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Former Springfield parking attendant Juan Sanchez pleads guilty to selling cocaine from lot near courthouses

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Hampden Superior Court JudgeJeffrey Kinder said Sanchez’ continuing operation was “certainly not insignificant.”

SPRINGFIELD – Defense lawyer Vincent A. Bongiorni said Friday there was “a certain amount of arrogance” in Juan Sanchez’ drug dealing while working at a parking lot across from two State Street courthouses.

But, Bongiorni said, Sanchez, of Agawam, didn’t deserve to go to state prison as the prosecutor requested.

Hampden Superior Court Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder said Sanchez’ continuing operation was “certainly not insignificant.” He said there was a brazen aspect in it happening “in the shadow of the courthouse.”

Kinder cited some mitigating circumstances that led him to sentence Sanchez, 24, to 2 1/2 years in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow followed by two years probation.

The judge said it would be unusual for a person with Sanchez’ lack of criminal past to be sent to state prison without getting a chance to take advantage of the programs in the Ludlow jail.

Kinder also cited Sanchez’ good work history, including 15 years as a parking attendant, as well as his family support and his admission to police immediately he had drugs.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick Sabbs had asked for a sentence of two to four years in state prison.

Sanchez pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, five counts of distribution of cocaine, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

A charge of trafficking cocaine had been reduced as part of the plea agreement.

Sabbs outlined the investigation into Sanchez which involved undercover buys in the Century 21 Parking lot which is across from the Hampden County Juvenile Court and housing court building, as well as the Hall of Justice.

An undercover state trooper made arrangements on different dates in November and December to buy cocaine from Sanchez, who would tape the small bags of cocaine to the underside of a parking ticket.

On Dec. 2 police used a search warrant for the parking attendant booth at the lot. Sanchez saw police and went into the booth, slamming shut the door, Sabbs said.

Officers forced the door and found cocaine and marijuana. Sanchez apologized and said he had drugs at his home also.

Sabbs said it was clear the undercover trooper “wasn’t his only client” at the lot.

Bongiorni said Sanchez worked hard all his life and had custody of his child who had many problems that resulted in hospitalization at one point. He was also paying child support for three children from his marriage, Bongiorni said.


Logan Mankins listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Colts

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Mankins suffered an ankle injury against the Bills last week.

It doesn’t look like Logan Mankins will be on the field, either, as the injuries keep piling up for the New England Patriots.

The guard, who suffered an ankle injury against the Bills, is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Colts.

Wes Welker (ankle), Aaron Hernandez (ankle) and guard Dan Connolly (back) join him on the injury report among a list of 16 players who are listed as questionable. The prognosis on Connolly looks a little brighter after he practiced for the first time this week on Friday.

Wide receiver Deion Branch is also among that group after suffering a hamstring injury in Wednesday’s practice.

Brandon Spikes, Jerod Mayo and Alfonzo Dennard fined by league for hits in Bills game

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The league got deep in New England's pockets this week.

The New England Patriots' linebackers will be a lighter in their wallets this week, as both Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes were fined for a pair of illegal hits in Sunday's game against the Bills.

Spikes was fined $25,000 for a hit delivered to Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick that prompted the Bills signal caller to call him a "punk" after the game. Fitzpatrick's helmet was knocked off during the play.

Mayo was docked $10,000 for tackling Bills running back C.J. Spiller out of bounds and was called for unnecessary roughness. Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was fined $7,900 for tackling Fitzpatrick out of bounds.

Spikes said Thursday that he expected to be fined and wouldn't the ruling impact his play.

"I gotta do business as business is being done," he said.

Stocks finish higher on optimism over budget talks to avert 'fiscal cliff'

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House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell both said they offered higher tax revenue as part of a deal.

By STEVE ROTHWELL
AP Business Writer

NEW YORK — Optimism that President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders will reach a deal on the budget deficit and avoid the "fiscal cliff" helped stocks notch their first advance in four days.

The market started lower Friday but spiked higher shortly before midday as the top members of the House and Senate spoke at the White House following a closed-door session with Obama. House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell both said they offered higher tax revenue as part of a deal. Boehner said he outlined a framework that is consistent with Obama's call for a "balanced" approach of both higher revenue and spending cuts.

"It's a good start ... the fact that they were all standing together," said Ben Schwartz, the chief market strategist at Lightspeed Financial, a New York-based broker.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 45.93 points, or 0.4 percent, at 12,588.31, after falling as much as 71 points at mid-morning. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 6.55 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,359.88 and the Nasdaq rose 16.19 points, or 0.6 percent to 2,853.13.

Investor concern that Obama and Congress won't reach a deal on how to cut the deficit has caused a sell-off in stocks since Election Day. Stocks fell Wednesday after Obama insisted that higher taxes on wealthy Americans would have to be part of any deal and that he would not cave to Republicans who have pressed for tax cuts first passed by President George W. Bush to be extended for all income earners.

The Dow is down 5 percent since Nov. 6. If an agreement isn't made, automatic government spending cuts and tax increases are set to kick in at the beginning of next year. The measures total about $700 billion for 2013 and could send the country back into recession.

Mitch Stapley, chief investment officer at Fifth Third Asset Management, says that investors and traders are likely to be in for a rough ride until the politicians have brokered a deal.

"Volatility is going to be the hallmark as we go through this process ... It's going to be a very choppy period coming up," said Stapley, who is based in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The Dow still ended lower for the week, logging a fourth straight weekly decline. That slump has pared the index's gains for the year to 3 percent. The S&P 500 also ended the week lower, and has fallen three of the last four weeks.

Mixed earnings reports also weighed on stocks.

