Authorities say a 19-year-old man from Acton and a 27-year-old man from Syracuse, N.Y., died after overdosing on drugs and alcohol.

MANSFIELD, Mass. — Police say two people died and 19 others were hospitalized after an all-day concert in a Boston suburb.

The IDentity Festival concert at the Comcast Center in Mansfield on Thursday featured techno music and artists including Eric Prydz, Paul van Dyk and Wolfgang Carter.

Authorities say a 19-year-old man from Acton and a 27-year-old man from Syracuse, N.Y., died after overdosing on drugs and alcohol.

Police say 45 people were arrested at the festival for drug possession, underage drinking, assault and battery, and possessing fake IDs.

The festival moved on to Bristow, Va., on Friday.

City Council President James Ferrera said William Hornbuckle, MGM's chief marketing officer, and 2 other MGM representatives were part of a meeting.

James Ferrera

SPRINGFIELD — A taste of Las Vegas could be coming to the tornado-damaged South End of Springfield.

City Council President James J. Ferrera III said that he met with three executives from MGM Resorts International of Las Vegas on Monday who told him that they are looking at the South End to build a resort casino, from the area of State and Main streets to Union and Main streets.

"They had plans and renderings," Ferrera said on Friday.

He said he was told that the company, which backed out of a proposal to build a resort casino in Brimfield earlier this year due to infrastructure issues, would be unveiling its new plan sometime in the next 30 days.

Ferrera said that MGM has options on the properties along that stretch in the downtown area. He said he was not given specifics regarding square footage or acreage of the project, but said he was told that MGM is working with hotel developer Paul C. Picknelly.

Paul Picknelly

Picknelly, president of Monarch Enterprises, could not be reached for comment.

Ferrera said William Hornbuckle, MGM's chief marketing officer, and two other MGM representatives were part of the meeting, and that they requested to meet with him.

Ferrera created a Casino Site Committee, a special council subcommittee, to meet in public with casino developers interested in Springfield and to solicit input from the public. Recommendations would then be issued to the City Council, he has said.

In addition to MGM, Ferrera said he has met with representatives from Ameristar Casinos of Las Vegas and Hard Rock International of Florida. Ameristar has purchased the former Westinghouse property off Page Boulevard for its project. Ferrera said his committee will meet with Ameristar on Aug. 20.

Hard Rock, which dropped its plan for Holyoke, is looking at the downtown area, but hasn't offered specifics, Ferrera said. He said he has not been contacted by Penn National Gaming of Wyomissing, Pa., which also has expressed an interest in creating a casino proposal for the city or elsewhere in Western Massachusetts.

"I'm more than happy to meet with any developer to tell them how much potential Springfield has," Ferrera said.

A spokesperson for MGM said earlier in the day on Friday that the company continues to explore opportunities throughout Western Massachusetts, and will continue to reach out to Springfield's community leaders.

The company released the following statement: "In touring Springfield, we were particularly struck by the devastation that the June 2011 tornado caused in the South End so we decided to meet with folks at the hard-hit South End Community Center to see if we could be helpful. Having worked in a similar environment in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina, we have a keen understanding of the broad and disabling impact Mother Nature has on a community in these kinds of situations."

MGM has a resort in Mississippi – Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi – that had to be rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina.

Picknelly, whose business is in downtown Springfield, said he now feels the city is the best location for a casino.

File photo | The RepublicanPeter Picknelly

PALMER — Peter A. Picknelly, chairman and chief executive officer of Peter Pan Bus Lines, said he is concentrating his efforts on a downtown Springfield casino and plans to divest himself from the proposed Palmer project off Thorndike Street.

“At some point I need to divest myself from the Palmer investment. The formality has not taken place yet. It needs to and I will likely do so sooner rather than later,” Picknelly said this week.

Picknelly said he has been an investor in the land, which is owned by Northeast Realty. He declined to detail specifics.

Connecticut-based Mohegan Sun has long wanted to build a resort casino off Thorndike Street (Route 32) across from the Massachusetts Turnpike exit. It is leasing the land from Northeast Realty, and is one of two announced casino projects for Western Massachusetts. The other proposal is by Las Vegas-based Ameristar Casinos, which purchased the former Westinghouse site off Page Boulevard earlier this year.

