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Holyoke's Paper City Development pitches casino plan's jobs and revenue while critics warn of noise, traffic, social ills

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The Senate is set to debate a bill to legalize casino gambling Monday.

lash.JPGJoseph A. Lashinger Jr., Paper City Development

HOLYOKE – Paper City Development representatives say their casino at Wyckoff Country Club would provide 1,500 jobs at salaries from minimum wage with tips to six-figure paychecks.

And all the employees, they said, from card-dealers and waiters to auditors and security staff, would have benefits like health insurance, pension plan, on-site meals, bonus structuring and paid training.

But some residents of Ward 7, where Wyckoff is located, said a casino still would be a bad deal.

They oppose a casino there because they say problems such as noise, traffic, crime and pollution from a gaming resort would undermine any advantages.

The sides are expected to clash at a meeting of the City Council Redevelopment Committee Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The state Senate is scheduled to begin debate Monday on whether to legalize casino gambling.

Like a House of Representatives bill, the Senate bill authorizes a five-member gaming commission to issue licenses for three casinos in three geographic zones including one defined as the four counties of Western Massachusetts. The bill also includes a separate slot parlor with up to 1,250 slot machines.

Paper City Development, a limited liability company, wants to buy Wyckoff Country Club beside Interstate 91 and build a resort casino with what its representatives say will include a $500 million investment. The sale would proceed if the state legalizes casino gambling, officials have said.

Wyckoff owner Diane Wojtowicz has referred to Paper City Development as “our development partner.” She said converting the golf course into a hotel and entertainment development would meet the long-time vision that her late husband Clarky Wojtowicz had for the site.

“There is no economic engine today like this facility, with no public subsidies, no tax incentives, paying our own taxes off the top, unlike most businesses, and quality jobs,” Paper City manager Joseph A. Lashinger Jr. said.

Lashinger spoke Sept. 15 on a conference call with the other Paper City partners, Anthony L. Cignoli, of the A.L. Cignoli Co. public relations firm, of Springfield, and former Springfield City Councilor Anthony Ravosa Jr., who now lives in Connecticut.

Lashinger, of Florida, has decades of casino experience. He has held gaming licenses in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Colorado, Louisiana, West Virginia and Ontario, Canada, Cignoli has said.

From 1996 to 1997, Lashinger was a vice president, general counsel and a consultant with Penn National Gaming, which has begun inquiring about putting a casino in the Springfield area. Lashinger said he no longer is involved with Penn National Gaming.

The jobs are Paper City Development’s best argument, representatives said.

Jobs, in addition to hundreds of construction jobs, will include card dealers, waiters and waitresses, computer technicians, house-keepers, surveillance staff, security, auditors, transportation, box office, kitchen, food and beverage, vault, human resources and parking staff, they said.

Lashinger said he was unable at this point to specify how many employees there will be in each category.

Critics have said economic benefits from a casino would be temporary and marginal compared to the addiction, increased crime, divorces and bankruptcies that will be left in the wake of casinos.

Ravosa said that besides the excellent location, the project is Holyoke’s best bet to deal with a poverty level that affects more than 25 percent of the population of 40,000.

“We think we can help alleviate a lot of that,” Ravosa said.

The group envisions a resort with 150,000 square feet of gaming space, a hotel and other amenities open round-the-clock with three shifts of employees.

Holyoke is the ideal location because of its proximity to I-91 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, regular Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus service and the prospect of improved train service from Connecticut to Vermont, Ravosa said.

“This is singularly the best site in Massachusetts, bar none,” Ravosa said.

Paper City Development can expect competition from other gaming ventures for a Western Massachusetts casino license, perhaps most prominently, from the Mohegan Sun.

Mohegan runs a casino in Connecticut and has eyed Palmer since 2007, proposing a $600 million casino off Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike. The company has estimated the project would provide up to 3,000 permanent jobs and 1,200 construction jobs.

As for funding the project, the Paper City representatives said they have a partner whom they said they were unable to identify because of a confidentiality agreement. The partner has the resources to provide cash equity that can be used to obtain financing, they said.

Ward 7 City Council candidate Gordon P. Alexander said as he speaks to people around the ward, he believes a majority wants nothing to do with a casino.

Alexander, chairman of the Conservation Commission, said the city would be harming a jewel of a wilderness and enjoyment area by putting a casino at Wyckoff, which is on the Mount Tom range.

“I don’t support putting a casino on Mount Tom,” Alexander said.

Lewis and Martha Robinson, of Northampton Street, are among those who agree with Alexander.

Lewis Robinson, a physician, said they found mostly opposition to a casino around Wyckoff when they went door to door months ago in fighting a separate plan, which was to add a parking lot to the Mountain Park music venue.

“I would guess that over 80 percent of those we talked to were strongly against a casino at Wyckoff,” Robinson said.

But Alan G. Fletcher, a Holyoke police captain who is opposing Alexander for the Ward 7 seat, said a casino would address a need by putting people to work. Holyoke’s unemployment rate is 10.9 percent compared to the state’s 7.4 percent and the nationwide rate of 9.1 percent.

“That would help the situation tremendously. This is jobs to Holyoke,” Fletcher said.

Casino gambling also will be an issue in the mayor’s race. Mayor Elaine A. Pluta supports Paper City Development’s plan because she said it would provide the needed job infusion.

Challenger Alex B. Morse said he wouldn’t lead the charge to put a casino here but has avoided outright opposition.

The city’s economic focus should be on the high-technology possibilities related to the $168 million high performance computing center being built on Bigelow Street at the canals, Morse said. Pluta said the city can benefit from the computing center and a casino.

