocked down throughout the region. 

Arrested were: John Silinksi, 49, of 903 Main St., West Springfield; Michael W. Dise, 38, of 14 Manhattan St. and Stephen Dise, 26, of 53 Buckingham St.

SPRINGFIELD -- Narcotics detectives arrested three men early Wednesday night after intercepting a delivery of "Louis Vuitton" heroin at Main and Liberty streets.

Lt. Alberto Ayala and detective Eddie Kalish set up a surveillance of the area and saw John Silinksi, target of the investigation, approaching customers, Sgt. John Delaney said.

Through their surveillance, the officers determined that Silinski was waiting for a delivery to be made so he could re-up his supply of heroin that was packaged in bags stamped "Louis Vuitton," Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

The detectives watched as a Chevy Impala pulled up to Main Street at around 6:15 p.m. with two men in it," Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

The detectives watched as the "drop" was made to Silinski.

Back up officers tailed the Impala to Buckingham Street where it was stopped and the driver and passenger were arrested. Recovered from the car was eight "Louis Vuitton" bags of heroin and $1,037 in cash.

Police saw Silinski make a drug transaction on Main Street and he was arrested. They recovered five more bags of heroin.

Silinski, 49, of 903 Main St., West Springfield, was charged with distribution of heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

Stephen Dise, 26, of 53 Buckingham St., was charged with distribution of heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

Michael W. Dise, 38, of 14 Manhattan St., was charged with operating with a revoked license.

Pointing to the seven transgender women who were reportedly killed in the first two months of 2017, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Brookline, pledged Thursday to lead the fight against policies and "hate-inspired violence" that threaten the LGBTQ community.

Pointing to the seven transgender women who were reportedly killed in the first two months of 2017, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Brookline, pledged Thursday to lead the fight against policies and "hate-inspired violence" that threaten the LGBTQ community.

Kennedy, who will chair the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus' newly relaunched Transgender Equality Task Force, acknowledged that while the panel has "a rocky road ahead," the reported killings and recent actions by President Donald Trump's administration make its work more critical than ever.

"We will fight back against a Justice and an Education Department that turns a blind eye to discrimination in our schools," he said, referencing the recent rollback of protections for transgender students in schools during a Capitol Hill news conference.

AG Maura Healey, Rep. Joe Kennedy criticize President Donald Trump's rollback of transgender protections

"We'll fight back against a health care system that treats transgender Americans as second-class citizens. We'll fight back against our own colleagues, members of Congress that try to undermine religious liberty in this country by using it to support state-sanctioned discrimination," the congressman continued. "And we'll fight back against a scourge of hate-based and hate-inspired violence that plagues the transgender community every single day, particularly transgender women of color."

Contending that "a threat to any civil right is a threat to all civil rights," Kennedy read the names of Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, Mesha Caldwell, JoJo Striker, Tiara Richmond, Chyna Doll Dupree, Ciara McElveen and Jaquarrius Holland -- the transgender women whom he said have "lost their lives to violence so far this year alone."

"This country owes them better ... and this task force will fight every day to deliver better." he argued.

Kennedy, who pushed for passage of Massachusetts' transgender public accommodation law, further reaffirmed his commitment to representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, stressing that he will stand with them.

US Rep. Joe Kennedy, others urge Massachusetts lawmakers to pass bill banning transgender discrimination in public spaces

"No matter the opposition, no matter the setbacks, no matter who occupies the Oval Office, we see you, we hear you and we are with you," he said, echoing remarks he made following the Trump administration's late-February ordering of public schools to disregard controversial memos issued under President Barack Obama regarding protections for transgender students.

The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus created the Transgender Equality Task Force in November 2015 to study "barriers to full legal and societal equality faced by the transgender community" and to lead legislative efforts to address them.

It announced the working group's re-launch Thursday.

Easthampton police determined the missing lawn signs had been taken by 3 juveniles from town.

EASTHAMPTON - In the weeks that followed the November election, lawn signs in English, Spanish and Arabic that touted Easthampton as a neighborly place began appearing all over town.

Not too long afterward, property owners began reporting they signs were disappearing as well.

