The Holyoke City Council must decide to hold or raise the sewer use fees for residential and commercial ratepayers. The sewer fund continues to experience large, unsustainable deficits.

HOLYOKE - The City Council's Finance Committee balked this week at setting a sewer rate increase, leaving the matter to the full council.

With a sewer fund deficit hovering around $1 million, councilors must decide whether to increase sewer use fees for residential and commercial ratepayers.

During the Ordinance Committee's Dec. 11 meeting, Department of Public Works Superintendent Michael McManus offered five scenarios for a rate increase that would reduce the deficit, with the city no longer dipping into the general fund to cover sewer expenses.

Councilor Joseph M. McGiverin said the city cannot sustain shortages in the Sewer Enterprise Fund, which includes a nearly $33,000 shortfall for fiscal 2018.

McManus favored eliminating the $5 minimum and raising usage fees to $6.65 per 1,000 gallons, a $1.25 increase. Fewer than 300 accounts fall under the quarterly $5 minimum fee.

For homeowners who pay the minimum rate, their annual bill would climb to $33.12 yearly, according to McManus.

A second option raises minimum consumption to 10,000 gallons and a rate of $6.40 per 1,000 gallons.

The current average residential bill is $382 annually. The $6.65 per 1,000 gallons rate increases the average bill to $471.50 annually, a 23 percent rise. A 10,000-gallon minimum with a $6.40 per 1,000 gallons rate translates into a $481 average annual bill, a 25.47 percent increase.

McManus said the goal is to reduce or eliminate the sewer fund deficit.

Finance Committee Chairwoman and Ward 3 Councilor Linda Vacon felt the $6.65 was too high. Councilors Rebecca Lisi and Juan Anderson-Burgos agreed with McManus's findings. On a split vote, the committee offered a no recommendation ruling.

In the last six years, nearly $5 million was transferred from the general fund to the sewer fund, according to McManus.

Fiscal 2014 showed a $938,000 deficit, followed by $628,000 in fiscal 2015, $342,000 in fiscal 2016, $595,000 for fiscal 2017, $1.4 million in fiscal 2018 and a projected deficit of $956,000 for fiscal 2019.

The city expects an increase in sewer use revenue for the coming fiscal year.

In the past year, the city introduced stricter collection measures, which lets the Water Department shut off service to homes or businesses that owe back sewer use fees. For years, delinquent ratepayers would pay the water bill and ignore the sewer bill.

The City Council will mull a rate increase during its Dec. 18 session, which begins at 7:30 p.m.

The state performance on a series of revenue benchmarks means the state income rate will drop from 5.10 percent to 5.05 percent for the coming tax year. State voters approved a tax reduction scheme in 2000 that has cut the income tax to 5.0%.

The state's income tax rate will drop 0.05 percent in the coming year, the Department of Revenue announced Friday, thanks to continued strong revenue performance.  

Department spokeswoman Julie Mehegan said the Part B individual income tax rate will drop from 5.10 to 5.05 percent. The department predicts that if the state's economic performance continues, the rate should drop to the target 5.0 percent in 2020.

"A strong economy and careful management of the Commonwealth's finances have created the conditions for Massachusetts taxpayers to get a much-deserved break," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. "We are pleased that next year we will see taxpayers be able to keep more of their hard-earned money."

The last reduction came in 2016 when the rate dropped from 5.15 to 5.10 percent.

A tax cut schedule was created after voters approved an initiative to cut the state's income tax from 5.95 to 5 percent in three years. Under the provisions of Question 4 on the 2000 ballot, the state income tax rate would have been cut to 5.0 percent by 2003. The Legislature intervened in 2002 and passed a bill to spread the reductions out by tying the cuts to five separate revenue metrics. Legislators tried to ensure that the state would not lose significant revenues during difficult economic times. 

Under the provisions of the new law, when revenue goals were met, the rate would drop by 0.05 percent for that tax year. 

