Boston should be happy to pay this tax bill.

Boston should be happy to pay this tax bill.

The World Series champion Red Sox owe $11,951,091 in luxury tax for having baseball's top payroll, according to final calculations by the commissioner's office obtained by The Associated Press. The only other team that owes is the Washington Nationals, who must pay $2,386,097, their second straight year with a bill.

Because Boston was more than $40 million over the tax threshold, it became the first team to incur a new penalty put in place for the 2018 season: the top Red Sox selection in next June's amateur draft will be dropped 10 places. Boston's top pick had been projected to be No. 33 overall before the penalty.

Boston has owed tax in the years of three of its four titles this century, paying $3,148,962 in 2004 and $6,064,287 in 2007. The Red Sox stayed under the tax threshold when they won in 2013. The only other championship teams to owe since the tax began in 2003 were the 2009 New York Yankees at $25.7 million and the 2016 Chicago Cubs, at $2.96 million.

This year's initial tax threshold was $197 million, counting payrolls by average annual values and including earned bonuses, adjustments for cash transactions and option buyouts and just over $14 million per team in benefits. Boston's payroll for the tax was $239.5 million, exceeding the $237 million threshold that triggered the draft penalty. Washington's was $205 million.

Boston boosted its payroll during spring training when it added slugger J.D. Martinez, who counted at $23.75 million on the tax payroll and then earned $700,000 in bonuses while leading the major leagues with 130 RBIs.

Ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, the Red Sox acquired World Series MVP Steve Pearce, who added $3,208,602 to the payroll, including a $50,000 Series MVP bonus; pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, who added $720,430 and became a key component to the title run with a pair of postseason wins and a six-inning relief outing in World Series Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers; and second baseman Ian Kinsler, who added $3,766,666.

San Francisco had the third-highest payroll at $195.7 million followed by the Dodgers at $195 million -- up from $182 million on opening day, The Dodgers had paid tax in each of the previous five seasons, a total of $149.6 million.

The Cubs were fifth at $193.3 million, and the Yankees sixth at $192.98 million -- the first time the Yankees finished under the threshold after 15 consecutive years over that resulted in taxes totaling $341.1 million.

By dropping under the threshold, the Yankees and Dodgers reset their tax rates for 2019 and put themselves in better position to pursue a talented free-agent class that includes Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.

Boston has owed in nine of 16 seasons, a total of $37.1 million. The Red Sox paid in 2015 and '16, then dropped under the threshold by just over $3 million in 2017, resetting their tax rates to the lowest level this year. Boston paid at a 28.1 percent effective rate.

Washington is paying for the second straight season, raising its total to $3.8 million.

Only eight teams have gone over the tax threshold: Detroit paid $9 million over three seasons, San Francisco $8.9 million over three seasons and the Los Angeles Angels $927,000 in 2003.

Next year's tax starts at $206 million, and Boston's rates will rise from 20 percent to 30 percent on the first $20 million over, 32 percent to 42 percent on the next $20 million and 62.5 percent to 75 percent on any amount over $246 million.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski predicted Boston against will exceed all three thresholds next year.

Washington's rate rises to 50 percent on the first $20 million over, 62 percent on the next $20 million and 95 percent on any amount over $246 million.

Checks for the competitive balance tax, as it is normally known, go to the commissioner's office and are due by Jan. 21. The first $13 million of tax money is used to fund player benefits and 50 percent of the remainder will be used to fund player Individual Retirement Accounts. The other 50 percent of the remainder will be given to teams not over the tax threshold.

Final figures are still being calculated for regular payrolls, which include salaries, prorated shares of signing bonuses, earned bonuses and adjustments for cash transactions and option buyouts.

Alondra Gil will be arraigned on the charges for which she was indicted on Nov. 26: Accessory after the fact, burning personal property, withholding evidence from criminal proceeding, conspiracy (two counts) and improper disposition of a human body. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- A 23-year-old Northampton woman, wanted on two warrants for her alleged involvement in the concealment of the murder of Daniel Cruz in that city on March 10, was arrested here Tuesday morning.

Alondra E. Gil is slated to be arraigned in Franklin Superior Court at 2 p.m. , according to a release issued by the Northwestern District Attorney's office.

Gil will be arraigned on the charges for which she was indicted on Nov. 26: Accessory after the fact, burning personal property, withholding evidence from criminal proceeding, conspiracy (two counts) and improper disposition of a human body.

Prosecutors say Cruz was shot to death on March 10, allegedly by 22-year-old Nerkin Morales of Northampton. Cruz's body was found burning in a field in Hatfield later that night. 

On Nov. 26, a Hampshire Grand Jury issued 51 indictments against eight people for their alleged involvement in the murder of Cruz, 44, of Northampton, the concealment of his murder, and/or the subsequent police and grand jury investigation. 

Gil was the last of the eight suspects to be arrested or, in the case of suspects already in custody, scheduled for arraignment.

Nerkin Omar Morales, 22 of Northampton, was indicted for murder and other charges. He was arraigned on Dec. 5 and ordered held without bail.

Mercedes N. Diaz-Wright, 22, of Northampton; Kimberly A. Perez, 26, of Springfield; and Matthew M. Ross, 24, of Northampton; were indicted for accessory after the fact as well as other charges.  They were arrested and arraigned on Nov. 27.   