Dell fell 70 cents, 7.3 percent, to $8.86. The computer maker is struggling as consumers switch to tablets and smartphones away from PCs. Dell said that its revenue may fall as much as 13 percent in the fourth quarter. Sears fell $10.99, or 19 percent, to $47.49 after the retailer said sales at both its Kmart and Sears stores continued to tumble.

Superstorm Sandy depressed U.S. industrial output in October, while production of machinery and equipment declined sharply, reflecting a more cautious outlook among businesses, according to a Federal Reserve report.

The Fed says industrial output fell 0.4 percent last month, after a 0.2 percent gain in September. Excluding the storm's impact, production at the nation's factories, mines and utilities would have been up about 0.6 percent.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note edged down to 1.58 percent from 1.59 percent late Thursday.

Among stocks making big moves:

Nutrition International, a nutritional supplement company, jumped $9.84, or 29 percent, to $43.76 after U.K.-based Reckitt Benckiser Group offered to pay $42 a share in cash to buy the company. German pharma giant Bayer had offered to buy Schiff in October for $34 a share. Schiff's stock is trading above the most recent offer, suggesting investors anticipate a bidding war may develop.

Ruckus Wireless Inc., a maker of wireless networking equipment, dropped $2.75 to $13.73 on its first day of trading. That's a decline of 18 percent.

Foot Locker rose $1.42, or 4.5 percent, to $33.27. Its net income rose 61 percent in the third quarter.

Harry's Halftime Three-Pointer: North Carolina State 48, UMass 32

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UMass trails big after struggling to keep up with the No. 6 team in the nation.

Wounded Williams
UMass star Chaz Williams went down with a loud scream after landing on Maxie Esho's foot while going up for a block late in the first half. Williams immediately came out of the game, limping to the sideline under his own power. He then appeared to be "walking it off" behind the UMass bench, but did not return for the last minute and change of the first half, then walked gingerly to the locker room, but wasn't visibly limping.

Wolfpack handle the tempo
Normally UMass wants to turn games into a track meet, but the Minutemen aren't going to out-athlete a North Carolina State team that has as much raw talent as anyone in the country this season. The Wolfpack jumped out to an early ten-point lead by killing UMass in transition. Once the Minutemen got their feet under them, and stopped letting the Wolfpack get behind them, they were able to stop the bleeding, but one thing is blatantly clear: UMass is not going to "out-athlete" North Carolina State.

Wood deadly from long range
North Carolina State was led by freshman T.J. Warren, who had 13 points, but senior Scott Wood absolutely killed the Minutemen from long range, knocking down four of his six three-point attempts in the opening half — a couple of which were with a hand in his face. UMass will have to hope Wood goes cold if they are to have any chance against a Wolfpack team with guys like C.J. Leslie and Warren who can score seemingly at will in the paint.

Jury convicts Ricardo Rolon of West Springfield of robbing Axiom Insurance, but only after reporting itself deadlocked twice

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Defense lawyer Jared Olanoff argued the witnesses could see very little of the masked robber.

SPRINGFIELD – A Hampden Superior Court jury reported to a judge it was “firmly and irreconcilably split fifty-fifty” as to the guilt or innocence of Ricardo Rolon of West Springfield, accused of armed robbery.

An hour later jurors decided unanimously that Rolon was guilty and he was sentenced to nine to 12 years in state prison.

When jurors told Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder that day they were irreconcilably split, it was the second time the jury had declared itself deadlocked. The first was on Nov. 9, a Friday. Coming back to court Tuesday after the Monday holiday, jurors tried again.

Rolon, 27, of West Springfield, was accused of an armed and masked robbery of a West Springfield insurance company.

When the jury reported the split, Kinder gave the jury the standard legal instruction.

Such instruction essentially tells jurors to try harder, listen to their fellow jurors, but not to go against their principles.

Within an hour after that instruction the jury came back with guilty verdicts against Rolon for armed and masked robbery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Normal trial process calls for the legal instruction, called Tuey-Rodriguez – named after a state court decision – usually the second time a jury reports itself deadlocked. Kinder followed that process after hearing from both prosecution and defense they had no objection.

If a jury deliberates more and reports itself deadlocked a third time, a mistrial is often declared.

Witnesses said a masked suspect, who was waving a handgun, entered Axiom Insurance, formerly known as Stevens Insurance Agency, on Dec. 23 and robbed it of cash.

Defense lawyer Jared Olanoff argued the witnesses could see very little of the masked robber.

He said even an insurance company worker who said she recognized the voice of Rolon, a customer, said she was only 80 percent sure it was him.

Olanoff presented records from Sony Entertainment America that he said showed Rolon was home at the time of the robbery, using his PlayStation interactive videogame console.

Another witness identified a photograph of someone other than Rolon as the person he believed was the robber. Rolon’s photo was included in that array.

Assistant District Attorney James M. Forsyth said the PlayStation records, including time of log-ons, did not prove Rolon was home at the time of the robbery.

He said the woman worker recognized Rolon’s voice and build, since she had dealt with him about 20 times when he came to pay his bill in cash. 

Springfield Community Together rebuilds couple's tornado-damaged home in time for Thanksgiving

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Springfield Community Together was formed a month after the tornado hit and is committed to rebuilding for the long term.

SPRINGFIELD — For the past year and a half, life kept crashing down on Terry Humphries and Mary Ann Caroll, much like the tornado that struck their home on Bradley Road in June 2011.

One minute they had jobs, savings, security. Then came the tornado, life-threatening illnesses, bills and a failed repair job.

They might have given up if not for Springfield Community Together, a volunteer organization devoted to long-term tornado recovery.

