Letter writer: The Republican-dominated government of the union bulwark state of Michigan has shocked the nation with its recent union disabling legislation, making union dues voluntary.

What if principal had carried a gun?

A long line stretches down the block in front of the First Congregational Church before a memorial service for Lauren Rousseau in Danbury, Conn., Thursday. Rousseau, 30, was killed when Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Dec. 14, and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself. Associated Press / Seth Wenig  

Do you think, if the brave unarmed principal at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown was armed with a gun, she might be alive as well as many of her students that she tried to protect from the gunman?

–DONALD FLANNERY, Wilbraham

Finding humanity

I have a kindergarten-age child living in my upstairs rental and next-door neighbors with a child the same age. As I think of them, my heart breaks for each of the families in Newtown.

My own daughter is now 25 yet I can remember vividly her first day of school. Her innocence. The purity of her heart.

It’s incomprehensible what happened to those innocent children. And yet this event isn’t singularly about a young man with a twisted mind perpetuating unthinkable and unspeakable horror and evil and the pain and suffering it has caused. There is, and will continue to be, an outpouring of love and compassion and generosity of spirit and finances that will wash over that town and people affected. The people within that town will come together in love to help and support each other. Strangers they never knew existed will show their love and support.

God’s love mercy and grace will show itself as the days go forward. It will spill into the lives of those affected like a glass overflowing with water under a faucet that never shuts off. Millions of people around the world are praying for His Love to abound in the lives of and comfort those affected.

And it will. I’m not trying to make any sense of it.

The unfortunate reality of mass killings, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and tsunamis... all are horrible events in this physical free will world we live in. And all are eventually overcome by love, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and yes, eventually even joy.

As we grieve for those who lost so much that is dear to them – so much that I cannot even comprehend – let’s also not lose sight of what holds our humanity together.

– GEORGE F. CZYZEWSKI, Palmer

Right to work law blow to middle class

The Republican-dominated government of the union bulwark state of Michigan has shocked the nation with its recent union disabling legislation, making union dues voluntary.

Republicans make the doubtful claim that increased jobs will result. What is less doubtful is that over time, union membership will decline, union funds to support the Democratic Party will be reduced, and workers’ pay reductions, both union and non-union, will bring down the middle class.

Michigan has followed Wisconsin in this tragic path. Both states will have gubernatorial and legislative elections in 2014, and Americans who care about the survival of the middle class need to help the Democratic parties of these states, to retake their state governments and reverse this legislation.

Unions must do a better job of educating people as to their purpose. In a union environment, decisions about pay, benefits and working conditions are negotiated between workers and management. Union standards generally extend to non-union workplaces. The alternative environment is trust in the benevolence of a manager with all the power, and given the nature of greed, this is risky.

The past election has proven that Americans are able to overcome threats to our basic nature. That has to happen again in 2014.

– Rev. JONATHAN C. TETHERLY, Chicopee

Congress must get tough on the NRA

It’s time for the NRA to wake up and smell the roses. How many more children must be killed, how many more innocent bystanders must die, how many more families must be shattered before our legislators get out of the pocket of the NRA?

This nation is in desperate need of strict gun control laws. To be able to go to another state that has no gun control laws and buy a gun without any background check, bring it back home where gun control laws are enforced and sell it on the black market is ludicrous. When can we expect Congress to come to this realization? Congress made no effort to change things even though one of their own was shot in the head. What does that tell you?

I have no problem with hunters owning their rifles and shot guns for hunting. I have no problem with individuals owning pistols as long as they are registered and locked safely away. I do have a problem with the NRA when they say “Guns don’t kill, people do.” That is an ignorant over simplification of the problem and an insult to our intelligence. Congress knows it also but is afraid of the NRA.

Friday 20 children and six adults died needlessly because the people whom we elect to represent us are more concerned with their war chests than they are of the safety of their constituents. Have none of them any backbone?

– EDWARD GOSSELIN JR., Springfield

The winter solstice signals the return to lighter days.

A Peruvian shaman perform a ritual against the alleged 2012 apocalyptic Mayan prediction in Lima, Peru, Thursday. The supposed 5 a.m. Friday doomsday hour had already arrived in several parts of the world with no sign of the apocalypse. The social network Imgur posted photos of clocks turning midnight in the Asia-Pacific region with messages such as: "The world has not ended. Sincerely, New Zealand." Associated Press / Martin Mejia  

Don’t fret about the 12/21/12 doomsday scenario some believe the Mayan calendar predicts. Take it, instead, from NASA, which has been fielding questions about the end of earth on the web over the last several months.

The space agency has some reassuring words: The world will not end in 2012.

And while we’re not sure about a lot of other things, we do know that the winter solstice – marking the longest night and the shortest day of the year – occurs at 12:11 p.m. on Friday in our time zone. The solstice signals the return to lighter days. We won’t notice it at first, but minute by minute, day by day, the days will begin getting longer again.

The word solstice comes from the Latin words of “sun” and “to stand still.” At the winter solstice, the sun’s path has reached its southernmost position.

Ancient civilizations recognized that the sun’s path across the sky, the length of daylight, and the location of the sunrise and sunset all shifted in a regular way throughout the year and they built monuments such as Stonehenge, which appear to correspond with the solstice, to track the sun’s yearly progress.

Today we see the solstice through a different lens. It’s a time when we can begin to look forward to the arrival of spring — just three months away.

With the tragic events of Dec. 14 in Newton Conn., coinciding with the darkest and longest days of the year, we long for some light.

The knowledge that for the next six months the days will be lengthening is enough to warm the spirit on the bleakest of winter days.

The treasurer said he will release a report Friday about casino revenue.

Anthony Ravosa, left, of Paper City Development, is seen in these file photos with Holyoke City Treasurer Jon D. Lumbra.  

HOLYOKE - A group that has proposed a casino here criticized the city treasurer for not providing a report that city councilors have sought for more than a year showing how revenue from such a project might help taxpayers.

But Treasurer Jon D. Lumbra said Thursday the election in November 2011 of a mayor who opposed putting a casino here prompted him to work on other things and defer the report, which he said nonetheless he has worked on and will release Friday.

Paper City Development, a limited liability company, wants to build a resort casino at Wyckoff Country Club on the Mount Tom Range. In a press release, Paper City partners Anthony Ravosa Jr. and Joseph A. Lashinger Jr. criticized Lumbra, saying he didn't "come clean" with Holyoke residents and taxpayers on the potential revenue and tax implications of a casino.

Paper City projections show the city would gain more than $24 million a year in revenue from a casino, Ravosa said in the press release.

Former Councilors Anthony M. Keane and John J. O'Neill first requested details about a casino's economic impact in October 2011. Similar requests followed from Councilor at Large Daniel B. Bresnahan in February and on Dec. 4 from Councilors Todd A. McGee, Anthony Soto and Bresnahan.

"There are serious questions as to why Treasurer Lumbra has consistently snubbed his nose at the City Council in their logical, reasonable and numerous requests for this information," Ravosa said in the press release.

"He has refused to come clean with Holyoke taxpayers regarding the potential impact of a resort casino developed in Holyoke on residential tax bills."

Morse was elected in 2011 on an anti-casino platform. In November he changed his position, but on Dec. 13 confirmed that he had returned to his original anti-casino stance.

