Time marches on, spring forward we must and change the clocks we shall. Here's what you need to know about Daylight Saving Time.

It's just about the last things kids returning from spring break need: the beginning of Daylight Saving Time 2017, and with it an hour taken away from them when they need it the most, a much-needed hour to sleep off all of those spring break ... activities.

But time marches on, spring forward we must and change the clocks we shall. Daylight Savings Time is hours away, and here's what you need to know, no matter what your age nor what you've been up to:

It's time to change the clocks

Daylight Saving Time 2017 begins Sunday, March 12 at 2 a.m. Most mobile phones, smart or otherwise, TVs and computers (desktops, laptops and tablets) will change automatically, but it won't hurt to check on Sunday morning to make sure they did. Other timepieces - such as watches, tall clocks, clocks in bell towers, kitchen appliances with clocks, alarm clocks and your car's clock - will wait for you to change them, so setting them ahead one hour tonight before you go to bad will get them on the right time come tomorrow.

Where is Daylight Savings Time observed?

The time change takes place across the U.S. except in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Arizona (but not the Navajo Indian Reservation, which does observe Daylight Saving Time).

How long does Daylight Saving Time last?

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended the period for Daylight Saving Time by four or five weeks annually, depending on the calendar. It changed the beginning of Daylight Saving Time from the first Sunday of April to the second Sunday of March, and the end of DST from the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in November.

Happy 10th anniversary, longer Daylight Saving Time

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 went into effect in 2007, which was the first year the longer Daylight Saving Time period was observed.

More to do today

Though it was better spaced when Daylight Saving Time was closer to six months long than eight, changing the clocks is still a good time to change the batteries in your smoke / CO detectors. Fire safety officials recommend changing those batteries at least once a year and replacing the detectors every 10 years, even if they're hard-wired. Make it so.

When do we "fall back" and restore clocks to Standard Time?

The first Sunday in November this year is Nov. 5, and we'll return to Standard Time at 2 a.m. on that day. So if you want to watch all the devices you have automatically change themselves back to Standard Time, set your alarm clock for Nov. 5 at 1:59 a.m. - and while you're up, change all your watches and clocks that won't change themselves ... or just enjoy your extra hour of sleep, let the devices that change themselves do their thing, and turn everything else back one hour before you go to bed.

More information:

National Institute of Standards and Technology Daylight Saving Time rules >>

U.S. Naval Observatory Daylight Time >>

timeanddate.com sunrise and sunset calculator >>

The movie looks at cell phones, gaming, adolescent development, and family health.

EASTHAMPTON --Many of today's teens seem glued to their cellphones.

How does that affect the young brain? Are there risks associated with social media? How can parents help kids engage with reality and stay safe online?

These questions and others will be addressed at an upcoming showing of the documentary film "Screenagers."

Filmmaker Delaney Ruston is a physician and parent herself. Her film features interviews with authors, psychologists, brain scientists, parents, teachers, and young people.

"Screenagers" not only documents problems associated with extended screen time, but offers tips on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance.

The hour-long movie will be shown at Easthampton High School on the evening of March 28. Parents, caregivers, community members, and children over the age of 10 are welcome to attend.

Following the movie, there will be time for discussion. Childcare for kids ages four and up will be available, but registration is required by emailing coalition@epsd.us.

The film will also be shown at White Brook Middle School during the day on Friday March 24th with facilitated discussion.

The event is organized by the Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition and the city's public schools. The coalition is funded with a federal Drug Free Communities grant. Its mission is to fight teen substance abuse and promote healthy families.

The event is sponsored by the Center for Human Development, Florence Savings Bank, Hampshire Pediatrics, Taylor Real Estate, the Easthampton Police Association, Eastworks and the South Hadley Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition.

If you go:
What: Showing of the documentary film 'Screenagers'
When: March 28, 7-8:30 p.m.
Where: Easthampton High School
Details: The event is free and open to the community. Children over the age of 10 are welcome. Childcare for kids ages four and up is available, but registration is required by emailing coalition@epsd.us.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, made his case for preserving the Affordable Care Act Saturday, telling constituents that while the law is not perfect, Republican-led efforts to dismantle it could negatively impact Americans' access to health care coverage.

CHICOPEE -- U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, made his case for preserving the Affordable Care Act Saturday, telling constituents that while the law is not perfect, Republican-led efforts to dismantle it could negatively impact Americans' access to health care coverage.

The congressman, who serves as the top Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, addressed voters' concerns about the ACA during a Saturday morning town hall style meeting at Elms College.

In addition to fielding questions on the contentious health care law known as Obamacare during the more than two-hour-long forum, Neal further advised constituents on ways to organize and reach out to GOP voters and lawmakers on areas of common ground.

