The fisherman had tuna permits, but was told catching a tuna with a net is illegal.

NEW BEDFORD — It's the big one that got taken away.

New Bedford fishing boat owner Carlos Rafael was elated recently when one of his bottom trawlers snared an 881-pound tuna.

The Standard-Times reports the fish was likely inadvertently snagged as Rafael's crew was setting its net. A fish that big is hugely valuable — a 754pound tuna sold for nearly $396,000 this year.

Rafael drove to Provincetown to meet his crew, but found federal fishery enforcement agents waiting to seize the fish.

Rafael had tuna permits, but was told catching a tuna with a net is illegal. The fish will be sold overseas. Rafael will likely get a written warning, and no share of the proceeds if regulators find a violation.

A frustrated Rafael will likely give up his tuna permits, saying they're apparently worthless.

The signing of expanded gambling legislation begins what will be an intensely scrutinized process of selecting members to a Gaming Commission that will oversee the new industry, selecting developers to construct up to three resort casinos and ensuring that casino operators comply with the new law.

An updated version of this story is now available at MassLive.

By KYLE CHENEY

BOSTON - Gov. Deval L. Patrick made casino gambling in Massachusetts a legal enterprise Tuesday, thrilling proponents who see the promise of jobs, tax revenue, and new entertainment options and disappointing critics who fear the industry’s negative consequences.

The signing of expanded gambling legislation begins what will be an intensely scrutinized process of selecting members to a Gaming Commission that will oversee the new industry, selecting developers to construct up to three resort casinos and ensuring that casino operators comply with the new law.

The law also opens a new chapter in communities that have been scouted as potential casino sites by developers. Local officials girding to host a casino will have to win the support of their communities in what will likely be hard-fought, high-stakes battles against opponents of expanded gambling, who argue it will drain local businesses, encourage crime, stoke addiction and sully the character of the state.

“Expanded gaming in Massachusetts, for me, is about creating jobs,” Patrick said before signing the bill.

“I am pleased to sign this bill today and proud of the work my team and the Legislature has done to bring it to this point,” Patrick said.

Patrick was joined for the bill-signing in his office by House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Steven Tolman, Sen. Jennifer Flanagan, D-Leominster, and Reps. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, Kathi-Anne Reinstein, D-Revere, Russell Holmes, D-Boston, and Joe Wagner, D-Chicopee.

During a radio interview before the bill signing, Patrick said he used to take his mother to gamble at Foxwoods and recalled spending time at a Las Vegas casino when he worked at Coca-Cola. “It was glamorous,” Patrick said, remembering the meals and taking in a Cirque du Soleil show.

The arguments of critics held little sway with Patrick and with a Legislature that has seen significant turnover in its ranks since members roundly defeated a casino plan offered by Patrick in 2008, most notably in the office of House speaker. DeLeo, a Winthrop Democrat and fervent supporter of expanded gambling, succeeded Speaker Salvatore DiMasi in 2009, clearing the way for a renewed look at casinos and slot parlors in Massachusetts.

DiMasi had led the drive to squash Patrick’s expanded gambling efforts, but he resigned amid a bribery investigation that ultimately led to his conviction, and some of DiMasi’s supporters have suggested that gambling interests played a role in his downfall.

The bill Patrick signed into law permits the Gaming Commission to select up to one casino in each of three regions: an eastern region that stretches from Boston to Worcester, a western region that includes the counties of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire, and a southeast region that includes the Cape, the South Shore and cities like New Bedford and Fall River. Successful bidders for a casino license would be required to pay an $85 million fee and pledge to invest $500 million in their facilities.

The bill also sanctions a single, competitively bid slots-only casino that could be sited anywhere in the state. The winner of the slots license would be required to pay a $25 million licensing fee and invest $125 million in a facility.

The three casinos would be taxed at 25 percent of their gambling revenue, and the slot facility would be taxed at 49 percent. Those revenues are slated to be divided up among an array of interests, including transportation infrastructure, local aid, anti-addiction services, the arts, race horse development, health care reform efforts, and public safety.

Expanded gambling has been a cyclical priority on Beacon Hill for generations but has faltered amid widespread controversy about its implications and an inability among legislative leaders and governors to align their priorities. Proponents have long argued that casinos in Connecticut and Rhode Island have drained nearly $1 billion per year from Massachusetts residents that they say could be recaptured with local gambling options. In addition, backers say they expect up to 15,000 jobs to be created as a result of the new industry.

But opponents argue that, in addition to the social ills bred by casinos, they will divert residents’ spending away from the state Lottery, which is already among the most successful in the country, encourage residents to spend discretionary revenue at casinos rather than in other areas of the economy, and will cannibalize local businesses, resulting in no net economic gain for the state.

Former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts, which opposed the bill, said the group was “encouraged by the budding movement to repeal this law and will continue to do all we can to speak out against this ill-advised, poorly-structured, pro-casino bonanza.”

“This Governor promised not to sign any casino bill without an independent cost-benefit analysis,” Harshbarger said in a statement. “Legislative leaders promised adequate law enforcement, regulatory standards and accountability. Today, none are in place. “Now a new Massachusetts gold rush begins. Insiders are lining up for coveted seats on the all-powerful but completely unaccountable commission overseeing casino licensing and operations and casino money is flooding into cities and towns in an effort to pave the path and stifle descent (sic) there.”

