Under state law, the council will decide if there will be a citywide vote needed to allow a casino, or just a ward vote where the casino is proposed.

SPRINGFIELD — The City Council Planning and Economic Development Committee has scheduled a meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the German Gerena Community School to ask residents and business people in Springfield if they favor a citywide vote or ward vote on casinos.

The committee has met in several neighborhoods in recent weeks to confer with residents on the ballot question issue. Under state law, the council will decide if there will be a citywide vote needed to allow a casino, or just a ward vote where the casino is proposed.

Gerena School is at 200 Birnie Ave. in Ward 1. There are two casinos being proposed in Ward 1: Penn National Gaming is proposing a casino in the North End of the downtown district, and MGM Resorts is proposing a casino in the South End.

Ameristar Casinos has proposed a casino on Page Boulevard in Ward 2 in East Springfield.

UMass officials will be looking at ways to bring in more money to the football program.

University of Massachusetts Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, during a meeting with the Republican editorial board Tuesday. The Republican / Mark M. Murray

The chancellor talked about many subjects including the campus commitment to Springfield as well as understanding what the flagship campus is.

While UMass President Robert L. Caret has been pushing for a 50 percent contribution from the state instead of the 45 percent of the budget now, state revenue is coming in below expectations, Subbaswamy said.

“I don’t know if the state is in the position for revenue enhancement,” he said. The university has already engaged “in lots of efficiency measures.” The only other areas to cut are people.

“Our ability to maintain quality education will be negatively effected,”
without additional money, he said. He could not speculate on what the increases might be. This fiscal year, fees were raised 4.9 percent.

The university will be launching a major fund-raising campaign to tie in with it’s 150th anniversary in 2013. But he said that money is not for the short-term. The university operating budget is hampered with the 6.5 to 7 percent of its budget spent on paying for campus buildings.

Subbaswamy also addressed the $700,000 shortfall in the football program as a result of low attendance at home games at Gillette Stadium this season. This was the first year UMass was in Football Bowl Subdivision and ended up with a record of 1 win and 11 losses.

He said he realizes “it’s a problem,” but said “any new undertaking (has issues.)” He said the financial picture should be a little better next year. There is an additional home game and the university will earn $1.5 million get in 2013 from trips to Wisconsin and Kansas State, Athletic Director John McCutcheon said last week.

“Ticket sales depend on won-loss record,” the chancellor said.

Any new program takes time to develop. “Football is no different. I suggest we need three to four years to see how well it does.”

To address the shortfall, there “will be new initiatives. We’re carefully developing a new business plan.” He said they are looking at the more than 100,000 alumni in the eastern part of the state, a group they had expected to attend the games at Gillette in Foxboro in greater numbers. The question, he said, “how can we reach them more effectively.”

He said the university wants a stronger presence in Springfield and expects the results of a study looking at establishing a satellite campus in the city to be ready in February. And even if it’s not a campus, he said the university will be involved in other areas. But he wants to see that whatever is created is sustainable.

He also said they are looking at its decade old relationship with Baystate Health in the life sciences. “We’re trying to identify the right areas for collaboration,” he said. He said there will a refocusing of that well.

Since taking over July 1, he said he has looked at the university’s role and “what a flagship means to different constituencies. Confusion has existed.”

He said, “Everyone agrees that it is the most comprehensive, the most selective, the most research intensive. Everyone expects us to be that.
“They’re looking to us for leadership.

The other campuses have their own place in the system and he said “it’s perfectly legitimate (to be selective) because there are other access points (to the system.)”

UMass takes on Siena on Wednesday in Albany.

Let's take a look at UMass basketball's next opponent, the Siena Saints.

Game Quick Facts

Projected lineup

Player to watch

Anosike leads the nation in rebounding entering Wednesday's game, averaging 14.3 boards per game. In Siena's most recent game at Maine on Sunday, Anosike racked up 10 offensive rebounds (to go with a ho-hum 10 defensive rebounds).

Anosike is extremely physical down low (no surprise considering the rebounding statistics), and loves to get his hands on guys and fight in the paint. Offensively, the scouting reports says he's better over his left shoulder in the post.

Last Five Games

Nov. 11 — at Navy (54-49 OT W)
Nov. 16 — v. Cal State-Northridge (64-68 L) (at San Diego)
Nov. 17 — v. Northern Kentucky (56-54 W) (at San Diego)
Nov. 18 — at San Diego (60-77 L)
Nov. 25 — at Maine (66-72 L)

Notes

Arce was tired of people mistaking her for a senior citizen, Kathleen Shevlin, spokesman for the show, said.

Kat Arce, of Greenfield, is seen before her TV makeover.

