No serious injuries were reported, a fire official said.

Springfield firefighters gather outside the duplex home at 17-19 Webster St. Monday after they ventilated the home of natural gas after a faulty furnace caused gas to come into the home.  

SPRINGFIELD — A malfunctioning furnace sent 14 Webster Street residents, including some infants, to Baystate Medical Center for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning Monday morning.

None of the victims is believed to be seriously injured, Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Contant said.

Firefighters were summoned to 17-19 Webster St. in the Liberty Heights neighborhood at about 10:30 a.m. for a report of people feeling ill, Leger said.

Firefighters evacuate buildings whenever carbon monoxide readings exceed 35 parts per million. Levels at 17 to 19 Webster St. came in at about 600 parts per million, he said.

Carbon monoxide detectors failed to go off because their batteries had been put in backwards, Leger said. Firefighters “red-tagged” the furnace, meaning that the it can not be used until repairs are made.

The building is owned by Stefan Davis, who is working to find housing for his displaced tenants, Leger said.

Animal control was summoned to the scene to remove two parakeets, Leger said.

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Obituaries from The Republican.

Clara Boucher  

Clara W. (Wrona) Boucher, 82, of Ludlow, died Friday. Born in Ludlow, she was educated in local schools and was a communicant of Christ the King Church. She had worked for Baystate Eye Care, the former Ludlow Hospital, in Ludlow Town Hall and as a school bus driver.

Obituaries from The Republican:

• 
  Boucher, Clara W.
  



• 
  Bousquet, Helen W.
  



• 
  Burda, Kathleen M.
  



• 
  Butynski, Theodore
  



• 
  Dauphinais, Eleanor D.
  



• 
  Giddings, Mary
  



• 
  Glavas, Mary
  



• 
  Kelleher, Margaret C.
  



• 
  Knowles, Alice M.
  



• 
  Lareau, Andre Thomas
  



• 
  Ortiz-Rivera, Ernesto
  



• 
  Perez, Norma I.
  



• 
  Rollins, Elaine
  



• 
  Rucinski, Emil J.
  



• 
  Rucinski, Helen M.
  



• 
  Ryan, John F.
  



• 
  Ryan, Patricia M.
  



• 
  Ryan, Richard P.
  



• 
  St. Amand, Eva D.
  



• 
  Syrett, Gary H.
  



• 
  Touchette, Dorothy A.
  



• 
  Vito, Antoinetta R.
  



• 
  Wood, Irmgard L.
  



• 
  Zazzaro, Joseph M.
  

A class action lawsuit that accuses the state of Massachusetts of allowing thousands of foster children to suffer a wide range of abuse is set to go to trial in federal court.

BOSTON (AP) — A class action lawsuit that accuses the state of Massachusetts of allowing thousands of foster children to suffer a wide range of abuse is set to go to trial in federal court.

The suit by the New York City-based advocacy group, Children's Rights, accuses Massachusetts of "causing physical and psychological harm to the abused and neglected children it is mandated to protect." It says the abuse include sexual assault, constant foster home uprooting and inappropriate prescribing of psychotropic drugs.

Opening arguments in the trial, which is expected to take weeks, are scheduled for Tuesday at U.S. District Court in Boston.

The Boston Globe reports (http://b.globe.com/VjZFoK) that Children's Right's first witness will be a woman who grew up in the Massachusetts system and suffered terrible abuse while being shuffled between foster homes.

"When taxpayers hear what they've been spending money on, they will be appalled," said Marcia Robinson Lowry, executive director of Children's Rights.

But the state plans to argue that Department of Children and Families officials are aware of the problems cited in the suit and have taken steps to improve the child welfare system.

"We're hoping as we present our stories, the court will conclude that we're very passionate about making improvements to the system and that we've had results," Angelo McClain, commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, told the Globe.

The lawsuit is among more than a dozen filed in recent years by Children's Rights against child welfare departments nationwide. Massachusetts is the first state to fight the accusations in court, rather than settle.

The lawsuit alleges Massachusetts violated children's constitutional rights by placing them in dangerous and unstable situations. The suit seeks broad reforms on behalf of approximately 7,500 children in state care.

Reports cited or released by Children's Rights said federal audits of 47 child welfare jurisdictions ranked Massachusetts 8th worst in mistreatment rates and 13th worst in timeliness of adoptions. They also indicate children in Massachusetts foster care are prescribed psychiatric medications at a rate far above children who aren't in state care (40 percent to 10 percent).

Lowry acknowledged the state has made some improvements, but she said the changes haven't been broad or comprehensive enough.

"The state's had initiatives. It's just they haven't succeeded," she said. "In some degree, it's too little too late."

But McClain said that in 2008, the state implemented an effective new model for managing cases that ensure children don't fall through the cracks. He said fewer than 1 percent of children are now being abused or neglected in foster care. And he said the number of stable foster care placements has improved to nearly 80 percent.

McClain said he was concerned that the resources being used to defend the case could be better used to help Massachusetts children.

"I don't question (Children's Rights') motives, and I think they believe that we could be doing a better job," he said. "But I don't know how much they've taken into account the improvements we've made since 2008."

The Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods Work Group will hold its first public forum to explain to residents what it has been doing since it first began meeting 2 months ago.

The Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods Work Group will hold its first public forum Tuesday night at Amherst Town Hall. The Republican staff file photo  

AMHERST — The Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods Work Group will hold its first public forum Tuesday night to explain to residents what it has been doing since November when the group first began meeting to looking at how to preserve and enhance existing residential neighborhoods and create, preserve and expand housing that is safe and healthy.

Town Manager John P. Musante has asked the group, composed of the police and fire chiefs, building commissioner, health director, residents, property owners, students and officials from the University of Massachusetts, to provide recommendations to him by March 1.

Led by W. David Ziomek, director of Conservation and Development, the group is looking at the existing but not necessarily enforced bylaws including one that prohibits more than four unrelated people from living to together as well as re-establishing a rental registration program.

“We want to inform the public as to the progress of the town manager’s charge and hear feedback on the direction we’re coming from and where we’re headed,” Ziomek said.

The group, which has been meeting almost weekly, has been working on drafting a rental registration program, a program that technically exists but has not been employed in recent years.

Ziomek said they don’t yet have a draft of that program. “At this point, it’s early on in this process.”

While the group’s meetings have all been open to the public this is a chance “for the public to find out where the group is heading and to get some feedback.”

Musante will present the group’s findings to the Select Board and the town will come up with some bylaw proposals for Town Meeting in the spring.

Over the last several years, the town has adopted a number of bylaws to address the noise and other issues connected to the large student population here.

It has enacted nuisance house, open container and keg bylaws with fines that have increased over time. This fall, the meeting also approved a bylaw that requires special permits to anyone renting out both units of a new duplex. An owner who occupies half of the duplex would need only site plan review. The bylaw stipulates that the unit cannot be occupied by more than four unrelated people.

Voters also approved a bylaw that strengthens the town’s nuisance bylaw by requiring rental housing managers or management organizations to pay for police response costs if there is a third violation at the same house within one year. Currently the bylaw states that response costs may be requested.

The forum will be held at 7 p.m. in the Town Room at Town Hall. A second forum has been scheduled for Feb. 19 at the same time and location.

The Ware School Committee announced that Darren Elwell is the new assistant principal of the junior/senior high school.

Jim Russell  

WARE — There is a new assistant principal at the junior/senior high school, replacing the previous individual who resigned after less than four months on the job.

The School Committee on Wednesday announced the appointment of Darren Elwell.

He was formerly a communications teacher at the Mohawk Regional school district, board chairman Chris Desjardins said. Elwell holds a master's degree from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, the chairman said.

Elwell began work Jan. 15.

South Hadley resident Michael Quinn had been introduced as assistant principal during the Aug. 22 meeting.

Quinn, who previous to Ware was a school counselor in other districts, resigned his position as assistant principal. It is not known whether he took another position elsewhere, Desjardins said in an interview.

In another matter, the administration will be forced to begin a new search to hire a school nurse. The individual selected declined the position, Desjardins told the committee.

In other business, the committee said it would review policies related to notification requirements for non-custodial parents, following complaints by a father attending the meeting.

“I have received not one piece of paper this (school) year,” John Zawalski said. “That’s not good customer service.”

No school administration personnel attended the Jan. 16 meeting to respond to Zawalski. School had been canceled that day because of a snowstorm.

Police demonstrated for selectmen the proper 2-handed grip on a gun and said that it is impossible to do in a low-light situation if an officer has to hold a flashlight as well.

 

SOUTHWICK — The Board of Selectmen approved a request from the police department last week for $6,000 to provide officers with flashlights that mount to their service revolvers, as well as new holsters to accommodate the equipment.

The request must now be approved by the Finance Committee.

Officer Gregory L. Burt, the police department’s firearms instructor, made a presentation to the board and demonstrated the need for the lights, which slide onto the weapon and add minimum weight to it.

Current weapons, he added, are already outfitted with slides for the lights and do not need to be replaced.

“This puts a light literally at the officer’s fingertips,” Burt said. “It’s lightweight and not noticeable on the weapon.”

Using a mock weapon, Burt demonstrated for selectmen the proper two-handed grip on a gun and said that it is impossible to do in a low-light situation if an officer has to hold a flashlight as well.

“They’re doing two things not so well,” he said. “Both hands on the firearm are best. Now, they’re dividing their attention and being not as effective as can be.”

Chief Mark J. Krynicki said the new equipment is supported by the department, as shown by the number of officers who attended that portion of the meeting in a show of solidarity.

“Ninety-nine percent of the officers want this,” he said. “It will become mandatory standard-issue.”

Burt said the lights have a shelf life of about 50,000 hours or 10 years.

Additional training for all officers will be required and will be incorporated in the annual low-light certification in April.

With the addition of the light on the firearm comes the need for new “triple retention” holsters, he added.

“The holsters have several moving parts, and they’re starting to wear out,” Burt said.

Only K-9 Officer Thomas L. Krutka is currently using a light-mounted weapon and has been doing so for the past year. He said the inspiration for providing the equipment for all officers came from an incident involving a K-9 situation in which a Pittsfield officer was pursuing a suspect in dark woods and had to hold a weapon, flashlight and his dog’s leash.

“New police equipment comes up every day,” he said. “This one is a no-brainer. I use it every day.”