The Redevelopment Committee will consider a property-control issue related to Paper City Development. In order for the group’s Wyckoff purchase to proceed, the city would have to certify at the Registry of Deeds that it releases right to title and interest in 4.5 acres at the northern end of the property, officials have said.

The property was transferred to the country club owner decades ago as part of a transaction related to the construction of Interstate 91, which took part of the golf course.

City Council approval is necessary to release title to the Wyckoff land.


South Hadley applying to team of experts for help in improving former industrial district

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Once a town is chosen by the AIA, it’s eligible for up to $15,000 in expertise and guidance from the team assembled by the American Institute of Architects.

SOUTH HADLEY – This town has long been talking about revitalizing the rundown “Falls” area at its southern end, and it’s not just talk. A historic park and a proposed new library building are examples of its renewal projects.

Now a new South Hadley committee is preparing to apply for a grant that would bring in a team of architects and related professionals to provide expert support for improving the quality of life in that part of town.

The new steering committee in South Hadley, headed by Planning Board member Helen Fantini, goes by the acronym AIA SDAT.

It’s applying for a grant from the American Institute of Architects, whose Sustainable Design Assessment Team has advised towns all over the country since 2005, including Northampton.

Once a town is chosen by the institute, it’s eligible for up to $15,000 in expertise and guidance from the team assembled by the American Institute of Architects.

The town is expected to kick in an additional $5,000 – and it’s also expected to be represented at all phases of the project.

For example, a steering committee is one of the requirements. The one in South Hadley is composed of representatives of many aspects of the community, according to Fantini, including residents, businesspeople, nonprofit organizations, Mount Holyoke College and community groups.

The institute also requires open public hearings and other means for getting as much input from people as possible.

The deadline for application to the association program is Nov. 18. If South Hadley’s application is accepted, representatives from the institute will come to town for a preliminary visit, and later will spend three intensive days on site.

How intensive? Look at it this way. The five to seven members of the institute team require separate rooms to stay in during their visit, as some will be working while others sleep. The idea is not to waste a moment.

Meetings of the steering committee are open to the public, and are listed on the South Hadley Website and at Town Hall.

Amherst Community Development Committee to make recommendations in October

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Amherst would like to use $250,000 to buy land for affordable housing.

030911 Amherst Town Hall Vertical Amherst Town Hall.


AMHERST – Town officials and social service agencies have submitted $1.4 million in funding requests for $900,000 in available community block grant money.

The available money is down $100,000 from what officials had expected because of federal cuts. Amherst is one of 10 communities designated as a mini-entitlement community. Greenfield and West Springfield are also eligible for mini-entitlement funding from the Community Development Block Grant program.

Amherst received $1 million this current year.

In the non-social service category, town officials are hoping to use $250,000 in block grant money to purchase land for affordable housing at a yet to be chosen site and $375,000 for the second phase of barrier removal on Main Street between South Whitney and Triangle streets. The plan is to resurface roads and sidewalks to make travel more accessible for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Last year, the town used $375,000 for similar infrastructure improvements along Main Street.

The town would also like to use $260,000 to replace the roof and heating and cooling system at the Amherst Community Childcare Center on Strong Street among its requests.

In social service program requests, the town is seeking $77,221 to provide subsidies for childcare tuition enabling low and moderate-income families to pay for after school childcare.

Also Craig’s Doors, which has submitted a proposal to provide homeless shelter services for this upcoming winter, has requested $115,000 in block grant money for next season.

In addition, the Center for New Americans and the Amherst Survival Center have each requested $30,000 each among the requests for nearly $384,000 in social service funding requests.

The Community Development Committee will review the requests and make recommendations to the town manager in October

Circus royalty Bello Nock headlines at Big E

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The hour-long Big E Super Circus is free; seating is first-come, first-serve.

9-21-11 - West Springfield- Republican staff photo by Don Treeger- Bello Nock interacts with the crowd at the Big E Super Circus.

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Bello Nock rode a unicycle before he learned to ride a bicycle.

In fact, he can’t even recall whether he ever even had a bicycle.

If there is a royal family of the circus world, the Nocks are it. The 42-year-old clown-daredevil hybrid is a seventh-generation performer and the headliner at The Big E Super Circus, whose given name is Demetrius Alexandro Claudio Amadeus Bello Nock.

Better known as Bello, his signature six-inch red hightop hairstyle belies his Italian heritage, which he says is really a cocktail of his beautiful, graceful mother and his father’s Swiss brute strength.

Although he received the Academy Award for clowns as the first American to win the Gold Clown Award at the Monte Carlo Circus Festival this year, Nock said he is not the traditional clown.

“I’m not the guy with the red nose and the big shoes who drops his drawers to show polka-dotted underwear. I’m not that guy,” he said, during an interview just prior to the first of three shows at the Big Top on Friday.

His over-the-top hair is compliments of Kenra hairspray – sort of a higher-end Aqua Net – and allows him to sleep and wear a hat without dismantling it.

Gallery preview

He’s also not the serious tough man as was his father, who passed away 12 years ago but once owned his own circus in Switzerland that still endures. Nock cannot precisely articulate his earliest memories except that they were all of circus life:

Lucille Ball as a friend of his mother’s and the women of the circus. Painting himself in full clown face for every family portrait. Always wanting to be to be the headliner on the circus billboard. And, always traveling.

“We give up a life to earn a living,” said Nock, who still calls home base Sarasota, Fla., where his parents also landed when not on the road. One of the earliest photos he has of his mother is her as a teen standing on one foot on her uncle’s head, while her uncle stood on his brother and the brother stood on a ladder.