Pedro J. Soto-Rodriguez, 21, of Northampton, was indicted for accessory after the fact and other charges.  He is in custody and his arraignment is now scheduled for Jan. 11 at 2 p.m.

Joshua T. Ealy, 20, of Northampton, was indicted for perjury.  His is in custody and his arraignment is now scheduled for Jan. 4 at 2 p.m.

Chelsea T. Rodriguez, 22, of Northampton, was indicted for accessory after the fact and other charges.  Rodriguez was arrested on Dec. 6 in DeLand, Florida, by the DeLand Police Department.  She is currently in custody in Florida pending extradition back to the Commonwealth.

On Monday, I.N.S.A. Inc. received final authorization from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission to begin selling marijuana for recreational use.

EASTHAMPTON -- With the state giving the green light for the INSA medical marijuana dispensary to begin recreational cannabis sales, city officials are preparing for a large influx of visitors.

On Monday, I.N.S.A. Inc. received final authorization from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission to open for adult use sales after a standard three-day waiting period.

Even though INSA could open as early as Friday, CEO Mark Zatyrka said he is hoping to shoot for Saturday, but waiting for final confirmation from the state.

Easthampton Police Chief Robert Alberti said Tuesday that he was putting together the department's weekend staffing plan based on the assumption the store will be open. 

Alberti, citing his conversations with INSA officials, said he expects the store to be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

An aide to Mayor Nicole LaChapelle posted what he called a "press release" to Facebook Monday, describing the city's plans.

Police will direct traffic on Pleasant and Ferry streets to the parking lot behind the Keystone Mill at 122 Pleasant St., where INSA runs its dispensary. A traffic flow map will be distributed, instructing people to enter from Pleasant Street.

Neighbors close to the dispensary have been sent a mailing, Wolfe wrote.

He said LaChapelle has been meeting with INSA and city department heads since January to plan for opening day, and that those meetings will continue "to review and assess the impact on city resources."

"The Mayor has made clear that response to INSA's opening must be quick and responsive to concerns. INSA has been a very cooperative partner in this planning process. The Mayor has a full expectation that their cooperation will continue forward, knowing that adjustments to these plans will be made as often as necessary," Wolfe wrote.

Wolfe's Facebook post included a prepared statement from LaChapelle.

"I have been carefully planning for retail cannabis since I took office, with the goal of making sure the people of Easthampton know what to expect, and that opening day is a safe and secure experience for everyone, balancing the least possible amount of disruption to life in Easthampton, while welcoming new growth to the city," the mayor said.

Selectmen invited the police department's canine unit to Monday's meeting, when one of the force's two shepherds was ceremoniously promoted to the rank of sergeant.

BELCHERTOWN -- Selectmen invited the police department's canine unit to Monday's meeting, when one of the force's two shepherds was ceremonially promoted with the board's unanimous approval.

"Officer" Apache, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois shepherd, is now "Sgt." Apache.

Apache has been a member of Belchertown Police Department's canine unit the past fours. The animal's general assignment is to locate missing persons, track down criminals, sniff out illicit drugs, and the like.

Canine Officer Adam Brougham, Assistant Canine Officer Jordyn Bradway, Chief Christopher Pronovost, Lt. Kevin Pacunas and several members of the force attended the ceremony, as did the force's explosives detection canine, Theia. Theia is a 4-year-old Dutch shepherd and has been a member of the squad since 2015.

In an interview following Apache's promotion, Brougham said the canine unit, which he has supervised since 2008, is an asset to the community and expressed gratitude to the town for supporting the unit.

"I'm very fortunate to work for the residents of Belchertown," he said. "I love what I do. To be able to provide this service ... is phenomenal."

Pronovost said in addition to the police work the animals do, they also visit the public schools and the senior center, and are involved with the town's community policing initiative.

"Everybody loves a dog," he said.

When the department's first canine, Falco, passed away in 2016, at age 10, the police department posted a memorial on the town's website.

The Holyoke Gas and Electric Commission approved a 10 percent holiday discount for residential and commercial customers. The discount applies to the December bill.

HOLYOKE - The Holyoke Gas and Electric Commission approved a 10 percent discount for the December billing cycle, a gift for the holidays.

The discount covers commercial and residential gas and electric customers not enrolled in HG&E's economic development discount program.

The average homeowner who heats with natural gas can expect to save $20 on their December bill, according to HG&E.

The holiday discount originated in 1992 and has been granted by the commission since then.

"Holyoke Gas & Electric is pleased to offer our customers an additional discount during the holidays," said James Lavelle, HG&E's manager. "It's just another benefit of having a hometown public power utility."

The current rate for residential customers is $0.125 per kilowatt-hour. The holiday discount drops the price to $0.114 per kilowatt-hour. HG&E charges commercial customers $.0135 per kilowatt-hour, with the holiday discount at $0.123 per kilowatt-hour.

The utility also offers discounts for customers who pay their bills early each month.

The Valley Opportunity Council administers a winter fuel assistance program for low-income homeowners. Renters whose leases do not include heat can also apply. The High Street nonprofit works directly with utilities like HG&E.

Applicants must meet income, housing and residency requirements. The fuel-assistance program covers billing periods from November to April. Only Hampden County residents can apply.

Francis J. Hooey III chairs the HG&E commission, joined by Robert H. Griffin, the treasurer, and James A. Sutter, the secretary.