GREENFIELD - Kat Arce, 44, of Greenfield has had a complete makeover and will be appearing on the Rachael Ray show Wednesday morning.

The show will air Wednesday at 9 a.m. on WGGB-TV, abc40, in Springfield.

At 44 years old, Kat Arce was tired of people mistaking her for a senior citizen, Kathleen Shevlin, spokesman for the show, said.

“She has never put much focus on herself, and knows that she’s been stuck in a hair, makeup and fashion rut for years and is finally ready to make a change,” Shevlin said.

She said Arce was given a fantastic makeover by Rachael Ray’s beauty expert, Gretta Monahan.

Rachael Ray was very pleased with Arce’s new look, Shevlin said.

The family of the slain officer is scheduled to accept the honor at the public ceremony at Central High School.

Springfield Police Officer Kevin Ambrose, who was killed in the line of duty responding to a domestic dispute in June, will be awarded a posthumous medal of honor Courtesy Springfield Police Dept.

SPRINGFIELD — The Police Department on Thursday will award a posthumous medal of honor to officer Kevin Ambrose, who was killed in the line of duty in June while responding to a domestic disturbance.

The ceremony is planned for 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Central High School on Roosevelt Avenue. It is open to the public.

Ambrose’s family will be present to receive the honor from Mayor Domenic Sarno and Police Commissioner William Fitchet, said Sgt. John Delaney.

Ambrose, 55, a 36-year veteran, was shot to death June 4 while responding to a call for a domestic disturbance at an apartment on Lawton Street.

Shawn Bryan, a New York City corrections officer, shot Ambrose multiple times in the hallway of the third floor of an apartment building. He then shot Charlene Mitchell, his estranged girlfriend and mother of his daughter, critically injuring her. Bryan then left the apartment and went into his parked car, where he killed himself.

Also scheduled to be honored are the three Springfield police officers and one state trooper who were involved in the April 30, 2011 shootout with Tamik Kirkland, an escaped prisoner and homicide suspect, on Cambridge Street.

To be honored are Springfield police Lt. Alberto Ayala and officers Raul Gonzalez and Marcus Starks, and state trooper Stephen Gregorczyk.

Gonzalez and Gregorczyk were shot during the incident but escaped injury to due their protective vests.

In October, the Springfield officers and Gregorczyk were honored in Boston as recipients of the George L. Hanna award, the state’s highest honor for police bravery.

Kirkland is scheduled to go on trial in April on multiple charges, include first-degree murder in the death of Sheldon Innocent, who was gunned down in a State Street barber shop minutes before the shootout with police on Cambridge Street.

There are many heroes to thank as we breathe a sign of relief that no one was killed in the blast.

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts employees work on Worthington Street Tuesday just down the street from Friday night's gas explosion. The Republican / Mark M. Murray

It’s been less than a week since a massive natural gas explosion rocked the city of Springfield to its core and reduced Score’s Gentlemen’s Club at 453 Worthington St. to a pile of rubble.

The blast, which took place the Friday after Thanksgiving at 5:30 p.m. – close to what on a normal week would be the commuting hour – miraculously took no lives. The explosion injured 21 people, displaced dozens of others who lived in the area, damaged as many as 40 buildings and forced several businesses to shut down.

In the wake of the explosion that could have claimed dozens of lives, there are many heroes to thank as we all wonder “what if.”

What if the commute home was in full swing? What if the children who attend nearby Square One day care center had not been home marking the Thanksgiving weekend holiday? Their parents pick them up around 5:30. What if the clubs just a block west of Score’s were filled with returning college students holding reunions with their hometown friends?

If not for the actions of officials at Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and police officers and firefighters, who had earlier evacuated the area in response to a underground gas leak, there surely would have been some fatalities.

We salute those first responders for helping move others to safety while they faced an uncertain and volatile situation.

We now know that the blast was caused by “human error.” The origins of the explosion have been attributed to a utility worker who punctured an underground gas line with a metal probing tool, according to the gas company.

Since the blast, Columbia Gas Co. has been doing all the right things. On Monday, 101 people came to a claims processing center set up by the company at City Hall where officials greeted residents with courtesy, compassion, aid and information.

Since last year's tornado, the city of Springfield has been no stranger to sudden disasters – from hurricanes to micro-bursts and from freak snowstorms to lengthy power outages. Throughout each new calamity, from the mayor’s office on down to the police and fire officials public servants have been there to help. As we contemplate what could have happened on Friday night, it’s a very comforting to know there are such dedicated professionals in our midst.

Worries about the budget talks in Washington have been hanging over the stock market for weeks.