Now Humphries and Carroll will spend Thanksgiving in their newly renovated home. At their darkest hour, said Humphries, “These people said, ‘Try one more time.’ And we did.”

Humphries is tall, white-haired and regal in bearing. He is a Vietnam veteran who suffers from the effects of Agent Orange. He used to be a special education teacher. Then he got too sick to work.

He struggles with heart damage and is in remission from cancer. In the past year, he was taken to the emergency room four times and hospitalized twice in a medically induced coma.

“It was one thing after another after another,” he said. “You would start to get up and you’d get knocked down again.”

Humphries said his wife bore the brunt of it. “My job was to be sick,” he joked grimly. “She was alone and taking care of everything.”

Carroll has been a teacher and a case manager for disabled clients. “We were both 100-hours-a-week people,” said Humphries.

Her sister, disabled and terminally ill, lived with the couple in the modest ranch house they acquired in 2001.

At a Nov. 16 ceremony, Carroll’s blue eyes brimmed with tears as she cut the ribbon on the front door of her newly renovated home.

She recalled a moment last July when she was sure she had no options left but a cheap welfare hotel.

Now she is determined to bring her sister home, too. The sister has been in a nursing home for the past year.

Springfield Community Together was formed a month after the tornado hit and is committed to rebuilding for the long term.

Based at Christ Presbyterian Church, the group has enlisted more than 2,000 volunteers, some from as far away as Belgium.

Its board is composed of representatives from 16 local nonprofit organizations. In the past year and a half it has served 205 families and rebuilt 14 homes. Its member organizations have helped hundreds more.

Its volunteers first visited the couple soon after the tornado, to clean up debris from a massive tree that had fallen on their roof.

Less than a month ago, they learned that the couple was again desperate for help. They had paid a contractor $48,000 to fix their crumpled home, but the work was not done.

When Dan Holden, project manager, saw the house he was "horrified."

Volunteer board members met as often as twice a day to get the project going, said Pastor Tracy Johnson of Christ Presbyterian. One of the heroes of the effort was Adrian McCray of Adrian Construction, who vowed to rebuild the house in time for Thanksgiving. “Once I heard the story, it touched my heart,” said McCray.

Springfield Community Together has also helped the couple access funds from state disaster relief agencies.

At the ceremony, board member Kathryn Buckley-Brawner of Catholic Charities presented the couple with a huge gift basket full of Thanksgiving foods.

Thanks, indeed.

To volunteer or make a contribution to Springfield Community Together:

write Christ Presbyterian Church, 1587 Allen St., Springfield MA 01118 
call (413) 296-1052 
visit www.springfieldcommunitytogether.com

Massachusetts RMV employee, charged with scamming illegal aliens, held following arraignment; officials say she took bribes, promising fake licenses

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In addition to accepting money for promises of fake licenses, Adriana Ferreira also took bribes to delay or end deportations proceedings and never provided those services either, Suffolk County DA Daniel Conley said.

Ferreira-Adriana-Surv-Pic.jpg Registry of Motor Vehicles employee Adriana Ferreira is shown counting money that officials say she received as a bribe. The photo was taken with a hidden camera, according to the office of Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley.

Updates a story posted Friday at 12:19 p.m.


BOSTON– A clerk with the Registry of Motor Vehicles was arrested at work Friday morning and charged with taking part in a scheme in which she scammed thousands of dollars from illegal immigrants in exchange for promises to provide fake driver’s licenses.

The woman was accused of accepting bribes of up to $2,000 per license, which she never delivered, and then threatening to contact immigration officials whenever the people who paid her demanded their money back, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.

The clerk, Adriana Ferreira, 48, of Brighton, was arraigned Friday in Suffolk District Court on a 27-count indictment that included five counts of larceny by false pretense, four counts of attempted larceny by false pretense, four counts of conspiracy to falsely make or obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license, and 14 counts of bribery under two separate statutes.

In addition to accepting money for promises of fake licenses, Ferreira also took bribes to delay or end deportation proceedings. She never provided those services either, Conley said.

At her arraignment, she was ordered held in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. In the event she makes bail and is released, she is also required to surrender her passport, remain in Massachusetts and wear a GPS monitoring device.

The charges are the result of a lengthy investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations agents, Massachusetts State Police and Suffolk County fraud prosecutors.

Two people that she is accused of swindling, including the wife of a man facing deportation, reported her to immigration officials. They also agreed to meet with Ferreira and secretly record her.

She was charged with defrauding five people since 2009, but Ferreira told investigators following her arrest that she may have swindled as many as 30 people, Conley said.

“There is no room for this type of corruption at any level of government,” he said. “This is a case of greed and exploitation that we will pursue aggressively.”

Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of the Boston bureau of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s division of Homeland Security Investigations, said “America's legal immigration system is not for sale and HSI will move aggressively against those who compromise the integrity of that system simply to enrich themselves.”

He said Ferreira’s actions demonstrate how illegal immigration is a criminal business that is supported by criminal activity. He said federal, state and local agencies will continue working aggressively “against those who corrupt the system and put the public at risk in an effort to satisfy their own greed."


No. 6 North Carolina State rips UMass 94-76 in Puerto Rico semifinal

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The Minutemen couldn't keep up with the highly ranked Wolfpack.

Richard Howell, Cady Lalanne, Raphael Putney Richard Howell of North Carolina State, left, battles for a rebound against UMass' Cady Lalanne, center, and Raphael Putney during an NCAA college basketball game in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)
BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico — C.J. Warren had 21 points, Richard Howell added 19 and nine rebounds and Scott Wood hit five three-pointers as No. 6 North Carolina State flexed their muscle against UMass 94-76 in Friday's second semifinal of the Puerto Rico Tipoff.

