The Senate quickly became mired in the question of whether to create a five-year “cooling-off period” before any former legislator could be employed by a casino.

BOSTON – Massachusetts senators resumed their casino debate Tuesday, quickly becoming mired in the question of whether to create a five-year “cooling-off period” before any former legislator could be employed by a casino.

The proposal sparked a divisive debate on the floor of the Senate.

Senators supporting the amendment said it would help guard against lawmakers using their political connections to land a casino job.

But critics of the amendment said it would feed the public’s cynicism of Beacon Hill. They accused casino opponents of “launching an attack” against their colleagues in the chamber.

The senate rejected another amendment Tuesday that would have barred casinos from using cashless wagering systems.

Backers of the amendment said the measure would have helped discourage compulsive gambling, but opponents said there were other safeguards already in the bill.

More details coming on MassLive and in The Republican.

He was charged with charged with burglary and assault an occupant, unarmed robbery of a person over 60, assault and battery on a person over 60 and threatening to commit a crime.

NORTHAMPTON – An Amherst man charged with breaking into a home on North Street, beating the woman who lives there and threatening to kill her pleaded denied assault and robbery charges Tuesday connected with that incident.

Yaazziel Q. Rivera, also known as Chris Rivera, is charged with burglary and assault an occupant, unarmed robbery of a person over 60, assault and battery on a person over 60 and threatening to commit a crime.

According to police, Rivera broke into the 42 North St. home of Donna Cavanaugh on Aug. 10 in the early hours of the morning and attacked her when she discovered him as she was on her way to the bathroom. Rivera hit Cavanaugh in the head, knocked her to floor and demanded to know if there was money in the house, police said. He told Cavanaugh he would kill her if she tried to get up, according to police reports.

Cavanaugh reported that $67 in cash was missing from her home.

Prosecutors originally sought a hearing to determine if Rivera was too dangerous to release on bail, but backed away from that strategy. Northwestern First Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne said Tuesday that if a judge found Rivera dangerous and order him held without bail, the case would have to go to trial within 90 days. Because there is a lot of forensic testing to be done in the case, the prosecution decided it would need more time, Gagne said.

Judge Daniel Ford set bail at $50,000 cash, an amount the prosecution believes is sufficient to keep Rivera in custody. Should he post bail, Gagne said, Rivera would be ordered to remain under house arrest with a GPS device monitoring his location. He would also have to prove to the court that he has a stable living situation in Massachusetts.

Rivera is due to return to court on Oct. 6 for a hearing to determine whether or not he will be required to submit a DNA sample.

His sister, Aimee Henderson, declined to provide details about his activities or motivations, saying it had become a “private, personal, family matter.”

U.S. Army veteran Dan Winchell returned home on Saturday, ending a search that spanned several states since he disappeared more than a week ago.

EASTHAMPTON – A missing Iraq war veteran returned home safely on Saturday, bringing an end to his family’s six-day search.

Daniel Winchell, who turns 22 tomorrow, was reported missing last Monday and came back to his Monska Drive home on Saturday. His sister, Aimee Henderson, declined to provide details about his activities or motivations, saying it had become a “private, personal, family matter.”

Winchell was discharged from the Army six months ago. He has been undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Leeds.

Winchell left home, where he lives with his mother Sandra Kellogg, at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 19 and did not tell anyone where he was going. He did not bring a change of clothes or any belongings, except a backpack full of documents and information about his truck, said Henderson.

Kellogg filed a missing-person report less than 12 hours later. Police tracked his cell phone to East Windsor, Conn., where Winchell had sold his truck to a used-car dealership, but the trail ended. Henderson declined to say how or where Winchell was found, but that he eventually made it south of Connecticut.

On Friday, his family reported on a Facebook page called “Bring Dan Winchell Home” that they had made contact.

“A couple family members went to him and encouraged him to come home,” said Henderson. “We found him. He didn’t seek to be found.”

She credited “multiple police departments,” prayer and hard work for his recovery. She said she heard stories of strangers hanging missing-person fliers in their workplaces.

“We’re one of the lucky families to have a missing loved one return home,” said Henderson. The fact that Winchell is an adult was “a roadblock in some cases (but) our family just continued to reach out.”

A man tried to buy Winchell’s truck, but when he found out the former owner was missing, he passed, she said. Still, the odds of recovering the vehicle are slim, she said, unless someone can afford to buy it back.

The family will keep the Facebook page running for a few more days, she said, to allow them time to thank everyone who offered support and assistance.

Described by some as the biggest crime in Northampton’s history, the night of fires traumatized the Ward 3 neighborhood, which had endured a rash of unsolved fires over the preceded several years.

This is an updated version of a story posted at 3:03 this afternoon.

Anthony P. Baye

NORTHAMPTON – In a whirlwind arraignment that didn’t include the defendant, Anthony P. Baye pleaded innocent to six new felony charges Tuesday in Hampshire Superior Court.