In fact, Krutka said, during a recent low-light certification in which officers were required to shoot at a target in a darkened room while holding a flashlight, he scored the highest of all others on his target shoot because he was the only officer with a light on his gun.

“It’s not because I’m a better shot than the rest of the guys,” he said. “It’s because I was able to use both hands.” 

Problems have plagued the properties for several years.

01.21.2013 | SPRINGFIELD -- A resident watches the fire from Leyfred Terrace. George Graham | The Republican  

SPRINGFIELD -- Firefighters are at the scene of a blaze at a vacant apartment block on Locust Street for the third time in a week.

A fire was reported at 244-252 Locust St. shortly before 12:45 p.m. today, and flames quickly swept through the building, according to a reporter from The Republican who is at the scene. More than an hour after the fire was reported, heavy smoke continued to rise and flames could be seen in various areas of the building.

There was a partial collapse in the rear of the building.

“There’s a lot of water in the back, a lot of pressure on the walls,” said Dennis Leger, executive aide to acting Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant.

Water could be seen pouring down the front steps of the building on Locust Street.

Fires were reported at 258-266 Locust St. on Jan. 15 and at 252 Locust St. on Sunday.

The Springfield Arson and Bomb Squad determined that last night's fire that started in the same general area was deliberately set.

Leger said there have been signs that vagrants have been living inside. He said he was not aware of any injuries.

Leger said the cold weather might make the fire scene hazardous later today. “At some point, temperatures might be a problem with slipping and falling,” Leger said.

He said the city will move to tear down the building as soon as possible.

A section of Locust Street has been closed as firefighters work to contain the blaze.

City records show Riverview Apartments, LLC. of Swampscott as the owner of 244-252 Locust St. and 258-266 Locust St.

01.21.2013 | SPRINGFIELD -- Firefighters at the scene of a blaze on Locust Street Monday. George Graham | The Republican  

Problems have plagued the properties for several years.

The buildings were each condemned by the city in 2010 after an inspection found numerous code violations, fire hazards and all-around squalor. The remaining tenants, 26 families, were relocated, and each building boarded up.

In 2011, the city sought state Housing Court permission to demolish the two apartment buildings, saying the sites worsened in the year after they were condemned. Inspectors found evidence of trespassing and drug use at the site.

In the wake of one of last week's fires, city officials said they had been working California-based City National Bank, listed as a mortgagee in possession of the properties, to negotiate reimbursement for demolition costs, which are expected to be around $200,000 per building.

Code Enforcement Commissioner Steven T. Desilets said Monday that the building was scheduled for demolition in the coming week, and he is now conferring with the company to determine if the building can be razed immediately.

Lisa DeSousa, assistant city solicitor, said the bank had agreed in advance of the fires to cover the cost of demolition of both Locust Street buildings. The properties have continued to have problems since both were condemned in 2010 including illegal dumping, break-ins and vandalism, she said.

DeSousa said the demolition has not occurred sooner because of numerous properties that have been on the city’s priority list including buildings that were damaged by the June 1, 2011 tornado, and the problem of contractors used by the city being tied up with projects.

Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address, as provided by the White House:

President Barack Obama receives the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts as first Lady Michelle holds the bible at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)  

The Associated Press

Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address, as provided by the White House:

__

Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptional — what makes us American — is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on earth. The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.

For more than 200 years, we have.

Through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave and half-free. We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together.

Together, we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce; schools and colleges to train our workers.

Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.

Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life's worst hazards and misfortune.

Through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all society's ills can be cured through government alone. Our celebration of initiative and enterprise; our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, are constants in our character.

But we have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action. For the American people can no more meet the demands of today's world by acting alone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and militias. No single person can train all the math and science teachers we'll need to equip our children for the future, or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores. Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation, and one people.

This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it — so long as we seize it together.

For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that America's prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship. We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.

We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, and reach higher. But while the means will change, our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single American. That is what this moment requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.

We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future. For we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty, and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn. We do not believe that in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other — through Medicare, and Medicaid, and social security — these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.

We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries — we must claim its promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure — our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That's what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.

We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war. Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage. Our citizens, seared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid for liberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm. But we are also heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war, who turned sworn enemies into the surest of friends, and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.

We will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law. We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully — not because we are naïve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear. America will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe; and we will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad, for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful nation. We will support democracy from Asia to Africa; from the Americas to the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom. And we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice — not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes: tolerance and opportunity; human dignity and justice.

We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths — that all of us are created equal — is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on earth.

It is now our generation's task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law — for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity; until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm.

That is our generation's task — to make these words, these rights, these values — of Life, and Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — real for every American. Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time — but it does require us to act in our time.

For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect. We must act, knowing that today's victories will be only partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, and 40 years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.

My fellow Americans, the oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this Capitol, was an oath to God and country, not party or faction — and we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of our service. But the words I spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty, or an immigrant realizes her dream. My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride.

They are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope.

You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country's course.

You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time — not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals.

Let each of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.

Thank you, God bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America.

By improving conditions at the course, golf professional Thomas DiRico said he hopes to become more competitive with other courses, attract more players and make more money.