HG&E, a municipally owned utility company, serves more than 18,000 customers, offering electric, natural gas and fiber-optic services.

CEO Mark Zatyrka said that INSA's goal will be "to provide the highest quality product available on the market today, while making sure the opening goes as smoothly as possible."

It's official -- the Easthampton medical marijuana dispensary known as INSA will open its doors to adult-use cannabis sales on Saturday, becoming the second in Western Massachusetts to open.

INSA CEO Mark Zatyrka made the announcement on Tuesday, and said recreational sales will take place for the first time on Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the dispensary's 122 Pleasant St. location.

Zatyrka said that INSA's goal will be "to provide the highest quality product available on the market today, while making sure the opening goes as smoothly as possible."

A shuttle service from off-site parking could be made available if necessary, the CEO added. 

On Monday, INSA Inc. was approved by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission to open for adult use sales after a standard three-day wait. While the store could have opened Friday, Zatyrka chose Saturday as the opening day.

Zatyrka said the company has been communicating with Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, Police Chief Robert Alberti and neighbors to ensure a smooth opening.

Alberti said Tuesday he had scheduled his officers to manage a high volume of vehicle traffic and parking concerns over the weekend. When the NETA dispensary in nearby Northampton opened for recreational sales in November, hundreds of people waited in line for hours for their first opportunity to purchase legal weed in the Bay State.

A second article would transfer control of $2 million from the school department to the Select Board.

LONGMEADOW -- A special Town Meeting will be held Jan. 17 with at least two citizen petitions on the warrant, including one to recall elected School Committee members before their term expires and another transferring control of $2 million from the school department to the Select Board.

The first petition from resident Pat O'Shea was received by the town Dec. 7, starting the clock and prompting the town to set a meeting date within 45 days. 

If passed, the article would allow for recall elections for officials specified in section 3-3 of the town charter: members of the School Committee. Since it's a home rule petition, it would also have to be approved by the state Legislature before it could be enacted in the town.

The second petition, by resident Marc Haber, transfers the control of $2 million (or another amount agreed on by Town Meeting voters) from the school department's fiscal 2019 operations budget to the Select Board, under a reserve or school expenditures fund. The School Committee would then have to request by majority vote to transfer the money from the Select Board, and the transfer would also have to be approved by majority Select Board vote.

Town Manager Stephen Crane said he estimates the school department's general fund budget to be about $34 million from local property taxes.

"I think this will be a well-attended Town Meeting," Crane told the Select Board Monday night.

There has been growing tension between the School Committee and members of the community after a controversial split vote for nonrenewal of Superintendent Martin O'Shea's contract last month.

Citizens petitions must receive more than 200 signatures to appear on the warrant. Residents have until the Select Board's Jan. 2 meeting, when the final warrant will be adopted, to submit articles for the warrant.

The special Town Meeting will be held in the Longmeadow High School gymnasium at 7 p.m. The 45-day deadline gives the town until Jan. 21 to hold the meeting. If a snowstorm falls on the 17th, as long as a quorum of 50 people is reached, voters can agree to continue the meeting to another day past the 21st.

"Were these states a country, it would be the world's fifth-largest economy," said Ken Kimmell of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

BOSTON -- Massachusetts on Tuesday joined eight Northeast states and the District of Columbia in pledging to develop a framework for reducing regional emissions from the transportation sector.

The framework is expected to be market-based and modeled on the successful Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, the regional cap-and-trade system that has reduced emissions from the power sector.

Cutting emissions from vehicles and other forms of transit "is imperative to combating the causes of climate change and meeting Massachusetts' aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets," said Gov. Charlie Baker in a statement.

The idea of creating a "RGGI for transportation" is not new, and was recommended by the Massachusetts Commission on the Future of Transportation in its recent comprehensive planning report.

The study estimated that a cap-and-trade program for gasoline would cost the average Massachusetts driver $7 a month and generate $500 million in annual revenue for the state.

At Tuesday's announcement, a national trade group that represents small businesses lashed out at the prospect of any potential new gasoline fees. 

"Thousands of businesses and commuters in the Commonwealth will incur higher expenses -- not only directly at the pump but also indirectly for a wide array of goods and services as the impact of new gas fees ripples through the economy," said Christopher Carlozzi, state director for NFIB. "This is a fiscally dangerous and regressive proposal that will harm Massachusetts consumers and our state economy." 

However, scientists and environmental advocates focused on the potential benefits of such a framework. 

"These nine states and the District of Columbia inspire us all with this ambitious, regional, bipartisan plan to tackle one of the biggest challenges," said Ken Kimmell, president of Union of Concerned Scientists. "Were these states a country, it would be the world's fifth-largest economy, just behind Germany, so this plan is at a scale to make a meaningful difference."

"On behalf of our more than 70 transportation, environmental, and planning organizations, we applaud (Baker's) leadership in advancing the Transportation Climate Initiative as part of his strategy to aggressively move Massachusetts away from the use of carbon fuels," said Chris Dempsey, director of Transportation for Massachusetts.

The Transportation Climate Initiative at Georgetown Climate Center will work with the states over 2019 to study the feasibility of a potential program. At the end of discussions, the states will decide whether to adopt the policy.

Tuesday's announcement followed extensive stakeholder engagement, including a set of listening sessions held around the state, the Baker administration said.