Beginning in 2012 the state rate dropped from 5.3 to 5.25 percent, while requirements were not met in 2013, keeping the rate stable. By 2014 continued improving economic performance triggering a cut that year, in 2015 and again in 2016. 

While there was no cut in 2017, officials said Friday that the 2018 performance was satisfactory, triggering the announced rate cut. 

The rate reduction will cost the state budget an estimated $84 million in 2019, and $175 million in 2020. 

Holyoke resident Jennifer Cooper will receive the St. Patrick's Parade Committee's 2019 George O'Connell Award.

HOLYOKE - The Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee has named Jennifer Cooper the 2019 George E. O'Connell Award Recipient.

The award honors a committee member who "made significant contributions" to the parade's fundraising efforts.

Cooper, of Holyoke, will receive the award at the committee's annual award dinner Feb. 6 at the Wherehouse? in Holyoke

Bill Quesnel, who chairs the O'Connell Selection Committee, said, "Jen has a very demanding day job, so we are very lucky to have someone with her talents and organizational skills volunteering her spare time with us."

He added, "I know her payback for her dedication is watching the smiles on the thousands of spectators' faces while they watch the floats and bands marching down the streets of Holyoke in March." 

Cooper, who joined the committee six years ago, manages the Marketing Committee, serves on the Road Race Committee and as an official greeter. The committee credits her "sharp focus, attention to detail and quick wit" for her continued success.

Devin Sheehan, the 2019 Parade Committee president, said, "Jen Cooper is a dedicated member of our Committee and has been a tremendous asset to our marketing team.

He added, "She has a passion for working with our many community partners to ensure that they are well represented on Parade and Race days."

Cooper graduated from Holyoke Catholic High School and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in education. She is the senior director at the UMass Foundation.

"I can't believe it! There are so many awesome and hardworking people on the Committee. I think I do a fraction of the work they do. It is such an honor for me to be among the people who have received this award. I'm proud to be a part of something that's so positive in a place that I love so much."

"It's such an honor to work among all of you on the Parade Committee. There are so many hard workers with such good attitudes who put on such an amazing event for a city that I love. Thank you so much for this award," Cooper said in a statement.

"The St. Patrick's Parade Committee is the greatest group of dedicated, fun, hardworking and Holyoke-loving people. To be honored by them is an enormous privilege," she added.

Cooper is also on the Dakin Humane Society's board of directors.

To purchase tickets for the awards dinner, contact Hayley Dunn at hayleyfeyerdunn@gmail.com. The sights and sounds of the 68th annual St. Patrick's Parade will fill the streets of Holyoke March 17, 2019.

The annual Wreaths for a Reason campaign has raised money for Toy for Joy.

EAST LONGMEADOW - The atmosphere at CareOne at Redstone in East Longmeadow was the height of festivity Thursday night, with its walls lined with extravagantly decorated Christmas wreaths. 

This was the scene of the care facility's annual Wreaths for a Reason, a fundraiser that helps bring gifts to children during the holiday season.

Each year the nursing home gives out Christmas wreaths to local businesses, schools and other organizations and asks that they decorate them. The decorated wreaths are then returned to CareOne and raffled off, with the proceeds going to Toy for Joy, the annual campaign to bring Christmas gifts to families across Western Massachusetts. This year CareOne raised $920 for Toy for Joy.

Toy for Joy, which is a collaborative effort by the Salvation Army, The Republican and MassLive, will receive a significant contribution from the raffle proceeds, said Tricia Gendron, community liaison for the facility.

Today's list of donations totaling $965 brings the total raised thus far to $$35,825 leaving $114,175 to be raised by Christmas eve.

Gendron, who has worked at CareOne for the past four years, said that the event is fun and a great holiday tradition. "I just like to give a lot of credit to the businesses," Gendron said. "Because I know that none of this could happen without them." 

"It's really great. Everybody is just so giving," she added. "It's just such a good feeling to be able to give--like to Toy for Joy."   