The Minutemen were led by Jesse Morgan's 15 points, while Chaz Williams and Terrell Vinson each had 13.

North Carolina State led by 10 less than four minutes in, 16 at halftime and as many as 27 in the second half.

UMass will face Tennessee in the third-place game on Sunday at 4 p.m. The Wolfpack will take on former UMass coach Travis Ford's Oklahoma State Cowboys in Sunday's championship, set for 6:30 p.m.

Rock 102's Bax & O'Brien to launch annual 'Mayflower Marathon' food drive to benefit Open Pantry

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Over a span of 52 hours over three days beginning Monday, host Michael Baxendale and John O'Brien will broadcast from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

bax obrien.JPG Michael "Bax" Baxendale, left, and John O'Brien, hosts of Rock 102's "Bax & O'Brien" morning show will kick off their annual Mayflower Marathon food drive Monday.


SPRINGFIELD – Rock 102 morning hosts Bax & O’Brien will begin their annual Mayflower Marathon on Monday morning to collect non-perishable food items for Open Pantry Community Services of Springfield.

Over a span of 52 hours over three days beginning Monday, host Michael Baxendale and John O’Brien will broadcast from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The marathon over the three days before Thanksgiving has been an annual tradition for nearly 20 years, according to station officials.

The goal this year is to fill three 48-foot trailers with non-perishable food for Open Pantry.
For more information, go the Rock 102 website

Red Cross volunteer Ellen Patashnick of Springfield coming home following Hurricane Sandy relief work in New York

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About 70 volunteers from Western Massachusetts are part of the Red Cross relief effort.

Ellen Patashnick horiz mug 2012.jpg Ellen Patashnick

SPRINGFIELD – Ellen Patashnick, of Springfield, is coming home Saturday, and she can’t wait to sleep in her own bed.

Patashnick is part of the trained Red Cross Action Team of volunteers who have been helping victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

About 70 volunteers from Western Massachusetts are part of the relief effort, said Dawn Leaks, regional director of communications for the American Red Cross.

Some go for one to three days, to make assessments and figure out logistics. Some, like Patashnick, are gone for weeks. "We're in the early stages of the disaster," said Leakes.

Patashnick is retired, but some volunteers leave families and use personal days to serve on the front lines.

Patashnick’s job has been to seek out people affected by Hurricane Sandy, find out what they need, make sure they have the right resources and enter the information into a database for follow-up in the long term.

When asked how many hurricane victims she has met with, Patashnick laughed. “Hundreds and hundreds,” she said on the phone from New York.

“Everybody who comes out here already has been trained,” said Patashnick, “and then you get an orientation to this specific disaster.

“But you absolutely have to be flexible. You many be asked to do something completely different from what you thought.

“When you’re on deployment, you do a 12-hour shift. If you’re working in a shelter, you may be doing an overnight shift.”

Assignments range from floods in Tennessee to tornadoes in Mississippi, she said.

A former director in the Department of Child Services, Patashnick has been a Red Cross volunteer for seven years. “I enjoy casework and I enjoy helping out,” she said.

When Hurricane Sandy first threatened, she was assigned to a shelter in Northampton and was then sent to Connecticut.

She has been in New York for two weeks. The volunteers go to shelters, disaster recovery centers, and door-to-door to private homes and apartment buildings.

Many areas hit by Hurricane Sandy were without power for 16 to 17 days. Patashnick came across high-rise dwellers who had depended on electric pumps to get water up to their apartments. She came across elderly people in buildings where the elevators weren’t working and going up and down stairs was difficult.

Her own son lives in Hoboken, N.J., where he was trapped in his apartment for two days.

Patashnick said what she will remember most is “how resilient people in New York are.

“They are strong people,” she said. “They’re not used to disasters like this, so everyone has learned a lot from it.”

In the past two weeks Patashnick has slept in a barracks and a hotel that pitched in with reduced rates. “Everyone got a roommate,” she said. “Everyone doubled up.”

The first thing she is going to do upon coming home, she said, is her laundry.

“It will be nice to be home and to be in your own bed,” she said wistfully.

No. 6 North Carolina State's talent, athleticism too much for UMass basketball in 94-76 defeat

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The Wolfpack jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Tipoff.

LeslieNCSUDrive.jpg C.J. Leslie of North Carolina State drives the ball against UMass' Cady Lalanne in the first half of Friday's semifinal game at the Puerto Rico Tipoff.

BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico – There are plenty of reasons to lose a basketball game. Turnovers, missed free throws, bad shot selection — the list goes on as long as your imagination will let it.

Here’s one you won’t hear that often: The other team was just more talented.

Ultimately, that’s what it came down to in Friday’s semifinal between the University of Massachusetts and No. 6 North Carolina State. The Wolfpack, with their supreme athleticism and five-star recruits pounded the Minutemen 94-76, led by 21 points from freshman forward T.J. Warren and 19 points and nine rebounds from senior forward Richard Howell.

“They’re not rated sixth in the country and picked to win the ACC for any reason other than they’re a good basketball team,” Kellogg said. “I’ve been around really good teams, I’ve coached them, and they’re a really good team.”

The loss sends UMass to the third-place game against Tennessee at 4 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU, while the Wolfpack advance to the championship against Oklahoma State at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said he didn’t think the Wolfpack would have much trouble with UMass’ up-tempo style and pressure defense. His team’s lethal combination of speed and size created a nightmare of a matchup for Kellogg.