Baye, 26, is already charged with some 40 crimes in connection with a Dec. 27, 2009, spate of fires that terrorized the residents of Northampton. One of those fires, at 17 Fair St., took the lives of Paul Yeskie, 81, and his son, Paul Yeskie, Jr., 39. Baye faces two first degree murder charges involving that fire.

The Northwestern District Attorney’s office recently charged Baye with six counts of lying to police, a charge that technically comes under the crime of intimidating a witness. According to prosecutors, Baye gave false information to two police officers who questioned him on the night of the fires as he was driving his car in the vicinity. The other charges stem from police interviews with Baye following the fires.

Baye, who is in custody awaiting trial, waived his right to be present at Tuesday’s arraignment. His lawyers, David P. Hoose and Thomas Lesser, entered the innocent pleas on his behalf. Prosecutor Brett Vottero and the defense agreed to personal recognizance in lieu of a bail amount on the new charges, a technicality, since Baye is already being held without right to bail.

However, Hoose and Lesser quickly returned to court and asked Judge Daniel Ford to set bail at $100. Because Baye is being held on bail for the new charges, he will get credit for time served in the event that he is acquitted on the other charges.

Described by some as the biggest crime in Northampton’s history, the night of fires traumatized the Ward 3 neighborhood, which had endured a rash of unsolved fires over the preceded several years. Baye has not been charged with any of those fires and his defense team has asked that mention of them be excluded from his trial. Baye lived with his parents on Hawley Street, near the site of many of the fires.

The state Supreme Judicial Court granted the defense a rare interlocutory appeal of a ruling by Judge Constance Sweeney that the Jan. 4 police interrogation of Baye is admissible at trial despite what Sweeney called “coercive” measures by police. The defense has argued that evidence from that interview be excluded because police denied Baye his right to a lawyer. The two sides will argue their positions in front of the Supreme Judicial Court in November.

Afolabi evidently hit his head after falling while jogging.

Kolajo Paul Afolabi

LONGMEADOW - A lecturer at Brown University in Providence, R.I., who had family ties to Longmeadow, died after apparently falling and striking his head while jogging on Wednesday.

Kolajo Paul Afolabi, 31, was found injured at about 9:45 a.m. Wednesday and taken by ambulance to Rhode Island Hospital where he later died. Providence police said they were notified by the medical examiner on Thursday that preliminary findings showed he died of an apparent accidental head injury. The incident remains under investigation.

He is survived by his mother, Kathleen Afolabi, of Longmeadow.

After graduating from Longmeadow High School, Afolabi attended Brown University and graduated in 2003. He was working on his doctorate at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Iinvestigators have determined the letters were mailed by Derrick Maldonado, an inmate at Souza Baranowski Correctional Center, a maximum security prison in Shirley.

Dennis Leger / Springfield Fire Dept.Springfield firefighters in protective suits respond to the Hall of Justice for the report of a suspicious powder found in an envelope. The powder turned out to be harmless soap.

SPRINGFIELD – District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni announced Tuesday he is asking the state attorney general to take over the investigation into envelopes containing a mysterious white powder that were mailed to his office by an inmate at one of the state’s maximum security prisons.

The white powder, which turned out to be ordinary soap, was harmless, but the discovery of the substance triggered a hazardous-materials emergency on Sept. 20 that emptied out the district attorney’s office for several hours.

Mastroianni said investigators have determined the letters were mailed by Derrick Maldonado, 36, an inmate at Souza Baranowski Correctional Center, a maximum security prison in Shirley.

The district attorney said he has asked Attorney General Martha Coakley to take over the investigation because there is the potential that several members of his staff are potential victims and witnesses should the investigation lead to charges be brought against Maldonado.

Mastroianni said at least two letters were mailed to the courthouse. One was delivered to the District Attorney’s Office was addressed to a former assistant district attorney. It was opened by a staff member who discovered the powder and alerted officials.

The discovery triggered a full-fledged haz-mat emergency that resulted in the DA’s office being cleared out and some staff members being quarantined.

The Springfield Fire Department haz-mat unit and the Western Massachusetts Regional Haz-Mat team responded to the scene.

A second letter, addressed to an associate superior court judge who Mastroianni did not identify, was intercepted in the judge’s lobby before it was opened, Mastroianni said.

Each letter contained a handwritten note and the unknown white powder. The powder was later determined to be palmatic acid, a type of soap.

The letters have been turned over to the regional office of the United State Postal Inspector, which is aiding state police with the investigation.

Maldonado was given a 19-25 year sentence two years ago in Springfield Superior Court after he was found guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and other charges stemming from an Aug. 3, 2008 Springfield shooting.

At his trial, he lunged at then-Assistant District Attorney Stephen E. Spelman as the jury delivered the guilty verdict. He was restrained by court security and Spelman was not harmed.

Twice during the trial, Judge Cornelius J. Moriarty III found him guilty of contempt of court for repeated outbursts of profanity and threats in the courtroom.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 146 points, giving up about half of its gains from earlier in the day.