The event came just days after the Ways and Means Committee and another House panel advanced a Republican plan that would scale back the government's role in ensuring Americans have health insurance.

The proposal, which has drawn bipartisan criticism, would cancel the law's fines on individuals who don't carry health insurance, overhaul the federal-state Medicaid program and replace income-based subsidies with age-based tax credits.

It, however, would retain a handful of more popular ACA provisions, like allowing adults to remain on their parents' health plans until age 26 and barring health insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

Neal called the House GOP plan a "$600 billion tax cut," contending that it plays into Republicans' future tax overhaul efforts.

The congressman added that while the current law isn't perfect, lawmakers did the most they could at the time to ensure affordable health coverage by passing Obamacare.

"I'm proud of what we did with the Affordable Care Act. It was the best we were going to get and we did it," he said. "Today, 22 million people have health insurance -- only 9 million Americans don't have health insurance now. So the suggestion from the American people is not repeal and replace, the suggestions of the American people is, repair. "

Neal, however, acknowledged that more needs to be done to address issues with the ACA's individual market, as he responded to a constituent who said he and his wife spend a third of their income on health insurance.

"As a national statistic, which I know is not going to be comforting, it's about 6 percent of the insurance market, the challenge you have. But, we still should be addressing it and at a different time in politics we would've addressed it, instead of the retreat," he said. "But I guarantee you, that individual market has to be addressed."

Lindsey Rothschild, of Easthampton, asked how Democrats can better organize and promote the ACA in wake of the 2016 election.

Pointing to a colleague who supported U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, in the Democratic presidential primary before backing Republican Donald Trump, she asked how the party can "take this conversation to every single community."

Neal encouraged Democrats to engage with opponents not just in Massachusetts, but historically red states, noting that several voters likely supported Trump out of frustration with the current political climate.  

Instead of talking amongst themselves, the congressman further said, Democrats should make inroads into states like Pennsylvania and Ohio where voters face difference circumstances than those on the East Coast. 

"Let me be a little bit critical of our own party, one-third of the Democrats in the House of Representatives now -- one-third -- come from Massachusetts, New York and California," he said. "There's a big country out there ... We have lost a lot of contact with working people."

Constituents further raised concerns about the timing and advertisement of the congressman's town hall, arguing that he could have done more to promote the event. 

Jackie Neiman, of Longmeadow, said although she was thrilled the Democrat held the forum -- something she said a lot of local groups have long been asking for -- she would like "to see more of these in more communities and at more convenient times and better advertised." 

Neiman added that her organization, Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible, is "ready, willing and able to help spread the word and help wherever" it can.

Susan Triolo, a Sunderland resident who traveled to the town hall event, added that although Neal isn't her congressman, she would like to hear more from him.  

"I believe this is the first time Richard Neal has done one of these in awhile -- I'm not certain -- but we want more of that," she said.

Despite taking slight issue with the Saturday morning scheduling of the event, Triolo said she was happy to learn more about the congressman. 

"I was glad to hear his progressive roots ... I thought it was really interesting to hear peoples' questions," she said. "I thought he was masterful at answering them, but there were a few questions he clearly didn't answer, that he sidestepped."

Neal, who noted that he has reached out to voters during events in Pittsfield and Boston, said the current legislative schedule makes it difficult to hold multiple town hall-style events. 

A tree fell in the 1200 block of Center Street, and another tree knocked down utility poles at the intersection of Poole Street and Aldo Drive.

LUDLOW - Nearly 700 people have lost electricity due to high winds knocking trees onto power lines in town.

A tree fell in the 1200 block of Center Street on Saturday afternoon, blocking the road, and another tree knocked down utility poles at the intersection of Poole Street and Aldo Drive.

No was injured.

Sgt. Mike Gilrein of the Ludlow Police Department said Eversource crews are working to restore power and officers are directing traffic.

The Eversource Outage Map shows 679 customers affected as of 2:30 p.m.

It's not clear when power will be fully restored, or when the roads will be clear.

This is a developing story. Stay with The Republican/MassLive for more information as it becomes available.

A 2001 Pontiac Bonneville caught fire in the driveway due to a mechanical failure in the engine compartment.

SPRINGFIELD - Firefighters made quick work of a vehicle fire on Saturday afternoon.

The Springfield Fire Department was called to 76 Brickett St. at around 12:10 p.m., according to Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant.

A 2001 Pontiac Bonneville caught fire in the driveway due to a mechanical failure in the engine compartment.

The fire was put out quickly and the home was not damaged.

As of 3:45 p.m., Eversource was reporting 401 customers in Easthampton are without power. Crews have restored power to hundreds of others.

EASTHAMPTON - Hundreds of people in town are without electricity after trees fell on power lines during Saturday's high winds.

As of 3:45 p.m., Eversource was reporting 401 customers in Easthampton are without power. Crews have restored power to hundreds of others.

