The bridge is expected to reopen to traffic by fall of next year.

File photo by Don Treeger / The RepublicanThe Pochassic Street bridge is seen in 2000, the year the state reduced the weight limit on it from 9 tons to 6 tons.

WESTFIELD – Reconstruction of Pochassic Street Bridge, closed for the past two years, is scheduled to begin this spring with completion and reopening to traffic sometime next year.

State and city officials announced Tuesday that R. Bates & Sons of Clinton is the apparent low bidder for the project, which represents a main artery to Drug Store Hill neighborhoods, at $2.7 million. The project will be financed with federal and state funding.

“It is all good news and addresses another area of traffic aggravation,” Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said.

State Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, said “Residents in the Prospect Hill and Wyben neighborhoods, as well as businesses in the north end and downtown rely on this bridge for convenient access to city services and customers.”

State Rep. Donald F. Humason, R-Westfield, added “the past two years demonstrated the importance of this bridge and reconstruction will ease traffic congestion on the north side.”

The state Department of Transportation closed the bridge with short notice in January 2010, during Knapik’s first week as mayor, because of structural deterioration.

Its closing cut off direct traffic flow to the that area of the city, forcing residents and motorists to detour to Notre Dame Street off North Elm Street to access that area of the city.

Pochassic Street Bridge is located immediately north of the $57 million Great River Bridge construction and reconstruction project that has been underway for the past four years.

Funds representing 80 percent federal and 20 percent state are allocated in the Pioneer Valley Region’s 2011 Transportation Improvement Plan.

Preliminary work at the bridge is expected to begin in April and completion is expected by the fall of 2013, the mayor said.

Two state police task forces began investigating Boucher after determining child pornography had been downloaded from a peer-to-peer website to his computer.

Brian Turner (Creative Commons)

BELCHERTOWN - Christopher Boucher, 43, of Ware, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Eastern Hampshire District Court to a single count of possession of child pornography, subsequent offense.

Boucher, of 36 West St., Apt. 1, was convicted of the same charge in 2001 and is classified as a level 2 sex offender by the state Sex Offender Registry Board, according to the office of Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan.

Judge Laurie McLeod ordered him held on $2,500 cash bail or $25,000 personal surety. He is due back in court on Feb. 29 for a probable cause hearing.

Boucher was arrested as a result of a joint investigation by two separate state police units, the Child Sexual Predator and the Internet Crimes Against Children task forces.
The investigation got under way when it was determined child pornography had been downloaded from a peer-to-peer website to a computer that was traced back to Boucher's address, Sullivan's office said.

Police executed a search warrant shortly after 5 p.m. Monday and Boucher was taken into custody when it was determined the computer contained a video file of a young girl performing a sex act on an adult man, Sullivan's office said.

An unexpected drop in consumer confidence, however, was blamed for dragging the Dow down just under 21 points on the final day of the month.

Photo by Damian Dovarganes / Associated PressUPS store employee, Lin Fordham, measures an antique vitrine cabinet for specialized shipping at The UPS Store in the Lake Balboa area of Los Angeles Monday. UPS announced Tuesday that its fourth-quarter net income slid because of an accounting charge, but its adjusted results topped Wall Street's expectations.

By PALLAVI GOGOI

NEW YORK – It’s the best start for stocks in 15 years.

In what was mostly a slow and steady climb, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 3.4 percent in January and the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 4.4 percent, the best performances for both indexes to open a year since 1997.

Investors were encouraged by modest but welcome improvement in the U.S. economy, including an 8.5 percent unemployment rate, the lowest in almost three years. Corporate profits didn’t wow anyone – except Apple’s – but they were good enough.

“I don’t see anything really glamorous or tremendous about the economy or earnings,” said Jerry Harris, chief investment strategist at the brokerage Sterne Agee. “But I think they’re very acceptable, and things are grinding along.”

An unexpected drop in consumer confidence dragged stocks down on the final day of the month. The Dow Jones industrial average finished down 20.81 points, or 0.2 percent, at 12,632.91.

The broader market fared better. The S&P barely finished in the red, declining 0.60 point to 1,312.41. The Nasdaq composite index rose 1.90 points to close at 2,813.84. The Nasdaq gained 8 percent for the month, its best January since 2001.

In January 1997, the last time stocks had such a fast start, the S&P gained 6.1 percent. Bill Clinton was inaugurated for his second term. An Asian financial crisis and “Titanic” lay ahead. Later that year, the Dow crossed 7,000 and 8,000 for the first time.

This January, analysts said, investors had such low expectations for the economy that it was easy for things to turn out better than expected.

“There are no big surprises,” said Kim Caughey Forrest, a senior equity analyst at money manager Fort Capital Group. “That’s the kind of ho-hum economy that we are in right now.”

The Dow closed at 12,217.56 at the end of last year, then started this year with a pop – a gain of 179.82 points on opening day. It was the kind of big swing investors became accustomed to in 2011.

Since then, it’s been a quiet ascent: 19 days in a row of moves of less than 100 points. The last time the Dow had such a placid stretch was a 34-day run that started Dec. 3, 2010.

Scottrade, the online brokerage, said stock buyers outpaced sellers among its clients for the first 14 trading days of the year, Jan. 3 to Jan. 23. It also said volume was 16 percent higher than December’s average.

On Tuesday, the Dow started up 66 points after encouraging signs from Europe that Greece might finally complete a deal to cut its crushing debt, a step toward securing a critical (euro) 130 billion bailout payment.