By STEVE ROTHWELL
AP Business Writer

NEW YORK — Stocks slumped on Wall Street Tuesday after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was frustrated by the lack of progress in talks over the U.S. budget impasse in Washington.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 89.24 points to 12,878.13. The Dow and other indexes had been moving between small gains and losses for most of the day, then turned lower after Reid's comments in the early afternoon.

"We have to get away from the happy talk and start talking about specific things," Reid told reporters in televised comments.

The Standard & Poor's 500 lost 7.35 points to 1,398.94 and the Nasdaq composite index lost 8.99 points to 2,967.79.

Worries about the budget talks have been hanging over the stock market for weeks. Stocks slumped immediately after the Nov. 6 election over concerns that politicians would be unable to reach a deal to trim the deficit before a Jan. 1 deadline.

If that deadline isn't met, under current law a series of sharp tax increases and spending cuts will come into effect. Economists have warned that the measures could push the economy back into a recession. That deadline has come to be known as the "fiscal cliff."

"The markets are getting whipped around, rather sharply, on headlines," said Sal Arnuk, co-founder at Themis Trading. "For example, Harry Reid feeling we're not making enough progress on the fiscal cliff."

Last week stocks pared some of the losses that followed the election. President Barack Obama plans to make a public case this week for his strategy for dealing with the issue as he pressures Republicans to allow tax increases on the wealthy while extending tax cuts for families earning $250,000 or less.

The S&P declined as much as 5 percent in the weeks after voters returned a divided government to power, with President Barack Obama returning to the White House and Republicans retaining control of the House.

Earlier in the day, investors took little comfort from the latest deal to deliver financial aid to Greece and increases in U.S. consumer confidence and orders for machinery and equipment.

While stocks have gained this year as the Federal Reserve has maintained it bond-buying stimulus program, concern about global growth and the budget fight in Washington may limit further advances, said Uri Landesman, President of Platinum Partners, a New York-based hedge fund. The S&P is up 11 percent this year, the Dow 5 percent.

"The glass is half-empty right now," Landesman said.

The S&P rose as high as 1,465 in September, the highest in almost five years, after the Federal Reserve said it would extend its so-called quantitative easing program and buy more bonds. The program is intended to lower borrowing costs and stimulate hiring.

Two reports that suggested that the outlook for the U.S. economy may be improving failed to encourage investors to push stocks higher.

Consumer confidence rose this month to the highest level in almost five years, pushed up by steady improvement in hiring. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 73.7 in November from 73.1 in October. Both are the best readings since February 2008.

The government reported separately that U.S. companies increased their orders of machinery and equipment last month, a sign that business investment is rising. Orders rose 1.7 percent in October, the best showing since a 2.3 percent rise in May.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged down to 1.65 percent.

Among other stocks making big moves:

• ConAgra advanced $1.34, or 4.7 percent, to $29.63 after it agreed to buy Ralcorp for $5 billion in a deal that will make it the nation's biggest maker of private-label foods. Ralcorp surged $18.57, or 26.4 percent, to $88.80.

• Corning Inc., a specialty glass maker, rose 78 cents, or 6.9 percent, to $12.13 after it said that North American television sales are stronger than expected in the fourth quarter, boosting demand for its products.

• Las Vegas Sands Corp. rose $2.33, or 5.3 percent, to $46.36 after the casino operator said it would pay a special dividend of $2.75 per share, distributing about $2.26 billion to shareholders before the end of the year.

• Monster Beverage Corp. soared $6.69, or 13.3 percent, to $51.97 as concerns eased about increased regulation for the energy drink maker following a letter to senators, made public Tuesday, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

About 300 people attended the event, which has been held for at least 20 years.

CHICOPEE – Lexis Cruz was barely in elementary school when she first started attending the Boys and Girls Club annual Thanksgiving dinner and 10 years later she was one of the invaluable teenage volunteers who helped put it on.

Cruz's job this year was to collect donations for Lorraine's Soup Kitchen which diners were asked to bring. She also handed out tickets for drinks and desserts.

“We got more donations than last year. I think people are hearing about it and more and more come every year,” said Cruz, 14, a freshman at Chicopee High School and a club member.

Cruz is right, more than 300 meals were served at the club this year, said Elizabeth Daly, director of the club.

The Boys and Girls Club has been holding a free community meal on the Monday before Thanksgiving for more than 20 years. Families of children who attend one of more of the many club programs, neighbors and community members were all welcome, Daly said.

“It is about the community. These are our families and our kids and our neighbors,” she said.

This year Charter Communications donated $500 to buy turkeys and desserts. Westover Job Corps students cooked and carved the turkeys while the Knights of Columbus provided vegetables and potatoes, she said.

Staff, board members and club members helped prepare and serve the dinner.

This was the first dinner for club member Bailey Bleau, 14, a freshman at Comprehensive High School. He said he got a chance to eat in between volunteering to help at the dinner.