Politically, the issue has presented a headache for lawmakers and the governor, most pointedly last year, when a gambling bill that appeared poised for passage died amid a collapse of negotiations between the governor and legislative leaders on the final night of formal business before the 2010 election cycle. That collapse, which Patrick capitalized on during his reelection campaign, set the stage for private, closed-door talks among the governor and legislative leaders earlier this year, which led to a pre-negotiated bill that passed easily in both chambers of the Legislature.

Patrick said Tuesday that he anticipates engaging a search firm to select at least two members of the Gaming Commission. The commission will be charged with overseeing the new casino industry, reviewing applications for casinos and ensuring that casino operators comply with the law, and will be made up of five members.

Patrick will pick the chairman, Attorney General Martha Coakley is required to pick a member with law enforcement experience and Treasurer Steven Grossman is required to pick a member with a background in finance. The other two members, according to the bill, will be chosen by Patrick, Coakley and Grossman together. Those two members, Patrick said, would likely be identified by a search firm.

During an appearance on Boston area radio station WTKK-FM an hour before he signed the gambling bill, Patrick raised the specter of the gambling commission’s discretion to approve fewer than three casinos, the maximum number permitted by the law.

“That’s entirely in the discretion of the gaming commission. The gaming commission doesn’t have to award all of the licenses,“ he said. “The commission’s completely in its rights to say, you know what, we’re going to start with one.“

Commission members are going to be full-time workers with $100,000-a-year salaries.

Patrick rejected a suggestion by WTKK host Jim Braude that the gambling bill’s inclusion of millions of dollars for the horseracing industry was an “entry fee“ required by DeLeo, a supporter of Suffolk Downs, the racetrack near his Winthrop home that is expected to seek a casino license.

“I think that’s unfair,“ Patrick said. “A lot of the breeders, a lot of the horse farms are right here in Massachusetts. We’ve got other things in this bill that are about other protected industries if you will, like the requirement that cultural venues like the Hanover Theater in Worcester will get a portion of the proceeds and some rules about the size of the entertainment venues at casinos in order to protect their markets. People can quarrel about whether it was done with the right precision.“

Patrick also discussed the potential of a repeal effort by opponents of expanded gambling, noting that polls show that most Massachusetts residents support casino gambling. Still, Patrick said, if repeal efforts “linger ... it might bear on how developers think about investing in Massachusetts.“

At the bill-signing, DeLeo acknowledged the long path to a casino law. “There were times when I would question whether we would ever come to this day,” DeLeo said. “I knew we had to get this bill done to get people back to work.”

The school system's new superintendent, Thomas Charko, explained that the district has to implement reforms to improve student performance.

file photo by Staff photographer Don Treeger

PALMER - Superintendent Thomas A. Charko notified the School Committee at its Wednesday meeting that the district has dropped to level 3 status because of Old Mill Pond Elementary School's performance in English and math on the MCAS tests.

Palmer previously was a level 2 district; there are five levels, one being the highest, five the lowest. A level 3 designation means that one or more schools in the district is among the lowest-performing 20 percent in the state.

Charko said the district has not met adequate yearly progress for two years, which put it into the new, level 3 category, because of the school's overall MCAS performance, as well as in its special education and low income subgroups.

Because of the status, Charko explained that the district has to implement reforms to improve student performance. Charko said grant opportunities are being explored, as well as professional development opportunities for staff.

In a letter posted on the Palmer school's website about the status change, Charko wrote, "We will be working with the faculty and the school council to implement necessary changes and improve results."

He said the school will continue to provide supplemental educational services to free or reduced lunch students, such as after-school help. He said the district overall is doing well.

"As a whole we're doing pretty well. We can do better and we need to do better and that's really what we'll be focusing on this year and next," Charko said.

In other business, Charko praised members of the food services staff, custodial staff and other faculty who helped during the week of Oct. 31 when Converse Middle School was used as an emergency shelter after the Oct. 29 snowstorm: Suzanne Provost, Linda Gibson, Claire Niedziela, Carol Sikorski, Elizabeth Lynch, Christine Ochs, Peter Galica, Steve Muniec, Thomas Barnes and Claudia Messier.

He added that North Brookfield Savings Bank will set up an information desk at the high school. Charko said the bank is expected to be at the school every other Thursday.

Regarding the five snow days that were used after the October snowstorm, Charko said at this point, there is no need to cancel part of February vacation, as the Springfield schools have done. The new last day of school for Palmer is June 18.

"We could have nine additional school days before there is a problem," Charko said. "I think we've got plenty of room to operate there."

Former Attorney General Scott Harsharger, a longtime casino opponent, issued a statement warning of a new "gold rush" in Massachusetts that will bring corruption and backroom deals.

This is an updated version of a story posted at 11:12 this morning.

(AP Photo/File)American Indian casinos in the Palm Springs-Indio area carrie maney of the trates of the rival Las Vagas, Navada including hotel accomidations. Gambler takes a chance with the slot machine at the Fantansy Springs Casino in Indio.

BOSTON -- Gov. Deval L. Patrick Tuesday signed a bill to legalize casinos in Massachusetts, setting the state on a new course of expanded gambling about 20 years after casinos first began operating in a neighboring state.

The bill, approved last week by the state Legislature, authorizes one slot parlor and up to three casino resorts including one for anywhere in the four counties of Western Massachusetts.

During a short ceremony in his office, Patrick signed the bill, handed the pen to House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and shook his hand.

Patrick and DeLeo said the casinos bill came down to jobs.

"It's really, for me, as simple at that," Patrick said.

DeLeo has said the bill could create about 15,000 permanent and construction jobs.