Massachusetts, under its 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act, has pledged to reduce emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

In an alliance, New England's power generators have joined the scientists and climate advocates in calling for a new focus on transportation when it comes to cutting the region's total emissions.

Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association, has previously said that emissions from electricity plants are down significantly, and that it's time for the transportation sector to do its share.  

Kimmell and Dolan, who co-wrote a 2017 op-ed, noted that they "don't agree on everything," but "do agree on this: it's time to focus on clean and affordable transportation."

That year, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont announced their plans to explore the regional policy.

Read obituaries from The Republican newspaper in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Here are the obituaries published Tuesday in The Republican:

Obituaries from The Republican, Dec. 18, 2018

The Salvation Army is hoping for a last-minute rush of donations as well as some volunteers to help out in the Christmas kettle drive.

The Salvation Army is hoping for a last-minute rush of donations as well as some volunteers to help out in the Christmas kettle drive as collections are down at about half of its sites in Massachusetts. 

Donations to the annual kettle drive are down about 20 percent, state spokeswoman Heather MacFarlane said.

Bell ringers will be out until Dec. 24, she said. 

Maj. Dave Moore, of the Springfield Corps Community Center, said he has even more kettle tenders than in the past, but donations are down.

He said the kettle drive is one of the Salvation Army's biggest fundraisers with a $65,000 goal. The money pays for programs including providing families with toys at Christmas time, a food pantry and an after-school program.

The number of people ringing bells in the Northampton area, meanwhile, is down, said Wil Leslie, state service extension director who oversees the bell ringers. He said the organization relies heavily on volunteers.

He is hoping the last week will end strong. 

Overall, Leslie said, the Salvation Army employs about 300 bell ringers across the state and has between 2,000 and 2,500 volunteers for what he said "is our most visible fundraiser of the year."

"(Seeing bell ringers) encourages people to be generous," he said.

The Salvation Army can still use volunteers for the final days of the kettle drive, he said. Those in Greater Springfield can call Moore at 413-733-1518. In the Northampton area, email redkettles01060@gmail.com. For other sites, visit the Salvation Army's Massachusetts website at massachusetts.salvationarmy.org.

Westfield School Committee member Kevin Sullivan died in September and his brother Bo will fill his seat

WESTFIELD - Bo Sullivan, executive director of the Irish Cultural Center of Western Massachusetts, will complete the remaining year of his late brother's term on the School Committee.

Kevin Sullivan, who died in September, had one year remaining of his four-year term. Bo Sullivan was voted in during a joint meeting of the City Council and School Committee on Monday, beating out candidate Jeffrey Gosselin by a vote of 13-4. Gosselin is a former School Committee member who was unseated in the last municipal election in 2017.

Bo Sullivan, also the brother of Mayor Brian P. Sullivan and former Mayor Richard K. Sullivan Jr., says he felt compelled to carry on his brother's work on the School Committee. "Kevin was the hardest working member of the School Committee," he said. "I guarantee I will continue that."

He hopes to continue to make decisions in the same way his brother did: "(Kevin) said 'If it's good for the kids, let's do it'." And, he also said he plans to be a champion for special education, programming which held a special place in Kevin Sullivan's heart.

"We have family and friends who have gone through special education, and it was important to Kevin and it's important to me," Bo Sullivan said.

The condition of Westfield High School is something Bo Sullivan said is also important to him, and he plans to push for improvements.

Bo Sullivan said he was thrilled to receive the majority of votes. He thanked the council and committee members for the opportunity, adding that he wished the opportunity had not arisen.

"It's bittersweet," he said, adding he is unsure if he will seek reelection when the term ends. "We'll see how it goes."

Mayor Sullivan said it was a difficult night for him. He also excused himself from the vote after Councilor Andrew K. Surprise started the meeting by saying he contacted state ethics officials and believed the mayor should not participate in the meeting.

Brian Sullivan said he had also contacted the state and was told he was within his rights to participate. Still, the mayor stepped aside, turning the meeting over to School Committee vice chair Cindy Sullivan.

"I am happy Bo was elected by our friends and colleagues," Mayor Sullivan said.

"You don't fill shoes like Kevin's with anyone, but having Bo step in to finish some of what Kevin started is special. Bo has already committed to do all he can for the students of Westfield."

Before being named head of the Irish cultural center almost a year ago, Bo Sullivan worked as a development officer at Westfield State University and was a morning radio personality in the region for more than 20 years.

Both Bo Sullivan and Gosselin are Westfield natives who went through the public schools here. Gosselin is a public school teacher.

Sullivan received votes from School Committee members Ramon Diaz Jr., Heather Sullivan, Cindy Sullivan, Diane Mayhew and Timothy O'Connor. Council members Cindy Harris, William Onyski, Nicholas J. Morganelli Jr., Robert A. Paul, John J. Beltrandi, Brent B. Bean II, Ralph J. Figy and Michael Burns all endorsed his candidacy.

Gosselin received votes from councilors Daniel Allie, Mary Ann Babinski, Matt Emmershy and Surprise.

The examination found Zawada was competent to stand trial, but recommended "continued care and treatment within the strict security of Bridgewater State Hospital," court records show.

HOLYOKE -- A judge has ordered further psychiatric testing for a Holyoke Medical Center patient charged with raping another patient in the emergency room last month.

John R. Zawada will remain at Bridgewater State Hospital for another 30 days under an order issued by Judge William Hadley Friday in Holyoke District Court.

