Springfield has shut down a business, Exclusive Auto Sales at 720 Berkshire Ave., for failing to have a proper city license.

SPRINGFIELD -- The city ordered the shutdown of Baystate Auto Sales on Thursday, saying it was operating without a proper city license to sell or repair cars.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announced that the cease and desist order was hand-delivered by police Thursday morning to the 720 Berkshire Ave. business, which is also known as Exclusive Auto Sales.

Domenic SarnoFile photo / The Republican 

The business does not have a Class II or Class III license required for the sale and repair of used vehicles, according to the order signed by Assistant City Solicitor Stephen M. Reilly Jr.

City officials discovered there were 43 cars for sale and 7 vehicles being repaired at the site, Reilly said.

"People work long and hard to scrimp and save to buy a vehicle and we want to make sure that this or any establishment is not unscrupulously selling lemons," Sarno said. "Operating without a license also gives much concern because we want our consumers to be protected in making these major purchases."

The business owner could not be reached for comment. The cease and desist order was addressed to Ronique Evans. The property owner is listed as Hann Realty Berkshire LLC, with the resident agent and principal owner listed as Daniel Hannoush, according to state corporate records.

Sarno said he is also aware that the Mayor's Office of Consumer Information has received complaints regarding the business.

Any consumers who have experienced issues with the dealership are encouraged to contact the Mayor's Office of Consumer Information by calling (413) 787-6437.

The owner of a plaza near a proposed $47.5 million housing-retail project in North Amherst has sued the developers and the town, asking the court to halt the project.

AMHERST -- The owner of a plaza near a proposed $47.5 million housing-retail project in North Amherst has sued the developers and the town, asking the court to halt the project.

On Feb. 7, the Zoning Board of Appeals granted a comprehensive permit to Beacon Communities to build a 130-unit housing project. Beacon Communities plans to include 26 affordable housing units. Besides housing, the North Square project would include 22,000 square feet of retail space.

The neighboring Village Center plaza at 79-85 Sunderland Road, owned and managed by Matthew Corcoran of Leverett, includes apartments and Watroba's Liquors. On Monday, the last day of the 20-day appeal period, Corcoran filed a lawsuit in Hampshire Superior Court. He is represented by Jesse Belcher-Timme, an attorney with the Springfield firm Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy. 

Beacon Communities, as well as ZBA members Mark Parent, Yuri Friman, Keith Langsdale, Joan O'Meara and Thomas Simpson, are named as defendants.

The lawsuit alleges that the Beacon project "fails to include adequate parking spaces." Town bylaws require two spaces for every apartment, according to the lawsuit, but the comprehensive permit authorizes just 211 parking spaces for the 130 units.

According to the plaintiff, the board's "failure to require Beacon to construct sufficient parking spaces for the project will lead to overflow parking in the abutting lot owned by Village Center, which is already used regularly by customers and visitors to other properties in the area who have inadequate parking."

The lawsuit also alleges that the board allowed the building of a maintenance shed but failed to consider or address the effects of water discharged from the roof onto the property owned by Village Center.

The ZBA also limited the time community members could speak about the project, the lawsuit alleges.

"These limitations on the participation of public community members in the hearing was arbitrary and capricious as it hindered a full and fair discussion of the issues relating to the project," the lawsuit states.

Dara Kovel, president of Beacon, could not be reached for comment. She said last month when the permit was granted, "We will proceed regardless if there's an appeal or not. We feel we have a very solid project."

There were seven ZBA hearings on the project, and developers met with neighbors in dozens of meetings, Kovel said.

"We don't really see a basis for appeal," she said last month.

The ZBA's written decision, filed Feb. 17, listed numerous conditions including capping the project at 130 units and requiring that the affordable units remain affordable permanently and not be segregated from the market-rate units.

The town also agreed to provide Beacon with incentives that allow the company to pay reduced taxes over the next 10 years.

"We have confidence the Zoning Board took in all the testimony and made a wise decision," Town Manager Paul Bockelman said Thursday.

Organizers of the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Lawrence have canceled the parade due to cold weather.

Organizers of the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Lawrence have canceled the parade due to cold weather.

The parade, which was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, has not been rescheduled as of Thursday afternoon, according to the parade's Facebook page.

The weather forecast on Saturday predicted wind gusts that could cause below zero wind chills. The temperature in Lawrence will be no higher than 20 degrees.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's office said Thursday she plans to join a lawsuit against the latest version of President Donald Trump's immigration order.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's office said Thursday she plans to join a lawsuit against the latest version of President Donald Trump's immigration order.