Several casino companies are already jockeying for the Western Massachusetts license. The Mohegan Sun of Connecticut is planning a casino for Palmer, Hard Rock International of Florida teamed up with Paper City Development for a casino for Holyoke and Ameristar casinos of Nevada is planning a casino for Springfield.

Mitchell Etess, chief executive officer of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, called the bill signing an historic day for Massachusetts.

"We're very excited to be able to pursue the license to bring jobs and development to Western Massachusetts," Etess said.

Etess said he is not surprised at the competition developing for the casino in Western Massachusetts.

"This is a very, very desired market," he said. "There are not a lot of markets like this left."

The Foxwoods casino opened in 1992 in Ledyard, Conn. Around then, the Wampanoag tribe of Martha's Vineyard started a long debate on casinos in Massachusetts when it began negotiating for a casino with former Gov. William F. Weld.

State Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, a Chicopee Democrat and co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, said construction on a casino resort could begin in the vicinity of three years and doors could open in about five.

Wagner said a slot parlor could open in a year or 18 months.

The bill calls for creating a five-member gaming commission to oversee and regulate casinos. The bill calls for members to be appointed within 120 days.

The governor appoints the chairman. Treasurer Steve Grossman and Attorney General Martha M. Coakley each appoint a member. The governor, the treasurer and the attorney general vote by majority to appoint the final two members.

Former Attorney General L. Scott Harsharger, a longtime casino opponent, issued a statement warning of a new "gold rush" in Massachusetts that will bring corruption and backroom deals.

"Insiders are lining up for coveted seats on the all-powerful but completely unaccountable commission overseeing casino licensing and operations and casino money is flooding into cities and towns in an effort to pave the path and stifle descent there," Harshbarger said.

More details coming in The Republican.

DPW superindentent David Desrosiers said the current position of the hydrants compromises the safety of bicyclists and poses a hazard for snow plows.

Neighboring towns Granby and South Hadley are at odds over fire hydrants.

The eight fire hydrants in question were recently installed on Morgan Street. They were installed along with a new water line whose purpose is to replace water from private wells on Morgan Street that did not meet the high standards of the state.

Waste Management, which owns the nearby landfill in Granby, paid for both the hydrants and the water line. Since Granby does not have a water department, South Hadley Water District 1 was asked to install the package.

The new hydrants are three feet from the street. Jeffrey Cyr, superintendent of the South Hadley district, says that’s consistent with the standards of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

David Desrosiers, superintendent of the Highway Department in Granby, says it’s not.

“These hydrants are very close to the edge of the road,” Desrosiers told the Selectboard last week. He said the three-foot rule may be relevant on streets lined with buildings, but “it’s not an appropriate design standard for rural roads.”

He wants the hydrants to be moved to 10 feet from the road.

That’s what motorists on rural roads require as a “recovery zone,” he said. He also said the current position of the hydrants compromises the safety of bicyclists and poses a hazard for his snow plows.

“As a professional engineer, I’m liable,” said Desrosiers, who was clearly frustrated. “We’re hurting our residents by doing this. I don’t want to have to choose between motorist safety and fire safety.”

Mark Bail, chairman of the Selectboard, said it’s a touchy situation. “We’ve got jurisdiction over the road, but they have jurisdiction over the water,” he said.

Selectboard member Mary McDowell said, “We should not let this drop.”

Desrosiers said the South Hadley Water Department would lose nothing by moving the hydrants, because Waste Management is covering the expenses.

Contacted later, superintendent Cyr in South Hadley said the Department of Transportation has no requirement to set fire hydrants 10 feet back from the road. Desrosiers disagrees.

A spokesman for the Department of Transportation, Michael Versekes, said he can’t find the answer, but will continue looking.

Town Administrator Christopher Martin said Desrosiers is guided by the road construction standard set by AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Authorities say McCarthy left a Saugus home in an unmarked state police cruiser and was pulled over several minutes later for a marked lanes violation.

FRAMINGHAM– A state police officer has been charged with failing to stop for police trying to pull him over last weekend, and faces additional departmental discipline.

A state police spokesman said that Capt. Thomas McCarthy, the evening shift commander for Troop C based in Holden, was arrested Saturday night after Saugus police responded to a home in town. Authorities say McCarthy left the home in an unmarked state police cruiser and was pulled over several minutes later for a marked lanes violation. McCarthy then allegedly drove away. He stopped again later.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday. It was not immediately known if he has an attorney.

He was placed on administrative leave after his arrest and faces a hearing Tuesday to determine where he should be suspended.

The author and humorist built the house in 1874 and wrote many of his best known works during the 17 years that he lived there, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and its sequel, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

File photo by Jessica Hill / Associated PressJeffrey Nichols, Executive Director of The Mark Twain House and Museum poses for a portrait outside The Mark Twain House in Hartford, Conn., in 2008.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A woman has been sentenced to 3½ years in prison for embezzling more than $1 million from the Mark Twain House and Museum, a crime that added to the financial woes of the Hartford landmark that had been struggling to pay its bills.

Donna Gregor, a 58-year-old longtime museum employee, stole the money between 2002 and 2010. She faced up to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty in August to wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

The officials who run the gingerbread Gothic home on Farmington Avenue said they were happy to put the case behind them.

"We are grateful that the case involving the theft of funds from the Mark Twain House and Museum has been resolved and justice has been served," the museum said on its website. "We want to assure our friends that stringent controls are in place and our financial condition is sound and we thank them for their continued interest and support."