“I felt like we’re a team where if you want to press us, I think that we can make you pay,” Gottfried said. “We felt like they would stay with it, too, because that’s how they play, and that we’d have a lot of opportunities on the break to score. I thought we could get 100 today. We came up a little short.”

Kellogg also knew it would be a bad matchup for UMass, but said because of the short turnaround between Thursday’s dramatic win over Providence and Friday’s game, he didn’t really have a choice but to try and win a track meet.

“Not having a ton of time to prepare, we didn’t have much to switch up with. We went with how we play and how we do, and tonight that wasn’t good enough,” Kellogg said. “They got the ball in as fast as any team we’ve played and really beat our pressure up the floor.”

That happened immediately, as North Carolina State jumped out to a 12-2 lead less than four minutes into the game on three layups and two 3-pointers, including Scott Wood’s first of five.

UMass clawed back within four with 11:24 to go in the first half, but that would be as close as they would get.

With 1:09 left to play, UMass got its biggest scare of the night when point guard Chaz Williams went down hard on his left ankle after going for up a block and landing awkwardly on teammate Maxie Esho.

Williams let out a loud scream of pain before limping off the floor under his own power. Much to the relief of Minutemen fans, he returned to start the second half, and finished with 13 points. Both he and Kellogg said he’ll be ready to play Sunday.

“I’m tough, I’m from Brooklyn, so I really don’t feel much pain,” Willaims said. “If it ain’t broke I can play, that’s what my mom always tells me. It ain’t broke, so I’m going to play.”

The Wolfpack outscored the Minutemen 28-16 to finish the half, and took a 16-point lead to the break.

With 11:39 to go in the game, North Carolina State extended its lead to 20. It would burgeon as high as 27 late in the second half as Howell and forward C.J. Leslie exerted their will in the paint.

Jesse Morgan scored five of his team-high 15 points during an 11-2 run to finish the game, and UMass finished with five players (Morgan, Williams, Terrell Vinson, Maxie Esho and Raphiael Putney) in double figures, but it wouldn’t be near enough to close the obvious talent gap.

“They have four McDonald’s All-Americans, a couple guys that are probably draft picks, and on occasion those guys make plays,” Kellogg said with a hint of sarcasm. “You run something and they make a play that a normal guy can’t make.”

UMass basketball won't face old coach Travis Ford Sunday, will play Tennessee instead

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The Minutemen will take on the Volunteers in Sunday's third place game at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.

Richard Howell, Cady Lalanne, Raphael Putney Richard Howell of North Carolina State, left, battles for a rebound against UMass’ Cady Lalanne, center, and Raphael Putney.

BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico — There is still good news for the University of Massachusetts basketball team after getting blown out by No. 6 North Carolina State in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Tipoff Friday night.

The Minutemen will get another shot at a quality win to boost a potential NCAA Tournament resume when they face Tennessee in the third-place game at 4 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU.

The Volunteers, like the Minutemen, were blown out in the semifinals. Former UMass coach Travis Ford’s Oklahoma State Cowboys embarrassed Tennessee 62-45 in Friday’s first semifinal.

The Volunteers were picked fourth in the SEC Preseason poll a month ago, and are led by sophomore forward Jarnell Stokes, who UMass coach Derek Kellogg said he is plenty familiar with, and said was the Volunteers’ best player

“(Stokes) is a Memphis kid so I’ve seen him kind of come up through the ranks and have talked and heard a lot about him,” Kellogg said. “When Stokes got eligible halfway though the year last year, they were kind of the team everybody was talking about on a national level.”

Tennessee also has point guard Trae Golden, who led the Volunteers in 2011-12 with 13.6 points per game, and Jordan McRae — a rangy 6’5” shooting guard who is averaging (along with Golden) 11 points through Tennessee’s first three games.

The Minutemen will welcome the day off Saturday, which point guard Chaz Williams said they will use to relax, and Kellogg said the will use to refocus.

“We exerted a ton of energy to win that Providence game … and I thought we exerted some energy tonight,” Kellogg said. “I think a day off will be good to really just to get us mentally and physically back refocused and ready to go.”

The matchup with Tennessee also rules out a potential game against Ford and Oklahoma State, who take on North Carolina State in the championship at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

FRESHMEN PLAY MINUTES

In the blowout, freshman Trey Davis played a career-high ten minutes, scoring five points and shooting 2-for-6 from the floor.

“Chaz can’t play 40 minutes a game, so Trey’s going to have to come and help us,” Kellogg said. “I thought he grew up some tonight, made some good plays, some good baskets, was playing some good defense — forced a few shots, but I think that’s kind of something our team is doing.”

Seven-foot freshman Izzy Freeman made his collegiate debut, playing three minutes and missing the only shot he took — a hook shot in the lane

Tyler Bergantino also played four minutes for the second consecutive night, but again did not get on the board.

CARMELO TRAVIESO’S LAST-SECOND CAMEO

After Thursday’s win over Providence, former UMass guard and Puerto Rico native Carmelo Travieso’s wife told him what he had to do.

“My wife said, ‘UMass won, you’ve got to get down there,’” Travieso, who currently lives in Boston, said. “Part of being an alumni and part of being someone who helped the team get to where they are at now … it’s very important to show as much support as we can.”

So off he went, arriving in Puerto Rico on Friday in time for to watch the Minutemen’s game against North Carolina State.

Travieso actually played in the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez — where the tournament is being held — for three seasons and holds all of the three-point records and the record for points in a quarter, with 21.

Travieso said he’d love to play in UMass’ current offensive system as opposed to former coach John Calipari’s more structured offense.

“Run and gun baby,” Travieso said. “I probably would have gotten a lot more shots so I would have been a lot happier.”