"President Trump's second travel ban remains a discriminatory and unconstitutional attempt to make good on his campaign promise to implement a Muslim ban," Healey said in a statement.

Healey is among the Democratic attorneys general across the country who have taken an aggressive stance against Trump, who signed the new order on Monday.

The latest ban hits travelers from six majority Muslim countries. Iraq is no longer on the list, and existing visa holders are unaffected.

Hawaii becomes the first state to sue over President Donald Trump's new travel ban

Healey is signing onto a lawsuit filed in the Western District of Washington, her office said. Her office moved to voluntarily dismiss the case against the original immigration order in Massachusetts, and plans to join the Washington and Minnesota lawsuit next week.

"We are consolidating our legal efforts and joining fellow states, led by Washington, in continuing to challenge this Administration's unlawful immigration policies," Healey said. "We look forward to presenting our arguments to the court in the coming days to protect our residents, institutions, and economy in Massachusetts."

Massachusetts Democrats criticize President Donald Trump's revised travel ban

While the students are away, Amherst chefs will play with menu offerings and show what dining diversity looks like. Watch video

AMHERST - While the students are away, area chefs will play with menu offerings and show what dining diversity looks like.

For the second year in a row, the Amherst Business Improvement District will host Restaurant Week beginning Monday and continuing through March 19. That coincides with spring break for area colleges. 

Some restaurants will be offering meals they don't always offer, and diners will get to try them for a set fee.

"It's an opportunity to flex our cuisine muscles," said Matt Yee, owner of Johnny's Tavern, 30 Boltwood Walk. He said the restaurant will offer "something different than what we usually serve." That includes mini salmon poke tacos as an appetizer and seared rare tuna for an entree. 

Ann Tweedy, marketing and communications director with the BID, said the week of dining will be a chance to "celebrate diversity and eat internationally." She said the diversity of restaurants "shows how we have grown as a town" and that the influence of international students has contributed to that. She said people might not realize how international the dining scene has become here.

This year, diners will be able to sample handmade dumplings called momos from Himalaya Friends Corner, a Nepalese-Tibetan restaurant at 61 Main St., or a jojeh or chicken kabob from Top Kabab, a Persian restaurant at 31 Boltwood Walk. Both eateries opened last year.

Then there is Chez Albert's return to Restaurant Week, offering French fare including cod filet with sauce vert.

Thirteen restaurants are participating, and meals range from $15 to $30 for a three-course meal depending on the restaurant.

Tweedy said old favorites returning to Restaurant Week included the Lumber Yard at 383 Main St. and Judie's at 51 North Pleasant St., among others.

Attracting diners is a chance to showcase the downtown as well. The Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded the town a $5,000 grant to help launch the newly established Amherst Center Cultural District.

Yee said Restaurant Week "stimulates a little traffic through a slower week." Last year, he said, Johnny's Tavern did great.  

"It's a great thing," said Town Manager Paul Bockelman, who plans to dine out. He said there's the opportunity to try something new "or get your old favorite. It's a good deal."

Galvin warned that federal immigration policies could make it more difficult to count immigrants in the 2020 Massachusetts census - which could jeopardize state funding and potentially a congressional seat.

Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin warned that federal immigration policies could make it more difficult to count immigrants in the 2020 Massachusetts census -- which could jeopardize state funding and potentially a congressional seat.

"Given the current climate, counting immigrants, whether documented or undocumented, is going to be very challenging," Galvin told Massachusetts lawmakers at a Ways and Means Committee budget hearing on Thursday. "We need to make sure we come up with an effective way to count them."

The national census, which is taken every 10 years, is used to measure data about state population patterns and who is moving where. It is also used for funding decisions -- for example, about where the federal government should build roads or schools. The federal government uses census data to reimburse states for costs that are tied to population, such as public education or transportation.

It is also used to apportion congressional districts, and Galvin said Massachusetts is on the cusp of potentially gaining another congressional seat.

"When you look at the numbers, it's damn close," Galvin said.

Under federal law, everyone living in the U.S. is supposed to be counted based on where they live, no matter whether they are in the country legally or illegally.

But Galvin noted that, at least today, immigrants are worried about their standing in the country, especially given President Donald J. Trump's recent travel ban, which briefly affected not only new immigrants but green card and visa holders before it was stayed by a federal judge.