The thefts occurred during a time when the Twain House was in dire financial straits, trying to repay millions in bank loans from expansions and struggling to meet its yearly budget.

In 2008, it even cut two-thirds of its staff and made other reductions, but had barely enough money to pay three weeks' worth of bills before publicity generated a spate of donations.

The author and humorist built the house in 1874 and wrote many of his best known works during the 17 years that he lived there, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and its sequel, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Struggling with debt, Twain had to sell the home in 1903. The building was rescued from demolition in 1927 and is now a prime tourist attraction in Connecticut's capital city.

In addition to her jail sentence, Gregor was ordered by a U.S. district judge in Bridgeport on Monday to pay restitution to the Mark Twain House. After serving her prison sentence she also faces three years of supervised release.

Authorities say Gregor submitted false information via the Internet to the museum's payroll management vendor to get more pay than she was entitled to and used the museum's check-writing system to write checks payable to herself and forged the signatures of her supervisors on those checks.

Prosecutors said she used the proceeds of her theft for home improvements, theater tickets, dining out, mortgage payments, credit card payments and car payments.

The new owners recognize the importance of Pride & Joy in the community and are determined to foster the spirit of celebration that has evolved with the store.

NORTHAMPTON – Pride & Joy, the iconic store on Crafts Avenue that served as a touchstone of the gay community for nearly two decades, has begun a new incarnation in Thornes Marketplace.

Last week, new owners Jennifer Harlan and Joy Rain celebrated the store’s rebirth at the downtown anchor with a ceremony that included mayor-elect David J. Narkewicz and Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan. The shiny new space has a completely different feel from the funky storefront on Crafts Avenue.

“I think of it as an Apple store meets the GAP with rainbows,” Harlan said.

From the time it opened in 1992, Pride & Joy has had a special place in the heart of the local gay community. The Crafts Avenue store served as both a home base for gays seeking reassurance in a sometimes hostile world and as a rare place to shop for gay-themed items such as greeting cards and books.

As the gay community became more assimilated in recent years, Pride & Joy has languished somewhat, changing hands several times. In 2009, new owners from Florida bought the store with the hope of maintaining its role in the community. They eventually put the store up for sale, however, and when the building on Crafts Avenue was sold to a new landlord, it looked like the end for Pride & Joy.

Enter Harlan and Rain, a married couple who have lived in Connecticut and San Francisco. Looking for a place where they would feel safe holding hands on the street, the moved to Northampton in 2005 and bought Pride & Joy last summer.

“We heard it would basically go out of business if we didn’t buy it, and it would disappear forever,” Harlan said.

Armed with some retail experience, the new owners re-imagined Pride & Joy, incorporating a professionally designed clothing line and opening up the space. With a line of gay-themed greeting cards and an assortment of books and movies geared for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, Pride & Joy is still a place for gays to shop, but it also offers a selection of Northampton souvenirs for the general public.

“Everyone who lives in Northampton has a reason to come into the store,” said Harlan.

Harlan and Rain are thrilled with their new location in Thornes, a bustling collection of shops that draws people from far and wide. They are already benefiting from the Christmas rush.

“Business has been great,” Harlan said.

The new owners recognize the importance of Pride & Joy in the community and are determined to foster the spirit of celebration that has evolved with the store.

“I love Northampton,” said Harlan. “I’m one of its biggest fans. It’s a place where you can live and let live, and it’s very accepting.”

Mayor suspends Pittsfield city employee for hate speech, New Bedford fishermen snare 881lb tuna, feds take it, and more

AP Photo/Nick UtOccupy LA protesters are seen outside Los Angeles City Hall Friday, Nov 11, 2011.

• David Poritz of Amherst named Rhodes Scholar [GazetteNet.com]


• Mayor suspends Pittsfield city employee for hate speech [BerkshireEagle.com]


• State Police captain arrested in Saugus after pursuit [Boston.com]


• New Bedford fishermen snare 881lb tuna, feds take it [ProvidenceJournal.com]


• Obama pardons 5, commutes 1 sentence for convictions including selling drugs, gambling [WashingtonPost.com]


• 50 person flash mob shoplifts at silver spring 7-Eleven [NBCWashington.com]


• Occupy L.A. receives offer to decamp [LATimes.com]


• Anger mounts as MF Global clients see $3 billion still stuck [ca.news.yahoo.com]



AFSCME Newt Gingrich wants to hire school children to clean school buildings and fire janitors

• Twitter posts tagged #westernma in Western Mass. [MassLive.com]


• Read more News Links »


• Do you have News Links? Send them our way or tweet them to @masslivenews

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MASSPIRG's 26th annual report on toy hazards released on Tuesday says dangers still lurk in some of the most benign-looking potential gifts that could end up under Christmas trees everywhere.

Associated Press photoIvan Frishberg, with his daughter Stella, 2, from Washington, talk about toy safety during a news conference on U.S. Public Interest Research Group's 26th annual 'Trouble in Toyland' report on dangerous or toxic toys, Tuesday, on Capitol Hill in Washington. A similar press conference was held in Springfield by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group.

SPRINGFIELD - Despite tighter government standards and watchdog agencies trolling the aisles of toy stores each holiday season, there is still trouble in toy land, according to a recent report.

MassPIRG's 26th annual report on toy hazards released on Tuesday says dangers still lurk in some of the most benign-looking potential gifts that could end up under Christmas trees everywhere, including choking hazards, those containing toxins and ones that pose a danger of hearing loss.