Lumbra said the report will address some, but not all, of the councilors' questions.

"I don't know what effect it'll have on property values. I'm not an expert on appraisals," Lumbra said.

He also would be unable to say how much casino revenue would go to Holyoke Water Works and the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department without knowing details about the size of a resort, he said.

In any case, he said, it was questionable whether compiling such a report was the responsibility of the treasurer or another office.

"My office is not one where I can just close the door and work on something for two days. I don't have the resources," Lumbra said.

This building belongs to all Holyoke seniors, but, in the very quiet times of my life, I think of it as the Christmas gift I wanted for so long.

Seniors citizens in Holyoke are shown here enjoying a holiday concert in their new senior center earlier this month. The Republican file / Don Treeger  

I have already seen my Christmas gift, Holyoke's new senior center.

I began wishing for it 61 years ago when I was 23 years old and walked into the Holyoke YWCA, then on Maple Street, to work with 75 men and women, all over the age of 65, and start the first independent Golden Age Club in the country.

There may have been other similar programs for retirees, but they had either a political “tie-in” or some sort of obligation to another organization.

My dream was a club by the people, for the people and run by these people. It sort of sounded like a “bill of rights” for senior citizens.

It was my strong feeling that people are happiest, healthiest and much better off if they run things themselves and if they don’t expect things to be handed to them. I thought that day how wonderful it would be if the seniors of Holyoke could have their own building.

Meetings were held every Monday afternoon for several years. From these regular meetings, other things evolved. Members formed bowling teams and choral groups and organized whist parties. Some began bingo games, crafts programs and reading clubs.

Many area people with talent were delighted to entertain so there were dancers and musicians, travelers with beautiful slide programs which took Golden Age Club members, now numbering hundreds, to places around the world that they otherwise would not have ever seen.

It was about six years into the club’s existence that I realized how wonderful it would be if the Golden Age Club could have a building of its own. I tried to find one. There was nothing available which would be affordable.

When it became necessary to leave the YWCA, the basement of the War Memorial building was available. It evolved into being home for both the Golden Age Club and the Council on Aging’s senior citizen center. Over the course of the years, all the efforts merged to be the Holyoke Golden Seniors.

Never once did I stop dreaming that seniors in Holyoke needed a building all their own with specific rooms for specific things, rooms for health conferences, exercise groups, for crafts and card playing. The only way this was going to happen is if someone faced the reality that seniors could never raise sufficient funds with just their card parties, tag sales and fund-raising bingo games.

Two true pioneers, Rose Degres and Carol Rogers, traveled across Massachusetts to take photos of senior centers in other communities. An organization known as the Friends of the Holyoke Council on Aging was formed, with a board of directors headed by president Fran Wilhelmi. A group of us became members of the board, hoping to encourage others to join us and pay dues.

Kathy Bowler, the present executive director of the Council on Aging, asked us to think in terms of major fund-raising with our friends’ group making a sizable pledge. The City Council voted to provide substantial financial help without which we never could have begun.

Fund-raising professionals were hired, architects, project engineers were hired and had many meetings with our board members. Marion Tierney and Ann O’Leary were chosen as co-chairs of the fund drive.

Although my title was “honorary” chair, it was far from just a title. I was responsible for some major contributions from companies, friends and families and am most proud of the flag and flagpole from my two daughters who have always known how much this building meant to me. The flag from their father’s casket will fly from that flag pole.

Construction of the building got off to a slow start, but good weather blessed the workers. It is finally finished. Most of the furnishings are in, programs are in place and some time after the first of the year there will be a formal opening. I believe it is the most beautiful building, new or old, in the city of Holyoke.

I do, however, want to remind the community and those who succeed us in serving on the boards which will oversee the center in the future that this building’s mission is as a senior center. It is not a building for younger age groups; it’s intended specifically as a home away from home for retirement-age men and women.

During the construction I parked my car and just sat and looked at this building as it was being constructed. I have gone in to see many of the rooms and am thrilled about how beautifully they will serve our seniors.

This building belongs to all Holyoke seniors, but, in the very quiet times of my life, I think of it as the Christmas gift I wanted for so long. I thank every person who has contributed to making this dream a reality for me, as a Holyoke senior, and for thousands of others today and in the future. 

Barbara C. Bernard, of Holyoke, is a columnist for The Republican. 

When people here speak of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, they use the number 26: the ones killed after Adam Lanza stormed his way into the school.

By KATIE ZEZIMA, Associated Press

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — When people here speak of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, they use the number 26: the ones killed after Adam Lanza stormed his way into the school.

When the bells of Newtown toll mournfully Friday morning to honor the victims of last week's shooting rampage, they'll do so 26 times, for each child and staff member killed.

Rarely do residents mention the first person police said Lanza killed that morning: his mother, Nancy, who was shot in the head four times while she lay in bed.

That makes 27.

A private funeral was held Thursday in New Hampshire for Nancy Lanza, according to Donald Briggs, the police chief in Kinston, N.H., where her funeral was held. About 25 family members attended the ceremony.

In Newtown, where makeshift memorials of stuffed animals, angels, candles, flowers and balloons have blossomed on patches of grass throughout town, there is only one noticeable tribute to Nancy Lanza. It's a letter written by a friend on yellow paper affixed, screwed and shellacked onto a red piece of wood.

"Others now share pain for choices you faced alone; May the blameless among us throw the first stone," it reads in part.

No one outwardly blames Nancy Lanza for the rampage. But authorities have said the gunman, her 20-year-old son Adam, used the guns she kept at their home to carry out a massacre that became the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history and has stirred lawmakers to call for gun control laws.

Nationwide, churches will ring their bells 26 times at 9:30 Friday morning — exactly a week after the shooting occurred — in memory of the victims. Two gold balloons, one a 2, the other a 6, are tied to a bridge. Handwritten tributes mention 26 snowflakes. "26 angels will guide us," reads one.

The dearth of tributes to Nancy Lanza underscores the complicated mix of emotions surrounding her after the shooting.

In a small town where multiple funerals are taking place each day, where black-clad mourners stand in lines waiting to say goodbye to another child, many are incredibly angry at Nancy Lanza for not keeping her guns away from her son.

Some view her as a victim, but one whose guns were used to kill first-graders. And others think Nancy Lanza was an innocent victim, one who should be counted and included at memorials.

"It's a loss of life and, yes, her life mattered," said Christine Lombardi. "Yes, I do believe she should be included."

A photograph of Nancy Lanza, bottom left, one of the 27 people allegedly killed by Adam Lanza in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Conn., last week, appears on a board at a makeshift memorial, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. For the most part, makeshift memorials honor the 26 victims allegedly killed by the gunman, who forced himself into Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. In total, 27 people were killed as officials say Lanza shot and killed his mother, Nancy Lanza, at their home. Nancy Lanza is virtually nonexistent in the memorials. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The Associated Press




 

Others in Newtown are weary of the crush of media and have become reluctant to answer questions after a difficult week. But the subject of marking Nancy Lanza's death, along with those of the children and teachers killed by her son, seemed mainly to surprise two moms who stopped to place flowers at the memorial at Main and Sugar streets with their two grammar-school aged girls.