The judge's order came on the recommendation of staff at Bridgewater, where Zawada was committed on Nov. 26 for evaluation to determine criminal responsibility and competence to stand trial.

The judge also postponed a dangerousness hearing initially scheduled for Friday, setting a new date of Jan. 14.

Zawada allegedly raped an unconscious female patient in the hospital's emergency room on Nov. 25. The assault, which was captured on video, began when Zawada approached the woman's bed, pulled down her pants and began groping her, according to the arrest report.

At one point, the woman sat up and attempted to push Zawada's hand away, but he guided her back down to the bed and continued to assault her; a nurse eventually heard the victim "yelp," saw Zawada on a video monitoring screen, and ran into the room, the report said.

Zawada was moved to another room and eventually arrested. The victim, who was unaware of the assault, was treated and then moved to a private room, police said.

On Nov. 26, Zawada was pleaded not guilty in Holyoke District Court to charges of rape and failure to register as a sex offender; at the request of defense lawyer Joseph Harty, Zawada was examined by the court clinic and then committed to Bridgewater for an extended psychiatric evaluation. 

The examination found that Zawada was competent to stand trial, but also recommended "continued care and treatment within the strict security of Bridgewater State Hospital" for the next 30 days, according to a letter in the court file. 

Harty has notified the court that he plans to present two expert witnesses who will testify about his client's state of mind at the time of the alleged attack.

Dylan Montes-Peralta, 18 months, has MECP2 duplication syndrome, a very rare disease that was discovered in 2005 and only effects 1 in 10,000 babies, almost always males.

SPRINGFIELD -- When he smiles, makes gurgling sounds, bends his back or flails his arms, Dylan Montes-Peralta's parents, nurse and the Center for Human Development's Early Intervention team always celebrate these small, but significant victories.

At 18 months old, Dylan has lived through more surgeries than many adults. Diagnosed with the rare disease MECP2 duplication syndrome, which can cause severe intellectual disabilities and motor function impairment, Dylan has serious mobility issues and respiratory problems and requires a feeding tube and constant care.

"Many children with his condition will never say a word or even make a sound, but he makes a lot of sounds and he tries to interact with us," said Dylan's mother  Christina Montes-Peralta, of Springfield.

Montes-Peralta, her wife Roselin Peralta and their older son Noah Peralta, 10, have become knowledgeable about Dylan's condition in the past year and are working with the staff at CHD to give him the best possible quality of life and extend his life. There are very few cases of children with this condition making it into their teens or adulthood, Montes-Peralta said.

It all started with Dylan's moms noticing that his head was misshapen. They also noticed he got sick a lot.

"Our other son Noah never had any issues like that, so we were concerned," Peralta said.

Many visits to different doctors led to few results.

"We kept being told that he would grow out of it, but we knew something was wrong," Montes-Peralta said. "Having Noah, who was very healthy growing up, we knew that Dylan was not developing properly."

It was after meeting Cindy Napoli, an occupational therapist and program supervisor for CHD's Early Intervention team, that the family felt validated in their concerns. The Early Intervention team serves around 300 children from birth to age 3 from Greater Springfield who have various developmental delays.

"In Dylan's case, he was referred by his pediatrician because as his moms put it, he had a 'lumpy head,'" Napoli said, explaining that the condition is common in many children and can be caused by a muscular disorder.

Napoli gave his parents some suggestions about changing his sleeping positions and his head began to develop a more traditional shape. Napoli was not as concerned about his head as she was about his development.

"I was very concerned about his muscle tone. He had lower than average muscle tone for a 4-month-old, he wasn't doing the things that a 4-month-old should be doing, and things just didn't add up," she said.

Naploi was also concerned about his feeding because he was not swallowing food properly, but still specialists kept telling his moms he would be fine.

She encouraged the family to get a second opinion and even went with them to one of the appointments in Boston, where a specialist was finally able to diagnose Dylan with MECP2 duplication syndrome, which was discovered in 2005 and affects only 1 in 10,000 babies, almost always males.

"It was hard to hear, but at the same time we were relieved that he had been diagnosed and that Cindy believed us when we said something was wrong," Peralta said.

Since his diagnosis, Dylan has flourished.

"His condition can be very debilitating,  but we don't look at that when we are working with Dylan," Napoli said. "We are here to ensure that he is a happy 18-month-old child, doing the typical things that a child his age would do. Developmentally he might not be there, but we don't treat him like he has a developmental delay."

Dylan may not be able to eat, but he still gets the opportunity to play with his food just like other children, in case one day he can have his feeding tube removed. He may not be able to walk or run, but his teachers carry him and delicately toss him around just like his classmates.

Napoli hopes to teach him to sign if possible so that he can communicate with his moms and his brother.

Noah Peralta is an honor student and a proud big brother. He has learned as much as he can about how to care for his little brother, Montes-Peralta said.

"He loves him so much and he is really good with him," she said. "He watches what we do or what the nurse does, and he wants to learn so that he knows how to safely play with him."

Both moms said they have the same dreams for their children, that they are happy and safe and can live the best possible life, even if Dylan's may not be quite as long.

"It's scary to think about him getting sicker. We just focus on the day to day making sure both of them have what they need," Montes-Peralta said. "It's a lot."

Dylan's at-home nurse, Noelle Deslauriers, is with him three days a week, making it possible for his moms to do basic things like go to the laundromat, buy groceries or go to school events for their older child.