Line Street is closed from Gunn Road to Rabideau Drive due to downed trees and power lines, and police are asking drivers to seek alternate routes.

It's not clear when the road will reopen.

Another line is down on Line Street near Phelps Street. Police ask everyone to avoid the area.

In Southampton, 707 people are still without power. A tree fell on wires at Fomer and Delisle streets at around 2:40 p.m., according to social media reports.

Eversource is reporting 543 outages in Ludlow, where trees took out power lines in two locations, and 55 in Springfield.

What started out as a joke one New Year's Eve has become an annual tradition which raises thousands of dollars for local charities.

SOUTH HADLEY-- What started out as a joke one New Year's Eve has become an annual tradition which raises thousands of dollars for local charities.

Nearly a decade ago, Ray Morin got together with his wife Ruth Morin and some friends to celebrate the end of another year, and made a reference to jumping in the Connecticut River at Brunelle's Marina.

A friend of his took the comment to heart and showed up at the marina that day to take the plunge. Eight years later, the Leprechaun Plunge has become an annual tradition.

According to organizers, the event has grown each year and raised more than $128,000 for local charities this past year. 

The charities to benefit from this year's event include:

• Shriners Hospital for Children
• Dana Farber Cancer Institute
• Pioneer Valley USO
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Pantry
• Joe Kareta Scholarship Fund
• South Hadley High School Athletics
• Harmony House

Boston police are searching for a man suspected of murdering his own son.

BOSTON - Police are searching for a Boston man who is suspected of being responsible for the violent death of his own son. 

55-year-old Desmond Tahatdil is believed to have stabbed his son, 35-year-old Brendan Tahatdil, multiple times during an incident in Dorchester on Tuesday.

Police were called to the area of 66 Hartford Street at approximately 7:45 a.m., where they found Brendan Tahatdil, suffering from stab wounds. The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Details of how or why the crime occurred have not been released at this time. 

Tahatdil is described as a black male, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighing approximately 175 lbs. 

Anyone who believes they may have information regarding this case has been encouraged to contact the Boston Police Department's homicide detectives at (617) 343-4470.

Four people were arrested in Ware on Thursday following an investigation into drug related activities at a local residence.

WARE - Four people were arrested during a raid on a residence in Ware on Thursday and are now facing charges related to possession of crack-cocaine and heroin. 

Officers with the Ware Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence on Park Street at approximately 6:48 p.m. Thursday, discovering narcotics at the locale, said Sgt. Shawn Crevier, of the Ware Police Department.  

As a result, Kendra Dean, 34, Christopher Santa, 33, George Louvitkas, 40, and David Kolakowski, 53, all of Ware, were all taken into custody at the apartment. 

Crevier said the residence where the drugs were discovered was being investigated as a possible narcotics distribution operation by Ware police.  

Both Louvitkas and Santa are now facing separate charges of possession of crack cocaine, while Kolakowski faces a charge of possession of heroin, as well as possession of crack cocaine.

Dean was arrested on a warrant related to motor vehicle violation offenses, said Crevier. 

Springfield firefighters put out an apartment fire on Saturday night.

SPRINGFIELD - Springfield firefighters put out a kitchen fire at an apartment building in the city's Six Corners neighborhood on Saturday night. 

The crew responded to a residence at 66 Mill Street at approximately 6:58 p.m., where a fire was in progress in an apartment kitchen on the building's first floor. 

The fire was put out quickly, said Dennis Leger, spokesman for the Springfield Fire Department.

Leger also said that the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the department's Investigation Unit.

The building suffered approximately $5,000 in damages, Leger said.  

For the local food connoisseur, it was an afternoon of pure delight. Tables filled with chocolate creations, warm bowls of chili, and a variety of chowders were all part of the YMCA of Greater Westfield 'Chocolate, Chowder & Chile Cook Off' fundraiser Saturday.

WESTFIELD - For the local food connoisseur, it was an afternoon of pure delight. Tables filled with chocolate creations, warm bowls of chili, and a variety of chowders were all part of the YMCA of Greater Westfield's 'Chocolate, Chowder & Chile Cook Off' fundraiser Saturday.

YMCA Event Organizer Cindy Agan said this was the seventh-year that the YMCA has been staging fundraisers. Past fundraisers included donations to the Cancer House of Hope, the Salvation Army, and other local organizations. Donations ranged from $3,200 - $3,500, according to Agan.

Proceeds from Saturday's fundraiser will be donated to YMCA LIVESTRONG. This free 12-week exercise program is for cancer survivors, developed by Stanford University. The program is designed for people who are currently in or have completed treatment and are physically deconditioned.