Greece is negotiating with investors who bought its government bonds. They are expected to swap their bonds for new ones with half the face value, plus a lower interest rate and longer term of maturity.

Investors are increasingly worried that Portugal may need a similar deal with its private creditors. European leaders insist the Greek reduction is a one-time event. Portugal’s borrowing costs have risen to record highs.

The Dow lost its gains after consumer confidence fell to 61.1 in January, down from 64.8 in December. Economists had expected 68. The Conference Board said Americans are more worried about their incomes, gas prices and business conditions.

There were also signs that the housing market continues to struggle. Home prices fell in November for a third straight month in 19 of the 20 cities tracked by the S&P/Case-Shiller index. The biggest declines were in Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit.

In the commodities market, investors worried that the confidence figure was a sign of weaker demand to come, and they sold industrial metals that have prices closely tied to the economy.

Copper for March delivery dropped 3.65 cents to $3.79 per pound, and March palladium ended down $2.15 at $686.35 per ounce. April platinum fell $28.20 to $1,588.10 an ounce.

The metals ended the day down after wild swings. Traders bid up prices in morning trading, encouraged by news that European officials were making progress to contain the financial crisis there, then sold hard on the confidence number.

“This is a day that every trader takes Tums,” said George Gero, vice president at RBC Global Futures.

Precious metal prices ended the day mixed. The price of gold rose, as it often does when it looks like the economy might shrink or the dollar might lose its value. Gold for April delivery gained $6 to finish at $1,740.40 an ounce.

In the bond market, the weak U.S. economic data and uncertainty about Greece lit up demand for safe investments. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield dipped below its lowest closing level in nearly four months.

The yield on the five-year Treasury note hit a record low for the second straight day, falling to 0.71 percent.

Treasury yields have been falling since last week, when the Federal Reserve said it expected to hold interest rates near zero into late 2014, more than a year longer than its last estimate, because the economic recovery will need help.

In corporate news:

• RadioShack Corp. stock plummeted 30 percent after the company said its profit fell sharply – 11 cents to 13 cents per share for the quarter that ended in December, down from 51 cents a year earlier and less than half what Wall Street was expecting.

• Best Buy Co. Inc., one of RadioShack’s competitors, responded by falling 5.6 percent, worst in the S&P. Both companies sell and service cell phones, but demand has softened at their stores.

• Avery Dennison Corp., which makes labels and packaging materials, fell 5.6 percent after it said earnings plunged 81 percent on nearly flat sales. Its 2012 outlook was well below Wall Street expectations.

• Mattel Inc. soared 5 percent because of strong demand for Barbie and Monster High dolls during the holidays. That boosted Mattel’s fourth-quarter profit by a better-than-expected 14 percent. The company also raised its dividend.

• U.S. Steel Corp. gained 5 percent after it reported strong demand for pipes from the oil industry from October through December. The company was also optimistic about this quarter.

• Agriculture conglomerate Archer Daniels Midland declined 4.6 percent after it reported an 89 percent drop in quarterly net income. The company said its results were weighed down by weakness in oilseeds, corn processing and agricultural services.

Police, who received a call that a child wasn't breathing, said Derex had a medical condition that involved him suffering seizures.

Staff Photo by Dave RobackHolyoke police at the scene of a child death at 688 High Street in Holyoke Jan. 30. Here people react outside the building.

HOLYOKE – Derex Torres is the name of the 6-year-old boy who died apparently of natural causes Monday at 688 High St., police said Tuesday.

The cause of death has yet to be determined, but Capt. Arthur R. Monfette reiterated that foul play wasn’t suspected and that Derex had a medical condition that involved him suffering seizures.

“The child had documented medical problems. I guess the child suffered from seizures his whole life,” Monfette said.

“This is sad, a 6-year-old, but no foul play suspected. This apparently was something he was suffering with and it finally took him,” he said.

Yacnira Rivera, Derex’ mother, told police he had had seizures since he was 2 months old. At about 11 a.m. Monday, she told police, she took Derex to Holyoke Pediatric Associates on Lower Westfield Road because he had an ear ache and then brought him home and put him to bed in their fourth-floor apartment, Monfette said.

Just before 5 p.m., police got a call about a medical emergency in which Derex had a seizure and wasn’t breathing, police said.

A seizure is an uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain that may produce physical convulsion, minor physical signs, thought disturbances, or a combination of symptoms, according to MedicineNet.com, an online healthcare media publishing company.

Seizures can be caused by head injuries, brain tumors, lead poisoning, maldevelopment of the brain, genetic and infectious illnesses and fevers. In fully half of the patients with seizures, no cause can be found, the website said.

More than 440 fundraisers collected at least $75 million to help Obama win a second term.

Associated PressPresident Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event earlier this month at the Apollo Theatre in the Harlem neighborhood of New York. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

By JIM KUHNHENN and KEN THOMAS

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's re-election campaign identified its top fundraisers on Tuesday, including 61 people who each raised at least half a million dollars. Altogether, the more than 440 fundraisers collected at least $75 million to help Obama win a second term.

Among them are embattled former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine. Obama's campaign and the Democratic National Committee late last year returned $70,000 in contributions from Corzine and his wife following questions about the collapse of MF Global, the financial firm Corzine ran.

Corzine is no longer raising money for the re-election, campaign officials said.

The campaign divided the list into four groups based on how much money donors raised: $50,000-$100,000, $100,000-$200,000, $200,000 to $500,000 and those who raised more than $500,000 apiece.

The donors represent a broad network of contributors, many of them longtime Democratic Party stalwarts.