PRESEASON TOURNAMENT NEWS

By all accounts everyone is having a good time in San Juan, but the Minutemen won’t be back at the Puerto Rico Tipoff next season.

Auburn, Charlotte, Florida State, Georgetown, Kansas State, Long Beach State, Michigan and VCU will make up the field in Puerto Rico in 2013.

There is news regarding UMass’ future preseason tournament plans, however. A UMass official confirmed that the team is in talks to play in a tournament at the Barclays Center next season, and will head to Mohegan Sun in 2014 to play in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic alongside Creighton, Florida State and Notre Dame.

Holyoke marks grand opening of $165 million Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center

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Gov. Deval Patrick, who 3 years ago announced the computing center would be built in Holyoke, was on hand to cut the ribbon to open it.

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HOLYOKE — Words like "crazy" and "milestone" were used to highlight the significance Friday of this city becoming official home to a $165 million high performance computing center.

With iconic partners like Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, such a collaboration leading to the center's grand opening defied skeptics who might have dismissed such a project as crazy, MIT President Emeritus Susan Hockfield said.

"And yet, that crazy idea has taken shape right behind us," Hockfield said. "It's part of an exciting new Holyoke."

The availability of the renewable energy from the hydroelectric dam here actually made it logical to have Holyoke as the host of the 90,300-square-foot facility. It will house 20,000 computers – most of which have yet to arrive – that will sift galaxies of data researching medicine, climate change and even traffic patterns, officials said.

"Today is a celebration of a major milestone," Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray said.

Lt. Thomas G. Paquin of the Holyoke Fire Department estimated about 400 people had gathered in a big white portable tent erected outside the brick-and-glass center between Appleton and Cabot streets. They heard remarks from Gov. Deval L. Patrick, Mayor Alex B. Morse and others for about an hour.

Patrick likened the center's opening in this former paper mill city that many people believe is making a comeback to someone imagining a different future and then reaching for it.

"Holyoke's best days lie ahead," Patrick said.

Patrick announced in June 2009 that the computing center would be built here. Construction began in August 2011.

Besides Harvard and MIT, the partners in the facility are the University of Massachusetts, Boston University, Northeastern University, EMC Corp., of Hopkinton, an information storage, back-up and recovery firm, and Cisco Systems Inc., a California-based internet network equipment maker.

The center itself will employ only a few dozen people. Officials say the benefit to the city will come in high-technology and other businesses drawn here by the center.

Morse said having such an extraordinary facility here sends a message to business about Holyoke's capabilities.

"This has really been able to change the perception of Holyoke," Morse said.

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The facility – its official name is the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center – is tax-exempt, which has prompted discussion of the city seeking a payment in lieu of taxes.

Morse said before the ceremony he continues to negotiate a six-figure payment in lieu of taxes with computing center officials. In presenting the city budget in May, he discussed seeking such a payment from the center of $500,000.

Officials were noncommittal about the city getting a payment in lieu of taxes from the computing center.

Alexandra L. Swan, of Howell Communications, of Boston, representing the center, said she asked center official Claire Christopherson about the payment in lieu of taxes and was told there was nothing new on that matter.

The event included a formal ribbon cutting outside the center's doors, burial of a time capsule on the grounds and Morse thanking former mayors Elaine A. Pluta and Michael J. Sullivan for their computing center efforts.

Clear and cold this evening, low 23

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More of the same ... clear and chilly for the next few days.

Gallery previewNot much is changing in our weather pattern ... clear skies and light winds continue through this evening, allowing our temperatures to free-fall after sunset. Highs today topped out close to 50 degrees, and overnight lows will drop (again) to the lower-20s.

To keep it simple, a large area of high pressure will remain over the Northeast all the way through Monday. This means clear skies will stay with us for the next few days. High temperatures continue reaching the mid-to-upper 40s.

On Tuesday, this high will start to exit, allowing a few extra clouds to push into the region. That is all that will happen though, we're still looking dry into Thanksgiving. A few days ago, there was some talk about a coastal storm for the middle of the week, but that low pressure system is going to harmlessly stay well out at sea.

To find out how to stay prepared this winter, and how much snow we're expecting in Western Mass., tune in to CBS3 Springfield this Wednesday night at 11:15 p.m. for a special weather presentation, the Pinpoint Weather Winter Outlook.

Tonight: Clear and cold, low 23.

Sunday: Sunny, high 48.

Monday: Sunny, high 50.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy, high 48.

Radar | 5 Day Forecast


Rajon Rondo notches 20 assists as Boston Celtics drop Toronto Raptors, 107-89

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Jason Terry scored 20 points and Rajon Rondo tied his season high with 20 assists as Boston beat Toronto 107-89 on Saturday.

jason terry airplane raptors.jpg Boston Celtics' Jason Terry celebrates his three-pointer in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. The Celtics won 107-89.

BOSTON (AP) — Jason Terry scored 20 points and Rajon Rondo tied his season high with 20 assists as Boston beat Toronto 107-89 on Saturday.

Paul Pierce added 19 points and six rebounds and Kevin Garnett scored 15 for Boston, which took a 17-point lead in first quarter, then held off several runs by the Raptors before pulling away midway through the second half.

Rookie Jared Sullinger had his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Andrea Bargnani and John Lucas led Toronto with 15 points apiece. DeMar DeRozan, Jose Calderon, Terrence Ross and Linas Kleiza scored 10 each for Toronto, which has struggled to a 2-7 start.

The Celtics scored 11 straight over the end of the third quarter and first few minutes of the fourth to go up by 21 points.

