The addition will encircle the bay area of the station and will include an office area, new living quarters and more area for apparatus.

File photo | The Republican

WILBRAHAM – The town will seek bids this week on an addition and renovation of the main fire station on Boston Road.

With the new addition, the 3,600-square-foot fire station that was built in the 1950s will grow to 11,500 square-feet.

The addition will allow the fire department to get rid of trailers around the building which now house the ambulance and dormitories for the firefighters.

The total cost of the addition and renovation project is $2.4 million. The architect for the project is Jeff McElravy of Tecton Architects in Hartford, Conn.

No override of Proposition 2½ will be needed to fund the project, Fire Chief Francis Nothe said.

The purchase of Fire Department capital equipment will be delayed several years, and the project will be paid for on the Fire Department’s capital improvements bonding schedule.

The addition will encircle the bay area of the station and will include an office area, new living quarters and more area for apparatus.

“There will be a new office area and public entrance,” McElravy said.

The project will be bid with a base bid and alternates, to control costs, McElravy said. The alternate bids will include items such as technology, radiant floors and canopies to improve the appearance of the building.

“There are not a lot of frills to this project,” Nothe said. He said the town will pay for what it can afford. If the building committee cannot afford radiant floors, the firefighters have worked in more difficult conditions, he said.

“This is the best time of year to go out to bid,” Nothe said. He said the economy is predicted to improve and prices are expected to increase in the coming months.

“We expect to receive seven to nine bids,” he said.

Besides offering Romney his support, Huntsman also appealed for civility in a race that has become defined by attack advertisements paid for by anonymous groups.

View full sizePhoto by Charles Dharapak / Associated PressRepublican presidential candidate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, accompanied by his family, announces he is ending his campaign, Monday in Myrtle Beach, S.C. From left are, daughters Elizabeth, Mary Anne, Huntsman, his wife Mary Kaye, and daughters, Abby, Gracie.

By THOMAS BEAUMONT
and KASIE HUNT

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Republican Jon Huntsman’s endorsement of W. Mitt Romney further cements Romney as the favorite in Saturday’s pivotal South Carolina primary, adding another name to the list of party figures calling him best able to beat Democratic President Bararck H. Obama.

However, it leaves Romney’s more conservative rivals still fighting with one another to emerge as his strongest challenger. And it prompted at least one backer of Texas Gov. Rick Perry to urge him to quit the race.

Besides offering Romney his support, Huntsman also appealed for civility in a race that has become defined by attack advertisements paid for by anonymous groups.

“At its core, the Republican Party is a party of ideas, but the current toxic form of our political discourse does not help our cause,” he said, as televisions and telephones across the state hummed with attack messages.

Huntsman’s endorsement offers little in the way of a campaign organization or bankable support to Romney.

But it does add to the sense of inevitability the former Massachusetts governor has worked to portray in a state that has voted for the eventual GOP nominee since 1980 and where he is campaigning with backing from the state’s new Gov. Nikki Haley and Arizona Sen. John McCain, winner of the 2008 primary here.

Romney stands a good chance of winning the votes Huntsman would have received. Both tout business backgrounds and are social moderates in a state where social conservatives are an influential bloc. Polls show Romney was most often the second choice of Huntsman backers.

“Certainly, it will help Gov. Romney here, it’s just not clear how much,” said former state Attorney General Henry McMaster. An early Huntsman supporter, McMaster had not committed to another candidate after Huntsman’s announcement.

But Huntsman’s leaves unanswered the overriding question of the Republican campaign: whether voters looking for a candidate more conservative than Romney will unite behind Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich or Perry and send a strong challenger to compete against Romney in the Florida primary or beyond.

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, dismissed the endorsement during a campaign stop at a Columbia restaurant. “Moderates are backing moderates,” he said. “No surprise there.”

Gingrich, the former House speaker locked in a bitter battle with Romney, said at an appearance in Myrtle Beach: “Why would you want to nominate the guy who lost to the guy who lost to Obama?”

Gingrich also quickly noted late Sunday, as news of Huntsman’s decision broke, that a Greenville businesswoman who had supported the former Utah governor was coming over to Gingrich.

Although Huntsman’s departure hardly assures Romney of victory in Saturday’s primary, it underscored the tension within the party’s conservative wing with just five days left for one of them to emerge.

Santorum was the consensus, if not unanimous, choice of a group of national Christian political activists who met over the weekend in a last-ditch effort to rally conservatives.

“I think it’s important that we eventually consolidate this race,” Santorum said, stopping short of saying pressure was building on Perry to drop out. “That’s up to the candidates themselves to decide.”

Polls in South Carolina showed Romney in the lead, followed by Gingrich with Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul fighting for third. Perry trailed in single digits.

A few of Perry’s backers have begun calling on him to leave the race.

“There are a lot of conservatives who were happy to see him get in and now who would be happy to see him get out,” state Rep. Larry Grooms, an early Perry supporter, told The Associated Press. “When conservatives have split in the past, we end up nominating a moderate, and that’s not good for our party.”

Conservative author Eric Metaxas indirectly suggested Perry should quit the race while speaking at a packed prayer breakfast in Myrtle Beach on Sunday. The night before he had tweeted: “Dear Gov. Perry: Do the right thing for your country; endorse Rick Santorum before the S.C. primary next Saturday ... you’ll wish you had.”

Some South Carolina Republicans still rue McCain’s narrow 2008 win over the more socially conservative Mike Huckabee, allowed largely by former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson’s decision to stay in the race.

Katon Dawson, Perry’s South Carolina chairman, resisted the idea that there was a drumbeat for Perry to quit. “I find it sort of offensive that some Republicans would tell us they want to hand pick the candidate before the election,” Dawson said.

Ralph Reed, founder of the national Faith and Freedom Coalition, also said he knew of no effort by the conservative leaders who met Saturday in Texas to urge Perry to quit.

“We have never asked any candidate to drop out of the race publicly or privately. And we will not do so,” Reed said.

Some evangelical pastors and conservative leaders in Iowa had asked Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann to consider ending her campaign to allow a conservative to emerge. She did not, and Romney edged Santorum in Iowa by a razor-thin eight votes.

With Perry showing no signs of departing, Santorum faces the added burden of a barrage of attack ads by an independent super PAC that supports Romney’s campaign.

The group, Restore Our Future, was running almost $900,000 worth of advertising this week, more than any of the candidates’ campaigns and all of it against Santorum.

Santorum complained Monday about the ads, which accuse him of having supported earmark spending in Congress and supporting voting rights for felons.

Santorum has defended his support for earmark spending. He said Monday he supports allowing felons who have completed their sentences to apply to have their voting rights restored, a policy that is law in 48 states.

Restore Our Future spent roughly $3 million on similar anti-Gingrich ads in the final month of the Iowa campaign and was seen as contributing to his fourth-place finish in the caucuses.

