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Agawam City Council indefinitely tables second phase of Southwest sewer projcect

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Residents urged city councilors Monday to forge ahead with the second phase of the Southwest Area Sewer Project.

Town of Agawam Seal  

AGAWAM – The City Council Monday indefinitely tabled the controversial $12 million second phase of the Southwest sewer project despite the urging of nine residents to forge ahead and build the system.

On a motion by City Councilor Donald Rheault, the council voted 10-1 to table the matter with City Councilor Cecilia P. Calabrese casting the sole 'no' vote.

“It seems like there is an effort to just make this go away,” Douglas E. Reed of 10 Shelley Lane told the councilors during the speak-out session. “There’s got to be a middle ground. We should spend our time finding a way to get it done...We need compromise. We need to get this done. If you haven’t experienced it, you don’t know how bad it can be.”

“We have an epidemic out there,” said John A. Cappuccilli Jr. of 50 Red Fox Drive.

According to him, 72 homes’ septic systems in the Southwest neighborhood have failed over the last five years.

“Do us a favor. Buy our homes, and we’ll move out,” Cappuccilli said.

The system has been proposed to make city sewers available to the 120 homes in the southwest section, where many private septic systems have failed. However, how or whether to bring them relief is a conundrum city officials have wrestled with for years.

City Council President Christopher C. Johnson said at a projected cost of about $12 million, the venture would cost the city about $100,000 per home. Johnson has expressed reservations about how the project could push up sewer rates for such local businesses as HP Hood, Six Flags New England and Berkshire Power.

The council president has calculated that over a five-year period ending in 2015 Hood could pay an additional $139,292 in sewer fees, Six Flags $156,422 and Berkshire Power $49,722 because of rate increases needed to fund the first and second phases of the project. He based his figures on a sewer rate of $2.40 per hundred cubic feet in 2011 and a projected $4.34 per hundred cubic feet in 2015.

Johnson proposed the city offer a low-interest loan program that would help affected homeowners replace their failing septic systems.

“What I’m proposing is a compromise,” Johnson said.

City Councilor Gina M. Letellier said she was confused by a plethora of contradictory information that has been released about the project and doesn’t want to vote until she can sort it all out.


Stocks edge up as investors keep eye on Washington

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More companies announced plans to reward investors with dividends this month in case taxes rise next year.

120612-wall-street-traders.jpg Traders Douglas Glander, left, and Peter Mancuso, right, work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.  

MATTHEW CRAFT
AP Business Writer

NEW YORK — Apple and other technology companies led the stock market up for the second day in a row Thursday.

The gains came a day after Apple took its worst fall in four years. In separate interviews, CEO Tim Cook said Apple will produce one of its Mac computers in the United States next year and will spend $100 million in 2013 to shift production of the line from China.

The tech giant's stock gained $8.45 to $547.24

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 39.55 points to close at 13,074.04. Intel led the Dow, rising 31 cents to $20.16.

Investors' biggest concern remains the automatic tax increases and federal spending cuts scheduled to start Jan. 1. "Everybody is paying close attention to the soap opera in Washington," said John Canally, investment strategist and economist at LPL Financial.

President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the White House and Republicans could reach an agreement "in about a week" if the Republicans drop their opposition to raising taxes on making more than $250,000 a year.

Most investors believe President Obama and Congressional Republicans will strike a budget deal to avoid this "fiscal cliff" before the year is out. Until they reach an agreement, however, the stock market will likely be hostage to news out of Washington.

In other trading, the Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 4.66 points to 1,413.94, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 15.57 points to 2,989.27. In the market for U.S. government bonds, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note ended the day at 1.59 percent, the same as late Wednesday.

The U.S. Labor Department said unemployment benefits applications dropped 25,000 last week to 370,000, a level consistent with modest hiring. The decline was also a sign that the spike in applications caused by Superstorm Sandy has faded.

The government will release its closely watched monthly jobs report Friday. Private economists forecast that hiring in November sank from the previous month. They expect the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 7.9 percent.

More companies announced plans to reward investors with dividends this month in case taxes rise next year.

Sirius XM Radio said it will issue a one-time dividend of 5 cents per share at the end of the month and spend up to $2 billion buying back its stock. Safeway shifted a payment scheduled for January to Dec. 31. And Landstar Systems, a transportation company, will pay shareholders 50 cents a share this month instead of paying dividends for the next two years.

Dividends, now taxed at 15 percent, will be treated like ordinary income next year unless Congress and the White House extend current tax breaks as part of a budget deal.

Among other stocks making moves:

Akamai Technologies jumped 10 percent, the best gain in the S&P 500 index. Akamai, which helps websites work faster, forged a partnership with AT&T to deliver online content. Its stock gained $3.56 to $39.06.