Golfers meet at the first tee of Chicopee Country Club in this past photo. File photo / The Republican  

CHICOPEE — In the hopes of attracting more players and eventually seeing the golf course become self-supporting, the city will hire a private firm to do all the maintenance at the Chicopee Country Club next season.

The idea was endorsed by Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette and the Golf Course Commission. The City Council voted 11-0 Tuesday to transfer $169,530 from different accounts for the course to fund the first payment for the contract with International Golf Maintenance.

The entire contract for the year would be $508,000 and that includes the use of the city’s equipment. Without the equipment use, it would cost $618,000 a year, said Thomas DiRico, the director of golf for the course.

It is expected to cost between $90,000 and $100,000 more to hire a private company to maintain the golf course in the first year. It will be difficult to predict if it will continue to be more expensive since some unemployment costs will have to be figured in the first year, said city auditor Sharyn Riley.

“Hopefully if the course improves we will generate additional revenue” she said.

The company, which was selected after going through the request for proposal process, has extensive experience maintaining courses nationwide. Locally, the town of South Hadley also contracts with International Golf Maintenance to care for the Ledges Course, DiRico said.

By improving conditions at the course, DiRico said he hopes to become more competitive with other courses, attract more players and make more money.

In the previous fiscal year which ended in July, the course ended the year with a $126,000 deficit. There was a loss of $115,195 in the previous year, Riley said.

The councilors aired few concerns about hiring a private contractor, but had some questions about the idea of the company using the city’s equipment.

DiRico explained the company will be required to return the equipment in the same condition that it was when it began the contract if the equipment is used.

They also asked about the existing course employees.

There are currently five full-time people who work on the maintenance crew during the summer and augment other Department of Public Works crews during the off-season. Four of the five have been offered similar jobs in different divisions of the Public Works, Bissonnette said.

The one position in question is that of the maintenance supervisor. Because there is no similar position, the supervisor will be laid off or may retire, Riley said.

Bissonnette said there is limited liability to the city because the contract is for one year with a clause that will allow the city to extend it.

“We have an opt-out clause if it doesn’t go our way,” he said.

It was altogether a more intimate affair than four years ago. Just a party of untold hundred thousands, chilling in the nation's backyard.

CALVIN WOODWARD
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was altogether a more intimate affair than four years ago. Just a party of untold hundred thousands, chilling in the nation's backyard.

President Barack Obama's inauguration Monday brought out a festive crowd of flag-wavers who filled the National Mall to overflowing, hailed his moment with lusty cheers and spent their down time spotting celebrities amid the bunting.

No match for the staggering masses and adrenaline-pumping energy of his first turn as president on the West Front of the Capitol. But a lively second act.

After a roaring rendition of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" came James Taylor strumming his guitar and singing "America the Beautiful." Then an all-for-show swearing-in, replicating the official one Sunday.

Then Obama spoke, as all presidents must in one way or another, about "one nation and one people," healing words after a battering ram of an election and before the partisan struggles ahead. The address clocked in at 18 minutes. He ran 52 minutes in 2009.

Sharon Davis of Suitland, Md., retired after 22 years in the Air Force, said it all made her proud beyond words. "There's a lot of energy here today," she said. "But it doesn't compare to last time, when it was just off the charts."

Hours before the pageantry, people on foot spilled out of Metro stations near the White House and streamed toward the scene, official vehicles sealed off intersections blocks from the White House and Obama stood for a blessing in the "Church of Presidents."

The service at St. John's Episcopal Church captured the intended tone of the day: unity. Bishop Vashti McKenzie of the African Methodist Episcopal Church spoke in the blessing of "this new season of opportunity after conflicting opinions and visions and platforms clanged against each other like a resounding gong. "

A sea of people filled stretches of the National Mall from the West Front of the Capitol back to the Washington Monument and beyond, to the reflecting pool. No one expected a repeat of the unprecedented crowds of four years ago. But for many thousands, it was not to be missed.

David Richardson, 45, brought his children, Camille, 5, and Miles, 8, from Atlanta to soak it all in and to show them, in Obama's achievement, that "anything is possible through hard work."

The "mostly Republican" Vicki Lyons, 51, of Lakewood, Colo., called the experience "surreal" and "like standing in the middle of history."

She didn't vote for Obama and voiced plenty of worry about the nation's future but said: "No matter who the president is, everybody needs to do this at least once."

Outside the Capitol, scene of Obama's noontime inaugural speech, people had their pictures taken with the flag-draped building in the background. Justices, lawmakers, Cabinet members and former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter filled prime seats. Katy Perry, Eva Longoria and John Mayer were among stars on the platform. Kelly Clarkson sang "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," and Beyonce closed with the national anthem.

It was overcast with a breeze, 40 degrees at noon, sparing the crowd the biting cold morning of four years earlier.

Kenya Strong, a 37-year-old financial analyst from Charlotte, N.C, brought her daughter, Ty, for the second time. Like Richardson, she said the event holds lessons for the young.

"It's really important for her to understand that her potential is endless," she said. "You have so much to live and look forward to, for yourself personally, for our country — just to see that there's more than the here and now."

Ty Strong, now 15, toted a new camera and broader expectations than in 2009 about the kind of people she'd meet — not just African-Americans like herself.

"There were a lot of different faces among the crowd that you don't expect to see on an everyday basis — like more foreigners," she said. "It was nice."