"They are really engaged parents," she said. "It is very hard to navigate the system when it comes to Social Security and equipment for his care, but they do the best they can to advocate for him."

The future may be uncertain for Dylan, but the quality of his life since his diagnosis has improved every day, Napoli said.

"He is defying his diagnosis," she said. "We don't look at him and think, 'Let's maintain his skills.' No, we think, 'What can we push him to do next?'

"By exposing  kids with different abilities to each other, you are treating them with dignity and respect, like any child ... and that's what we want for Dylan," Napoli said.

Judge John McKenna ordered Duryl Hale held without right to bail and continued the case for a pretrial hearing on Jan. 11.

SPRINGFIELD -- A  Springfield man is being held without right to bail following his arraignment in connection with a shooting that killed one person and injured another at the Knox St. Market last month.

Duryl Hale, 22, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Springfield District Court to one count of murder.

By agreement of the defense and prosecution, Judge John McKenna ordered Hale held without right to bail and continued the case for a pretrial hearing on Jan. 11.

The arraignment came two weeks after Hale pleaded not guilty to a series of other charges related to the shooting, including armed assault with intent to rob, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and others.

Hale was one of three men who attempted to rob the store at gunpoint around 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 30, according to police. Virginia Rodriguez-Veras, 34, wife of the market's owner, and another unarmed person were shot during the ensuing gun battle, police said.

Two other suspects are being sought in connection with the shooting.

Assistant District Attorney Max Bennett is prosecuting the case, and Springfield defense attorney Edward O'Neil is representing Hale.

In a 10-2 vote, the Council granted a special permit that allows home delivery of medical marijuana for Solurge, which plans to open a multimillion-dollar facility in the city.

HOLYOKE - In a first, the City Council on Tuesday night approved a special permit for home delivery of medical marijuana for upstart Solurge.

The council also passed a special permit for the Boston Bud Factory.

During a recent Ordinance Committee meeting, representatives from Solurge, which plans to renovate and open the facility at 650 Beaulieu St., pushed for home delivery. Until Tuesday's meeting, the council had not granted home delivery rights to any cannabis-based business.

Massachusetts regulations allow for home delivery for medicinal marijuana but under strict security and exacting standards.

Councilor Linda Vacon, who chairs the Ordinance Committee, said Solurge was an "untested" entity in Holyoke, and she opposed home delivery. She asked the council "to respect the work of the committee."

Vacon opposed altering the order to suit Solurge's needs.

Ward 3 Councilor David K. Bartley said while he supported most of Solurge's application, he disagreed with the home delivery condition. Bartley wanted more time to examine the issue and its ramifications. He asked his colleagues to refrain from voting on the special permit and return the matter to the committee.

Councilors Rebecca Lisi and Juan Anderson-Burgos, members on the Ordinance Committee, supported Solurge's request.

Lisi said Solurge represented the most "complete and comprehensive" application to date for a cannabis facility. She said state law and city ordinances allow for the additional service.

Lisa said the Holyoke Police Department reviewed and approved Solurge's security plan, including home delivery.

The council voted 10-2 for Solurge's special permit and struck down the ban on home delivery of medicinal marijuana. Vacon and Bartley maintained their opposition, voting no.

David Kotler, Solurge's chief compliance officer, thanked the council for approving the special permit. He said Solurge would move ahead with a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Beaulieu Street site.

"Better decisions are based on better facts," after the council granted home delivery to Solurge.

"Ultimately the right thing happened. I don't think there's a downside for the people of Holyoke or the city," Kotler said. "It's honestly based on the law and based on the facts. The City Council made the right decision and moved passed parliamentary politics to do what's best in the interest of the city. I applaud that."

Kotler said Solurge would continue with buildout plans and complying with ongoing state inspections and licensing requirements. "We have a lot of work ahead of us," he said.

The company will focus primarily on medicinal marijuana products, which requires time to grow the plants.

Kotler expects the facility will open in early summer.

At the same Ordinance Committee meeting, The Boston Bud Factory, founded by Carlo Sarno and Frank Dailey, drew the attention of commercial property owners and businesses near the proposed 73 Sargeant St., location.

Executives from nearby the Hazen Paper Company worried about increased traffic, especially at the exit or entrance to Interstate 391.

Vacon said the applicant would comply with traffic recommendations made by City Engineer Robert Parent.

Boston Bud Factory wants to operate a registered marijuana retail establishment and registered marijuana manufacturing establishment. Vacon asked the council to change the "Retail" language to "Recreational."

Like Solurge approval, the council attached special conditions onto Boston Bud Factory's special permit:

• Boston Bud Factory must pay all commercial property taxes allowed under local, state and federal law for the permit's duration.
• Retain a minimum of 30 percent Holyoke residents for non-security positions.
• Hire retired Holyoke police officers or retired officers from nearby communities for security jobs.
• No consumption of marijuana products on-site.
• No home delivery of recreational or medical marijuana to home, businesses or individuals.

Also, Boston Bud Factory must submit an updated photometric plan showing the correct lighting scale and that "the applicant shall provide traffic patrol should customer traffic impede flow or regular traffic as recommended by the Holyoke Police Department."

Except for the photometric plan and ban on home delivery, the council imposed similar conditions to Solurge's special permit.