Thomas Lesser

Tom Lesser of Northampton, Mass., was listed in the $100,000-$200,000 group. Lesser is an attorney who was among the organizers of a September 2008 campaign fund-raiser in Holyoke attended by then-vice presidential nominee Joseph Biden.

The list includes two fundraisers linked to Solyndra LLC, the California solar company that received a $528 million federal loan and then later declared bankruptcy, prompting a federal investigation. Steve Spinner, an Energy Department adviser, raised at least $500,000 and Steve Westly, a venture capitalist who was an unpaid adviser to the department, raised between $200,000 and $500,000.

Though Obama rejects contributions from lobbyists, his top fundraisers include individuals involved in the business of influencing government.

Michael Kempner, among those who raised more than $500,000, is president and CEO of MWW Group, a public relations firm with a large lobbying business. Kempner himself is not a registered lobbyist.

Sally Susman, another fundraiser in the $500,000-plus category, is executive vice president for policy, external affairs and communications at Pfizer Inc., a job that includes directing the pharmaceutical giant's government relations operations.

California figured most prominently on Obama's roster of big money "bundlers." Sixteen are from California and 13 are from New York.

Top fundraisers include movie producers Jeffrey Katzenberg and Harvey Weinstein, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Actress Eva Longoria was in the second highest tier, bundling $200,000 to $500,000 for Obama's re-election.

Elizabeth Warren talked about tax reform and manufacturing during a visit to Lenox Tool in East Longmeadow.

View full size01.31.2012. EAST LONGMEADOW- Elizabeth Warren and her team were joined by State Rep. Brian Ashe, D-2nd Hampden District, and State Sen. Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham, for the tour of the 530,000-square-foot Lenox Tool factory in East Longmeadow. Sr. Manger Tim O'Brien, far right, explains the manufacturing process for band saw blades. (Staff Photo by Robert Rizzuto)

EAST LONGMEADOW - While many manufacturers in the U.S. saw another year of decline in 2011, Lenox Tools, based in East Longmeadow, saw a year of record profits.

The tool maker, purchased by Newell Rubbermaid in 2003, spent more than $50 million locally over the past three years and added dozens of jobs, according to Senior Manager Tim O'Brien. And in 2012, they are looking to hire 40 more people.

But the company's struggle, O'Brien said, has been finding people to fill the high-skill positions necessary to a 21st century manufacturer in every part of the production process.

He said they are seeking people who are comfortable working with a computer, willing to work and learn along the way.

It is in that dynamic that Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren sees promise for the future.

"When we talk about what the young people are looking for, I believe they are looking for a future," Warren said. "They are looking for opportunities that are getting bigger instead of smaller. Next time someone tells me that manufacturing in America is dead, I'll send them to Lenox."

According to Senior Manager Tim O'Brien, the company's $298 million in sales was helped by a strong increase in demand for their products outside of North America. Among the regions where demand increased substantially are Latin America and Asia.

And although their famous saw blades are sold across the planet, O'Brien said with pride that each of those blades are still made in Western Massachusetts. He said that the reinvestment in the East Longmeadow plant and the area through job creation, was aided with federal and state tax breaks, a fact that was not lost on Warren.

"There are reforms needed in the tax code," Warren said. "We need to change it so the breaks don't go to those companies that send jobs overseas, but rather the ones that choose to invest here."

Warren and her team were joined by State Rep. Brian Ashe, D-2nd Hampden District, and State Sen. Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham, for the tour of the 530,000-square-foot factory.

Warren, a Democratic candidate vying for Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown's Senate seat, also toured tornado-damaged areas of Springfield Tuesday afternoon. Following the visit, she said that although the destruction was humbling, the progress is promising.

"The devastation from the tornado is bigger than anyone (can imagine)," Warren said. "But Springfield is rebuilding and is open for business."

While the charges are different in the state case, defense lawyer Lori Levinson again plans to challenge the 6½-hour interrogation by state trooper Michael Mazza.

File photo | Associated PressMichael F. Jacques leaves federal court in Springfield in 2010 after being convicted in the burning of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Springfield shortly after Barack Obama was elected president in November 2008.

SPRINGFIELD - Six weeks after receiving a 14-year prison sentence for burning down the Macedonia Church of God in Christ to protest Barack Obama’s election, Michael F. Jacques is preparing for another trial in Hampden Superior Court.

Jacques, 27, of Springfield, is scheduled to stand trial April 26 for allegedly torching a vacant home in his Sixteen Acres neighborhood on Christmas Eve in 2003.

The charges emerged from the state and federal investigation that snared Jacques and two defendants for the Nov. 5, 2008, arson at the predominately black church several hours after Obama was elected the nation’s first black president.

In tape recorded conversations, Jacques told an undercover state trooper that he used homemade napalm to burn down a house on Woodlawn Street with his friend, Benjamin Haskell.

Jacques was scheduled to appear in Superior Court Tuesday for an evidentiary hearing, but the session was canceled because his transportation from federal prison in Otisville, N.Y., had not been arranged.

He is charged with burning a building and malicious destruction of property. The hearing was rescheduled for March 19.

While the charges are different in the state case, defense lawyer Lori H. Levinson again plans to challenge the 6½-hour interrogation by state trooper Michael S. Mazza that ended with Jacques admitting a role in the church fire.

In motions filed last month, Levinson asserted that Jacques' confession was coerced, partly due to the tactics used by Mazza and FBI agent Ian D. Smythe, and partly because Jacques was withdrawing from a narcotic pain killer during the session, rendering his admissions unreliable.