A similar group that supports Gingrich was running roughly $850,000 in ads against Romney.

Associated Press writer Shannon McCaffrey in Myrtle Beach, S.C., contributed to this report.

Edwards, a Springfield city councilor, will announce Thursday; Tosado, a former councilor, said he is seriously considering a run.

File photos | The RepublicanLeft to right, state Sen. James Welch, D-West Springfield, Springfield City Councilor Melvin Edwards and former Springfield City Councilor Jose Tosado.

SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. James T. Welch, D-West Springfield, may face two well-known local politicians in the 2012 election, vying for his reshaped Hampden District seat under redistricting.

James Welch

Welch, serving his first, two-year term in the Senate, said last week he is definitely running for re-election, and will make it official in February.

The two potential challengers are Springfield City Councilor Melvin A. Edwards, also a Democrat, who will officially announce on Thursday and former City Councilor Jose F. Tosado.

Tosado, a Democrat, said he is seriously considering a run for either Welch’s seat or for the state representative seat now held by Rep. Sean Curran, D-Springfield. Tosado ran for mayor of Springfield last year, losing to the incumbent, Domenic J. Sarno.

Tosado, by running for mayor, lost his seat on the council in January.

Jose Tosado

Tosado said many residents have spoken to him since his November election defeat, praising his public service. Many have suggested he run for either Senate or the House, he said.

“I am giving it some serious consideration,” Tosado said. “There is no decision yet.”

Welch had no comment on his potential rivals but confirmed he will seek re-election and plans to open a Springfield legislative office.

“Right now, I’m just focused on obviously being the state senator and doing the most effective job I can,” Welch said.

Melvin Edwards

Under redistricting, Agawam is no longer a part of Welch’s district and a section of Forest Park is removed.

The district retains West Springfield and adds in sections of East Springfield, Hungry Hill, Pine Point and Indian Orchard, and an increased number of residents in Chicopee, Welch said.

Edwards, who began his second, two-year term on the council in January, is announcing his candidacy at the Basketball Hall of Fame. The event is Jan. 19, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Welch, a former state representative, was elected to the Senate seat in November 2010.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Horton Minor

Horton Minor, 94, of East Longmeadow, passed away on Saturday at Wingate at East Longmeadow. Born in Springfield, he graduated from the former Trade High School. Horton became a tool and die maker and worked for the Springfield Armory during WWII and continued to work there for many years after the war.

Obituaries from The Republican:

• 
  Browne, Dorothy "Dot" (Raihenberg)
  



• 
  Brunelle, Eugene C.
  




• 
  Cameron, Beverly A. (Martin)
  



• 
  Cardone, Alexander F.
  



• 
  Carter, George Wall




• 
  Charbonneau, Irene A.
  



• 
  Cross, Patricia Ann
  




• Doherty, Adian M. (Meany)
  




• 
  Egan, John T. "Jack"
  



• 
  Foster, Angela F. "Nellie" (Misterka)




• 
  Genander Sr., Lawrence
  



• 
  Klimek, Marjorie T.
  




• Lapointe, Jeannette T.
  




• 
  LaValley, Norman I.
  



• 
  Machado, Alzira




• 
  Minor, Horton
  



• 
  Murray, Joan R. (Jubinville)
  




• Nacsin, Juanita (Looney)
  




• 
  Nadeau, Benoit
  



• 
  Niland, Elizabeth "Betsi" (Axton)




• 
  Phillips, Ronald
  



• 
  Pianovich, Matushka Joanna
  




• Reyes, Herminia
  




• 
  Richburg, Donald E.
  



• 
  Santos, Celeste M.




• 
  Surprenant, Gilbert J.
  



• 
  Vetterling Sr., Donald E.
  




• Walsh, John Patrick
  




• 
  Wellman, Ann T. (Wierzbowski)
  



• 
  Wrona, Stephen T.

The lack of snow coupled with rain and fog, contributed to the drop in attendance.

File photo by Michael Beswick / The RepublicanThis display is seen at the entrance to Forest Park earlier this year.

SPRINGFIELD – Attendance fell by nearly 5 percent for the 2011 edition of Bright Nights.

Officials say, though, that the holiday lighting display at Forest Park, now 17 years old, remains a bright and enduring tradition.

“This year, there was a total lack of snow during the event, two nights of heavy rain, and one night of dense fog,” said Judith A. Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield. “That night alone, we lost 700 cars from the same night in 2010.”

Spirit of Springfield, the private non-profit group that presents Bright Nights, is nonetheless pleased with the latest season’s turnout. The event ran for 36 nights and attracted 37,307 cars and 297 buses, reflecting a decline of 1,799 cars and 12 buses from 2010.

The organizers were faced with significant challenges, including the late October freak snowstorm that caused damage but did not delay the event, and the less than ideal weather, Matt said.

The October storm and some concerns the display would not open on time may have caused some people not to go to Bright Nights this year, she said.

In addition, there was a $3 price increase for cars. The price was $18 on Monday through Thursday, and $21 for weekends and holidays.

There were 5,295 Big Y coupons redeemed for Bright Nights that ranged in price from $13 to $15.

Spirit of Springfield was pleased that the decline in attendance was just 4.6 percent, given “the obstacles and challenges we faced this year,” Matt said.

The busiest nights were two Saturdays with 1,819 cars on Dec. 10, and 1,942 cars on Dec. 17.

Bright Nights has continued to be a successful event, Matt said. While she provided a summary of funds paid to the city for the event, Matt declined to provide The Republican with revenue estimates.

“At this time I cannot provide you with revenue figures as they have not been verified,” Matt said. “The board has not reviewed them.”

In 2010, Spirit of Springfield reported $534,273 in program revenues for Bright Nights, $87,239 for the Bright Nights Ball and $14,604 for the Bright Nights Road Race, according to its Internal Revenue Service Form 990 report.

For the just completed event, Spirit of Springfield is paying the city an annual rental fee of $55,000 for the use of Forest Park and $125,000 for the use of a municipal Parks Department crew of six workers. The crew works before and after Bright Nights to set up and dismantle the 2.5-mile display illuminated by 650,000 lights.

In addition, Bright Nights estimates it spent $40,000 to hire police officers and $5,000 for a Department of Public Works crew to put up traffic cones nightly.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno praised the efforts of Spirit of Springfield and the city’s Parks and Facilities Department for its work on Bright Nights.

“Springfield is put on the map with this truly dazzling holiday light display,” Sarno said. “From young to old, Bright Nights puts a twinkle in the eye and a smile on your face.”

Patrick J. Sullivan, the city’s parks director, said the dismantling of the display is scheduled for completion by mid-March. The event has been a source of enjoyment for many years, Sullivan said.