Locally, Isabelle Goodman, of MASSPIRG, the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, released this year's findings standing in front of a table with an array of potentially hazardous toys: the ubiquitous balloon, playing dice, funny plastic affixed to a fake nose and a grindingly loud MatchBox SuperStart Twinduction racing car among them.

A list of toys flagged by the agency and tips for holiday gift buying can be found at www.uspirg.org/report.

Photo by Mark M. Murray / The RepublicanIsabelle Goodman, of MassPIRG, shows State Rep Angelo Puppolo, D-Springfeld, a selection of dangerous toys that she brought for a press conference Tuesday.

While the standard for noise-making toys is a maximum of 85 decibels for prolonged exposure, lest a user of any age suffer hearing loss, Goodman said. The Matchbox car logged in at 93 decibels, she said. Goodman and state Rep. Angelo Puppolo, D-Wilbraham, a member of the Legislature's Consumer Protection Committee, released the report at the Greater Springfield YMCA on Chestnut Street. The site is home to a large daycare facility and many after-school programs.

The funny glasses might end up as a stocking stuffer, but researchers found exceedingly high levels of phthalates in them, a chemical used in plastics some studies have found may cause respiratory and other health problems in children.

"They cost one dollar," Goodman said of the glasses.

Of risky toys, choking hazards still lead the pack with over 200 toy-related choking deaths between 1990 and 2009, and 30 more since that year, according to the report.

Puppolo said the release of the report each year serves to raise awareness when there is a run on toy-buying.

"We need to make sure we encourage vendors to remove these toys from the shelves and also to warn consumers not to buy them," Puppolo said.

The suspects are seen casually walking away as if nothing had happened.

Attempted robbery, assault on Huntington Ave. caught on tape: MyFoxBOSTON.com

BOSTON – Boston police are investigating a violent assault on a city street that was captured on video surveillance.

Police say the victim of the assault that took place just before noon Monday on Huntington Avenue has not come forward and there have been no arrests.

The video shows the female victim walking down the street when another woman approaches from behind and grabs her bag. The victim resists and three other people jump in, pulling the victim to the ground, then kicking and punching her. Two other suspects stand nearby. The victim gets up and runs out of view, still with her bag. The suspects casually walk away as if nothing had happened. No one comes to the victim’s aid.

Police say they are trying to identify six suspects, 5 women and one man.

Ferrara joined John Dalsey in 1984 to start his law practice and partner Mark Albano joined them in 1984.

John S. Ferrara

BOSTON - John Ferrara, a Springfield lawyer who specializes in criminal, medical malpractice and personal injury law, was nominated Monday by Gov. Deval L. Patrick to a seat on the Superior Court.

Ferrara joined John Dalsey in 1984 to start his law practice and partner Mark Albano joined them in 1984.

According to his resume, Ferrara has represented indigent clients in state and federal courts, was voted best criminal defense attorney in Western Massachusetts by his peers in a legal publication poll, and has obtained "significant judgments and settlements" in civil cases.

Ferrara graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in psychology in 1975 and earned a degree from Western New England School of Law in 1983.

If confirmed by the Governor's Council, Ferrara would fill the seat vacated in August by Judge Brian McDonald.

Harold R. Gokey of Springfield died at 87 on Saturday Nov. 19

Harold Gokey

SPRINGFIELD - Harold R. Gokey, 87, of Springfield died Saturday November 19, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center. He was born in Winooski, VT on November 15, 1924, a son of the late Arthur and Blanch (Kirby) Gokey. He was a carpenter and member of the Carpenters Union Local#108, and previously he had worked as a blacksmith. Harold was a U.S. Air Force Veteran serving from 1947-1950.He was all about Country Music, playing with Pee Wee Gokey &The Country Squires. He has played at several area locations including Mountain Park, Riverside Park, the Ranch House and several other venues. Harold was a longtime Springfield resident.

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The jobs would be as a result of cuts in military spending.

Stephen Fuller

BOSTON - f the federal government is forced to make a half trillion dollars worth of cuts to defense spending in 2013 as part of the automatic deficit reduction required by the folding of the so-called 'supercommittee,' it could cost Massachusetts nearly 40,000, jobs according to a university report.

Massachusetts would stand to lose 38,200 jobs because of military cuts, behind only California, Virginia, Texas and Florida, according to a report by Stephen Fuller, the director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University in Virginia, who has studied federal spending extensively.

Fuller estimates the loss of those jobs would mean $2.3 billion in lost earnings in Massachusetts and a decrease of $3.3 billion in gross state product.

Judge Mary Lou Rup said Julian Pellegrino must be on probation for three years after jail term.

The Republican | Don TreegerJulian Pellegrino at a past court appearance.

SPRINGFIELD -- Julian Pellegrino was sentenced Tuesday to 2½ years in jail after pleading guilty to a charge stemming from a 2009 car crash which seriously injured another driver.

When Rup asked Pellegrino why he was pleading guilty he hesitated and then said it was because he is guilty.

Hampden Superior Court Judge Mary Lou Rup said Pellegrino, 43, must serve 18 months of that sentence to the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow.

She suspended the other year of the sentence, and said Pellegrino, of Springfield, must be on probation for three years after he gets out of jail. If he violates probation, a judge could make him serve the rest of the sentence.

Under the terms of his probation, Pellegrino may not consume alcohol or illegal drugs. He will be randomly tested by the Probation Department. Another condition set by Rup is for Pellegrino to take any substance abuse treatment, possibly including inpatient treatment, recommended by the Probation Department.