The Toy for Joy campaign each year brings toys to thousands of families. Last year the campaign served 2,700 families in Springfield, around 800 families in Holyoke, and some 200 families in Greenfield.

You can still make a contribution to the Toy for Joy fund by writing: Toy for Joy, 1860 Main St., Springfield, MA 01101. Contributions may also be dropped off with the coupon which accompanies this story to The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through noon on Dec. 21. You can also make online donations.

For the third year in a row, Pride Stores is partnering with Toy for Joy. Pride locations in Western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut will rally its customers in November and December to help contribute to Toy for Joy. Customers can go into any Pride in the area and purchase a $1, $5 or $10 donation card for Toy for Joy.

Toy for Joy is also partnering this year with the Reading Success by 4th Grade initiative of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation for a second year to help ensure each child receives a new book.

Thousands of firefighters, friends and family lined up outside St. John's Church on Temple Street Friday evening to pay respects to Roy at his wake.

A funeral is being held for Worcester Firefighter Christopher Roy Saturday.

Roy, 36, was assigned to Ladder 4 at the Webster Square Fire Station and had been a firefighter for 2 and a half years. He died Sunday after becoming trapped on the second floor of 7 Lowell St. while battling flames.

He leaves his 9-year-old daughter, Ava, his parents and a brother. His funeral begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Thousands of firefighters, friends and family lined up outside St. John's Church on Temple Street Friday evening to pay respects to Roy at his wake.

The Worcester Firefighters IAFF Local 1009 union has established a memorial fund to assist Roy's daughter. Several businesses and restaurants in Worcester have announced fundraisers for the Roy family, many of which will feed into the Ava Roy Fund.

"You were your father's world," Roy's friend and fellow firefighter, David Scavone, told Ava during a eulogy for Roy on Saturday. "He moved heaven and Earth to give you the best life possible that you deserved."

For Christopher Roy, life revolved around Ava, his beloved 9-year-old daughter.

"You were your father's world," Roy's friend and fellow firefighter, David Scavone, told Ava during a eulogy for Roy on Saturday. "He moved heaven and Earth to give you the best life possible that you deserved."

Ava, wearing a white jacket, sat in St. John's Church with her grandparents, Roy's parents Michele and Ronald, as thousands of firefighters from across Massachusetts and beyond honored Roy's life.

Roy died Sunday after battling a five-alarm fire at 7 Lowell St. in Worcester. He became trapped on the second floor and succumbed to his injuries after being pulled from the building by colleagues.

With heavy hearts, the Worcester Fire Department said a final goodbye to Roy at his funeral Saturday.

Scavone wanted to offer a message to Roy's parents, in addition to Ava, and told them that Roy brought joy to a countless amount of people. 

"Even though his life was cut way too short, he will always be with us in our hearts and looking down on us with his infectious smile," said Scavone, one of three Worcester firefighters to deliver the eulogy. "We should all consider ourselves blessed for having gotten to know Roy."

Firefighter Sean Sullivan told the packed church that Roy deeply loved his family, especially his daughter.

"A permanent hole is in all of our hearts now, but we can move forward together knowing that Roy's forever a part of us," Sullivan said. "Not a day will go by that I don't remember our friend, but through his memory, we can all try to become better people."

Sullivan recalled meeting Roy while he attended Saint Peter Marian Central Catholic High School, getting to know one another on the football field.

"He could move a mountain with his smile," Sullivan said. "Chris was one of the best people I ever knew."

Firefighter Stephen McGurn remarked that being a firefighter, a "Jake," is a job one can only do when it is his or her true calling.

"It takes a special kind of person, someone with a huge heart, a person with character, and, of course, a person with great compassion," McGurn said. "All of those attributes explained Roy to a tee."

Inside the Webster Square Fire Station, where Roy was assigned to Ladder 4, Roy was eager to learn, "hungry for the chance to advance in knowledge," McGurn said. 

There, Roy was becoming known as a go-to guy, McGurn said, becoming especially skilled in special operations and technical rescue.