Beginning Dec. 23, the Massachusetts Cannabis Commission will oversee the medical marijuana industry, which previously fell under the purview of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Yokohama Ramen on Main Street held a soft opening December 9 and is serving authentic Japanese ramen noodles.

NORTHAMPTON -- Yokohama Ramen restaurant is now open downtown after more than a year of planning.

Since the soft opening on Dec. 9, co-owner Andy Liu said, the restaurant has been busy.

"Every day it's been packed," Liu said. "(Customers) are excited. And we're excited."

The restaurant is in the old Essentials space at 88 Main St. Essentials relocated to 108 Main St. in August 2017.

Yokohama Ramen serves authentic Japanese ramen noodles. Liu said they picked the Northampton location partly because of its proximity to Smith College, since ramen is especially popular with students.

On the menu are eight options for ramen ranging from $11 to $13, including spicy miso, gyuniku (beef, scallions, spinach and red ginger), tan tan (sesame sauce, seasoned pork, scallions and spinach) and chicken broth.

The restaurant also serves donburi (Japanese rice bowl dishes), appetizers like shrimp tempura, pork buns and seaweed salad, and desserts like mochi or tempura ice cream.

Yokohama Ramen is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.

Holyoke property owners can expect first-quarter tax bills after the holidays. The City Council on Tuesday passed the fiscal 2019 property tax rates, which includes a hike for residential and commercial ratepayers.

HOLYOKE -- The City Council on Tuesday approved the residential and commercial property tax rates for fiscal 2019. Ratepayers should expect a hike in their tax bills after the holidays.

The council set the new rates at $19.29 per $1,000 in valuation for residential property and $39.87 per $1,000 in valuation for commercial property. The state Department of Revenue must certify the new rates.

The current property rates stand at $19.14 for residential and $39.70 for commercial.

Unlike fiscal 2018, when the council passed the tax rate in late March, the body moved quickly to set the 2019 rate once the Department of Revenue certified the city's free cash.

Councilors offered shifts in the residential and commercial rates, which generally places the tax burden on business property owners. The council began with a flat rate of $25 per $1,000 in valuation.

Councilor Rebecca Lisi said the council works within a narrow range when setting the rates. She suggested a "limited window" in the future, reducing haggling among councilors.

The city's total property value, including residential and commercial, is $2.1 billion, with $497.4 million classified as tax-exempt.

Increases in the city's home values led to a higher rate for property owners. During a November tax classification hearing, City Assessor Anthony Dulude said only a few homes sold under assessed value.

The city of Holyoke continues to have the highest commercial property tax rate in Massachusetts. A 1.5 percent Community Preservation Act surcharge adds to ratepayer's bills.

City Auditor Tanya Wdowiak and Bellamy Schmidt, the former acting auditor, requested the council approve several financial transfers to balance the city's budget. The council then voted on the new tax rates.

The Department of Revenue now requires municipal officials to certify tax rate filings by electronic signature. City Council President Todd McGee called a brief recess, which allowed councilors to go to the assessor's office for the signing. However, the Department of Revenue system appeared to be down, which held off certification until Wednesday morning.

Ward 2 Councilor Nelson Roman was not in attendance for Tuesday's meeting. Roman announced Dec. 4 that he will resign from the council effective Dec. 31. He accepted a position with a Chicago nonprofit.

Selectman Alan Whitney said Ware is "becoming the go-to spot" for sex offenders.

WARE - The town's three-person state legislative delegation, invited to Tuesday's selectmen meeting to brainstorm how to reduce the inordinate number of Level 3 sex offenders living in town, were told by one resident to pass a law to keep them in jail permanently.

State Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren, thanked Ware resident David Kopacz, who made the suggestion.

The state classifies sex offenders as Level 1, 2 or 3, with Level 3 being the most dangerous and most likely to re-offend. There are 19 Level 3 sex offenders who live in Ware, according to the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board.

"The Level 3s don't belong on the street," Kopacz said. "These people are all over the place. We will build more jails ... stack 'em up like cord wood in jail."

"We have been conditioned to accept Level 3s -- they don't belong here," he said.

"Dave, thank you for your comments," Smola said. "I respect everything you have to say."

Selectman Alan Whitney said Ware is "becoming the go-to spot" for sex offenders.

"It feels like us bearing the whole burden," Selectman Keith Kruckas said.

"We have a great number on one small street, Pulaski Street," Selectman Tracy Opalinski said.

Tensions in Ware rose in August when a Level 3 sex offender, David Joseph Sinclair, who had served his jail time from a previous sex crime conviction, was charged with child rape.

He was released from jail without having to post bail on the condition he wear a GPS tracking bracelet.

State Sen. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, told selectmen and residents attending the meeting that reform at the statewide level is needed.

Gobi discussed efforts she and others in the Legislature have been working on that could change the way the state Department of Corrections evaluates sex offenders who are being released from jail.

State Rep. Donald Berthiaume, R-Spencer, told selectmen he would assist them in any way possible.

Over 3 percent of the state's workforce is now employed in the clean energy sector.

BOSTON -- The clean energy sector in Massachusetts continues to grow, according to a new report that cites 1,500 new jobs added in 2017, and a "clean energy gross state product" that now tops $13.8 billion.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center released its 2018 Clean Energy Industry Report on Wednesday. The public-private organization has been tracking figures related to the state's clean tech economy since 2010.