Competing in the Chili Category was: The Arbors of Westfield with their Go Green and Wild chili's, The Westfield Fire Department and their custom blended Fire House chili , Genesis Health Care with their Cardiac Arrest chili, the Kiwanis Club and their Kiwanis' Kicking chili, the Westfield Police Department's secret blend of 5-Times A Charm chili, the Rapids Bar & Grill and their special Rapids Bar & Grill chili, the Westfield Rotary Club with their C-Dawg chili, and Rudy's Rude Eye BBQ secret Rude Eye BBQ chili.

In the Chocolate Category was: Alessio's Pizza with peanut butter Ghirardelli cupcakes, Armbrook Village with their dark chocolate brownies with spiced almonds, G.I.L.T.E. Phyl's chocolate snack krack, the Kiwanis Club with their chocolate truffles, Mama Cakes and her peanut butter cupcakes, Classic Burgers with their homemade chocolate and raspberry ice cream, and Mrs. Murphy's Donuts with their handmade chocolate dips.

The Chowder Category attracted restaurants and organizations such as: Alessio's Pizza and their chicken and corn chowder, the Classic Burger and their cheeseburger chowder, Rudy's Rude Eye BBQ and their Rudy's Rude Eye BBQ corn chowder and bacon, the Colorful Chef Chanterelle and their signature New England clam chowder, and Westfield Technical-Academy with their WTA clam chowder.

Visitors voted and declared the Westfield Fire Department with the best chili, as Alessio's Pizza claimed first place for their chicken and corn chowder. Mama Cakes claimed the top chocolate spot with their peanut butter cupcakes. Agan estimated 350 visitors attended the two-hour event.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Plans to pay for the playground entail using $300,000 from a government grant the town is seeking.

 

PALMER -- The Town Council is scheduled to discuss at Monday's meeting a proposal to build a municipal playground in Thorndike village for an estimated $343,985.

The plan envisions covering $300,000 of the cost via a community development block grant Palmer is seeking, $22,000 from "Program Income funds" and $21,985 from town reserves, a report submitted to the council says.

The council is also expected to set a date for a public hearing to discuss appropriate uses for the Converse Middle School and elicit comments from citizens.

When the school year ends in June, Converse will close, as the School Committee has voted to relocate six- and seventh-graders to the high school as a cost-savings measure.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

Staff at the Springfield daily newspaper earned more than two-dozen awards in the 30,000 and over circulation category at the association's dinner on Feb. 25 at the Boston Mariott Long Wharf Hotel. Watch video

The Republican and Sunday Republican are the recipients of key honors for writing, photography, design and advertising in the New England Better Newspaper Competition sponsored by the New England Newspaper & Press Association.

Staff at the Springfield daily newspaper earned more than two-dozen awards in the 30,000 and over circulation category at the association's dinner on Feb. 25 at the Boston Mariott Long Wharf Hotel. The contest annually recognizes outstanding journalism at New England newspapers in five weekly and daily categories.

More than 3,226 entries were reviewed by judges for work published between Aug. 1, 2015 and July 31.

"The Republican received a total of 21 awards, ranging from reporting, photography, layout and design, headline writing and videography. We received nine first-place awards. It was truly a great effort across the entire spectrum of journalism and is reflective of our talented staff of writers and editors," said executive editor Wayne E. Phaneuf.

"The staff of the content and publications teams at The Republican work every day, 365 days each year, to produce a newspaper which is interesting and informative for our readers," said Cynthia G. Simison, managing editor who oversees the print publications. "These honors validate all the hard work and dedication by an incredibly talented group of people."

Among the top awards, "Outlook 2016: Working for the Future" was honored as the best business section in New England, marking the fourth time in the past five years that the Sunday Republican's premier business and economic development section received the top honor.

"Outlook 2016 stands as a testament to the stupendous critical thinking, organizing and attention to details that mark outstanding work," wrote the judges.  "The five sections published over two days dig deep to take readers through the economics of the Pioneer Valley, the causes, the cures and the results. It could be a textbook for a master's level degree in community growth and job creation."

Said Simison, who conceives and edits the content for the annual section, "It is humbling to read this level of comments about our work from the panel of distinguished judges. Our design and production team deserve the bulk of the kudos for creating the presentation for our readers." Outlook 2016, which also earned a third place honor among all special sections, was designed and produced by Patricia Thompson and Annmarie Murdzia.

Staff writers Stephanie Barry and Ron Chimelis were among the first-place honorees. Barry earned two first-place awards, one for crime and courts reporting for her four-part series published in December 2015 about organized crime in Springfield and the other for human interest feature story for her piece, "Death brings no solace," about two men confronting the death of one's father in prison while serving a life term for the murder of the other's dad.

Commented the judges about the mob series, "This revealing series shows how a past Mafia case still resonated in the newspaper's community. It's a story that might have been dismissed as old news, but not in this journalist's hands."