Picknelly, whose business is in downtown Springfield, said he now feels the city is the best location for a casino, and is proposing a casino on land in the north end of Springfield that would include the bus station property on Main Street.

Two companies associated with Picknelly last month presented an option to buy The Republican’s Main Street building and property, as well as the newspaper’s eight vacant acres on the Connecticut River, which is adjacent to property that Picknelly owns.

Picknelly’s involvement with the Palmer project was announced back in 2008. At the time, he said he felt Palmer was the best location for a casino. Picknelly said that he viewed the Palmer project as a real estate investment back then.

Now, he said, he sees a casino as part of a downtown revitalization plan for Springfield, as it would bring jobs and tax income. Picknelly said he believes having a casino in the city would provide the most benefits to Western Massachusetts.

“Times change. Circumstances change. I now wholeheartedly believe the best place for a casino in Western Massachusetts is in Springfield and in downtown Springfield and I will concentrate my efforts in making that a reality,” Picknelly said.

“I think the plans we’re formulating are exciting and I’m really looking forward to the revitalization ... I think it would be fantastic for Springfield,” he added. “It would have a dramatic impact on the city.”

He said he could not release details of the proposal for the north end yet, although he said several casino developers have been interviewed. He said he may have more information within the next 30 days.

“Plans are really developing now and at the appropriate time we’ll make the announcements,” Picknelly said.

Picknelly’s brother, hotel developer Paul C. Picknelly, also was attached to the Palmer project as an investor. In 2007, he said he was considering building a hotel on the property. Like his brother, Paul Picknelly at the time said he supported the Palmer site for a casino over an urban location.

Paul Picknelly recently has discussed opening a casino in the South End of the city with city councilors, although nothing has been formally released. But on Friday, City Council President James Ferrera III revealed that MGM Resorts International has options on properties from the area of State and Main streets to Union and Main streets. He said he was not given specifics regarding square footage or acreage of the project, but said he was told that MGM is working with hotel developer Paul Picknelly.

Paul Picknelly could not be reached for comment.

“We are not working together, but we certainly both believe that downtown Springfield is the best place for a casino,” Peter Picknelly said about his brother.

There also may be another casino proposal in the heart of downtown, according to Kevin E. Kennedy, chief development officer for Springfield.

Leon H. Dragone, manager of Northeast Realty, said the Picknelly brothers are investors in the Palmer project and have been committed supporters.

“It’s disappointing to learn they would support a competing project,” Dragone said.

In addition to Mohegan Sun and Ameristar, several other casino companies have expressed an interest in Western Massachusetts but have not released proposals. They include Penn National Gaming of Wyomissing, Pa.; Hard Rock Cafe of Florida, which dropped a casino plan for Holyoke; and MGM Resorts of Las Vegas, which canceled a plan for Brimfield.

Texas-born actress Lupe Ontiveros, who was well known for her role in the movie "Selena," starring Jennifer Lopez, died Thursday of liver cancer. She was 69.

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Tom Brady loves to go on exotic escapades during the offseason, and this time it may have landed him in a bit of hot water.

These were the most read stories on MassLive.com yesterday. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now.

1) Massive building fire at H.B.A. Cast products on Liberty Street; firefighters have evacuated block Photo gallery at right. [The Republican Newsroom]

2) Search for gunman who shot three at Lake Lorraine in Springfield comes up empty [Doron Tyler Antrim]

3) Tom Brady jumps off small cliff in Costa Rica, becomes national story [Nick Underhill]

4) MLB trade rumors 2012: Boston Red Sox not 'overly willing' to sacrifice for star pitcher [The Sporting News]

5) Cool-headed East Longmeadow girl hides in closet, uses phone to call mother and 911 after man breaks into home [George Graham]

Staying quiet this morning with scattered thunderstorms by the afternoon.

A dry start to the day today, but scattered showers and thunderstorms will be moving in for the afternoon. They are not expected to pose any severe threat to the region, but there may be a few brief downpours. Just like yesterday, the temperatures will be seasonal, but the humidity levels will be a little bit on the high side with partly sunny skies.