File photo / Associated PressWalgreens-brand soda is seen on a shelf at a Walgreens in Burlington, Vt. The drug store operator reported Tuesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped 69 percent, boosted in part by a gain from the sale of its pharmacy benefits management business.

NEW YORK – Stocks rose broadly Tuesday on hopes that Europe was moving closer to resolving its debt crisis. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 146, giving up about half of its gains from earlier in the day.

Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel said her country would do whatever it could to help Greece regain investors’ confidence. Greece’s finance minister also said that country would receive the next round of bailout loans in time to avoid a default. Greece was at risk of running out of money by mid-October if it did not receive the funds.

“Europeans are finally starting to understand that they need to act with some force to get ahead of the European debt crisis,” said John Briggs, a fixed-income strategist at RBS.

The Dow rose 146.83 points, or 1.3 percent, to close at 11,190.69. It had been up as many as 325 points earlier. The Dow has added 419 points over the last two days, making up more than half of its 737-point plunge last week.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 12.43, or 1.1 percent, to 1,175.38. Materials stocks led the S&P higher. Specialty metals company Allegheny Technologies Inc. rose 7.4 percent, the most in the index.

The Nasdaq composite rose 30.14, or 1.2 percent, to 2,546.83.

The gains were broad. Five stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. All 10 company groups that make up the Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose. Volume was slightly higher than average at 4.9 billion shares.

Small companies rose more than larger ones, a sign that investors were moving money into riskier investments. The Russell 2000 index, a benchmark for small-cap stocks, rose 2.2 percent.

European markets also closed sharply higher. Germany’s DAX rose 5.3 percent, France’s CAC-40 5.7 percent. Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 4 percent.

The encouraging signs from Europe also sent commodities prices higher. Investors fear that a blowup in Europe’s debt crisis could drag down economic growth across the globe. That would reduce demand for raw materials such as crude oil and copper.

Oil soared 5.3 percent, copper 4.8 percent. That helped the stocks of energy producers and mining companies. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. rose 4.4 percent and Exxon Mobil Corp. rose 2.6 percent. Gold rose 3.6 percent, its first gain in a week.

Analysts cautioned that even a small dose of bad news from Europe or the U.S. economy could push stocks right back down again.

“This is a news, rumor-driven rally,” said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer’s Investment Research in Cincinnati. “This is still a very, very risky market.”

That was evident late in the day when the Financial Times reported that a split had emerged among European leaders over the bailout terms for Greece’s debt. The Dow had been up nearly 300 points shortly before the FT published the report on its website at 2:48 Eastern. Within an hour, those gains faded and the Dow closed up 147 points.

Worries about Europe have weighed on the stock market for months. The S&P 500, a benchmark for many U.S. mutual funds, has fallen 13 percent since July 22, shortly after spiking yields on Italian and Spanish bonds brought fears that the region’s debt crisis could spread beyond peripheral countries like Greece and Ireland.

Analysts say more needs to be done to fight Europe’s debt crisis. Finance ministers have been pushing to increase the size of Europe’s rescue fund. Economists also want the European Central Bank to lower interest rates to help spur the economy.

In the U.S., the threat of another budget crisis was averted late Monday when the Senate passed legislation to avoid a government shutdown.

Home prices rose for a fourth straight month in most major U.S. cities in July. A report on Tuesday also showed that consumer confidence improved slightly in September after plummeting in August.

Walgreen Co. fell 6.3 percent, the most in the S&P, after the drugstore operator said it is ending its relationship with Express Scripts Inc. That deal is worth $5.3 billion per year, but Walgreen said Express Scripts was not paying it enough money to fill prescriptions.

Caret met with reporters Wednesday at the UMass-Amherst campus.

Photo by Diane Lederman/The RepublicanUniversity of Massachusetts President Robert L. Caret met with the media Wednesday in Amherst.

AMHERST – University of Massachusetts President Robert L. Caret wants the campus to become one of the top 25 public research universities in the country and for a new chancellor to help achieve that goal.

Caret, who was selected president this year to succeed Jack M. Wilson who retired, was in town to meet with reporters, something he is doing on every campus in the UMass system. He answered questions for an hour.

Chancellor Robert C. Holub will be leaving at the end of the academic year. The committee evaluating him had recommended against reappointing him for another three-year term. The committee that is searching for a new chancellor holds its first meeting here on Wednesday.

Caret said a new chancellor needs “to lead a research intensive campus, a research-one flagship campus into that arena where it becomes a top 25 campus.”

He said the campus needs a chancellor “who likes this kind of (rural) environment.” He said there are people “who want to be in New York City, they’re not going to be happy in Amherst.”
He said he’s looking for someone “ready to stay for a while.”

And he said the chancellor has to be able “to empathize (with faculty) and understand where they are coming from” because faculty is vital to the university’s success.