H&R Block surged 5 percent after posting revenue and earnings that beat analysts' estimates. The country's largest tax preparation company reported a smaller loss, helped by cost-cutting efforts. It typically turns in a loss in the August-to-October period because it takes in most of its revenue during the U.S. tax season. H&R Block gained 89 cents to $18.26.

The Men's Wearhouse dropped 84 cents to $30.51. The clothing company posted third-quarter results missed Wall Street's estimates and cut its profit estimates for the fourth quarter and full year.

Springfield police charge Ashawnee Duke, 18, with murder of Keough Collins of Chicopee

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Ashawnee Duke, 18, of 11 Willard Ave., Springfield, is facing several serious charges including murder and assault with the intent to rob, following the incident, although the deceased isn't considered innocent, according to police.

Ashawnee Duke Ashawnee Duke, 18, of Springfield has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Chicopee teen Keough Collins at a city housing authority complex on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2012. (Springfield police photo)  

SPRINGFIELD — City police have arrested a local man in connection with the fatal shooting that left Chicopee teen Keough Collins dead in front of a housing authority apartment on Sunday.

Ashawnee Duke, 18, of 11 Willard Ave., Springfield, is facing several serious charges including murder and assault with the intent to rob, although the deceased isn't considered innocent, according to police.

Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchett, said that Duke and Collins arrived at the Robinson Gardens Apartments on Robert Dyer Circle in the city's Pine Point neighborhood just before 7 p.m. Sunday to commit a drug-related armed robbery that went wrong.

"They both attempted to rob a 31-year old male victim as he came out of an apartment. During the robbery attempt a physical fight ensued between the lone victim and the two males," Delaney said in a statement. "During the fight Ashawnee Duke fired his weapon and struck the robbery victim in the leg and Keough Collins in the head. Keough Collins was a victim of 'friendly fire' from his partner in crime."

Keough Collins In an undated family photo, Keough Collins celebrates his high school graduation.

The robbery victim was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Baystate Medical Center and released, while Collins died and became the city's 12th homicide of 2012.

Duke was taken into custody at his home by detectives and officers from the tactical response unit led by Springfield Police Lt. Trent Duda at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

In addition to the aforementioned charges, Duke has been charged with illegally carrying a firearm, discharging a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and assault and battery by means of a firearm.

Additional information on Duke's arraignment will be posted as it becomes available.

Rolling Stones added to Sandy benefit concert lineup

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Other performers include Paul McCartney, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Kanye West.

Rolling Stones.jpg The Rolling Stones  


NEW YORK (AP) — The Rolling Stones have been added to the list of artists performing at the Superstorm Sandy benefit concert next week in New York City.

Next Wednesday's bill had already included Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Who, Alicia Keys, Kanye West and others.

Producers of the show said Friday they had already raised $30 million that will be distributed to storm victims in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut through the Robin Hood Foundation.

The show is sold out.

Producers also said they had no estimate of how many tickets had been bought by ticket brokers. They urged fans not to buy scalped tickets because the money won't go to storm relief.

The concert is dubbed "12-12-12." It will be held at Madison Square Garden.

Veterans remember Pearl Harbor at Easthampton ceremony

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Edward Borucki, 92, has been a fixture at the annual event, and it fell to him to toss the memorial wreath off the bridge.

EASTHAMPTON — Former Chief Petty Officer Edward F. Borucki blew his whistle in the freezing cold and announced, “Man your battle stations! Jap planes attacking!”

“This was no drill,” Borucki told veterans gathered near the bridge over the Oxbow on Route 5 that was named for Pearl Harbor Veterans.

Some 30 of them had come from American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in Easthampton, Northampton and South Hadley to remember those servicemen who died on Dec. 7, 1941, in the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Borucki, 92, has been a fixture at the annual event, and it fell to him to toss the memorial wreath off the bridge. He is one of the eight known remaining survivors in the area.

Borucki was aboard the USS Helena when the Japanese attacked without warning that day, and he described for the crowd the sound of guns and men screaming as a torpedo hit his ship. As he helped carry the wounded, he saw other U.S. ships in the harbor in flames.

Army veteran Brian Willette of South Hadley, who served in Afghanistan, was among those who came to salute the fallen at Pearl Harbor. Willette’s son was also in Afghanistan with the Army, and his daughter was in Iraq with the Air Force.

Scott Brown ends campaign with no debt, after spending $37.4 million

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Brown raised significantly less money this election cycle than Democrat Elizabeth Warren, who was elected to replace him. But unlike Warren, Brown was able to end his campaign in the black.

Scott Brown Sen. Scott Brown, D-Mass., talks with members of the media during a tour of Boston Police headquarters in Boston, Friday afternoon, Feb. 24, 2012. Brown is being challenged for his seat by Harvard law school professor Elizabeth Warren. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)  

Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown raised significantly less money this election cycle than Democrat Elizabeth Warren, who was elected to replace Brown. But unlike Warren, Brown was able to end his campaign in the black.