Rup said she will recommend part of Pellegrino’s jail time be spent in the Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center on Howard Street.

In November 2010, Pellegrino was arraigned in Springfield District Court on a new charge of driving while under the influence of liquor. He still faces that charge in District Court.

Pellegrino, who is represented by his brother Raipher D. Pellegrino, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense of operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs causing serious bodily injury. The maximum term allowed by law for that is 2½ years in jail.

Pellegrino had originally been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, but the facts to which he admitted were driving under the influence of alcohol. There was no mention of any drugs in the plea.

Assistant District Attorney James M. Forsyth asked Rup to sentence Pellegrino to serve 2½ years in the Ludlow jail.

Raipher Pellegrino asked Rup to sentence his client, who he said had no criminal record and decades of being an admirable citizen and lawyer, to 18 months in the jail. Julian Pellegrino has credit for 183 days toward that sentence, the time he has been in jail awaiting trial.

Neither side asked for probation, with Forsyth saying Pellegrino had violated his pre-trial probation by testing positive for cocaine in July and been sent to jail because of that to await trial.

Forsyth said Julian Pellegrino was driving east on Granby Road in Chicopee at about 2:20 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2009, when he fishtailed and crossed over the yellow line and collided with a vehicle driven by Mark A. Costa of Chicopee, which was traveling west.

Forsyth said Pellegrino’s blood alcohol was .09 percent, over the legal limit of .08 percent.

Costa gave Rup a verbal picture of his life after the crash, which happened when he was 26 years old.

He said Dec. 20 was a day that changed his life tremendously.

“My car filled up with air bag residue, powder residue, and I was trapped in my vehicle for a little bit over 60 minutes” as firefighters attempted to get him out using the Jaws of Life.

“I had bones that were coming, protruding, out of my legs that were just being connected by tendons and pieces of skin. I was asking firefighters and paramedics if I was going to lose my legs.”

In asking for a lighter sentence for his client, Raipher Pellegrino described to Rup the serious injuries Julian Pellegrino had suffered in the crash.

Raipher Pellegrino tried to make a case to Rup his brother should receive the 18 month sentence in part because a State Police reconstruction expert said Costa was going over the speed limit.

Raipher Pellegrino, who showed Rup a series of large prints of photographs of the crash, contended Costa would not have been injured as badly as he was if he were going slower.

He said his brother did the proper thing to try to correct the fishtailing, but the truck did not respond.

Rup said, “I just want to start by saying I’m really struck by the fact that Attorney Pellegrino, you seem to be suggesting during your argument your client disputes his operation of this motor vehicle was the cause of serious bodily injury to Mr. Costa. If that’s the case, I’m not sure I understand why your client’s pleading guilty to this charge.”

Raipher Pellegrino said his brother is admitting his action did result in injury and the law sets the bar low for what is considered serious bodily injury. He continued to contend the judge should consider in his brother’s favor his contention Costa’s speed influenced the severity of Costa’s injury.

Julian Pellegrino had apologized in court to Costa, and then to his own family. He also told the judge he had suffered terrible injuries in the crash and lives with permanent damage.

Julian Pellegrino, who briefly considered a run for state representative in the 9th Hampden District in 1999, is a member of a prominent Springfield family.

He is the son of Kathleen B. Pellegrino, a former police commissioner and retired Springfield Juvenile Court Judge Joseph A. Pellegrino, who were both in the courtroom.

Rup said she noted neither side requested probation following jail.

“Mr. Costa seems to be the one person who recognizes Mr. Pellegrino is in need of treatment,” she said.

Costa had said he would like Pellegrino to be sent to state prison, which Rup told him was not allowed under law, followed by drug and alcohol treatment. “I just hope and pray this gentleman gets the help he needs,” Costa said at the end of his victim impact statement.

Costa gave his impact statement before Raipher Pellegrino made the long presentation to Rup alleging Costa would not have been so badly injured if he (Costa) had been going the speed limit. Costa also gave Rup a series of photographs showing his injuries and life in the first six months after the crash.

He said during the time he was trapped he also saw his family, who were en route to the hospital but came upon the crash, “worried, crying.”

Costa, who had worked as a nuclear medicine technologist in hospitals, said his career was derailed for some time.

He had to delay his wedding because “I was not able to walk down the aisle.”

Costa said he moved back in with his parents and lived there for six months in a bed, a 26-year-old adult needing his father to take him to the bathroom.

He said he has had several surgeries and must have more. His medical bills have topped $100,000, he has permanent rods and screws in his legs, and he will never be able to run again or play soccer and hockey as he had.

The post traumatic stress disorder he suffered after a year overseas as an Army medic was aggravated severely by the crash, said Costa, whose wife sat with him in court.

Preparations have already begun for the fair which encompasses two floors and offers everything from baked goods to toys and personalized ornaments.

Candace Rutz, one of the organizers of Christmas on the Green at the First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, holds some of the decorated cans that will be filled with home-made Christmas cookies and sold at the fair Dec. 3. Christina Carroll is on the right, showing one of the many themed gift baskets and gift boxes.

LONGMEADOW – A visit with Santa, musicians playing live Christmas music and unique gifts are all a part of First Church of Christ’s Christmas on the Green Dec.3.

“It’s an annual tradition that many people in town look forward to every year,” said organizer Kelly Batchelor.

The event is run completely by members of the church and all of the proceeds go towards local and national causes.

Some of the organizations include Shriner’s Hospital, the Open Pantry, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and more.