“It was good. I started out with serving Kool-Aid and then I helped with the cans,” given to Lorraine's Soup Kitchen, he said.

In the true spirit of the dinner, James Gutierrez, the sports director and teen coordinator for the club, brought his wife, daughter, son, niece, his son's girlfriend and even a puppy to the event.

“I love how everyone comes together in the community for this,” he said.

He said he also enjoys meeting families of some children and talking to those who he already knows.

Marina Munoz said she came with her her granddaughter, Angelina Holugin, 8, who attends the club and asked her to come.

“It was delicious. Everything was great,” Munoz said.

The council special tax rate committee has scheduled 2 more hearings, one at the St. Michael's gymnasium and the other at City Hall

SPRINGFIELD — Some business representatives urged city councilors Tuesday to consider easing the tax burden on the commercial-industrial sector this fiscal year in order to retain and attract companies and jobs and to improve economic development.

The council’s special tax rate committee conducted a hearing at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce conference room on Main Street, one of four hearings being held in advance of the council’s vote on the rates for fiscal year 2013.

Board of Assessors Chairman Richard J. Allen said that the majority of homeowners and business owners will have reduced tax bills this year, due to declining property values and the city reaching its tax levy ceiling under Proposition 2 1/2. The reduction will occur regardless of the exact rates, but the council can adjust the rates, if desired, to ease the gap between the two sectors, he said.

The total tax levy, the amount the city can bill, is $167.4 million in the current fiscal year, a reduction of $2 million from last year.

The tax rate in fiscal year 2012 was $19.83 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for homeowners, and was $39.99 per $1,000 for commercial/industrial properties.

Jeffrey S. Ciuffreda

Jeffrey S. Ciuffreda, president of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, said it is in the city’s long-term interest to work toward narrowing that gap, easing the burden on businesses to promote economic growth and jobs, while still being sensitive to the residential rate, he said.

“I understand the politics,” Ciuffreda said. “This is a real economic development decision.”

The next tax rate hearing is Thursday at 6 p.m., at the Holy Cross/St. Michael’s gymnasium at 153 Eddywood St., with access on Wheeler Avenue.

In addition, there will be a hearing on Monday at 5 p.m. at the council chambers at City Hall, which will be followed by a special meeting at 5:30 p.m., in the council chambers to consider setting the tax rates. There was a prior hearing at City Hall last week.

Maurice Nichols, community relations and economic development specialist for Massachusetts for Northeast Utilities, joined Ciuffreda in urging the council to consider easing the tax burden on business.

“A friendlier tax rate will help the situation,” Nichols said, adding that Western Massachusetts Electric Co. is one of the largest taxpayers in Springfield.

The hearings have not attracted much public participation; only Nichols and Ciuffreda commented on the rates along with city officials.

Councilor Timothy Rooke, chairman of the Finance Committee, said he agrees with the importance of keeping and attracting business and jobs, while considering the residential and business rates.

“That is where the delicate balance has to be struck,” he said.

Councilor Clodovaldo Concepcion said he supports business but knows that businesses “have a little more leeway” to cope with the higher rate.

Other officials attending the hearing included Councilors John Lysak and Zaida Luna and representatives of the assessors and finance departments.

Prosecutors charged that over the last 2 years Hiersche downloaded several explicit images of children from the Internet, and took secret pictures of two children during bath time that he planned to sell

The Republican Editorials

SPRINGFIELD – A Chicopee man faces up to 20 years in prison after admitting Tuesday to multiple charges involving child pornography and the exploitation of children.

Joseph Hiersche, 40, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to seven counts of exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office

Prosecutors charged that over the last 2 years Hiersche downloaded several explicit videos and photographs of children from the Internet. They also charged that he used a hidden camera to take photos and record videos of two naked children in a bathtub. The images were an attempt to make sexually explicit images that he intended to sell to over the internet, officials said.

The identities of the children and their relationship to Hiersche was not disclosed.

U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper ordered Hiersche to appear in court on March 7 for sentencing.

He could be sentenced up to 240 months in federal prison to be followed by supervised release for the remainder of his life. He also faces a fine of as much as $2.25 million.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of the U.S. Attorney’s Springfield Branch Unit. The investigation was conducted jointly by the U.S. Attorney, the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, and the Springfield and Chicopee police departments.

Recommended dress for the event is semi-formal.

WILBRAHAM - Students in a management and marketing class at Minnechaug Regional High School are planning a Senior Citizen Prom for those ages 55 and older Dec. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Elmcrest Country Club in East Longmeadow.

Seniors will be charged only $5 for the event and some of the proceeds will go to the senior centers in Wilbraham and Hampden to help them fund programs.