At midmorning, Metro subway trains through downtown Washington were no more crowded than they would be on a typical workday — except few were going to work.

Transit officials said 308,000 train passengers entered the system as of 11 a.m., down 40 percent from the same period in the 2009 inauguration.

Terry Alexander, a Democratic state representative from South Carolina, and his wife, Starlee Alexander, were taking a leisurely ride from their downtown hotel to Union Station. Four years ago, they had to ride a bus to the Pentagon from their Virginia hotel and walk across the 14th Street Bridge to the National Mall.

"It was crazy," he said. "This is calm. Last time, we couldn't even get down in the tunnel to get to the trains."

Obama's motorcade went into motion several hours before the speech, taking him with his family to St. John's Episcopal Church. Before the sermon, R&B performer Ledisi sang the solo "I Feel Like Goin' On."

On recent visits to the "Church of Presidents," Obama has taken to ditching the motorcade in favor of walking back to the White House through Lafayette Park.

But this was a day for a speech, a parade and the many decorative rituals of power, not an idle stroll.

His inaugural speech over, heading into the Capitol before a luncheon of bison and lobster in Statuary Hall, Obama briefly lingered and turned his gaze back to the crowd.

"I want to take a look, one more time," he said. "I'm not going to see this again."

___

Associated Press writers Richard Lardner, Alan Fram, Darlene Superville, Ben Nuckols, David Dishneau, Donna Cassata and Nancy Benac contributed to this report.

Gay people found Northampton a safe haven long before their rights were secured in court.

Mayor David Narkewicz believes there's a lot to like about Northampton. John Suchocki  

The Readers Raves contest named Northampton the friendliest community in the area, and the people who make it run can’t say they disagree. In a community where shops and restaurants abound, people of all races and sexual preferences stroll and gunshots are seldom heard, it’s no wonder visitors feel happy and safe.

“When you come to Northampton you’re surrounded by a lot of people who are enjoying themselves,” said Suzanne Beck, the director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. “It just lifts your spirits. It feels great to be downtown.”

Beck noted that many of those people are enjoying food at Northampton’s diversity of restaurants and shopping at its many owner-run stores. It might also be mentioned that Northampton offers a range of entertainment, from First Night to clubs like Pearl Street and larger venues like the Calvin Theater.

Just a few storefronts down from the Calvin, A2Z Toy Store has been attracting patrons for a quarter century with toys and science projects for children of all ages. Owner Jack Flynn said he sometimes can’t decide which is better, the restaurants or the stores.

“People are excited to find something different in this town,” Flynn said. “It’s wonderful that way.”

Flynn attributes much the vitality to the business community. Entrepreneurs are honored almost like rock stars in Northampton. Main Street boasts a memorial sculpture with the names of several business people inscribed on it. The city also has a Business Improvement District that includes a number of downtown property owners.

Daniel J. Yacuzzo, the district’s executive director, is Northampton born and bred. Yacuzzo moved away for a while but came back.

“I don’t think I’m alone in that,” he said. “Northampton’s greatest strength is it’s a real community. People have chosen to be here or are invested in being here. You feel something welcome about it.”

Yacuzzo puts the feel of the place even above its natural beauty. Situated on the banks of the Connecticut River, Northampton stretches out into the forested hills on its western border. Much of that land has been preserved and is filled with hiking trails and wildlife.

“There are so many different attractive assets,” said Mayor David J. Narkewicz, who includes 350 years of post Native American history among them. The Florence section of Northampton was instrumental in helping slaves seek freedom on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. In fact, there is a statue to Sojourner Truth in Florence, not far from where she lived.

“I think we combine a big city feel with a small town feel,” Narkewicz said.

Gay people found Northampton a safe haven long before their rights were secured in court. Some of the first same sex marriages in Massachusetts were conducted here.

“I do feel like it’s a very welcoming community,” Narkewicz said.

The medical office won a civil judgement against Cintron.

The Republican / File photo  

SPRINGFIELD -- Cynthia Cintron has admitted stealing $1.06 million by forging checks at the medical office where she worked.

Cintron, 47, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to 13 charges earlier this month in Hampden Superior Court. The charges included check forgery and uttering false checks.

She was sentenced to a total of 41/2 years in the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center in Chicopee.

Charges to which she pleaded guilty include check forgery and uttering false checks.

She was charged with stealing the money from her employer, Valley Pulmonary and Medical Associates in Springfield, over a period of April 27, 2006, to April 21, 2011.

In addition to the jail sentence, she is on probation during the jail sentence and three years after she is released.

Assistant District Attorney James Orenstein asked for the probation immediately because the medical office won a civil judgment against Cintron for the stolen money, which she has not paid.

As a condition of probation Cintron must cooperate with the medical office in locating and securing any assets she has to pay that judgment.

Attorney General Martha Coakley, considered a prime candidate for governor in 2014, said she’s running — for attorney general.