The prior year’s attendance in 2010 was helped by more favorable weather and some significant improvements to the display, Matt said. This year’s attendance results were affected by many people who returned with “Come Back” passes that were provided free. The passes were issued because it was unknown if the display would open on time due to damage, or if people would be disappointed, Matt said.

Damaged pieces which now need to be replaced are two arches from the Blizzard Tunnel in the North Pole Village, the General Store in Victorian Village, the Triceratops mom in Jurassic World, and a leaping deer arch in Winter Woods. The crew was able to repair several other dinosaurs, a large, horse-drawn wagon display and other pieces.

Spirit of Springfield plans to continue improving the display by replacing more of the light bulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting, Matt said. In addition, it plans to repaint and rebulb another large display piece and replace pieces that were destroyed in the October snowstorm, she said.

An Italian Coast Guard officials saids he holds a “glimmer of hope” that some of the missing might have survived.

View full sizePhoto by Gregorio Borgia / Associated PressThe cruise ship Costa Concordia leans on its side Monday after running aground near the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Friday.

ROME – Italian coast guard officials say the number of people missing from the shipwrecked Costa Concordia cruise liner has risen to 29.

A top coast guard official, Marco Brusco, said on state TV that 25 passengers and four crew members are unaccounted for three days after the ship crashed into a reef off the Tuscan coast and capsized.

Earlier in the day that number stood at 16.

Brusco didn’t immediately explain the rise.

But at least three Italian families have said that even though their loved ones have been listed among those safely evacuated, they hadn’t heard any word from their relatives.

Brusco indicated about 10 Germans were among the 29 missing. He says he holds a “glimmer of hope” that some of the missing might have survived.

The new committees will assist in technology planning; selection of furniture, fixtures and equipment; community outreach; and construction of the school at the corner of Ashley and Cross streets.

WESTFIELD – The School Building Committee has appointed four subcommittees to assist with the workload and ensure community input during construction of a $36 million elementary school.

The new committees will assist in technology planning; selection of furniture, fixtures and equipment; community outreach and construction of the school at the corner of Ashley and Cross streets.

“There will be some cross over of interest and responsibilities as we move forward with construction and the sub-committees begin work,” said School Committee member Kevin J. Sullivan.

“Each group has an area of focus but each plays an important role in the overall goal in building the new school,” Sullivan added.

The subcommittee will bring recommendations to the full 30-member building committee and work closely with project manager Paul H. Kneedler.

Construction is expected to begin in about three months with completion of the project scheduled for September 2014.

Sullivan, along with School Committee members Cynthia A. Sullivan, no relation, and William Duval will lead the Community Outreach Subcommittee. They are joined by Franklin Avenue School principal Leslie Clark Yvon, Francis St. Peter and Vera Dunley.

That committee will ensure that parents and teachers remain involved in the building process. It will oversee time schedules and updates for the community in dealing with any student and staff realignments resulting from the completion and opening of the new school and it will oversee any public hearings required for such things as redistricting.

Sullivan said information on the School Department website will help to keep residents informed on the progress of construction and other matters related to the opening of a new school.

Houle will retire as principal of Mapleshade Elementary School, and Fletcher will retire as principal of Meadow Brook Elementary School.

File photosMeadow Brook Elementary School principal Judith Fletcher, left, and Mapleshade Elementary School principal Brenda Houle will retire at the end of the school year.

EAST LONGMEADOW – The School Department will soon conduct two searches to replace elementary school principals Judith A. Fletcher and Brenda S. Houle, who are retiring in June.

“There will be a big void when they are gone,” said Superintendent of Schools Gordon C. Smith.

Both women have had long careers in education and many of those years were spent in the East Longmeadow Public Schools, Smith said.

Houle will retire as principal of Mapleshade Elementary School which has third to fifth grade students and Fletcher will retire as principal of Meadow Brook Elementary School, which has 600 students from pre-school to second grade.

Smith announced the retirements during last week’s School Committee meeting. He said members of the committee will be expected to participate in searches for both principals.

School Committee Chairman Gregory Thompson said both women have contributed greatly to the school system and will be missed. He will be serving on the committee for the Meadowbrook principal search.

School Committee member Elizabeth Marsian-Boucher said she has always been impressed with the job done by both women and specifically mentioned Fletcher’s dedication to her students.

“I remember when she started at the school and I thought she could not possibly remember every student and a week later she had learned all of their names,” Marsian-Boucher said.

Fletcher was hired as principal of Meadowbrook in 2002. She came to Meadowbrook after 27 years in the Holyoke schools, the last five as the principal at the White Elementary School.

Houle was hired in 2008 after serving as principal at Overlook Middle School in Ashburnham. She has been a teacher and administrator for more than 30 years.

The department hopes to hire new principals by the end of this school year, Smith said.

The only power a youth member would have on the council would be to speak on issues during meetings.

Holyoke Ward 4 Councilor Jason P. Ferreira

HOLYOKE – The City Council on Tuesday night will consider a proposal to add a nonvoting youth member to the council similar to student representatives on the School Committee.

But the idea might die in discussion.

The council meeting is at 7 p.m. at City Hall in City Council Chambers.

Ward 4 Councilor Jason P. Ferreira has proposed adding the youth seat in the interest of engaging more of the community in the business of the 15-member City Council.

“It’s something that I wanted to do right away. The idea behind it is to engage the young people in our community,” said Ferreira, who began his first term on the council Jan. 3.

The seat would be open to residents younger than 18 who would submit applications from which the council would choose a member. The sole authority of a youth member would be to speak during council meetings, he said.

He was hopeful the proposal would be sent to committee for discussion, he said.

But council President Kevin A. Jourdain said Ferreira’s proposal, while well-intentioned, is impractical and possibly illegal without seeking changes to the city charter or ordinances.

“That’s OK for the School Committee, where we have a high school representative or something, but I don’t think a 14- or 15-year-old is ready to have his own seat to talk about the tax rate or something,” Jourdain said.

The council represents the whole community, so a seat from a particular group is unnecessary, he said.

Mayor Alex B. Morse said he supports Ferreira’s proposal, having himself been a representative on the School Committee when he attended Holyoke High School.

"Fire officials are concerned about brush fires not only now with bare ground, but in the spring if we don't get adequate moisture from snow in the next few months," state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said.

File photo | The Republican04.24.2008 | Springfield Fire Lt. Patrick Keough douses a hot spot in the woods off Michon Street in the city's Indian Orchard section.

It’s a triple threat.

On June 1, tornadoes carved a 39-mile swath through Hampden and Worcester counties and toppled thousands of trees that still lie where they fell.

Then in October, an out-of-season snowstorm brought millions more branches to the ground throughout Western Massachusetts.

Now, a lack of winter snow has left the debris drying and uncovered, and fire officials are worried that out-of-control brush fires will break out during the state open burning season, which began Sunday.