A post-election filing with the Federal Election Commission found that Brown raised $28.83 million this election cycle – compared to the $41.56 million that Warren raised.

But while Warren ended the race around $400,000 in debt, Brown’s final FEC report lists his cash on hand as $464,000. Neither number includes bills that were processed after Nov. 26. A Brown campaign official said the final amount of money left in Brown’s bank account will be closer to $150,000 or $200,000.

Warren consistently outraised Brown throughout the campaign. She was helped by liberal groups around the country that rallied behind her and solicited donations from their supporters. She had a large field operation and get out the vote effort and also spent large amounts of money on television advertising.

But the difference in campaign spending between the two candidates was not as far apart as the fundraising numbers would indicate, since Brown started his campaign with money left over from his 2010 race. As of the post-election report, Brown’s campaign had spent $37.4 million while Warren’s campaign had spent $40.5 million.

The non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics has ranked the Massachusetts Senate race the most expensive in the country, but those rankings do not appear to include the latest financial reports, which were due Thursday.

Northampton City Council elects its first vice president

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Also at the meeting, the council approved more than $300,000 in Community Preservation Act appropriations but balked at spending $75,000 to fund a project to restore and locate a fountain on Village Hill.

HF_JESSE_ADAMS_CANDIDATE_9433985.JPG New City Council Vice President Jesse Adams.  

NORTHAMPTON — Taking another step forward Thursday to conform with the new city charter, the City Council elected At-Large Councilor Jesse Adams as its first vice president.

The post was created by changes made to the 19th-century charter that were adopted by voters last month. The main duty of the vice president will be to chair council meetings in the absence of the council president. The revised charter also transfers control of City Council meetings from the mayor to the council president.

Adams, who was first elected to the council in 2009 and is serving his second term, has been active in formulating the charter changes and intends to continue in the mode as council vice president. Establishing a vice president, he said, is a significant step.

“It’s important because it creates a better separation of powers,” he said.

Council President William H. Dwight said Adams was the only person nominated for the post and that he was elected unanimously.

Also at the meeting, the council approved more than $300,000 in Community Preservation Act appropriations but balked at spending $75,000 to fund a project to restore and locate a fountain on Village Hill. The fountain was once at the entrance to Old Main, the main building at Northampton State Hospital. After deinstitutionalization, the state transferred the hospital campus to the city and most of the buildings, including Old Main, were razed to make way for housing.

An advisory committee recommended saving the fountain as a memorial to the patients and staff who lived and worked at the hospital over the years. However, some councilors deemed the project too expensive, given its proposed location at the rear of what is now Village Hill.

“It’s a lot of money for something buried in the back of a residential neighborhood that nobody’s going to see,” said Ward 5 Councilor David Murphy. “If they stuck it out in front of the Haskell Building (near Route 66) where everybody could see it, I might feel differently.”

The council tabled the matter to a future meeting to give members of the Community Preservation Committee a chance to address them on the issue.

Corporate money to help pay for Obama inauguration

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Obama's second inaugural will be smaller than his first, with no concert on the National Mall.

obama-inauguration.jpg This Jan. 20, 2009 file photo shows President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama waving as they walk down Pennsylvania Avenue on their way to the White House in Washington, after taking the presidential oath.  


WASHINGTON (AP) — In a reversal from four years ago, President Barack Obama will accept unlimited sums of money from corporations and individuals to pay for events surrounding his inauguration, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Lobbyists, political action committees and foreign entities, however, will still be banned from underwriting the costs of the gala events, spokeswoman Addie Whisenant said. The committee also will reject donations from companies that haven't paid back loans from the 2008 federal bailout of Wall Street, as well as corporate sponsorship deals.

"Our goal is to make sure that we will meet the fundraising requirements for this civic event after the most expensive presidential campaign in history," she said in a statement. "To ensure continued transparency, all names of donors will be posted to a regularly updated website."

Obama's second term automatically begins at noon on Jan. 20 under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. Since that's a Sunday, a private swearing-in will be held at the White House, followed the next day — the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday — by a public oath-taking and a series of scaled-back events.

For Obama's 2009 inauguration and this year's Democratic National Convention, money from corporations, political action committees and lobbyists was rejected. At the time, Obama's team promised "an inauguration that will underscore their commitment to change business as usual in Washington and ensure that as many Americans as possible, both inside and outside Washington, will be able to come together to unite the country and celebrate our common values and shared aspirations."

That plan, however, has given way — both on the sources and scope of donations. Previous presidential inaugural committees capped donations at $250,000 but Obama's 2009 events limited that sum to $50,000 from supporters.

This time, there will be no dollar limits.