• Weymouth man freed in state crime lab scandal rearrested on new drug charges [Patriot Ledger]


• Lawrence city workers arrested following violent supermarket robbery [WCVB-TV, NewsCenter5, Boston]


• Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley running for reelection, not governor [Boston Herald]


• Attendees at President Obama's inauguration see hope, pride, chance to mark history [Christian Science Monitor]


• Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth taken offline temporarily [Cape Cod Times]


• Casino feud involving Peter Picknelly, Mohegan Sun, Penn National gaming reportedly continues [WWLP-TV, 22News, Chicopee]


• Coastal Massachusetts could get brunt of latest predicted snowstorm [Boston Globe]


• Olympic medalist Michell Kwan marries grandson of former Rhode Island Senator Clayborne Pell [Providence Journal]


• Twitter posts tagged #westernma in Western Mass. [MassLive.com]


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No arrest have been made.

 

SPRINGFIELD — The death of an infant in the North End of Springfield is being invesigtated by Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni's office, Mastroianni said Monday.

No arrests have been made, he said.

The procedure followed to find out if a death is suspicious involves an autopsy, and usually involves further testing of tissue samples, he said.

No further information was immediately available.

Springfield police are also not releasing any information beyond what was disclosed by Mastroianni, said officer Charles Youmans, aide to Police Commissioner William Fitchet.

The name, age and gender of the child is not being released, nor would police narrow down when or where where in the North End the death occurred.

More details coming on MassLive and in The Republican.

The local commission is applying to the Massachusetts Historical Commission in Boston for a Survey and Planning Grant.

In the 1890s, students gathered before Kellogg Hall, which served as a school until 1917 and later served as Town Hall. This is the class of 1897.  

GRANBY — Granby is a beautiful town, but it’s no secret that some of its public buildings are in poor shape. A building like Kellogg Hall, which served as Town Hall for many years, has become uninhabitable.

The town in such cases shuffles the inhabitants around to temporary offices (as in the case of the Town Administrator), demolishes the building (Aldrich Hall), replaces it as a hefty cost (Police and Fire Departments), or in some cases lets employees cope with drafty windows and moldy ceilings as best they can.

The Granby Historic Commission says the town has an opportunity to take a step toward preserving its treasures.

Teresa Lajoie of the Granby Historic Commission appeared before the Selectboard last week to report that her group is making an effort to show some respect for the historic sites in town.

As a first step, the Granby Historic Commission is applying to the Massachusetts Historical Commission in Boston for a Survey and Planning Grant.

If the money is awarded to the town, it would be used to hire a professional preservation consultant. This person would help prepare inventory forms for purposes of preservation planning, educational documents, public information and possibly a place on the National Registry.

The Granby Commission consists of volunteers who hold down day jobs. That’s why they need a professional

It would cost about $20,000, said Lajoie. Because the Survey and Planning Grants are 50-50 grants, the town would have to contribute $10,000 to the cause and apply to the state agency for the other $10,000. It’s a competitive grant, so other towns will be applying, too.

Granby already has a local historic district that is registered with the state, in the center of town, but Lajoie said national visibility affords more opportunities.

She told the Selectboard that historical designations could not only spur tourism, but might even attract a buyer for Kellogg Hall.

Granby did publish a historic survey in 2005, but it took several years to complete and it did not go into as much detail as it could have, she said.

The Granby Historic Commission has had a pre-application form approved by the state commission, and a request for $10,000 will appear on the warrant of the special Town Meeting in Granby scheduled for March 4. (No other articles on the warrant have been announced yet.)

Private homes can’t be included in the grant request, said Lajoie, but other buildings, as well as cemeteries, landscapes, monuments and archaeological areas, are eligible for consideration.

The blaze left 32 people homeless, officials said.

This updates a story originally filed at 7:32 a.m.

UPDATE, 11:56 a.m.: Amherst Asst. Chief Lindsay Stromgren identified the victim as a UMass student. His name and age have not been released. Details have been added to the story below, including accounts from students who escaped the blaze.

AMHERST -- A University of Massachusetts student lost his life in a fire at the Rolling Green apartment complex that left 32 homeless Monday morning, Asst. Chief Lindsay Stromgren said.

Stromgren said firefighters found the man inside one of the units. His name and age have not been released.

The fire, reported shortly before 5 a.m., heavily damaged a number of units at the complex, which is located off Route 9 at 1 Rolling Green Drive. Stromgren said 5 units of the 10-unit building were completely gutted. The roofs to several units, all facing the stretch of Route 9 also known as Belchertown Road, were all but destroyed.

The blaze displaced 32 people, including 22 University of Massachusetts students. UMass housing services, Rolling Green management and a team from the American Red Cross were assisting those displaced.

Multiple agencies were summoned to the scene. The Northampton, Hadley, South Hadley, Leverett, and Belchertown fire departments provided mutual aide. Officials from the state Office of Fire Services, including State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, were among the officials at the scene investigating the blaze.

Stromgren said he expected the investigation into the cause of the blaze to take some time.

01.21.2013 | AMHERST -- Residents Adam and Gina Bigelow move some of their belongings out of their fire-damaged apartment at Rolling Green apartments on Monday. Dave Roback | The Republican  

Amherst police officers cordoned off the block of apartments damaged by the blaze with yellow police tape.

Stromgren said several firefighters slipped on ice and were treated at the scene.

Franklin resident Pat Cooke said her daughter, who lives at the complex with three roommates, called at about 5 a.m. to say they had all safely escaped

The daughter said that somebody came banging on their door shortly before 5 a.m. yelling “fire, fire,” Cooke said.