"He became so good in such a short period of time and we all couldn't be more proud of him," he said.

The loss is devastating for Roy's family, friends and his brother and sister firefighters.

"I know there is a void that will never be filled. We will all stick together as friends and family," Scavone said. "We will never let his memory die."

Sullivan had a request of those in the church: "Please remember Chris as the great father, friend and firefighter he was to all of us."

Hampden County officials came together Saturday to support the Gun Buy Back program. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD - When he was a child, Kevin Moriarty had a friend who accidentally shot and killed his brother. 

Moriarty, now Baystate Medical Center's chief pediatric surgeon, said he unfortunately still sees examples of such preventable deaths in the line of work. "The types of injuries we see in pediatrics [related to firearms] are accidental shootings--a friend shooting a friend, or a sibling shooting a sibling," he said. "The other is suicide."  

The desire to prevent these kind of deaths is one of the reasons Moriarty supports the Gun Buy Back program, an annual event that brings together medical, political and law enforcement officials in Hampden County to work on reducing the harm done by unwanted household firearms. 

The program is put on by the Hampden District Attorney's Office and Baystate Medical Center and gives county residents an opportunity to trade in the firearms they may want to get rid of for cash. 

Between 50 to 60 guns were turned in at the Raymond Sullivan Safety Complex on Carew Street between 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday. Those who turned in guns received Big Y gift cards in return.  

"The importance of this event is injury prevention and suicide prevention," said Moriarty. "I think in Massachusetts we have very good gun laws, some of the strictest in the country," he said. However, he said, safety can always be improved. 

Unwanted firearms present both public health and safety concerns, agreed District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. "From a public safety perspective, we don't want guns falling into the wrong hands," he said, of lost or stolen guns that could make their way into the hands of criminals. 

From a public health standpoint, Gulluni said that, statistically, a gun in the home more often leads to fatal results if a family member is suicidal. These numbers can hopefully be reduced by "getting unwanted guns out of folks homes," he said. 

Also present at Saturday's event were Noreen McGirr and Cerri Bergendahl. Both women work with Baystate's Family Advocacy Center, a specialty clinic which provides counseling and other forms of assistance to youth who have been affected by abuse or a traumatic incident.

The center recently received new grant funding for a suicide bereavement program which is offering free services and assistance to young adults who may be struggling after a loss in the family due to suicide.   

As two people who work daily with children affected by such preventable deaths, both McGirr and Bergendahl agreed it was crucial to improving safety to remove unwanted firearms from a residence.

"Even though firearms are not the most common form of suicide attempts, they're the most lethal," said Bergendahl. "There's more deaths by firearms than all other methods combined." 

McGirr and Bergendahl said that suicide can be an impulsive decision. If firearms are available in moments of crisis they will often be used, which is why it's all the more important to have programs like the Gun Buy Back which take these lethal means out of homes. 

"Suicide rates are soaring," said McGirr, referring to the national uptick in deaths across the country linked to despair. "People often can be impulsive," she said. "If you have access to something lethal, it will be used."  

McGirr and Bergendahl agreed that efforts such as the Gun Buy Back were a step in the right direction in terms of preventing the trauma that their clinic aims to treat. 

The Town Council in July override a mayoral veto of its anti-cannabis ordinance.

WEST SPRINGFIELD -- An ordinance banning recreational marijuana will now be encoded in the town's zoning.

The West Springfield Planning Board voted Dec. 5 to amend local land use regulations to disallow recreational cannabis enterprises, thereby confirming the will of the Town Council. The permanent zoning ban replaces a temporary measure, which was due to expire at the end of 2018.

Cannabis has been a divisive issue in West Springfield.

The Town Council in June voted 8-1 to ban commercial marijuana in West Side. Mayor William Reichelt quickly picked up his pen and vetoed the ban. The council in July overrode the mayoral veto.

"It makes no sense for us to outlaw it and lose the huge financial opportunities," said Reichelt at the time.