In the meantime, he said the Amherst campus will continue on its path toward reaching top status.

“Bob Holub and I have a great relationship. We don’t intend to let this campus slide or go stagnant” this year.

He said he’s meeting with donors who have been upset by the changes. He said he’s telling them that it’s about “institutional allegiance; it goes beyond (people.)”

In the meantime is hoping to obtain more state money to pay for infrastructure.
“The state budget is pathetic when it comes to University of Massachusetts infrastructure.”

He said if the state paid more than the 20 percent they’re funding now, the campus would have more money to spend on its operating budget.

He said if the state picked up all the debt that would free up millions of dollars. And while the state wouldn’t do that “any piece of that would help.” He said he met with “very high powered businessmen who are very interest in that piece. I think we’ll get support from the public on that.”

Then he said another way he’s lobbying is what he called “the alpha male-alpha female approach.” With that, he said, he asks the Legislature if they want the University of Connecticut to have a higher ranking than UMass, which they don’t.

The state economy needs an educated workforce. “That’s what drives the whole economy.”

He also said they are working with members of the Higher Education Caucus in the Legislature and alumni. “We’re working with them to create champions (of the university) within the legislature.”

They are doing the same with the 41 alums.

He said he understands that people blame the system. But he said, “The system is not going way. You have to learn to work within the system, how to leverage the system.

When asked about the spring announcement that UMass will be elevating to Football Bowl Subdivision status as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 2012, he said he supports it.

“If you want to be a top 25 public university, there are very few circumstances when you don’t have FBS (status.)”

Membership “is one ff the characteristics” that the campus needs.

Brown said it will be a challenge to keep veterans from losing benefits.

Photo by Michael S. Gordon / The RepublicanU.S. Sen. Scott Brown talks to veterans at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6714 on Riverdale Street in West Springfield.

WEST SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Sen. Scott P. Brown, R-Mass, reassured a group of veterans Tuesday that they should not lose any benefits they are currently drawing despite Congress eying cuts to such areas as the military.

“We have a contract with the people that have served,” Brown said.

However, later on during the meeting, the senator said, “The challenge right now is protecting the benefits you have right now.”

Brown addressed about 50 people during a forum at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6714 while in the area to visit the Big E and open a Western Massachusetts regional office at 1550 Main St. in Springfield. He serves on the Armed Services Committee in Congress, where some are eyeing cutting back military pensions.

Brown pointed out that he has visited Afghanistan as both a senator as well as in military uniform. He has served 32 years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard and is currently a lieutenant colonel.

The senator spoke briefly about his visit to Afghanistan, saying the situation there has him concerned.

“I was troubled. I’m not going to lie,” Brown said, but went on to add if the military withdrawal is done “thoughtfully and judiciously” we can leave Afghanistan better off than it was.

The senator, who is up for re-election in the fall, took aim at the lack of partisan cooperation in Congress.

“I’ve been disgusted by some of the things that have been going on. Every time there is a conflict we want to shut down government,” Brown said.

The senator called for a new spirit of bipartisanship, which he said would mean “we are Americans first.”

“I will work with any person of goodwill who comes through my door,” Brown said.

He did caution that the country is in “a financial emergency,” and needs to cut any inefficiencies.

Asked to comment on the prospect of facing off against Democrat and consumer financial advocate Elizabeth Warren in the 2012 senate election, Brown said he will be “ready.”

On a different tack, Air Force Vietnam veteran and Ludlow resident Eugene L. Basile complained that the federal Environmental Protection Agency is “strangling” businesses.

Brown said a lack of regulatory certainty and clarity in government is a problem for businesses.

“Businesses are saying ‘you know what, I’ll move my business to another state or another country,” the senator said.

Critics said it would dilute the concentration of slot machines at the three casinos and one slots parlor to be created by the bill.

BOSTON (AP) — Travelers at Logan Airport won't get a chance to try their luck at slot machines while waiting for their flight.

The Massachusetts Senate on Tuesday rejected a proposed amendment to a casino gambling bill which would have allowed slot machines at the airport.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Marc Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat, argued the measure would have allowed the state to boost gambling revenues by targeting tourists and other visitors to the state.

But critics said it would dilute the concentration of slot machines at the three casinos and one slots parlor to be created by the bill.

The amendment was one of 182 proposed amendments to the casino bill.

The Senate ended a second day of debate and is expected to take up the legislation against next Tuesday.

The petition was to ask people if they wanted to extend the mayor's term to four years.

Chicopee City Councilor John Vieau, left, is seen with colleague Dino Brunetti.

CHICOPEE – Two city councilors who discovered problems with a petition to place a question on the November election ballot are asking the Attorney General to expand her investigation to include the city solicitor.

Councilors John L. Vieau and Dino A. Brunetti said emails requested from the state Elections Division show the city’s lawyer Karen T. Betournay was involved with drafting the petition.