Haskell, the second defendant in the Woodlawn Street fire, pleaded guilty in 2010 and was given a six-year state prison sentence also covering oxycontin and heroin distribution. The sentence is running concurrently with Haskell’s nine-year term for the church fire.

Jacques, Haskell and Thomas A. Gleason, 24, were arrested in January 2009 and charged with burning down the Macedonia Church of God in Christ on Tinkham Road. Nobody was injured in the fire; the church was still under construction. Damages were estimated at $2 million.

Gleason, who testified for the prosecution during Jacques trial, was given a 4½-year term.

he Brightwood Station branch at 3065 Main St. is one of five post office branches in Springfield eyed for closure as part of a nationwide plan to reduce the U.S. Postal Service operating deficit.

Associated Press photoThe Brightwood branch of the United States Postal Service in Springfield is one of five branches in the city that may be closed. It is located on North Main Street.

SPRINGFIELD - State Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera D-Springfield, is encouraging North End residents opposed to the closing of the Brightwood Station post office branch to attend Wednesday night public hearing on the issue.

The hearing is scheduled for 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium at German Gerena School.

The Brightwood Station branch at 3065 Main St. is one of five post office branches in Springfield eyed for closure as part of a nationwide plan to reduce the U.S. Postal Service operating deficit.

The U.S. Postal Service is conducting public hearing in each neighborhood to be affected with a closure. People who regularly use the Brightwood post office or who maintain a post office box there are being encouraged to attend.

Investigators said the fire was caused by smoking materials, but they are still piecing together details.

File photo by Dave Roback / The Republican

HOLYOKE – Aleida Santiago, 51, died Tuesday from injuries suffered in a fire at 485 South St., an official said.

Santiago suffered extensive burns and was pronounced dead at 3:48 p.m. at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, Holyoke Fire Department Lt. Thomas G. Paquin said.

The fire was reported at 8:35 a.m. Monday in a second-floor apartment of the seven-story building. A 68-year-old man also lived in the apartment and had smoke-inhalation injuries, Paquin said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family and the gentleman who lived with her,” Paquin said.

The cause of the fire was related to smoking materials but officials have yet to determine exactly what happened, he said.

The building is owned by the Appleton Corp. City police and the state Fire Marshal’s office have been helping local fire investigators.

Returns from 10 percent of the state’s precincts showed Romney with 51 percent of the vote, to 28 percent for Gingrich.

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

Photo by Charles Dharapak / Associated PressRepublican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney greets volunteers at his campaign office in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday during Florida's primary election day.

By DAVID ESPO
and STEVE PEOPLES

TAMPA, Fla. – W. Mitt Romney jumped ahead in early returns Tuesday night as he reached for a resounding victory in the Florida primary, biggest test so far in a Republican presidential race with Newt Gingrich that grows steadily more negative with no quick end in sight.

Returns from 10 percent of the state’s precincts showed Romney with 51 percent of the vote, to 28 percent for Gingrich.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum had 12 percent, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul 7 percent. Neither Santorum nor Paul mounted a substantial effort in the state.

The winner-take-all primary was worth 50 Republican National Convention delegates.

But the bigger prize was precious political momentum in the race to pick an opponent for Democratic President Barack Obama this fall. That belonged to Romney when he captured the New Hampshire primary three weeks ago, then swung stunningly to Gingrich when he countered with a South Carolina upset 11 days later.

About half of Florida primary voters said the most important factor for them was backing a candidate who can defeat Obama in November, according to early exit poll results conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks.

As in early contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, that mattered more than experience, moral character or conservative credentials.

Not surprisingly, in a state with an unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent, about two-thirds of voters said the economy was their top issue. More than 8 in 10 said they were falling behind or just keeping up. And half said that home foreclosures have been a major problem in their communities.

Gingrich swept into Florida from South Carolina, only to run headlong into a different Romney from the one he had left in his wake in South Carolina.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, shed his reluctance to attack Gingrich, the former House speaker, unleashing hard-hitting ads on television, sharpening his performance in a pair of debates and deploying surrogates to the edges of Gingrich’s own campaign appearances, all in hopes of unnerving him.

Restore our Future, an outside group supporting Romney, accounted for about $8.8 million in the ad wars, and the candidate and the “super PAC” combined outspent Gingrich and Winning The Future, the organization backing him, by about $15.5 million to $3.3 million, an advantage of nearly 5-1.

Gingrich responded by assailing Romney as a man incapable of telling the truth and vowed to remain in the race until the Republican National Convention next summer. He won the endorsement of campaign dropout Herman Cain and increasingly sought the support of evangelicals and tea party advocates, a former House speaker running as the anti-establishment insurgent of the party he once helped lead.

Bombarded by harsh television advertising, some Floridians said they had soured on both candidates.

“The dirty ads really turned me off on Mitt Romney,” said Dorothy Anderson, of Pinellas Park, adding she was voting for Gingrich. She said of Romney, “In fact if he gets the nomination, I probably won’t vote for him.”

At the same polling place, Romney supporter Curtis Dempsey expressed similar feelings but about Gingrich. “The only thing Newt Gingrich has to offer is a big mouth,” he said.

Voters frequently say they are offended or appalled by negative ads. But polls show consistently that the commercials are able to sway the opinions of large numbers of voters, and they are a staple of nearly all campaigns.