Rondo appeared at full strength after sitting out the loss at Brooklyn on Thursday with a sprained right ankle. He had seven assists in the first quarter and 11 at halftime, extending his streak of consecutive games with double-digit assists to 33.

Rondo's streak is the third-longest in NBA history and puts him within four games of tying John Stockton. Magic Johnson holds the record at 46 consecutive games with 10 or more assists.

Chris Wilcox dunked an alley-oop on Rondo's 19th assist, then Terry made another 3-pointer to put Boston up 79-64 entering the fourth.

Rondo left the game shortly after reaching 20 assists early in the fourth, four short of his career high.

After trailing by as much as 17 in the first quarter, Toronto regrouped in the second and chipped into the lead with a 13-4 run. Lucas' 3-pointer with 2:35 left pulled the Raptors within 42-39, but Pierce had a three-point play and the Celtics led 47-42 at halftime.

Boston still out of synch early in the third and a few fans started booing when DeRosa's layup pulled Toronto within 55-53 with 6:38 left in the quarter.

Bargnani got Toronto close again with a pair of free throws, 63-61, with 3:30 left in the third. But Terry hit two 3-pointers as Boston went on an 11-1 run.

Toronto was coming off a win at Indiana on Tuesday and has yet to win back-to-back games this season. Boston was playing for the third time in four days and has a game at Detroit on Sunday night.

New England Patriots release Deion Branch

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Branch has been released for the second time this year.

Deion Branch for 6 Deion Branch was released Saturday.

The Deion Branch era is once again over in New England.

Amid a series of roster moves, the Patriots cut ties with the veteran wide receiver and elevated Greg Salas from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Cornerback Aqib Talib was also added to the active roster, with cornerback Malcolm Williams being the casualty of that move.

It appeared New England had designs for Salas to replace Branch earlier this year. Branch was released on Aug. 31 and the Patriots made a trade with the St. Louis Rams to acquire Salas the next day for a late-round 2015 draft pick. But the change was quickly aborted. Branch was brought back on Sept. 18 and Salas was released after two games and later signed to the practice squad.

That move hasn't worked out as expected either, as Branch has made just nine receptions for 80 yards. His best game came last week against the Buffalo Bills, where he caught four passes for 30 yards.

Branch went down with a hamstring injury during practice this week, and with Wes Welker (ankle) and Brandon Lloyd (knee) also battling injuries, the Patriots likely felt that they needed more depth for Sunday's game against the Colts.

Branch will now be subject to waivers and teams will have until 4 p.m. Monday to claim him. A claiming team would have to pay him only the prorated version of his $925,000 base salary.

The Patriots could bring him back if he goes unclaimed.

Comcast SportsNet New England was first with this report.

Jared Sullinger playing his role well for Boston Celtics: Rookie has 'calming effect,' Doc Rivers says after Sullinger's first double-double

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Sullinger had 12 points and 11 rebounds Saturday, but he's been helping even when his impact isn't so loud.

jared sullinger raptors.JPG Toronto Raptors' Ed Davis, right, grabs a rebound against Boston Celtics' Jared Sullinger (7) in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. The Celtics won 107-89.

BOSTON -- For most of Jared Sullinger's young life dominating was the norm, so the question likely sounded a bit foreign to him.

The Boston Celtics rookie power forward was asked how it felt to get his first NBA double-double, which came Saturday with 12 points and 11 rebounds against the Toronto Raptors, and his response included a reference to his past.

"It feels good, because I'm used to having a double-double," he said. "It feels good, just to carry it over to the next level."

Watching Sullinger now, it's easy to forget how he used to manhandle Big 10 opponents during two years at Ohio State. It's easy to forget he's never been a role player, simply because he's become such a willing one for the Celtics. Perhaps the best sign of his ability to excel in the background is the way teammate Kevin Garnett speaks about him.

To understand the prism through which Garnett sees basketball, realize that he's one of the most talented NBA players ever yet sometimes passes up open shots just because he feels his team could use more ball movement. He is focused on, maybe even obsessed with, how players fit within a team landscape.

And he loves what Sullinger provides.

"On your yellow pad, he's not that big of a deal," Garnett told reporters.

He was referring to Sullinger's statistics, which certainly don't pop out. Even after Saturday's big outing, the power forward is averaging 3.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. But remember, Garnett observes basketball with his eye focused solely on the team. He is not interested so much in how much a player accomplishes, but how much he helps.

"Sully does small things like rebound the ball, the way he gets guys open. Small things, you guys probably aren't looking for them on the stat sheet," Garnett said. "But playing with him as a teammate, his dives, his roles, him getting (Jason Terry) open looks, stuff like that, little small things that aren't going to show up on your yellow pad. The small things which he does make us better. And in order for us to be better, in this process of getting better, everybody has to do those small things."

Saturday, Sullinger's repertoire of wisdom and skill was on full display. He made three pick-and-pop jumpers, a talent he works on regularly after practice. He battled for rebounds, grabbing more offensive boards (four) than the rest of his teammates combined (three). He caused a turnover by semi-fronting in the post. He played 26 minutes without a turnover.

Sullinger said he's often called an "older" player. By labeling him that, people are saying he possesses the requisite basketball IQ and crafty maneuvers to overcome his lack of elite athleticism. He boxes out, sets hard screens, chases after rebounds. He's improving his defensive awareness and conditioning. He rarely forces shots and moves well without the basketball.

He instantly made his way into Doc Rivers' rotation, which is normally more difficult than a bulletproof windshield for rookies to crack, and already knows how to keep his head coach's cholesterol levels low.

"He's a calming effect at times when you put him in, and I don't think I've ever said that about a rookie," Rivers acknowledged.