Nock, a husband and father or three, has headlined with Ringling Brothers; the Big Apple Circus and myriad European shows. He speaks five languages and laughs when people ask about the potential of being socially hindered from home-schooling, as he and all circus children essentially are.

“We live with people from around the world,” Nock said.

As if to emphasize the point, he greets a fellow performer in the maze of trailers surrounding the Big Top.

“Hey, Picasso, how many plates?” Nock says, referring to the Spaniard’s act of boomeranging plates around the Big Top.

“Depends on how good the paella is,” “Picasso Jr.,” as he is known, wisecracks back.

Nock opens with a bit that's part slapstick, part acrobatics and ends with a nail-biting performance with a stunt assistant on the "Sphere of Fear," which resembles two giant hamster wheels on an axis.


At The Big E, he was wooed by Wayne E. McCary, president of the Eastern States Exposition.

McCary cherry-picks international acts for the circus from around the world.

“The fairgoers will see some of the premier circus artists in the world. And I love that nobody in the tent will be more than 50 feet from the action,” said McCary, before the show Friday afternoon.

The hour-long performance is free; seating is first-come, first-serve.

Nock is a Guinness World Book of Records holder for longest, highest unsuspended ride across a tight rope; while Picasso Jr. holds the record for juggling the most ping-pong balls (five) at a time in his mouth.

It’s harder than it sounds. All of it is.

Big E delivers taste of Ireland

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At the Eastern States Exposition, also known as the "Big E," amid the carnival rides, assortment of fried Twinkies and Oreos and chocolate bacon, farm animals and trinkets for sale, there is a slice of Irish life in the Young building.

kelly and meghan twohig.JPGKelly Twohig, left, of Northampton, and her sister Meghan Twohig, of Holyoke, shop at the Dingle Linen Co. of Ireland booth at the Big E Thursday.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - There are Irish sweaters and Claddagh rings, T-shirts that say "Ireland" and photographs of the Emerald Isle's lush green countryside. And around the corner, there's a spot to sample a pint of Ireland's best known beer, Guinness.

At the Eastern States Exposition, also known as the "Big E," amid the carnival rides, assortment of fried Twinkies and Oreos and chocolate bacon, farm animals and trinkets for sale, there is a slice of Irish life in the Young building.

"It's awesome," Melody G. Dole, a clarinet player who would march later with the Palmer High School band, said as she looked over the photographs of Ireland on Thursday.

Francis C. Ryan has been bringing her handmade linens from Dingle, Ireland to the Big E since 1999, the first year that the Eastern States featured Irish merchants as a way to bring international merchants to the fair. Having the Irish merchants also creates another tie between Greater Springfield and southwest Ireland, linked for years through immigration.

For example, Ryan, the owner of Dingle Linen Co., showed some photographs taken by her friend, Arthur Browne, which show the now-abandoned Blasket Islands, off the west coast of County Kerry. The people were self-sufficient, but isolated. It was hard to get a doctor to the islands, and when a child died of meningitis in 1952, the families started leaving - some for the mainland, but most went to Springfield, Ryan said.

The Kearneys were one of the families, and Ryan said one of the Kearneys approached her at the Big E and pointed out the remnants of his grandfather's home on Blasket. The other photographs show famous landmarks, such as the "sleeping giant" off the Dingle Peninsula.

Ryan said she has made many friends with the "locals" in Springfield, many of whom love her hand-knitted and hand-crocheted clothing.

"We're the Fran cult. We love all the clothes," said Mary Hafey, of Springfield.

It can take Ryan up to six weeks to make a dress, which can cost $350. She also brings over the off-white Irish sweaters for which Ireland is known. She explained the history behind them - each family had their own stitch. The wealthy had the diamond, beekeepers had honeycombs.

"Every family wore these sweaters . . . Each family had their own stitches so if they got lost at sea, they could be recognized by their stitches," Ryan said.

She also sells an assortment of Irish caps and lotions.

Sisters Kelly E. Twohig, 22, of Northampton, and Meghan A. Twohig, 26, of Holyoke, recently went on a nine-day "sister trip" to Ireland and checked out the items in the Irish exhibit. Their great-grandparents were from County Cork and Kerry.

"This brings us back," said Meghan Twohig, adding that the Ryan's merchandise was "even nicer than some of the stuff we saw" in Ireland. They said they went to a museum in Ireland where they learned about the Blasket Islands and the Springfield connection.

Around the corner was Brian de Staic jewelry, which has stores in Dingle, Killarney and Tralee in County Kerry, and Cork. His employees, Deirdre Moynihan, and Louise Doolan, both of County Kerry, said the Claddagh rings in gold and silver are popular, as well as anything with a shamrock on it. They said many of the visitors want to talk to them about the time they visited Ireland, or where their families came from.

Dara Herilhy, a bartender at the Guinness bar, is from Dingle, and said he loves working at the Big E.

"The public love him," Ryan said of the "Guinness expert."

"The people are friendly and the work is straightforward,' Herlihy said.

East Longmeadow applies for community development grants

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East Longmeadow is seeking funds from the Department of Housing and Community Development Block Grant Program.

town.JPG



EAST LONGMEADOW
– The Board of Selectmen has appointed a committee to look at potential projects in town that could be funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development Block Grant Program.

Christopher J. Dunphy, principal planner with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, recently met with the board to discuss the requirements of the application.

Dunphy said the grant is extremely competitive and the state agency that funds it looks to see that communities with demonstrated need and demand for the programs are given top priority.