“This is an activity for seniors,” Minnechaug Regional High School senior Sara Berliner said. “We want this to be a wonderful, affordable, fun event.”

Members of the marketing class have been contacting businesses in the communities of Hampden and Wilbraham to sponsor tables and donate baskets for raffles to help keep the cost down for seniors.

Businesses like the opportunity to get their name out in the community, Berliner said.

There will be room for 100 to 120 seniors to attend the event, Berliner said.

Recommended dress for the event is semi-formal.

Individuals and couples from the Greater Springfield area are invited to attend the event.

Students will be working at the event, selling raffle tickets, decorating and selling tickets.

Tickets are $5 and can be ordered by emailing mmseniorprom@gmail.com or calling and leaving a message at 413-569-9011, ext. 6130.

Tickets will be paid at the door.

Any questions or requests for more information should be sent to the email address and can be directed to either Sara Berliner or Ashley Chapline.

Berliner said she decided to take the Management and Marketing Class at Minnechaug, taught by Katie Hastings, because she is interested in management of non-profits.

Berliner said she is considering studying drama and marketing in college.

IF YOU GO
What: Senior Citizen Prom
When: Dec. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: Elmcrest Country Club, East Longmeadow
Cost: Tickets are $5 and can be ordered by emailing mmseniorprom@gmail.com or calling 413-569-9011, ext. 6130.

The Minutemen hope to get back to playing their style of game when they head to Siena on Wednesday night.

Cady Lalanne and Raphiael Putney battle for a rebound against North Carolina State's Richard Howell in a Puerto Rico Tipoff Semifinal on Nov. 16. Associated Press

AMHERST – University of Massachusetts basketball coach Derek Kellogg wasn’t shy about diagnosing his team’s problems after its loss to Tennessee Nov. 18 in Puerto Rico.

When the Minutemen take the court against Siena on Wednesday night at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y., Kellogg and company will have had ten days to figure out how to cure what ails them.

Point guard Chaz Williams said the Minutemen have done just that.

“We just felt like we were off a little – off the beat. That happens at the beginning of the year to most teams, and it happened to us early on,” Williams said. “Thank God it did, because we’ve had a chance to correct it and fix it. We did that and now we get to move on.”

Kellogg said his team needs to get back to doing what it does best: creating havoc with its pressure defense. But to do that, the Minutemen need to make some shots to set up that press.

“I read a quote by Rick Pitino the other day where he said his press has been great, but they just haven’t gotten into it because their field-goal percentage is so low,” Kellogg said. “I feel like we’re in a little bit of that situation right now where we just have to take better shots and share the ball. If we do those things, I think the rest of the package will come together some.”

Along with the pressure defense, UMass is still feeling out how to best use Cady Lalanne in its half-court offense, and Kellogg said he’ll try a couple of different strategies to use his 6-foot-9 sophomore better.

“Cady, at times when he got tired, was actually getting in the way offensively, so we worked on finding different spots for him to give Chaz and some other guys better driving lanes,” Kellogg said. “When he’s playing and he’s energized, we’re really a better team, so some of it was we have to get him in and out of the games a little bit quicker and keep him out of foul trouble.”

Part of that will be using Sampson Carter more off the bench as a backup center. Another part, according to Williams, is figuring out when and how to get the ball to Lalanne.

“We all look to get the ball into Cady a lot this year,” Williams said. “We’re just looking for his position and where he likes the ball.”

On both ends of the floor Wednesday, Lalanne, Carter and anyone else who gets in the paint for the Minutemen will have to contend with the nation’s leading rebounder in O.D Anosike, who is averaging 14.3 per game and racked up 20 Sunday at Maine.

“Obviously the big guy is a double-double machine,” Kellogg said. “Anytime you have a guy that can dominate the paint like that, that gives you an opportunity to win because it frees up their shooters.”

Kellogg said his team remembers last year’s scare at the MassMutual Center against the Saints, and won’t be taking them lightly Wednesday.

“They’re a much better team at home from what I’ve seen,” Kellogg said. “We remember them from last year when they were up 11 on us with eight or nine minutes left in the second half, and I thought they were really controlling the game. We understand it’s going to be a rough, really a tough game, especially because it’s on the road.”

The South Hadley Library Building Committee voted Nov. 26 to recommend that the demolition contract be awarded to Jay-Mor Enterprises Inc. of Pelham, N.H.

Artist's rendering gives a birds-eye view of what the future South Hadley Public Library will look like.

SOUTH HADLEY — The vacant Northeast Utilities factory building on the Connecticut River in South Hadley Falls is one step closer to being demolished to make room for a new library.

The South Hadley Library Building Committee voted Monday to recommend that the demolition contract be awarded to Jay-Mor Enterprises Inc. of Pelham, N.H.