The Councilors last week brought a complaint to the Board of Registrars saying some signatures on a petition filed by a committee spearheaded by Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette looked like they were in the same handwriting.

During a six-hour hearing, at least eight people testified they had not signed the petition where their signature appeared. The board rejected 58 signatures. Because petition supporters turned in 1,751 signatures that were certified and they needed 1,701, the petition did not meet the requirements to appear on the ballot.

After the hearing, Vieau and Brunetti submitted a request to Attorney General Martha Coakley and the state Ethics Commission to investigate allegations of forgery.

The information about the city solicitor was added to the investigation request Tuesday.

William A. McDermott Jr., the Boston-based lawyer hired by Vieau and Brunetti to represent them at the hearing, asked Betournay to withdraw from the hearing. Betournay said she had no conflict of interest and members of the Board of Registrars agreed.

Betournay could not be reached for comment Tuesday but Bissonnette confirmed she made inquiries about the correct way to submit the petition.

“Nobody in the (City) Clerk’s office had this petition and knew how to do it,” he said. “We asked the questions because we wanted to get the form right.”

Bissonnette agreed there were problems with some signatures but said the councilors were trying to add more issues to gain publicity.

However, Vieau and Brunetti are running unopposed for re-election.

“I’m tired of these guys grinding an ax. I did not forge any signatures. The only thing I’m trying to accomplish is to get this on the ballot,” he said.

The question was to ask voters if they wanted to extend the mayor’s term to four years.

He and supporters involved in the petition drive are continuing to look into the signatures in question, he said.

“To those whose signatures appeared who did not sign the petition, I apologize. It is not right to sign someone’s name and I would like to get to the bottom of that,” he said

Brunetti, Vieau and two other councilors said a number of people have been calling them to see if their names have appeared on the petition.

Donald Gosselin and his wife Alice Gosselin said their signatures were blatantly wrong.

“They misspelled our names. They only used one ‘s’ and we have two,” he said. “My wife is a left-hander and it (Her signature) was written by a right-hander.”

Sample of Chicopee Petition

A car driven by Maria Geigel-Gaston of Springfield pulled out from the Sav-A-Lot entrance way and crashed into a car driven by Thomas McLean of Wilbraham, police said.

9-27-11 Springfield Firefighters work to free the driver of a Nissan Altima in front of 633 Liberty St . Springfield Fire Department photo by Dennis Leger

This is an update of a story originally posted at 11:11 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD - Three people were injured Tuesday morning in a two-car accident on Liberty Street near the Armory Street rotary that was apparently caused by one car running a red light and striking another, police said.

The accident occurred just before 8:45 a.m. by the entrance to the Sav-A-Lot food store, 655 Liberty St., said Sgt. Neil Maloney of the Springfield Police Traffic Bureau.

A car driven by Maria Geigel-Gaston of Springfield pulled out from the Sav-A-Lot entrance way and crashed into a car driven by Thomas McLean of Wilbraham, he said. McLean was heading north on Liberty Street.

The Springfield Fire Department was called to the scene to help free Geigel-Gaston from the wreckage, said Department spokesman Dennis Leger.

Geigel-Gaston, McLean and his passenger, Dorothy McLean of Wilbraham, were taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center, Maloney said..

A hospital spokesman said Geigel-Gaston is listed in fair condition. The hospital had no record of either McLean receiving treatment.

Witnesses told police that Geigel-Gaston appeared to have driven through a red light before striking the McLean vehicle, Maloney said.

The accident remains under investigation.

She made her comments on the day that Secretary of State William Galvin announced Patricia Plaza would take over her post.

This is an updated version of a story posted at 11:07 this morning.

File photo / The RepublicanHampshire Register of Deeds Marianne L. Donohue, left, is seen with assistant Register Patricia A. Plaza in the research library of the Registry in 1997.

NORTHAMPTON – Hampshire Register of Deeds Marianne L. Donohue said Tuesday that her planned retirement, scheduled to begin Friday, has nothing to do with published reports about her current residency in West Springfield.

He made her comments on the same that Secretary of State William F. Galvin announced he has appointed Patricia A. Plaza of Westhampton to fill Donohue’s unexpired term.

Donohue said Galvin’s office researched the matter and concluded that there is no state law that requires the register of deeds of a particular county to live in that county.

Donohue, 63, said she is leaving simply because she has accomplished her goals in office and it’s time to move on.

“I’ve got a bucket list so long, you won’t believe it,” she said. “It’s been an honor and a privilege for me to serve as register. I met every goal I set for myself.”

The $90,000-a-year position is up for election in September 2012.

Plaza has been assistant register of deeds for the past 22 years. She has said she will not run for the office next year when the six-year term is on the ballot. Her term will end on Jan. 4, 2013. She is schedule to be sworn in on Monday.

Donohue, meanwhile, will leave office on Friday after serving 22 years as register.

Staff writers Dan Ring and Fred Contrada prepared this report.