“This year especially it seems like many of these organizations are suffering and are in need of donations, so we hope the proceeds of the fair will help them,” Batchelor said.

Preparations have already begun for the fair which encompasses two floors and offers everything from baked goods to toys and personalized ornaments.

“We have boutique areas, as opposed to vendor tables, such as crafts, candy, baked goods, gifts from afar, books, vintage items, jewelry, fresh wreaths and more,” said Caitlin LaFleur, chair of the Christmas fair. “All our boutiques are organized by church members and consist of donated items-hand-made or new or gently used items.”

Batchelor said the event is hosted by the Ladies’ Benevolent Society.

The society was established in 1803 and is thought to be one of the oldest women’s organizations ion the country. The fair has been happening every year since at least the 1930s, but maybe earlier, Batchelor said.

The event also includes live orchestral music and a silent auction.

Lunch will be served between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and children can visit with Santa from 11 -1 p.m.

As Bachmann strode on to the stage, the show's band played a snippet of a 1985 Fishbone song called "Lyin' Ass B----."

Associated PressRepublican presidential candidate, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., waves as she walks off stage after speaking at the Republican Presidential Forum on Manufacturing, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, in Pella, Iowa.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Fallon's house band the Roots didn't have a warm welcome for Republican presidential contender Michele Bachmann when she appeared on the NBC show early Tuesday.

As Bachmann strode on to the stage at Fallon's "Late Night," the show's band played a snippet of a 1985 Fishbone song called "Lyin' Ass B----."

The song begins with a distinctive "la la la la la la la la la" refrain — the only words audible before Bachmann, smiling and waving to the audience, sat down.

The song itself, about a relationship gone wrong, isn't political. Among its cleanest lyrics: "She always says she needs you, but you know she really don't care."

Roots' bandleader Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson said later Tuesday that the song was a "tongue-in-cheek and spur of the moment decision.

"The show was not aware of it and I feel bad if her feelings were hurt," Thompson said. "That was not my intention."

Bachmann's campaign had no immediate comment.

Fallon joked on Twitter that Thompson was grounded. The show itself didn't have any comment.

The Roots frequently make sly, often obscure, song choices as Fallon's guests are introduced.

When Fox Business Network's Lou Dobbs came out, they played part of Genesis' "Illegal Alien," a reference to Dobbs' frequent commentaries on the topic. Current TV host Keith Olbermann, formerly of MSNBC, heard part of Klymaxx's "I Miss You." Kathie Lee Gifford was saluted with UB40's "Red Red Wine," a reference to the drink she often shares on-air with "Today" co-host Hoda Kotb.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be forthcoming.

Adam Gamble

AMHERST – A 28-year-old Belchertown man has been charged in connection with two break-ins and could face additional charges, according to Amherst police.

Police issued a warrant for the arrest of Adam G. Gamble, 633 Federal St. who turned himself in to the Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown Monday, according to police.

Police charged Gamble with two counts of receiving stolen property over $250.

According to the release, the charges follow an investigation involving several house burglaries in town in September.

Police said they found stolen items from those burglaries, specifically electronics and a computer in his possession.

The investigation is ongoing and more charges may be forthcoming, police said.

There have been numerous break-ins throughout town as well as in neighboring communities including Belchertown and Northampton over the last several months.

Gamble has yet to be arraigned.

DeLeo has refused to discuss whether he will move during the Legislature’s seven-week recess to reshuffle his leadership team before returning to formal business in January.

Associated Press photoSpeaker of the House Robert DeLeo, left, looks to Gov. Deval Patrick, as he spoke during the signing ceremony for a bill legalizing casino gambling in Massachusetts, at the Statehouse in Boston, Tuesday.

By MATT MURPHY

BOSTON - House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo on Tuesday said he has no intention of stepping down as leader of the House before term limits will require him to give up the job after 2016, insisting he is focused on next year’s agenda and not the behind the scenes maneuvering to succeed him.

“Oh sure,” DeLeo told reporters when asked if he’d look to run the House for the maximum eight years allowed. “I’ve never had any intention of going anywhere. God knows what can happen in the future. I hate to talk like that, but it is my intention to stay speaker for the full period of time.”

DeLeo’s remarks followed a bill-signing ceremony for expanded gambling legislation that has been a hallmark issue during his tenure atop the House. The Winthrop Democrat has been speaker of the House since January 2009.

DeLeo has refused to discuss whether he will move during the Legislature’s seven-week recess to reshuffle his leadership team before returning to formal business in January, amid speculation that he intends to oust House Majority Whip Charley Murphy, who has been meeting with members to discuss his interest in succeeding DeLeo.

Asked whether he would remove Murphy from his post before January, DeLeo declined to comment directly on the reports which led Murphy to write a letter to his colleagues on Monday defending his loyalty to the speaker and the House amidst accusations that he has been angling to undermine DeLeo’s leadership.

“I think right now, as I stated yesterday, my focus right now not only is obviously, you know, in terms of celebration of some the legislation that we’ve accomplished, but right now I’m also working on the agenda for next year, and quite frankly that’s where my thoughts are right now and they’re really not on other distractions that might be out there,” said DeLeo, whose rise to power in the House was preceded by a behind-the-scenes battle with Rep. John Rogers while former Rep. Salvatore DiMasi was serving as speaker.

Under DeLeo, the House adopted rules changes that put a four-term limit, or eight years, on the speakership, similar to the limits in the Senate for the president of that branch.