And, of Barry's honored feature story, the judges wrote, "The opportunity to tackle a story like this rarely presents itself once in any reporter's career, and, in too many cases, when it does, the writer comes up short in terms of both the story and the subjects. Quite the opposite here: well told, often gripping narrative and exhibiting excellent skill getting key details out of her subjects."

Chimelis received first-place honors for commentary writing.

Said the judges of the piece "Put yourself in Granby cop's shoes" -- about the case of a Granby officer who pulled over former Belchertown police chief Francis Fox for driving erratically -- "The writer most effectively presents the 'other side' of a local contretemps."

Chimelis also received a third-place award for sports feature story.

In photography categories, staff photographers Dave Roback and Don Treeger earned multiple awards, including Roback's first-place honor for the personality photo category for an image of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, shot during the Democratic convention in Springfield, and Treeger's first-place feature photo entry for an image of a child swimming underwater at the pool at Forest Park in Springfield.

Assistant managing editor Greg Saulmon earned a first-place honor for spot news video for his footage from the 2016 collapse of the National Guard armory building in Holyoke. Said the judges, "This spot news video enlivened the story very nicely."

The Republican's Advertising Department earned first-place awards for special advertising supplement and local display advertisement, along with five other second- and third-place awards.

Said advertising director Mark French, "I'm very proud to have my design team recognized for their accomplishments. The creativity and quality of their work just keeps getting better, much to the delight of our advertising clients."

The publications team for The Republican and Sunday Republican also earned first and second place honors for front-page design. Thompson served as lead designer for the two pages, one on May 29 which launched the newspapers' series marking the fifth anniversary of the 2011 tornadoes and the other on Dec. 6, 2015, which highlighted a story about Pearl Harbor attack veterans from World War II.

Of the tornado series front page, the judges wrote, "This submission won for a tightly focused package of Sunday articles insisting the reader look inside. The leafless silhouette of a tornado-ravaged tree drew attention to a retrospective look at a powerful storm that devastated Springfield five years earlier."

The week-long retrospective series marking the five-year anniversary also earned an honorable mention for The Republican and writers Barry, Johnson and Peter Goonan. Said the judges, "The reporting taken collectively is well worthy of recognition. All three reporters did spectacular work weaving historical details and interview content into a well thought out, photographed and designed series on Springfield's devastating tornado."

Jason Remillard, a curator and page producer, earned a first-place award for headline writing. The entry, "David signs Goliath deal," was published on Dec. 2, 2015, when pitcher David Price inked a seven-year, $217 million deal with the Boston Red Sox.

Among the other writing and photography awards, Patrick Johnson earned a third-place award for crime and courts reporting for his series published in September 2015 about the "Granby Girl" cold case. Said the judges, "At its heart, this well-written series speaks to what fascinates all of us when it comes to crime and punishment, making it all very human."

The Republican's Statehouse writer, Shira Schoenberg, received a second-place award for health reporting for her Jan. 3, 2016, story, "High suicide rates plague correction officers."

Other photography awards included second and third-place honors for Roback and Treeger, respectively, in the category of news feature photo, third-place awards for Saulmon for general news and personality photos, a second-place honor for now retired photographer Mark M. Murray in the category of pictorial photo

The publications team also received second-place honors in the category of overall design and presentation. Wrote the judges, "Clear, consistent design. Structure and spacing are well ordered. The design clearly has reader comfort and accessibility in mind."

Designer Thompson also earned a third-place award for a food page published on March 17 that highlighted St. Patrick's Day tips for cooking a corned beef dinner.

The Republican's annual summer entertainment section, published on May 26, earned second-place honors among arts and entertainment sections. "The composition of the front page is a thoughtful wrap-up of what is inside this interesting guide," wrote the judges.

The Republican's advertising team swept the top three awards for the advertising supplement category, led by the Better Health cancer section designed by Michelle Johnson earning top honors. She also earned top honors for local color display ad, while designer Megan Connor-Thomas took third place in that category.

Third-place awards also went to designers Steve Dunnigan and Sam Judson for real estate and automotive display ads, respectively.

Slainte Restaurant at 80 Jarvis Ave. in Holyoke, Massachusetts is perhaps the quintessential eatery and bar when it comes to celebration of the St. Patrick's season with a Gaelic name that is pronounced "SLAWN-cha" and means "good health" or "cheers" and coming in a city that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to its parade every year.

HOLYOKE -- First, the name -- Slainte.

It's pronounced "SLAWN-cha" and it's the Gaelic phrase for "good health" or "cheers," and it's also the anchor in the name of a local eatery and bar called Slainte Restaurant at 80 Jarvis Ave.

"That's the first thing people ask, 'How do you pronounce that?' " dining room supervisor Gail Page said.