Mayor Elaine A. Pluta is asking all decisions on casinos be delayed until a bill allowing them in Massachusetts is approved.

Republican file photo

HOLYOKE – Representatives of Paper City Development Company are asking the City Council to wait on making any decision on their plan for a casino until they can do a second study on how to access the property from Interstate 91.

At the same time, Mayor Elaine A. Pluta is recommending the city delay requests for action on any casino initiatives until after the legislators and Gov. Deval L. Patrick adopt a law allowing them in the state.

Pluta said her release is unrelated to the request from Paper City Development, which has proposed building a resort casino at the site of Wyckoff Country Club.

“I want to make sure it is legal before we move forward,” Pluta said. Last year legislators failed to pass a casino bill at the last minute, so there is no reason to get people excited or upset about something that may not happen.

The two requests come a day before the City Council Redevelopment Committee is to hear a petition by Paper City Development that would allow it to use about 4.5 acres of property, that is slated for new off and on ramps dedicated for the proposed casino.

That property, which is now part of the golf course, was once owned by the city but purchased in 1983 by the Wojtowicz family. The 4.5 acres has a deed restriction that would turn those acres back to the city if it is no longer part of the course.

“The goal of Paper City Development is to have all entrance and egress come in and off Interstate 91,” said Anthony L. Cignoli, owner of the A.L. Cignoli Co. public relations firm. He, Joseph A. Lashinger Jr., of Florida who has worked for a number of large gambling firms, and past Springfield City Councilor Anthony Ravosa Jr., now of Connecticut, are partners in Paper City Development.

Recently the state Department of Transportation recommended a second possible way to create new exit and entrance ramps that would not involve the use of that land. The partners are asking the city to put off any decisions until they can have traffic and engineering studies explore that option.

Already the company has spent about $700,000 on engineering and traffic studies. The new work will cost about $25,000, Cignoli said.

City Councilor Kevin A. Jourdain said he plans to hold the meeting but never expected to make any type of decision immediately and there is no hurry to do so. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Wednesday in City Hall.

Jourdain said his goal is to be able to hear as many people as possible speak about the pros and cons of the proposal.

“I’m not sure we had enough community dialogue. This is a pretty controversial topic,” he said.

The Senate will resume debate on the casino bill on Tuesday.

BOSTON -- State senators on Tuesday approved a measure to bar state legislators from taking a job with a casino until one year after they leave office, capping a skirmish that became so heated that the Senate president temporarily moved it out of public sight.

The measure was among 22 additional amendments approved or rejected during the state Senate's second day of debate on a bill to authorize three casino resorts in the state including one for anywhere in the four counties of Western Massachusetts and one slot-machine parlor. Senators have now completed 82 of the 182 amendments submitted for the casino debate. The Senate will break for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which starts at sunset on Wednesday, and resume debate on the casino bill on Tuesday.

The state House of Representatives approved a casino bill on Sept. 14. If the Senate approves a bill, the two branches will negotiate a final compromise bill and vote again before sending the compromise bill to Gov. Deval L. Patrick.

Senators also defeated an amendment to allow slot machines at Logan International Airport in Boston. They also killed a proposal to include casino revenues in the calculation when state officials determine if rising state revenues would trigger a small cut in the state income tax.

Senate President Therese Murray

Soon after it began on Tuesday, the debate halted when one state senator argued for an amendment for a five-year "cooling off period" for former legislators before they work for a casino or applicant for a gambling license. Opponents became testy and Senate President Therese Murray gaveled the debate to a close. She ordered Democrats behind closed doors for a caucus that lasted an hour. When they emerged, senators quickly voted 36-1 for the one-year period for former lawmakers.

Murray defended her decision, saying there was a very healthy debate on the floor before going into caucus. “I didn't cut off the debate,” Murray said after the session when a reporter asked why she cut off debate. “I asked the members to come into the caucus so they could have an instructional, informative debate on both sides and what the concerns were from some of the members.”

Two Western Massachusetts Democratic senators – Sens. Stephen M. Brewer of Barre and Gale D. Candaras of Wilbraham – said they resented the amendment by casino foe Sen. James B. Eldridge that called for a five-year cooling off period for former legislators before they could win a job at a casino or an applicant for a gambling license.

“We don't get rich doing this and we do the people’s business with honor,” said Brewer, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and key author of the casino bill.

The Republican file photoSen. Gale Candaras of Wilbraham

Candaras said that Eldridge’s opposition to casinos turned into “an attack” on his fellow legislators. She questioned if legislators would be similarly blocked from working in the green energy, health care or movies since they approved laws that affect those industries.

“I take exception to the idea we can't work in the private sector any more,” Candaras said.

After the caucus, Eldridge, a Democrat from Acton, agreed to change his amendment to one year, saying it is an improvement to the bill.

Eldridge said the one-year waiting period appears reasonable because existing state law bans former legislators from becoming a lobbyist until one year after they leave office.