They paused, appeared bewildered, and looked at each other for a moment. Then one quietly said, "No, no," and they each took a girl's hand and led them away.

Newtown and environs weathered a fourth day of funerals Thursday as mourners laid to rest Catherine Hubbard, Benjamin Wheeler, Jesse Lewis and Allison Wyatt, all 6 years old; and Grace McDonnell, 7.

A service was held in Katonah, N.Y., for teacher Anne Marie Murphy, 52, who authorities believe helped shield some of her students from the rain of bullets. Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan compared her to Jesus.

"Like Jesus, Annie laid down her life for her friends," Dolan said. "Like Jesus, Annie's life and death brings light, truth, goodness and love to a world often shrouded in darkness, evil, selfishness and death."

A bell tolled Thursday at Newtown's St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church at the funeral for Catherine, who her family said would be remembered for her passion for animals and her constant smile.

Trinity Episcopal church on Main Street was filled to capacity for the funeral for Benjamin, described as a budding musician and Beatles fan. His service included a rendition of "Here Comes The Sun." About two dozen Boy Scout leaders lined the front pathway to the church in honor of the former Cub Scout.

In downtown Danbury, mourners filed into the ornate white-pillared First Congregational Church for a memorial service for 30-year-old teacher Lauren Rousseau. Friends wept at the altar as they remembered the spirited, hardworking, sunny-natured woman who brightened their lives with silliness and gave them all nicknames.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has asked people across Connecticut to observe a moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. Friday, which will mark a week since the shootings. The White House has said President Barack Obama will privately observe the moment of silence.

Places of worship and buildings with bells have been asked to ring them 26 times, for the victims at the school. Officials and clergy in many other states have said they will participate.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was one of the people to visit Newtown on Thursday, stopping by a firehouse.

The Obama administration will push to tighten gun laws in response to the shooting, Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday, and Speaker John Boehner said the GOP-controlled House would consider the proposals.

Biden, who is overseeing the administration's response to Friday's shooting, said he and Obama are "absolutely committed" to curbing gun violence in the United States.

"Even if we can only save one life, we have to take action," he said.

Gun-control measures have faced fierce resistance in Congress for years, but that may be changing because of the events in Connecticut, which shocked the nation.

After the shooting, Obama signaled for the first time that he's willing to spend significant political capital on the issue. Some prominent gun-rights advocates on Capitol Hill — Democrats and Republicans alike — have expressed willingness to consider new measures.

Investigators have said that Nancy Lanza, a gun enthusiast, visited shooting ranges several times and that her son also visited an area range.

Authorities say Adam Lanza shot his mother at their home and then took her car and some of her guns to the school, where he broke in and opened fire. A Connecticut official said Nancy Lanza was shot four times in the head with a .22-caliber rifle.

Adam Lanza was wearing all black, with an olive-drab utility vest, during the school attack. Investigators have found no letters or diaries that could explain the rampage.

Friends and acquaintances have described him as intelligent, but odd and quiet.

Friends said he would stare down at the floor and not speak when she brought him into a local pizzeria. They knew that he'd switched schools more than once and that she'd tried home schooling him. But while she occasionally expressed concern about his future during evenings at the bar, she never complained.

"I heard her as a parent. I always said that I wouldn't want to be in her shoes. But I thought, 'Wow. She holds it well,'" said Jon Tambascio, son of the pizzeria operator.

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Michael Melia, John Christoffersen and David Klepper in Newtown; Jim Fitzgerald in Katonah, N.Y.; and Frederic J. Frommer in Washington.

All other Holyoke public schools remain open Friday.

 

HOLYOKE -- There will be no classes at Holyoke High School Friday due to a water main break on the property, school officials said.

All other Holyoke schools remain open.

The Mohawk Regional School System in Franklin County has posted a two-hour delay, according to its website.

State police in Shelburne Falls said about two inches of snow fell overnight. The snow has since turned to light rain and roads are in good condition, according to state police.

Yhe club is looking at ways to strengthen its bullpen.

Boston Red Sox GM Ben Cherington is reportedly pursuing a potential deal for Pittsburgh Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan to bolster the Boston bullpen. The Associated Press file photo  

The Red Sox are looking at acquiring Pittsburgh Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan, according to reports that include Boston.com and CBSSports.com.

Boston.com reported that Alfredo Aceves or Franklin Morales might be available in trade for Hanrahan, who was dominant in 2011 but slipped somewhat in 2012. His walks more than doubled from 16 to 36, his ERA rose from 1.83 to 2.74 and he had 36 saves, compared to 40 in 2011.

The report said Pittsburgh is interested in left-handed starter Felix Doubront, but that Boston would not make that trade.

The Red Sox explored a trade in 2010 for Hanrahan, who would not necessarily replace Andrew Bailey as closer but would certainly provide an alternative.

Post your favorite holiday film recommendations

Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in a scene from the classic Frank Capra holiday film "It's a Wonderful Life." Liberty Films  

Beginning at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, TBS will begin its 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story.” I have my leg lamp on as I offer up five other holiday films worth watching until then

1. “A Christmas Carol” (1984) – I cannot say enough about fantastic George C. Scott is as Ebenezer Scrooge. He puts Alistair Sim to shame and that is no small feat.

2. “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) – Post-World War II Jimmy Stewart reteamed with director Frank Capra in a look at the impact one man has on his community.

3. “Scrooged” (1988) – Bill Murray in a modern-day retelling of “A Christmas Carol” that delivers a biting take on network television.

4. “The Santa Clause” (1994) – I try to forget the sequels when I watch this Tim Allen comedy.

5. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) – I confess I did not get this film when it first came out, but I have come to understand its appeal.

President Barack Obama says he'll press ahead with Congress in hopes of preventing across-the-board tax increases set to strike taxpayers Jan. 1 after House GOP leaders unexpectedly put off a vote on legislation calling for higher rates on million-dollar earners Thursday evening.

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he'll press ahead with Congress in hopes of preventing across-the-board tax increases set to strike taxpayers Jan. 1 after House GOP leaders unexpectedly put off a vote on legislation calling for higher rates on million-dollar earners Thursday evening.

The measure "did not have sufficient support from our members to pass," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, conceded in a brief statement.

At the White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney said that Obama's "main priority is to ensure that taxes don't go up on 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses," citing statistics associated with Obama's campaign promise to increase top tax rates on households earning more than $250,000 a year.

"The President will work with Congress to get this done and we are hopeful that we will be able to find a bipartisan solution quickly that protects the middle class and our economy," Carney said. Pointedly, the statement didn't say whether Obama would work with Boehner to revive stalled talks or turn first to the Democratic-controlled Senate to try to salvage the situation.

Boehner's attempt to tactically retreat from a longstanding promise to maintain Bush-era tax rates for all was designed to gain at least some leverage against Obama and Senate Democrats in the "fiscal cliff" endgame. Thursday's drama was a major personal defeat for the Speaker, who retains the respect and affection of his tea party-infused conference, but sometimes has great difficulty getting them to follow his leadership.

What Boehner called his "Plan B" was crafted to prevent tax increases set to kick in Jan. 1 on virtually every taxpayer. But it also would have provisions that would have let rates rise for those at the upper income range — a violation of long-standing Republican orthodoxy that triggered opposition inside the party.