So the restaurant and bar with the name rooted in an ancient Irish language gets another look in this city and in this season that features annual celebrations that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the 66th Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade, coming up on March 19, and the 42nd Holyoke St. Patrick's Road Race, set for March 18.

"St. Patrick's Day for us is like Mardi Gras -- in more ways than one," Slainte General Manager Robbie Bocon said Thursday.

"For us, St. Patrick's Day, it's a feeling. We get it, the staff gets it, all of Holyoke gets it. It's the end of winter. It's like getting out of the cold," he said.

The philosophy of Slainte Restaurant is it's a place to be comfortable, he said.

"Comfortable has to come from who works for you. It comes from the staff, it comes from the management," he said.

The Guinness beef stew is available year-round and comes with a shamrock-shaped croissant, and on March 1, the restaurant starts serving corned beef and cabbage, he said.

Specialty drinks include a Luck of the Irish martini and a green Long Island Ice tea.

And for the first time this year, Abandoned Building Brewery in Easthampton is brewing a beer exclusively for Slainte Restaurant and its sister restaurant in Northampton, Eastside Grill. The brew is a dark English red beer called "Far Darrig," or "red man," he said.

Plus there's the restaurant's St. Patrick's week music schedule:

For those who like capping an experience by taking stuff home, Slainte Restaurant T-shirts that say "The most awesomest place ... that you can't pronounce" are available for $20.

The dining room and bar seat about 100, the patio another 100 and the function room 85, Bocon said.

Slainte's hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the dining room closing at 10 p.m., Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. and closed on Monday.

Fire authorities say two trash fires in an apartment building on Union Street were intentionally set, and investigators are asking for the public's help in identifying the culpruit.

SPRINGFIELD-- Two trash fires in the hallways of a Union Street building were intentionally set, investigators said early Sunday morning.

Debris left from a small fire set in the first floor vesitbule at 282 Union St., early Sunday morning. Courtesy Springfield Fire Department 

Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said the first fire was reported at 12:12 a.m. Responding firefighters found a small trash fire in the first level of the entryway at 282 Union Street. The fire was quickly extinguished and the debris cleaned up.

Residents remained in their apartment as firefighters extinguished the small fire.

Leger said the fire slightly charred a door and burned the tiles the fire was set on. He estimated damages at less than $5,000.

At about 1:48 a.m. firefighters were again called to the Union Street building for a second trash fire. This time the fire as set in a pile of trash in the entry staircase on the second floor of 286 Union Street. The entrances at the two addresses each service a different part of the same larger building.

The second fire forced firefighters to evacuate many of the units serviced by the second entrance as thick smoke rose up the stairway. Groups of residents stood out in the frigid cold some wrapped in blankets. They were allowed to return to their apartments after the smoke was evacuated.

Firefighters had to search out possible extension of fire by disassembling door casings and baseboards. No extension of the fire into the structure of the building was found.

Fire officials place the damages from the second fire at just about $5,000.

Later in the early morning hours, a series of suspicious fires swept through the city, destroying homes and causing destruction. 

Leger said anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contract the Springfield Fire Investigation Unit at (413) 787-6370.

Residents waited in the bitter cold for firefighters to complete overhauling the hallway at 286 Union Street just about 90 minutes after a similar fire scorched the floor tiles in the 282 Union St. enrtrywayDave Canton, Republican 

A Lynn man is accused of attacking an Uber driver Saturday morning then stealing the driver's car.

A Lynn man is accused of attacking an Uber driver Saturday morning then stealing the driver's car.

Fox25 News reports that 33-year-old Nicholas Fabrizio of Lynn was charged with carjacking and assault and battery Saturday afternoon in connection with the incident.

The television station reports that an Uber driver picked up four people in Boston on Saturday. Two women began to argue inside the car and the driver asked the passengers to get out in Medford, Fox25 News reports.

Fabrizio is accused of assaulting the driver then taking the driver's car with a female passenger still inside, WCVB News reports.

The television station said police were able to recover the stolen car in Malden. The driver was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.

Firefighter dies from injuries after crash with alleged drunk driver en route to fire that claimed life of 4-year-old. Watch video

One by one, first responders pulled three people--a man and two young girls--from the smoke and the flames that lit up the night sky over uptown Harrisburg on Friday.

Grainy camera phone video documented the horrible tableau: a police officer cradles a girl in his arms as he dashes into the street. EMTs converge on the pair to begin their work amid screams of terror and disbelief from neighbors and family members forced behind yellow caution tape.

Across town, up on Allison Hill, an 18-year-old driving a stolen car under the influence fled what Police Capt. Gabriel Olivera described as "a horrific scene." The force of the crash sent Fire Lt. Dennis DeVoe's vehicle across the intersection at 14^th and Walnut and into a vacant lot.