Santorum had no money for television ads to back up his strong debate performances. He left the state at one point, saying he was going home to Pennsylvania to prepare his income tax returns. But he stayed longer than anticipated, because of the hospitalization of his 3-year-old daughter with pneumonia. The girl has a rare genetic disorder, Trisomy 18.

Santorum and Paul both campaigned in Colorado on Tuesday as Florida Republicans were voting. The state has caucuses on Feb 7, the same day as Minnesota.

Even before that come caucuses in Nevada, a state that Romney won when he sought the nomination in 2008 and is favored to capture again.

By contrast, both Romney and Gingrich campaigned across Florida on primary day as the polls opened.

Exuding confidence, the former Massachusetts governor said – even though the figures said otherwise – that he had been outspent in South Carolina.

“I needed to make sure that instead of being outgunned in terms of attacks, that I responded aggressively, and hopefully that will have served me well here,” he told reporters.

Gingrich, combative as usual, said the race for the nomination won’t be decided until summer, “unless Romney drops out.”

More than 600,000 Floridians voted before the polls opened, either by absentee or early ballot, exceeding the figure from four years ago, and raising the possibility of a record turnout. Vote totals in the three contests to date – Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina – have all been records.

Returns from 34 percent of the state’s precincts showed Romney with 48 percent of the vote, to 31 percent for Gingrich.

This is an updated version of a story posted at 7:40 this evening.

Photo by Charles Dharapak / Associated PressRepublican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney, stands with his son Josh as he watches results for the Florida primary election at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday.

TAMPA, Fla. – W. Mitt Romney jumped to a commanding lead in the Florida primary Tuesday night, rebounding powerfully from the previous week’s defeat and reaching for a resounding victory over Newt Gingrich in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Returns from 34 percent of the state’s precincts showed Romney with 48 percent of the vote, to 31 percent for Gingrich.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum had 13 percent, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul 7 percent. Neither mounted a substantial effort in the state.

The winner-take-all primary was worth 50 Republican National Convention delegates.

But the bigger prize was precious political momentum in the race to pick an opponent for Democratic President Barack Obama this fall. That belonged to Romney when he captured the New Hampshire primary three weeks ago, then swung stunningly to Gingrich when he countered with a South Carolina upset 11 days later.

A victory in Florida would reset the race once again, after a month marked by unpredictability.

About half of Florida primary voters said the most important factor for them was backing a candidate who can defeat Obama in November, according to early exit poll results conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks.

As in early contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, that mattered more than experience, moral character or conservative credentials.

Not surprisingly, in a state with an unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent, about two-thirds of voters said the economy was their top issue. More than 8 in 10 said they were falling behind or just keeping up. And half said that home foreclosures have been a major problem in their communities.

Gingrich swept into Florida from South Carolina, only to run headlong into a different Romney from the one he had left in his wake in South Carolina.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, shed his reluctance to attack Gingrich, the former House speaker, unleashing hard-hitting ads on television, sharpening his performance in a pair of debates and deploying surrogates to the edges of Gingrich’s own campaign appearances, all in hopes of unnerving him.

Restore our Future, an outside group supporting Romney, accounted for about $8.8 million in the ad wars, and the candidate and the “super PAC” combined outspent Gingrich and Winning The Future, the organization backing him, by about $15.5 million to $3.3 million, an advantage of nearly 5-1.

Gingrich responded by assailing Romney as a man incapable of telling the truth and vowed to remain in the race until the Republican National Convention next summer. He won the endorsement of campaign dropout Herman Cain and increasingly sought the support of evangelicals and tea party advocates, a former House speaker running as the anti-establishment insurgent of the party he once helped lead.

Bombarded by harsh television advertising, some Floridians said they had soured on both candidates.

“The dirty ads really turned me off on Mitt Romney,” said Dorothy Anderson, of Pinellas Park, adding she was voting for Gingrich. She said of Romney, “In fact if he gets the nomination, I probably won’t vote for him.”

At the same polling place, Romney supporter Curtis Dempsey expressed similar feelings but about Gingrich. “The only thing Newt Gingrich has to offer is a big mouth,” he said.

Voters frequently say they are offended or appalled by negative ads. But polls show consistently that the commercials are able to sway the opinions of large numbers of voters, and they are a staple of nearly all campaigns.

Santorum had no money for television ads to back up his strong debate performances. He left the state at one point, saying he was going home to Pennsylvania to prepare his income tax returns. But he stayed longer than anticipated, because of the hospitalization of his 3-year-old daughter with pneumonia. The girl has a rare genetic disorder, Trisomy 18.

Santorum and Paul both campaigned in Colorado on Tuesday as Florida Republicans were voting. The state has caucuses on Feb 7, the same day as Minnesota.

Even before that come caucuses in Nevada, a state that Romney won when he sought the nomination in 2008 and is favored to capture again.

By contrast, both Romney and Gingrich campaigned across Florida on primary day as the polls opened.

Exuding confidence, the former Massachusetts governor said – even though the figures said otherwise – that he had been outspent in South Carolina.

“I needed to make sure that instead of being outgunned in terms of attacks, that I responded aggressively, and hopefully that will have served me well here,” he told reporters.

Gingrich, combative as usual, said the race for the nomination won’t be decided until summer, “unless Romney drops out.”

More than 600,000 Floridians voted before the polls opened, either by absentee or early ballot, exceeding the figure from four years ago, and raising the possibility of a record turnout. Vote totals in the three contests to date – Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina – have all been records.

He was charged with robbing the Bird Dog Liquor Store, 1019 Stafford Road, Mansfield, police said.