Two marijuana enterprises had hoped to open in town, with the potential for substantial new municipal revenues. West Side voters in the 2016 state election rejected legalization, 6,339 to 5,813.

It's one small part of a $555 million selloff of Lane's plants and paving division.

Lane Construction Corp. has sold 13 parcels comprising 300 acres of sand and gravel in West Northfield for nearly $9.6 million.

The gravel pit sale to the North Carolina-based Eurovia SAS was recorded at the Franklin County Register of Deeds on Friday, reports the Greenfield Recorder.

It's one small part of a $555 million selloff of Lane's plants and paving division. The division includes 40 hot mix asphalt facilities in states along the Eastern seaboard and Texas, and several other mining and quarry operations.

Lane will now concentrate on large, complex civil infrastructure projects in the U.S., according to a press release from the company.

Based in Cheshire, Connecticut, Lane is wholly owned by Salini Impregilo, a global infrastructure group. For nearly 130 years, the firm has built roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, metro and railway systems, airports, and water and wastewater treatment plants.

A Spencer man was killed and two other people seriously injured in a two-car crash on Route 49 in Spencer Friday night. Police said Cole Victor, 25, was dead at the scene of the crash, and the others were transported to an area hospital.

A 25-year-old Spencer man was killed when the car he was a driving apparently crossed the center line of Route 49 in Spencer and crashed head-on into a pickup truck traveling in the opposite lane at about 9:40 p.m. Friday night. The truck then burst into flames. 

Spencer police said in a release that 25-year-old Cole Victor, of Main Street in Spencer, was killed in the crash, while two others sustained serious injuries. 

A passenger in the car Victor was operating, 23-year-old Toni Doldo of Spencer, and the operator of the pickup truck, 40-year-old Erik Anderson, also of Spencer, were tranpsorted by ambulance to a local hospital with what police said were serious but non-life threatening injuries. 

Police said Anderson's truck burst into flames in the collision and by the time police and fire fighters arrived was completed engulfed in fire. Passersby stopped and helped Anderson get out of the burning vehicle. 

The Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council accident reconstruction unit was called to investigate the incident. 

Westfield police are searching for a 28-year-old woman, last seen wearing a hospital johnny and a purple jacket. Detectives said Jordyn Brown may be in danger and need medical attention.

Westfield police are looking for a 28-year-old woman they say may be in danger and needing medical attention.

In a Facebook posting, police said Jordyn Brown was last seen Saturday evening wearing a hospital johnny and a purple jacket. She is believed to be in the Westfield area

She is described as standing 5-foot, 2-inches tall and weighing about 140 lbs. She has brown hair and brown eyes. 

Anyone seeing Jordyn is asked to contact the Westfield Police Department at 413-562-5411. 

The annual event is observed on the third Saturday in December and coordinates with local officials to place Christmas wreaths on veterans' graves throughout the United States.

AGAWAM - For residents living near Six Flags New England, it was a day of summer-like traffic as several thousand volunteers converged on the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery for National Wreaths Across America Day.

The cemetery is located near the park and the event required several Agawam police officers to help coordinate traffic and parking issues which stretched more than a mile down Main Street and some residential streets.  

The Wreaths Across America organization was started by the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine in 1992, and helps coordinate the wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery as well as cemeteries across the country. 

The annual event is observed on the third Saturday in December and coordinates with local officials to place Christmas wreaths on veterans' graves throughout the United States.

Agawam Mayor William P. Sapelli, who attended the event, said Agawam is humbled and honored to have this ceremony and he estimated 3,000 volunteers and visitors were in attendance. Sapelli, a former superintendent of schools administrator, said it's a good learning experience as Agawam High School students could be seen placing the wreaths on the veterans' graves.

Gina Willette, location coordinator for Wreaths Across America for Agawam, said 7,500 wreaths were distributed among the cemetery. "This is the largest crowd we've ever seen" she added.