"When you're saying to people 'Hi, we're here from the federal government, are you here?' I think it's going to be challenging," Galvin told reporters after the hearing.

Galvin said counting immigrants is often challenging because of language barriers. He acknowledged that the situation can change by March 2020, when the census is conducted. But he noted that state officials must start preparing now, doing things like collecting addresses.

"We would be shortchanged if we didn't make sure we counted our immigrant citizens and immigrant residents," Galvin said. "Massachusetts, considering its size, has a significant number of immigrants ... from a wide array of countries. It's really an international destination."

"Because of our educational institutions, because of our hospitals, we have a lot of folks here from around the world so we want to make sure they all get counted so we get credit for them," Galvin said.

Galvin said every 10 years, the census turns up new immigrant groups in Massachusetts.

"It's a challenge getting our count up to where we believe it is," Galvin said. "We believe they're here. We know they're here. It's making sure they're included in the census."

"Hopefully by then the climate will have improved, but we don't know that," he continued. "If we had to do it today, it would be extremely challenging."

The census is not the only area of state government impacted by federal immigration policy.

Also at the Ways and Means Committee hearing, Attorney General Maura Healey asked for a $76,000 increase to her office's wage enforcement division, to bring its total budget to $3.9 million.

The office has seen an uptick in complaints over the last six months, which she attributed partially to outreach the office has been doing in multiple languages. Healey said immigrants have always been vulnerable to wage theft, but there is particular concern today among the immigrant community due to Trump's rhetoric and policies.

"There is tremendous fear and anxiety among immigrants and immigrant communities," Healey said. "Immigrant workers have always been vulnerable in this area. I think they are feeling especially vulnerable right now."

Healey encouraged any worker who has been the victim of wage theft to report it to her office.

Police are investigating a reported shooting Thursday afternoon in the area of Veterans Field off City View Avenue.

Patrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.com 

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Police are investigating a reported shooting Thursday afternoon in the area of Veterans Field off City View Avenue.

Little information is available on the incident or any injuries.

WWLP TV 22 is reporting West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurcani confirmed a shooting occured but did not release any information.

This is a developing story and more information will be added as it is known. 

Raymond Collazo, 29, is charged with murder in connection with the death of his 5-month-old son Davian Collazo Dec. 10, 2010, in Springfield. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- A defense lawyer on Thursday questioned a leading expert on child abuse about his conclusion that 5-month-old Davian Collazo died after suffering abusive head trauma.

And Dr. Stephen Boos testified that he did not tell the baby's parents -- both charged with murder in the boy's death -- that he suspected them of inflicting the fatal injuries when he spoke with them at Baystate Medical Center on the day the boy died in December 2010.

The testimony came as defense lawyer Jeffrey S. Brown cross-examined Boos, a child abuse pediatrician and medical director of the Baystate Family Advocacy Center in Springfield, at the trial of 29-year-old Raymond Collazo. 

Hampden Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup is presiding over the trial.

The baby's mother -- Dayana Pagan, 31 -- will be tried separately. She has testified for the prosecution in Collazo's case.

Assistant District Attorney Jane Mulqueen said in her opening statement that Davian died on Dec. 10, 2010 after being shaken and hit. The alleged shaken caused brain injuries, she told the jury.

But Brown told jurors Davian died of undiagnosed medical conditions, that fractures in the baby's limbs were the result of a metabolic bone disease, and that one condition caused chronic bleeding in his brain.

In his testimony, Boos said he does not use the term "shaken baby syndrome," but he does diagnose abusive head trauma.

Brown asked the doctor if there are now "three camps" on shaken baby syndrome. He defined those camps as doctors who think shaking a baby cannot cause injuries; doctors who think shaking can cause neck injuries; and doctors who think shaking can cause brain injury, retinal hemorrhages and other serious effects.

Boos agreed with Brown's characterization of the "three camps" and said he is in the third one listed.

Boos also agreed with Brown's suggestion that when he observes a brain injury caregivers are unable to explain, his working diagnosis is inflicted trauma.

Pagan previously testified that she and Collazo broke up soon after Davian's birth, but Collazo visited Davian and their daughter daily after work. Collazo was staying overnight the week Davian died because the baby had a cold, she said.

The trial continues Friday.

The man, 19, walked into the emergency department at Mercy Hospital and said he had been shot.

Patrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.com 

SPRINGFIELD - Police are investigating a shooting that reportely happened Thursday evening on Main Street in the city's North End, police said.

Capt. Robert Strzempek said a 19-year-old man walked into the emergency department at Mercy Hospital with a gunshot injury to the upper back. The injury is not considered life-threatening.

The man, whose name was not disclosed to the media, told police he was in walking with friends in the area of Main and Bancroft when someone started firing a gun.

He was fleeing from the sound of the gunshots when he was hit in the back, Strzempek said.

Police are investigating at the scene to try to corraborate his story, he said.

Goldberg said she is prepared to "move forward cautiously" with marijuana regulation, if lawmakers appropriate the money. But first she wants more clarity from the U.S. government.

BOSTON -- Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg said she is prepared to "move forward cautiously" with marijuana regulation, if state lawmakers appropriate the money. But first she hopes to get clarity from the U.S. government about whether Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to crack down on states that have legalized marijuana.

"We would like clarity from the federal government," Goldberg said in an interview Thursday, after testifying at a legislative budget hearing. "And I think when you talk to other states, they too, whether they're Republican states that have passed recreational marijuana, independent states, or Democratic states -- everybody wants clarity from the federal government."

Goldberg's office is tasked with creating a new Cannabis Control Commission that will craft regulations and a licensing process and oversee the implementation of Massachusetts' recreational marijuana industry, which voters legalized in the November election.

But marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and a spokesman for President Donald Trump said the Department of Justice will consider "greater enforcement" of federal marijuana laws, even in states that have legalized the drug.

Goldberg wrote to Sessions earlier this week asking him to clarify what changes the Department of Justice plans to implement regarding federal marijuana policy. Goldberg said she wants to know "what changes we should prepare for before we commit significant public resources to implementing Massachusetts' recreational marijuana laws."

For now, Goldberg said she and other state regulators are operating under guidance issued by the Department of Justice during former President Barack Obama's administration, which set federal enforcement priorities that essentially allow marijuana industries to operate in accordance with state laws.

In the meantime, Goldberg is still waiting for state funding to begin implementing the Massachusetts law. Goldberg told the Ways and Means Committee that she needs money to hire commissioners, an executive director, a chief investigator and other staff. Marijuana rules and regulations must be finalized. And her office must buy and install a software system that can track marijuana plants from "seed to sale."

Under state law, the state has 13 months before it must begin accepting license applications for retail pot shops.

"We've put all the pieces in place to move forward, but without resources and money," Goldberg said.

Although the marijuana industry is eventually expected to bring in revenue to cover the Cannabis Control Commission's costs, through licensing fees and tax payments, that will not happen until it is up and running, so state money is necessary to fund the startup costs. Goldberg has asked for money in a supplemental budget bill, which can be passed before the annual state budget is signed into law in late June. A supplemental budget bill that Gov. Charlie Baker filed, which is still pending in the Legislature, includes $300,000 for marijuana implementation costs.

Goldberg said she will move forward "cautiously" if she gets state money, and she is hopeful that the federal government will provide guidance before the time comes to issue licenses.

The girl is charged with leaving a note in the bathroom that indicated there was a bomb in the building.

THE REPUBLICAN FILE

HOLYOKE - A 16-year-old girl has been charged with making a bomb threat last week at Holyoke High School, police said.

The girl, whose name was not disclosed due to her age, is charged with leaving a note in the bathroom that indicated there was a bomb in the building.

She was arrested at 10:20 a.m. Thursday.

Her arrest was the result of an investigation by the school resource officer, Holyoke police and fire departments, and the Massachusetts State Police and state fire marshal's office.

The girl is charged with threatening to comit a crime, disturbing a school assembly, distrubing the peace, and threatening to use deadly weapons, explosives or other deadly devices. She is due to be arraigned in Holyoke Juvenile Court.

Holyoke Police Chief James Neiswanger and School Superintendent Dr. Stephen Zrike issued a statement that pledged a firm stand against such threats. They also thanked the work of all the agencies involved in bringing a "swift outcome as the safety of the students is always paramount to all involved."

Casino giants traded elbows Thursday in a public hearing in Connecticut over the possibility of a third casino in that state in which MGM showed up in force to protect its investment in MGM Springfield. Watch video

MGM showed up in force to a public hearing in Connecticut on Thursday to fight a rival tribal gaming company's attempt to build a new casino in East Windsor to compete against MGM Springfield.