Murphy has been meeting with House members outside the State House to discuss his vision for the House and put his name out there as a potential successor to DeLeo, though he said he has not asked a single lawmaker to commit their vote to him, and members who have met with Murphy attest to that account.

The Burlington Democrat also denies fostering rumors that state and federal investigations into patronage at the state Probation Department could land close to home in the House, and undermine DeLeo’s leadership.

Though Murphy said he still does not know why he was not reappointed as Ways and Means chairman in 2011 after serving two years as chairman of the powerful committee, he wrote that it was "not because I failed, or refused to, focus on leadership priorities during my two years at the helm of that committee." He said over the past year he has done his job as majority whip "without fanfare or question."

DeLeo would have to call a Democratic caucus in order to remove Murphy from his post as majority whip, the fourth highest ranking position in the House. Murphy, in his letter, called it DeLeo’s “prerogative" if he chooses to take steps to remove him from House leadership, and said if that happens he looks forward to making his case in front of the Democratic caucus to remain.

DeLeo engaged vote wrangling in 2008 as chairman of Ways and Means during his fight with Rogers to succeed DiMasi long before DiMasi announced publicly he would step down. The major difference, however, was that DeLeo’s positioning may have come with the blessing of the speaker himself.

Though several House members declined to comment on the letter from Murphy, one House member close to the speaker suggested the tone of the letter was disrespectful to DeLeo by referring to him throughout as “Bob DeLeo” rather than speaker, and said the letter probably did more harm than good.

“With that letter he blew himself up,” the House member said, requesting anonymity in order to speak frankly.

Should DeLeo opt against the highly public option of asking the caucus to remove Murphy, he could simply choose to freeze him out for the next year and reshuffle the leadership chart in January 2013, assuming he remains and is reelected speaker.

DeLeo on Tuesday went out of his way to avoid being branded as a one-issue leader, opening his remarks about expanded gambling legislation by highlighting other accomplishments of the Legislature in 2011, including passage of pension reform.

“This has been an unbelievably productive session,” DeLeo said.

The next year will an interesting one for the speaker as the focus of Beacon Hill figures to shift to Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s health care cost containment legislation, and lawmakers will eventually start to focus on re-election campaigns two years after voters sent twice as many Republicans back to the State House in an anti-incumbent wave election across the country.

Jeanette Crumb has been recognized for her work - two years ago, she came in second place for advanced cake decorating at a Connecticut cake show for her four-tier cake covered in fondant with flowers on every layer.

The Republican/Lori StabileJeanette D. Crumb, of Belchertown, is making pearls out of fondant during her cake decorating class at Top Floor Learning in Palmer.

PALMER – Jeanette D. Crumb can make cupcakes look like ghosts, witches and spiders.

And, she can make cakes with intricate designs including trees, pearls and flowers.

Crumb, of Belchertown, teaches at Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Creative Arts Center and at Top Floor Learning here, where she recently wrapped up a class on cake decorating. A new class is expected to be offered in Palmer early next year, and the next class at Holyoke Community College is slated for the end of February.

“It’s just so wonderful when you see folks make their first rose. They get so excited,” Crumb said.

Crumb – an appropriate name for a baker – got into cake decorating 10 years ago, and enjoys teaching others. She started off as a decorative painter, then moved from the canvas to cakes. She is following in the footsteps of her father, a former Navy cook who decorated all her birthday cakes when she was growing up.

Crumb was busy teaching her students on a recent weeknight at the Palmer Public Library, where Top Floor Leaning is on the top floor. All the supplies were out – already made cakes, ready-to-use rolled fondant, gum paste, and tools to make designs such as pearls. One of her students was her 92-year-old mother, Genevieve Story, of Ludlow.

Amber L. Roberge, of Palmer, said she was drawn to the class because there’s only so much she could teach herself on the Internet. She said she has enjoyed learning how to make flowers out of gum paste.

"You needs hands-on,” Roberge said.

“I like the class,” chimed in Maria Nunes, of Ludlow.

“Plus, it’s local,” Roberge said.

Crumb explained that a lot of the cake decorating materials can be found at craft stores such as Michael’s or AC Moore. She also instructed her students how to make their own homemade fondant out of marshmallows and sugar.

Crumb would wet her fingers before she touched the fondant so she could make it more pliable as she rolled it into lines. She also sprinkled some cornstarch into the molds they were using, so it would be easier to get the fondant out of them.

She explained that gum paste is used for more intricate designs, such as flower petals. But it gets hard, unlike fondant, so specific tools are used to shape it. Gum paste also is a sugar mixture, Crumb explained.

In previous classes, she taught them how to make designs with buttercream frosting, such as piping, borders, leaves and roses. She said fondant, which has a “smooth look,” adheres to the buttercream frosting.

Crumb has been recognized for her work - two years ago, she came in second place for advanced cake decorating at a Connecticut cake show for her four-tier cake covered in fondant with flowers on every layer.

Her students are familiar with the show “Cake Boss” on TLC, which features the staff of Carlo’s Bakery in New Jersey. As she rolled fondant into a mold to make a pearl border, Nunes revealed that she saw the show’s star Buddy Valastro when he came to Symphony Hall in Springfield in January for his “Bakin’ with the Boss” tour.

Nunes said she is eager to put a new twist on her baked goods, thanks to the class.

“With the holidays coming up I want to be able to make a different kind of cake,” Nunes said.

“Nice, Maria, nice,” Crumb said as she watched Nunes work.

Crumb offered six classes at Top Floor Learning, which ended Nov. 8. The cost was $85, plus a $20 kit.