“It’s not a call you want to get at 5 o’clock in the morning,” said Cooke, who expressed relief that her daughter and her roommates escaped injury. Cooke drove to the fire scene from her Franklin home.

Chris Horte, a senior at UMass from Rockland, also awoke to someone knocking on his door to warn of the fire. Horte said he first awoke to the sound of car horns outside, only realizing the need to leave his unit when someone started yelling “fire.”

Horte, who escaped along with his three roommates, said he watched from the parking lot as the fire ripped through the apartment block.

“It spread really fast,” he said.

Roommates Dan Hewitt, David Carusotto, Mark Metivier, and Gregg Mancari, all from Pittsfield and juniors at UMass, lived in apartment 203, which is next to the unit where the fire broke out.

Like others who survived the blaze, Hewitt work up at about 4:30 a.m. Monday when he heard banging noises and heard someone yelling “fire.” He said he woke up his three roommates, grabbed some necessities and fled.

“The fire was spreading pretty rapidly,” he said, adding there were already a number of people outside when they were getting out of bed.

Mancari said he put on a jacket but ran out of the apartment wearing just boxer shorts and two unmatching shoes that both fit his right foot. Later someone lent him a pair of pants, and his parents drove to Amherst with shoes.

“It was pretty shocking, Carusotto said.

Hewitt thanked the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross for their help. “They have given us money for food, clothing to get us back on our feet. It was huge,” he said.

Although their apartment was badly damaged in the blaze, building managers have been able to find them another apartment in the complex.

The four are hoping to be able to retrieve their computers and other belongings later, but they do not know if anything will be salvageable.

“It is all material things. The important thing is we are all here,” Hewitt said, adding the four have been friends since kindergarten.

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Staff writer Diane Lederman and assistant online editor Greg Saulmon contributed reporting.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

AMHERST - The victim of the Monday Fire at Rolling Green apartments in Amherst has officially been identified as James E. Hoffman, 21, of Stoughton, according to Amherst Fire Chief Tim Nelson.

He said the cause of the fire that displaced more than 30 people was still being investigated Tuesday.

The Stoughton Fire Department posted this on its Facebook page that Hoffman was a Stoughton High School graduate who is survived by his parents, David and Anne Hoffman, brother Riordan and a sister Nichole.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Chicago-based Equity Residential, manager of the apartment complex, wrote in an email: “We are working with the displaced residents to get everyone situated. Most have or will move into available units we have at the property.” The site had 204 units.

Twenty-two of those displaced were University of Massachusetts students, as was the victim.

UMass spokesman Edward F. Blaguszewski said the university would help the displaced students any way it could, including providing housing for anyone who wanted it. He also said the dean of student’s office has an emergency loan fund that would be available to students who needed help.

He said UMass would also provide counseling as needed.

Dawn Leaks, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, Pioneer Valley Chapter, said the office assisted 33 people, including six children at the fire scene Monday. The Red Cross provided meals along with vouchers for clothing, shoes, bedding and other needs.

She said those displaced either found new apartments or were staying with friends or family. She said volunteers remained on scene until 8 or 9 p.m. Monday night. “We wanted to make sure at least one person from each apartment” was helped, she said.

A chain-linked fence had been erected around the 10 damaged units Monday afternoon and some of the apartments were boarded up. Sections of the roof had collapsed.

When firefighters arrived at the Rolling Green apartments at 1 Rolling Green Drive about 5 a.m. Monday, they saw fire coming from second-floor windows and the attic. After an initial search of the apartment in which the fire started, crews were ordered to evacuate the building due to heavy fire and a partial collapse of the roof, according to the state Fire Marshal’s office.

After firefighters were able to knock down the fire, they were able to re-enter the building and found the victim on the second floor of the apartment where the fire originated.

Correction: An incorrect first name and spelling of the victim's last name briefly appeared in this report. The story has been updated.

More details coming on MassLive and in The Republican.

Some communities will have three nights below zero

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY has been issued by the National weather service tonight and Wednesday morning. This is for at least 3 hrs. of wind chills lower than 15 below zero. Frost bite can occur in 30 minutes.

Get ready for what is likely the coldest stretch of days this winter. An arctic high pressure system is building in through tomorrow. This will bring a mainly clear sky and eventually diminish our wind by Friday.

Expect bitter cold air with wind chills through Thursday. High temperatures will struggle to the mid teens Wednesday and Thursday (along with morning lows near or below zero). Another round of snow is shaping up for Friday night.

Tonight:Mainly clear. Low 0 to 5 below. Wind chill to 20 below.

Wednesday: Mainly sunny. Wind chills to 10 below. High 15.

Wednesday Night: Starlit and frigid. Wind chill to 15 below. Lows near 5 below.

Thursday: Sunny and frigid. High near 18. Wind chill to 10 below.

The school's official Twitter feed said the shooting was between two people and that the situation was under control.

In this frame grab provided by KPRC Houston, an unidentified person is transported by emergency personnel at Lone Star College Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, in Houston, where law enforcement officials say the community college is on lockdown amid reports of a shooter on campus. (AP Photo/Courtesy KPRC TV) MANDATORY CREDIT AP Photo  

HOUSTON (AP) — A shooting on a Texas community college campus wounded three people Tuesday and sent students fleeing for safety as officials placed the campus on lockdown, officials said.