The recommendation must also be approved by the Library trustees and by the South Hadley Selectboard, some of whose members were at the meeting.

The committee was certain enough of the outcome that they agreed that architect Philip O’Brien of Johnson Roberts Associates could send a letter of intent to Jay-Mor so they could begin making plans.

The contract will cover both hazardous materials abatement and library site demolition, according to the committee.

Jay-Mor was one of three finalists whose bids were considered. At $112, 560, it was the lowest.

It was also highly recommended by agencies that had used its services before. Recommendations have come from the Boys Club in Revere, the University of Massachusetts in reference to a project at the Quabbin Reservoir and a officials overseeing a multi-building project in Allenstown, N.H.

“It all depends on the weather,” said Susan Crowther, chairwoman of the South Hadley Library Building Committee, when asked when the demolition will be completed. She said ground-breaking on the much-anticipated project will take place in 2014.

Requests for bids from construction companies are scheduled to go out Jan. 16, said Crowther.

Library Director Joseph Rodio said most of the furnishings for the library will be out of a catalog, rather than custom-made.

He told the committee a cautionary tale about a Massachusetts library he had heard about that had trouble replacing a broken shelf in its custom-made bookshelves.

The building committee is also trying to decide on a logo for library correspondence. It has requested and received submissions from graphic art students at Holyoke Community College, many of which combine images of river and book.

Bryan also was charged with armed assault with intent to murder Charlene Mitchell, his estranged girlfriend who called 911.

Police officers from across the region mourned Ambrose after he was killed by Bryan while responding to a domestic call on June 4. Republican file photo

SPRINGFIELD — A Hampden Superior Court grand jury has posthumously indicted Shawn Bryan, a former corrections officer from New York City, for the murder of city police officer Kevin Ambrose.

Bryan also was charged with armed assault with intent to murder Charlene C. Mitchell, his estranged girlfriend who called 911 to report that Bryan was in the area after she had obtained a restraining order against him, and she feared for her safety.

Ambrose responded to the call at 90 Lawton St. just after 1 p.m. on June 4, and was shot through the door by Bryan after the man had shut himself inside the apartment with Mitchell and their young daughter.

Kevin Ambrose Springfield Police Dept.

A detailed press release by Hampden District Attorney Mark Mastroianni's office offered new details about the killing, which rocked the local law enforcement community. Ambrose, a 36-year-veteran of the police force, attempted to force his way into the apartment as Bryan slammed the door on him, according to the release.

"As Officer Ambrose was about to force the door open, Mr. Bryan drew a handgun and shot toward Officer Ambrose from the other side of the door. The bullet traveled through the door striking Officer Ambrose. Bryan instantly opened the door as Officer Ambrose was falling to the ground. Mr. Bryan continued shooting at Officer Ambrose as the door opened," it states.

Bryan turned on Mitchell after he shot Ambrose, the release said.

"She pleaded for Mr. Bryan not to harm her or their child. Mr. Bryan responded by shooting at Ms. Mitchell. Ms Mitchell's bullet wounds were to the face, left elbow and abdomen ... She fell to the ground and 'played dead' in an effort to save herself and the child."

Police later found Bryan slumped over the steering wheel of his car in the parking lot, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

This is a developing story; more information to follow.

Final report of the shooting of Springfield, Ma. police officer Kevin Ambrose

Daniels, a Hatfield resident who shot film for The Gazette for more than 40 years, said he was out on assignment on the winter equinox with a new wide-angle lens and was just looking for something different.

This is the Northampton Center for the Arts' first night poster for this year. Gordon Daniels

NORTHAMPTON – Center for the Arts director Penny Burke knew what she wanted for the 2013 First Night poster as soon as she walked into the room.

The room was a gallery at the center, and in it were works by now retired Daily Hampshire Gazette photographer Gordon Daniels.

Burke’s eyes strayed immediately to a photo of the winter sun rising through the metal globe atop the Hotel Northampton that traditionally rises with the count-down to the new year. It was perfect.

“If you were walking through that exhibit and you saw that photo,” said Burke, “you’d say, ‘Hey!’”

Daniels, a Hatfield resident who took photographers for the Gazette for more than 40 year, said he was out on assignment on the winter equinox with a new wide-angle lens and was just looking for something different. He happened to be on the roof of the hotel when the sun came up and began shining through the framework of the globe.

Although a few past First Night posters have featured photographs, most are artists’ conceptions that invoke New Year’s Eve. This year’s First Night will be the 28th sponsored by the Center for the Arts.

The festivities annually include music, comedy and other events at multiple venues in and around downtown Northampton. There are also fireworks from the roof of the E. John Gare municipal parking garage and a children’s parade down Main Street to kick off the events.