“This is an economic development bill for the people and should not be an economic development bill for legislators,” Eldridge said. “This is an important public integrity measure. We need to make sure this is not a bill that benefits any of us personally."

Senators also voted 32-6 to defeat a Republican amendment to include casino revenues when determining a possible incremental cut in the state income tax.

Sen. Michael R. Knapik, a Republican from Westfield, said the amendment would provide that some casino revenues help in tax relief. Knapik joked about current plans for spending tax dollars from casinos on an array of programs, saying a chart of the proposed expenditures looks like “the family tree of the gentleman from Barre,” referring to Brewer.

In 2002, legislators froze the state income tax at 5.3 percent as part of a law to help close a deficit in the state budget. At the same time, legislators established a schedule for the income tax to gradually be lowered to 5 percent in annual increments of 0.05 percentage points.

The tiny cuts would only be triggered if there was enough economic growth each year. If the income tax does drop by 0.05 percent in January as legislators expect, it will be the first cut in the tax since it fell to 5.3 percent on Jan. 1, 2002 under a ballot question approved in 2000.

Brewer said the bill calls for reasonable spending of casino tax revenues. Under the bill, gross gaming revenues from a casino resort would be taxed at 25 percent and the slot parlor, 40 percent, and could eventually raise about $450 million a year, according to Brewer. The bill directs different percentages of the tax bounty to programs such as local aid, mitigation for casino host and surrounding communities, transportation, tourism, education and economic development.

Senators also voted 18-1 to reject an amendment by Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat, to allow slot machines at Logan airport. Pacheco called the proposal “common sense,” saying the machines would capture revenues from nearly 30 million people expected to fly out of the airport next year, with 60 percent from places other than Massachusetts.

A state senator from Boston dismissed the idea. “This is probably not a real good idea to put slot machines in Logan Airport for a whole host of reasons I don't need to bore you with,” said Sen. Anthony W. Petruccelli.

Turnout in Westfield's only preliminary election contest was 3.6 percent.

file photosCandidates Michael D. Tirrell, left, and John "Jack" Leary Jr. will face off against each other in the Nov. 8 election for a seat on the city School Committee

WESTFIELD - Political novice Michael D. Tirrell will face former city councilor and School Committee member John "Jack" Leary Jr. in the city's general election Nov. 8 for a two-year seat on the School Committee.

Tirrell gathered the highest number of votes in the only contest on Tuesday's preliminary ballot with 412 while Leary finished second with 286 votes. Eliminated from the Nov. 8 election were Samuel N. Sam and William K. Tatro. Tatro earned 80 votes while Sam gathered 58.

Tirrell and Leary credited their victory to campaigning campaigns, school finances, construction of a new elementary school, classroom technology and classroom student-teacher ratios.

The city spent an estimated $30,000 on the single preliminary contest Tuesday. All other races, mayor, City Council, regular School Committee and Municipal Light Board did not require a preliminary election.

The two-year school board seat will fill a vacancy created in July when Laura K. Maloney resigned in the middle of her four-year term because she moved from the city.

Turnout Tuesday was poor. Only 853 voters cast ballots. The city has a total of 23,638 registered voters. The percent of turnout was only 3.6 percent.

"Very disappointing but anticipated," City Clerk Karen M. Fanion said after announcing the preliminary results.

"It was required because of the number of candidates interested in the two year seat," Fanion said.

"I am pleased with the results but disappointed at the turnout," Tirrell said.
Tirrell said he will continue to campaign in neighborhoods, door-to-door and discuss the issues with voters leading up to Nov. 8.

Leary said he was pleased to learn his biggest support came in sections of the city he once represented on the City Council. Those were Ward 1 and Ward 6.

"I won in both those areas were people know me the best. I will continue to go door-to-door and meet as many people as possible to discuss school issues before Nov. 8," said Leary.

The town-run park sees visitors from near and far who enjoy all it has to offer throughout the year.

WINDSOR, Conn. – With its miles and miles of walking trails, interpretive nature center, animal barn and special programming, Northwest Park is a small-town park with all the amenities found in a big city.

The town-run park in Windsor, Conn., sees visitors from near and far who enjoy all it has to offer throughout the year.

“I think what attracts most people to the park is its open space,” says park manager Ford Parker. “It has 12 miles of walking or hiking trails, so a lot of people come out and simply walk the nature trails and enjoy nature at its finest.”

The 473-acre park, a reclaimed former tobacco farm, offers diverse forests, fields and landscapes. The diversity of habitats include grasslands, bogs, marshlands, forests, ponds and streams.

“For those who like to enjoy the wild side, this is the place to go,” Parker said.

One of the park’s most popular features is its nature center and gift shop, open seven days a week. There is also an animal barn featuring a collection of heritage breed domestic livestock and poultry. Children especially like to get an up-close look at the animals, and also have the opportunity to feed them.

A 12,500-square-foot butterfly garden, planted specifically to attract different species of butterflies, is popular among both gardeners and butterfly enthusiasts.