Usually, these concerns are voiced in the spring, but this winter, which has been almost snow-free, has prompted the warning to come two months early, especially given the large amount of dry wood debris – debris that residents will want to burn – that was left from the October nor'easter, and, in some towns, the June tornadoes.

The burning season runs until May 1 and most fire departments require a permit to burn or notification from residents first. Burning is not allowed in cities such as Springfield, West Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke.

Said State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan, "Open burning always presents the risk of uncontrolled fires and we typically see that in the month of March when the snow pack has melted and the dry grass from last summer is laid bare. Under normal weather conditions, we could expect snow cover in January and the threat of brush fires would not be an immediate concern. We always ask people to exercise caution during open burning season, but it is important to exercise great care now with the increased risk of brush fires so early in the season."

Coan added, "Fire officials are concerned about brush fires not only now with bare ground, but in the spring if we don't get adequate moisture from snow in the next few months."

Monson Fire Chief George L. Robichaud and Palmer Fire Chief Alan J. Roy recently voiced their concerns about the potential for brush fires during a joint meeting at Palmer fire headquarters. The snow that fell in some communities last week is mostly gone. Once the ground dries, brush fires again will be a concern, Roy said.

"I don't see any snow predicted ... Even a light snow cover is better than nothing," Roy said.

“This could turn into another event like we’ve never seen before,” Robichaud said. “Just be patient and wait until there is snow cover.”

The Republican | Lori StabilePalmer fire chief Alan J. Roy, left, and Monson fire chief George L. Robichaud, right, talk about brush fire concerns.

In addition to the October snowstorm damage, Westfield, West Springfield, Springfield, Wilbraham, Monson and Brimfield have the added problem of the tornado that struck on June 1, which left its own trail of wood debris in its destructive path.

Brimfield Fire Chief Frederick Piechota said he also realizes that people are eager to burn, but that three to four inches of snow on the ground would be a good barrier.

Said Robichaud, “We’re looking at the safety and well-being of the citizens and their property, just because of the magnitude of the fire-load. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.”

Robichaud said he has seen enormous brush piles the size of a mobile home, which require extra caution during burning. He is concerned about what will happen once they are ignited.

“Some of the piles are just huge ... There is the potential for people who are going to burn this year and who haven’t done it in the past and haven’t realized the potential of something bad or really catastrophic happening,” Robichaud said.

“If you get one of those piles going, it’s going to be hard to put out, I don’t care who you are,” Robichaud added.

Residents may not realize how fast a fire can spread, how wind can suddenly pick up, and how quickly some wood, such as pine, goes up in flames, they said.

Robichaud and Roy advise those who plan on burning to have extra assistance on hand – “Don’t do it alone,” Robichaud cautioned. They also need to have a distance of more than 75 feet between the pile they want to burn and any structure, as well as an adequate water supply ready, such as a garden hose. And if a fire starts growing out of control, don’t wait to call 911, they said.

Burning only is allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and stumps, logs and trees should not be burned, according to state regulations.

The chiefs also will not issue burning permits if conditions are too windy.

With so much storm damage, the chiefs anticipate that access could be an issue, if a fire were to get out of control. Some cart roads are blocked by fallen trees, and dangling branches could create other hazards. They also have small departments with limited manpower, which could make responding to a massive fire difficult.

Back in the early 1980s, a wildfire on Peaked Mountain in Monson burned more than 100 acres. More than 300 firefighters responded, and the fire lasted a week. Its cause was never determined, but the chiefs think it was caused by a hunter who discarded a cigarette.

Property owners also can be held accountable if they are determined to be negligent in their burning, the chiefs said.

Roy cautioned that people need to use extra care with embers, and pointed to the recent tragic fire in Stamford, Conn., that killed two adults and their three grandchildren. Discarded fireplace embers caused the fire.

“That’s the sneaky thing about embers,” Roy said, “you think they’re out, but they’re not.”

“We are sympathetic. We would like to see the debris cleaned up just as much as anyone, but it has to be the right time to do it,” Robichaud said. “People have got to be patient.”

“This is our fire prevention class,” Roy added.

Neffinger anticipates having a new police chief on board by the end of March to replace Thomas Burke, who is retiring.

File photo | The RepublicanWest Springfield Police Chief Thomas E. Burke is schedule to retire by the end of March.

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger is not hiring three potential patrolmen recommended for the police department by the previous administration.

Neffinger said Monday he wants to postpone hirings until he can work with whoever replaces Police Chief Thomas E. Burke. Burke is scheduled to retire in March.

The three men recommended for hiring by the Public Safety Commission and former Mayor Edward J. Gibson are John McCarthy, John Wolowicz and Daniel Stuck.

“My feeling is we will have a new police chief coming in by the end of March and I want the new chief to decide what kind of complement of officers he wants,” Neffinger said.

Asked whether that means more or fewer officers, Neffinger said “There could more. There could be less. There could be the same.”

Gregory Neffinger

As to whether there will be a search committee to advise him in replacing Burke, who is a Civil Service chief, the mayor said the effort is still in its preliminary stages and no advertisements have been made. However, he did say there will be input from the Public Safety Commission.

Burke has been chief since May of 1992.

He was allowed to work beyond age 65, the mandatory retirement age for police chiefs set by the state, because the city got a waiver from the Legislature permitting him two additional years. Burke will turn 67 March 13.

Gibson sought the waiver, arguing that the city needed Burke’s police and budgetting expertise during a recession. The mayor also noted that the timeline would allow for the training of his replacement.

Burke has been on the local police force since 1970. He could not be reached for comment.

Nearly 66 percent of those polled strongly disapprove of Congress.

By PAUL KANE and JON COHEN
Washington Post

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Washington on Tuesday to begin an election-year work session with low expectations for any significant legislative action, while also receiving even lower approval ratings for themselves.

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that a record 84 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing, with almost two-thirds saying they “disapprove strongly.“ Just 13 percent of Americans approve of how things are going after the 112th Congress’s first year of action, solidifying an unprecedented level of public disgust that has both sides worried about their positions less than 10 months before voters decide their fates.

It has been nearly four years since even 30 percent expressed approval of Congress, according to the Post-ABC survey, and support hasn’t recovered from the historic low it reached last fall.

In the face of the public dismay, House Republicans and Senate Democrats are fashioning less far-reaching agendas for the year ahead, in part to avoid the bitter political showdowns of 2011 and also to best position themselves for the fall elections.

Because of reelection politics, the second session for any Congress is traditionally less ambitious than the first because lawmakers are campaigning and therefore generally spend less time in Washington. This year’s legislative business, however, will take place in the shadow of $5 trillion in deficit reduction achieved through tax increases and spending cuts that are scheduled to take effect next Jan. 1 . The move was triggered by an unsuccessful effort by a congressional “supercommittee“ last fall to reach a compromise on the federal deficit and expiring George W. Bush-era tax cuts.