The company's message was simple: If the Nutmeg State wants a third casino, it'll get the most lucrative arrangement by allowing prospective developers to compete over rights to build and operate. 

"It's competition that drives up (state revenue from casinos)," said Uri Clinton, senior vice president and legal counsel for MGM Resorts International. "If you have multiple offers on the table, then you'll know you got the best deal."

MGM and several other major casino operators would no doubt submit bids, according to Clinton, and Connecticut could collect a $15 million, pay-to-play fee from each.

If MGM were to outbid competitors for a contract to build Connecticut's third casino, East Windsor would be left in the lurch. 

The company's contract with Springfield forbids building a new facility within 50 miles of MGM Springfield, slated for completion in 2018 -- a fact which irked state Rep. Timothy Larson of East Hartford.

"Someone from Las Vegas is telling you they don't want to be in your town but they want to tell you how to run your town," Larson said. "It's insulting."

Clinton and Larson spoke during a hearing of the Public Safety and Security Committee at the State House in Hartford concerning competing bill proposals to change gaming law in Connecticut. 

One, S.B. 957, would secure Mohegan Sun's monopoly on gaming in Connecticut by permitting MMCT, the joint executive of the tribal operators of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods to remodel the former Showcase Cinemas theater along I-91 in East Windsor into a 100,000-square-foot casino.

That deal would guarantee a $3 million initial payment from MMCT to East Windsor and at least $3 million per year in additional revenue. MMCT estimates the project would generate about $5.5 million per year in addition to the $3 million set payment.

Connecticut would also collect a 25 percent tax on table and slot revenue from the East Windsor facility. 

Clinton said the state can do much better, citing the $60 million Mohegan Sun committed to Palmer in a competitive bid to establish its casino there and the 49 percent tax on slot revenue Massachusetts collects on the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville -- another product of a competitive bid process.

Additionally, according to Clinton, MGM's plans for the state would be far grander. If his company were to win a competitive bid to build Connecticut's third casino, the facility would be double the size of the one proposed for East Windsor, offer more entertainment and dining options and feature an 800-room hotel.

He's supporting the opposing bill, S.B. 7239, proposing to open up the process to competition.

Schaghticoke Tribal Nation Chief Richard L. Velky teamed up with Clinton and MGM in pushing for 7239.

"We're certain that we can do a lot better than what (MMCT) is offering Connecticut," "We're looking at the southwestern part of the state. The market there is five times greater than where they're looking north of Hartford."

He added, "We're saying, 'Just give us an opportunity.' If the state was to give us the right to go through the (competitive bidding) process, I would have three major contenders of gaming sitting at the table with me tomorrow."

Mohegan Tribal Council Chairman Kevin Brown described MMCT's proposal as a defensive effort to "blunt the impact of MGM Springfield, recapture jobs and safeguard our state's economy."

A study found that MGM Springfield stands to cost Connecticut 9,300 jobs.

The East Windsor facility could be running by 2018, while the opening up of a competitive bid process would delay a third casino from appearing in for Connecticut considerably longer period, Brown argued.

"We know this for certain: thousands of jobs are going to go away and $70 million in state slot revenue will disappear immediately" if the third casino founders while MGM Springfield opens across the border, Brown said.  

The East Windsor Select Board has supported the MMCT proposal and members appeared Thursday to speak at the hearing on behalf of the town. 

East Windsor First Selectman Bob Maynard said the town intends to spend $1 million from its $3 million bounty on hiring additional police and to use additional portions of the total on more firefighters, emergency medical technicians and Spanish teachers for town schools. 

"We've really looked into all the impacts," Maynard said. "We're quite prepared for this."

Larson was not alone in strongly supporting the proposed bill, but many others on the committee appeared split in their commentary. 

Both bills are up for consideration this legislative session. 

UMass has fired basketball coach Derek Kellogg after nine seasons with the program, the school announced in a release Thursday afternoon. The decision came hours after UMass lost to St. Bonaventure, 73-60, in the Atlantic 10 tournament. A UMass graduate, Kellogg went 155-137 the team's head coach, including one NCAA tournament appearance in 2014. UMass went 15-18 this season....

UMass has fired basketball coach Derek Kellogg after nine seasons with the program, the school announced in a release Thursday afternoon.

The decision came hours after UMass lost to St. Bonaventure, 73-60, in the Atlantic 10 tournament.