The hope was that successful House action on the measure would force Senate Democrats to respond. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., made is clear that Plan B would have been dead on arrival in the Senate.

"Speaker Boehner's plans are non-starters in the Senate," Reid said.

Boehner announced he would move to Plan B after testing the waters with fellow Republicans regarding a possible pact with Obama on tax increases of $1 trillion — including the breakthrough proposal on higher tax rates — and finding them not very receptive.

Thursday's events leave little time for Obama and bruised lawmakers to prevent across-the-board tax increases and deep spending cuts from taking effect with the new year. Economists say the combination threatens a return to recession for an economy that has been recovering slowly from the last one.

The House will not meet again until after Christmas, if then, and the Senate is expected to meet briefly on Friday, then not reconvene until next Thursday.

In his written statement, Boehner said the House has previously passed legislation to prevent all the tax increases from taking effect, and noted that earlier in the evening it had approved a measure to replace across-the-board spending cuts with "responsible" reductions.

In arguing for legislation with a million-dollar threshold for higher tax rates, Boehner said the president has called for legislation to protect 98 percent of the American people from a tax hike. "Well, today we're going to do better than that," he said of the measure that raises total taxes by slightly more than $300 billion over a decade. "Our bill would protect 99.81 percent of the American people from an increase in taxes."

Democrats said that by keeping tax rates unchanged below $1 million — Obama has offered a compromise $400,000 level — Republicans had turned the bill into a tax break for the wealthy. They also accused Republicans of crafting their measure to impose a tax increase on 11 million middle class families.

"This is a ploy, not a plan," said Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich. He accused Republicans of being "deeply cynical," saying the legislation would scale back some education and child tax credits.

A companion bill on the evening's House agenda, meant to build GOP support for the tax bill, called for elimination of an estimated $97 billion in cuts to the Pentagon and certain domestic programs over a decade. It cleared the House on a partisan vote of 215-209 and is an updated version of legislation that passed a little more than six months ago.

Those cuts would be replaced with savings totaling $314 billion, achieved through increases in the amount federal employees contribute toward their pensions and through cuts in social programs such as food stamps and the health care law that Obama signed earlier in his term.

Ironically, the votes were set in motion earlier in the week, after Boehner and Obama had significantly narrowed their differences on a compromise to avoid the fiscal cliff.

Republican officials said that members of the GOP leadership had balked at the terms that were emerging. Democrats said Boehner's abrupt decision to shift to his Plan B — legislation drafted unilaterally by Republicans — reflected a calculation that he lacked support from his own rank and file to win the votes needed for the type of agreement he was negotiating with the president.

Asked at a news conference a few hours before the scheduled vote if that were so, Boehner avoided a direct answer. "Listen, the president knows that I've been able to keep my word on every agreement we've ever made," he said.

By any measure, the two bills in the House were far removed from the latest offers that officials said Obama and Boehner had tendered. And the two men don't seem to be that far apart.

Obama is now seeking $1.2 trillion in higher tax revenue, down from the $1.6 trillion he initially sought. He also has softened his demand for higher tax rates on household incomes so they would apply to incomes over $400,000 instead of the $250,000 he cited during his successful campaign for a new term.

He also has offered more than $800 billion in spending cuts over a decade, half of it from Medicare and Medicaid, $200 billion from farm and other benefit programs, $100 billion from defense and $100 billion from a broad swath of government accounts ranging from parks to transportation to education.

In a key concession to Republicans, the president also has agreed to slow the rise in cost-of-living increases in Social Security and other benefit programs, at a savings estimated at about $130 billion over a decade.

By contrast, Boehner's most recent offer allowed for about $940 billion in higher taxes over a decade, with higher rates for annual incomes over $1 million.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino may be heading home soon after a lengthy hospital stay.

This Oct. 5, 2012 file photo shows Boston Mayor Tom Menino during a campaign event for Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren in Boston. Menino, 69, was transferred Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, to a rehabilitation hospital after spending a month hospitalized for an infection and a compression fracture in his back. He was first hospitalized Oct. 26, after cutting short a vacation in Italy because of a respiratory infection. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, File)  

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Mayor Thomas Menino may be heading home soon after a lengthy hospital stay.

The Boston Globe (http://b.globe.com/ZYt9x1 ) reports that Menino predicted during a visit by Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart that he expected to be released from the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital on Sunday. His office said a Sunday release in time to spend Christmas at home was a "hope," but not a certainty.

The longest serving mayor in the city's history went to Spaulding to continue his recovery last month after spending about six weeks at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment of a respiratory infection that developed during a vacation in Italy.

While at the hospital he suffered complications including a compression fracture in a vertebra in his spine. Menino was also diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

___

Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe

Downloading a gun's design plans to your computer, building it on a three-dimensional printer and firing it minutes later. No background checks, no questions asked.

By JASON DEAREN, Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Downloading a gun's design plans to your computer, building it on a three-dimensional printer and firing it minutes later. No background checks, no questions asked.

Sound far-fetched? It's not. And that is disquieting for gun control advocates.

Rep. Steven Israel, D-NY, said the prospect of such guns becoming reality is reason enough for the renewal of the Undetectable Firearms Act, which makes illegal the building of guns that can't be detected by X-ray or metallic scanners. That law expires at the end of 2013.

At least one group, called Defense Distributed, is claiming to have created downloadable weapon parts that can be built using the increasingly popular new-generation of printer that utilizes plastics and other materials to create 3-D objects with moving parts. University of Texas law student Cody Wilson, the 24-year-old "Wiki Weapons" project leader, says the group last month test fired a semiautomatic AR-15 rifle — one of the weapon types used in the Connecticut elementary school massacre — which was built with some key parts created on a 3-D printer. The gun was fired six times before it broke.

Though no independent observer was there to verify the test, a short video clip showing the gun firing and breaking was posted to YouTube. Federal firearms regulators said they are aware of the technology's gun-making potential, but do not believe an entire weapon has yet been made.

"What's chilling is that last month a group of kids used a 3-D printer to actually manufacture (key parts) of the AR-15 and fire six bullets," Israel said. "When the (act) was last renewed in 2003, a gun made by a 3-D printer was like a Star Trek episode, but now we know it's real."

Even with gun control pushed to the top of the national political conversation, Wilson is steadfast about reaching his goal of making a fully downloadable gun. This weekend, he and his partners plan to print four new lower receivers — the segment of the gun that includes the trigger, magazine and grip. He keeps three of these AR-15 parts — one black, one white and another green — in his tidy student apartment in Austin, TX.

While saddened by the Connecticut mass killing, Wilson said Thursday that protecting the right to bear arms by giving everyone access to guns is more important in the long term than a single horrible crime.

"Clearly what happened in Connecticut was a tragedy," he told The Associated Press. "Still, by affording the Second Amendment protection, we understand events like these will happen."

He said he discussed with his partners whether they should suspend their effort, and they all decided it was too important to stop.

Wilson acknowledged there still are many technical hurdles to creating a complete gun from a 3-D printer and provided no estimate on when his goal might be reached.