Obama's second inaugural will be smaller than his first, with no concert on the National Mall. It will, however, still have the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, as well as a National Day of Service and a round of official inaugural balls, although aides say not as many as last time.

The costs of the public swearing-in ceremony on the Capitol steps are covered by the congressional committee that oversees events on the Capitol Grounds. Security for the event is already part of the federal budget.


Long-sealed Notorious B.I.G. autopsy released

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The rapper was hit four times in the shooting, which 15 years later remains one of Los Angeles' highest-profile unsolved murders.

NOTORIOUS B.I.G. COMBS In this March 8, 1997 file photo, Notorious B.I.G., whose real name is Christopher Wallace gestures shortly before he was shot to death. Authorities have unsealed an autopsy report the week of Nov. 26, 2012 showing that rapper Notorious B.I.G. was shot four times in a 1997 drive-by shooting that remains unsolved. (AP Photo/Venus Bernardo-Prudhomme, File)  
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Notorious B.I.G. was killed by a single bullet that pierced several vital organs in a 1997 drive-by shooting, a long-sealed autopsy report released Friday shows.

The rapper was hit four times in the shooting, which 15 years later remains one of Los Angeles' highest-profile unsolved murders.

The report had been sealed at the request of detectives until last week, Chief Coroner Investigator Craig Harvey said. The 23-page report details the trajectory of each of the shots that hit the rapper, whose name was Christopher Wallace. Investigators determined that a single shot that hit his left lung, heart and colon led to the 24-year-old's death.

No drugs or alcohol were found in his system, the report states.

The rapper from Brooklyn, N.Y., had just left a music industry event when he was shot. Los Angeles police and the FBI have investigated the killing, but no arrests have ever been made. Neither agency had any immediate comment on the release of the report.

A lawyer for Wallace's family and widow Faith Evans did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

Federal agents conducted a bi-coastal search for Wallace's killer, but federal prosecutors determined in 2005 that there wasn't enough evidence to pursue a case. Agents looked into whether any Los Angeles police officers had been involved in the shooting, which came months after another rap superstar, Tupac Shakur, was shot dead in Las Vegas.

In March 2011, the FBI electronically released files on its investigation, which were heavily redacted but shed new light on the efforts that investigators took to try to find those responsible for the rapper's death. Agents conducted surveillance and interviews in Los Angeles, San Diego and New York, the files showed.

The deaths of Wallace and Shakur have been the subject of rampant speculation about the motives. The one-time friends became rivals and instigators in an East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry during the mid-1990s.

Wallace's family filed a federal lawsuit against Los Angeles, and a 2005 trial ended with a mistrial after attorneys for Wallace's family discovered the city had withheld a trove of LAPD documents.

The family dismissed the lawsuit in 2010. Their attorney said that was done in order for the FBI and other agencies to pursue new leads in the case.

The civil case could be refiled, although that has not yet occurred.

PM News Links: Pitbull allegedly cut open to retrieve drugs, store clerk fends off robber with baseball bat, and more

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A dog out for a walk in Auburn was killed when it was caught in a trap that New Hampshire investigators said was illegally set.

NOTE: Users of modern browsers can open each link in a new tab by holding 'control' ('command' on a Mac) and clicking each link.

Supreme Court will hear gay marriage cases

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The Supreme Court will take up California's ban on same-sex marriage, a case that could give the justices the chance to rule on whether gay Americans have the same constitutional right to marry as heterosexuals.

supremecourt.jpg This June 20, 2012 file photo shows the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.  

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will take up California's ban on same-sex marriage, a case that could give the justices the chance to rule on whether gay Americans have the same constitutional right to marry as heterosexuals.

The justices said Friday they will review a federal appeals court ruling that struck down the state's gay marriage ban, though on narrow grounds. The San Francisco-based appeals court said the state could not take away the same-sex marriage right that had been granted by California's Supreme Court.

The court also will decide whether Congress can deprive legally married gay couples of federal benefits otherwise available to married people. A provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act limits a range of health and pension benefits, as well as favorable tax treatment, to heterosexual couples.

The cases probably will be argued in March, with decisions expected by late June.

Gay marriage is legal, or will be soon, in nine states — Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington — and the District of Columbia. Federal courts in California have struck down the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, but that ruling has not taken effect while the issue is being appealed.

Voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington approved gay marriage earlier this month.

But 31 states have amended their constitutions to prohibit same-sex marriage. North Carolina was the most recent example in May. In Minnesota earlier this month, voters defeated a proposal to enshrine a ban on gay marriage in that state's constitution.

The biggest potential issue before the justices comes in the dispute over California's Proposition 8, the state constitutional ban on gay marriage that voters adopted in 2008 after the state Supreme Court ruled that gay Californians could marry. The case could allow the justices to decide whether the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection means that the right to marriage cannot be limited to heterosexuals.