Just like we see in typical summer fashion, the chance of rain will diminish heading into the overnight hours. A stray shower may carry over into Sunday...also with a mix of sun and clouds through the afternoon as this frontal system slowly pulls out of the region. Our only completely dry day on the 7-day forecast comes Monday.

Late-day scattered showers and thunderstorms will dominate a majority of next week. It is not expected to be a total washout all week long, but a large upper-level trough over the Northeast will keep us on our toes for those pop-up thunderstorms all the way through the workweek. Temperatures continue to stay seasonal (low-to-mid 80s) but the humidity stays a little bit elevated for a while as well.

Today: Scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms, mostly cloudy, muggy, high 83.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms early, mild and muggy, low 66.

Sunday: An isolated shower early, partly cloudy afternoon, ha little humid, high 82.

Monday: Partly cloudy, muggy, high 83.

A DNA sample from the man's family was used to make a positive match.

MERIDEN, Conn. — The family of a Springfield man who went missing four years ago finally have closure after an announcement Friday by the Connecticut State Police.

In 2008, Phat Quy Mai, then 50, was struck on Route I-91 in Meriden, Conn. while lying motionless on the roadway, according to the Associated Press, although the event remains somewhat of a mystery.

Police couldn't immediately identify Mai’s body. The Hartford Courant reports that police were able to link the hit-and-run with a missing persons report from Springfield, and sent the information to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

In April, Mai's family reached out to police through the system, and provided authorities with a DNA sample that was used to make a positive match.

The car did not leave the scene, police said.

HOLYOKE - A woman suffered non-life threatening injuries after she was hit by a car in the parking lot of South Street Plaza earlier this morning.

She was taken to Baystate Medical Center. WWLP-22News identified the woman as a 21-year-old Chicopee resident, and said she suffered a broken pelvis.

The car did not leave the scene, police said.

One of the suspects, wearing a backwards baseball cap and a red bandana over his face, entered the convenience store while the other two remained in the vehicle, according to police.

Republican file photo

SPRINGFIELD - A man entered the B D Mart at 20 East St. around 6 a.m. armed with a silver revolver and got away with an undisclosed amount of money, police say.

Police are looking for three suspects riding in a dark colored Nissan Rouge.

One of the suspects, wearing a backwards baseball cap and a red bandana over his face, entered the convenience store while the other two remained in the vehicle, according to police.

Police do not have firm descriptions of what the suspects look like.

As is policy, police will not say how much money was taken.

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The so-called Chapter 90 road money cannot be released until legislators approve a bill that authorizes issuing the bonds.

File photo by Michael S. Gordon / The RepublicanLudlow police direct traffic around construction work on Chapin St. earlier this month. The work will include drainage improvements, re-pavement, and resurfacing and is expected to continue through mid-September. Similar work is being delayed in some communities because the state cannot yet release annual grants for road paving.

BOSTON - Communities in Massachusetts are finding that they cannot yet use state money approved late last month for road improvements, further delaying some important paving work in some municipalities.

Gov. Deval L. Patrick on June 29 approved a law with $200 million in statewide money for use by cities and towns, mostly paving of local roads. But the so-called Chapter 90 grants cannot be released by the state until legislators and the governor pass a second bill, known as a "terms bill," which authorizes the state treasurer to issue bonds to finance the program.

Charles Dazelle, highway superintendent in Huntington, said he can't start a project that calls for paving 1.25-mile stretch of Old Chester Road.

Huntington has $103,000 left over in Chapter 90 funds from the prior fiscal year, but he said that is not enough money to complete the job.

Dazelle said the delay in obtaining his town's share of Chapter 90 money is putting a damper on his job. Huntington's grant is for $167,328.

"It's kind of upsetting," he said. "It's really not helping the economy."

Legislators were already late in approving Chapter 90 money. They usually attempt to approve the annual grants in the spring in order to catch most of the construction season.

"The Legislature dropped the ball on it," said Joseph I. Pipczynski, director of the Department of Public Works in Easthampton. "They didn't approve the expenditure."

Pipczynski said it is "absolutely" causing a problem across the state.

He said he is hopeful that work can be completed in September and October. He is planning pavings for East Green Street and Hendrick Street in Easthampton.

Paul Jay, budget director for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, said highway superintendents cannot sign contracts for road work if they need this year's Chapter 90 money to fund those projects.