A UMass graduate, Kellogg went 155-137 the team's head coach, including one NCAA tournament appearance in 2014. UMass went 15-18 this season.

"Decisions like this are always difficult but after a thorough review of our men's basketball program, I believe that a leadership change is needed to realized a higher level of competitive success expected at UMass," athletic director Ryan Bamford said in a statement.

Fogler Consulting will take part in the national search for Kellogg's replacement. Fogler is led by former Associated Press National Coach of the Year Eddie Fogler.

"I am confident that our ranking as a top public research university, coupled with our considerable financial investment in the men's program, including the new state-of-the-art John F. Kennedy Champions Center, will attract some outstanding candidates to UMass," Bamford said in the statement.

On the heels of filing a federal complaint against their employer, nurses at Baystate Franklin Medical Center and their supporters held a rally to speak out against the hospital.

On the heels of filing a federal complaint against their employer, nurses at Baystate Franklin Medical Center and their supporters held a rally to speak out against the hospital. 

The Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents about 200 nurses at the hospital, alleges Baystate Franklin has declined to negotiate over nurse workload, health insurance and retirement plans offered to employees. 

Hospital officials have denied such allegations and claim the union is holding up negotiations. 

"Nurses don't wake up in the morning and decided to file a complaint. We've been telling them for months and months." Donna Stern, a nurse who has worked in the hospital's psychiatric unit for 11 years, said Thursday. "We're here today to let Baystate know it's not okay to be a bully. It's a hospital and people's lives are on the line."

Stern and other nurses allege unsafe staffing levels within the hospital, saying that too often nurses are called in or required to work overtime due to staffing shortages. 

When nurses are overworked, Stern said, "They're putting patients at higher risk

More than a dozen times -- the union alleges, citing Massachusetts Department of Public Health records -- nurses were mandated to work past their scheduled shifts to ensure proper patient-to-nurse ratios were met. 

Jillian Sicard, a registered nurse who works in the hospital's heart and vascular program, works 12-hour shifts but said she typically clocks out of work after 14 hours. Nurses are not allowed to work more than 16 hours per shift. 

Sicard, for whom nursing is her dream profession and works at the hospital alongside her sister - a fellow nurse - said the workload has become disheartening. 

"They have me second guessing my profession and I've always wanted to be a nurse," she said Thursday. 

Hospital officials say staffing levels meet or exceed industry standards.

Ben Craft, senior director of government and public affairs for Baystate Health, called the complaint a "smear tactic" by the union. 

"We continue to conduct our negotiations with the MNA in good faith and with the intent to reach a fair agreement," Craft said in a statement to MassLive on Tuesday. "We call on the MNA to resume a constructive approach to negotiations, and to keep in mind the most important stakeholders in our discussions, the patients and communities we serve."  

Nurses union files complaint against Baystate Franklin alleging 'unfair' labor practices

Joshua Tagge told police he left notes on car windshields for "shock value."

A Pittsfield parking kiosk. Patrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.com 

PITTSFIELD - A 27-year-old man will be summonsed into court for a civil rights violation for his part in a prank involving an anti-Semitic note on left on the windshield of a car in the North Street parking lot, police said.

Joshua Tagge, no known address, was identified as the suspect in the Feb. 27 incident, police said. The note read "kill the Jew."

The matter was brought to the attention of police by the woman who found it on her car and then filed a complaint.

Taffe will be summonsed into court for threatening to commit a crime and for a civil rights violation, police said. The department has also notified the office of Attorney General Maura Healey.

Police said the note left on the windshield had been printed in one of the city's parking kiosks.

The city recently installed a pay-by-plate system, in which people pay for parking, and then type their license plate number on the kiosk keypad.  The machine prints out a receipt that includes the plate information.

Police said that Tagge told officers he used the kiosk to write two notes that he placed on cars. The other note contained a common obscenity followed by the word "nugget." 

He told officers he printed out the tickets and left them on cars "shock value."

Tagge was identified as the suspect by Officer Sean Klink who located and reviewed video surveillance footage from the area of North Street at around the time the note was discovered.

South Hadley saved $1.2 million in the past year through its membership in the Hampshire Council of Governments, according to Executive Director Todd Ford.

SOUTH HADLEY -- Hampshire Council of Governments Executive Director Todd Ford promoted the savings his organization provides to the town at Tuesday's Selectboard meeting, but a member questioned why the agency is not doing even more to save its member communities money.