Special Agent Helen Dunkel of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which helps enforce gun laws, said the agency is familiar with Wilson's project. She didn't offer an opinion but noted there is nothing illegal about making many types of guns at home. Exceptions would be high-powered weapons like machine guns and those not detectable by airport scanners.

Advances in 3-D printing technology are fueling Wilson's goal. The printers were developed for the automobile, aerospace and other industries to create product prototypes from the same hard plastics used in toys like Legos. Hobbyists mainly use the printers to design Christmas ornaments, toys and gadget accessories.

Prices on the machines have fallen as the consumer market grows, leading to a surge in interest from people in the so-called "maker" scene. Low-end 3-D printers can now be purchased online from between $1,500-$4,000. The more high-end printers needed to make gun parts are still priced from $10,000 and up.

Stratasys Ltd. Of Eden Prairie, Minn., makes 3-D printers. Shane Glenn, director of investor relations, said gun-making was never something envisioned for the machines.

"The gun issue is something that the 3-D printing industry will have to address going forward," Glenn said.

Right now, most people interested in 3-D printing rent time on one. There are a number of businesses and co-ops in major cities that allow access to the machines for a nominal fee. At San Francisco's TechShop, which features a 3-D printer for its members, "assembling firearms is strictly prohibited and our staff is trained on that policy," company spokeswoman Carrie Motamedi said.

Wilson acknowledged his idea has met resistance from those active in 3-D printing.

"The early adopters of 3-D printing technology seem to be an educated, more liberal group who were against firearms to begin with," he said. Wilson said some are worried the gun project might spur regulations that will hurt or curtail their projects.

Early schematics created by Wilson's group were posted on Thingiverse, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based website that serves as a hub for 3-D printing aficionados. After the school shooting, Thingiverse took down Wilson's links.

The site's spokeswoman Jenifer Howard said its focus is "to empower the creative process and make things for good." Howard said Thingiverse's terms of service state that users cannot use the site to share content that contributes to the creation of weapons.

Wilson said the group has already posted the links on its own website.

Paul Saffo, a Silicon Valley technology forecaster who teaches at Stanford University's engineering school, said Defense Distributed's work carries on a long tradition of tech geeks using innovation to make a political point, in this case on gun control and Second Amendment freedoms.

"If you want to get people's attention in Washington, you say something. If you want to do it in Silicon Valley, you make something," Saffo said.

He said the technology exists now for a highly motivated group to make a plastic gun on a 3-D printer that could avoid airport scanners. But the equipment is still too expensive for most people.

"Nobody right now needs to worry about the bright teenager making a gun on a printer in their bedroom," he said.

___

Freelance video producer Jay Olivier contributed to this report from Austin, TX.

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse joined a live chat with MassLive.com readers Thursday afternoon and addressed their questions concerning casinos, crime and urban renewal.

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse answers MassLive.com reader questions from his office in City Hall. Mandy Hofmockel  

Mandy Hofmockel: Mayor Alex Morse will be joining us at about 3 p.m. so there's still plenty of time to submit questions in the "Send questions or comments" box below.

Mayor Morse: Good afternoon everyone - I'm looking forward to answering your questions!

Thomas: Good Afternon Mayor Morse, Amtrak's Vermonter is poised to once again pass through Holyoke in 2014 and Connecticut is funding a major commuter railroad project between Springfield and New Haven. What are the city's plans for reestablishing passenger rail service?

Mayor Morse: Thanks Thomas. I've made it a priority since day one to make sure that there will be a stop in Holyoke when passenger rail service is coming through Western Massachusetts. We recently were awarded a $2 million dollar grant from the state to construct a passenger rail platform on the corner of Dwight St. and Main St. We will have the initial design done in February and construction will begin in the Spring. We expect that our platform/stop will be ready for the return of rail service in Spring 2014. This is a very exciting project for the City, and we expect this investment to catalyze other development in the City in that area. It also makes Holyoke more competitive for business growth, as we can now attract a workforce from beyond our borders. Thank you for the question.

John: Mayor Morse, is there any update on what is going to happen to Lynch Middle school?

Mayor Morse: We are still going through the process of crafting a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for the property. Last year, there were no bids on the Lynch school itself. We are working with the state now to figure out a way to include Anniversary Field (the adjacent park) in the RFP, which would make the parcel a more attractive place for redevelopment. I envision a mixed-use development in that area - combination commercial, retail, office space, dining options, perhaps something similar to the South Hadley Commons model with a variety of options. Now that the City Council has approved our Urban Renewal Plan for Downtown Holyoke, I hope that the Redevelopment Authority will begin to address the marketing of this key property right off of I-91.

Kelly: Now that the casino is not going to happen in Holyoke, do you think you can encourage Mr. Suher to expose the land to industry and hopefully bring jobs to Holyoke?

Mayor Morse: Kelly - it depends on the type of industry. I am willing to have a conversation with any developer in the City as long as they know that casinos are off the table. We have shifted our efforts to making sure that Holyoke will benefit from a revenue-sharing agreement and workforce commitments from other operators in Western Massachusetts. I think the citizens of Holyoke have many ideas for the Mt. Tom. I see very real opportunities for us to bolster eco-tourism in that area, other recreational activities as well. I also think we have to mindful that if we hope to revitalize downtown Holyoke, only certain types of development on the mountain can be compatible with real substantive development in the Downtown. It is important to engage Holyoke residents on any plan that involves the mountain. Furthermore, any development on the mountain would require a zone change by the Holyoke City Council, which in some cases would need at least 10-12 votes of approval by the Council. On a related note, we are developing a jobs strategy for the City, other revenue expansion strategies, and exploring options to reduce next year's municipal budget to provide tax relief to residents.

Brad: What are Holyoke's chances of getting a piece of the casino revenue as a neighboring community of Springfield? Is it going to be a problem that Holyoke does not actually border Springfield?

Mayor Morse: Good question Brad. This is the perfect opportunity to have that conversation. One of the positive results of the conversations over the past few weeks was our ability to transform the casino conversation from a Springfield centric conversation into a regional conversation. For the first time, we have mayors, town administrators and other regional stakeholders sitting around a table discussing the regional implications of a casino development. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is now in the process of defining what a "surrounding community" is, as the original Gaming Law did not define that term. We will be advocating directly to the Gaming Commission for this designation, which will enhance our efforts to be part of a revenue sharing agreement, as well as making sure that a percentage of Holyoke residents are employed at the eventual site. We have already begun these conversations with other cities, and leaders of any city or town where the casino is sited will be forced by the state to have these conversations.

Abe: Mayor Morse, do you feel that your series of reversals on the casino question will define your legacy as the mayor of this city? Have you cemented your image of an indecisive politician with these missteps?

Mayor Morse: I don't think so. I think the past few weeks have demonstrated that elected officials often times have to deliberate on issues in a public forum. As Mayor, it is my obligation to keep an open mind, despite personal opinions about a particular issue. I have always been opposed to the siting of a casino in Holyoke, and at the end of the day, in retrospect, only one person is responsible for keeping a casino out of our City, and that is the Mayor. After some consideration, I realized that the casino issue will only distract us from our common vision for a creative, innovative, vibrant city. We have made a lot of progress over the past year, and more is to come, and we can't afford to allow such a divisive issue divide our community. We must put our destiny in our own hands - and the question comes down to this: What kind of city do we want to be? What do we want to be known for? I can think of a lot better things to be proud of than earning revenue on the backs of our society's most vulnerable populations. We are quickly getting back on track, and plan to begin implementing our new Urban Renewal Plan, getting more people to live Downtown, expanding market-rate units, supporting small business development, building off the success of the Green High Performance Computing Center, and continuing to support creative industries. Politicians are people - and we deliberate and think deeply about issues. I think it's better to have an elected official that evolves on issues, rather than one who digs in their heels and refuses to look at the bigger picture.