These are the winning numbers in the Powerball lottery drawing Saturday. Watch video

Got lottery fever? The latest Powerball drawing offers a very healthy payout for someone holding a ticket with the right numbers.

File

Here are Saturday's winning numbers:

08-38-43-52-55, Powerball: 17, PowerPlay: 3X

The estimated jackpot is $246 million. The lump sum payment before taxes would be about $145.4 million. If there is no jackpot winner, the amount grows larger for the next drawing.

The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was Oct. 27 when tickets sold in New York and Iowa split a $687.7 million payout.

Powerball is held in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A $2 ticket gives you a one in 292.2 million chance at joining the hall of Powerball champions.

The drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Wednesdays and Saturdays. Deadline to purchase tickets is 9:45 p.m.

Art Works, a gallery selling original creations and prints, located at 69 Main St., opened their doors for the first time Friday night with a celebration attended by more than 100 that was attended by several owners of adjacent downtown businesses

WARE - Art Works, a gallery selling paintings, prints, and crafts, located at 69 Main St., opened their doors for the first time Friday night with a celebration attended by more than 100, including several owners of adjacent downtown businesses.

Attendees liked what they saw.

Patrons got to see dozens of paintings - that are for sale by local artists - examine jewelry and other art-theme items for purchase, listen to a harpist perform traditional Renaissance music, and sample refreshments including a selection of wine and cheese that was served at the Dec. 14 reception.

Genesis of the new Ware business was made possible by Country Bank/WSB Development Corp., which used to own the building where Art Works is now.

Quaboag Community Development Corporation, Workshop 13 which oversees the property, financial assistance from the state and local advocacy from Ware Business and Civic Association were also key. Workshop 13 in Ware is a cultural arts and learning center.

The bank donated its building at 65-71 Main St. to the QVCDC, on the promise the non-profit would oversee the development of the property into three arts and crafts spaces, as part of an ongoing effort to revitalize downtown Ware.

Country Bank deeded the property over on Feb. 28; QVCDC leases it to Workshop 13.

Art Works is "a great compliment to Ware. We need more development" in town, said Dennis Craig, who attended the opening on Friday. He is owner of Hanna Devine's Restaurant just down the street.

"We want to promote anything good happening on Main Street," Ware Package Store owner Satnam Hans said.

Chris DiMarzio, who with Ernest A. "Roc" Goudreau own Workshop 13, said Art Works "is important to create more life on Main St. in downtown Ware."

Next door, at 71 Main St., Workshop 13 has also been busy putting the finishing touches on what will be called Clayworks, which will teach pottery to all ages, he said. Clayworks is slated to open next month. Both buildings contain 1,425 square feet of space.

Wendy Warren, a painter residing in Warwick, attended the Art Works opening.

"It's so amazing, it's a great thing Chris and Roc have done," she said. "I love art; it is a wonderful thing they are doing here; art is so important."

JAC Patrissi was invited to say a few words at the reception.

She is the founder of "Growing A New Heart," an organization focused on the healing power of arts. She is also Director of Domestic Violence Services at Behavioral Health Network.

In an interview, she said: "My advice was to hang out with artists, because artists are biased towards solving problems. . . artists have a high tolerance for disorder and ambiguity - the same successful leaders have."

Richard Talbot attended the opening with his wife, Nancy. He owns Talbot's Welding in town.

Talbot said he was inspired to think about perhaps creating some steel sculptors.

Four of Susan Harris' watercolor paintings are on display, at $500 each.

One is a depiction of Ware River from Grenville Park, titled "Park Fall Fisher."

Art Works "is a wonderful addition to Main Street and Workshop 13," she said.

John Debanski attended with his companion, Jill Carey.

"I grew up in Ware . . . my daughter takes classes at Workshop 13 - an art opening in Ware, it's a wonderful thing," he said.

"It's beautiful," Carey said.

Five of West Brookfield artist Kara Bigda's works are on display, including a painting of the Hardwick/Ware Covered Bridge that was built in 1886 that traverses Ware River between Bridge St. in the Gilbertville village of Hardwick, and Old Gilbertville Road in Ware.