MANSFIELD, Conn. - Connecticut State Police arrested 22-year-old Matthew Boland of Andover, Conn. in connection with a Jan. 13 armed robbery at a liquor store.

Boland was charged with armed robbery in the first degree, carrying a dangerous firearm, larceny in the third degree and giving a false statement to police.

He was charged with robbing the Bird Dog Liquor Store, 1019 Stafford Road, Mansfield. According to police reports, two masked men entered the store and pulled guns on the clerk. They made off with an undisclosed amount of cash from the register, and police put out a regional advisory to all surrounding towns.

State police detectives were able to gather information linking Boland to the robbery. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant and it was served against Boland on Tuesday.

Police are still looking for a second suspect and expect additional arrests.

Boland is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Rockville.

The rescheduled committee meeting will for interviews with Pudelko, the of acting personnel administrator, and Rodriguez-Ross, the acting city solicitor, be Feb. 9.

Adam Pudelko, left, acting personnel administrator, and Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross, acting city solicitor

HOLYOKE – A City Council committee meeting that was set for Wednesday to interview key appointees made by Mayor Alex B. Morse has been rescheduled.

The Public Service Committee instead will meet Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, council President Kevin A. Jourdain said Tuesday.

The meeting was postponed because committee Chairman Peter R. Tallman was unable to attend because of family illness and Vice Chairman James M. Leahy also was unable to attend, Jourdain said. Each council committee has five members.

The committee will interview acting Personnel Administrator Adam Pudelko and acting City Solicitor Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross. Morse appointed them Jan. 3 subject to City Council confirmation.

Gingrich earlier vowed to stay in the race regardless of the outcome in Florida

TAMPA, Fla. – Former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney has won the Florida Republican primary, easily defeating main rival Newt Gingrich, according to the Associated Press.

The former House speaker earlier vowed to stay in the race regardless of the outcome in Florida.

The battle for the Republican presidential nomination now moves to the Nevada caucuses on Saturday.

A large sinkhole in the road that developed on Roosevelt Avenue Tuesday evening forced the closing of the roadway to northbound traffic, police said.

SPRINGFIELD - A large sinkhole in the road that developed on Roosevelt Avenue Tuesday evening forced the closing of the roadway to northbound traffic, police said.

Southbound traffic from Page Boulevard heading toward Bay Street was still permitted, but northbound traffic was being detoured at Memorial Drive.

Captain William Collins of the Springfield Police Department said the hole is in the area of Roosevelt Avenue and Cottage Street.

Springfield Department of Public Works crews were being called to the scene as were crews with Western Massachusetts Electric Company. The sinkhole apparently exposed some underground wires.

The Fire Department also issued an advisory to its stations to find an alternative route between Memorial Drive and Page Boulevard.

The road is expected to be closed at least through tomorrow morning.

A Boston native, Timilty was first elected to the 8-member Governor's Council in 1994.

File photo / The Republican

BOSTON – Kelly Timilty, a longtime member of the Governor's Council, died early Tuesday after a brief illness, her family said in a statement. She was 49.

The family called the death unexpected but did not release further details.

A Boston native, Timilty was first elected to the eight-member Governor's Council in 1994. The council's most significant function is to vote on judicial nominations by the governor.

The oldest child of Elaine and Joseph Timilty, she previously served on the staff of the late U.S. Rep. Joseph Moakley.

Her father was a former state senator who twice ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Boston. Her brother, James Timilty, is a current state senator from Walpole.

"Kelly Timilty served her district and the Commonwealth proudly for many years," said Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, who presides over weekly meetings of the council. "As a member of the Governor's Council and staff for former Congressman Moakley, she will be remembered for her good work and commitment to public service. My thoughts and prayers are with her family."

Timilty represented the second Governor's Council district, which includes a portion of Boston and stretches west to Framingham and Hopkinton and south to Seekonk and Rehoboth.

George Cronin, clerk of the council, noted that Timilty served under five governors during her tenure at the Statehouse, adding: "I'm sure those governors were quite unanimous in considering a valued friend and a helpful ally."

Gov. Deval Patrick, in a statement, called Timilty a "kind and friendly person," and an effective voice for her constituents.

Under the state constitution, the Legislature can select a person who lives in the district to fill out the remainder of the term until the next state election, in November. Councilors are elected every two years.

Timilty married James Mandeville in 1999, the family said.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.

Romney, talking unity like a nominee, said he was ready “to lead this party and our nation” – and turn Democratic President Barack Obama out of office.

Photo by Charles Dharapak / Associated PressRepublican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney, celebrates his Florida primary election win at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday.

By DAVID ESPO
and STEVE PEOPLES

TAMPA, Fla. – W. Mitt Romney routed Newt Gingrich in the Florida primary Tuesday night, rebounding smartly from an earlier defeat and taking a major step toward the Republican presidential nomination. Despite the one-sided setback, the former House speaker vowed to press on.

Romney, talking unity like a nominee, said he was ready “to lead this party and our nation” – and turn Democratic President Barack Obama out of office. In remarks to cheering supporters, the former Massachusetts governor unleashed a strong attack on Obama and said the competitive fight for the GOP nomination “does not divide us, it prepares us” for the fall.

“Mr. President, you were elected to lead, you chose to follow, and now it’s time to get out of the way,: he declared.

Returns from 79 percent of Florida’s precincts showed Romney with 47 percent of the vote, to 32 percent for Gingrich.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum had 13 percent, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul 7 percent. Neither mounted a substantial effort in the state.