Terrence: I have a concern about your efforts to renovate downtown Holyoke. If the downtown area becomes a Northampton-like area, then the property values and cost of apartment rentals will reach Northampton-like heights, meaning that many of Holyoke's residents may not be able to afford to live here anymore. What are you doing to ensure that you revitalize Holyoke without potentially forcing out many of the city's current residents, who are also a large sum of your supporters?

Mayor Morse: Thanks Terrence - I understand your concerns on this issue and I assure you that these conversations do occur often at City Hall. We need to remember that Holyoke once had a population of 60,000 people. We now have around 40,000. We have room to grow and expand without gentrifying the people who live here. Holyoke is not Northampton, we never will be. We are something different - we are unique, special, and poised to undergo a substantial renaissance. The exciting thing about Holyoke is that we are not complete - both Holyoke natives and new Holyokers have an opportunity to directly shape our future - together. No doubt, it is a priority of mine to get more people moving to Holyoke - we need to increase urban density, we need to have income diversity in our Downtown to support a vibrant small business community. We need more restaurants, cafes, shops, etc, but we also need the consumers to support these establishments. Holyoke has a large share of subsidized low-income housing, much higher than surrounding communities, and it is also time that other more affluent communities show the compassion to people and families that Holyoke always has. At the same time, it's important we support families so that they can move up the social and economic ladder, so that generations of families aren't stuck in public housing - help people realize employment, homeownership, educational opportunities. Again, Holyoke has a more diverse and unique identity than Northampton, which presents us with the opportunity to surpass our counterparts in the future. In terms of rentals, there will always be rent-controlled units in Holyoke. We are close to transforming the Holyoke Catholic High School campus into Downtown apartments, we are also in the process of developing a solid, realistic plan for the rehabilitation of Lyman Terrace, and also working to increase homeownership through "Buy Holyoke Now" - www.buyholyokenow.com

Bill: Please tell us your impression is of Paper City Development's offer of development monies to the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club. Would you support it if a Casino was part of the deal? Thank you.

Mayor Morse: Casinos are off the table, and I suspect they will not have the money nor the desire to do anything with that property without a casino being involved. I look forward to working with the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club on a more sustainable way to develop their property.

Guest: How is the Holyoke/Chicopee bridge project coming along? I really miss being able to use this avenue.

Mayor Morse: I think we all do! I don't have a good answer for you, but if you email my office (morsea@ci.holyoke.ma.us) I can send you a timeline. This is a state project, not a city project, so I will have to contact the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to get a realistic time frame for you. Wish I could be more helpful here.

Anne Duffy: Why didn't you tell the people of Holyoke about your meetings with Eric Suher before you met with him? It gave a lot of people a shock, and was certainly not the most transparent way to operate.

Mayor Morse: I meet with people every single day - residents, current and perspective business owners. This was no different. In the effort of transparency, I let the public know that I had a meeting with Mr. Suher in regards to his concept for a casino and that nothing had been decided. Typically, public officials do the opposite, that is, make announcements that deals have been made. I made it clear that I wanted public input as I considered this, and that is what happened. I appreciated every single person who emailed, called, came in person to provide me with their opinion. It matters.

Juan: Mayor Morse, what are you doing about Holyoke's drug problem?

Mayor Morse: We are doing a number of things to address the drug issue here in Holyoke. First off, it's important to note that a vast majority of drug-related arrests in Holyoke are of people who don't actually live in Holyoke. We have to send a strong message that Holyoke is not a place to buy and sell drugs. A few things we have done - 1) We have coordinated the schedules of all of our Narcotics officers in the HPD to ensure that we have more people working on drug cases at the same time - and they have been successful in making more drug-related arrests, and we have succeeded in expediting investigations. 2) In my budget this year, I reinstated a K-9 unit in the Police Department Narcotics division - this has also helped. 3) Earlier this year, the new Chief and I established a new "traffic" unit - with the hope of both addressing traffic-related incidences, but also in an effort to cut off supply of drugs on I-91 and 391. 4) Overall, we have increased police presence with new community policing efforts - more officers on bikes and on feet, as well as the new Mobile Community Policing unit, which we park in high-crime intersections (Dwight/Linden, Elm/Appleton). We have also succeeded in building relationships with residents who provide the HPD with leads and tips which lead to the arrests of many drug offenders.

Max: Do you believe that neighboring communities that would get casino revenue should have to contribute to the region in terms of solving the homeless problem, affordable housing and social services, all of which now are left mainly on the shoulders of the cities? If these communities were to receive funding, should they be required to open their own shelters and committing to solving these regional problems, instead of just receiving a blank check?

Mayor Morse: Yes of course, that is exactly what I am advocating for. I am not alone in this view, that is why it's important for all of us Western Massachusetts communities to come together to discuss these issues. Even with the casino in Springfield, there will still be negative spillover impacts onto surrounding communities. I look forward to standing up for Holyoke on the regional stage to protect our city's interests. Also - the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and the Gaming Law require that some of the revenue from the casinos go towards preventing and addressing some of the social ills that have been proven to exist as a result of casino developments. Thank you for this important question.

Sara: Mayor Morse, what is city government doing to make Holyoke a safer place to walk and ride a bike? I'd like to see Holyoke become a Bike-Friendy and Walk-Friendly City as we move forward.

Mayor Morse: I completely agree - thank you! We are doing a number of things. We actually have an entire "Transit Oriented Development" (TOD) plan for the City of Holyoke. We are investing in key infrastructure projects that promote a more walkable and bikeable city - be it new roads with lines, new sidewalks, Phase 2 of the CanalWalk that will begin next year, as well as reconstruction of Heritage St. in Downtown. Furthermore, we have a walking/biking committee in our Planning Department that works with the Holyoke Food and Fitness Policy Council and the Holyoke YMCA to address these issues - making sure we have safe crosswalks for bikers and walkers. We also have great people in the City (with the Y) hosting "bike shops" for our city's youth - where young people learn how to repair old bikes and earn a bike at the end of the program. Greater Downtown development lends itself to more TOD advancements, and there is a strong sense of reurbanization here in Holyoke and throughout the country. More people want to be able to walk/bike to work, to school, a place to eat, grab a coffee/drink etc. If you'd like to be involved in any of these efforts, let me know.

Aaron Hohol: When is the official opening of the senior center?

Mayor Morse: Also, Sara, check out our new Urban Renewal Plan, both the plan and the video at www.holyokeredevelopment.com.

Mayor Morse: Aaron - the new Senior Center is now open! The official open house and ribbon cutting will be early February. The Center is a fantastic addition to the City - great new building with a fitness center, library, art rooms, community and event space - there is a whole host of programming and activities for our city's seniors. We should be very proud of this important investment in the City, and I encourage seniors who have never utilized the Center in its previous place, to visit the new Center - you will not be disappointed!