Building Commissioner Daniel Hellyer has been appointed as the chairman of the Community Development Advisory Committee, which will look at potential projects. Initiatives under consideration include a back-up power generator for the senior center, accessibility planning and housing authority improvements.

Dunphy said improved housing is a priority for the state agency that provides funding, so housing rehabilitation should be part of the application.

“The program would enable low- to moderate-income homeowners to undertake essential home repairs and correct code violations, which are sometimes a threat to the safety and livability of a home," he said. "If funded, the program can provide up to $35,000 per each qualified household for various improvements including chimney and foundation repair, lead paint and asbestos removal, roof repair and replacement, windows, siding, plumbing, heating, electrical, weatherization and handicapped accessibility.”

According to the grant guidelines, the town must direct funds to a specific target area of a community that has the greatest need for community development assistance.

A public meeting will be announced for sometime in October, followed by a formal public hearing in November. The final grant application is due Dec. 16. Residents interested in the program or who may be in need of housing rehabilitation services can reach Dunphy at (413) 781-6045.

Palmer School Committee reduces student parking fee at high school

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In other news, School Committee Chairwoman Maureen Gallagher said that a proposal to have seventh-graders on the swim team was denied by the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference.

palmer high school building mug.jpgPalmer High School.

PALMER - The School Committee, at its Wednesday meeting, unanimously approved reducing the student parking fee at the high school from $100 to $50 at its meeting Wednesday night.

Interim Superintendent Thomas A. Charko said that only 23 students have paid the fee, and that they will be refunded $50.

Charko said there are 94 parking slots to sell, and he hopes that the district will sell more parking passes now that the fee is lower.

The $100 fee brought in $4,200 in revenue last year, Charko said.

Charko said he supported the change in the parking fee.

"The kids did a great job in preparing the petition," Charko said.

A student-initiated petition was given to all School Committee members about the parking fee issue, asking that it be reduced, and also listed what other local school districts are charging students to park. Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, also in Palmer, has no fee, while neighboring Monson charges students $45 for the entire year; starting in November, it decreases by $5 each month.

School Committee Chairwoman Maureen R. Gallagher said she supported the reduction. The parking fee was increased to $100 two years ago to make up for budget shortfalls. At one time, it was only $5.

In the petition, students said it was difficult to pay for a car's upkeep, and the parking fee. Gallagher said many students have been parking at a Main Street church and walking to the high school to avoid paying the fee.

Said School Committee member James L. St. Amand, "Nobody looks forward to fees," adding the reduction will help the students.

In other news, Gallagher said that a proposal to have seventh-graders on the swim team was denied by the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference. Gallagher said the reason for the denial was that the high school swim team already has a co-op swim program with Pathfinder and Ware high schools.

School Committee member Gary Blanchette was absent.

Southwick police searching Congamond Lakes

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A man and his daughter may have drowned in the lake Saturday afternoon.

SOUTHWICK - A search and rescue operation is under way at Congamond Lakes this afternoon.

A man and his daughter may have drowned in Congamond Lakes, according to channel 22 news, which said that the report is unconfirmed.

The unconfirmed report, from an officer who did not want to be identified, includes the rescue of another daughter who reportedly was taken to the hospital, according to channel 22.



Satellite likely fell into ocean, but may have hit US says NASA

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Some debris could have fallen over areas such as Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Calgary, Alberta; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, said Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

sattlite.jpgIn this file image provided by NASA this is the STS-48 onboard photo of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) in the grasp of the RMS (Remote Manipulator System) during deployment, from the shuttle in September 1991. NASA's old research satellite plunged to earth Friday.


WASHINGTON (AP) — It's as big as a bus and weighs 6 tons, but officials probably will never be able to pinpoint exactly where a massive NASA satellite plummeted to Earth.

NASA space junk scientists believe that all — or nearly all — of the parts of their 20-year-old dead satellite safely plunged into the Pacific Ocean, likely missing land. But if their estimates are off, by only five minutes or so, fiery pieces could have fallen on parts of northwestern North America.

No injuries or damage have been reported on land, which NASA officials said was a good indication the satellite went into the ocean.

That doesn't necessarily mean it all fell into the sea. Some debris could have fallen over areas such as Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Calgary, Alberta; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, said Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

"Pieces are falling off of this flaming fire ball, and some of it has enough momentum to go hundreds of miles," he said.

Speculation was rampant on sites such as Twitter. There were no credible reports of debris on the ground, said Nick Johnson, NASA's chief scientist for orbital debris. But if the satellite fell even five minutes later than estimated, some of it could have hit land, he said.

"We don't know where the re-entry point exactly was. We don't exactly know where the debris field is," Johnson said.

NASA's earlier calculations had predicted that the former climate research satellite would fall over a 500-mile swath and could include land. Officials said the 35-foot satellite fell sometime between 11:23 p.m. EDT Friday and 1:09 a.m. EDT Saturday.

Much of the speculation focused on unconfirmed reports and even video of debris from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite over Alberta, Canada.

NASA spokesman Steve Cole said that was possible because the last track for the satellite included Canada, starting north of Seattle and then in a large arc north then south. From there, the track continued through the Atlantic south toward Africa, but it was unlikely the satellite got that far if it started falling over the Pacific.

Some 26 pieces of the satellite representing 1,200 pounds of heavy metal had been expected to rain down somewhere. The biggest surviving chunk should be no more than 300 pounds.

NASA urges anyone who thinks they've found satellite debris to call police. It's government property and illegal to keep it or try to sell it. The debris has no toxic contamination, but there could be sharp edges, NASA officials have said.

UARS is the biggest NASA spacecraft to crash back to Earth, uncontrolled, since the post-Apollo 75-ton Skylab space station and the more than 10-ton Pegasus 2 satellite, both in 1979.