The winner-take-all primary was worth 50 Republican National Convention delegates, by far the most of any primary state so far.

But the bigger prize was precious political momentum in the race to pick an opponent for Obama in a nation struggling to recover from the deepest recession in decades.

That belonged to Romney when he captured the New Hampshire primary three weeks ago, then swung stunningly to Gingrich when he countered with a South Carolina upset 11 days later.

Now it was back with the former Massachusetts governor, after a 10-day comeback that marked a change to more aggressive tactics, coupled with an efficient use of an overwhelming financial advantage to batter Gingrich in television commercials over a 10-day campaign.

For the first time in the campaign, exit polls showed a gender gap in Romney’s favor. He ran far better among women than Gingrich, winning just over half of their votes, to three in 10 for his rival.

Only about half of the women voters said they had a favorable view of the thrice-married Gingrich as a person, while about eight in 10 had a positive opinion of Romney.

As in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, about half of Florida primary voters said the most important factor for them was backing a candidate who can defeat Obama in November, according to early exit poll results conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks.

Not surprisingly, in a state with an unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent, about two-thirds of voters said the economy was their top issue. More than eight in 10 said they were falling behind or just keeping up. And half said that home foreclosures have been a major problem in their communities.

Gingrich, from neighboring Georgia, swept into Florida from South Carolina, only to run headlong into a different Romney from the one he had left in his wake in South Carolina.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, shed his reluctance to attack Gingrich, the former House speaker, unleashing hard-hitting ads on television, sharpening his performance in a pair of debates and deploying surrogates to the edges of Gingrich’s own campaign appearances, all in hopes of unnerving him.

Restore our Future, an outside group supporting Romney, accounted for about $8.8 million in the ad wars, and the candidate and the “super PAC” combined outspent Gingrich and Winning The Future, the organization backing him, by about $15.5 million to $3.3 million, an advantage of nearly 5-1.

Gingrich responded by assailing Romney as a man incapable of telling the truth and vowed to remain in the race until the Republican National Convention next summer. He won the endorsement of campaign dropout Herman Cain and increasingly sought the support of evangelicals and tea party advocates, a former House speaker running as the anti-establishment insurgent of the party he once helped lead.

Bombarded by harsh television advertising, some Floridians said they had soured on both candidates.

“The dirty ads really turned me off on Mitt Romney,” said Dorothy Anderson, of Pinellas Park, adding she was voting for Gingrich. She said of Romney, “In fact if he gets the nomination, I probably won’t vote for him.”

At the same polling place, Romney supporter Curtis Dempsey expressed similar feelings but about Gingrich. “The only thing Newt Gingrich has to offer is a big mouth,” he said.

Voters frequently say they are offended or appalled by negative ads. But polls show consistently that the commercials are able to sway the opinions of large numbers of voters, and they are a staple of nearly all campaigns.

Santorum had no money for television ads to back up his strong debate performances. He left the state at one point, saying he was going home to Pennsylvania to prepare his income tax returns. But he stayed longer than anticipated, because of the hospitalization of his 3-year-old daughter with pneumonia. The girl has a rare genetic disorder, Trisomy 18.

Santorum was already in Nevada Tuesday night, campaigning for the state’s caucuses on Saturday. “Newt Gingrich had his chance. He had his shot,” he said. Now Republicans are “looking for a different conservative.”

Santorum and Paul both also campaigned in Colorado on Tuesday as Florida Republicans were voting. The state has caucuses on Feb 7, the same day as Minnesota.

Even before that come caucuses in Nevada, a state that Romney won when he sought the nomination in 2008 and is favored to capture again.

By contrast, both Romney and Gingrich campaigned across Florida on primary day as the polls opened.

Exuding confidence, the former Massachusetts governor said – even though the figures said otherwise – that he had been outspent in South Carolina.

“I needed to make sure that instead of being outgunned in terms of attacks, that I responded aggressively, and hopefully that will have served me well here,” he told reporters.

Gingrich, combative as usual, said the race for the nomination won’t be decided until summer, “unless Romney drops out.”

More than 600,000 Floridians voted before the polls opened, either by absentee or early ballot, exceeding the figure from four years ago, and raising the possibility of a record turnout. Vote totals in the three contests to date – Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina – have all been records.

Approval by each of the three towns was necessary to move the project forward.

SOUTHWICK – By a slim 247 vote margin voters here Tuesday derailed a $72 million school construction and renovation project for the Southwick-Tolland-Granville School District.

Voters in Granville and Tolland supported financing the project at special town elections there but an affirmitive vote from each of the three towns was necessary to move the project to design and construction stages.

“We are very disappointed,” said Superintendent of Schools John D. Barry. “The district must now reassess the future,” he said.

Southwick voted 1,141 yes to 1,390 no. Tolland voters approved the project by a 64 to 24 vote while Granville passed the measure 217 to 120.

The question before voters Tuesday sought approval to exclude the cost of the project from restrictions of Proposition 2 1/2. The three towns would have shared a total cost of $29.1 million for the project with the state School Building Authority financing the balance.

Proposals range from greater use of schools and libraries to assisting the South End Community Center rebuild within the neighborhood.

The Republican | Dave RobackBobbie Hill of Concordia speaks at the unveiling of the master plan for rebuilding Springfield at the Cedars in Springfield on Tuesday evening.

SPRINGFIELD – Representatives of Rebuild Springfield unveiled a master plan on Tuesday night that provides a post-tornado road map for revitalization ranging from a proposed greater use of schools and libraries to assisting the South End Community Center rebuild within the neighborhood.