Terrence: Thank you for your response. Have you considered the option of demolishing abandoned Holyoke property on imminent domain, and then selling that space to businesses for cheap? It would create more jobs and reduce the number of places where drug dealers can hide.

Mayor Morse: Yes - in our new Urban Renewal Plan we have an entire list of vacant and abandoned properties that we plan to take by eminent domain - once we do that, we either market the property to a developer for rehab if that is viable, or demolish the property and market it as such. The City is much more aggressive today in taking properties for tax-title (owners who don't pay taxes). We take them to court and take ownership of the property. Right now, we are in the process of planning the city's first public property auction since 1976, to put these properties back on the tax rolls and clean up the blight. In the auction, we can also include a specific use for the different properties. We also reserve the right to take the building back for $1 after a year or so if the new owners are not making progress on the site.

Suzanne Williams: Will Mayor Morse join 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns' and also the recent Menino/Bloomberg petition?

Mayor Morse: Suzanne - I joined "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" back in January, and I signed a letter yesterday that was crafted by Menino and Bloomberg, urging both Congress and the President to take action on gun control soon.

Andrew: What are your plans for Avery Field?

Mayor Morse: I'm hoping that the City can tackle Avery Field next year. Now that we just received a $175,000 grant to go towards the skate park, that frees up the money I originally allocated for that to use on other parks. I have directed my staff to present me with a plan for Avery Field that includes new benches, playground, basketball courts, as well as a beach volleyball court. If you have any ideas or suggestions, let me know. Thanks for the question.

Mayor Morse: Thank you everyone for your questions this afternoon. Have a Merry Christmas next week and a Happy New Year. Stay safe and enjoy time with friends and family. As always, if I wasn't able to answer a question or you would like more information on something I said, don't hesitate to contact me directly here at the Mayor's office. Take care.

Mandy Hofmockel: That about wraps it up for this live chat with the mayor. Thanks for joining us with all your great questions!

Here are the average energy prices in the Pioneer Valley for the week.

Three-time Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton says she coped with depression and a troubled marriage by turning to a life of prostitution.

Three-time Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton says she coped with depression and a troubled marriage by turning to a life of prostitution.

In a series of posts to her Twitter account, Favor Hamilton acknowledged working as an escort following a report Thursday on The Smoking Gun website about her double life.

"I do not expect people to understand," Favor Hamilton tweeted. "But the reasons for doing this made sense to me at the time and were very much related to depression."

The Smoking Gun said the 44-year-old athlete has been working for the last year for a Las Vegas escort service that booked her for dates there, as well as in Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago. The website said she charged $600 an hour for her services.

One of the country's best-ever middle-distance runners, Favor Hamilton competed for the U.S. at the Olympics in 1992, 1996 and 2000 but did not win a medal. She won seven U.S. national titles. She lives in Madison, Wis., where, The Smoking Gun reported, she and her husband, Mark, live in a $600,000 home and appear to be in no financial distress based on the website's review of court and municipal records.

Favor Hamilton told the website that only her husband was aware of her escort work, but that, "He tried, he tried to get me to stop. He wasn't supportive of this at all."

The website reported that Favor Hamilton worked under the alias "Kelly Lundy" but said she told some of her clients about her true identity and suspected one of them leaked it.

Soon after the story appeared online, Favor Hamilton released a series of tweets saying in part that she was "drawn to escorting in large part because it provided many coping mechanisms for me when I was going through a very challenging time with my marriage and my life."

The Orange County Register reported that Disney canceled a scheduled appearance by Favor Hamilton at the August 2013 expo during the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend.

A nine-time NCAA champion for Wisconsin, Favor Hamilton is the namesake of the Big Ten's Suzy Favor Athlete of the Year Award, given to the conference's top female athlete. Big Ten spokesman Scott Chipman said the conference had no comment.

Favor Hamilton did not respond to a request from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Las Vegas police have no record of any arrests or contact with Favor Hamilton, said Officer Laura Meltzer, a department spokeswoman. No inquiry about Favor Hamilton was launched as a result of the news reports, Meltzer said. Telephone numbers for the escort service Hamilton said she worked for were not in service and attempts to reach a company representative by email were not immediately successful.

Favor Hamilton is a three-time outdoor 1,500-meter national champion and a three-time indoor national champion — her last title coming in 1999.

"As crazy as I know it seems, I never thought I would be exposed, therefore never hurting anybody," she said in one Twitter post.

In another, she says she is seeking psychological care for her problem.

She closes her series of tweets by saying, "I fully intend to make amends and get back to being a good mother, wife, daughter, and friend."

If Varejao is indeed available, pretty much every NBA team will be calling Cleveland about him

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott, right, instructs Anderson Varejao, of Brazil, in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, in Cleveland. Toronto won 113-99. AP Photo/Mark Duncan  

The Boston Celtics reportedly have a "strong interest" in acquiring Cleveland Cavaliers big man Anderson Varejao, which makes sense particularly because he averages almost as many rebounds (a league-leading 14.4) as Boston's entire starting frontcourt (15.2 with Jason Collins).

If Varejao is indeed available, pretty much every NBA team will be calling Cleveland about him; it's a weird phenomenon, but general managers tend to lust after active, 6-foot-11 centers who lead the league in rebounding and can score without getting plays run for them. The problem for the Celtics, as Sam Amico of Fox Sports reports, is that they don't have many interesting assets from Cleveland's perspective.

In return for Varejao, Cleveland would almost certainly want youthful talent and/or draft picks in return. Amico reports the Cavaliers had little interest in Jared Sullinger on draft day and probably still don't value him highly; Courtney Lee's value has taken a hit this season; Jeff Green's overpaid and, at 27, not super young anymore; Brandon Bass is solid, but not likely to entice Cleveland; and general manager Danny Ainge would be extremely hesitant to part ways with Avery Bradley, who showed all kinds of potential last season at age 21.

To recap: Ainge would have to be a wizard to finagle Varejao.

NECN reported about 300 gallons of sulfuric acid were spilled.

Republican file photo  

STURBRIDGE -- Emergency personnel were summoned to Route 15 shortly before midnight to deal with a sulphuric acid spill.

NECN reported that about 300 gallons of sulfuric acid were spilled from a truck.

No injuries were reported. Additional information was not immediately available.

New England remains focused on what it needs to do to improve its chances of reaching the Super Bowl.

The Gillette Stadium locker room will never be classified as exciting during the 45 minutes each day the doors open to the media and the outside world is allowed a peek inside.

The poor Patriots who aren't savvy enough to get away end up trapped at their lockers and answer questions with the same enthusiasm as someone sentenced to a court-ordered therapy session, providing just enough to feed the machine.

But this week, with New England traveling to Jacksonville to play the 2-12 Jaguars Sunday, even that bit of enthusiasm was hard to manufacture and the machine stalled. Players started the week talking up Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew until it became apparent he'd miss his ninth consecutive game with a foot injury, so then they tried to sell quarterback Chad Henne and his 51.9 completion rate as something to fear.