A decision in favor of gay marriage could set a national rule and overturn every state constitutional provision and law banning same-sex marriages. A ruling that upheld California's ban would be a setback for gay marriage proponents in the nation's largest state, although it would leave open the state-by-state effort to allow gays and lesbians to marry.

In striking down Proposition 8, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals crafted a narrow ruling that said because gay Californians already had been given the right to marry, the state could not later take it away. The ruling studiously avoided any sweeping pronouncements.

The larger constitutional issue almost certainly will be presented to the court, but the justices would not necessarily have to rule on it.

The other issue the high court will take on involves a provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, known by its acronym DOMA, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman for the purpose of deciding who can receive a range of federal benefits.

Four federal district courts and two appeals courts struck down the provision.

The justices chose for their review the case of 83-year-old Edith Windsor, who sued to challenge a $363,000 federal estate tax bill after her partner of 44 years died in 2009.

Windsor, who goes by Edie, married Thea Spyer in 2007 after doctors told them that Spyer would not live much longer. She suffered from multiple sclerosis for many years. Spyer left everything she had to Windsor.

There is no dispute that if Windsor had been married to a man, her estate tax bill would have been $0.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York agreed with a district judge that the provision of DOMA deprived Windsor of the constitutional guarantee of equal protection.

Pedro Martinez on return to Boston Red Sox in undecided role: 'Just a matter of time'

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Martinez told reporters Friday that it's "just a matter of time" before he returns to the Red Sox in some type of role.

pedro martinez.JPG Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez, right, is greeted by current player David Ortiz during ceremonies honoring the "All-Time Fenway Team" prior to a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012.  

He's no longer capable of curing the Boston Red Sox pitching problems with his right arm, but Pedro Martinez said Friday he will soon be helping the team in other capacities.

According to WEEI, Martinez told reporters at the David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic that it's "just a matter of time" before he returns to the Red Sox in some type of role.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner has already spoken to general manager Ben Cherington about taking a job in the organization, but he's still not sure exactly what that job will be.

"Yes, in the future, yes. But not as a pitching coach or anything like that," he said when asked about his return, according to WEEI. "I would like to have access to the field, and be on the field sometimes, but not all the time. Because if I wanted to lead that life I probably would have played a couple of more years. The lifestyle is hard to deal with, every day, time and the same routine, it's not easy. The coaches have to be there earlier than the players. I don't know how I would handle it."

Gov. Deval Patrick's bill would have shed light on John Burbine's sex offender status

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After the arrest of John Burbine, who faces a 100-count indictment in connection with allegedly sexually assaulting at least 13 infants and toddlers, Gov. Deval Patrick on Friday reiterated his support for making Level 1 sex offender identities available to the public.

By Matt Murphy and Michael Norton, STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON — After the arrest of John Burbine, who faces a 100-count indictment in connection with allegedly sexually assaulting at least 13 infants and toddlers, Gov. Deval Patrick on Friday reiterated his support for making Level 1 sex offender identities available to the public.

Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone described the case as "among the worst cases of child abuse ever prosecuted" by the county office. Authorities say Burbine raped and abused more than a dozen children in their own homes, which he accessed through a child care service operated by his wife. The alleged assaults occurred from August 2010 through August 2012.



John Burbine 12612.jpg


John Burbine





 

Burbine, 49, of Wakefield, was convicted in 1989 of indecent assault and battery on a child, and was classified as a Level 1 offender, the lowest sex offender status. The identities of Level 1 offenders are available only to police.

Patrick in May 2011 filed legislation that would have made Level 1 sex offender information available to members of the public who called the local police, similar to how Level II information is handled.

"We have made that request in the past. I don't see any reason to change that position," Patrick said as he left a Cabinet meeting early Friday afternoon.

The bill (H 3471) would have aligned state law with the requirements of the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The Committee on the Judiciary sent it to a study, usually a dead end.

There was widespread disagreement at the time between the administration and Attorney General Martha Coakley about what pieces of Patrick's bill were necessary, whether all the provisions would be constitutional in Massachusetts and how the bill would be paid for given its estimated $15 million cost, according to an individual familiar with the process. The bill also required an extensive rewrite due to the various boilerplate definitions of crimes that didn't always match state law, the person said.

A spokeswoman for Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Eugene O'Flaherty said the Chelsea Democrat had no immediate comment, but noted that the committee did recommend a bill filed by Rep. James Arciero that would have published Level II sex offender information online.

As far as changing other sex offender notification laws, Patrick said, "Any law that would help deal with a situation as horrific as this one would be helpful. I'm not sure there is a law to deal with this. I am very, very pleased that it was our own folks who responded to complaints and referred this over to prosecutors who have brought this to light but gosh, I can't imagine what it's like to be a parent and get this kind of information about what's going on at this unlicensed facility."