The expectation is that fiscal issues will again be the central battleground in the presidential and congressional elections. If voters clearly embrace one party’s position over the other’s, it could tilt negotiations on a broader tax-and-spending deal in a lame-duck session after the elections or in early 2013.

In the meantime, with the House reconvening on Tuesday and the Senate returning next week, Congress is poised to resume a series of smaller skirmishes on provisions that were temporarily extended into the new year.

Most prominent among them is President Obama’s proposal to extend a payroll tax holiday for workers through this year, an issue that hamstrung House Republicans before the holidays.

Rather than agreeing on a full-year extension, Congress reached accord only on enough offsetting spending cuts to extend the tax holiday until Feb. 29. Democrats say that puts them in the driver’s seat at the start of the new session by allowing them to resume a debate that divided Republicans, many of whom opposed the provision. Senate Democrats also hope to repeatedly push smaller-bore items focusing narrowly on particular sectors, such as highway and school construction, that would either lead to bipartisan deals or demonstrate Republican obstruction to their agenda.

“The issues that are most salient in 2012 — jobs, helping the middle class, income inequality — are much better for Democrats than last year. Overall, this is going to be a much better year for us,“ said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, of New York, the No. 3 Democratic leader.

Much of last year’s agenda focused on slashing spending ahead of critical deadlines, with the looming possibility of government shutdowns or default. Now, the government is funded for the rest of the year and the Treasury has enough borrowing authority to go into 2013, avoiding do-or-die drama in this year’s debates.

Republicans have expressed little desire to relive the fractured finale to December’s payroll-tax negotiations, which ended with the Senate approving a two-month extension of the holiday and the House initially rejecting that, before Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, forced his boisterous conference to accept the deal.

Boehner’s agenda will focus on promoting energy production and trying to ease regulations for oil and gas exploration, then funneling projected increased revenue from that growth into highway and infrastructure projects.

House Republicans are anticipating objections from Senate Democrats and Obama, hoping at least to highlight the contrasts with voters before the elections.

“In short, the House will be relentlessly focused on the issue of jobs in 2012 — with or without the cooperation of Washington Democrats,“ said Michael Steel, Boehner’s spokesman.

The payroll-holiday showdown, the last of a round of 2011 brinksmanship, ended with congressional Democrats in a stronger position, at least among their own supporters. This month, 67 percent of liberal Democrats approve of the way congressional Democrats are doing their jobs.

Congressional Republicans continue to struggle to win support from their base: Just 48 percent of conservative Republicans approve of the job their party’s representatives are doing.

With the Feb. 29 deadline approaching on the payroll tax holiday, Democrats and Republicans are less than $70 billion apart in agreeing on spending reductions or revenue increases for a full-year extension. The package also will include continuing unemployment benefits and preventing cuts in Medicare payments to doctors. According to aides in both parties, Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid, D-Nevada, would like to include about $30 billion in extensions for popular tax breaks, including the research and development credit, into the package including the payroll tax holiday.

The tax delinquent properties include the Skyplex building at Stearns Square and the KFC restaurant building on State Street.

File photo | The RepublicanThe Skyplex Entertainment Complex at Sterns Square in downtown Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD – The city is advertising a list of 735 tax-delinquent properties on Tuesday, hoping the threat of liens will spur the owners to pay nearly $1.2 million in taxes owed for fiscal year 2011.

The list of tax delinquents, which will be published in The Republican, includes $30,224 owed by the owners of the closed Skyplex nightclub building at 8-12 Stearns Square in the downtown, and $26,624 owed by the owner of the former KFC restaurant building at 632 State St., according to city records.

Treasurer-Collector Stephen J. Lonergan is threatening to place liens on the properties unless the taxes are paid in full, including interest and fees, by Jan. 31. The annual advertisements are part of the city’s aggressive effort to go after back taxes, he said.

“We hope the people see it, get in and pay,” Lonergan said. “We depend on the revenue to help run the city.”

The taxes owed the city total $1,187,890, Lonergan said. When adding in interest and fees, the amount owed is $1,386,535.

A year ago, the city advertised 741 properties that were tax-delinquent for fiscal 2010, totaling more than $1.8 million owed in taxes, interest and fees.

The taxes owed in fiscal year 2011, which ended June 30, 2011, range from under $100 to the amount owed by 8-12 Stearns Square LLC, the listed owner of the Skyplex building, according to city records. The property owners for the company are listed as Lois Maraia and Michael Kent, both of Warwick, R.I., according to state records.

The building is listed as available for sale or lease, but the owners and real estate agent could not be reached for comment on Monday.

The former business owners, Michael J. Barrasso and Steven C. Stein, did not owe the taxes and decided to close the Skyplex due to a drop in business, said their lawyer Thomas J. Rooke. They blamed the decline on concerns about crime in the downtown, he said.

The License Commission voted Dec. 29 not to renew the liquor license for the Skyplex unless the unpaid taxes were paid in full.

Regarding small amounts owed by many of the taxpayers, including amounts less than $100, it might be an oversight on the part of the taxpayer, or unpaid trash fees can also trigger liens, Lonergan said.

The city, however, sends multiple notices of the unpaid taxes including quarterly bills, a demand and a service warrant, Lonergan said.

The city lists the owner of record in the advertisement. Payments made after Jan. 10, however, are not reflected on the list.

File photo | The RepublicanThe owner of the closed KFC at 632 State St. in Springfield owes the city $26,624 in delinquent fiscal 2011 taxes.

Jesse M. Lanier of the Springfield Food System Inc. is listed as the owner of record at the vacant KFC building, at 632 State St., according to city records. There is a sign on the building, indicating the property is “available,” but a contact person could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Other properties on the tax-delinquent list include: 1099 East Columbus Ave., $22,213, and listed owner Colmar Partners LLC; and 60 Brookdale Drive, $27,635, and listed owner Lyons Real Estate.

Colmar Partners lists Carmino Bonavita of East Longmeadow and Patrick D. Quinn, of Woodland Hills, Calif., as property owners, according to state records. Lyons Real Estate lists William G. Lyons III of Springfield as property owner.

Salgo LLC is listed as the owner of record owing taxes on 18 properties totaling $23,563. The owners are listed as Salvatore F. Cangialosi and Hugo S. Bernal.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal urged his audience to follow the example of King, not just on his holiday but every day.

Photo by Michael S. Gordon / The RepublicanStudents from the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence sing,"We Shall Overcome" during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemeration at the Eastfield Mall Monday.

At Tower Square in Springfield, about 150 people watched as a troupe of youthful dancers from Dream Studios honored the memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. yesterday.

The event was one of many tributes to the martyred civil rights leader. King died in 1968. His birthday became a federal holiday in 1983.

He was born on Jan. 15, but his birthday is observed on the nearest Monday.