Lt. Dennis DeVoeChristine Vendel, PennLive file photo 

DeVoe was a few short blocks from the fire station where he would have picked up his turnout gear and joined his compatriots uptown. Instead, he followed other victims from the row house to Hershey Medical Center.

DeVoe died of his injuries on Saturday. So did a 4-year-old girl from the row home who fell as she tried to escape from the second story of the home in the 2500 block of Lexington Street. The two other young girls, who were pulled from the conflagration, remained in critical condition at the Lehigh Valley Health Network's Regional Burn Center. A teenage boy and an adult man, the girl's father, were treated and released for smoke inhalation.

"And it's all because of a hoverboard--just a hoverboard," lamented Charles Dominick, who said his brother was "in a bad position right now" having lost one daughter and with others fighting for their lives. "A family as good as them, they don't deserve this. They really don't."

Fire Chief Brian Enterline, his voice cracking from exhaustion and grief as he talked about DeVoe, warned about the dangers associated with such seemingly innocuous toys.

"We would ask if you are using these things and they are knock-off brands, please not use them," he said, at a press conference Saturday. "We've seen too many fires and too many fire fatalities as a result of these hoverboards."

Enterline said a rechargeable hoverboard plugged into a first-floor electrical outlet was identified as the cause of the blaze. The family, whose names have not been released by the authorities, was on the first floor when it started, he said.

"They heard some sizzling and crackling in the hoverboard and, shortly thereafter, it exploded in flames," he said.

A rash of hoverboard fires prompted a federal probe, lawsuits and a number of bans from colleges across the country, including in Pennsylvania. A number of airlines also banned the boards from flights while retailers like Amazon and Toys R' Us eventually stopped carrying them.

"Recent information has revealed that the batteries in the devices are dangerous and prone to explosion," read a January 2016 letter to Millersville University students announcing such a ban.

"The devices present an unacceptable safety and fire risk, and due to the current safety concerns of this item, we have made the decision not to allow them in the residence halls for the Spring 2016 term."

In a December 2015 interview with NPR, Jay Whitacre, a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, said it was the powerful and sometimes poorly constructed batteries inside hoverboards that made some models a fire risk.

"These things have more lithium-ion batteries in them than most things because they're used to move you around," he said, adding: "There's just more energy in a small space and so if something does go wrong, it's a bit more catastrophic."

Irregularly sized lithium-ion batteries were also blamed for a rash of fires seen with Samsung's rollout of its Note 7 phone last year.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's concluded that no hoverboard on the market met its safety standards. Then, in 2016, more than 500,000 hoverboards were recalled because of the risk of fire or explosions.

It remained unclear Saturday what brand or variety of hoverboard caused the Harrisburg fire but the fallout was readily apparent.

The Red Cross of Central Pennsylvania helped 21 people who were displaced from the row home where the fire started and two adjacent units.

Residents and fire officials sifted through the rubble Saturday, treading cautiously across charred floorboards frozen solid with ice. The first floor of the unit where the fire began was gutted, with rust-colored icicles suspended from the blackened roof beams like stalactites in a cave.

The responders were visibly shaken from what Enterline described as "an extremely devastating night." Many, including DeVoe, had been attending a funeral service for a colleague who recently died of cancer when the call came in.

"It's a long night," Enterline said. "We haven't been home since yesterday at 7 o'clock in the morning, so we're going without sleep right now. Just please keep the troops in your thoughts and prayers. These guys go above and beyond every day of the week for the citizens of our great city."

Harrisburg neighborhood comes to grips with toll of devastating fire

With so many officers responding to the uptown blaze, Olivera said units from neighboring townships were called to the crash at 14^th and Walnut.

Witnesses told investigators that DeVoe was driving westbound on Walnut Street at normal speed when the vehicle driven by Khanyae Kendall went through a stop sign while traveling south on 14^th Street, Olivera said. Both cars came to rest in an open lot on the northwest corner of the intersection.

Khanyae KendallHarrisburg police 

Kendall, who allegedly fled the scene, later arrived at Harrisburg Hospital. While there, Olivera said, she "indicated she was in a minor accident and just wanted to get checked." She denied any involvement with the crash.

DeVoe died late Saturday.

Olivera said investigators, however, determined that Kendall was responsible for the crash and that she had been driving a stolen vehicle. She also failed a field sobriety test, he said, although it wasn't clear what substance she had allegedly taken.

Kendall was charged with aggravated assault by motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence, driving without a license and a number of other traffic offenses.

In addition to the two girls who remained in the hospital, Enterline said a teenage boy and an adult male, the victims' father, were treated and released from Hershey Medical Center for smoke inhalation.

A number of people drove or walked past the scene at Lexington Street on Saturday but no one was willing to speak publicly. One noticed the fire hydrant directly in front of the three-story row home and struggled to fathom how it could have gone up so fast.