Authorities say Marian Burbine operated an unlicensed tutoring and child care service.

Asked whether he had a message for parents who might choose to send their child to an unlicensed care provider, Patrick said, "People make decisions for a whole host of reasons and they make their choices based on a whole host of reasons and we know for a fact that the availability for good safe child care facilities is not as great as the capacity demands, but all of that is secondary to dealing with the behavior up in Wakefield that is just beyond the pale."

According to media reports published Friday, Burbine was investigated by state social workers in 2005 and in 2009 in connection with complaints from children who said he had inappropriately touched them. Fox 25 reported that social workers said they found complaints against Burbine to be credible but the cases were never prosecuted due to a lack of evidence.

"When allegations of abuse by Mr. Burbine were alleged in 2005 and 2009, the Department made the appropriate referrals to the District Attorney's office for further investigation," a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families told Fox 25. "For information on those investigations, please contact the District Attorney's office."

Asked if DCF had done anything wrong in handling Burbine's case, Health and Human Services Secretary JudyAnn Bigby told reporters Friday, "No, they did what they were supposed to do."

When they were allegedly abused, Burbine's victims ranged in age from eight days to three-and-a-half years old. They are from Stoneham, Medford, Reading, Melrose, Woburn and Waltham. Burbine is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. in Middlesex Superior Court.

Westfield remembers Pearl Harbor on 71st anniversary of Japanese attack

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Westfield memorial observance was the first to be held at the new permanent resting place for the city's 'Rock of Pearl Harbor' and memorial for native son Frank Wojtkiewicz.

WESTFIELD – “Westfield will remember Pearl Harbor and the men and women who lost their lives for as long as there is a Westfield,” Mayor Daniel M. Knapik declared Friday as more than 100 veterans, family members and residents gathered for the city’s annual Pearl Harbor Day memorial service.

Jane Wendell of West Simsbury, Conn., sister-in-law of Frank P. Wojtkiewicz, Westfield’s first resident killed in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that drew the United States into World War II, said “communities should do this,” referring to the annual ceremony. Wojtkiewicz was aboard the USS Arizona.

“We can never forget what happened that day,” the Westfield native said.

The memorial ceremony was the first to be held at the new permanent resting place for the memorial in memory to Wojtkiewicz.

Referred to as Westfield’s ‘Rock of Pearl Harbor’ it was placed on a knoll overlooking the Westfield River, between the two Great River Bridges where Elm Street meets North Elm Street last month. The memorial had been located off Route 20 at Little River Plaza for the past four years and had been positioned at other locations in the city over the years.

Westfield’s last Pearl Harbor survivor, Robert A. Greenleaf, 90, again was assigned the task of committing a memorial wreath to the waters of the Westfield River.

Greenleaf, a 19-year-old sailor aboard the Navy destroyer USS Craven in 1941, was attending fleet Machine Gun School in Puuloa Point, Oahu, at the entrance to Pearl Harbor the morning of the attack.

American Legion Post 124, assisted by representatives of other local veterans organizations, serves as host of the annual event. Former Post 124 Commander Walter J. Zarichak, coordinator of the memorial service, said the attack on Pearl Harbor “was just the beginning of death, misery and broken hearts we know as World War II.

“We gather today to remember the 2,388 military and civilian men and women who lost their lives that day and the 2,000 other wounded in the attack 71 years ago. We also remember our neighbors, family members and friends Dominc J. Grimaldi, Edmund Jachym and Louis Saltus, survivors who have since left us,” Zarichak said.

Knapik called the Japanese attack “a brutal sneak attack that ended the United States isolation from World War II. Today we remember the sacrifices by so many for us.”

The mayor also announced that he will meet with the city’s Veterans Council soon to begin discussions on the naming the two bridges and four parks located at the site.

Felix Tranghese of East Longmeadow gets 4 years in connection with 2003 Al Bruno murder, other crimes

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Tranghese was the first of three local gangsters-turned-Informants to be sentenced in the long-running case.

Felix Tranghese 1998.jpg Felix Tranghese  

NEW YORK - Felix Tranghese, an admitted co-conspirator in the 2003 Springfield, Mass., murder plot against mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno who later turned government witness, was sentenced to four years in prison by a federal judge in New York on Friday.

Tranghese, 60, of East Longmeadow, Mass., was the first of three local gangsters-turned-informants to be sentenced in the long-running case. U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel commended Tranghese for his cooperation at the sentencing. The sentence was arguably a gift, since he was facing life in prison on the murder charge.

According to his own testimony in two trials in New York City over the past two years, Tranghese was a "made man" in the Genovese crime family and participated in an array of extortion plots and the take-down of Bruno until Tranghese was "shelved" by a group of young upstarts in 2006.