The dancers at Tower Square, clad in black with brightly colored sashes, ranged in age from 3 to 17. At the end of their performance, they led the public in a “peace march” up the escalator to the Pan African American History Museum on the second level of Tower Square.

There, tours of the museum continued into the afternoon and Senegalese musician Amadou Talla sang traditional folk songs.

Also in Springfield, Eastfield Mall hosted its annual Martin Luther King Day celebration in conjunction with Martin Luther King Family Services in Springfield.

Choirs and dancers performed, the Boys and Girls Clubs led a rally and Boy Scouts served as Color Guard.

Guest speaker at the Eastfield Mall event was U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal. He urged his listeners to follow the example of King, not just on his holiday but every day.

King was committed to nonviolence and to service, themes that were repeated by speakers throughout the day.

Neal told his audience to ask themselves, “How can we be helping others?”

In South Hadley, people took that message seriously. On Martin Luther King Day, about 120 teen volunteers and slightly fewer adults took part in a massive food drive for the town’s Food Pantry.

The program is held over the three-day holiday weekend so volunteers can drop off empty grocery bags all over town on Friday and pick them up, filled with nonperishable food items, on Monday.

Because Martin Luther King Day is considered a national day of service, said Sue Brouillette, coordinator of the annual food drive, “it’s a perfect match.”

In Northampton, a multi-faceted event to commemorate King’s birthday has been coordinated by the American Friends Service Committee for the past 28 years.

The day begins with a historic walking tour of the Florence section, where many Black families lived in the 19th century.

Other activities took place at Edwards church, where workshops, talks and discussions on themes important to King were on the agenda.

Martin Luther King Day was also supposed to be the day for a protest by the group called Springfield No One Leaves, to prevent foreclosure and eviction at a home on Connecticut Ave. in Springfield.

Bank of America postponed the foreclosure, according to Springfield No One Leaves organizer Malcolm Chu, but a representative of the group spoke at the Edwards Church event.

There were heroes at every level of the selfless project carried out on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

View full sizeThe Republican | Dave RobackSouth Hadley High School student Hannah Rofe, right, and Michael E. Smith Middle School student Torri Londrgan sort some of estimated 3,000 bags of food collected in the town-wide "Bag the Community" food collection on Monday for the town's Neighbors Helping Neighbors food pantry.

SOUTH HADLEY – Teenagers and adults were hard at work in the cafeteria of South Hadley High School on Monday, organizing thousands of cans, jars and boxes of nonperishable food for the town’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Pantry.

They had given up their Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday to work on the three-day food drive dubbed “Bag the Community,” established last year.

As it turned out, there are heroes at every level of this selfless project. In hard times, people step up – and this year there was a hitch or two to overcome.

The Food Pantry is housed by United Methodist Church, in the Falls section, which has also provided storage for food items in reserve.

Well, not this year. Forget the storage. Right before Christmas, the roof of the church caved in – right in the middle of a service. Pastor Peter Malloy had barely been there six months.

Several congregants rushed upstairs to check the damage, which turned out to be a broken truss. Then they all went down to the basement to finish praying and call the Fire Department. These days the pastor is conducting services at the nearby Masonic Lodge, and the roof above the main section of the church has yet to be fixed.

Fortunately, the Food Pantry is located in another wing of the church, a part so safe that children still meet there for their Bible classes. But the sanctuary where hundreds of food items were stored – well, that’s history for now.

Then up stepped William Johnson of Hampshire Towing. He offered a truck and all the storage space the people from Bag the Community could want.

“He was so generous,” said Susan Brouillette, coordinator of Bag the Community. “We didn’t even ask him. He learned of the problem and said, ‘I can help.’”

“It was the right thing to do,” said Johnson.

Seems everyone did the right thing – and more.

Bag the Community was scheduled for the three-day Martin Luther King holiday weekend. The holiday itself is described as a “national day of service” which makes it a perfect match for the South Hadley project, said Brouillette.

Teams of volunteers set out on Saturday morning to leave thousands of empty grocery bags at homes all over South Hadley, each with a note explaining the program. On Monday morning, the same group of volunteers shows up to collect the filled bags.

And were they filled! Even in these tight times, people were generous.

“We passed out 3,300 bags of food, and we got back maybe 5,000,” said Brouillette. “It’s a shocking number. Not only did we get bags of food, but some people had even stapled a check to the bag!”

“It’s just phenomenal,” said Carol Isakson, director of the Food Pantry.

Organizers were also impressed by those who volunteered their time. “None of these people have to be here,” said Brouillette as she watched people loading up boxes on Monday afternoon. The cars had set out at 10 a.m. and nobody had to be there after noon.

But there they were, working away – 123 students, and adult volunteers from Neighbors Helping Neighbors and many other parts of the community, including town government, the schools, the Food Bank, the church, the volunteer group called “Count Me In.”

Ben Fay, a senior at South Hadley High School, said he and his group had collected 30 bags that morning.

“Then we drove back and unloaded them,” said the tall young man, who recently enlisted in the Marines. “I started helping other people unload, and now I’m loading things into the tractor-trailer.”

“I love helping out,” said Rebecca Towne, a junior at South Hadley High School. “It’s a good cause.”

The food bank in South Hadley has 176 registered clients.

Committee members want to make sure finishing work on School Street Park does not go over $2.5 million.

Republican file photo

AGAWAM – The Community Preservation Committee has recommended using $2 million of its funds to secure a $500,000 state grant to finish developing School Street Park.

The committee voted 7-1 last week to go that route, and the matter will now go the City Council, which has final say over how the money is appropriated.

The committee took its vote following more than an hour of lively debate, much of it focused on trying to make sure the project does not exceed $2.5 million. Members agreed to stipulate that the funding will be contingent on the City Council and the Community Preservation Committee approval final plans.

“Let’s finish what we started,” Thomas H. Tierney, a member of the preservation committee, said in arguing to fund the $2 million request from the Parks and Recreation Department. “We have an opportunity to get a half million dollars from the state by funding the project.”

Parks and Recreation director Christopher Sparks told the committee that he is confident the city will get a $500,000 Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant from the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs if it approves his department’s $2 million request.

Committee members briefly considered asking the City Council to bond to get money to finish the park project, but dropped that idea after city councilors George Bitzas and Dennis J. Perry advised them against that. They said bonding would end up costing the city more because of borrowing costs.

The final phase of the project may include open space covered with picnic shelters, a volleyball court, a playground, a spray park, rest room facilities, parking for more than 200 cars, a band shell, a multi-use field, an educational wetland overlook and maintenance facilities.

The second phase of the project would also provide additional athletic fields for lacrosse, field hockey and soccer.

In 2002, the city purchased 50.6 acres of land to the north of School Street and to the west of River Road for use as School Street Park. The property was formerly owned by Hampden County and referred to as the County Prison Farm. In 2008, the city finished developing 30 acres of the site, including a softball diamond, a multi-use field, a baseball diamond, bocce courts, shuffleboard courts, a playground, parking for 214 cars, buffers for abutters, a walkway-bike path and rest rooms.