Russia's 135-ton Mir space station slammed through the atmosphere in 2001, but it was a controlled dive into the Pacific.

Before UARS fell, no one had ever been hit by falling space junk and NASA expected that not to change.

NASA put the chances that somebody somewhere on Earth would get hurt at 1-in-3,200. But any one person's odds of being struck were estimated at 1-in-22 trillion, given there are 7 billion people on the planet.

The satellite ran out of fuel and died in 2005. UARS was built and launched before NASA and other nations started new programs that prevent this type of uncontrolled crashes of satellite.

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Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts distributes grants to four counties

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"It's important to help women and girls through direct service but we also have to change the underlying issues that contribute to their situations in the first place."

EASTHAMPTON – The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts announced this week that it has awarded $150,000 in grants to 18 organization in all four counties that are helping women and girls.

Julie Kumble, director of grants and programs, said the nonprofit organizations are responding creatively to address the basic needs of women and girls during difficult economic times.

“It’s important to help women and girls through direct service but we also have to change the underlying issues that contribute to their situations in the first place, such as economic disparities or access to opportunities. We give our grantee partners funding to run their programs along with tools to help them measure how they are making an impact on these deeper social issues,” Kumble said in a prepared release.

The grant recipients are:

Õ¤Girls Inc. of Holyoke ($5,000 a year for two years).

Õ¤Hilltown Safety at Home, in Amherst, for its “Advocacy Services to Domestic Violence Victims” program ($6,500 in 2011, $6,000 in 2012).

Õ¤Montague Catholic Social Ministries, for “Live Smart, Live Safe ($7,000), a mentoring program.

Õ¤Safe Passage ($8,000), for serving abused women and children.

Õ¤MotherWoman, Inc., for “MomsRising of the Pioneer Valley” ($8,000).

Õ¤Bay Path College in Springfield, for “Lead to Succeed: A Leadership Program for Girls Who Want to Change the World,” a program for 30 low-income Springfield girls ($4,000 a year for two years).

Õ¤The New England Adolescent Research Institute (NEARI), for its Jump-Start Women’s Group. NEARI, which works with high-risk youth from the Holyoke Flats, will receive a partner grant of $5,000 from the Women’s Fund and Northwestern Mutual Financial.

Õ¤The Care Center in Holyoke ($10,000), which helps young women on the road to self-sufficiency.

Õ¤The Gray House in Springfield, for its “Community Education Support Program” ($8,000). It provides literacy education to refugee women from Africa.

Õ¤Womanshelter/Compañeras ($5,000 a year for two years), for services to battered and abused women.

Õ¤Square One in Springfield, for the “Putnam Program” ($5,000). This collaboration between Square One, Springfield Public Schools, the Regional Employment Board, American International College and Springfield Partnership for Community Action prepares low-income Putnam Vocational Technical High School students for careers in the early education and care field.

Õ¤Hampden County Youth Action Coalition for “Girls EyeView” ($7,000 in 2011, $6,000 in 2012).

Õ¤Academy of Music in Northampton, for the “Women’s Work” initiative ($5,000), for its support of women in the theater professions.

Õ¤Lutheran Social Services of New England ($7,500), for helping refugee women from Burma, Bhutan, Iraq and the former Soviet Union

Õ¤Neighbor to Neighbor, for the “Leadership Development Program” ($7,000 a year for two years) for low-income women of color.

Õ¤Top Floor Learning in Palmer for “Survivor’s Bridge.” It will receive a partner grant of $7,000 from the Women’s Fund and MicroTek.

Other grant recipients include Berkshire Community College’s E3 project ($3,000), the Berkshire County Teen Pregnancy Initiative ($3,000), Berkshire County Community Action ($7,000), the Flying Cloud Institute’s “Young Women in Science” program ($5,000 a year for two years), Girls Inc. of the Berkshires ($10,000), the Railroad Street Youth Project ($6,000 and $7,000), Weston Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. ($8,000), and the Elizabeth Freeman Center ($8,000). 


Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Springfield dedicates new building after arsonists torched church following election of President Obama

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An act of hate may have delayed its construction three years ago, but on Saturday, the church was filled with love as the congregation finally celebrated its opening at its new location off Tinkham Road.

New Macedonia Church of God in ChristThe crowd was jubilant as the New Macedonia Church of God in Christ on Tinkham Road in Springfield was dedicated on Saturday. (Republican Photo/ Robert Rizzuto)

SPRINGFIELD – They came dressed to the nines, some wearing fancy hats, and ready to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ off Tinkham Road on Saturday.

Three years ago, on the day before Barack Obama was elected president, the construction of the new, 18,000-square-foot Macedonia Church of God was nearly complete.

Then, several hours after Obama became the nation’s first black president, three white men set the church – which has a predominantly black congregation – on fire, burning it to the ground, in an act of hate. Two of the men, Benjamin F. Haskell and Thomas Gleason, pleaded guilty in 2010, and the third, Michael Jacques, was convicted by a jury earlier this year. The case attracted international attention.

Instead of letting the incident set the project back, it continued to move forward, with the help of countless volunteers who came from all over the country, and even with some assistance from Gov. Deval L. Patrick, who helped secure new financing for the project last year. Bishop Bryant Robinson Jr. said that he never gave up hope that the church would be rebuilt.

“My faith sustained me to declare that we would rebuild. The thought never came that we would abandon this project. We were delayed, but not denied,” Robinson said.

“It’s just words sort of fail me right now. The bottom line is, I’m very excited and very grateful,” Robinson said.