Members of the South Hadley Selectboard and Town Administrator Michael Sullivan also questioned the agency's methodology for determining how much the town actually saves through its membership.

The town officials said they are unsure how the council calculates cost savings, given that the price for goods and services purchased without the council's involvement is not clear to them. The council aims to save its dozen-plus member communities money by making bulk purchases at lower cost. 

In response, Ford acknowledged that is not an exact science, saying the figure is a "general savings number."

A slide from Hampshire Council of Governments Executive Director Todd Ford's presentation to the South Hadley Selectboard on March 7, 2017 showing estimated savings to the town from their participation in the HCOG (JIM RUSSELL PHOTO)Jim Russell | Special to The Republican 

According to Ford, in the past year South Hadley saved more than $1.2 million through its participation in the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust and by having volunteers assist the South Hadley Council on Aging. The figure also included savings realized by the school department and town government.

According to Ford's presentation to the selectboard, the town's participation in the insurance program accounted for the bulk of the estimated savings, to the tune of over $900,000.

Sullivan has expressed displeasure at a 10 percent rate increase in insurance premiums the insurance trust is imposing. The trust's revenues are not meeting expenses to cover the 11,000 employees from 69 municipal units who pay into the program and form its membership, the trust's executive director told Hampshire Council of Governments board members in January.

The town administrator also says there is an imbalance between what South Hadley and its public employees pay into the insurance plan as a proportion of the costs to run the program.

According to Sullivan, the town subsidizes more than its fair share of the program's financial burden -- paying in 35 percent more than the actual yearly insurance costs to the municipality. In a recent interview he said that amount should not exceed 15 percent for South Hadley.

On the issue of shared services, Selectman Ira Brezinsky said "it's talked about way more than it is acted upon," and that little is being done to make it happen.

"I agree with you," Ford said, adding that he believes there is a need to advocate more aggressively with the state legislature for additional resources.

"The state and regional bodies can do a better job . . . to create sustainable shared-services programs," Ford said.

In response to a question from the selectboard on assisting the town with economic development matters, Ford said the council would welcome the opportunity to brainstorm how it could assist, and suggested the agency's grant writer could help.

Holyoke Councilors are trying to schedule a Public Safety Committee meeting with the police and fire chiefs about the new ambulance service, Action Ambulance Service Inc. of Wilmington, which is operating in the city, they said on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at City Hall after a scheduled meeting was postponed because the fire chief was unable to attend.

HOLYOKE -- Discussion about the new ambulance service operating here was postponed Thursday because the fire chief was unable to attend a meeting of the City Council Public Safety Committee at City Hall.

Chairman Daniel B. Bresnahan said he will try to hold a meeting in the next few weeks with Fire Chief John A. Pond and Police Chief James M. Neiswanger regarding Action Ambulance Service Inc. of Wilmington, which Mayor Alex B. Morse announced in January had replaced AMR as the city's main ambulance service.

Ward 7 Councilor Todd A. McGee had asked that the police and fire chiefs and a representative of Holyoke Medical Center be invited to discuss the city having a new ambulance service.

Action Ambulance will station ambulances at Fire Department headquarters at 600 High St., at Station 3 at 1579 Northampton St. and at Station 5 at 33 Whiting Farms Road, Pond has said.

A large number of Western Massachusetts residents appeared at a rally at Springfield's Community Center on Thursday evening. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD - Several hundred western Massachusetts residents turned out to a rally at Springfield's Jewish Community Center (JCC) on Dickinson Street Thursday evening to show solidarity with the Jewish people. 

The event was organized as a response to the wave of anti-Semitic threats that have occurred throughout the country over the past several weeks--including a threatening message found in a locker room at the JCC on March 3. 

A number of high profile public officials were present at the rally, including Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Massachusetts Senator Eric Lesser, and Dr. Saleem Bajwa of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts.

Sarno spoke out against hate, decrying threats against all religious affiliations. "A message must be sent that this hate cannot be tolerated--regardless of whether it's directed at the Jewish community, the Muslim community, or the Christian community," Sarno said, to much applause.  

Sarno also stressed the need to punish those responsible for recent anti-Semitic actions. 

"It also extremely important that--working together with our state and federal public safety officials--that once this individual or individuals are caught, that there must be swift justice and punishment. These activities have to be taken seriously," said Sarno. 