The chamber has a new legislativie committee to work more closely with city officials.

Photo by Diane Lederman / The RepublicanPatrick Brough is the new president of the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce.

EASTHAMPTON – With the start of 2012, the new Chamber of Commerce president is hoping for a more cooperative relationship with city officials so they can boost business in town together.

Over the past year, the “chamber has felt at times there has been an adversarial relationship between the chamber and the city government. We’re here to reach out and change that direction,” Patrick Brough told the council at its first meeting of the year last week.

Brough will be sworn in as the new president of the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce later this month.

He told the council there is a new legislative committee at the chamber and members will be attending as many meetings and committee meetings as they can as well as meeting with individuals “to bring forth new and innovative ideas” that would support business growth and development.

During an interview later, Brough said he thinks in recent months there has been an improvement in the chamber-council relationship and he said he wasn’t intending to criticize but focus “on moving forward.” He said the chamber “wants to be more politically active more of a voice for business members.”

Still Brough said some think the city “is not business friendly” and he and others want to change that perception.

He wants people to know “we’re open for business, we’re looking for you.” He said he wants people “to shop here, come and live here.”

“The chamber is another leadership group,” said new City Council president Justin P. Cobb. But sometimes the work of the council and chamber has overlapped. He agrees that both should “work together to promote new businesses coming in.” He also wants to see existing businesses stay. There “is a natural synergy” between the two organizations, he said and supports what the chamber wants to do.

He thinks, however, that the city is friendly to business.

“Look at how we do our taxes.” Taxes are $13.27 per $1,000 valuation for fiscal 2013. In Northampton, the rates are slightly more at $13.35. The rate in Amherst is $19.65 per $1,000.

Cobb said councilors on their own “encourage (that) Easthampton is a great place.”

Brough said they’d like to establish a connection with one member as a liaison and Chester Ogulewicz, Jr., who won a seat on the council in November, has said he would be wiling to serve in that role.

Personally, Cobb said he would support that if that’s what the chamber wants. “My preference is a single point of contact.” He believes having one person is more effective.

“I think we’re all on the same playing field,” Cobb said of the council and chamber.

The council, meanwhile, approved funding an assistant planner position and part of Benjamin Webb’s duties will be economic development, said Mayor Michael A. Tautznik. Webb began earlier this month.

The mayor said, though, that everyone is involved in promoting the city.
But he pointed out that “business is not the only thing we should be looking at.
“Businesses tend to have a loud voice,” he said.

He believes that officials when promoting the city need to look at the whole picture and its people and the arts are a big piece of that.

“You should work together on things you work together on,” he said. But he pointed out “government’s role is more than their relationship with the business community.”

A resident of Houston and of Shelburne, where her family lives, Coleman returned in May from a six-month mission to the International Space Station.

Catherine Coleman

GREENFIELD – Ask NASA astronaut Catherine G. “Cady” Coleman where she lives, and she pauses.

“Some of my heart lives in the space station still,” replies the retired Air Force colonel and a veteran of three space flights.

A resident of Houston and of Shelburne, where her family lives, Coleman returned in May from a six-month mission to the International Space Station as part of the Expedition 26 and 27 crews, launching and landing in Kazakhstan aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket. Her international crew of six – for which she was the science officer – hosted a record number of supply ships and space shuttles.

Though NASA retired the shuttle in 2011, the nation’s space program is not over, Coleman emphasizes. “The space station is still there and still busy developing technology and spacecraft necessary to go to other planets and explore the universe we live in,” she said in an interview last week.

Because the United States no longer has its own “taxi” to the space station, American astronauts get there via the Russian Soyuz program, she said.

Coleman, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Massachusetts at Amherst graduate, will speak about her experiences living in space at the first Franklin County Chamber of Commerce breakfast of the new year on Jan. 27, at the Greenfield Corporate Center, 101 Munson St.

The space station is the size of a 747 aircraft and orbits the Earth 16 times a day, traveling at 17,500 miles per hour, or about five miles a second.

“It’s significant that we have people living in space,” Coleman said. “I was lucky to be one of them.”

Acknowledging that it’s a dangerous mission, she said it is important to do.

“We’re demonstrating and learning how people can live in space so we can venture to other places like Mars safely,” she said. Her team took with them new modules, experiments and supplies to the space station, which is certified to operate through 2020.

Coleman, a polymer scientist, participated in many of the 150 experiments aboard the space station in the areas of fluid physics, material science, technology demonstration and human physiology.

Among the areas of study of the human body were osteoporosis and cardiac function. Osteoporosis – the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density – takes place about 12 times faster in space, she explained, adding that the heart does not work as hard in space because of weightlessness.

“I’m very proud of what I do,” said Coleman, who is 51. “I feel very privileged to do it.” She was proud to be part of a team that launched the Chandra X-ray Telescope, specially designed to detect X-ray emission from very hot regions of the universe.

Among the skills she brings to a mission are facilitation skills, she said, adding that on one mission she controlled a robotic arm to capture a supply ship, a feat accomplished only once before.

In the future, Coleman would like to see a world space program with more than the 16 countries in the current international space program. “It’s important to include all the skills different cultures bring,” she commented.

She would also like to see exploration of other planets; “Mars is the most logical candidate,” she said. “I don’t think that will be soon, but it is definitely coming. It takes a lot of patience to be prepared.”

Children and young persons often are inspired by the space program to pursue a career in it, so Coleman encourages students to study math, science, engineering, reading, writing, languages and art, courses of study she said “grow” scientists and engineers for the space program.

“Our gift and our charter as part of the space program – as well as the benefits of what we learn – is the fact we inspire people to be more educated” to explore space and make scientific advances on Earth.

While living in space, Coleman never tired of looking at the Earth from 250 miles above.

“Massachusetts is very easy to see from space (because of the distinguishing feature of Cape Cod). It’s quite beautiful,” she said. “I feel very much from Western Massachusetts even though I don’t spend every day there.”

Reservations for the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce breakfast must be made by Jan. 23. Breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude by 9 a.m.

Romney defended his record as a venture capitalist, insisted he bears no responsibility for attack ads aired by his allies and grudgingly said he might release his income tax returns this spring.

By DAVID ESPO | AP Special Correspondent

View full sizeAssociated PressRepublican presidential candidates, from left to right: Texas Gov. Rick Perry; former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum; former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, pose for a photo at the start of the South Carolina Republican presidential candidate debate Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Under heavy debate pressure from his rivals, Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney defended his record as a venture capitalist, insisted he bears no responsibility for attack ads aired by his allies and grudgingly said in a campaign debate Monday night he might release his income tax returns this spring.