Harris County Sheriff's Maj. Armando Tello said authorities had detained a person of interest. He did not provide any details about the people who were wounded, such as whether they were students or included the person who was arrested.

Authorities thought there could be a second shooter, according to a law enforcement official in Washington who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the ongoing case.

The school's official Twitter feed said the shooting was between two people and that the situation was under control. It had issued an alert on its website earlier, telling students and faculty to take immediate shelter or avoid the campus.

Aerial footage from local television stations showed police cars and ambulances parked on the Lone Star College System campus about 20 miles north of downtown Houston. Emergency personnel could be seen tending to people on stretchers, while others ran from a building led by officers.

Mark Smith, spokesman for the Harris County Emergency Corps, said four people were taken to two hospitals. He said at least two had gunshot wounds, and one appeared to have had a heart attack related to the shooting. He said one was in critical condition.

Relatives identified Jody Neal, 24, as one of the people who was shot and said he was taken to Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital Emergency Center with gunshots in his arm, stomach and leg.

"He was sitting in the study room. There (were) three people on the computer and a guy walked up the stairs and opened fire on him," Stacy Neal, Jody's sister, told KPRC-TV. "They said it was just one guy that came in with a gun."

Other students said they were studying or waiting for classes to start when they heard gunfire about 12:30 p.m.

"I didn't think they were shots," said Daniel Flores, 19. "It sounded like someone was kicking a door."

He was in a second-floor tutoring lab with about 60 people. Once they realized the sound was gunfire, they fled to the nearby student services center, where authorities kept them for about 30 minutes before letting them go, Flores said.

Cody Harris, 20, said he was in a classroom with about six or seven other students waiting for a psychology class to start when he heard eight shots. He and other students looked at each other, said "I guess we should get out of here," and fled.

"I was just worried about getting out," Harris said. "I called my grandmother and asked her to pick me up."

The shooting comes one month after a gunman attacked an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., killing 20 children and heightening security concerns at campuses across the country. In Texas, several school districts have either implemented or are considering a plan to allow faculty to carry guns on campus. The Texas Legislature this year may also debate a bill that would allow guns on college campuses.

The Lone Star College System has an enrollment of 90,000 students and six college campuses, according to its website. Its programs in Harris County include training to be a paramedic.

Mark Zaragosa said he had just come out of an EMT class when he saw two people who were injured and stopped to help them. Officers had not yet arrived, he said.

"The two people that I took care of had just minor injuries," Zaragosa told KHOU. "One gentleman had a gunshot to the knee and the (other) actually had an entry wound to the lower buttocks area."

Keisha Cohn, 27, who also is studying to be a paramedic, said she was inside a building about 50 feet away from where the shots were fired. She heard "no less than five" shots and started running.

She fled to the learning center, which houses computers and study areas. Eventually, a deputy showed up and escorted people out, she said. She left her car on the campus, which was evacuated and closed for the rest of the day.

___

Associated Press writer Eileen Sullivan contributed to this report from Washington.

With 40 years passing since the Supreme Court ruled on the landmark Roe V. Wade abortion rights case, recent polling reveals that while support for a woman's right to choose is at an all-time high, the same can't necessarily be said for the number of American's who know the significance of the ruling.

With 40 years passing since the Supreme Court ruled on the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion rights case, recent polling reveals that while support for a woman's right to choose is at an all-time high, the same can't necessarily be said for the number of Americans who know the significance of the ruling.

A NBC News/Wall Street Journal telephone survey of 1,000 adults released today revealed that 39 percent approve of the high court's decision that a woman's right to abort a pregnancy is protected under the 14th amendment while 18 percent said they disapprove.

At the same time, 70 percent of those surveyed said they would not want to see the decision overturned, with 57 percent saying they "feel strongly" about their conviction- the highest numbers since the news organizations began tracking public opinion on the issue in 1989.

Abortion opponents try to block Abortion rights advocates at a rally on the steps of the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, Kan., Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a series of tough, anti-abortion measures during his first two years in office. Much to the dismay of abortion-rights advocates, Kansas has been part of a wave in which states with Republican governors and GOP-controlled Legislatures enacted new restrictions on abortion providers. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)  

While the poll's history shows that support for overturning the decision has never topped 40 percent, it did reach a pinnacle in 1991 and 2005 with 36 percent opposition to the court's ruling.

The latest NBC/WSJ survey was conducted from Jan. 12-15 and carries a 3.1 percent margin of error.

Interestingly enough, a recent Pew Research Center survey revealed that while 62 percent of the 1,502 registered voters surveyed said they know the Roe v. Wade case relates to abortion, only 44 percent of respondents under 30 knew of the case's subject matter.

The Pew survey, which dug deeper into opinions according to different segments of the population, concluded that while support for a woman's right to choose may be high, the overall opinions of abortion have not changed much in recent years. Of those surveyed by the non-partisan institute, 47 percent say abortion is "morally wrong," 13 percent say it is "morally acceptable" and 27 percent say it is not a moral issue.

But of those who say abortion is morally unacceptable, only 18 percent say they oppose the Supreme Court overturning the decision today. The Pew survey was conducted Jan. 9-13 and has a 2.9 percent margin of error.