During an exuberant and at times rollicking service, which featured plenty of singing, speakers addressed the resiliency of the congregation, of the city itself, and the ability to move past the heinous crime and focus on rebuilding.

“From the ashes, we shall rise,” Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said. “This event of hatred that occurred could have torn the city of Springfield apart, but God works in mysterious ways and what it did was galvanize the city of Springfield.”

Sarno said Bishop Robinson never uttered a word of negativity after his church was destroyed.

“These demons of hate thought they were going to knock down the house of Macedonia, Bishop Robinson and the people of Springfield. They just made us stronger,” Sarno said.

The governor also spoke during the service, and talked about the “devastating act of hate” that happened on a night that “was so joyful for so many,” and how the church community decided “that hate was not going to win.” Patrick said it was “incredibly uplifting and affirming” to be at the church’s dedication, and to see the joy in the congregation now that the project is complete.

The ceremony also featured an appearance from the color guard, Springfield police and troopers from the state fire marshal’s office.

The church has more than 300 people in its congregation.

Erica Y. Baymon, of Springfield, was impressed with the new church, and called it “beautiful.” The interior walls are light blue, and the carpet is red. Her sister, Heather Baymon, also of Springfield, said the new location brings the church to a different community - Sixteen Acres.

“It’s a bit overwhelming to take it all in,” Heather Baymon said.

Felicity Ozo Mbanefo, of Amherst, said she is grateful to God that the church was rebuilt.

“Oh my goodness, we have been waiting for this for a long time,” she said.

The project contractor, Jim Tarrant, who specializes in building churches through his Chicopee company Construction Management of New England, said being a part of the project, and attending the dedication has given him memories that he will have forever. Gregory C. Neffinger, the project architect, said it was amazing to see the volunteers come from all over to help rebuild.

Bishop Robinson said having the national head of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., as the guest speaker was a blessing. Blake is from the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in California.

Robinson said they are still fund-raising to pay for the project.

Rev. Talbert W. Swan II said the fire united the community, instead of dividing it, and hopes that the church itself will stand as a symbol of unity from now on.

“The dedication of the Macedonia Church of God really symbolizes the ability of Springfield as a community to rise above racial hatred,” Swan said.

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Springfield NAACP President Talbert W. Swan II outlines priorities

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At a short press conference before the dedication of the New Macedonia Church of God in Christ on Saturday, the Springfield branch of the NAACP announced a new agenda in the Pioneer Valley.

New Macedonia Church of God in ChristLaw enforcement officials await the arrival of Gov. Deval Patrick on Saturday outside the New Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Springfield. (Republican photo/ Robert Rizzuto)

SPRINGFIELD - Following the June 28 election that brought new officers into the fold, the Springfield branch of the NAACP is focusing its attention on five key areas to promote its agenda of equality.

At a short press conference before the dedication of the New Macedonia Church of God in Christ, the Rev. Talbert W. Swan II, the newly elected president of the Springfield branch of the NAACP, said the group will be taking a renewed focus on education, health, economic empowerment, political action and social justice advocacy.

Swan said the group will work with city school officials to reduce the dropout rate, improve failing schools, increase parent participation in the education process and recruit black educators.

Among the items on the group's health agenda are plans to reach out to the community and healthcare organizations to "reduce the disparities in health between the majority community and people of color," Swan said.

Rev. Talbert W. Swan II, president of the Springfield Branch of the NAACP. (Republican Photo/ Mark M.Murray)

He also said the group plans to work on a community awareness campaign to educate the black community about proper healthcare and to work hand-in-hand with the Food Justice Coalition to increase access to healthy foods.

The issue of youth violence was not lost by Swan, as he said that through a partnership with the city, the local NAACP branch will aim to reduce the root contributors to the violence in the city.

On the political front, Swan said the group will work to educate voters and increase voter turnout while working with elected officials to advocate for issues in the black community, such as increasing economic opportunities.

Swan said the local NAACP branch will "continue to identify, speak about and organize around addressing racial discrimination in its various forms throughout greater Springfield," by engaging the faith-based community.

In June, Swan won 77 percent of the votes to become president of the Springfield NAACP branch in the group's first contested election in more than a decade.

The press conference Saturday was followed by a orchestrated dedication of the New Macedonia Church of God in Christ, which was torched by arsonists on Nov. 5, 2008, as a protest of Barack Obama’s election.

The Rev. Talbert W. Swan II appears on WGBY to discuss his views on voter disenfranchisement in modern America

Gov. Deval Patrick to approve sweeping overhaul of alimony laws

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One of the biggest changes in the bill would set limits on how long a spouse can receive alimony, based on how long the couple was married.

deval patrick, march 2011, APMass. Gov. Deval Patrick

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick is planning to sign a sweeping overhaul of the state's alimony laws.

The bill, which has already been approved by the House and Senate, establishes guidelines for alimony payments and limits the duration of payments, ending so-called "lifetime alimony" payments ordered by some judges in divorce cases.

One of the biggest changes in the bill would set limits on how long a spouse can receive alimony, based on how long the couple was married.

Patrick plans to sign the bill Monday at the Statehouse.

The state's current alimony laws don't set any duration limits. The bill's supporters say the new guidelines will help judges make fair decisions.

Former Mass. Probation Commissioner John O'Brien to be arraigned

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Former Massachusetts Probation Commissioner John O'Brien is set to answer charges that he conspired with another state official to get his wife a job at the state lottery.

Former Probation Commissioner John O'BrienFormer Massachusetts Probation Commissioner John O'Brien

BOSTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts Probation Commissioner John O'Brien is set to answer charges that he conspired with another state official to get his wife a job at the state lottery.