"I have nothing in them that suggests there's any problem and I'm happy to do so," he said. "I sort of feel like we're showing a lot of exposure at this point," he added.

Romney came under criticism from Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum across two hours in the first of a pair of debates in the run-up to this weekend's first-in-the-South primary in South Carolina. The former Massachusetts governor won the first two events of the campaign, the Iowa caucuses and last week's New Hampshire primary, leads in the pre-primary polls in South Carolina and won an endorsement from campaign dropout Jon Huntsman earlier in the day.

Gingrich has virtually conceded that a victory for Romney in South Carolina would assure his nomination as Democratic President Barack Obama's Republican rival in the fall, and none of the other remaining contenders has challenged that conclusion.

That only elevated the stakes for Monday night's debate, feisty from the outset as former House Speaker Gingrich, Texas Gov. Perry and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum sought to knock Romney off stride while generally being careful to wrap their criticism in anti-Obama rhetoric.

"We need to satisfy the country that whoever we nominate has a record that can stand up to Barack Obama in a very effective way," said Gingrich.

The five men on stage also sought to outdo one another in calling for lower taxes.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul won that competition handily, saying he thought the top personal tax rate should be zero.

In South Carolina, a state with a heavy military presence, the tone turned muscular at times.

Gingrich drew strong applause when he said: "Andrew Jackson had a pretty clear idea about America's enemies. Kill them."

Perry also won favor from the crowd when he said the Obama administration had overreacted in its criticism of the Marines who were videotaped urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

The former House speaker and Perry led the assault against Romney's record at Bain Capital, a private equity firm that bought companies and sought to remake them into more competitive enterprises, with uneven results.

"There was a pattern in some companies ... of leaving them with enormous debt and then within a year or two or three having them go broke," Gingrich said. "I think that's something he ought to answer."

Perry referred to a steel mill in Georgetown, S.C. where, he said, "Bain swept in, they picked that company over and a lot of people lost jobs there."

Romney said that the steel industry was battered by unfair competition from China. As for other firms, he said, "Four of the companies that we invested in ... ended up today having some 120,000 jobs.

"Some of the businesses we invested in were not successful and lost jobs," he acknowledged.

It was Perry who challenged Romney, a multimillionaire, to release his income tax returns. The Texas governor said he has already done so, adding he believes Gingrich will do likewise later in the week.

"Mitt, we need for you to release your income tax so the people of this country can see how you made your money. ... We cannot fire our nominee in September. We need to know now."

Later, a debate moderator pressed Romney on releasing his tax returns.

His answer was anything but crisp.

"But you know if that's been the tradition I'm not opposed to doing that. Time will tell. But I anticipate that most likely I'm going to get asked to do that in the April time period and I'll keep that open," he said.

Prodded again, he said, "I think I've heard enough from folks saying look, you know, let's see your tax records. I have nothing in them that suggests there's any problem and I'm happy to do so. I sort of feel like we're showing a lot of exposure at this point, and if I become our nominee and what's happened in history is people have released them in about April of the coming year and that's probably what I'd do."

Afterward, Gingrich said that wasn't good enough. "If there's nothing there, why is he waiting till April?" the former House speaker told reporters.

Santorum stayed away from the clash over taxes, instead starting a dispute of his own. He said a campaign group supporting Romney has been attacking him for supporting voter rights for convicted felons, and asked Romney what his position was on the issue.

Romney initially ducked a direct answer, preferring to ask Santorum if the ad was accurate.

He then said he doesn't believe convicted violent felons should have the right to vote, even after serving their terms. Santorum instantly said that as governor of Massachusetts, Romney hadn't made any attempt to change a law that permitted convicted felons to vote while still on parole, a law that the former Pennsylvania senator said was more liberal than the one he has been assailed for supporting.

Romney replied that as Republican governor, he was confronted with a legislature that was heavily Democratic and held a different position.

He also reminded Santorum that candidates have no control over the campaign groups that have played a pivotal role in the race to date.

"It is inaccurate," Santorum said of the ad assailing him, seeking the last word. "I would go out and say, 'Stop it. That you're representing me and you're representing my campaign. Stop it.'"

That issue returned more than an hour later, when Gingrich said he, too, faces false attacks from the same group that is criticizing Santorum. He noted that Romney says he lacks sway over the group, "which makes you wonder how much influence he would have if he were president."

Romney said he hoped no group would run inaccurate ads, and he said the organization backing Gingrich was airing a commercial that is so false that "it's probably the biggest hoax since bigfoot."

He called for scuttling the current system of campaign finance laws to permit individuals to donate as much money as they want to the candidates of their choice.

Noting that the debate was occurring on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one moderator asked Gingrich if his previous statements about poor children lacking a work ethic were "insulting to all Americans, but particularly to black Americans?

"No," he said emphatically, adding his aim was to break dependence on government programs.

"I'm going to continue to find ways to help poor people learn how to get a job, learn to get a better job and learn someday to own the job," he said.

Romney is the leader in the public opinion polls in South Carolina, although his rivals hope the state's 9.9 percent unemployment rate and the presence of large numbers of socially conservative evangelical voters will allow one of them to slip by him.

Huntsman was the second campaign dropout to endorse Romney, after former Minnesota Gov. Tom Pawlenty. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who quit after a last-place finish in Iowa, has not yet said which of the remaining contenders she supports. Herman Cain, who left the race in December after facing allegations of sexual impropriety, has promised an endorsement soon.

Huntsman's parting announcement included a reference to the differences he and Romney had. But he left the podium without responding to questions about his remark last week, in the run-up to the New Hampshire primary, that Romney was unelectable and out of touch.

It was unclear why Romney did not attend the announcement. He was in town for a later campaign appearance and then the debate.

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont in Columbia and Beth Fouhy in Myrtle Beach contributed to this report.

Those signs will be replaced, the city’s outgoing Department of Public Works superintendent said.

Photo by Mark M. Murray / The RepublicanWest Springfield Department of Public Works officials plan to replace these two badly faded overhead signs near the Morgan-Sullivan bridge in West Springfield.

Question: The city plans to replace Two traffic signs at the West Springfield end of the Agawam-West Springfield bridge are severely faded. These overhead signs face the traffic approaching from Agawam.

I’ve called West Springfield officials more than once during the last few years and was told each time that the signs would be corrected. The signs still haven’t been touched to this day.

The traffic sign in the right lane reads: “Right Lane: Stop on red. Go on green.” The sign in the left lane reads: “Left only” but the word “left” isn’t actually spelled out. An arrow is used instead.

– Mike Marieb,
Agawam

Answer: The signs at the Morgan-Sullivan bridge are, indeed, faded, Jack Dowd, West Springfield’s public works superintendent said after taking a swing by the area.

New signs will be ordered and put up right after they arrive, he said.

Dowd said his department has no record of anyone complaining about the signs before.