Posters can be purchased for $5 at the Center for the Arts office at 17 New South St. and at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. They will also be available at the First Night box office on the second floor of Thorne's Marketplace on Dec. 30 and 31.

The ordinance would have required private property owners to remove graffiti from their buildings or face a daily $25 fine.

Springfield students remove graffiti from a brick building. File photo / The Republican

CHICOPEE – The City Council will consider modifying its original ordinance to force private property owners to remove graffiti from buildings, but some members said they are angry that they did not have a chance to try to override the mayor’s veto that killed the first law.

The original ordinance was passed 11-0 in early October and was designed to reduce problems with private property owners who have failed to remove graffiti sprayed illegally on their buildings.

Property owners who received a ticket would have had seven days to clean up the graffiti. If they failed to do so they would have faced a daily fine of $25.

Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette vetoed the ordinance, saying he was concerned about punishing property owners who are already victims of graffiti. He also said he would have preferred the City Council work with the police before developing the ordinance.

Councilor Jean J. Croteau Jr., one of the original authors of the ordinance, last week filed it again and asked it be discussed in subcommittee.

“The mayor is not opposed to this but wants changes,” he said.

Croteau asked that Bissonnette, Acting Police Chief Thomas Charette and a representative of the law department also attend the meeting.

The City Council agreed to send the proposal to subcommittee to be reworked, but several members questioned why the ordinance was not returned to the group so it members could decide if they wanted to override the veto.

Croteau and Councilor Donald G. Demers, who also sponsored the original proposal, said the law was on its way to dying and they wanted to see it passed. Neither were sure why it was not returned to the council for an override.

“It is a problem and it needs to be looked at,” Demers said.

Councilor James K. Tillotson said he was furious about how it was handled.

“This isn’t the way to do business. One of our rights is to override a veto,” he said. “Our attorney worked hard on this.”

Councilor Timothy S. McLellan backed up Tillotson, adding that the City Council is an independent and elected body.

“We all know the biggest problem is the absentee landlords,” Tillotson said, adding that most people who live in their own homes will clean up graffiti immediately.

Officials believe the new water ride proposed for Six Flags will not create any noise problems because riders will be in tubes.

This is a view of a Bonzai Pipelines ride in Maryland, the same kind of ride that Six Flags New England plans to build in Agawam.

AGAWAM - The Zoning Board of Appeals Monday approved the special permit Six Flags New England needs to erect a new, 65-foot-tall water ride at its amusement park on Main Street.

The board voted 3-0 after a public hearing during which a resident raised questions about how much noise the new attraction might generate.

“The screaming from the water park makes you insane,” Denise E. Vershon of 1708 Main St. said. “The park is expanding closer and closer to people’s homes.”

Vershon asked if Six Flags has any long-term plan to do noise mitigation.

In response to a question by board member Gary E. Suffriti, Six Flags New England President John Winkler said if noise becomes a problem the park will take measures.

However, Six Flags officials said they doubt the new ride will create much noise because people will be moving along in tubes.

“I don’t think this is going to be like roller-coaster screaming,” Suffriti said.

“I don’t think it is going to add hardly anything to decibel levels,” board chair Doreen A. Prouty said.

The new ride, to be called Bonzai Pipelines, will be a water slide complex with six drop-hatch slides. It would be part of the Hurricane Harbor section of the park.

Six Flags officials hope to have the ride up and running by Memorial Day Weekend of 2013.

Plans call for a structure that will be 78 feet tall, including a canopy. A special permit is needed for structures more than 45 feet in height within 250 feet of a property line. The Planning Board has approved site plans for the ride.

After reaching the top of the ride, guests will walk into a state-of-the-art “DrenalineDrop” launching capsule, where the floor drops from beneath them, sending them free-falling down a slide, twisting and turning before landing in a splash runout. Riders will surf the 257-foot slide at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.

The new ride will be built in an area in the southwest corner of the park now used as a graveled parking area for park employees.

The Zoning Board of Appeals in July granted Six Flags the special permit it needs to build the highest swing-set ride in the world. Park officials want to build a 385-foot-tall swing set ride to be called “Star Flyer.”

Gazda said he will recommend keeping as many special education services as possible within the school district.

LUDLOW - School administrators will begin meeting this week to develop a proposed fiscal 2014 school budget, school business consultant Edward Dunn told the School Committee Tuesday night.

Dunn said he is waiting to hear the budget parameters from the town on the limits to the school budget for next year.

“We’re about to begin the fiscal 2014 planning process,” he said. “We’re waiting for the town’s parameters.”

School Superintendent Todd Gazda said the school district is identifying budgetary needs for next year.