When it was his turn to speak, Senator Eric Lesser commended the JCC as an organization, saying that the reason that it had been targeted was precisely because it was an inclusive institution, and because it had "welcomed people of diverse backgrounds and religions" and had "worked to commit mitzvah and tzedakah--to fight for justice and civil and human rights." 

122 bomb threats have been made at Jewish organizations in three dozen states since Jan. 9, according to the Associated Press. Additionally, incidents of vandalism at Jewish cemeteries have been occurring with an alarming frequency. 

Many people who turned out to the rally Thursday night seemed genuinely confounded by the recent anti-Semitic incidents. 

"It's really surprising to see our country acting this way in the 21st century," said Mindy Chang, of East Longmeadow, who appeared at the rally to show her support. "We really have to do something to make sure that we can get back to the right course of action." 

A number of people at the rally expressed the belief that Donald Trump's presidency had contributed to the recent rash of hateful actions across the country. 

"If we don't show up people will think it's okay to do things like that," said Reverend Pamela Porter, who works at the Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield, and who attended the rally Thursday. Porter said she felt it was her job to come out to stand in solidarity with JCC.  

"I guess if you stir up hatred you have no idea how it will show up or where it will go," Porter said, going on to express the belief that the tactics used by the new President and his cabinet had helped to contribute to an overall atmosphere that made bigotry seem normal. 

Despite fears that President Trump has contributed to anti-Semitism within the United States, the Trump administration has also enjoyed a fairly favorable reception from Israel itself--with many right-wing members of the Israeli government praising Trump and expressing hopes that the new President takes a hard-line against Palestine.   

President Trump also recently picked David Friedman as the U.S. envoy to Israel; Friedman has been called a "hard-liner" who has expressed skepticism of a two-state solution and has previously advocated for the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.  

A Holyoke City Council committee voted on Thursday, March 9, 2017 to instruct the city Health Department to ask the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield for permission to examine the extent of pigeon-droppings inside the closed Mater Dolorosa Church to determine if there's a public safety hazard.

HOLYOKE -- The city Health Department was instructed Thursday to ask the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield for permission to examine the accumulation of pigeon droppings in the steeple of the closed Mater Dolorosa Church to determine if it poses a public health danger.

The vote of the City Council Public Safety Committee at City Hall came after officials and members of the public criticized the Diocese for failing to send a representative to the meeting as councilors had requested.

Spokesman Mark E. Dupont had said Diocese representatives would not attend the meeting. Dupont suggested that the orders the committee was considering in relation to Mater Dolorosa Church be tabled pending the outcome of an emergency demolition order the Diocese has requested to take down the 116-year-old Mater church at Maple and Lyman streets because of safety concerns.

Others have disputed the reports of a Diocese engineer about the church's structural condition requiring demolition. City Building Commissioner Damian J. Cote declined the Diocese's emergency demolition request on Feb. 1 and referred the matter to the Historical Commission, which began a public hearing on Tuesday.

Committee member Michael J. Sullivan proposed the orders related to the church.

One order said, ".. the Board of Health take immediate enforcement action against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield to clean and prevent further accumulation of avian fecal matter in the Mater Dolorosa Church. This material is a serious respiratory threat and breeding ground for maggots and other fungus.

The Diocese closed the church in 2011 because of declining parishioner numbers and concerns about the steeple.

Check back with MassLive.com for more details about the Holyoke City Council Public Safety Committee meeting regarding Mater Dolorosa Church.

A Vermont man was taken into custody Wednesday in connection to the recent killing of an elderly woman.

ARLINGTON, VT - A man was arrested Wednesday afternoon in connection to the recent murder of an 81-year-old Vermont woman. 

31-year-old Timothy Butler, of Sunderland, Vermont, was taken into custody without incident by Vermont State Troopers at approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday, said Major Glenn Hall of the Vermont State Police. 

Investigation led authorities to believe that Butler was responsible for the killing of Helen Jones--an elderly Arlington resident whose body was discovered at her home at 440 Buck Hill Road, Hall said.  

An autopsy revealed Jones had been stabbed to death, Hall said.

Butler was subsequently arraigned in Vermont Superior Court in Bennington on Thursday, at which time he denied responsibility for Jones's death, pleading not guilty to charges related to murder and burglary.

Police had apparently developed Butler as a suspect as the result of several tips that came in that alleged he had done yard work for Jones for a number of years, and that he had recently confessed to killing an elderly woman.