By the end of the week, when asked about the trip to Jacksonville, tight end Aaron Hernandez simply said, "I hope the weather is good."

After the Patriots' games against the titans of each conference – Houston and San Francisco – it's hard to get excited about playing a team that ranks 31^st in the NFL in both offense and defense. But New England needs to overlook that fact and the apathy it can create to avoid getting upset by Jacksonville.

To combat those feelings, coach Bill Belichick has been selling the game as a tune-up for the most important games of the season. With a Patriots playoff spot already clinched, he's been careful not to overhype Sunday's game as a must-win, even though New England still has an outside shot of earning the AFC's No. 2 seed.

"There is going to be a point where the season is going to come down to a game, a quarter, a series, a play, and when the team is able to execute at a high level at that particular point in time, that's going to decide which teams move on, which teams are the champions, which teams aren't," Belichick said. "I think it's all part of the process (of the season) and we're still in that process."

At his point in the season, New England has already proven it is one of the best teams in the NFL. The offense can still score points in bunches and the defense appears good enough to get the team where it wants to go. The Patriots have shown heart in a tough win over Miami in Week 13 and again Sunday by overcoming a 28-point hole against the 49ers.

The team's biggest issue still appears to be closing out games, a problem prevalent early in the season that popped up again vs. San Francisco. If all goes to plan and New England does what it's supposed to do this week, that shouldn't be an issue against the Jaguars.

And that's what Belichick is hoping for. His team needs to show its professionalism by getting up for this game so things aren't sloppy, and his players need to demonstrate they can do the things he talked about when it matters most.

"(The Jaguars) do some things well," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. "I think that Coach talked about focusing on what we need to do and getting a lot better as a team. Our execution needs to be better. That's what it's got to be this week in practice and carrying all the way through the game."

It's a tune-up. And to be a Super Bowl team, New England needs to prove it can get up for these games the same way it can for teams that arrive with a built-in adrenaline rush.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Matthew Ratelle  

Matthew Ratelle  

Matthew Ratelle, 40, of Petersburgh, N.Y., died Thursday following a hit and run accident on Sept. 3. He was bicycling when he was struck by a car and left in critical condition. He and his family recently relocated from Bennington, Vt., to Petersburgh. He was a graduate of Chicopee High School and Springfield Technical Community College. He was employed at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in the Radiology Department since 1995, and was also a per diem technician with Insight Imaging Pet CT since 2007.

Obituaries from The Republican:

• 
  Bronner, Edmund N.
  



• 
  Chambers, Geneva
  



• 
  Cyr, Dianne A.
  



• 
  D'Agostino, Nicholas
  



• 
  DeMarco, Joseph P.
  



• 
  Doerpholz, Roger A.
  



• 
  Dryer, Judith Anne
  



• 
  Grudgen, Joan E.
  



• 
  Kane, John S.
  



• 
  Krechko, Joan
  



• 
  Levy, Arthur H.
  



• 
  Manzi, Salvataore
  



• 
  Murphy, Dr. Jeanne S.
  



• 
  Ofray, Hector Raul
  



• 
  Placanico, Giorgio J.
  



• 
  Ratelle, Matthew
  



• 
  Robak, Madeline J.
  



• 
  Starr, Loretta E.
  



• 
  Starr, Patrick J.
  



• 
  Steiger, Elinor
  



• 
  Washburn, Nancy A.
  



• 
  Winkler, Paul J.
  



• 
  Wright, Donald
  

The new facility is located at 29 Center Street, and features state-of-the-art technology. Watch video

The Northampton Police Department held an open house to show the public its new $17.6 million facility Saturday morning, and hundreds of residents came to tour the building.

The new facility, located at the same address as the old facility at 29 Center Street, is updated with the newest state-of-the-art technology. The old facility was about 60 years old, but has since been demolished. A two-story parking garage now stands in the site of the old building.

“Coming from the old building which was just decrepit, it’s a huge expansion in space. Our old building was 9,000 square feet, this one is 31,000. It gives us the ability for our detectives to have proper workspace, for our crime lab to have proper workspace, the control officers, the civilians, all the things that were so sadly lacking in the old building,” said Northampton Police Chief Russell Sienkiewicz.

Police officials and officers were on-hand throughout the building, giving demonstrations and answering questions.

In a crowded room on the first floor, an officer gave demonstrations of how the police radio system operates. In a room on the lower level of the building, an officer was telling residents about their different offensive tactics, such as hot pepper guns, which shoot gelatin balls of hot pepper at the perpetrator as a far-reaching pepper spray.

On the upper-level, a police detective was showing off the new equipment and space for picture and video editing. One of its main uses is looking at surveillance tapes.

“It’s so much better. Our lieutenant’s office now is the size of our old detectives’ bureau. Everything was stacked. We have so much more space to do our work effectively,” said Detective Patrick Moody.

Every detail of the building is updated, down to the toilets, which now flush from the outside of the cells. Police said perpetrators used to stuff the toilets with toilet paper and continue to flush, causing the toilet to overflow and flood the cell, creating a nuisance for the police

Northampton police have been operating in the building since July, but the open house was the first official time the whole building was open to the public at once.

“It’s a very historic occasion," said Denise Gelinas, of Northampton.

"We feel like it’s our building," said Northampton resident Mark Karpel. "Everything this town has is what the previous generations left for us. This is one of the things we’re leaving for coming generations."

A plan for the new building has been in the works for the past 18 years. Former Northampton mayor Mary Clare Higgins has seen the project all the way through, and attended the open house Saturday.

“We took the vote for a new police station in my first year as city councilor in 1994, and the active portion started early in my term as mayor. We tried to figure out the money during a very difficult time in the economy, but were able to put together a finance package which included asking the voters for $10 million, which they approved,” said Higgins.

Authorities, including Northampton Mayor David J. Narkewicz, said they hope citizens continue to use the space they paid for.

“We have a community room, I know the chief is working with community organizations to use it,” said Narkewicz.

“We really decided early on we wanted to keep this building downtown because it’s such an important part of the fabric of our downtown. We want to keep our downtown safe and vibrant, and to have the police located in the downtown is so important for that. I hope as the exterior things get finished people will come out and watch it and see it and come sit in the little park that’s going to be outside here in the springtime,” said the mayor.

The closer is known for his slider, but his control slipped in 2012

The Red Sox might be on the verge of acquiring a powerful arm for their bullpen.

According to ESPN.com, Pittsburgh Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan might soon be headed to Boston through trade.

The report did not state what Boston might give up in return, and cautioned that this trade is in progress but not a done deal.

The Pirates reportedly sought Felix Doubront, but the Red Sox were unwilling to trade their left-handed starter.

Pittsburgh's signing of Francisco Liriano reduces the Pirates' need for starting pitching. Boston might offer relievers Alfredo Aceves or Franklin Morales, each of which could start.

The Dodgers were reportedly interested in Hanrahan, but seem to be dropping out.

The closer saved 36 games in 2012, but many were nervewracking as his control slipped from its 2011 levels. Hanrahan had 40 saves and a 1.83 ERA in 2011, but his ERA rose to 2.74 and his walks more than doubled in 2012.

He made $1.4 million last year. Hanrahan is eligible for arbitration and could receive up to $7 million this year, explaining why the Pirates would move him.