The painting, titled "Bridge Street", a watercolor on clayboard, was created this past spring; the asking price is $3,500.

Bigda said she transitioned from the medium of watercolor on paper to clay after meeting Ali Cavanaugh a few years ago in Boston. Cavanaugh's work has appeared in numerous publications including New York Times Magazine.

Asked why she painted the bridge, Bigda said that besides it being an historical landmark, she wanted to record the changing season, from winter to spring.

"I love that transition. . . from winter to spring," she said.

Bigda said the Dutch/Flemish master Johannes Vermeer has been a great influence on her development, as have American painters Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth.

Earlier this year, BusinessWest.com reported on the County Bank's donation of 65-71 Main St. to Quaboag Valley CDC.

"The bank is looking forward to the development of this property as a creative, innovative space for artists and crafts people to practice and teach, as well as display their work," Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank told businesswest.com in June.

After more than $100,000 invested in interior renovations, Workshop 13 opened in 2014 at 11-13 Church St. in 2014.

The 19-th century wood and brick structure had been used as the Ware Senior Center.

Dimarzio and Goudreau paid the municipality $1,000 for the building in December 2012. Workshop 13 conducts art classes and occasionally music is performed.

Asked why people should shop at Art Works, DiMarzio said: "What's nice is, if you are coming here to shop, you are talking to an artist."

He said Art Works would be operated by local artists who will take turns running the cash register.

Search and rescue teams spent at least eight hours on Saturday searching for the missing man.

BRIMFIELD - Police and firefighters have resumed a search for a missing man Sunday at the Woods at Long Pond.

North Brookfield, Warren and Wales fire departments and the Massachusetts State Police are all assisting with the search that started before 9:30 a.m., Brimfield Fire officials said.

Multiple agencies spent at least eight hours Saturday afternoon and evening searching for the adult man in the area off Sturbridge Road. The search took place on land and in the water, police said.

Search and rescue teams called off the effort Saturday at about 8:30 p.m. because the darkness and other conditions made it unsafe, police said.

"We are suspending the search until tomorrow when there is more light," police said, adding more resources are expected to be brought in Sunday.

Police have not released any information about who they are searching for or how the man disappeared.

People are asked to stay away from the area to make it easier for searchers.

Registered Level 3 sex offenders are not wanted by police and it is illegal to harass them.

NORTHAMPTON - Police on issued a notice to advise residents a new a Level 3 sex offender is residing in the city.

Denie Irizarry, 50, lives at the Grove Street Inn, a homeless shelter at 91 Grove St., Police Sgt. Victor Caputo said.

He was convicted in 1998 of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, he said.

Irizarry is Hispanic, 6 feet tall, and weighs around 212 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes and a goatee.

A Level 3 sex offender is someone who has been previously convicted of a sexually related crime, and who has been determined by the state Sex Offenders Registry Board to have a high risk to re-offend.

Sex offenders who are released are required to register regularly with the local police in the communities where they live and work. Information on Level-3 offenders is regularly publicized by police because the potential danger makes community notification appropriate.

Irizarry is not wanted for any crime, and police warn against targeting him for harassment.

Jason Passalacqua, of 21 Spruceland Road, was charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, first-degree assault and carrying a dangerous weapon.

ENFIELD -- A local man is spending his 19^th birthday in jail after being accused of stabbing a man multiple times Saturday.

The victim was critically injured and taken to the hospital by ambulance. He is expected to recover from his injuries, police said.

Jason Passalacqua, of 21 Spruceland Road, was arrested at about 3 p.m., Saturday. He is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, first-degree assault and carrying a dangerous weapon, police said.

The stabbing occurred on 27 Robbin Road. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering multiple stab wounds. Shortly after tending to the victim they arrested Passalacqua, who turned 19 on Sunday, police said.

Police did not explain the circumstances surrounding the crime.