Once the "terms bill" is passed, then the $200 million in statewide money will be freed up, according to Jay.

"We don't have the money," Jay said on Friday. "The terms bill is the piece that actually funds the Chapter 90 bill."

Jay agreed that smaller communities are probably getting affected the most, partly because they don't have much money remaining from a prior fiscal year to fund projects this year and partly because their Chapter 90 grants tend to be less than bigger communities.

Stanley W. Kulig, superintendent of the Chicopee Department of Public Works, said Chicopee had about $500,000 remaining from a prior Chapter 90 distribution, so work was not delayed in his city. Chicopee received about $1.2 million grant this fiscal year.

"The Chapter 90 money for some smaller communities is really a lifeline," Kulig said.

The good news for communities is that legislators are close to approving the terms bill. The state House of Representatives voted final approval of the bill on Thursday and now it needs only final approval in the Senate to go to the governor's desk, according to the state Legislature's website for tracking bills.

"I want to get the chapter 90 money out as soon as possible," Rep. Angelo J. Puppolo Jr., a Springfield Democrat and member of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in an e-mail. "I do believe, though, that if there is no objections or controversy it can be done in an informal session."

Formal legislative sessions end at midnight on Tuesday. After that, informal sessions are held for the rest of the year on Beacon Hill and no recorded votes are taken. During informal sessions, a bill can be stopped if only one legislator objects.

Of the $200 million in statewide Chapter 90 money, a total of $14.4 million went to communities in Hampden County. A total of $7 million went to communities in Franklin County and a total of $7 million went to cities and towns in Hampshire County.

Now that the state will allow communities to spend their Community Preservation Act money on refurbishing existing recreation facilities, a city councilor wants to tap them to build a new track at the high school.

Republican photo/ Mark M. MurrayThe aging track at Agawam High School, which officials would like to replace.

AGAWAM - City Councilor George Bitzas wants to use Community Preservation Act money to rebuild the sub par track at Agawam High School now that state law allows that money to be used for such purposes.

However, Mayor Richard A. Cohen said even though such a plan is in the works he would caution against thinking such a project will come about any time soon.

“There are a lot of issues to be looked at, but it is on the agenda,” Cohen said.

While describing the facility as in “desperate need” of work, the mayor said city officials need to factor whether or not the city will end up building a new high school into an decision regarding the track.

Bitzas has said the track, which is gravel, is in such bad shape that it does not meet state standards for hosting a meet. Agawam High School students even need to be bused to the track at Suffield Academy in nearby Suffield, Conn., to practice for certain track events.

Cohen said if the city, which is seeking state funding to build a new high school building, were to construct a new high school officials might decide to situate it on the area now occupied by the track.

The mayor said the bill that allows municipalities to use Community Preservation Act money to do work on existing recreational facilities was just recently signed and regulations pertinent to it have just arrived in his office.

In Agawam, the city has used the Community Preservation Act for about 10 years to assess a 1 percent property tax surcharge. That money plus any matching funds from the state may be used to fund projects involving open space, historic preservation and affordable housing.

The bill recently signed into law by the governor allows officials to spend Community Preservation Act monies on existing recreational facilities rather than just on recreational facilities that have been created using community preservation money. 

Cohen also said that any track project would have to involve excavation and using asphalt to build a new track. The bleachers at the track also need to be replaced, according to the mayor. Cohen said he does not yet have any estimates as to how much either undertaking could cost.

Bitzas said Thursday replacing the track should be a priority this year and that many parents have called to complain to him about its condition.

“It is very dangerous. The more we wait, the more money it will cost us,” Bitzas said.

The city councilor said the mayor’s office and the city’s legal department are working now to put together an application for funding that would be sent on to the city’s Community Preservation Committee for review. If approved by the committee, the request would then go to the City Council, which has the final say.

The owners have until mid-September to clear brush and debris, board up broken windows, and make other improvements to the property.

Photo by Lori Stabile / The RepublicanThe former Three Rivers Grammar School is seen on Bridge Street in Three Rivers.

PALMER - The owners of the former Three Rivers Grammar School have been given until Sept. 18 to clean the run-down property on Bridge Street.