O'Brien is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Suffolk Superior Court along with Scott Campbell, a top aide to former state treasurer Timothy Cahill.

Indictments announced last week by Attorney General Martha Coakley allege O'Brien arranged with Campbell to host a fundraiser for Cahill in 2005. O'Brien's wife was later hired by the lottery, which is overseen by the treasurer's office.

Cahill was not named in the indictments. O'Brien has denied the allegations.

A separate indictment alleges O'Brien gave misleading information to the state's trial court about a probation officer who was promoted after a request from then-House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi.

Privacy disputes threaten HIV testing bill in Massachusetts

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Massachusetts legislation aimed at expanding HIV testing has bogged down amid disputes over what constitutes a person's consent for such testing and how easily the medical community can share information about patients with HIV.

By BOB SALSBERG, Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Emerson Miller felt "pretty hopeless" when he tested positive for HIV in 1996, but has since come to appreciate the importance of receiving an early diagnosis of the disease.

Today, the Boston resident takes four pills a day and sees a doctor every three months. And though he has since developed AIDS, 15 years later he still considers himself fortunate.

"I'm as healthy as any other 48-year-old at the moment," said Miller, who, as a program manager for the AIDS Action Committee, encourages others to be tested regularly.

Doctors, patients and advocates all agree that a prompt diagnosis speeds the delivery of treatment and helps prevent the spread of HIV to others. But Massachusetts legislation aimed at expanding HIV testing has bogged down amid disputes over what constitutes a person's consent for such testing and how easily the medical community can share information about patients with HIV.

The Massachusetts Medical Society, which represents health care providers, has warned lawmakers and state health officials that the consent and privacy language in the bill could do HIV patients more harm than good.

Massachusetts and Nebraska are the only states that have not fully adopted the 2006 guidelines of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which call for routine HIV testing. The CDC recommends screening for all patients ages 13-64 part of routine care in health care settings, with more frequent testing of those at higher risk, such as drug users or people with multiple sex partners.

Massachusetts law, however, states that no doctor or health care provider can test for HIV or release information about results without first obtaining "written informed consent" of the person being tested. The CDC specifically recommends against a separate consent form for HIV testing, suggesting that it simply be incorporated into a general consent that patients would give for any type of diagnostic test.

The bill, which has been endorsed by the Legislature's Public Health Committee, eliminates the requirement for written informed consent for an HIV test but replaces it with "verbal informed consent," including a provision that the consent be immediately noted in a patient's medical records.

The measure would also impose strict limits on disclosure or sharing of any HIV-related medical information between health care providers without written consent by the patient, because of what backers say is a need to protect the privacy of patients.

Dr. Lynda Young, president of the medical society, said even with elimination of written consent for testing, the bill's requirements go too far and would only place more roadblocks in the way of routine HIV testing.

"A general medical consent form should suffice," she said. "Verbal consent that is specific for one kind of testing, no matter what that testing is ... doesn't need to happen."

Massachusetts advocates for the tougher privacy rules disagree, saying that the disease still carries a stigma and that many patients fear disclosure may cost them their jobs, homes or health insurance.

"I think we all share the goal of expanded testing," said Rebecca Haag, executive director of the Boston-based AIDS Action Committee. She acknowledged the concerns of doctors and other public health experts that written consent — as the present state law requires — can add to the anxiety of many people over testing.

To that end, Haag has proposed a compromise. She wrote to lawmakers this week, asking that they consider eliminating the disclosure and information sharing provisions of the bill.

Doctor who oppose the bill believe HIV should be treated as any disease under existing medical privacy laws, and fear that giving it special status could invite lawsuits and slow the transition to electronic medical records.

"Right now we have systems in place that protect patients' confidentiality," said Dr. Stephen Boswell, president of Fenway Health, which offers health care services to Boston's gay and lesbian community.

"They are very significant and far-reaching rules that govern who we can talk to, how we can talk to them, when we need their permission, how we have to get permission. All of those things have been dealt with in a universal fashion around medical care," he said.

As an example, Boswell said if the bill were adopted, he might not be able to tell a doctor performing a colonoscopy at another facility what type of medication an HIV patient was taking.

Sen. Patricia Jehlen, co-chair of the Public Health Committee, expressed frustration at the inability to reach a consensus on the bill and bring Massachusetts into compliance with the CDC guidelines. She indicated a willingness to consider Haag's suggestion for a scaled-down bill, but questioned whether doctors would embrace it because it sill contained the provision for verbal informed consent.

"I will take progress over stalemate," said Jehlen.

Young said the medical society would be willing to discuss changes with AIDS Action, but added that doctors remain strongly opposed to the bill and would prefer to simply have the current law repealed.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health estimates between 25,000 and 27,000 people currently live with HIV or AIDS in the state. It's believed that about one in five of those people are unaware they have HIV and without testing, may not learn of their status until they develop full-blown AIDS.

People with undiagnosed HIV often continue to infect others and cannot benefit from the variety of drugs shown to slow down or stop the progression to AIDS, experts say.


Father and son recount Connecticut gun accident

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The father and son survived tragedy in January when a .40-caliber handgun that Gerald, 25, was cleaning, went off in their home on Ledgemere Drive in Danbury.