A 1/8-mile “sensory saunter trail” offers those with special needs a unique opportunity to enjoy the park.

“It’s easily accessible for all persons,” Parker said. “It includes a guide rope and recordings that can be listened to through an MP3 player, so those who are visually challenged can enjoy it.”

The park also includes the Luddy-Taylor Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum, picnic pavilions available for rental, a dog park and a playground.

Special programming includes a coffee house music series, nature education programs, snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals and maple sugaring, plus summer camps for children.

Obituaries from The Republican today.

Cesare N. Stenta

HAMPDEN - Cesare N. Stenta, 69, a 22 year resident of Hampden died Saturday at Baystate Medical Center. He was born in Springfield to the late Antonio and Genevieve (Perla) Stenta and attended the former Springfield Technical High School. He was a musician, saxophone player and band leader for over 40 years with his bands, Starlites, Whispering Sands and Sounds of Music. Cesare also worked part time for Fine, Emond, and Applebaum Law Offices for many years.

Obituaries

• Allard, Donna A. (Sullivan)
  




• 
  Brodeur, Theresa L. (Smith)
  



• 
  Christmas, Mary Dorothy




• 
  Gioscia, Carlo
  



• 
  Goodrich, Jacqueline C. (Hegarty)
  




• Hines, Kelvin D.
  




• 
  Hudson, Richard E. "Rich"
  



• 
  Lange, Earl B.




• 
  Lee, Terry A.
  



• 
  Marby, Barbara H. (Hunn)
  




• McCarthy, Cecelia B. (Clukey)
  




• 
  Moreau, Pearl A. (Trudell)
  



• 
  Nowak, Helen M. (Simpson)




• 
  Rivers, Beatrice M. "Bea" (Allard)
  



• 
  Rossini, Orlando
  




• Stebbins, Nathan Thomas
  




• 
  Stenta, Cesare N.
  



• 
  Zane, Alice

Cain's campaign has gained momentum since his victory Saturday in Florida's straw poll.

Associated PressRepublican presidential candidate Herman Cain arrives onstage to address the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Sept. 23, 2011.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain acknowledges he may be the "flavor of the month," but promises that voters will find that there's "more to that flavor than meets the eye."

Cain's campaign has gained momentum since his victory Saturday in Florida's straw poll.

He told CBS' "Early Show" on Wednesday that a "massive citizens' movement," with "every organization mobilizing its members," is helping his campaign. He also said the Internet is helping more voters find out about his message.

Cain said voters are "thinking for themselves" even though rivals Rick Perry and Mitt Romney have gotten most of the attention. He said that "in Florida, voters decided the winner, not the media."

Amazon has broad goals for the Fire as a platform for games, movies, music and other applications.

Associated PressJeff Bezos, Chairman and CEO of Amazon.com, introduces the Kindle Fire at a news conference, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 in New York. The e-reader and tablet has a 7-inch (17.78 cm) multicolor touchscreen.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Wednesday showed off the Kindle Fire, a $199 tablet computer, challenging Apple's iPad by extending its Kindle brand into the world of full-color, multipurpose devices.

Bezos also took the opportunity to show off a new line of Kindle e-readers with black-and-white screens and lower prices, further pressuring competitors like Barnes & Noble Inc. that are trying to break Amazon.com Inc.'s dominance in electronic book sales.

The Kindle Fire will go on sale Nov. 15. It's about half the size of the iPad, making it a close match with Barnes & Nobles Nook Color tablet, which came out last year. But while Barnes & Noble sees the Nook Color as jazzed-up e-reader, Amazon has broader goals for the Fire, as a platform for games, movies, music and other applications.

Even before its release, the Kindle Fire was heralded as a worthy competitor to Apple's iPad. Amazon is nearly unique in its ability to sell content such as e-books, movies and music suited for a tablet — just like Apple does.

But competing with Apple won't be easy. Many have tried to copy the iPad's success, but so far, it is the overwhelming front-runner in the tablet computer category. Apple sold 28.7 million of them from April 2010 to June 2011. Analysts at research firm Gartner Inc. expect the iPad to account for three out of four tablet sales this year.

The Fire runs a version of Google Inc.'s Android software, used by other iPad wannabes, and will have access to applications through Amazon's Android store. Unlike the iPad, the Fire doesn't need to be backed up on a PC. Instead, it backs up its contents wirelessly on Amazon's servers.

"That model that you have to back up your own content is a broken model. We want to take responsibility for that," Bezos said in a dig at Apple. He was speaking at a press event in New York.

Amazon's cheapest new Kindle will cost $79, and dispenses with the keyboard the Kindles have carried since the first model launched in 2007. Previously, the cheapest Kindle cost $114.

Amazon is also bringing out the first black-and-white Kindle with a touch screen. It will cost $99 and is reminiscent of Barnes & Noble's latest Nook. A version with access to AT&T's cellular network for book downloads will cost $149.