Passalacqua is being held on $500,000 bond at the Enfield Police Department, police said.

Anyone who witnessed the stabbing or has information about the crime is asked to call the Enfield Police Department's detective bureau at 860-763-6400.

A Massachusetts woman and a New York man were seriously injured in the crash and flown to Rhode Island Hospital.

Two people were killed and three others were seriously injured when a wrong-way driver collided with a car on Interstate-95 in Stonington, Connecticut, Sunday.

Lorna Valcin, 26, of Braintree, Massachusetts, and Eric Ramakers, 37, of Phoenix, Arizona, were killed in the crash that took place at about 12:45 a.m. Two other people, Stephane Francois, 26, of Brockton, Massachusetts, and Jerome Aullychad, 26, of Elmont, New York were seriously injured and flown to Rhode Island Hospital, Connecticut State Police said.

Jose Gonzalez, 38, of Groton, Connecticut, who is the driver of the Lexus that was traveling in the wrong direction, was also seriously injured and taken to Rhode Island Hospital by ambulance, police said.

Gonzalez was traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-95 when he collided with the Toyota Prius driven by Francois.

Allychaud, who suffered life-threatening injuries, and Valcin, were passengers in the Prius. Ramakers was riding in Gonzalez's vehicle, police said.

The southbound side of the interstate was closed for about six hours so police could investigate. The crash is being investigated by Trooper Robert D. Pierce and the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section unit of the State Police.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the State Police in Troop E at 860-848-6500.

Dive teams from the Massachusetts State Police and Tolland County Dive Team assisted in the search for Eric Malerbi on Sunday.

BRIMFIELD -- Police and firefighters plan to send a third day searching for a 54-year-old man who has been missing since Friday evening.

Search and rescue teams from multiple departments have been searching the land and water at the Woods at Long Pond over the weekend but so far have not located the man.

Eric Malerbi is 5 feet, five inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He frequents places in Brimfield and Sturbridge and is believed to be wearing a dark-colored fleece jacket and blue jeans.

Police spent about eight hours on Saturday searching wooded areas and the water in the Woods at Long Pond. They returned Sunday morning and spent the day searching the area. The effort concluded around 4 p.m. when it was getting dark.

Sunday's search was focused at the pond and dive teams assisted. The search on Monday is also expected to be around and in the water, police said.

Multiple agencies have been assisting including the Oxford Police Department, Sturbridge Fire Department, Tolland County Dive Team and the Massachusetts State Police dive team. North Brookfield, Warren and Wales fire departments also assisted, officials said.

Anyone with any information about Malerbi's disappearance is asked to call Brimfield Police at 413-245-7222.

Three convicted sex offenders have registered with Northampton police, officials announced. Denie Irizarry, Charles Cummings and Joseph Bishop all registered as required by law.

Northampton police said three convicted sex offenders registered with local police as required by law.

Northampton Police Detective Sergeant Victor Caputo said the three registered as of December 15.

Denie Irizarry is a 50-year-old man living at the Grove Street Inn at 91 Grove St. 

He is described as Hispanic, standing 6-feet tall and weighing about 212 lbs, with a medium build, brown hair and wearing a goatee beard. 

Irizarry was convicted of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 in April of 1998.

Joseph R. Bishop, 38, is described as a caucasian male, standing 5-foot, 10-inches tall and weighing approximately 158 lbs.  He has brown hair and eyes and wears a beard and mustche.

He is currently living in the homeless shelter at 43 Center St., 

Bishop was convicted of rape and abuse of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old in May of 2016. 

Charles J. Cummings currently lists the homeless shelter at 43 Center St., as a secondary address.  He is 42-year-old caucasian male, and stands 6-foot, 3-inches tall and weights 280 lbs. He has black hair and brown eyes, and wears a goatee beard.

Cummings was convicted in May of 2000 of rape and abuse of a child-2 counts, and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older.

None of the registrants are wanted by the police for any crime and police warn against targeting them for harrassment.