“We are looking at some new positions that could save us money down the road,” he told the School Committee.

“We will be looking for long term savings,” he said.

Gazda said he will recommend keeping as many special education services as possible within the school district to keep costs down.

“We may be able to offer more clinical services within the school district by sharing them with other school districts,” he said.

School Committee Chairman Charles Mullin said he wants the school budget process to be “as transparent as possible.”

Baird Middle School Principal Sheryl Stanton said she is pleased with the overall performance of middle school students on the MCAS test, but she said much improvement is needed on the science and technology test.

A science and technology teaching position was lost last year due to budget constraints, Stanton said.

She said she will be bringing forward science and technology program changes for next year.

Ludlow High School Principal Lisa Nemeth said Ludlow High School students need to make improvements on the MCAS physics test.

“We will be looking at solutions,” she said.

She added that one of her recommendations may be adding tutors to the high school to provide more tiered instruction to students in physics, reading and math.

Students who struggle with either reading or math also will be struggling with physics, she said, which uses both reading and math.

Many of the students taking freshman year physics never have had the material before, Nemeth said.

The study proposed 5 new programs to be added to the existing 10 courses offered at Comprehensive High School.

A student from the Chicopee Comprehensive High School carpentry program in the career and technical education program works on a house students built last year. Because of student demand, the department is hoping to expand its offerings. File photo / The Republican

CHICOPEE — An extensive study of the career and technical education programs recommends as many as five new courses be added at Comprehensive High School.

With more than 100 students on a waiting list who want to be able to study in the career technical department, educators decided to research the possibility of increasing offerings.

The school now has 10 career programs including culinary arts, machine technology and carpentry. Instead of a traditional vocational school schedule, students spend half their day studying vocational education and the other half in typical academic classes.

The report, written by several educators from Comprehensive High and the career technical department, proposed adding design and visual communications, engineering technology, heating and air conditioning, early childhood education and medical assisting, said Kenneth R. Widelo, career technical education director.

The study was prompted, in part, by a proposal for the maintenance department to move from the building it is currently using next to Comprehensive High to the now-vacant school Telecommunications Center on James Avenue. The current horticulture program, which is located in a space which is too small, is slated to move to the building, he said.

“It would give us space so we said what kinds of programs can you get in there,” he said.

The report includes costs of staff and equipment for adding new programs and a discussion of space needs.

“If I was to put all my eggs in one basket, I would say there is a great need for design and visual communications,” he said.

That course would teach students skills relating to website design. Students in the program would learn about advertising, marketing, graphic design, photography and animation among other concepts, Widelo said.

One advantage is the current photography teacher is certified to teach the subject so in the first year it would only cost the school about $58,000 to buy equipment. In the second year a new instructor and about $50,000 in equipment would be needed, the report said.

The school has an existing classroom that could be used for the program but a second classroom would be needed in the future.

The other proposals would be more difficult to add because of expenses and some classrooms would have to be modified, Widelo said.

The School Committee received the report last week and voted to discuss it more in subcommittee. Members praised the study and said they hope to be able to expand the program.

“These jobs are the future and they are good paying jobs,” member Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello said. “Is it possible to get federal or state grants?”

Superintendent Richard W. Rege said Widelo has applied for a grant that could provide between $50,000 and $100,000 to help start a program.

Career Technical Education Study

The state Open Meeting Law does not require boards and committees to turn on community access cameras.

Easthampton's municipal office building.

EASTHAMPTON – City Councilor Daniel D. Rist wants the council to talk about setting a policy in which the council would record all its subcommittee meetings.

The proposal came after Rist reported to the council at a recent meeting that boards and committees are not required to turn on the community access cameras in their meeting rooms.

Full council meetings are televised.

Rist sought a determination from City Attorney John H. Fitz-Gibbon after he was asked whether committees were required to turn on the equipment following a dispute at a Community Preservation Act Committee meeting about whether the camera should be turned on.

Fitz-Gibbon, in a letter to Rist, wrote that under the Open Meeting Law, anyone could record the open session after notifying the chairperson.

But he wrote that unless the city adopts a policy or ordinance requiring all meetings to be recorded using the community access system, it’s up to each board or committee to decide whether to record or not. The preservation committee had voted not to turn the cameras on.

And he wrote that the Open Meeting Law does not require boards or committees to record their meetings.

But Rist wants the council to adopt a policy that would require the cameras to be turned on at all subcommittee meetings.

“We cannot force any board or committee to use cameras. I suggest we do,” Rist said, by adopting a policy.

Because the item wasn’t on the agenda, under the Open Meeting Law the council couldn’t discuss it so it will put on new business for Dec. 19 when they can discuss whether to move it to committee for further discussion.