The ideas and strategies were released during a crowded community meeting at The Cedars banquet hall at St. Anthony’s Church on Island Pond Road, in an executive summary slide presentation. The full, detailed report is still being worked on for expected release within two weeks, officials said.

The master plan effort was launched after Springfield was struck by a tornado on June 1, that caused extensive damage in several neighborhoods including structures and trees. Three tornadoes struck the region, declared a federal disaster and providing access to state and federal disaster aid.

Representatives of Rebuild Springfield and from Concordia LLC of New Orleans, the lead consultant, said that the success of Springfield’s master plan will depend on the community’s continued involvement and leadership. The plan was created through extensive public input that included 19 community meetings in the past six months with attendance totaling approximately 2000 citizens, according to the report.

“There is a long way to go,” said Gerald W. Hayes, co-chairman of Rebuild Springfield with Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis. “In a very real sense, all of you are the authors of this plan. There is a lot of work to do.”

The master plan includes citywide recommendations and neighborhood-specific recommendations. DevelopSpringfield and the Springfield Redevelopment Authority will take a lead role in implementing the plan, but there must be leadership “from the top-down, and from the bottom-up,” said Bobbie Hill, the lead planner from Concordia.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno urged the residents and businesses to “stay engaged,” and show the same tenacity in pushing forward the action plan, as was shown in cleaning up after the tornado. It may take three to five years, he said.

Some of the top citywide recommendations include: develop a process for transforming vacant lots and structures into community assets; develop and harness Springfield’s role as the economic heart of the Pioneer Valley; put schools and libraries at the center of creating places, programs and access to technology to meet community needs; and improve the reality and perception of public safety in Springfield.

The neighborhood recommendations include building on strong neighborhood pride and history seen in the Maple High/Six Corners, Upper Hill, Old Hill area; promoting a variety of housing options and activating public spaces in the downtown and South End; and focusing on schools, parks and reforesting in the Sixteen Acres and East Forest Park area.

The proposals for the South End including helping to relocate the tornado-devastated South End Community Center to a proposed new site at the Gemini property.

Some neighborhood representatives said they are optimistic.

“It’s all positive,” said Leo Florian, president of the South End Citizens Council. “We are excited at this point. The potential is just unlimited. I think we will have the support and enthusiasm of the people to follow through and get this done.”

“The next steps are the critical steps – where to we go from here,” said Anne Kandilis, a resident in the Maple High-Six Corners area. “I’m glad they plan to appoint leaders to move the plan forward. Otherwise the plan dies and sits in a drawer.”

Executive Summary Rebuild Springfield Plan

Bolduc did not give a timetable as to when the work will be complete, but tenants said they heard it will be another month.

Photo by Lori Stabile / The RepublicanWork on an addition to the Pride gas station's convenience store at Thorndike and Park streets in Palmer can be seen in the photo taken earlier this month The addition will increase the size of the 26 foot by 26 foot convenience store to 40 by 40, according to a company representative. The work is expected to be completed in late February or March.

PALMER – The ongoing work at the Pride Plaza resulted in one of the tenants having to close for two days last week, but the landlord disputes the extent of the problem.

“He’s absolutely exaggerating it. He closed because he wanted to close, not because he had any problems,” Pride’s chief executive officer, Robert L. Bolduc, said last week.

However, an owner of the Brown Cow restaurant, Joseph Cincone, painted a different picture.

He said that on Jan. 23, the restaurant filled with smoke, because of the construction, causing a mass exodus of his customers. Then two days later, he said there was so much dust in the air that they “could taste” it in their mouth and closed early again.

Everything was back to normal by the end of the week, but Cincone wasn’t happy about losing two days’ income.

Cincone, who has been in the plaza at the Thorndike and Park streets since 2010, said business is picking up, but said having to close unexpectedly turns people off. Cincone also said the construction vehicles are taking up the lot’s limited parking.

Lisa C. Ramsey, owner of the Illusions hair salon, said two customers canceled appointments because they couldn’t find anywhere to park.

Justin Chan, a part-time manager at Jenny Chan’s, said he also is concerned about the parking shortage. He said his restaurant did not have to close, but said some of the ceiling tiles fell because of the jack-hammering going on. He said he also had a problem with exhaust fumes, but not as severe as the Brown Cow.

Dina A. Merwin, vice president of retail branches and marketing for North Brookfield Savings Bank, said they have not seen any inconvenience to their customers.

“We understand that during any construction project there can be some minor, temporary inconveniences,” Merwin said. “We look forward to the completion of renovations and improvements they will bring to the plaza.”

James L. St. Amand, who represents the community as a corporator for the bank, said he has concerns about the traffic flow, and possible adverse affects on bank customers going into the building and using the ATM.

Town Manager Charles T. Blanchard said his office received a complaint about noise and dust from the project, but said by the time it was checked out, the contractor had taken steps to minimize the dust that was created from cutting up the concrete floor in the former Animal House space.

“Whenever you do that much reconstruction, there are some things you have to put up with unfortunately . . . If there’s anything the town can do we will. A lot has to do with tenant relationships,” Blanchard said.

Bolduc said the exterior work on the convenience store is complete, and it is open. Work recently began to remove the 2,000-square-foot former Animal House space, which he said will create additional parking.

Bolduc blamed the lack of parking not on the construction going on, but on commuters who park there all day. Bolduc said he will start towing those using it as an all-day parking lot.

Bolduc did not give a timetable as to when the work will be complete, but tenants said they heard it will be another month.