Easthampton police announced Thursday that as a result of an investigation by the department has determined the signs were taken by three suspects, all juveniles.

According to department spokesman, officer Chad Alexander, investigating officers received information about the case which led them on Wednesday to the three juveniles.

Police were not able to release their names to the press because each is under age 18. Charges may be pending, Alexander said.

Officers have spoken with the suspects and their parents, and have recovered a large number of the signs, he said.

Police have previously noted that around a half dozen of the signs had been reported missing.

The signs were distributed in Easthampton and throughout the area by the Good Neighbors Project of Western Massachusetts, which is based in Hadley.

The signs carry the same message in three languages: No matter where you are from, we're glad you're our neighbor."

They are intended as a show of tolerance, and a way for homeowners to show that all are welcome to the neighborhood.

An article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette last week had someone homeowners expressing concerns that their signs had been stolen by those who objected to the message of tolerance. 

Construction equipment has begun preparing the land to construct a 2,558-square-foot building at the 7-acre parcel that is located across the street from a McDonalds restaurant.

WARE -- The Taco Bell restaurant planned at 118 West. St. is expected to open in May, according to company official Michael Rose.

Michael Rose, a market coach for Charter Foods/Taco Bell, at the Feb. 22, 2017 Ware Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. Jim Russell | Special to The Republican 

At last week's Ware Zoning Board of Appeals hearing, Rose said they hope the restaurant will open May 7.

Rose told the panel that at this time, there are no plans to open a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at the West Street location.

Construction equipment has begun preparing the land to build a 2,558-square-foot building at the 7-acre parcel that is located across the street from a McDonalds restaurant.

The town's Planning Board unanimously voted to approve the site plan in November that was submitted by Charter Foods North, LLC-Taco Bell.

"Ivan" was born with a rare deformity in his legs which will mean he needs a little extra love and care from his owners.

BOSTON -- With his bright green eyes and tuxedo coat, Ivan, a 10-month-old kitten at Boston's MSPCA, is all class.

He loves to play, cuddle and be petted and behaves like any other kitten -- but he's facing some challenges which have made it difficult for the agency to find a home to adopt him.

Ivan was born without radial bones in his front legs and is also missing two toes on each front paw. His left hind leg is also deformed, making it impossible for him to walk normally, staff members said.

He has been at the adoption center for two weeks after his previous owner surrendered him, but no one has shown interest in the kitten.

Alyssa Krieger, the adoption center manager at the MSPCA, said Ivan is just as deserving as any other cat.

"What Ivan lacks in mobility he more than makes up for in personality," she said.

Krieger is hoping Ivan's story will inspire an individual or family to come by the adoption center to meet him in person.

"His physical limitations will always be there--so we're looking for the adopter who can see through that and give him the second chance he deserves," she said.

While Ivan is lovable and can lead a long and happy life, he will need his new owner to be understanding of his physical challenges.

Krieger said the kitten cannot always make it to the litter box, so his new owners will need to arrange their home around his needs, which include hard surfaces that can be cleaned easily. Ivan also needs runners and carpets so he can "army crawl" his way about, as moving across hard surfaces is difficult for him.

Anyone interested in adopting Ivan can contact the MSPCA's Boston adoption center directly at adoption@mspca.org or call 617-522-5055.

The March meeting of the Wilbraham Women's Club will be held on Wednesday, March 8, rather than the usual Thursday meeting day.

The March meeting of the Wilbraham Women's Club will be held on Wednesday, March 8, rather than the usual Thursday meeting day.

According to the group, the meeting will be held at Saint Cecelia's Center on Main Street in Wilbraham. A special luncheon will be served for a cost of $7 and reservations are required.

The speaker for the meeting will be Marcia Beiter Tucker, who will discuss the history of the Quabbin Reservoir and its future. She is the program coordinator for the Dept. of Converation and Recreation's Quabbin Reservoir Visitor's Center/Interpretive Services Unit.

This unit is responsible for public programs, educational school programs and for providing general information to the public about the history and management of the Quabbin Reservoir.

Reservations are needed for the meeting as well as lunch, and can be made by calling one of the following phone numbers: (413) 596-3628 or (413) 596-8173.