Health agent Lorri McCool was in Western Housing Court in Springfield regarding the building on Monday. She said building owner Kenneth Krohn also attended the hearing, although he had tried to cancel his court appearance that morning.

McCool refused to reschedule the hearing, as it had already been done once before.

She has been trying for two years to get the couple to clean the property.

According to information provided by the Board of Health, Krohn, who owns the building with his wife Karen, was given specific dates as to when he must make repairs.

The owners must repair and replace fencing to secure the property by Aug. 7, and must remove all unregistered vehicles from the premises by Aug. 27. Only one unregistered vehicle may remain there as long as it is operable and a permit from the police chief has been obtained.

On Friday, there were two cars parked in the back of the building, and two campers next to it, along with a trailer.

The Krohns also must remove all rubbish, brush and debris by Sept. 4, and repair or board up all broken windows and basement windows by Sept. 18.

The case is scheduled for review on Aug . 27, said McCool. She said she suggested to the mediator that the Krohns be given a staggered timetable to make repairs. The repairs must be finished by Sept. 18 and parties must appear in court to check compliance on Sept. 24.

McCool said Kenneth Krohn seemed "a little bit hesitant" regarding his ability to make the requested improvements. McCool said the mediator told him that it looked like he already had a few years to get them done.

Kenneth and Karen Krohn could not be reached for comment.

The Krohns bought the old school in 2008. Now 103 years old, it was last used as a school more than 20 years ago.

Kenneth Krohn previously blamed his ill health on the reason why they have not worked on the building. He has said they had planned to use the old school for his personal library.

Officials have criticized the amount of clutter inside the building, and concerns have been expressed if a fire were to break out.

"I'd just be guessing, but I think they bit off more than they could chew," McCool said.

McCool said the Board of Health office occasionally gets complaints about the building.

"Hopefully they'll get it done," McCool said about the repairs.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Jose Torres

Jose Torres, 53, of Westfield, was killed in the line of duty on Thursday, July 26, 2012. He was born in Springfield, Mass. on April 6, 1959. He grew up in Westfield and attended local schools, and was a graduate of Westfield High School. Torres enjoyed watching the Red Sox play and rooting for his favorite team. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends and was considered by many as "the life of the party." He was extremely supportive of his two boys in their education and everything they pursued. His love for his wife was known by all as he took pride in marrying his best friend. Torres was a U.S. Army veteran. He was appointed as a reserve on Feb. 12, 1985 and was hired a full-time officer on Aug. 26, 1985. He loved serving the city of Westfield for 27 years as a police officer and was decorated twice for heroism, going above and beyond the call of duty. He was also proud to be recognized for his achievements by the Westfield Spanish American Association in 2001.


Obituaries from The Republican:

• Albonesi, Henry F.

• Lauder, Karen J. (Wilson)

• Ledoux, Florence A. (Henne)

• Little Jr., McClendon "Mac"

• McAuliffe, Eileen M. (Cavanaugh)

• Morin, Barbara J. (Field)

• Rollis, Irene M. Morris (Morrissette)

• Stewart, Carol J. (Lawler)

• Torres, Jose

• Vavolakis, Demetrios James

The cable is not expected to be repaired until the afternoon.

Republican file photo

WEST SPRINGFIELD – A fault in an underground cable has left the Riverdale Shops without electricity Saturday morning.

The outage happened at about 7 a.m. Western Massachusetts Electric Company is working to repair the cable, said Sandra Ahearn, Western Massachusetts Electric Company spokeswoman.

“It will take some time to isolate the issue and make repairs. We will be here well into the afternoon,” she said.

The outage only affects the shopping center. The company is trying to install a temporary transmission line to restore power earlier, Ahearn said.

Some stores closed because of the lack of power but others have not. Police said no traffic problems have been reported.

An employee at Stop and Shop said it is open but refrigerated goods such as meat and milk are not being sold because they had to be moved to back coolers which are operated by generators.

It was a blowout. Even more stunning: Phelps didn't even win a medal.

United States swimmer Ryan Lochte dives off of the starting block during the men's 400-meter individual medley event during the 2012 Summer Olympics at the Aquatics Centre in London on Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Al Bello, Pool)

LONDON (AP) -- Ryan Lochte turned his much-anticipated duel with Michael Phelps into a blowout, pulling away to win the Olympic 400-meter individual medley by more than 3 seconds Saturday night. Even more stunning: Phelps didn't even win a medal.