Some takeaways:

• Massachusetts now has over 110,700 clean energy workers, around 3.1 percent of the state's workforce. That number has grown 84 percent since 2014.
• Installation continues as the largest clean energy job segment, followed by engineering and research, then sales and distribution.
• The solar industry shed nearly 1,000 jobs in 2017, as larger solar projects, requiring fewer workers, took precedence over smaller installations. Nonetheless, Massachusetts remains the state with the second-most solar employees.
• Alternative transportation employment remains a growth segment, as the number of electric vehicles sold in Massachusetts increased by 52 percent.

"This is our eighth straight year of economic growth in the clean energy sector," said Stephen Pike, CEO of MassCEC. "And the growth took place across the state."

In a telephone interview, Pike said the 2017 economic data was collected in part from federal labor statistics, but that the national consulting firm BW Research was instrumental in gathering company information directly from Massachusetts employers.

The report looks at the economic impact of technologies such as solar and wind generation, energy storage, advanced building materials, high-efficiency heating and cooling, energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, water conservation technologies, woody biomass, combined heat and power, smart grid deployment and more.

Asked about the loss in solar jobs, Pike said it occurred even as capacity grew. 

He said while a general trend from small to larger projects meant fewer workers per installed unit, that market uncertainty was a factor in 2017 because of a shifting landscape in solar incentives. The state is now moving forward with its new SMART tariffs, designed to spur another 1,600 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity.

Pike said one area where he expects growth in the next decade is in the offshore wind industry.

Last May, the state chose Vineyard Wind to build an 800-megawatt project south of Martha's Vineyard. The company has agreed to stage operations at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal. The lease starts in 2020, to coincide with the company's planned construction schedule.

"Massachusetts is well-positioned to be the hub of offshore wind deployment," said Pike, who noted plans by Massachusetts and other states along the Eastern seaboard to build turbines on the Outer Continental Shelf.

"The supply chain will congregate along the coast, and be anchored by port facilities," the CEO added.

Pike said the New Bedford pier, owned by MassCEC, is the only marine terminal in the U.S. that was purpose-built to support offshore wind staging. As such, he said Massachusetts "has a strong head start" when it comes to competing for market share.

MassCEC also owns and runs a state-of-the-art wind technology testing center for turbine blades up to 90 meters in length.

The annual MassCEC reports provide energy sector data required by the 1998 law that deregulated the state's electric utilities.

MassCEC receives its funding from the Renewable Energy Trust Fund. The average household pays 32 cents a month to the fund through a small electric bill surcharge, the organization states on its website.

The mission of MassCEC is to grow the clean energy economy while helping to meet the state's clean energy, climate and economic development goals.

Nearly a year after the numbers were counted, the Housing and Urban Development released its yearly report on homelessness showing 552,830 experiencing homelessness just a slight hike in the numbers for the second year in a row.

Nearly a year after the numbers were counted, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday released a report showing 552,830 people experiencing homelessness, just a slight hike in the numbers for the second year in a row.

Every January, HUD does a point-in-time housing count to assess the homeless population across the country.

About 65 percent of those who were homeless were staying in sheltered locations -- emergency shelters or transitional housing programs -- and about 35 percent were in unsheltered locations such as on the street, in abandoned buildings, or in other places not suitable for human habitation, according to the report. 

Between 2017 and 2018, the unsheltered population increased by 2 percent, or 4,300 people, according to the report.  

In Massachusetts, 20,068 people were reported homeless -- a 14.2 percent hike from 2017 to 2018. That's the largest increase in the country, according to the report. 

Massachusetts saw a 32.7 percent rise from 2007 to 2018, the second largest increase in that time frame.

Springfield Housing Director Gerry McCaffery said the 20,068 number might reflect the high number of people displaced by disasters seeking refuge in Massachusetts. She was told that the state had the second-highest number of people in the country who had been displaced by disasters.

Of the 3,864 people staying in beds that were funded specifically because of a presidentially declared natural disaster, 1,047 were staying in Hampden County, with more in other parts of Massachusetts, she wrote in an email.

"So even though the disasters were not here, we had a large increase in homelessness due to the disasters. I don't know how much this accounts for the Massachusetts increase, but locally, in Hampden County, it accounts almost entirely for our increase," she said.

According to the report, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and New York sheltered at least 95 percent of people experiencing homelessness. 

McCaffery is not surprised. 

"Massachusetts always has a very low percentage of unsheltered people because all eligible families are provided shelter. So, our system is very weighted toward families, and we rarely encounter unsheltered families."

But she wrote that "individuals without children, the percentage of unsheltered would be higher, but we still do pretty well on this compared to other states," she wrote.

The 96-page HUD report contains data from every state and provides breakdowns by race, age and gender. It looks at veterans and the number of beds for both shelter and housing projects.

While accounting for 13 percent of the U.S. population, African-Americans account for 40 percent of all people experiencing homelessness, and 51 percent of people experiencing homelessness as members of families with children, according to the report.

But when it comes to individuals who are homeless, 60 percent are white. 

More men than women were homeless -- 216,211 women compared to 332,995 men. In addition, 2,521 were transgender and another 1,173 were gender nonconforming. 

About 71 percent of those deemed homeless were older than 24.

California had the most homeless people, with 129,972, followed by New York with 91,897. Half of all people experiencing homelessness were in California, New York, Florida, Texas and Washington. 

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