Gun Accident SurvivorsIn this Aug. 11, 2011 photo, Jerry Palanzo, Jr., left, stands with his dad, Jerry Palanzo, at DCG Precision in Bethel, Conn. The father and son survived tragedy in January when a .40-caliber handgun that Gerald, 25, was cleaning, went off in their home on Ledgemere Drive in Danbury, Conn. The bullet went through Gerald's hand, ricocheted off a piece of furniture, and went into his father's back. (AP Photo/The News Times, Michael Duffy) MANDATORY CREDIT

By SUSAN TUZ, The News-Times of Danbury

DANBURY, Conn. (AP) — The sun seems to shine a little brighter and the breezes blow a little gentler these days for Jerry Palanzo Jr. and his son, Gerald Palanzo III.

The father and son survived tragedy in January when a .40-caliber handgun that Gerald, 25, was cleaning, went off in their home on Ledgemere Drive in Danbury. The bullet went through Gerald's hand, ricocheted off a piece of furniture, and went into his father's back.

"It all happened in a split second," Jerry Palanzo said. "Gerald had checked the gun. There was no clip in it, but a bullet was lodged up in the chamber."

Both Palanzos are trained in handgun safety and are certified and licensed gun owners. They shoot regularly at a range in Danbury.

"I was cleaning the gun that day because I was alone at the house. It seemed safe. Dad just happened to stop in at lunch time," Gerald Palanzo recalled.

"I've handled guns so many times. I can't even express what it felt like at the time and in the months following," he added.

Gerald Palanzo needed emergency surgery on his dominant left hand, followed by months of therapy to regain use of the hand.

"I can't say enough about the emergency response," Jerry Palanzo said, "or the care we both received from EMS, doctors and hospital staff."

Today, Jerry Palanzo is back at the helm of his company, DCG Precision Manufacturing, in Bethel. He enjoys the day-to-day tasks of being president and interacting with customers and staff. Gerald Palanzo is similarly back at work, serving as head of engineering information technology at DCG.

Jerry Palanzo and his partner, Courtley Mortis, of the Balluzzo family, purchased the company in 2002. It had been a family-owned company, Danbury Centralist Grinding, established in 1943.

"It feels great to resume a normal life," said Jerry Palanzo. "I'm back to running regularly. On those bleak days in the winter, I didn't think I'd ever walk again."

"We were always close, but now Dad and I are even closer," said Gerald Palanzo.

The entire Palanzo family just returned from Florida and Disney World. "We took our first family vacation in 15 years," Jerry Palanzo said.

"It was wonderful watching the little one discover all of the world out there," he said, of his 2-year-old granddaughter, Nia.

Man's body pulled from Congamond Lake after search

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The victim, 44-year-old Dong Soo Kim, of Springfield, dove in the water after his daughter fell off their boat.

SOUTHWICK – Divers pulled a 44-year old man’s body from Congamond Lake Saturday night after he dove in the water hours earlier to help his daughter, who fell overboard while their boat was making a turn.

The girl was rescued by passing boaters but her father, Springfield resident Dong Soo Kim, never emerged, according to police. The incident happened just after noon and is the third drowning on the lake in four months.

Massachusetts State Police assisted Southwick Police and fire officials in an extensive search that included underwater recovery and specialized canine units.

Additional details weren't released as of this post but will be published as they become available.

Woman held up at gunpoint outside Amtrak station, police say

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The suspect stuck a gun in the woman's stomach and took her purse after asking for a light, according to a police official.

SPRINGFIELD - Police are looking for a suspect who allegedly stuck a gun in a woman's stomach and stole her purse as she was waiting for her ride after getting off a train at the Amtrak station Saturday night.

The suspect is a Hispanic male in his mid-30's and about 5'5", according to Police Capt. William Collins. The alleged incident happened around 8:30 p.m.

Collins said the woman told police she was waiting for a ride on Lyman Street when the man approached her and asked her for a light. She responded that she didn't smoke, but the man hovered around and ultimately approached her again with a gun pulled, she told police. The woman was otherwise unharmed, Collins said.

Police are investigating.

4 arrested after Rhode Island frat party gets out of control

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University spokeswoman Linda Acciardo said the fraternity had permission to hold the party and also had the required police presence there.

RI_North_Kingstown_PD_New.JPG


KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) — Four people were arrested after a University of Rhode Island fraternity party got out of control, with fights erupting when the hosts tried to shut it down.

Eighteen police officers responded early Friday morning to try to bring order to the crowd of about 500.

Two of the four people were URI students. Three face various charges, including disorderly conduct. Another was charged with possession of a knife longer than three inches.

University spokeswoman Linda Acciardo said the fraternity had permission to hold the party and also had the required police presence there.

She said the school hasn't "had an incident of this magnitude for quite some time." She called it "very unfortunate."

Holyoke police probe shooting incidents

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A city woman told police she heard four gunshots, one of which pierced a window at her Cabot Street home early Sunday. Investigators are probing whether the incident is linked to another shooting on nearby South Bridge Street.

HOLYOKE -- Gunfire erupted on Cabot Street early Sunday morning, striking a home that was either targeted or caught in the crossfire.

That incident, reported around 2:25 a.m., and another apparent shooting on nearby South Bridge Street remain under investigation by Holyoke police, who released little information about the reports.

A woman told investigating officers that she heard four gunshots, one of which pierced a window at her residence at 31 Cabot St.

"We did find some shell casings, but not much else," Holyoke Police Sgt. John Hart said.

Authorities are investigating whether that shooting was connected to another incident that occurred within the same time-frame on South Bridge Street.

"It might be related to it, (or) it might not," Hart said.

The South Bridge Street incident involved a person who apparently came under fire but was not struck by gunfire. There were no reported injuries in either incident, Hart said.

More details will be posted on MassLive.com as they become available.

THE MAP BELOW shows the approximate location of a Cabot Street home that was hit by gunfire early Sunday morning:


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