After barely qualifying for the evening final in a performance that hinted at trouble ahead, Phelps struggled to a fourth-place finish and was denied his 17th career medal. When it was done, he could barely pull himself out of the pool.

Brazil's Thiago Pereira took the silver, and Japan's Kosuke Hagino claimed the bronze -- beating Phelps by a barely comfortable 34-hundredths of a second for a spot on the podium.

The outlets will also share content when Bruins hockey season is underway.

photo courtesy of ESPN.New England Sports Network reporter Jenny Dell will be part of the coverage as CBS 3 Springfield begins a partnership with NESN for Red Sox games Tuesday. Bruins coverage will also be part of the partnership.

SPRINGFIELD - Beginning with Tuesday's game at Fenway Park, CBS 3 Springfield and the New England Sports Network will begin a content sharing partnership involving coverage of the Boston Bruins and Red Sox.

"We are looking forward to offering some behind-the-scenes coverage for our viewers,'' said Dave Ward, news director for CBS 3 Springfield.

"We have been talking about this for awhile. We see it as a great opportunity to add to our arsenal for our viewers.

"Broadcasting live reports from Fenway Park - that's a big deal for us.''

During baseball season, the partnership will include live pregame reports from Fenway and all NESN road telecasts. NESN broadcasters Don Orsillo, Jerry Remy and Jenny Dell will be featured.

CBS 3 sports anchor Hugh Zeitlin will appear on NESN's pregame show that also showcases host Tom Caron, former Red Sox players Tim Wakefield and Matt Stairs and Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Jim Rice and media legend Peter Gammons.

The CBS 3 weather team will provide weather updates for Red Sox pregame and postgame shows.

Ward said the partnership with also give viewers a new coverage outlet during the Bruins hockey season.

CBS 3 Springfield is a broadcast partner of The Republican and MassLive.com.

The Red Sox-Tigers game on Tuesday will kick off the new partnership, which is similar to NESN's content sharing agreements with stations in other New England markets, including WBZ-TV in Boston.

For Orsillo, it provides a new link to a longstanding relationship with the Springfield market. The Red Sox TV play-by-play man was the hockey broadcaster for the city's American Hockey League team, the Indians and later the Falcons, in the early 1990s.

Her daughter, who is almost 2-years-old, is being treated for serious injuries.

SPRINGFIELD – Police have identified the victim of a fatal hit-and-run accident as a 19-year-old woman who was crossing the street near her home.

Ashley Ballester, of 24 Lester St., was killed at about 8:30 p.m. when she was struck while crossing Sumner Avenue near the intersection of Lester Street, said Police Officer Robert Kalin, a traffic bureau officer who is leading the investigation.

Ballester’s daughter, who will turn 2 in August, was seriously injured in the accident. She is being treated at the pediatric intensive care unit at Baystate Medical Center, Kalin said.

Ballester’s family has been notified of her death and are planning to take over care of the child when she is released from the hospital, police said.

“We are working on leads. We do have the car in custody and we are working with the owner of the car,” Kalin said.

Ballester was pushing her daughter in a stroller when she was crossing Sumner Avenue Friday evening. She was struck by a white Ford car and the impact threw her in the air. She was also struck by a second driver, who did stop at the accident.

Her child was sent flying out of the stroller when the car hit and landed on the tree belt, Police Lt. Robert P. Moynihan said.

The stroller was dragged underneath the car as it fled the scene. It was found several blocks away.

The accident happened at dusk. There are no crosswalks in the area where Ballester was hit, Moynihan said.

It took police some time to identify the woman because she was not carrying any identification, Moynihan said.

A short time after the accident, a woman on Kensington Avenue called the station to report her cousin had come in her house, handed her the car keys and told her he may have just hit someone, police said. The cousin then left the house.

The woman told police the cousin took the car without her permission as she was sleeping.

Police are now trying to follow that information to figure out if the driver of the car was the woman’s cousin or someone else, Kalin said.

Brady and Lloyd are still trying to develop some chemistry.