Tranghese pleaded guilty under a cooperation agreement with the government in 2010, admitting to Bruno's murder and various other rackets. In its sentencing memo, federal prosecutors noted that Tranghese began cooperating "almost immediately" after he was arrested in the summer of that year.

Tranghese admitted getting drawn in to the Bruno murder when Bruno fell out of favor with New York bosses by early 2003. Although he was not present when Bruno was gunned down by a paid hit man on Nov. 23, 2003, he told jurors that he brought the order to kill Bruno back to Western Massachusetts from mob higher-ups in New York.

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Tranghese's lawyer, Michael Joseph, of Springfield, told Castel that his client was a "real man" and already has a job lined up in this area when he completes his sentence - which began tolling upon his arrest. Joseph asked that Tranghese serve out the balance of his sentence at the county jail in Ludlow, Mass.; Castel said he would make a recommendation to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Bruno's son, Victor Bruno, of Springfield, offered a statement to the court before sentencing. He noted that his father had proposed Tranghese become a sanctioned member of the crime family in 1982. He also rebutted the government's request for leniency on their witness' behalf.

"Well your honor, I want to ask the opposite, life ... yes life, for taking my father’s life, not a reward for the lies and useless information he provided," Victor Bruno said.


2 Hampden house breaks, where doors were left unlocked, net thieves large amount of jewelry, police say

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The occupants of both houses were not at home at the time of the daytime thefts, police say.

HAMPDEN - Police here report that large amounts of jewelry were stolen during two recent house breaks.

The breaks occurred on Glendale Road near the Wilbraham/Hampden town line between Nov. 29 and Dec. 5, Police Chief Jeffrey Farnsworth said.

They occurred during the day when the residents were not home. In each case the houses were not locked.

It is believed that the suspects used a vehicle as a means of transportation.

The Police Department has increased patrols in the area, Farnsworth said.

He said police wish to remind residents to lock their homes prior to leaving and to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.

Suspicious activity can include anything from vehicles parked on the side of the road and unknown vehicles parked in a driveway and unknown individuals walking on the street, police said.

Walt Disney World's Fantasyland opens in Orlando (photos)

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Derrick Weitlich and his friend Leslie Martinez arrived at the Magic Kingdom at 5:40 a.m. Thursday, wanting to be among the first to visit the park's New Fantasyland. Getting up early was worth it, said these Melbourne, Fla., Disney fans, who estimated that they have visited the park some 180 times. "I love Beauty...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Derrick Weitlich and his friend Leslie Martinez arrived at the Magic Kingdom at 5:40 a.m. Thursday, wanting to be among the first to visit the park's New Fantasyland.

Getting up early was worth it, said these Melbourne, Fla., Disney fans, who estimated that they have visited the park some 180 times.

"I love Beauty and the Beast," said Martinez, while standing in front of the new Gaston's Tavern restaurant. "And I'm very picky when it comes to details about Beauty and the Beast."

Martinez and Weitlich weren't disappointed. From the antlers lining the walls in the tavern to the animatronic Ariel in the Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid ride, they were impressed with the New Fantasyland.

Photos from the opening of Fantasyland »

It's the largest expansion project in the park's 41-year history. The new spaces are built on what was once the site of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea experience, and the expansion doubles the size of the original Fantasyland. The central Florida theme park near Orlando is blending classic Disney characters (like Dumbo, the flying elephant) and newer, popular hits (like "The Little Mermaid") with the multimillion dollar expansion.

"It's really about immersing people in a number of stories, characters and music that they love," said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs.

New Fantasyland sits just past Cinderella Castle, with two sections: Enchanted Forest, where visitors will find Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" and Ariel from "The Little Mermaid," and Storybook Circus, which is inspired by the Disney film "Dumbo."

Among the highlights: a ride called Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid, which tells Ariel's story, and Enchanted Tales With Belle, a walk-through experience that features a magical mirror and costumed characters.

Staggs said that the expansion allows families to "be a little more relaxed" while in the park, calling the spaces "more enjoyable."

Thursday's grand opening happened twice: once for media and bloggers in front of Gaston's Tavern and then again on the steps of Cinderella Castle, with cheering park visitors. Staggs was joined by actress Ginnifer Goodwin, singer Jordin Sparks and, of course, Mickey Mouse. Sparks sang a medley of songs from Disney movies.

Two of New Fantasyland's highlights have yet to open. A ride called Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is still under construction, as is Princess Fairytale Hall — where guests can go to meet all of their favorite Disney princesses at once. Disney officials said the princess experience will open next year and the ride is expected to open in 2014.

For Disney traditionalists, never fear: Many of the park's longstanding beloved attractions like Cinderella Castle, and rides based on "It's a Small World" and "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" remain open.