The most optimistic aspect of Sullinger's season so far is this: He has the skill and talent to make a considerably larger offensive impact at some point in the future, yet for now, as he figures it all out, he remains a real contributor. Many rookies preach a team mentality, but Sullinger lives it. He could probably do more in the post and he could certainly shoot more jump shots, but that's not always what the Celtics need from him.

If Ryan Hollins last year was a roller-coaster ride -- a fierce block followed by a turnover followed by an alley-oop dunk, perhaps even followed by a heart attack, somewhere -- Sullinger is a lawn chair in the back yard. And perhaps it's confidence that makes him such a soothing presence.

Confidence reveals itself on the basketball court in many ways. Watch J.R. Smith, for example, and confidence hits you in the face. It slaps you whenever he takes a fadeaway 25-footer and confounds you whenever he tries to dribble behind his back in traffic.

Sullinger's confidence might be revealing itself in different ways. Large parts of his offensive game are still in hiding, yet he rarely displays any level of irrationality on a basketball court. He is comfortable enough with himself to forego many of the things that made him a two-time college All-American -- the post-up game, the 3-point range -- and stick with what the Celtics need from him.

Sometimes, like Saturday, that will result in big statistics. But always, as Garnett noted, Sullinger helps.

"Whatever Doc says, goes," the rookie said.

And he means it.

Springfield bar brawl on Worthington Street sparks ire of Mayor Domenic Sarno and police officials

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Sarno said the Fat Cat was among the earliest to get a 2 a.m. entertainment-extension permit and are scheduled to appear before the License Commission.

fat cat.JPG Springfield police Sgt. John Delaney and Mayor Domenic Sarno speak about a fight at The Cat's Alley, a Worhtington Street bar, where nine people were arrested early Saturday after four police officers were injured breaking up a large disturbance.


Updates a story published at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.



SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Domenic J. Sarno issued a stern message outside a downtown bar that was the scene of a melee early Saturday morning that sent four police officers to the hospital with sprains, a broken finger and a concussion.

"I'm not playing games," said Sarno, who had previously relaxed a 1 a.m. entertainment curfew for the Fat Cat Bar and Grill (also known as The Cat's Alley), where the brawl started. The entertainment curfew was extended to the 2 a.m. closing time at several other bars recently.

"This is exactly why I put these restrictions in place. If you operate your place properly you'll have no problem with my administration ... if you don't, you'll feel the full wrath of the License Commission and my authority over the entertainment licenses," Sarno said.

The Fat Cat's owner, Michael Torcia, of East Longmeadow, said, "There are two sides to every story, and my attorney has told me not to say any more than that." Torcia said the bar will be open for business Saturday night.

Springfield police Sgt. John M. Delaney joined Sarno outside the darkened bar at 232 Worthington St. Saturday afternoon to denounce the incident, which began as a fight among a group of women and ended up drawing in around 60 participants before spilling into the streets around 2 a.m.

Delaney said five officers routinely assigned to foot patrol in the club quarter on weekends were forced to call for backup – which pulled virtually every other officer on duty across the city. The officer who sustained the concussion also was a female, Delaney added.

"Five against 60 was not enough ... and this bar fight stripped the city of its protection. Police should not go home injured because there are a bunch of drunks fighting," Delaney said.

The incident seemed to punctuate the debate that has gone on between city officials and bar owners for approximately a year.

Sarno enacted a 1 a.m. curfew on entertainment, ranging from televisions to live and recorded music to exotic dancers, in several cases. He made exceptions for full-service restaurants, prompting several establishments to build kitchens or beef up their menus. Downtown bar owners groused about the restriction, saying it was another impediment for already struggling businesses.

Sarno said the Fat Cat was among the earliest to get a 2 a.m. entertainment extension and that they were scheduled to come before the License Commission last week for some infraction but had to reschedule.

Sarno said he is going to explore serious sanctions on the bar and find out how quickly he can summons management to answer for the incident.

"There was a melee that was completely out of control coming out of this establishment," Sarno said, as he stood outside the Worthington Street bar.

Nine people were arrested in connection with the incident, though police have yet to publicly identify the suspects. All are expected to be arraigned Monday in Springfield District Court, Delaney said.

Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet has ordered additional units to patrol the city's entertainment district as a result of the disturbance, Delaney said.

Courtney Lee compares Rajon Rondo to Peyton Manning, says Boston Celtics star was 'mad' about having 20 assists

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Rondo had 20 assists to lead Boston's 107-89 victory against the Toronto Raptors Saturday. And he felt like he should have had more.

rajon rondo raptors.JPG Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo (9) drives past Toronto Raptors' Jose Calderon (8) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

BOSTON -- In this city, the comparison might bring a level of hesitance. Here, Tom Brady is viewed as the measuring stick for quarterbacks.

Yet when Boston Celtics guard Courtney Lee described what it's like to play alongside Rajon Rondo, he chose a different signal-caller to help state his case.

"It's a lot easier, because he's Peyton Manning out there," said Lee. "He's picking the defense apart. He's getting the ball to guys in the right position to score."

Rondo had 20 assists to lead Boston's 107-89 victory Saturday against the Toronto Raptors, controlling the game's flow despite taking just four shots. And he thought he should have had even better stats.

"He was actually mad about the 20 assists," said Lee. "He felt like he could have got 30 tonight."

Rondo has now reached double-digit assists in 33 straight games, but he downplayed his streak.

"It's something I look forward to every game, just trying to make my teammates happy," he said. "And somehow I keep getting to 10. Tonight it was a collective effort in terms of shots. It was a team effort and a team win tonight."

Save 30 for next time, I guess. Saturday, two-thirds of that was more than enough.

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