APNew England Patriots wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (85) talks with quarterback Tom Brady during practice on the second day of NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, July 27, 2012

FOXBOROUGH – If you were looking for any more differences between the new guy wearing No. 85 for the New England Patriots and the one that left this spring, it arrived on Saturday.

Just weeks after joining the Patriots last season, Chad Ochocinco stood with a straight face and claimed that he could read Tom Brady’s thoughts through a simple glance or wink.

The guy that replaced him on the roster, Brandon Lloyd, isn’t willing to do the same.

“Not yet,” Lloyd said when asked if any chemistry has developed between him and Brady. “We’re continuing to talk and work together, see what one another is expecting out of the route running. Eventually it will start clicking.”

Lloyd’s comments were met with a degree of shock since he has routinely been one of the standout players in training camp and has already accumulated a bevy of highlight-worthy catches through the first three days of practice

One of those plays came on Saturday when he broke down the right side of the field, adjusted his body, and went up and over defensive back Sterling Moore to grab the ball before planting his feet inbounds and breaking for the end zone.

Spectators gasped before breaking into thunderous applause, though they likely would have breathed deeper if they realized moments such as of those have been birthed as part of the getting acquainted process. With a little familiarity it stands to reason that things will only continue to improve, even if Lloyd says it’s “way too early” to make any predictions.

“We’re plugging away. Still too early to really tell, but we’re doing out best,” Lloyd said. “We’re doing what we’re supposed to do. Maybe we’ll start hitting on all cylinders.”

Both Brady and Lloyd admit that there’s no secret to forging chemistry. It has to come naturally and arrives without warning. That moment could come in a game, during practice, or possibly never at all, as was the case for Ochocinco and Brady. But that doesn’t mean that Lloyd and Brady aren’t trying to make something happen. During practices and between drills there has been an ongoing dialogue between the two about what is expected on a particular route or play.

“He wants to be a big part of this offense, and I obviously want to help him become a big part of this offense, so there’s constant communication between the two of us,” Brady said. “There’s always communication between the quarterback and receivers. Without the receivers, there’s no passing game.”

But both concede that words only go so far in developing a relationship. One says it will have to wait until the games count, the other says it could show up later in camp.

“Most of the time that kind of stuff happens when you’re in the game and you’re kind of on the same level,” Lloyd said. “You can talk, and you can discuss, and practice and practice a lot of stuff, but you really figure things out in a game time situation.”

“We do a lot of drills, we do a lot of one-on-ones, we do a lot of quarterback-receiver type drills,” Brady said. “That’s’ where you develop the trust, that’s where you develop the accountability of our group.”

One way or another, when it gets here, the Patriots could have a special connection.

The Police and Fire departments determined it was not safe to hold the festival.

LUDLOW – The “Celebrate Ludlow” festival and fireworks scheduled on Saturday was canceled as a result of heavy rain and public safety concerns, Selectman Aaron Sanders said.

The festival was planned at the Ludlow Fish and Game Club on Sportsman Road. With rain flooding some low-lying areas and some lightning, the Police and Fire departments determined it would not be safe to have the event, Saunders said.

Injuries and uncertainty has pushed Gallery into a bigger role than expected.

APNew England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) runs with the ball following the blocking of offensive lineman Robert Gallery (72) during practice on the second day of training camp at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, July 27, 2012.

FOXBOROUGH – The New England Patriots may need Robert Gallery to be more than just a stopgap.

When Gallery signed as a free agent this summer, initial projections had him possibly hooking on in a reserve role. But with injuries to guard Logan Mankins (knee) and Sebastian Vollmer (back), along with the uncertainty surrounding guard Brian Waters’ future, the 32-year-old may end up being much more.

The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 draft has served as the starting right guard during the last two practices, and it’s possible that he could win a job there if question marks linger across the line. Right now, though, that isn’t part of his thought process.

“It doesn’t really affect me at all,” Gallery said. “I come to work every day and work on what I have to do to get better as a player, and all that stuff will play itself out.”

Gallery joined New England this offseason after spending his first seven seasons in Oakland and last year with the Seattle Seahawks. He began his career as a tackle before eventually shifting to guard.

“I’m excited to be here and be here with this team,” he said. “Just ready to get things rolling.”