Dominick, still coping with his family's loss, shared a common concern about the police's seeming preoccupation with crowd control. Camera phone video from Friday evening showed police ushering onlookers back away from the scene, a part of the protocol for such incidents.

The police's approach, Dominick said, was "crowd control or you're going to jail." This came after family members helped the first fire crews on the scene put up the ladders they would eventually use to rescue those trapped inside.

"I can't believe this happened," he said. "It's unreal."

Staff writers Colin Deppen, Joe Elias and David Wenner and photographer Daniel Zampogna contributed to this report.

This article was updated to include news of DeVoe's death.

Hoverboard explosion blamed for devastating Harrisburg fire after year of recalls and burn injuries

Fire investigators said they are suspicious of several fires that destroyed or heavily damaged homes on Andrews and Hancock streets overnight. Two earlier fires are definitely set on purpose authorities said.

SPRINGFIELD-- Firefighters spent a long cold night battling fires in various parts of the city. A total of five buildings were damaged or destroyed by fire beginning just after 12 a.m.

Two trash fires in the hallways of a Union Street apartment building were intentionally set, investigators said early Sunday morning.

Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said the first fire was reported at 12:12 a.m. Responding firefighters found a small trash fire in the first level of the entryway at 282 Union Street. The fire was quickly extinguished and the debris cleaned up.

Residents remained in their apartment as firefighters extinguished the small fire.

Leger said the fire slightly charred a door and burned the tiles the fire was set on. He estimated damages at less than $5,000.

At about 1:48 a.m. firefighters were again called to the Union Street building for a second trash fire. This time the fire as set in a pile of trash in the entry staircase on the second floor of 286 Union Street. The blaze forced an evacuation for residents to stand in the cold night, but no injuries.

[enhanced link]

Then just after 5 a.m., Firefighters found the second floor of a home at 185 Hancock St. fully involved in flame when they arrived, and within minutes, called a second alarm as flames grew and spread to a second home.

Holly Gilbert was asleep in her first-floor bedroom at 185 Hancock St., when she was awoken by her step-son. She said he noticed flickering light outside and determined the second floor of their home was burning. She and Vincent Medina and his son rushed out into the frigid morning. The overnight temperature dipped down to about 8 degrees just before dawn.

Charles Ross said he was "dead asleep" in his second-floor apartment when suddenly he heard "all kinds of yelling and screaming."

Ross said the fire seemed to him to be coming from the rear of the house. He was worried about a dog he was keeping for a friend in his apartment. He said the dog ran away when he was called to leave the apartment.

In all, three people living on the first floor and three on the second floor escaped, but were not able to take anything with them. Medina stood out on the sidewalk across the street from his home wearing pajamas and slippers and wrapped in a comforter in the frigid temperatures. He was finally bundled off to a warm ambulance.

The fire at 185 Hancock St. extended into the next door home at 189 Hancock and even damaged a third home at 193 Hancock St.

Leger said the heat of the fire started the home at 189 Hancock St. ablaze, melting the siding off the house and extended through the windows to burn the interior of the home. The house at 185 Hancock St. was totally destroyed by the fire, Leger said, and the house at 189, too, was very heavily damaged. He set damages at over $100,000 for each.

The home at 193 Hancock sustained damage from burning embers drifting from the other two homes. Leger said he saw significant roof damage.

Even before firefighters could bring the Hancock Street fire under control, police reported another fire burning at 125 Andrews St. By the time firefighters arrived the small, two-story house was fully involved in flames.

Fire units from Chicopee and West Springfield arrived at the scene within minutes to back up Springfield units. But in the end, the house was completely destroyed.

All three members of the family who lived in the house were able to escape, but their dog "Sincere," did not get out with them. But Leger said firefighters were able to find the dog and return her to her owners.

Arson investigators said the fire at the Andrews Street home appeared to have started on the exterior front porch. Like the 185 Hancock St. fire, it is considered suspicious and all the fires remain under investigation.

In those cases, Leger said the fires started on an exterior porch.

Anyone with information about these fires is asked to contact investigators at the Springfield Fire Investigations Unit at (413) 787-6370.

Leonard Pease's job washing dishes at Hooters nearly ended Tuesday, one day after it began.

These were the top stories out of Springfield District Court last week. If you missed any, click on the links below to read them now.

Police: Suspect in Puerto Rico triple murder tied to Springfield street gang

2 Springfield men charged with assaulting, kidnapping gay man

Springfield mother, daughter charged in courthouse fracas

Springfield dog dodges death sentence

Dancer denies assaulting cops after being kicked out of Springfield strip club

'Your lawyer isn't going to take you by the hand and bring you here,' judge tells Springfield man arrested for skipping court

Springfield driver with no license charged in cruiser crash