Be Our Guest Restaurant is new, and offers a different Disney concept. Folks who eat lunch will be served at the counter, while dinner guests will be served tableside. It will also serve wine and beer with dinner, which is the first time alcohol is being sold at the Magic Kingdom. The meals at Be Our Guest are French-themed.

Some old favorites have been improved. An additional Dumbo ride was added — one Dumbo carousel goes clockwise, the other counter-clockwise — two castles were built and the Barnstormer rollercoaster was remodeled. Other areas were spruced up and redecorated.

"I think they did the themes so well, the transitions from one area to another," said Weitlich, who is 31. He and Martinez, who is 29, come to the park at least twice a month.

On Thursday, they bought T-shirts that said "A Brand New Happily Ever After," posed for photos and drank LeFou's Brew, a sweet drink based on apple juice and toasted marshmallows. The pair said they were going to get to know New Fantasyland just like the rest of the park.

"For not being cast members, we're pretty good," said Martinez.

Chandler Jones looks on pace to return Monday night for the Patriots, and it can't come soon enough

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The Patriots will face a Houston offensive line that hasn't allowed much pressure this season.

Chandler Jones Chandler Jones  


FOXBOROUGH – All signs are point toward defensive Chandler
Jones returning Monday night against the Houston Texans. It couldn't come a
moment sooner.

Jones, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, has practiced in a limited capacity this week, and while there's been no official word, those around the organization have hinted that he's on track to play this week.

The Patriots are going to need him. Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has struggled this season when under pressure, completing 53.2 percent of his passes in such situations. The problem is, he's only seen pressure on 127 dropbacks thanks to an offensive line that has only surrendered a league-best 15 sacks.

What makes them so good?

"They're the best team in the NFL," defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. "They're the best team for a reason. They do a lot of things well."

The Texans do possess the league's best record at 11-1, but more specific, Houston's balanced attack forces team to stay honest. It's hard for guys to rush after Schaub when many of his passing attempts are setup by play-action fakes.

Guess wrong, overcommit and running back Arian Foster, who has run for 1,102 yards, will make you pay.

"It's not like guys are just letting loose out there and getting up the field every play. If you did that, they'll just run it even more," defensive end Rob Ninkovich said. "They do a good job of running the ball and sets up play action. ... It all comes to doing your best to stop the run because that sets everything up."

But in those rare instances when the Patriots have an opportunity to get after Schaub, Jones' presence will help. Last week against the Dolphins, Ninkovich was forced to flip over to the right side, typically the pass-rushing side of the line, from his usual spot on the left.

He's expecting to be back in his home spot Monday night, which will put the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Ninkovich up against Houston's Duane Brown, who has used his 6-foot-4, 320-pound frame to allow just one sack and six quarterback hits this season.

"Yeah, he's a big boy," Ninkovich said. "I'm going to have to do a good job of getting his hands off me. Just do my best to let him clamp me. He likes to pretty much just maul everyone he's going against. Use my agility to keep him off."

MGM Resorts bids $3.2 million to buy former Zanetti School, State Armory building for casino project

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The sale of either building needs approval from the City Council

Armory Square rendering.jpg This is an artist's rendering of what Armory Square would look like if MGM Resort International's casino plan for Springfield comes to fruition.  

SPRINGFIELD – MGM Resorts International, proposing to build a casino in the South End, submitted bids totaling $3.2 million on Friday, seeking to purchase the former Zanetti School and the State Armory building in that neighborhood as part of its development.

MGM, through Blue Tarp Redevelopment LLC, has offered to buy the city-owned, tornado-damaged buildings for $1.6 million each.

There was one other bid received: Colvest Group submitted a bid of $750,000 to purchase the Zanetti building, with plans to build an office building there, said Frank Colaccino, company president.

MGM was the sole bidder on the Armory building, which previously housed the South End Community Center prior to damage from a tornado on June 1, 2011.

Kevin E. Kennedy, the city's chief development officer, will appoint a review committee to consider the bids, and the committee will file its recommendation to Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. Sarno will file his recommendation to the City Council which has the power to approve the sale.

The city, under the Request for Proposals, has the right to reject any and all bids, and is not obligated to accept the high bid.


More details coming on MassLive and in The Republican.

UMass Podcast: Episode 15, Josh Maurer, Voice of the Minutemen

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The radio voice of UMass football and basketball, Josh Maurer, joins Harry to talk about his path to UMass, his favorite UMass moments and more.

PodLogo.jpgDownload the MassLive UMass podcast with Harry Plumer now!

Josh Maurer, play-by-play voice of UMass football and basketball, joins Harry and takes credit for naming ESPN's Pardon The Interruption, discusses his favorite UMass moments and more.


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Or, if you want to grab the pod in iTunes, click here. Happy listening!
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